It’s the ultimate battle of muscle versus mischief — ten of the planet’s strongest men against one hundred children, all pulling for glory in a massive tug-of-war designed (of course) by YouTube megastar MrBeast.
The world’s biggest creator, who now commands an audience of more than 400 million subscribers, is known for his viral-scale challenges. But this one took things to an entirely new level.
For his latest upload, MrBeast invited ten elite Strongman athletes to go head-to-head with 100 kids in a test of strength, traction, and teamwork that’s already taken the internet by storm.
A Strong Start — Brian Shaw vs. 100 Kids
The first man to step up was Brian Shaw, the four-time World’s Strongest Man and a living legend in strength sports. Shaw, who has pulled a 50,000-pound (22,680kg) plane for 75 feet, looked confident as he faced down the small army of children lined up on the opposite side of the rope.
For the first round, it was just one Strongman vs. 100 kids, and despite Shaw’s superhuman power, the kids didn’t flinch. They dug in — and shockingly — they won with ease.
It was the first of many surprises to come.
Doubling Down — 2 Strongmen vs. 100 Kids
Not one to give up easily, MrBeast called in reinforcements. Joining Shaw for Round Two was Martins Licis, another World’s Strongest Man winner and champion of both the Arnold Strongman Classic and the Rogue Invitational.
Surely, two elite Strongmen would be enough to overpower a group of schoolchildren?
Not even close. The kids held their ground once again, and the rope inched firmly in their favour.
Powering Up — 4 Strongmen vs. 100 Kids
For Round Three, MrBeast added Lucas Hatton and Evan Singleton to the lineup. Hatton, a three-time America’s Strongest Man champion, is renowned for his incredible overhead pressing power, while Singleton has become one of the most entertaining athletes in the sport and is also the 2025 Strongest Man on Earth.
Even with the reinforcements, the 100 kids still managed to outpull the giants — another convincing win for the little team that could.
The Singing Strongman Joins the Fight — 6 Strongmen vs. 100 Kids
Enter Eddie Williams, also known as The Singing Strongman. Williams, who once performed at the Royal Albert Hall during the Strongman Classic, joined forces with Bryce Johnson, the reigning 2025 North America’s Strongest Man.
This time, the Strongmen fought hard and briefly gained control of the rope, but balance and traction once again told the story — the kids still walked away victorious.
Heavy Hitters Step Up — 8 Strongmen vs. 100 Kids
By Round Five, Austin Andrade and Robert Oberst were called in to bolster the team. Andrade’s raw deadlift power and Oberst’s eight appearances at World’s Strongest Man made them perfect fits for the challenge.
The Strongmen finally got an early lead and seemed to have the kids cornered. But just as quickly, momentum shifted — and the children turned it around, winning yet again.
The Final Round — 10 Strongmen vs. 100 Kids
For the last showdown, Thomas Evans and Maxime Boudreault completed the lineup. Between them, they’ve stood on podiums at some of the world’s toughest Strongman competitions.
Ten of the strongest men alive, weighing nearly two tonnes combined, squared off against a hundred kids. The tension was real.
The Strongmen fought back fiercely, finally putting pressure on their smaller opponents. But traction proved the deciding factor once more. As a few Strongmen lost balance and slipped on the grass, the kids capitalised — pulling hard to claim the final victory in emphatic fashion.
Why the Kids Won
As Eddie Hall explained in his own previous tug-of-war challenge: “It’s not about the bodyweight. It’s really about how many little feet are on the floor. The surface area compared to just our four feet. I reckon five pairs of their shoes probably equals one of ours.
“So when it gets to 10 or 15 kids, they’re already beating us on surface area — and that might be game over. Honestly, I think it’ll be a lot fewer than people expect. It could get embarrassing.”
And that’s exactly what happened.
Despite the combined strength of some of the sport’s biggest names, physics and teamwork won the day. One hundred kids, working together, managed to outpull ten of the strongest men on earth.
This isn’t MrBeast’s first brush with the Strongman world. He previously invited Brian Shaw to go against a lion in a tug of war, a wild concept that showcased the incredible athleticism of Strongman athletes to a massive new audience.
With over 112 million views and counting, this recent challenge not only entertained millions but also introduced Strongman to an even broader global audience. For Shaw, Williams, and the rest of the crew, it was another reminder that in a tug-of-war, raw strength might not be enough.
Sometimes, 100 pairs of sneakers just do the job better.
Featured image credit: YouTube/Shawstrength/Instagram/eddiejowilliams (screenshot)
