Community love: “Hugo, the boy from Chicago” by Tones

Guest article by Anthony Albert Schweitzer Ducusin aka “Tones”

Hello everyone. Tones here, I’m out in Chicago lining some things up for myself.

The other day I was walking through the Harold Washington Library when I noticed in the people in the teens’ chillax area playing smash.

Talked with the staff there and when they tell me about this Hugo guy, a local teen that has been organizing regular competitions and how “he’s extremely passionate and outgoing, we let him run and lead things.” So I talked about how the scene is back in Melbourne Australia, about how I’ve part of this group called Couch Warriors and how we’ve been doing events since 2007.

They invite me to the “Library of Smash” tournament where Hugo will be doing his thing.

Here is his story…

Like a lot of us Hugo has always enjoyed playing video games, he got involved with the offline Smash scene. Found it fun, awesome and hype and all that cool stuff but was put off by how salty rude it can get.

So what does he do?

At the age of 16 he goes out and creates his own scene with the culture he thinks the scene deserves – a positive and friendly competitive environment.

Now they are frequenting 50 a tournament, he has single handedly TOed a 74 man tournament all the way through despite a fire break out in the middle of it. Sounds pretty serious yeah? Well, he calls it semi competitive.

What it is though is just super hype and friendly. He understands the importance of building community.

Hugo: “My main objective for my tournaments is to show people that a video game tournament isn’t all about winning. It is about having a good time with others. ”

This is his final year at this location because he’s finishing his senior high school year, so he’s looking to duplicate – to create a self-sustaining system while he moves off to further himself, leaving his mark with the scene no matter where he goes. As for what he wants people to take away from his work:

Hugo: “I wanted people to see that if you have the passion and effort, you can do so much for the things you enjoy, no matter what it is”.

Be sure to send him some love if you’re in the area. Hugo is a positive ball of energy doing good things for the e-sports scene on the ground level. Was a pleasure to meet him in the area of Chicago at Library of Smash and to send him some love.

Anytime Hugo buddy. Cheers, Tones.

 

For details on the space and their social media: http://www.chipublib.org/hwlc-youmedia/