Thirteen-year-old Willis Gibson from Oklahoma astonishes the gaming community by becoming the first person to achieve a perfect score in the classic video game Tetris, reaching an unprecedented level 157 and reviving interest in the iconic game.
Thirteen-year-old Willis Gibson from Oklahoma has reportedly become the first person to complete the classic video game Tetris, surpassing the challenge that had long been considered achievable only by artificial intelligence. Gibson achieved this landmark in the game’s history during a live stream, securing a perfect score of 999999 and reaching level 157 in under 40 minutes. This event caused the game to experience a “kill screen,” where the blocks descend at a speed that makes further play impossible.
Vince Clemente, president of the Classic Tetris World Championship, acknowledged the significance of Gibson’s accomplishment, indicating that no human had attained such a level before. Gibson, who began playing Tetris only two years prior and competes under the alias Blue Scuti, has gained status as a top competitive player in the country.
The game, originally developed by Soviet engineer Alexey Pajitnov in 1984, rose to fame in 1989 with releases on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Game Boy. Before Gibson’s landmark achievement, the highest level known to have been reached by a human player was level 30, achieved by professional gamer Thor Aackerlund using a technique known as hypertapping.
Gibson’s exceptional feat was recorded and has become a sensation on YouTube, and the gamer has dedicated his victory to his late father. With this accomplishment, Gibson has revitalized interest in Tetris, encouraging players and gaming enthusiasts to attempt to replicate or exceed his record. The broader Tetris community is now prompted with the challenge of reaching the game’s “rebirth screen” at level 255, an ambitious target that has arisen from Gibson’s success.
Tetris remains an enduring classic, inviting further exploration of its possibilities more than three decades since its release, and Gibson’s triumph stands as a significant milestone in the gaming world.
