Birrell drew a lot of attention for his masterful performance during AGDQ, where he played a secret mode under the credits, unlocked after a nearly perfect game, in which the blocks become invisible once placed. That accomplishment earned him Master status. To climb one higher, to Grand Master, he had to achieve the same feat four times within seven games, which leads to a 50-percent chance of a Grand Master Exam presenting itself for the ultimate test of skill. It’s a punishing challenge, made all the harder to achieve because of the capricious randomness involved in meeting the requirement. The rank had only ever been achieved by five players in Japan, where the game originally came out.
“If this happens, it’d be the greatest day of my life,” Birrell jokes in the video. He mentions repeatedly that his hands are shaking from nervousness, but you’d never know from their lightning-fast movement, thoughtfully recorded as part of the stream. After summiting that peak, Birrell expressed relief that he is finally free for other pursuits.
I’m free at last. Classic Master GM. I love you all and cherish the memories we made. #tetristgm pic.twitter.com/CuoOWZlpt4
— Kevin Birrell (@KevinDDR) January 28, 2015
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