Esports and online content creation are big moneymakers for some young people.
Platforms like Twitch and YouTube allow gamers like 19-year-old Dallas resident Cody Conrod, better known as “Clix”, and 17-year-old Cooper Smith, from Austin, to monetize their skills, not just through prize winnings but also through sponsorships and ad revenue.
This weekend, the world of competitive gaming will witness Conrod and Cooper competing against each other and other players in the 18th season of the global Fortnite Championship Series. The event features 50 of the top Fortnite duos (teams of two) who will battle for a share of the $2 million prize pool.
Conrod was introduced to video games at 5 years old. Starting with Call of Duty, Conrod quickly transitioned to Fortnite.
“I realized I was good at this when I got my first tournament out of like millions,” Conrod said. “I was like, ‘OK, I could be the best.’”
By age 13, he had already won his first tournament, making $180,000.
To prepare for major events, Conrod adheres to a training schedule, playing up to 10 hours a day while maintaining his mental composure through stress-relieving activities including outdoor activities and hot baths.
“The biggest thing in competition is making sure you’re not overthinking, right? Overthinking decisions could get you killed instantly, so I just try to be calm,” Conrod said.
When he’s not competing,, Conrod thrives in engaging daily with his fans through streaming and building a community.
“I stream every single day, so we have a whole entire community,” he said. “It’s different than just watching YouTube. It’s like you’re involved in my whole entire life … so we have a unique way, by using Twitch chat.”
Initially hesitant, Conrod’s parents have since become his strongest supporters, financially backing his passion and enabling him to focus solely on his gaming career.
“My parents actually used to have a timer when I would play,” he said. “Fortunately, when I started making good amounts of money, which was $2,000, I paid my dad back. When that happened, he was like, ‘OK, Cody, I think you could do this, and I’ll let you have as much time as you want,’”Conrod said. “That’s when I just put the gas pedal on.”
Conrod has an average of 9,700 active subscribers per month for his Twitch page, with more than 7.7 million followers, making him the 15th-most-followed Twitch streamer, according to statistics on his page.
Cooper Smith began his gaming career with Minecraft before diving into the competitive arena.
“I was better than everyone at my school, and I played all day,” Smith said. “I really had a passion for it, and I eventually just kept playing and got really good.”
Music plays a crucial role in Cooper’s routine, helping him to prepare for major events.
“Balancing my personal life and gaming, it’s really easy because I am at online school now, and balancing my time is a lot easier,” Smith said. “I can figure it out on my own schedule.”
Cooper won last year’s Fortnite Championship Series in Denmark with his partner, Matthew Faitel, better known as “Mero,” allowing him to buy a car, which is one of his biggest hobbies outside of gaming.
“I love competing,” he said. “I just want to keep competing, and I want to win another championship for sure.”
He likes to engage with his fans primarily through Twitter, where he has a sizable number of followers.
Like Conrod’s parents, Cooper’s parents were initially skeptical, but their support grew as they recognized the potential of their son in the gaming world.
“It was definitely hard because they wanted me to focus on school, but they were very supportive,” he said. “My dad bought me a PC when I was 13. … I couldn’t ask for a better family.”
Cooper has an average of 333 active subscribers per month on his Twitch page, with more than 300,000 followers, according to statistics on his page.
The tournament is Saturday and Sunday at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. The doors open at 10 a.m. and the competition begins at noon. Tickets, starting at $45.50, are available at Ticketmaster.com.