When Advait “McBlaze” Venkatesh attended his first UTSmash tournament, he never imagined he would be competing against players from Alberta, Québec, and even New Jersey. 

As President of UTSmash — U of T’s official Smash Ultimate Club — Venkatesh has seen the club’s meteoric growth since its revival in 2023. What began as 10-person weekly tournaments has since developed into one of the Greater Toronto Area’s most prolific competitive gaming communities. 

Its most recent regional tournament, Campus Clash 3: BARRAGE, hosted 239 attendees from across the country.

In an interview with The Varsity, Venkatesh described the lead-up to the tournament. 

“We needed a production crew, a graphic designer, and staff for the event. It was eight months of work… and five months of telling people to come… I think I must have easily messaged 300 people.”

Super Smash Bros — a platform fighting video game series — has long been a cornerstone of esports, with grassroots communities allowing gamers to compete for cash prizes in local, regional, and international tournaments. 

Campus Clash 3: BARRAGE was UTSmash’s largest event yet, and the biggest gaming tournament in U of T history. Held at Tartu College Event Space, the tournament featured a $100 pot bonus — an additional cash prize added to the entry-fee pool — attracting U of T and non-U of T players. 

The event’s Collegiate Crews, which paired competitors from other schools in Ontario, welcomed players from 12 post-secondary institutions. Although many of those registered were U of T students, some players, such as New Jersey’s Syrup, travelled all the way from the US to compete. 

In addition to their regional tournaments, UTSmash hosts free-to-play weekly tournaments and offers discounted rates for its monthly tournaments. In the clubroom at 21 Sussex Avenue, students can join gaming practice sessions every Friday free of charge.

UTSmash is the longest-running tournament series in downtown Toronto, and Venkatesh is proud to say that they’re attracting talent from all over. 

“When I was in first year as an international student, I found it hard to meet people. I would have never met anyone from Wawa or Thunder Bay if it weren’t for Smash and these free, accessible spaces.”

Although it was founded in 2019, UTSmash struggled to resume operations after the COVID-19 pandemic due to the rising cost of event spaces and a lack of funding from the university. Venkatesh noted that while Smash clubs at York University and Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) receive funding from their schools, UTSmash relies on entry fees from its monthly and annual tournaments. 

“[The university] could be giving us rooms for free so that we wouldn’t have to pay for these spaces. Even just coverage, promotions, or anything that could bring us out there. That’s all we ask for.”

The club’s weekly tournaments now consistently see a turnout of at least 45 players, many of whom are in the same programs and classes. Riddles, widely considered the greatest Canadian Smash Ultimate player, is among the tournament’s regular attendees.

Despite the competitive nature of the game, Venkatesh feels that the sense of community at UTSmash is what keeps players coming back. 

“Everyone comes to hang out every Friday and talks about how their week was, how they’re travelling to other tournaments. At the end of the day, the game is just something that unites us. If you come to one of our events, you’ll find people to talk to about school, jobs, or anything. I have made lifelong friends through this game, and it’s just a fun social environment.”

UTSmash has already begun planning next year’s Campus Clash, and Venkatesh hopes for an even larger turnout.