Two Lamar University students, Mikhail Jackson and Kenny Ho, tied for third-place in the CStarLeague’s “TikTok Cup,” a live-streamed online tournament played May 16-18. The pair competed in the game Fortnite as part of a series of tournaments played over several different computer games which featured total prize
Kenny Ho
money of $60,000.
Jackson and Ho squared off against 128 competing teams including rival universities. The LU duo beat teams from The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Pennsylvania, Arizona State University and Louisiana State University, to claim a distinguished win in the Battle Royal “kill race” style competition.
“We were not even ranked in the Season Finals, and we got third there,” said Ho, a sophomore computer science major. “Now, in my second college tournament ever, Hooper (Mikhail Jackson) and I tied for third place. When the next tournament comes, I will play. I am going to build up a reputation for my Esports team.”
The tournament marks Jackson’s debut into Collegiate Esports. He and Ho will split a $500 winning check.
This is the second big win for Ho, who recently finished third in CStarLeague’s Fortnite National Season Finals with gaming partner Gabe Newell. In that tournament, both gamers won $1,000.
“Kenny and Mikhail teamed up on short notice to compete in the TikTok Cup. The team did amazingly well for having gone into the tournament without the playtime necessary to build effective synergy,” said Zachary Mosteller, founding president of Cardinals Esports, LU’s student organization for competitive Esports. “They will only get stronger as they play together and build their trust and teamwork.”
Dr. Tim Roden, faculty advisor for Cardinals Esports considers this the team’s biggest win yet. “This was a nationally promoted event. Our Fortnite team’s finish in the top four puts Lamar University squarely in the center of collegiate Esports.”
Two competing duos teams are dropped into a Battle Royal populated with 96 other random players also on teams of two, making for a total of 100 players in the battle ground. The objective for TikTok competitors is to eliminate more human controlled players than their opponents. While the objective of the other 48 teams is to be the last team standing. Death is permanent in Battle Royal. If you are eliminated early, the opposing team is free to continue racking eliminations and run up the score. Competitors must strike a balance between being aggressive and cautious. Two games are played, and the team with the highest total elimination count wins.
