Fortnite Pro Am is quickly becoming one of the most popular tournaments in competitive gaming! Just as its name indicates, this competition pairs Fortnite pros and streamers with athletes and celebrities. Pro Am 2019 will be hosted by the game’s publisher – Epic Games – as a part of the Fortnite Summer Block Party event on June 16.
This is the second time Epic Games has organized such a competition. The previous Pro Am tournament had a total prize pool of $3 million, and considering Fortnite esports has only gotten bigger since then, it’s safe to say that the 2019 prize pool will be even greater. Of course, players won’t actually gain any money from the tournament, but they will get an opportunity to donate their winnings to a charity of their choosing.
Fortnite Pro Am Format & Tournament Structure
Fortnite Pro Am occupies a unique spot in the esports ecosystem. For starters, it’s one of the few tournaments that successfully merge pro play and amateur gaming. It’s meant to highlight the thrill and excitement of Fortnite, and while the stakes are high, the lax nature of the event gives players more incentives to take chances and experiment with their gameplay. After all, no matter who comes first, the winnings will go towards a good cause.
Much like with the previous Pro Am, this tournament will feature 100 players competing against each other on an isolated map. Players will be split into 50 duos, and each duo will include one pro and one celebrity. With that, Epic Games aims to level the playing field, as no team will have two professional players working together and outclassing other participants. Here are some of the duos that will be competing in this year’s Pro Am Fortnite:
- Cloakzy and Dillon Francis (DJ & record producer)
- DrLupo and Jordan Fisher (singer & actor)
- Pokimane and Martin Doherty (musician of Chvrches)
- Valkyrae and Justin Jones (defensive tackle for Los Angeles Chargers)
- CourageJD and Brendon Urie (lead vocalist for Panic! At the Disco)
- Loserfruit and Joel McHale (actor)
- TimTheTatman and Jay Mewes (actor)
- Vikkstar123 and Martin Starr (actor)
- One Shot_Girl and Christopher Gallant (musician)
- Samara Redway and Marisha Ray (actor)
- Tfue and Josh Hart (basketball player for Los Angeles Lakers)
- Typical Gamer and Jimmy O Yang (actor)
- Ninja and Marshawn Lynch (running back for Oakland Raiders)
- Lazarbeam and Hannibal Buress (comedian)
- Fearitself and Blake Martinez (inside linebacker for Green Bay Packers)
- Patriota and Kyla-Drew Simmons (actor)
- Flakes Power and Douglas Costa (soccer player for Juventus)
- Nick Eh 30 and Joey Bosa (defensive end for Los Angeles Chargers)
- SypherPK and Reggie Jackson (basketball player for Detroit Pistons)
- Wildcat and Janina Gavankar (actress and musician)
Of course, some duos will inevitably have the upper hand. For instance, SypherPK, Nick Eh 30, Tfue, TimTheTatman, Cloakzy, and DrLupo all have the right mixture of skill and experience to secure a first-place finish. The previous Pro Am Fortnite winner – Tyler “Ninja” Blevins – also deserves a mention, as fans will undoubtedly be interested in following him through the tournament. And while his competition will be stiffer this time around, the unpredictable nature of this tournament gives Ninja a decent shot of recreating his 2018 run.
Fortnite Pro Am Live Streaming
Betting on Fortnite Pro Am
Pro Am Fortnite is one of the most popular events in gaming, so esportsbooks will almost certainly release odds for it. Granted, battle royale betting is still a bit of uncharted territory. With that, most gambling platforms will likely limit your options to simple tournament winner and players to finish in the top-3 markets. And even though the odds will be generous, the sheer variance that comes from 100 players fighting against each other on the same map definitely turns betting on Fortnite into a high-risk, high-reward prospect.
Here are 3 things to keep in mind when betting on Fortnite Pro Am:
1. Always do your research
Now, admittedly, this is harder in battle royale games than in other esports. Things only get more complicated when you consider that half of the field is made up of players that have never played Fortnite competitively. However, you can still focus on learning about different pros and streamers through resources like Rosenfole’s Fortnite Worldwide Rankings. Pro players are the heart and soul of their duos, and even though their partners will play a role, it will be up to them to fight their way to the top of Pro Am Fortnite standings.
2. Learn about the gameplay
If you’re going to be betting your hard-earned money on competitive Fortnite matches, you need to understand what’s happening on the screen. Many of the players participating in this tournament stream their gameplay, so you can obtain vital information on the best weapons, safest landing zones, and most efficient building tactics by tuning in to their Twitch broadcasts. Also, keep in mind that Fortnite is a free-to-play title, and you can always get some first-hand knowledge by playing a couple of games yourself.
3. Develop a betting strategy
Every veteran gambler knows there are multiple ways of approaching an esports tournament. The most obvious route is putting your money on a favorite. However, underdog wagers can provide decent value when you’re dealing with an event as volatile as Pro Am Fortnite. You can also hedge your bets by putting your money on a handful of different players—just make sure the odds are good enough to make up for the inevitable losses. And whatever strategy you settle on, make a conscious effort to stick with it to the end.
Final Word on Fortnite Pro Am
It’s clear that Pro Am has more in common with showmatches than traditional esports tournaments. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. You still get the thrill and refinement of a high-level Fortnite game, but you can also experience the grassroots feel of the amateur scene.