We interviewed student Tai Dinh, the unofficial number one player in the world for Ketchapp’s game Twist.
If you haven’t heard of Twist before, it’s a sadistic simple game, that requires constant concentration and foresight. Almost 10 million people around the world have downloaded and played Ketchapp’s addictive title, on iOS alone. We sat down to talk to the unofficial best player of Twist, Tai Dinh. Tai is from London and spoke to us about his outlandish feat and “tiny” addiction to the mobile game.
Tai’s score
WM: So champ, tell us about yourself?
TD: Well I’m 24 and I study at Imperial College. I’m in my fifth year studying medicine right now and I’m looking to be a doctor at the end of it. I came to England from Vietnam when I was 11 and I knew very little English, so a lot of my time was spent playing video games growing up, but now I only have time for iPhone games.
WM: What else do you play?
TD: Tons of games! Again mainly iPhone games because I don’t really have time anymore to play ‘real’ games. I want to play the new Metal Gear game, what was it? Ground Zeroes?
WM: Actually that was a prologue, the new one is Phantom Pain
TD: Haha I’m so out of the loop, again I don’t really have time to play real games, all I do is study. When I do get some time I just play these small, quick and easy games on my phone. I play tons of games I can’t list, I have a decent high score in Flappy Birds too haha! And other Ketchapp games.
WM: What made you play Twist more than the other games you play?
TD: I’m a very competitive person; my friend showed me this game and said “I bet you can’t beat my high score.” Again I’m very competitive so I said “yes I can,” and smashed his high score. After that I thought I can actually beat the world scores, easily.
WM: How long did you have to sit there and concentrate for?
A whole hour. I wasn’t completely focused, I was still casually talking to my friends while playing. It was just casual, not very intense at all. I didn’t pause the game at all, it was a straight hour I played Twist for.
WM: What was your training routine?
TD: No training regime, I played it for 40 hours in two weeks, I was a tiny bit addicted. Each run of the game took me on average 45 minutes. It wasn’t hard for me, just had to find my rhythm and I was on my way. Best thing to remember is to remain calm, and do not look at your high score and get excited.
WM: Does this mean you’re also a fabulous dancer?
TD: Hell no! There’d be murder on the dance floor.
WM: Haha well I’m not going to kill your groove. The burning question is: why didn’t your high score register on the Twist leaderboards?
I have no idea! My data was on and so was WiFi. Good thing I screen shot it otherwise no one would believe me! I Facebook messaged [Ketchapp] about it and someone called Charlène messaged back saying it might be because I wasn’t signed in on Game Center (Apple’s social gaming network). So I can’t be on the leaderboard.
The current global iOS leaderboard for Twist. With What Mobile’s poor score of 8.
Tai’s score on the leaderboard that wasn’t registered
WM: Well we see the evidence in front of us and we believe you. Final question, you doctor yet?
TD: WHY YOU NO DOCTOR? Haha, maybe next year.
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