Travis “The Fire” Fishburn is the current First Class League singles champion. He also competed in the Schmoedown teams and Star Wars divisions. He was a member of KOrruption during Season 9: Reboot. Here are his reflections on the show we all love, in his own words.
Looking back on the Schmoedown, what is the most memorable moment that you were personally involved in?
I would say my most memorable moment was making my debut at Free-4-All. Like many, the F4A is my favorite event of every season and I had always dreamed of being a part of one, so when Kristian asked if I could do it I was ecstatic to have the opportunity. While I had done well in the FCL, I think I was still a bit of an unknown quantity and I really wanted to make an impact. I was really proud to walk away with the streak of answers that I got and that I was able to be at the table with massive legends of the game.
What is the most memorable moment that you were not involved in?
While it may not be a big and flashy match or moment, a personal memory of mine is the Star Wars 5-way match at Star Wars Celebration 2017. I was lucky enough to be there in the crowd and I believe that is the first Schmoedown match of any kind that involved an audience outside of the studio space. The energy and the excitement was unreal. I felt so much envy for everyone on stage and wanted more than anything to be a part of it.
Which of your matches would you say is the best you played?
I’m gonna throw out a somewhat ironic answer to this because it’s the only loss that I have on record in the FCL or MTS, and that’s my last Star Wars match with Gold Leader. We shot the match knowing that things were ending, and I think that you can tell everyone involved were in a very playful and more relaxed zone. With that vibe, I felt super loose and had so much fun. Playing in this league is as much about having fun as it is about accuracy, and from all of the matches I’ve been involved in, that one had it in spades. I still studied for it as much as I did for any other match and played to the very best of my abilities, but I felt relaxed to a degree I’ve never felt in any other match. So when I think “best I played”, I think about how much of a Schmoedown performance I was able to put on and how I was able to balance that with trivia.
Which match that didn’t involve you would you say is the best you ever saw?
It’s hard not to say the Damon vs. Dimalanta 51-50 match. There was so much tension that went on as it kept going as I was waiting for one of them to miss. The sudden death, the challenge, the reaction that Andrew has when he won, it was all incredible. When I want to introduce people to the Star Wars division, that’s the one I show them.
How would you describe the Schmoedown’s impact on you?
I don’t know if I can even properly or adequately answer this question. The Schmoedown has meant a great deal to me and has made me appreciate so many things in life. I’ve always loved movies, and there was a time when I think that passion waned. The Schmoedown really brought that passion back and rejuvenated it with full force. I know that I’ve heard other competitors say that movies became less fun, and that’s the opposite of my experience. I’ve delved deep into filmmakers, actors, and genres that I would never have had this not been in my life. It really challenged me to broaden my horizons as a film lover, and I’m so grateful for that.
I would say on a bigger level, it’s given me an incredible sense of community that I never had. The feeling of true belonging with everyone involved has been so amazing. I’m introverted by nature, and I don’t go out of my way to socialize or open up with people. This thing, this community, and the people I’ve been lucky enough to meet along the way have given me a true feeling of kinship that I really have never felt before, and because of that, I’ve really been able to open up in a way that I never have. I came for the game, but I really had no idea that I was so starved for a sense of belonging until I was a part of this, and for that, I am forever grateful.
What will you miss most about the Schmoedown?
Of course, I’ll miss the game, itself. I’m going to miss watching and playing along. More than that, I’m going to miss the opportunities to be around these amazing people. I feel honored to have been a part of this and to know all of these personalities and that I’m lucky enough to know them as friends. It has been a true honor and dream come true to be a part of this thing in any capacity, and I know how much of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity it was.
Travis Fishburn can be found on Twitter @TravisFishburn.
