A US teenager has won a record-breaking $3m (₦1bn) to become world champion of the computer game Fortnite.

It is the largest prize pool in the history of e-sports, with $30m shared amongst the winners.

Kyle Giersdorf, 16, won the solo event of the competition in the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, which hosts the US Open tennis tournament.

British teenager Jaden Ashman won almost £1m for coming second in the duos event.

Mr Giersdorf, known online as 'Bugha', stood laughing and shaking his head as the crowd erupted when his name was announced.

He told the BBC he wants to save most of his prize. "All I want is a new desk and maybe a desk for my trophy," he said.

The final game was described by the commentators as a "ridiculous victory lap" as the winner played with a smile on his face whilst beating his rivals.

The event is seen as a major moment in e-sports, which is estimated to be a billion-dollar industry in 2019.

However, its record for the biggest prize pool is already set to be broken by another event called The International, taking place in August.

The Fortnite finals saw 100 players battling on giant computer screens.

Forty million players attempted to qualify over 10 weeks of online competition.

More than 30 nations were represented with 70 players coming from the US, 14 from France and 11 from the UK.

The game involves 100 players being dropped onto an island where they have to find weapons, build structures and eliminate each other until one player comes out on top.

It has 200 million registered players worldwide and is free to download, but players can spend money on in-game purchases.

Players can play alone, as part of a four-person squad or a 20-member team, either with friends or people they do not know.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-49146644



Final Pic: Dad dances a jig on learning of his son's new found wealth

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Dhmkae

naija and our electricity issues won't allow us to partake in so many things let alone grow. naija is fuckedd.

Partly why that prize list is almost completely Euro/North American centric.

BrokeFucker007:
naija and our electricity issues won't allow us to partake in so many things let alone grow. naija is fuckedd.

As if our country was listed in the tournament..

Incredible amounts of money on offer. If the mods push this to the front page then we'll see an increase in Nigerians playing Fortnite, electricity permitting...

And they said if we read our books our bata will dun kon kon ka.

TobiAbuja:
Incredible amounts of money on offer. If the mods push this to the front page then we'll see an increase in Nigerians playing Fortnite, electricity permitting...

Nigeria will never qualify for things like this.
Because most people don't buy in app purchases to support the developers of this type of games.

Well, we all must admit that esports are becoming more popular and all those tournaments attract many spectators so the prizes are crazy high sometimes. And actually, I like the fact that things are going this way. Because sometimes esports events are really interesting to watch, much more interesting than some real sports events. And I am pretty sure that in a few years all those esports tournaments will be even more popular than now.

Memberclub:

Nigeria will never qualify for things like this.
Because most people don't buy in app purchases to support the developers of this type of games.

In app purchase for wetin?
Abeg carry your own comot for here.

Charleys:


In app purchase for wetin?
Abeg carry your own comot for here.

kid don't ever quote me okay

Memberclub:
kid don't ever quote me okay

You're joking right. When I started playing games you weren't even born.
I started with Atari Just think about that.

Naija o Naija... Na only PS Fifa we sabi