These teens are competing in Fortnite video games in Fort Worth. The prize: $3 million
Cody Conrod was 18 when he moved to the Metroplex early last year. But unlike most people his age, it wasn’t for school.
He moved here to play Fortnite Battle Royale, the wildly popular online video games where players battle for survival.
“I came to Dallas to play more because they changed the servers from Virginia to Dallas,” Conrod said. “I was living in Connecticut when it was announced and I was like, OK, I’ve got to fully move.”
Conrod, also known as Clix online, is competing in the Fortnite Battle Royale Global Championship at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth on Sept. 7 and 8. He plays video games 10 hours a day.
When he was 13 years old, he qualified for the Fortnite World Cup and won $180,000. If he wins at Dickies Arena, he will split a prize pool of $3 million.
“My parents didn’t fully believe in me (playing Fortnite professionally) until I made my first $2,000 and paid my dad back for a PC,” Conrod said.
Seventeen-year-old Cooper Smith is also competing in the Fortnite Battle Royale Global Championship. Smith is from Round Rock and now lives in Austin.
Smith started by watching others play Fortnite on YouTube and now he spends four to five hours a day playing.
“I used to look up to a lot of the pros, and then over time I eventually got into the game and just got a competitive edge,” Smith said.
Smith is the reigning global champion from 2023 and has been playing competitively for three years.
“If I win again, I’d be on top of the world,” Smith said.
This story was originally published September 6, 2024 at 12:00 AM.
