Updated

Updated · Polygon · Aug 10

Super Mario Bros. Players Close to Perfect Run at 4:54.365, Just 0.1 Seconds Short

Updated

Updated · Polygon · Aug 10

Super Mario Bros. Players Close to Perfect Run at 4:54.365, Just 0.1 Seconds Short

Q: What is the secret controller grip propelling a Brazilian underdog to the edge of human limits in Super Mario Bros?

LeKukie’s edge appears to come from an unusual NES controller grip that lets him tap opposite directions—especially left and right—in extremely rapid succession. According to former world-record holder Kosmic, that unconventional hold makes advanced movement tricks more consistent, giving LeKukie a practical advantage even at a level where runs are decided by single frames. In Super Mario Bros. speedrunning, those tiny gains matter enormously: LeKukie’s 4:54.365 world record is only six frames, or 0.1 seconds, off the documented theoretical perfect run. The grip is notable because the challenge is no longer figuring out a faster route; the route already exists in theory through tool-assisted analysis. The remaining barrier is human execution—linking every pixel-perfect jump, input, and trick together in one uninterrupted attempt. Kosmic’s assessment is that LeKukie’s hand position helps with the fast back-to-back directional inputs needed for some of the game’s hardest techniques. So the “secret” is not a hidden cheat or special hardware, but a bizarre, specialized way of holding the standard NES pad that enables lightning-fast left-right inputs and steadier execution under world-record conditions.

3 articles · Updated · Polygon · Aug 10

LeKukie’s June world record of 4:54.365 left Super Mario Bros. players just 0.1 seconds—six frames—from the game’s theoretical fastest possible completion.
Recent speedrunning breakthroughs have mapped a documented perfect route, but executing every pixel-precise trick in one continuous run remains the barrier, especially in the final level.
LeKukie, a Brazilian runner backed by community-funded equipment, gained an edge with an unusual controller grip that lets him tap left and right in rapid succession for advanced tricks.
Kosmic says a perfect run now looks inevitable, making the remaining challenge less about discovering new time saves than delivering a mistake-free attempt.