Source: ESPAT Media / Getty
Remember when they said playing video games is just a waste of time? Kyle Giersdorf, a 16-year-old competitive Fortnite player, outlasted numerous competitors and took home $3 million. Giersdorf and others competed for $30 million in prize money over the weekend at the Fortnite World Cup that took place in New York at Arthur Ashe stadium. Giersdorf who competes under the handle “Bugha,” finished first in the solo finals sector of the tourney with 59 points, smoking the nearest competition “Psalm” by 26 points.
“It’s just insane,” Giersdorf who is signed to the Los Angeles-based eSports group Sentinels said after coming out on top. Runners up didn’t have nothing to hang their heads about either, Harrison Chang aka “Psalm” got $1.8 million for coming in second place. Third place finisher Epikwhale took home $1.2 million, and Nate “Kreo” Kou from Florida walked away with $1.05 million for finishing fourth.
Giersdorf road to the top was a long with estimates up to 40 million gamers signing up to compete in the tournament. Out of that 40 million, only 100 players were selected to partake in the tourney for the grand prize. He wasn’t alone, @nyhrox @aquaa were the duos champions, @Airwalks and @RLGRIME won the Celebrity Pro-Am. Fish Fam’s @cizzorz, @hiimtylerh, @suezhoo, and @zandOfficial were the Creative Finals Winners.
But it’s Giersdorf’s ridiculous purse that has people talking. His $3,025,900 purse dwarfs Tiger Wood’s 2019 Master’s prize money ($2,070,000), Novak Djokovic’s prize money after winning Wimbledon ($2,983,748) .
So parents if your young gamer says they have ambitions of being a competitive gamer, we would suggest you nourish those dreams. It could result in a huge payday.
Photo: ESPAT Media / Getty
