Kurama, formerly known asProdigy, is a Smasher from Sacramento,California. His career began inSuper Smash Bros. 4 as aMario player, eventually ranking 3rd on theNorCal Smash 4 Power Rankings. His career took off inUltimate, in which he continued to playMario, and though successful in the early metagame, his best performances took place in the post-pandemic metagame; he was considered the best Mario player in the world in 2022 and 2023. During this time, he made significant breakthroughs with Mario and achieved many of Mario's bestUltimate results, including finishing 2nd atPort Priority 7, 3rd atLudwig Smash Invitational, and 4th atSmash Ultimate Summit 6; he was eventually ranked 11th on theUltRank 2022, becoming the highest-ranking Mario player inUltimate. He took a hiatus from competitive play in 2024 to focus on university, and as such, was dethroned bySnow. Nevertheless, due to his long-term success with Mario throughoutUltimate's competitive history, he is often considered the greatest Mario player of all time.
In doubles, Kurama regularly teamed withStark inSmash 4 and earlyUltimate. Since then, he has teamed with many players, with his most successful partnership being with fellow NorCal playerLui$. The two are widely considered the best doubles team in 2025, having won doubles atLuminosity Makes BIG Moves 2025,GENESIS X2,Supernova 2025, andRiptide 2025.
Playstyle[edit]
Kurama is renowned for his advantage state and punish game, quickly racking up damage or outright killing an opponent after landing a grab or an aerial. He utilizes an aggressive playstyle to constantly apply pressure while looking for openings in the opponent's defense, and to quickly close distance to compensate for Mario's short range.
However, Kurama can sometimes have issues when he either loses the lead, gets walled out for long, fails to confirm a kill, or starts to get greedy for the KO when the opponent’s percentage starts to climb to great heights. This results in him being stuck in disadvantage for a considerable amount of time and forces him to think slowly and carefully on how he executes. This is most notable against unfavourable matchups.
Rankings[edit]
| Ranking | Time period | Rank | Character(s) | Notes |
|---|
| Spring 2019 PGRU | February 1st-July 7th, 2019 | 37th |  | X-Factor: -5 |
| Ranking | Time period | Rank | Character(s) | Notes |
|---|
| UltRank 2022 | June 18th-December 18th, 2022 | 11th | | |
| LumiRank Mid-Year 2023 | December 19th, 2022-July 23rd, 2023 | 20th | | |
| LumiRank 2023 | December 19th, 2022-December 17th, 2023 | 25th | | |
| LumiRank Half Year 2025 | December 17th, 2024 - July 7th, 2025 | 53rd | | |
| UltRank Delta 2025 | July 8th - December 15th, 2025 | 43rd | | |
| UltRank 2025 | December 17th, 2024 - December 15th, 2025 | 49th | | |
OrionRank/LumiRank North America[edit]
Tournament placings[edit]
| Tournament | Date | 1v1 placement | 2v2 placement | Partner |
|---|
| FONC UP | September 1st, 2015 | 4th | — | — |
| Gamerz Smash Underground | April 1st, 2016 | 4th | — | — |
| Gamers Smash Underground Uno | April 8th, 2016 | 4th | — | — |
| Sacramento Indie Arcade | April 9th, 2016 | 2nd | — | — |
| Gamers Smash Underground Dos | April 15th, 2016 | 3rd | 1st | ? |
| Gamers Smash Underground Tres | April 29th, 2016 | 7th | — | — |
| 2GGT: Fresh Saga | May 7th, 2016 | 49th | 7th | Teb |
| Who's Your Pappy 3 | August 21st, 2016 | 33rd | 17th | Black_DynoWright |
| Gamerz Rebooted #3 | October 14th, 2016 | 4th | 2nd | Arikie |
| Gamerz Rebooted #6 | November 5th, 2016 | 5th | 5th | Mo |
| Gamerz Rebooted #9 | November 25th, 2016 | 2nd | ? | ? |
| Gamerz Rebooted #10 | December 2nd, 2016 | 3rd | — | — |
| Gamerz Rebooted #11 | December 9th, 2016 | 13th | 4th | Teb |
| 2GGT: ZeRo Saga | December 16th-18th, 2016 | 257th | 17th | Teb |
| Gamerz Rebooted #13 | January 6th, 2017 | 5th | 1st | Teb |
| 2GGC: GENESIS Saga | January 14th, 2017 | 193rd | 33rd | Teb |
| Gamerz Rebooted #15 | January 27th, 2017 | 3rd | 3rd | Andrew |
| Gamerz Rebooted #16 | February 3rd, 2017 | 3rd | 2nd | Fierce |
| Gamerz Rebooted #17 | February 10th, 2017 | 2nd | 2nd | Fierce |
| Who's Your Pappy #6 | February 19th, 2017 | 17th | 13th | SharpSerac |
| Gamerz Rebooted #19 | February 24th, 2017 | 5th | 2nd | Teb |
| Gamerz Rebooted #20 | March 3rd, 2017 | 2nd | 1st | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #25 | April 7th, 2017 | 5th | 3rd | WimpLow |
| Gamerz Rebooted #26 | April 14th, 2017 | 3rd | 3rd | Fierce |
| Gamerz Rebooted #27 | April 21st, 2017 | — | 1st | Legit |
| NorCal Smash 4's Arcadian Runback | April 23rd, 2017 | 3rd | — | — |
| Gamerz Rebooted #28 | April 28th, 2017 | 3rd | 2nd | Versed Ace |
| Gamerz Rebooted #29 | May 5th, 2017 | 2nd | 1st | Teb |
| Gamerz Rebooted #30 | May 12th, 2017 | 4th | 2nd | Teb |
| Gamerz Rebooted #32 | May 26th, 2017 | 3rd | 2nd | SirPulse |
| Gamerz Rebooted #33 | June 2nd, 2017 | 5th | 3rd | Ako |
| Gamerz Rebooted #34 | June 8th, 2017 | 7th | 2nd | Rude |
| Gamerz Rebooted #36 | June 23rd, 2017 | 7th | 1st | Teb |
| Gamerz Rebooted #37 | June 30th, 2017 | 5th | 5th | Andrew |
| Gamerz Rebooted #38 | July 7th, 2017 | 3rd | 3rd | Soulimar |
| Don't You Dair 7 | July 8th, 2017 | 17th | 7th | Domo |
| Gamerz Rebooted #39 | July 14th, 2017 | 3rd | 2nd | Rude |
| Gamerz Rebooted #42 | August 4th, 2017 | 13th | 5th | Rude |
| Gamerz Rebooted #43 | August 11th, 2017 | 7th | 2nd | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #45 | August 25th, 2017 | 9th | 2nd | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #46 | September 1st, 2017 | 4th | 1st | Stark |
| Who's Your Pappy #9 | September 3rd, 2017 | 9th | 5th | Domo |
| 2GGC: West Side Saga | September 9th, 2017 | 97th / 300 | 13th / 66 | Vermillion |
| Gamerz Rebooted #48 | September 15th, 2017 | 7th | 1st | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #49 | September 22nd, 2017 | 3rd | 1st | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #50 | September 29th, 2017 | 1st | 3rd | Stark |
| Smash @ Sac State Bi-Monthly #2 | September 30th, 2017 | 2nd | 1st | FuTure |
| Gamerz Rebooted #51 | October 6th, 2017 | 2nd | 1st | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #52 | October 13th, 2017 | 2nd | 1st | Stark |
| Davis Lounge Colosseum #1 | October 15th, 2017 | 3rd | 3rd | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #53 | October 20th, 2017 | 3rd | 1st | Stark |
| Who's Your Pappy 10 | October 22nd, 2017 | 17th | — | — |
| Gamerz Rebooted #54 | October 27th, 2017 | 3rd | 2nd | Stark |
| Davis Lounge Colosseum #2 | October 29th, 2017 | 1st | 1st | Stark |
| 2GGC: MkLeo Saga | November 4th, 2017 | 65th / 313 | — | — |
| Gamerz Rebooted #56 | November 10th, 2017 | 1st | 1st | Stark |
| Davis Lounge Colosseum #3 | November 12th, 2017 | 5th | 1st | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #57 | November 17th, 2017 | 2nd | 1st | Stark |
| Davis Lounge Colosseum #4 | November 26th, 2017 | 4th | 1st | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #59 | December 1st, 2017 | 5th | 3rd | Stark |
| Smash @ Sac State Bi-Monthly #3 | December 2nd, 2017 | 2nd | 1st | Shaky |
| Gamerz Rebooted #60 | December 8th, 2017 | 3rd | 1st | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #61 | December 15th, 2017 | 4th | 3rd | Stark |
| Phoenix Uprising #117 | December 27th, 2017 | 5th | — | — |
| Gamerz Rebooted #63 | December 29th, 2017 | 3rd | 1st | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #64 | January 5th, 2018 | 5th | 2nd | Stark |
| Who's Your Pappy #11 | January 14th, 2018 | 17th | 13th | Ewok |
| GENESIS 5 | January 19th-21st, 2018 | 33rd | 33rd | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #65 | January 26th, 2018 | 4th | — | — |
| Gamerz Rebooted #66 | February 2nd, 2018 | 3rd | 2nd | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #67 | February 9th, 2018 | 5th | 2nd | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #69 | February 23rd, 2018 | 3rd | 1st | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #70 | March 2nd, 2018 | 3rd | 1st | Stark |
| Davis Lounge Colosseum #8 | March 4th, 2018 | 5th | 5th | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #71 | March 9th, 2018 | 1st | 1st | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #74 | March 30th, 2018 | 2nd | 2nd | Virus |
| Smash Em Out of the Park Singles #12 | March 31st, 2018 | 2nd | — | — |
| Davis Lounge Colosseum #10 | April 8th, 2018 | 9th | 4th | Virus |
| Davis Lounge Colosseum #11 | April 22nd, 2018 | 3rd | 3rd | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #78 | April 27th, 2018 | 5th | 1st | Gossamer |
| Norcal Smash 4 Arcadian: Battle City | April 29th, 2018 | — | 9th | Gossamer |
| Davis Lounge Colosseum #12 | May 6th, 2018 | 3rd | 3rd | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #81 | May 18th, 2018 | 2nd | 1st | Legit |
| Davis Lounge Colosseum #13 | May 20th, 2018 | 5th | 2nd | Virus |
| Gamerz Rebooted #83 | June 1st, 2018 | 3rd | 1st | Virus |
| Davis Lounge Colosseum #14 | June 3rd, 2018 | 5th | 1st | Virus |
| Gamerz Rebooted #84 | June 8th, 2018 | 2nd | 1st | Soulimar |
| Gamerz Rebooted #86 | June 22nd, 2018 | 2nd | 1st | Stark |
| 2GG: Hyrule Saga | June 23rd-24th, 2018 | 65th | — | — |
| Gamerz Rebooted #90 | July 20th, 2018 | 2nd | 3rd | Demon |
| Gamerz Rebooted #91 | July 27th, 2018 | 2nd | 3rd | Stark |
| Davis Lounge Colosseum #16 | July 29th, 2018 | 2nd | 2nd | Virus |
| Gamerz Rebooted #92 | August 3rd, 2018 | 3rd | 3rd | Soulimar |
| Gamerz Rebooted #93 | August 10th, 2018 | 3rd | 1st | Stark |
| Davis Lounge Colosseum #17 | August 12th, 2018 | 1st | 2nd | Stark |
| Tournament | Date | 1v1 placement | 2v2 placement | Partner |
|---|
| Davis Lounge Colosseum #25 | December 9th, 2018 | 5th | 3rd | Rose |
| Gamerz Rebooted #109 | December 21st, 2018 | 1st | 2nd | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #110 | December 28th, 2018 | 1st | — | — |
| Gamerz Rebooted #111 | January 4th, 2019 | 1st | 1st | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #112 | January 11th, 2019 | 9th | 1st | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #113 | January 18th, 2019 | 5th | 2nd | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #114 | January 25th, 2019 | 4th | 5th | Stark |
| Davis Lounge Colosseum #30: Pre-Genesis 6 Edition! | January 27th, 2019 | 4th | 1st | Lui$ |
| Pre-Genesix | January 31st, 2019 | 49th | — | — |
| GENESIS 6 | February 1st-3rd, 2019 | 13th | 49th | Stark |
| Gamerz Rebooted #115 | February 8th, 2019 | 5th | 1st | Teb |
| Gamerz Rebooted #116 | February 15th, 2019 | 2nd | 1st | Teb |
| Gamerz Rebooted #117 | February 22nd, 2019 | 3rd | — | — |
| Gamerz Rebooted #118 | March 1st, 2019 | 1st | — | — |
| Ultimate Nimbus | March 3rd, 2019 | 17th | 2nd | MastaMario |
| Esports Arena Smash Ultimate Tournament - Oakland | March 16th-17th, 2019 | 4th / 154 | — | — |
| 2GG: Prime Saga | April 13th-14th, 2019 | 65th | 13th | Teb |
| Thunder Smash | May 5th, 2019 | 7th | — | — |
| Weds Night Fights x Oakland 2019 Spring Season 2.1 | May 8th-9th, 2019 | 2nd | — | — |
| Crown | June 9th, 2019 | 2nd | 3rd | Junior Z |
| Smash Ultimate CEO Weekly | June 27th, 2019 | 7th | 1st | Lui$ |
| CEO 2019 | June 28th-30th, 2019 | 13th | 2nd | Lui$ |
| Ascension VII | July 20th, 2019 | 2nd | 1st | Stroder |
| EVO 2019 | August 2nd-4th, 2019 | 49th | — | — |
| Port Priority 5 | September 7th-8th, 2019 | 7th | 5th | Mr E |
| Mainstage | September 20th-22nd, 2019 | 9th | 3rd | MuteAce |
| Super Smashed Fest | September 28th, 2019 | 5th | 1st | Teb |
| The Big House 9 | October 4th-6th, 2019 | 25th | 7th | Stroder |
| 2GG: Nightmare on Smashville | October 20th, 2019 | 9th | — | — |
| GameTyrant Expo 2019 | November 1st-2nd, 2019 | 1st | 5th | Von |
| 2GG: Kongo Saga | December 7th-8th, 2019 | 65th | 5th | varun |
| Super Ascension | December 14th-15th, 2019 | 1st | 1st | MuteAce |
| Pre-G7 | January 23rd, 2020 | 1st | — | — |
| GENESIS 7 | January 24th-26th, 2020 | 17th | 7th | MuteAce |
| Frostbite 2020 | February 21st-23rd, 2020 | 17th | 5th | varun |
Soaked Series Invitational | February 29th-March 1st, 2020 | 49th | — | — |
| bunker down (1) | March 21st, 2020 | 3rd | — | — |
| bunker down (3) | April 4th, 2020 | 49th | — | — |
| The Prodigy Invitational | May 3rd, 2020 | 3rd | — | — |
| The Box | May 8th, 2020 | 25th | — | — |
| King of WiFi Random Characters | May 30th, 2020 | 33rd | — | — |
| TNS: Pandemic Monthly 4 | July 14th, 2020 | 13th | — | — |
| BESTNEXPO 2: Arcadian | September 6th, 2020 | 4th | — | — |
| Frame Perfect Series 2: ONLINE | September 18th, 2020 | 17th | — | — |
| Maister's RNG Invitational | September 25th, 2020 | 7th | — | — |
| Smash the Router 4 | January 23rd, 2021 | 9th | — | — |
| The Box: Lunch Box 8 | January 27th, 2021 | 33rd | — | — |
| B2R Full Bloom 1 | August 22nd, 2021 | 1st | — | — |
| Mega Smash Mondays 240 | August 23rd, 2021 | 3rd | — | — |
| Riptide | September 10th-12th, 2021 | 17th | — | — |
| Super Smash Con: Fall Fest | October 15th-17th, 2021 | 17th | — | — |
| Port Priority 6 | October 30th-31st, 2021 | 33rd | 5th | varun |
| Mainstage 2021 | November 12th-14th, 2021 | 17th | 4th | varun |
| The Box: Lunch Box 18 | January 26th, 2022 | 49th | — | — |
| LVL UP EXPO 2022 | February 25th-27th, 2022 | 17th | — | — |
| Back in Blood 3 | March 5th, 2022 | 17th | 2nd | varun |
| Guildhouse Pre-Genesis 8 Tournament | April 14th, 2022 | 9th | — | — |
| GENESIS 8 | April 15th-17th, 2022 | 33rd | 33rd | Crimsym |
| Crown 2 | June 18th-19th, 2022 | 5th | 7th | varun |
| Double Down 2022 | July 8th-10th, 2022 | 13th | 5th | varun |
| Central Stadium | July 23rd, 2022 | 5th | 1st | Dark Wizzy |
| Riptide 2022 | September 9th-11th, 2022 | 7th | — | — |
| Ludwig Smash Invitational Last Chance Qualifier | October 21st, 2022 | Top 8 | — | — |
| Ludwig Smash Invitational | October 21st-23rd, 2022 | 3rd | — | — |
| Port Priority 7 | November 12th-13th, 2022 | 2nd | 9th | NathanViper |
| Mainstage 2022 | December 2nd-4th, 2022 | 5th | 9th | varun |
| GENESIS 9 | January 20th-22nd, 2023 | 17th | 9th | Stroder Ame |
| Collision 2023 | March 10th-12th, 2023 | 17th | 3rd | Sonix |
| Smash Ultimate Summit 6 | March 23rd-26th, 2023 | 4th | — | — |
| MAJOR UPSET | April 1st-2nd, 2023 | 5th | 2nd | Dark Wizzy |
| DreamHack San Diego 2023 | April 7th-9th, 2023 | 2nd | 4th | Dark Wizzy |
| Crown the Third | June 3rd-4th, 2023 | 7th / 418 | 5th / 99 | Chase |
| King Of Fields 95 3 | June 24th-25th, 2023 | 5th / 512 | — | — |
| Get On My Level 2023 | July 21st-23rd, 2023 | 9th / 877 | 1st / 132 | Dark Wizzy |
| Super Smash Con 2023 | August 10th-13th, 2023 | 65th / 2,607 | 9th / 567 | MuteAce |
| "Lit"vitational | September 22nd, 2023 | 7th / 16 | — | — |
| CIRQUE Du CFL 2 | September 23rd, 2023 | 5th / 174 | 1st / 33 | Lui$ |
| Rise 'N Grind 2023 | October 13th-15th, 2023 | 9th / 443 | 7th / 75 | Dark Wizzy |
| Luminosity Makes Moves Miami 2023 | October 27th-29th, 2023 | 9th / 387 | 5th / 73 | Chase |
| Port Priority 8 | November 11th-12th, 2023 | 25th / 710 | 2nd / 165 | Dark Wizzy |
| Ultimate Fighting Arena 2023 | November 24th-26th, 2023 | 9th / 1,013 | 1st / 176 | Tarik |
| Dragun House Monthly (December Edition 2023) | December 3rd, 2023 | 9th / 73 | 1st / 13 | Tarik |
| Watch The Throne | December 8th-10th, 2023 | 9th / 16 | — | — |
| Luminosity Makes BIG Moves 2024 | January 5th-7th, 2024 | 13th / 891 | 13th / 130 | Dark Wizzy |
| GENESIS X | February 16th-18th, 2024 | 97th / 1,506 | 7th / 302 | Tarik |
| SAIKO SMASH 4 | March 23rd, 2024 | 7th / 109 | 1st / 30 | Lui$ |
| Supernova 2024 | August 8th-11th, 2024 | 129th / 2,281 | 9th / 497 | loaf |
| Luminosity Invitational 2 LAST CHANCE QUALIFIER | September 13th, 2024 | 13th / 16 | — | — |
| Luminosity Makes BIG Moves 2025 | January 3rd-5th, 2025 | 33rd / 832 | — | — |
| Cattlyst 2025 | January 18th, 2025 | 1st / 91 | 1st / 15 | Lui$ |
| GENESIS X2 | February 14th-16th, 2025 | 17th / 924 | 1st / 178 | Lui$ |
| LVL UP EXPO 2025 | April 25th-27th, 2025 | 17th / 665 | 4th / 80 | Lui$ |
| Last Apex Standing | July 12th, 2025 | 7th / 136 | — | — |
| Ultimate Apex Series Finale | July 13th, 2025 | 2nd / 32 | 7th / 23 | Lui$ |
| Most Wanted 3 | August 2nd, 2025 | 4th / 142 | 1st / 38 | Lui$ |
| Supernova 2025 | August 7th-10th, 2025 | 33rd / 2,432 | 1st / 434 | Lui$ |
| Riptide 2025 | September 5th-7th, 2025 | 13th / 952 | 1st / 169 | Lui$ |
| EugeneBound Summers | September 13th, 2025 | 7th / 230 | 1st / 49 | Lui$ |
| Let's Make BIG Moves 2026 | January 23rd-25th, 2026 | 49th / 926 | 1st / 133 | Lui$ |
| GENESIS X3 | February 13th-15th, 2026 | 25th / 790 | 4th / 139 | Lui$ |
- At age 14, Kurama was the youngest player to be ranked on theSpring 2019 PGRU, an achievement that was acknowledged by PGStats itself.
- Kurama's current gamer tag is derived from the character of the same name from the manga/anime seriesYuYu Hakusho (and not fromNaruto, he explicitly mentions).
Gameplay videos[edit]
External links[edit]
NorCal Smash 4 Power Rankings: 3rd
UltRank 2025: 49th
