Although most teenage boys have an avid love for video games, Filip Radunovic‘s ‘16 is unlike any other. Beyond casual play, he has spent hours of his time training on his Wii U and competing at high level Super Smash Bros tournaments.

“I’m not as much of an ‘intense’ gamer anymore, but I sure do love video games with the bottom of my heart,” Radunovic said.

When Radunovic started competitively playing Super Smash Bros, he played up to seven hours a night. This long duration of gaming is referred to as labbing, and it allows the gamer to practice a variety of mechanics, strategies and techniques, he said.

“As far as Smash Bros is concerned, I’ve taken something of a hiatus,” Radunovic said. “I haven’t been playing it much outside of testing any new techniques or strategies I find on YouTube or Reddit that I can incorporate into my play style when I return.”

Radunovic started competing in The Chicago Smash 4 scene tournaments last May.   He originally just wanted to compete with friends Joseph Orr ‘16 and Stephan Gooden ‘16, but then it became a part of his daily routine.

“Filip Radunovic, Stephan Gooden and myself thought it would be fun to just try competitive gaming out,” Orr said.

Tournaments can last for days depending on the amount of competitors. Although single matches last three to 10 hours. Many tournaments require an entry fee of $5, but also allow you to earn money if successful in the tournament, Orr said.

“I think the issue with intense gaming is that people can forget it all really is about having fun,” Orr said.

Although some people make a lot of money in the tournaments it is nearly impossible to make a living off professional gaming, Orr said.

“I have made money playing smash but it was never about the money for me,”Gooden said. “It was about meeting different kinds of people and seeing different personalities being reflected in the way they played as a character.”

Radunovic has no interest in pursuing a career in video games, but hopes to keep it as entertainment, he said.

“I leave it a hobby and intend to keep it that way,” Radunovic said. “Just being able to play your favorite character and having fun with your friends is what I think it the best thing about it, even on a competitive level.”