NesTetris.com - CTWC 2026 Review

The Official poster designed by CTWC owner Vince and myself for CTWC 2026

I had the privilege and honor of attending the Classic Tetris World Championship at the SoCal Gaming Expo this past weekend in beautiful Pasadena, California. Aside from being part of the very first CTWC Toronto Regional event earlier this year in March organized by the very talented Wallbant, this was my first time experiencing the main event in person since discovering the competitive Tetris scene back in 2017, nearly a decade ago.

Now that I'm back home in Canada, sitting at my office desk and staring at my computer screen, I'm trying to find the right words to describe what this past weekend meant to me. For some reason, I'm having an incredibly difficult time doing so. What's even stranger is that I can't quite figure out why. Anyone who knows me knows that finding words is usually the easy part. Yet this experience seems to have left me with feelings and memories that are somehow bigger than anything I can comfortably put into words, so bare with me as I try my best here.

Top: Kris from Retro Games Plus
Bottom: Vince, Owner of CTWC

My plane landed late Friday evening at LAX, and thanks to the helpful directions provided by Wingfryer, I was able to make my way to Hotel Dena by bus and train without any issues. I arrived shortly before midnight, and before I had even checked into my room, I could already hear the unmistakable sound of the Tetris community gathered in the hotel bar. The room was buzzing with conversation, laughter, and excitement, and the positive energy was impossible to miss.

To be fair, qualifying had begun earlier that day, so I had already missed that portion of the event. That wasn't a concern for me, however, as I never intended to attempt a qualification run in the first place given my current skill level. Still, I was eager to finally experience the atmosphere in person.

After dropping off my belongings in my room, I made my way to the bar, where I greeted some familiar faces and introduced myself to several people I had only previously known through streams, videos, and online discussions, including the owner of CTWC himself, Vince. One person I was especially also looking forward to meeting was Kris from Retro Games Plus, who is also one of the co-owners of the SoCal Gaming Expo alongside the fantastic team behind the popular Pixel Game Squad YouTube channel. So imagine my surprise when I spotted him there. Nervously, I introduced myself, told him how much I enjoyed his content, and we ended up having a pleasant conversation. As it turned out, pleasant conversations would become a recurring theme throughout the weekend.

Wallbant & Me at CTWC 2026

The following morning, it was time. The experience I had been looking forward to for so long was finally about to happen, and I woke up before my alarm, already full of adrenaline, practically launching myself straight outta bed.

Wally and I grabbed an early breakfast, and it was here that I checked the current qualification scores on my phone and came to a realization. Some of the players who had already secured spots in the bronze bracket had scores surprisingly close to my own average. That’s when it really hit me. With the final qualifying sessions about to begin, did I actually have a shot? Was it too late now? Was I really just here as a fan, as I had always imagined, or was I going to push my luck and try to qualify for the bronze bracket myself?

Luckily for me, there was still space available (Thanks Kingsman). I quickly registered, and before I knew it, I was no longer just a spectator at the Classic Tetris World Championship, I was officially a competitor. Almost immediately, I started second-guessing my impulsive decision.

Me and all of the Canadian players at CTWC 2026.
Photo Credits: aGameScout

We arrived at the venue and the clock was already ticking. I scrambled to find a controller and managed to locate a spare one in the staff room (more on that controller later). Then it was time. The final qualifying sessions began.

My personal best is 552,790, a score I hit on a fluke years ago. On a good day, I can usually reach around 300–350K, which was what I was hoping for. On a bad day, 150–250K is more realistic. Over the next 90 minutes, I experienced the most stressful Tetris of my adult life. At one point, I even set my chair aside and sat cross-legged on the floor, trying to recapture my inner child and a calmer mindset. I even experimented with level 15 starts when level 18 wasn’t cooperating.

When it was all over, I finished with a best score of only 268,277, placing me as the 121st seed, nine spots shy of making the bronze bracket. At the end of the day, I have no regrets. All a player can do is show up, sit down, and play the pieces they are dealt with as best they can, much like life in general. If anything, this weekend only deepened the fire in me to make more time for practice, carrying a quiet determination that one day, before my time is done, I’ll finally see a maxout on my own screen. Wait, was I the oldest Canadian player in attendance? Yes, I think so. Well, I guess it's something to be proud of lol?

Me, Catvinity and his mom Emily

Speaking of maxouts, it wasn’t long after this that I met a very young kid wearing a shirt that read “Maxout Club.” I had to ask him, “Did you really get a maxout?” He nodded proudly. I asked how old he was, to which he responded twelve. I remember being genuinely impressed and replying, “You know I’ve technically been trying for over 30 years now?” which got a good laugh from both him and his mother while I was secretly crying on the inside.

We kept talking, and that’s when I noticed he was playing on a controller I had never seen before, a padless controller. I had heard of The Padless Project, but this was the first time I had actually seen and tried one in person. As a DAS player, my honest impression was that I really enjoyed the clicky button feel. It felt very responsive and precise, and I could definitely see the appeal.

I then introduced myself to Catvinity and his mom Emily, and I was fortunate enough to sit with them in the second row to watch most of the weekend’s tournament play. We shared more easy, pleasant conversations throughout, and I genuinely valued the time spent with them. It was one of those unexpected connections that made the experience even more meaningful, and I hope our paths cross again one day.

Kailey, Retro Rick, Me and Michael

Before the tournament officially got underway, I made my way over to the SoCal Gaming Expo in the next room. Now I could lie and say I went game hunting (even though I did score some sweet deals on some Guitar Hero classics for Fingastylz from "Da" Podcast, a good friend of mine back home) but my main focus was to see if I could locate Riff, Ricky, Curtis, Gabbo and Ben from the Pixel Game Squad, Retro Rick, Mike and Kailey from Retro Ricks Game Point, Sam & Joe from RadJunk and The Camel Crew. These are all content creators that I have watched over the years alongside CTWC so really, I was getting the best in both worlds, all crammed into one unforgettable weekend.

Throughout the day, in between matches, I continued roaming around the Pasadena Convention Centre and once again came across Kris from Retro Games Plus. He not only remembered me from the night before but he remembered my name. My real name. Sometimes, people don't realize just how meaningful something like that actually is. It means they appreciated you and cared enough to remember you as a person, not the online persona that helped get you there.

The Pixel Game Squad, Rad Junk & The Camel Crew

And then there they were. The Pixel Game Squad. Now with a lot more confidence, I introduced myself, told them how much their videos meant to me as they always brought me back to a time in my life where my cousin and I would do the exact same thing and, from a more personal standpoint, how their videos were really just a much needed escape for me during some very difficult times in my life. They didn't just take the time to listen, they responded. They were thankful. They were literally in the middle of running this whole weekend but yet here they were, talking to someone they have never met before.

I even got to speak with Riff's family and got a much clearer understanding of why he is the way he is. He is always so positive in all his videos and now, I fully understood why. A good family goes a long way. He doesn't just put on an act for his YouTube audience. What you see is who he truly is. The same goes for Curtis, Ben and Gabbo. These guys are all good friends and that authenticity shows in all their content. That, to me anyways, also goes a long way.

Several more pleasant conversations took place with each of them throughout the day and the rest of the weekend. That positivity that they share is the same level of positivity always present in the wonderful Tetris community that I fell in love with all those years ago. It started with Jonas Neubauer and it has stayed with me ever since. So to all those guys, all the wonderful content creators I was so grateful to meet in person over the course of the weekend, I just want to simply say thank you. Thank you for what you do and what you continue to do for so many people out there just like me. And to Ricky especially, Thank you.

Top: Me and Chris Bidwell doing CT4 commentary
Bottom: James Chen, Me and Chris Tang

Apologies for kind of going off track there. Back to Tetris! Now I will say this right off the bat, I don't think there has ever been a year where we have had so many matches go to deciders. And the fact that after it was all said and done that everything was still able to conclude on time is actually kind of wild in itself. And although I was not able to qualify for the Bronze bracket, I did have the absolute honor of joining the legendary Chris Bidwell on commentary for CT4. After getting the same opportunity at CTWC Toronto, this was a dream come true for me. Chris is an absolute pro and made me feel very comfortable as he guided throughout bronze bracket commentary.

It was very chaotic at times with other matches also taking place in the gold and silver brackets. At one point, I found myself distracted trying to keep up with what was happening right in front of me while at the same time trying to watch my fellow Canadian Wallbant compete on the main stage. After it was all said an done, NinjaOfNinjas took home the bronze championship and over on CT3, I was beyond ecstatic to see one of my favorites, GreenTea, win the silver bracket, after also winning and retaining his grand masters championship the previous night against fellow Canadian SillyShark.

Top: Silver bracket winner GreenTea
Bottom: Bronze bracket winner NinjaOfNinjas

Now remember earlier when I said we would come back to that controller I used during qualifiers? Well, as it turns out, it has a bit of a story of its own.

After Ninja won the Bronze Championship, he was being interviewed by Bidwell over on CT4, and I happened to be standing nearby listening to the entire conversation. During the interview, Ninja mentioned that he had been unable to find his controller before his matches and had ended up grabbing one from a qualifying station instead.

A few moments later, he held up the controller and asked if anyone knew who it belonged to so he could return it.

The second I saw it, I recognized it.

It was the exact same controller I had used during my qualifying session.

I knew it immediately because the bottom-right corner near the buttons was worn almost completely white from years of use. Of all the controllers at the event, somehow the one I had randomly borrowed ended up in the hands of the eventual Bronze Champion.

So, in a very strange and highly insignificant way, I suppose I played a tiny role in Ninja's championship run.

You're welcome, Ninja.

Me and all of the Canadians cheering on iBall
Photo Credits: aGameScout

Then, just like that, it was time for the Top 16. Out of the sixteen players remaining, two of them were Canadian: Night and iBall. The international contingent was also well represented, with Tugi, Sidnev, and SV all making deep runs into the tournament.

For a competition that has traditionally been dominated by American players, it was exciting to see competitors from around the world making their mark on the biggest stage in Classic Tetris. Whether they were carrying the Canadian flag or representing the broader international community, it added an extra layer of excitement to every match. As a Canadian spectator sitting in the crowd, it was hard not to feel a little extra invested whenever Night or iBall took the stage. There is something special about seeing players from your own country competing alongside the very best in the world, especially in a community that still feels relatively small and close-knit despite its continued growth.

Unfortunately, the bracket gods were not particularly kind to the Canadians. Night's tournament run came to an end at the hands of the reigning two-time world champion, Alex T, while iBall was eliminated by former two-time world champion Dog. More on him later.

Even though both Canadians were eliminated in the Round of 16, I came away feeling proud of what they had accomplished. Making the Top 16 at the Classic Tetris World Championship is no small feat. Out of hundreds of competitors, they had earned the right to stand on that stage and compete against the very best players in the world.

Myles, Alex T, Sidnev and Dog

Then there were eight. The quarterfinals kicked off with Myles taking on Alex T, while Sidnev faced Dog. As if the stakes weren't already high enough, both matches would again go to a deciding game. And the crowd was fully invested by this point. In the end, Dog somehow managed to pull off the reverse sweep against Sidnev, clawing his way back from the brink of elimination to advance. On the other side, Myles pushed Alex T to the limit before ultimately falling just short in a hard-fought battle.

Top: Me and Myles
Bottom: Me and BirbWizard

It was around this point that something started to feel different about Alex's run. This was the same Alex T who had steamrolled the competition the previous year, tearing through the bracket without dropping a single game and sweeping every opponent in his path. Yet here he was, being pushed to deciders and looking noticeably less comfortable than usual. It was then that someone pointed out what I hadn't fully noticed before: Alex was hurting, specifically his hand.

I'd always heard discussions about the long-term strain hypertapping can place on the fingers, wrist, and ligaments, but I had never really considered that rolling could carry its own physical toll as well. You could see it in his expressions between games and even during gameplay itself. Every movement looked uncomfortable. This wasn't just Alex T playing Tetris. This was Alex T fighting through pain.

The second half of the quarterfinals featured Scuti taking on Huff and Meme facing Tugi. Both Huff and Tugi put up admirable fights, but in the end, Scuti and Meme would advance to set up a semifinal showdown of their own. It's also worth mentioning something I admittedly glossed over earlier. In the Round of 16, Scuti's match against Tristop was yet another absolute thriller that went all the way to yet another deciding game. The storyline practically wrote itself. Two years earlier, Tristop had ended Scuti's tournament run. This time, Scuti got his revenge, surviving another nail-biting decider and punching his ticket to the semi finals.

Top: Me and Alex T
Bottom: Meme and Me

Alex T. Dog. Meme. Scuti. We were down to the final four. And this is where the craziest moment of the entire weekend took place, at least for me. First up, in a rematch of their CTWC 2024 Grand Finals encounter, it was the reigning two-time world champion Alex T defending his title against former two-time world champion Dog. Even though Alex was clearly in a considerable amount of pain by this point, he somehow managed to take Game 1. Dog fired right back and took Game 2, setting up a pivotal Game 3. Then it happened. Alex topped out unbelievably early with a score of just 100,320 points. I was in complete shock. Everyone was in shock. This was Alex T. The same Alex T who tore through last year's championship bracket without losing a single game. Seeing him top out that early felt almost impossible.

But then, after a few minutes of rest, something happened that I don't think anyone could have predicted coming into this tournament. In what was, in my opinion, the most shocking moment of the entire weekend, Alex was forced to forfeit the match. The pain in his hand had simply become too much to continue, and just like that, Dog advanced to the Grand Finals. It was a heartbreaking moment and one that, to the best of my knowledge, has never happened before at a CTWC World Championship. Nobody wanted to see a match of that magnitude end that way, especially considering how hard both players had fought to get there.

As sad as it was, looking back on it now, it was absolutely the right decision. At the end of the day, the health of any competitor has to come first, especially when there is the potential for serious or long-term damage. The championship could wait. Recovery could not. What impressed me most was Alex's attitude afterward. Despite the disappointment, he remained in good spirits, making it clear that he plans to return next year and reclaim the title he technically never lost. And knowing Alex T, I certainly wouldn't bet against him.

Top: Former World Champion Fractal
Bottom: CTWC Legend aGameScout

Up next, it was Meme versus Scuti, with the winner moving on to face Dog in the Grand Finals. This was a fascinating matchup for several reasons. Meme had also reached the finals the previous year and, since then, had been on an absolute tear. Not only did she win the very first CTWC Toronto Regional earlier this year, but she also went on to conquer both CTWC Detroit (Motor City Mayhem 3) and the CTWC Midwest Regionals. That's three regional championships, if you're keeping score at home. As if that wasn't impressive enough, she also became the first player ever to score over 2 million points in live competition since the implementation of the new level 39 cap. With accomplishments like that and all the momentum in the world behind her, it seemed entirely possible that Meme was on her way to capturing her first ever world championship.

But then there was Scuti. At just 13 years old, Scuti became world famous by doing what many thought was impossible by beating Tetris itself by pushing the game so far that it crashed. The story became so massive that it was turned into a full-length documentary, one that I am still desperately trying to watch, but unfortunately can't because I live in Canada. More importantly, when it came to head-to-head competition against Meme, Scuti had been her kryptonite. By this point, the two had faced each other thirteen times, and Meme had yet to win a single match. Thirteen meetings. Thirteen victories for Scuti. A staggering 13-0 record. So the question wasn't whether Meme was talented enough to win a world championship. The question was whether she could finally overcome the one player who had consistently stood in her way.

Both players were going into this match with something to prove on the world stage. The only question remaining was who would advance to take on Dog?

Top: Meme versus Scuti in the semi finals of CTWC 2026
Bottom: James Chen, Chris Tang and Sharky

Game 1 was everything you’d expect from these two. Meme and Scuti stayed neck and neck the entire game, matching each other line for line. Then Scuti misdropped and topped out first, giving Meme what looked like the opening for a chase down win. But in a twist, Meme also misdropped shortly after and came just short. Game 1 goes to Scuti. Wow.

Game 2 somehow pushed even further. Both players climbed past 1.6 million points in another brutal back-and-forth. Then the long bar drought hit Scuti, and Meme capitalized just enough to tie the series 1-1. Another absolute neck-and-neck classic, and the crowd was fully locked in at this point.

Game 3 saw Meme outlast Scuti into killscreen play, and she carried that momentum straight into Game 4. After thirteen straight losses to him in competition, Meme finally broke the streak and defeated Scuti for the first time, punching her ticket to the Grand Finals.

Top: Me and Dog
Bottom: Me and Scuti

Dog versus Meme. This was it. A finals I am sure nobody expected, because I honestly thought we would have gotten Scuti versus Alex T if I am being completely honest. And wouldn’t you know it, once again it went to a decider. A decider in the Grand Finals. Game 1 went to Dog after a finish that literally came down to the very last line piece. Absolute insanity. Game 2 saw Meme turn on the aggression and, in a brutal twist of fate, outlast Dog with just 22K separating them into super kill screen, a seed with 15 droughts! We were tied at 1-1.

Game 3 went back to Dog as Meme topped out first on a fatal hang shortly after both players transitioned into kill screen. 2-1 Dog. One game away from a third world title. At this point Dog was at his absolute best and showing exactly why he is one of the greatest Classic NES Tetris players ever. His calm composure is unmatched in my opinion. I have watched tons of his streams over the years, but witnessing it first hand in person was something else entirely.

Game 4 and Meme was not going out without a fight. She turned the aggression all the way up to eleven and this time it was Dog who finally felt the pressure, topping out first in a complete reversal of the previous game.

We were now at 2-2, and we were heading into the final game of CTWC 2026. The ultimate decider was about to take place.

Meme and Dog at CTWC 2026

This game right here. What can I say? It was some of the greatest Tetris I have ever seen, with one of the craziest moments I have ever witnessed. After both players transitioned into kill screen, Meme’s board was starting to show some holes, but Dog’s stacking was immaculate, and with Meme forced into some cleanup, Dog was able to extend his lead. Then suddenly, Dog had a misdrop, and Meme had a clean board. I could not believe my eyes. Was this it? Was this the moment Meme finally takes the world title?

The pieces kept falling and it was not looking good for Dog at that point, but then in a blink-and-you-miss-it moment, he pulled off something only someone of his level could even attempt, let alone execute. Still ahead by over 100,000 points and fully in control, Dog hit a back-to-back T-spin sequence. Holy mother of God. How did he just do that and not even flinch? No reaction, no panic, just pure, controlled execution. Zero emotion, one hundred percent legendary skill.

From there, both Meme and Dog reset their boards and continued into post-level 29 play, trading leads as they pushed deeper into super kill screen territory. It was neck and neck again, with Level 39 approaching. Then, just like that, Meme topped out first, and Dog immediately followed with the long bar finish to secure the Tetris and the victory. Once again, he was the CTWC World Champion for a third time, joining Jonas Neubauer as the only other player in history to reach that milestone. The venue erupted. Not a single empty seat. Some people sitting, some standing, all of them losing their minds when it was finally over.

Kingsman then interviewed Meme, and even in defeat after reaching the finals two years in a row and finishing second, she spoke with genuine gratitude. She said she couldn’t stop smiling because of how much fun she had, congratulated Dog on the win, and thanked the entire community for their overwhelming support throughout the weekend. She also shared something more personal, saying that growing up she never really had many friends, and how meaningful it was to now be part of a community where she can genuinely call so many people her friends. Even in defeat, there was a calmness to her that made it feel like the result didn’t define the moment.

3 time CTWC World Champion Dog

Then Dog took the stage to claim his prize, a J-piece trophy to go alongside his other two T-piece championship trophies from 2020 and 2021, when CTWC was forced to transition online during the COVID-19 pandemic. He won his first world title at just 13 years old, famously defeating his own brother PixelAndy, who was in the room across the hall at the time, and setting a Guinness World Record that still stands today.

We would later learn that Dog had actually been planning on retiring after CTWC 2026. He admitted he had been feeling defeated going into the event, citing the mental toll competitive Tetris takes. He also spoke about feeling discouraged after getting heavily defeated by iBall in the Classic Tetris Monthly Mega Masters tournament, a player he ironically went on to defeat here earlier in the Round of 16. With no expectations on himself, he decided to give it everything he had. And now, after finally proving himself in a live in-person world championship once again, he said we will more than likely see him return for CTWC 2027.

The Official CTWC 2026 "Dog Rebirth Tribute" shirt design by Vince and Me, redesigned by HydrantDude

One last thing I want to touch on, because it really makes Dog’s victory feel like a full circle moment in the truest sense of the word. Dog was the very first person to ever reach level 255 in classic NES Tetris, unlocking the previously thought-impossible “rebirth” screen, where the pieces turn red and the game loops back to the beginning. It was an achievement that, on its own, already cemented him in the history of the game. What makes it even more surreal is that the official CTWC 2026 shirt design this year was created as a tribute to that exact moment in his career, and I was genuinely honored to have been involved in designing it. To go from celebrating that milestone in artwork to watching him stand on stage as a three-time world champion felt like something straight out of a story that wrote itself. I mention all of this because Dog spoke openly about retiring and not expecting to win. But he did. He proved that his earlier online world titles were not a fluke, and that he belongs firmly among the greatest to ever play the game. And in a way, you could say that winning CTWC 2026 gave him his own sense of “rebirth” all over again, closing one chapter, and quietly beginning another on his own terms.

If you don't know, the trophy itself was changed from a T-piece to a J-piece in honor of the late seven-time world champion Jonas Neubauer, who tragically passed away in 2021 at just 39 years of age. Inscribed on every Jonas Neubauer Memorial Trophy is a quote from a 2018 interview Jonas did with fellow Canadian Arda Ocal that reads, “If you’re a high visibility player, it’s on you to move the community in a positive direction.” And if there was ever a player who embodied that quote, it's Dog, a champion not just because of what he has accomplished in Tetris, but because of the positive impact he has on everyone around him in the wonderful world that is the CTWC Tetris community.

Getting Little Nemo at Retro Games Plus in Long Beach, California

In closing, if you made it this far and are still reading this, thank you. This is probably the longest thing I have ever written about anything. I started with a rough idea of what I wanted to say, but as my fingers hit the keyboard, the memories and emotions followed. To say attending CTWC 2026 was a dream come true would be an understatement. For years, my experience of this community existed through Twitch streams, YouTube videos, Discord messages, and tournament broadcasts viewed from behind a computer screen thousands of miles away. This past weekend, I finally got to experience it for myself.

Yes, the matches were incredible. Yes, the storylines were unforgettable. Yes, I witnessed some of the greatest Tetris ever played. But when I look back on CTWC 2026 years from now, what I know I'll remember most are the people. All of those pleasant conversations. Taking my shot at qualifying. Meeting players I had only known online. Sharing laughs with complete strangers who didn't feel like strangers for very long at the CTWC after party.

For one weekend, I wasn't watching the Classic Tetris community.

I was part of it.

CTWC 2026: Beautiful Chaos

By: Muffyio