Gamers8 $2M Fortnite Saudi LAN: Best moments & storylines

The $2M Gamers8 Fortnite tournament in Saudi Arabia has come to an ended following four consecutive days of intense action. Days one and two saw 44 duos compete in the surging Zero Build mode—a far cry from the traditional Fortnite Battle Royale setting. Then, the final two days followed the format we’ve all come to love since 2017. 

While there was undoubtedly controversy behind the event itself, there’s no denying Fortnite’s return to a LAN setting left a strong impression. Many of the world’s best players journeyed to Riyadh, hoping to claim a sizable portion of $2 million. History was made and the final home stretch saw the best teams in contention. 

With 44 duos in attendance, the Gamers8 LAN featured participants from six of the seven Fortnite regions. Top players from NA East, NA West, Europe, Brazil, Asia, and the Middle East received invitations, while others qualified previously. As a result, the competition featured top players save for a handful who chose not to attend. 

The event provided a mix of talent similar to the Fortnite World Cup, with names such as TaySon, Th0masHD, Hen, Queasy, Veno, Aqua, and more vying for the top prize. Ultimately, the world learned whose ability and confidence translated to a LAN environment. 

It’s no secret that Zero Build is not the most competitive game mode in Fortnite. However, it’s impossible to deny what the game mode has done to revive casual interest. From a tournament perspective, we’ve seen names such as Tfue atop the leaderboard in most competitions. Still, the professional Battle Royale players have the aim, movement, and game knowledge to fare well. 

Day one of the Gamers8 Fortnite tournament saw underdogs Liwshe and Stenno earn multiple Victory Royales. It looked like this tandem would run away with the top spot. As fate would have it, the Battle Royale experts made the necessary adjustments heading into two, particularly concerning loadouts, tents, and the overarching meta.

It was anyone’s game on day two for those inside the top ten at the Gamers8 Fortnite tournament. Zero Build’s unpredictability created an actual race to the finish for teams in contention. Liwshe and Stenno looked great on day one, but top European duo Pinq and Anas won the photo finish. Heading into game 12, Pinq and Anas sat fifth behind four formidable teams. 

Ultimately, the eventual winners survive until the bitter end, earning 12 eliminations and finishing third in the last game. That performance vaulted them over Trippernn and Hellfire and yielded Pinq and Anas the Zero Build title. Overcome with emotion, Pinq and Anas celebrated and welcomed the $250K prize. 

Here’s the final leaderboard from the Zero Build portion:

With Zero Build in the rearview, the competitors shifted their focus to the main Battle Royale event. Once again, 44 duos threw their hat into the ring to compete for a share of $1 million. As a result, this was the ultimate test for players who spent the last two years competing exclusively online. 

The star-studded Gamers8 Fortnite lineup included former Fortnite Champion Series (FNCS) winners TaySon, Hen, Queasy, and Veno, and Fortnite World Cup winner Aqua. Furthermore, standout players from nearly every region attempted to prove their territory the best. 

Polish players Kami and Setty of Become Legends parlayed their impressive DreamHack Summer performances into a lead on day one. Many predicted these two to win the tournament without question, and for a good reason. Still, other participants, including TaySon, Trippernn, Andilex, Merstach, and Chapix were in the mix. 

Day two of the Gamers8 Fortnite competition saw a complete leaderboard shift. The seventh place team of NA West player EpikWhale and European player Malibuca mounted an incredible comeback over the final six games. These two players added a whopping 213 points to their day one total of 146 to snatch the trophy from some worthy opponents. 

Overall, EpikWhale and Malibuca finished with 48 eliminations, an average placement of 10 and 359 points. The NA West and European duo rallied magnificently on day two despite little practice and chemistry beforehand. EpikWhale and Malibuca secured third on day two, making them the best team at the Gamers8 Fortnite LAN. 

Here’s a look at the final leaderboard:

Rising Fortnite superstar Malibuca is here to stay following the Gamers8 Fortnite tournament. After having to leave Russia to continue his career, Malibuca and usual duo teammate Merstach became seasonal contenders. Now, in just his second LAN event, Malibuca walked away with $175K from the two tournaments.

Furthermore, Gamers8 named Malibuca the Fortnite tournament’s most valuable player (MVP), which granted him an extra $100K. This money is life-changing, and hopefully, we’ll get to see the Russian standout compete in the FNCS Invitational this coming November. There’s an argument to be made that he’s the best player alongside EpikWhale, who continues performing well in every event. 

For some time, the majority in competitive Fortnite believed Europe to be the top region. Those believers were proven correct across two days and 12 matches at the Gamers8 Fortnite tournament in Saudi Arabia. Six of the top seven teams featured European players, with only one North American competitor in that discussion. 

While this competition is a small sample, Europe proved its players are the world’s best. However, not many predicted that a hybrid North American and European team would claim the top spot. The possibilities are endless moving forward for competitive Fortnite. Hopefully, Epic Games uses this Gamers8 Fortnite event as inspiration for what’s possible in this remarkably unique game. 

Stay tuned to esports.gg for more Fortnite news and updates!