Olivia Richman is a seasoned esports journalist who has worked with Inven Global, Esports Illustrated, Esports.gg, and more. As an editor and writer at Esports Insider, she loves telling unique esports stories, especially within the FGC. When not working and gaming, Olivia loves collecting Kirby plush, eating sushi, and driving her cars at the track.
Image Credit: RELLFGC / Supernova There is one frustrating downside to having too many hobbies: you miss things. I missed the massive Supernova Super Smash Bros. tournament last year for Monterey Car Week, and sadly won’t make it for the same reason this year. This has meant missing the Combo Contest, my favorite event of all time . And this year, I was just informed that the Combo Contest would have the two GOATs of the esport: Hunter “Huntsman” Cummings and Prince .
Despite being the top Combo Contest competitors of all time, neither has competed against the other. Until now. It will likely be one of the most insane tournaments you’ll ever witness. Old-school versus new-school. Technical prowess versus hype. Stoicness versus showmanship .
Even though I didn’t really want to be reminded that I’ll be missing this momentous tournament, I had the amazing opportunity to speak with Huntsman, a top Smash 64 player from Utah, about his passion for the Combo Contest, how he came up with the idea to play with his bare feet on stage, and the incredible passion of the Smash 64 scene.
First, let me quickly explain what the Combo Contest is. For a panel of Smash judges, Smash 64 competitors go on stage and attempt to perform a very difficult zero-to-death combo on a CPU, using as much skill, creativity, and innovation as possible without dropping the combo.
And unlike me, these players have this one single focus. This one goal. And that’s what it takes to be the GOAT of the Combo Contest.
Esports Insider: How did you get into the Combo Contest?
Huntsman: I got into the game late. I was in college, and I didn’t start playing competitive Super Smash Bros. 64 until late 2018, early 2019. I think two Combo Contests had already happened. I remember seeing combos that Prince was posting on Twitter and thinking, “This is impossible .” I didn’t think it was humanly possible what he was doing. In 2019, I saw my first Combo Contest live. Until then, I watched them all on YouTube. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world.
I fell in love with Smash 64 itself because of the combos. People give it a tough time because it’s so dramatic. But that’s why I love the game. I love combo’ing someone, finding creative ways to make everything come together.
So when I saw Prince win again in 2022 – his fourth championship – I committed. “I am gonna start making combos and see if I can do this.” Prince completely inspired me to think I could even participate in the Combo Contest.
Not gonna lie, the first time I competed, I was a last-minute entry. My goal was to just participate in a Combo Contest. That was my ultimate goal. Once I got there, I was so excited. I ended up winning in 2023. My whole journey started with watching Prince and realizing that the impossible was possible with enough time, effort, and dedicated practice.
ESI: How do you come up with some of the crazier stuff, like playing with multiple controllers and using your feet?
Huntsman: This sounds terrible. This isn’t good for me t…