**Niftski’s Controversy: A Clash in the Speedrunning Scene**
Speedrunner Niftski has attracted attention in the gaming world for being the second-fastest individual to complete *Super Mario Bros.* In 2026, he set an ambitious objective: to be the first to record a time that matches a theoretically flawless playthrough of the game. However, an abrupt rule change that disallowed his favored input method has caused him to accuse the moderation team at *Speedrun.com* of sabotaging his efforts.
In a recently released YouTube video, Niftski alleged that the current Any% world record holder, averge11, colluded with certain *SMB1* leaderboard moderators to sway the vote that led to the prohibition of input swapping, a technique he depended on for his speedruns. Input swapping enables players to alternate between using a keyboard and a controller to boost their performance across various stages of the game.
Since January, Niftski has been committed to achieving an Any% TAS tie of the original *Super Mario Bros.* game. Any% signifies a run where the goal is to complete the game as quickly as possible, while TAS, or tool-assisted speedrun, uses software to simulate precise inputs. Securing a TAS tie implies matching the time of an optimized run performed with these tools.
Initially, last October, the *Speedrun.com* moderation team voted overwhelmingly to permit input swapping under certain conditions. Documents provided by Niftski revealed that averge11 had previously been in favor of the technique. However, as Niftski began demonstrating significant progress using this method, discussions around its validity were reignited among the moderation team.
In February, the situation dramatically shifted when the team voted 14 to 2 to ban input swapping, reversing their earlier decision, which Niftski believes was orchestrated by averge11. He asserted that the debate surrounding the ban was initiated with malicious intent, aimed at hindering his advancement.
To complicate the scenario, Niftski accused averge11 of harboring envy and spreading negative remarks about him in private discussions, further claiming that they influenced the vote by engaging with other members and pressing for a swift conclusion, even before all votes were cast.
Both Niftski and averge11 participated in the voting process while not being official moderators. However, Niftski expressed concerns about the inclusion of another notable player, LeKukie, whose access to the voting channel appeared to be delayed until after the voting had ended.
After the vote, celebrations broke out among averge11’s supporters, with messages that suggested personal grudges against Niftski, reflecting the unease within the community.
In response, averge11 recognized his previous behavior in a social media post, candidly admitting to problematic actions and highlighting the need for accountability.
The ongoing tensions in the speedrunning community underscore the fragile relationships between players and moderators, as well as the contentious nature of rule modifications that can greatly affect competitive gameplay. Niftski hopes that this incident will lead to a reconsideration of the input swapping ban and its consequences for future speedrunning events, rather than result in harassment of the current moderators.
