Super Mario Bros. speedrunner Niftski (far left) says he’s being sabotaged by rule changes. In early 2026, Niftski – one of the world’s fastest Super Mario Bros. Any% runners – went public with allegations that other community members, including top runner averge11, colluded to ban his preferred input method and derail his progress toward a “perfect” TAS‐tie run. Niftski claims this move amounted to sabotage. The controversy erupted after Speedrun.com moderators voted, first to allow and then to ban controller/keyboard swapping in Any% runs.
Super Mario Bros. speedrunner claims he is being sabotaged
In April 2026, gaming news sites reported that Super Mario Bros. speedrunner Niftski publicly accused the community of undermining his record attempts. Niftski explained that he had been pursuing a TAS-tie (theoretical perfect) time in SMB Any% play, but a sudden rule change banning “input swapping” had thrown him off track. He called the change a “coordinated effort” by others to target him. According to Niftski, the voting process on the rule was manipulated – a claim supported by video and chat logs he later published. This amounted, in his view, to deliberate sabotage of his Any% runs.
Who is Niftski in Super Mario Bros. speedrunning
Niftski is a prominent American speedrunner known for Super Mario Bros. 1985. He has held multiple world records and was the second-fastest person ever to complete SMB Any%, with a personal best of 4:54.448 on an original-ROM run. He famously broke the four-minute‐55‐second barrier in 2021, joining the top echelon of runners. In 2023 and 2024 Niftski continued to lower the world record, reaching times within a few frames of the theoretical limit. In late 2025, he traded world-record runs with fellow runner averge11 – a rivalry that set the stage for this controversy.
What happened in the Niftski sabotage controversy
The controversy centers on Speedrun.com’s moderation votes about input devices. In October 2025, the SMB1 moderation team voted (8–1) to allow swapping between keyboard and controller mid-run (with conditions). In February 2026, the same team unexpectedly voted (14–2) to ban any mid-run input swapping. Niftski claims the ban came only after averge11 – then world-record holder – lobbied moderators during the vote. He alleges averge11 private-messaged mods to push for the ban, got the vote closed early, and even celebrated in private channels (with messages like “no more Niftski” and a joking “Niftski funeral” video) when the ban passed. These events were documented in Niftski’s video presentation and accompanying documents shared publicly soon after.
Why input swapping was banned in Super Mario Bros. speedruns
Officially, the SMB1 mod team cited consistency and fairness in reverting to a one-controller rule. After deliberation, they decided runners must use a single device (keyboard or controller) for the entire run. Unofficially, Niftski argues the ban was targeted: he believes it was introduced “in bad faith and was intended to hinder my performance”. He points out that players typically agree keyboard and controller are roughly equal, so swapping shouldn’t give an unfair advantage – making the sudden ban seem like a targeted move against his strategy. The formal announcement of the ban simply stated the outcome (14–2 vote) without detailed reasoning. Niftski and supporters maintain that the real motive was to stall his TAS-tie attempts.
Speedrun.com Super Mario Bros. input swapping rule change explained
To clarify the rules: Originally, Speedrun.com allowed swapping one keyboard and one controller mid-run – but only between levels or room transitions and under strict debounce requirements. This was set by a October 2025 rule change (8–1 vote) to formally permit controlled swaps. However, later, the SMB1 team voted (14–2) to fully rescind that change. Under the new rule, any mid-run device swap is disallowed and runs must use one device the whole game. Existing runs that had used input swaps were grandfathered in (kept on the leaderboard), but going forward, controller-only or keyboard-only runs are the standard.
How Niftski says the moderation vote hurt his TAS tie progress
Niftski claims the sequence of votes hurt him directly. Before the ban, he had used input swapping strategically (keyboard for precise moves, controller for others) to inch closer to the theoretical perfect time. When the ban was announced, he alleged it came right after he was tying the current record. In his words, the topic “was initially brought up in bad faith and was intended to hinder my performance”. He called the second vote a “coordinated effort by averge11 and other conspirators to target and derail his TAS tie progress”. Essentially, Niftski feels the timing of the vote change – from allow to ban – was engineered to break his momentum.
What is a TAS tie in Super Mario Bros. speedrunning
A TAS tie refers to matching the time of a tool-assisted speedrun (TAS) using human play. In SMB Any%, TAS software has computed the fastest mathematically possible run (with perfect pixel-precise inputs). A TAS tie means a human runner completes the game with that same optimal time. In practice, it’s aiming for a speedrun so flawless that it equals the TAS-best time. Because a TAS can react impossibly well, tying it is extremely challenging; it’s viewed as achieving the “perfect” run under game rules.
Why Niftski was chasing a perfect Super Mario Bros. time
Niftski’s goal has been to reach “the last frame rule” – essentially doing everything as quickly as a theoretical TAS. In SMB1 Any%, reaching the TAS time has been an epic quest. By early 2026, the difference between the human world record and the TAS-best had dwindled to only a few frames. Niftski and others see this as the final frontier: if a human can tie the TAS time (around 4:54.26 RTA), it would be a historic milestone for the game. That’s why he pushed the limits of execution on every level and advocated using any legal technique (like safe input swaps) to shave off milliseconds.
Who is averge11 in the Super Mario Bros. speedrunning scene
averge11 is another elite SMB1 Any% runner, notable for holding the world record. As of early 2026, averge11’s time is the fastest officially recorded (4:54.415 on a MiSTer FPGA system). The rivalry between Niftski and averge11 has pushed each other’s times lower. In August 2025, averge11 unseated Niftski with a 4:54.515 run, leading Niftski to tie and retake the record hours later. They have been trading records since. averge11’s recent run (4:54.415 in Dec 2025) currently stands as the SMB Any% world record. He is a veteran of the game and, like Niftski, known for top-level exploits such as advanced wrong-warps and tricky 8-4 strategies.
Super Mario Bros. speedrunning drama and leaderboard moderation controversy
The speedrunning community occasionally sees disputes, but this incident has drawn unusually sharp attention. Media outlets noted that SMB1 is “no stranger to drama,” and that the fallout could prompt changes in how Speedrun.com handles leaderboards. Indeed, many think this affair highlights governance issues: the involvement of a world-record holder in mod votes, discord leaks, and harsh community reactions (including allegations of harassment) have raised questions about moderation. Some in the community are now calling for more transparency and fairness in the speedrun.com process. In general, what would have been a technical rule-change story became a full-blown controversy involving personal conflicts, bringing new drama to what had been a very technical racing scene.
Did Speedrun.com reverse its Super Mario Bros. input swapping decision
In effect, yes. The SMB1 moderators overturned the previous allowance. The news announcement on Speedrun.com stated that, after further deliberation, any mid-run swapping is banned (by 14–2 vote) and runs must use one device. This retracts the earlier policy. So even though swapping was briefly allowed, the final rule reversal means SMB1 Any% now officially forbids input device swaps. (All runs submitted under the old rule remain valid on the leaderboards, as the announcement notes.) Thus the net result is a permanent ban on swapping in future SMB1 Any% records.
How controller and keyboard swapping affects Super Mario Bros. runs
In SMB Any%, some level segments are easiest on a controller (for analog movement) while others can be executed slightly faster with a keyboard (for precise pixel-timing). Input swapping lets a runner use both: for example, play precise fast accelerations on keyboard, then switch to controller for tricky pipe levels. Niftski explained that swapping effectively lets the player “go from keyboard to controller depending on the level and which provides better accuracy”. Critics worry it mixes two toolsets in one run, but proponents note keyboards have become common and fair.
Under the old rules, swapping was tightly restricted (only at safe points with matched debounce). The new ban forces runners to master the entire run on either one device or the other. As one community member observed, if the run allows hardware changes, “why not have two lists like console vs PC runs?” – implying players might now wish for separate “keyboard” and “controller” leaderboards to accommodate both styles.
Why the Super Mario Bros. Any% category is under debate
This saga has rekindled a long-running debate about hardware in SMB speedruns. Some purists argue SMB Any% should stick to a single, traditional input method. Others point out that many speedruns on PC use various controllers, and insisting on “original hardware only” is unnecessary gatekeeping. The input-swapping issue brought these tensions to the surface: is it fair to allow mixing devices? Some have proposed splitting leaderboards (e.g. “keyboard/PC” vs “controller/NES”) if needed, similar to how console and PC categories exist in other games.
Broadly, critics of the ban say that from a casual perspective, it’s a “petty distinction” whether a run is done on keyboard or controller. Meanwhile, others feel strongly about setting clear rules. In short, the Any% category – once settled on glitch rules and warps – is now being re-examined around the hardware question, a debate that intensified due to this controversy.
Niftski documents and video allegations explained
Niftski accompanied his accusations with evidence. He released a 23-minute YouTube video (titled “They Changed the Rules to Sabotage My TAS Tie Progress”) along with a Google Doc of chat logs. In the video and documents, he details how averge11 allegedly influenced the voting process. For example, Niftski shows that averge11 was initially a proponent of allowing swapping, then shifted to pushing for the ban right when Niftski was closing in on the record. He shares Discord screenshots where averge11 urged moderators to expedite the ban vote and prematurely ended voting.
Niftski also quotes a private conversation where people joked about “no more Niftski” after the ban passed. Additionally, he cites remarks by averge11 (now apologized for on Twitter) that included disparaging comments and slurs behind the scenes. Niftski claims the collected evidence “proves beyond a reasonable doubt” that the input-swapping ban was enforced specifically to derail him. Meanwhile, averge11 has posted on social media accepting that he made mistakes in the process (for which he apologized).
What the Super Mario Bros. speedrunning community is saying now
Reaction among fans and runners has been intense. On forums and social media, many have sided with Niftski, calling the ban unfair and the timing suspicious. For example, one community member commented that Niftski “deserves it” and has been “years ahead of the field”. Others echoed that if the run is truly possible without the leaderboard’s blessing, “everyone will know he did it first” anyway.
Some have criticized averge11’s behavior – noting that he apologized and acknowledging his actions looked “egotistical” or even “disgusting” (one user suggested reevaluating whether averge11’s runs should stand). At the same time, some veteran runners are urging calm, observing that speedrunning communities often wrangle over rules and that “accidents happen when running a rule change vote”. Overall, the community is both excited about the historic TAS-tie chase and frustrated that drama may overshadow it.
Could the input swapping ban change future Super Mario Bros. world record attempts
Potentially, yes. Without swapping allowed, runners may need to adapt their strategies. Some speculate that absolute fastest times might be slightly slower if they cannot use optimal input for each segment. On the other hand, competitors might find new techniques or optimize a single setup. Because existing swapped-input runs are grandfathered, the current record remains (averge11’s 4:54.415), but future official records will come from uniform-input attempts.
It’s also possible that if no consensus emerges, skilled players might simply do TAS-tie attempts regardless of verification (some in the community suggest running for “history” even if the run isn’t officially recorded). In any case, the ban emphasizes one device per run, which could pressure runners to split the category (keyboard vs controller) in the future if disputes continue. For now, the official impact is that any new world record must comply with the one-device rule.
How Speedrun.com moderation works in retro speedrunning communities
Speedrun.com game leaderboards are governed by volunteer moderator teams. These teams debate rule changes and verify runs, often via private Discord channels. In SMB1, the mod team – led by long-time members – coordinates votes on any major changes. For example, the keyboard/controller rules were decided by a majority vote among the moderators. Experienced runners (even if not full-time mods) can be brought in as “consultants” to weigh in. In this case, both Niftski and averge11 were given consultant status and could voice opinions (though official mod votes must pass by a majority).
After votes, the decisions are posted on Speedrun.com (as news or forum notices) by moderators. The recent situation shows the system is not fully automated: it relies on trust and integrity of human moderators. Some (including Niftski) are now questioning whether tighter oversight or clearer rules might be needed, especially since top players had such direct influence on rule votes.
Super Mario Bros. Any% world record race and TAS tie history
Super Mario Bros. Any% has seen a fierce record race especially in the last few years. The long-standing record (about 4:55.646) set by Kosmic in 2017 stood for many years. In 2021–2023, Niftski and others steadily chipped it down: Niftski broke 4:55 in 2021 and set 4:54.631 in 2023 (an event covered by Ars Technica). In 2025, Niftski and averge11 traded blows: in August 2025 averge11 ran 4:54.515 (ending Niftski’s four-year streak); within months Niftski tied it and lowered it to 4:54.482 and then 4:54.448. On December 18, 2025, averge11 reclaimed the record at 4:54.415, the current mark.
Meanwhile the theoretical TAS best (RTA) is about 4:54.26, so the human record is only a few frames behind. The community’s aim is to shrink that gap to zero – tying the TAS. If that happens, it will be the first time humans exactly match the computer-optimal SMB1 time. Until then, every millisecond matters, which is why rules like input swapping have become so controversial: they could influence who gets to that perfect run first.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is “input swapping” in SMB speedrunning?
Input swapping means switching between a keyboard and a controller during the run (for example, using keyboard for one level and controller for another). Under old SMB rules, a run could use one of each device but only at safe points between levels. Now swapping mid-run is banned. - Why did Speedrun.com initially allow input swapping?
The SMB1 mod team voted (8–1) in October 2025 to allow controlled swaps as long as only one keyboard and one controller were used, swapping only in between levels and with matching debounce settings. The idea was to permit flexibility (keyboard and controller each can offer small advantages) while maintaining limits. - Why was the input swapping rule later changed?
After further discussion, the moderators voted (14–2) to forbid swapping entirely. Officially, the reason given was consistency – runs must use a single device whole-way. Unofficially, Niftski argues it was timed to block his lead – he claims other runners improperly influenced the vote to ban swapping when he was close to breaking the record. - Who are Niftski and averge11?
Both are top Super Mario Bros. Any% speedrunners. Niftski is known for breaking multiple records in 2021–2023 (e.g. doing 4:54.631) and chasing the TAS tie. averge11 is another elite runner who currently holds the Any% WR at 4:54.415 (set Dec 2025). They’ve traded world records in 2025, making them rivals. - What is a TAS tie?
A TAS tie means matching the tool-assisted speedrun’s optimal time in a real, human-played run. For SMB Any%, TAS tools have calculated a theoretical best time (around 4:54.26). Achieving that exact time with human play (by doing every frame-precise trick) would be a TAS tie. It’s seen as the ultimate “perfect” run. - What evidence did Niftski present of sabotage?
Niftski put out a video and documents showing Discord chat logs. He alleges averge11 messaged moderators during the vote to ban swapping (even getting it closed early) and then celebrated the result in a private Discord. The documents include screenshots of averge11’s messages and his own commentary. He claims this proves that averge11 coordinated a campaign to derail Niftski’s TAS tie attempts. - How did the votes on input swapping go?
There were two main votes by the SMB1 mod team. In late October 2025, the vote was 8–1 to allow restricted input swaps. In February 2026, after Niftski was making progress, they held another vote, which went 14–2 to ban input swaps. These votes were announced on Speedrun.com news (the ban vote by lead mod Brandon Lepetrie). - What has the speedrunning community’s reaction been?
Reactions have been mixed but heated. Many fans sympathize with Niftski, calling the ban “petty” and urging him to pursue the TAS tie run even if unofficial. Some have criticized averge11, especially over reports of name-calling in private chats. Moderators and veterans have noted that speedrunning communities often deal with drama, but this case is unusually contentious. Overall, there is broad support for Niftski’s goal and skepticism of the timing of the rule change. - Are runs that used input swapping still valid on the leaderboards?
Yes. The Speedrun.com announcement specifically grandfathered all previous runs that used swaps. They remain on the boards. Only new submissions must abide by the one-device rule. So the current world record (averge11’s 4:54.415) stands officially, even though it used swapping. Going forward, no new swapping runs will be verified. - What might happen to SMB Any% runs in the future?
If the input-swapping ban remains, runners will adapt strategies for single-device runs. Some may create unofficial “keyboard-run” leaderboards or simply attempt world-record runs with any methods off-leaderboard. The incident has also prompted discussions about whether moderation processes need reform. Ultimately, the Any% category is likely to see continued evolution, possibly with splits (keyboard vs controller) if the debate persists. For now, top runners will push their times within the new rules and pursue the TAS tie under one device.
Conclusion
The SMB1 speedrunning scene is in a turbulent moment. A technical rule change about keyboard/controller swapping has become a flashpoint, with Niftski accusing fellow runners and moderators of orchestrating it to hinder his attempts. The evidence and allegations – including leaked chats – have generated significant fallout. Officially, the swap ban stands, and the record chase continues under one-device rules. Unofficially, the controversy has divided opinion. What’s clear is that Niftski and others are still pushing the limits: they aim to tie the theoretical perfect time, a feat no one has done yet. The next world record attempts (and any potential TAS tie) will be watched closely, both for the speedruns themselves and any further fallout on speedrun.com’s moderation.
Sources and Citations
- https://kotaku.com/super-mario-bros-speedrunner-niftski-speedrun-tas-input-world-record-2000684012
Kotaku. “Super Mario Bros. Speedrunner Claims He’s Being Sabotaged.” April 1, 2026. - https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/mario-speedrunner-claims-hes-being-derailed-on-way-to-perfect-run-3344954/
Dexerto. “Mario speedrunner claims he’s being derailed on way to ‘perfect’ run.” April 2, 2026. - https://www.speedrun.com/smb1
Speedrun.com. “Super Mario Bros. (SMB1) Leaderboards and Rules.” - https://www.reddit.com/r/GameFeed/comments/1s9xxh1/super_mario_bros_speedrunner_claims_hes_being/
Reddit. “Super Mario Bros. Speedrunner Claims He’s Being Sabotaged – Community Discussion.” - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niftski
Wikipedia. “Niftski.”
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