This archive report was first published on 29 July 2019.
On July 27, 2019, 16-year-old Kyle 'Bugha' Giersdorf made history by becoming the first-ever solo Fortnite World Cup champion.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Bugha dominated the competition, taking the lead in the first of six games and never looking back.
"It's insane," Bugha said after the final Sunday.
Despite playing in the first world cup final, with millions of dollars on the line, at the Arthur Ashe stadium, Bugha remained remarkably consistent throughout the tournament.
"This morning he was worry-free, energetic, having fun to make sure he wasn't stressed at all," his best friend Colin Bradley told AFP after the final.
Fortnite, a popular battle royale game, dropped users onto an island where they must search for weapons and other resources while eliminating other players -- all while trying to stay alive.
Bugha's skills in the game were unmatched, with a sense of placement, a talent for building, and brilliant close combat skills.
"He's one of the smartest players. He knows when to attack, when not to attack, to stay high ground. He's a strategic player," Bradley said.
With a whopping $100 million invested by Epic Games, Fortnite's creators, the inaugural event was a massive success, with every competitor guaranteed to leave with $50,000.
