Blackwell was born in the New York borough of
Queens. His mother teaches middle school, and his father is an insurance adjuster. He earned his undergraduate degree in
computer science from
New York University. By 2016, Blackwell saw London as "the epicenter" of high-level quizzing and sought to win
University Challenge, a television quiz show featuring UK college students. Blackwell, introduced on the show as "Imperial Brandon", attracted attention for his depth of knowledge and his charismatic personality. Blackwell appeared as a "chaser" (alias "the Lightning Bolt") on
The Chase (US) in 2022-23 and as a guest on
The Chase Australia in 2024. Blackwell has represented the United States in several quizzing tournaments. He won the national team event at the 2023
International Quizzing Championships in
Torremolinos, Spain, as part of the United States national team which included his fellow chaser
Victoria Groce. ==Personal life==