In a remarkable gaming feat, 13-year-old Willis “blue scuti” Gibson has become the first human ever to complete the iconic video game Tetris. The achievement was accomplished during a live-streamed gaming session, where Gibson managed to reach the elusive “true kill screen” on level 157.
Tetris, a game that has been entertaining players for decades, had long been believed to have a maximum level of 29, where the game’s speed reaches its peak. However, a dedicated community of gamers refused to accept this as the end and embarked on a journey to explore the game’s uncharted territory.
In 2021, programmer Greg Cannon introduced an AI program known as StackRabbit, which pushed Tetris to new limits by surpassing level 235, where the game experienced severe glitches and froze at level 237. This point was collectively acknowledged as the game’s true end, as it became impossible to proceed further.
The Tetris community delved into researching the notorious “kill screen error” and made a groundbreaking discovery. They found that this error could be triggered earlier than level 237, at a more attainable level 155, by clearing just a single line. This revelation opened the door for human players to attempt this ambitious challenge.
Late in December 2023, Willis Gibson embarked on his quest to make Tetris history. He navigated his way through the game’s glitch-ridden levels and successfully reached level 157. It was at this point that he achieved the coveted kill screen, marking him as the first human to complete Tetris.
Gibson’s remarkable accomplishment not only secured his place in gaming history but also resulted in several world records. His achievement encompassed the Overall Score, Level, Lines, and 19 Score categories.
Reflecting on his astonishing feat, Gibson shared his thoughts on his YouTube channel, where he stated that when he began playing Tetris, he never expected to crash the game or beat it. His journey from a novice player to a record-breaking Tetris master has captured the attention of gamers worldwide.
This milestone serves as a testament to the enduring appeal of classic video games like Tetris and the determination of the gaming community to explore every facet of their beloved titles. Willis Gibson’s achievement reminds us that even in the era of advanced gaming technology, there’s still room for groundbreaking accomplishments in the world of retro gaming.
