A 16-year-old student just nabbed $3 million winning the first Fornite World Cup Solos prize. Kyle "Bugha" GIersdorf won with a score of 59 points on Sunday July 28th at a three day event in New York's Arthur Ashe Stadium.
An excited Glersdorf hoisted a metal cup over his head as confetti dropped and crowds cheered.
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Worldwide, about 250 million people play Fortnite as of March 2019, according to Statista. The game is from Epic Games, launching in July 2017 and can be played across multiple platforms including Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. Players fight against each other in a battle royale, starting with a pickaxe and getting more weapons, until one player is left standing.
Congratulations @bugha! pic.twitter.com/nchRlL3wUC
— Fortnite Competitive (@FNCompetitive) July 28, 2019
Contestants played for up to $30 million in prizes in the World Cup finals — but gave away $10 million during the competing rounds. Besides the Solos prize of $3 million — taken home by Glersdorf — there was also a $3 million prize for doubles as well, the Duos Prize, who had to split the money between them.
Congrats to all of our winners this weekend at the #FortniteWorldCup Finals
Solo Champion: @bugha
Duos Champions: @nyhrox @aquaa
ProAM: @Airwaks @RLGRIME
Creative: #FishFam @cizzorz @hiimtylerh @suezhoo @zandOfficial pic.twitter.com/ilBs7RTeTv
— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) July 28, 2019
Epic Games announced the contest in 2018, with 40 millions of players entering into weekly tournaments around the world in order to be invited to the World Cup. The company put up the $30 million in prize money.
Prize money was handed to players in the Solos round, down to the 21st to the 100th player who took home a $50,000 payment. In the Duos tournament, those in the 11th to 50th spot brought home $100,000.
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