Ninja, Tfue vulnerable to lacking Fortnite World Cup duos closing
We’re lower than two weeks away from the ultimate Fortnite World Cup qualifier, and the sport’s two most recognizable superstars are nonetheless within the hunt to seize one of many final duos tickets to the primary occasion.
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Tyler “Ninja” Blevins and Turner “Tfue” Tenney have been the one-two punch atop of the Twitch viewership mountain in 2019 with their streamed World Cup qualifiers bringing in thousands and thousands of views, however each are nonetheless on the surface wanting in for the duos match with one qualifier remaining.
The World Cup finals for duos and solo play will happen on the USTA Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Heart in New York from July 26-28. Tfue has already booked his ticket for an opportunity on the $three million grand prize for the solo championship by qualifying in Week three of that competitors. Ninja, nonetheless, mentioned Saturday that he was formally eradicated from solo rivalry after failing to make it by the final singles qualifier.
God I hate solos a lot. 100% didn’t qualify for tomorrow.
— Ninja (@Ninja) June eight, 2019
The one means the world’s most well-known gamer will earn a spot in New York Metropolis this July is by making it alongside his duos associate, Malachi “Reverse2k” Greiner, who himself is already certified for the solo competitors on the World Cup. The pair have narrowly missed the cutoff to advance to the duos closing in earlier makes an attempt.
That mentioned, one of many greatest Fortnite occasions of the 12 months may throw a wrench into observe plans that Reverse2k, Ninja, Tfue and his duos associate, Dennis “Cloak” Lepore, have forward of the June 20-21 qualifier.
Epic Video games is throwing its second-biggest occasion of the 12 months, solely outdone by the World Cup finals itself, on Saturday and Sunday. The Fortnite Summer season Block Celebration is a two-day competition occasion culminating within the second Fortnite Professional-Am, the place the perfect Fortnite execs workforce up with a number of the greatest celebrities on the earth to see which tandem will win large for the charity of their alternative and have bragging rights till subsequent summer time.
Final 12 months, Ninja and associate Marshmello of DJing fame had been the odds-on favorites to win, they usually did simply that in memorable vogue on the Banc of California Stadium.
Initially, the ultimate qualifier was to happen in the course of the Summer season Block Celebration, and the choice drew the ire of the aggressive group. Ninja, this 12 months partnered with NFL legend Marshawn Lynch, even went so far as to publicly air his frustrations in regards to the uncommon scheduling of Fortnite’s two greatest occasions of the 12 months coinciding.
“I am making an attempt to get out of [the Pro-Am], in a means, not essentially,” mentioned Ninja on stream when requested in regards to the conflicting dates. “It is an entire factor, dude. I am not making an attempt to get out of it — I wish to be part of it — however in a means I can nonetheless play [in the World Cup qualifier] on Sunday.”
A number of days following the general public outcry of the qualifier dates, Epic Video games introduced it had pushed again the last word duos qualifier per week so the members in Los Angeles on the Block Celebration might take part.
We’re shifting the dates and occasions of the Week 10 On-line Open to June 20-21st. Extra particulars right here – https://t.co/DXv3pVXig2
— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) June 5, 2019
Within the final likelihood to make the World Cup closing for the solos division, just a few acquainted faces did make their means by the stiff competitors to qualify. In Europe, 14-year-old prodigy Kyle “Mongraal” Jackson of Crew Secret booked his ticket to New York Metropolis with 63 factors, adequate for sixth place in his area for the weekend. Over in america, Cody “Clix” Conrod topped the North America East qualifier with 79 factors, having already certified for the duos closing with a 14-year-old phenom of his personal, Misfits teammate Griffin “Sceptic” Spikoski.
With just one go-round left earlier than the preparations are made for the World Cup, all eyes will probably be on Twitch’s two greatest particular person streamers after they return house from Los Angeles and the Fortnite Summer season Block Celebration. Ninja has continued his momentum since blowing up into mainstream media in 2018, and qualification to the World Cup finals would retain his standing to most people as one of many highest within the recreation.
Not qualifying, nonetheless, may put a dent in that legacy. Although he is nonetheless the most important identify within the recreation, not being on the greatest occasion of the 12 months would forged doubt on simply how nice he’s.
In an analogous vein, 2019 has belonged to Tfue. The 21-year-old from Florida made a reputation for himself together with Ninja and different fashionable streamers with the discharge of Fortnite, and his momentum grew after the calendar modified. Not too long ago, he sued his workforce, FaZe, on the grounds of an “oppressive” contract, which allegedly took 80 % of his earnings.
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Miles Yim breaks down the lawsuit between Tfue and FaZe Clan and the way it may change esports contracts without end.
The controversy and word-of-mouth have solely taken his particular person model to larger heights. Whereas Ninja determined to forgo streaming the final duos qualifier, prioritizing qualification over all the pieces else, Tfue loved his greatest stream of the 12 months together with his personal dwell try and make the World Cup. Throughout his eight-hour stream, Tfue peaked at over 250,000 viewers. His solo qualification in-hand, Tfue remains to be taking pictures for a duos spot and two titles that might cement him as the perfect participant within the recreation.
So far as Fortnite esports go, viewership is tied to the success of its two giants. Tfue lacking the duos competitors, and Ninja lacking the World Cup totally, would put a damper on the match in July.
Ten days from now, Tfue will hope to hit one other 2019 milestone. In the meantime, the Fortnite world will probably be watching — if he lets them — to see if Ninja will be a part of him on the Tremendous Bowl of Fortnite.