Christian Orrell, Contributing Writer
No matter if players are looking to climb the rankings or simply pick up a controller, Smash at VCU offers a place for Super Smash Bros. fans to connect.
What began as a VCU esports club in 2018 became an independent, student-run organization in 2024, opening the door for a broader community of players from across Richmond.
The club hosts free, weekly tournaments on Fridays, along with monthly events that attract players from across Virginia and other states. While some events are reserved for VCU students, most are open to the public, regardless of skill level.
Michael Crevoisier, former president of Smash at VCU, assumed leadership in 2022, helping guide the organization to what it is today. He said the process required significant time and quick work to organize events and secure room reservations.
“There was also a lot of pushback from VCU about creating the club because they were asking why we got separated from esports and a lot of other questions of that nature,” Crevoisier said. “It was time-consuming and stressful, but I made it through and really got the club churning again.”
Crevoisier said the club’s welcoming atmosphere makes it easy for members to connect, even with players they have never met.
“We all love playing this game and we bond over it, make friends because of it and just have fun playing the game,” Crevoisier said. “I have met some of my closest friends here in the VCU Smash community.”
Jakob Huse, a fourth-year computer science student and vice president of Smash at VCU, said he has seen steady growth in the community with new people.
“A few tournaments have breached 40 participants, and we haven’t had any under 20,” Huse said. “It’s been a big step up from previous years.”
Charlie Bicknell, a fourth-year theatre student and president of Smash at VCU, said joining the club is less about being a good enough player for the group.
“It’s a competition, but at the end of the day, we’re just a bunch of guys who like the video game and want to play it together,” Bicknell said.
Smash at VCU held Ram Rampage, a monthly tournament, on Nov. 7 with 18 competing brackets.
For the more competitive aspect of the club, Smash at VCU will host an end-of-semester tournament, the ramvitational, on Dec. 5. It will feature 16 players, with 10 spots going to the top-ranked players from the semester’s previous tournaments, while the community votes on the remaining six.
The club remains connected through its RamsConnect page, Instagram and Discord.
More information can be found on their Instagram @vcusmash.