Entering the auditorium, you are met with a huge projector displaying a game of Super Smash Bros. Yells of encouragement and excitement fill your ears, along with play-by-play commentary of the match. Fingers fly across controllers and hands reach into crinkling chip bags.
Over the course of three days, Haven Esports hosted their annual Super Smash Bros. tournament, starting during fifth block on Wednesday, Jan. 21. Super Smash Bros. is a Nintendo crossover fighting game where various Nintendo characters brawl on floating platforms.
Sophomore Liam McCloskey, one of the co-leaders of Esports Club, helped make this tournament possible. McCloskey publicized the event through flyers and afternoon announcements.
“[McCloskey’s] really taking it upon himself to really start marketing it,” Esports coach and computer science teacher Mr. Patrick Maloney said. “He’s really been a go-getter and trying to get this up off the ground and make it something special.”
News of the tournament spread quickly with McCloskey’s efforts.
“I saw a sign up for it. I was like, you know what? This is interesting,” junior Jacob Sturgis said. “I was like, ‘I’m gonna play a few matches to see if I’m interested.’ And I got hooked pretty fast.”
With two TVs, heaps of snacks, and live commentary from Maloney and guidance counselor Mr. Gavin Stewart, it was difficult to not be drawn into the fun.
The first day of the tournament took place in the auditorium. The projector was pulled down for the official 1v1 competitions and a separate TV was placed near the stage for players to practice. The competition was organized with a bracket style; pairs competed against each and the winner moved on to the next round.
The second day of competitions was moved to the computer science classroom because of technical difficulties with the projector. Despite this, each competitor played with everything they had, rounding out the tournament.
Junior Jacob Sturgis was named champion of the tournament after winning the semifinals against sophomore Sophia Ford.
“It was fun,” Ford said. “I [played] Mr. Game and Watch. I have to play a little smart, because out of all the characters, he’s the easiest to fling off.”
The third day of competitions was a non-competitive day of fun with 2v2’s, a relaxing end to the week, and the tournament.
This year was different for Esports because of the lack of school-to-school competitions. Usually, a company funds the club.
“This semester, we weren’t able to get funding,” McCloskey said. “I think the last company that we were with lost ownership, and they honestly were going downhill, so we decided to drop them. This upcoming semester, we plan to engage in another one.”
This year, Esports made the Super Smash Bros. tournament a place where anybody could walk in, regardless of experience, and play with everyone else.
“No matter who you are with, no matter what people you play with, you can just have as much fun as you want,” Ford said.
