2GGaming: The Future of E-Sports

The E-Sports organization, 2GGaming (2GG), is on the rise around the world, providing players of the Super Smash Bros. franchise with an outlet to compete, stream and showcase their gaming abilities at a higher level.Since 1997, when the E-Sports movement first commenced, technology has evolved from the original Super Smash Bros. medium N64 to Wii U. As video game technology advances, more and more people, including Samo students, are being attracted to gaming leagues.2GG started as a small weekly E-Sports tournament series, and has developed into one of the most respected and well-known Smash organization in the U.S. In 2GG’s first large-scale tournament a year ago, there were 96 entrants paving the path for nationwide fame in the Smash community. Recently, 2GG hosted their anniversary tournament, 2GGT: Zero Saga. It had 367 competitors, including the world’s top 50, and a pot bonus of $10,000.In addition to this tournament, 2GG announced a tournament series which will include a pot bonus of $100,000. To be a participant, you have to win at least one tournament in the series. The tournaments, which are monthly, allow for hundreds of people to compete for the 12 spots in the final tournament, known officially as 2GGC: Championship Series.In addition to the growing audience and competitors participating in E-Sports, Samo student Avery Kirschbaum (’19) competitively plays as a hobby.Kirschbaum began playing Super Smash Bros. competitively over a year ago and had the opportunity to get global recognition for his accomplishments on their live stream as the Best Villager Player in Smash right now.“2GG [are] hands down the best tournament organizers ever. They run every tournament so efficiently and never have any problems,” Kirschbaum said.Kirschbaum is known as Aarvark in the Smash world, and is currently ranked #15 on the SoCal Power Ranking (which designates the top 20 players in SoCal). This means he is 16th best in SoCal, which is considered, in the E-Sports world, the strongest region in the US. To be ranked, a player needs to consistently defeat other ranked members in order to steal their spot on the scoreboard. Over time, Kirschbaum has beaten some of the best in the US, not losing to any hidden bosses among the masses of SoCal Smashers.In tournaments, Kirschbaum has beaten more than ten of the Top 50 in the world. His highest tournament placings include ninth at 2GGT: Mexico Saga, ninth at 2GGT: Ktar Saga and seventeenth at Big House 6. Kirschbaum has also been ranked highly in many tournaments and is widely considered as the best Villager (an in-game character) in the US and second in the world.“I mean, my accomplishments are fine as of right now [but] I aim for higher things in the future and hope to accomplish more,” Kirschbaum said. As the rise of E-Sports continues to expand, so does the Samo gaming world. Whether it’s playing for fun, or playing competitively, dedicated Samo students like Kirschbaum will continue to represent our school and community. “I don’t have any real direct plans except to get better in any way I can, I plan to play until the game is boring so I have a lot of time to achieve what I want,” Kirschbaum said.