Never mind the hundreds of athletes battling to claim the 107th Australian Open title, the tournament is set to host the inaugural 'Fortnite Summer Smash' ahead of the men's final on January 27.
Boasting a prize pool of $500,000, the Fortnite tournament will become the richest gaming competition in Australian esports history.
Fortnite has quickly become one of the world's largest video games since its launch in 2017, with over 200 million registered players. The games' primary format sees 100 players fight in a battle royale, until the last person or team stands victorious.
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“Fortnite is a global phenomenon, and we’re excited to host the Grand Slam of competitive gaming events at the Australian Open in January,” Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley said.
“We’re proud of our reputation for delivering world-class events and are always looking at new opportunities to reach more people.
“The Fortnite Summer Smash at the Australian Open will see some of the best gamers from around the country do battle just hours before the world’s best male tennis players compete for the AO title."
However, gamers have raised concerns about the structure and lack of information surrounding the event, unsure whether the competition is serious or just gaming frivolity.
The event at Margaret Court Arena will feature two touraments, the Fortnite Summer Smash Solos and the Duos Celebrity three-match ProAm.
The single player competition is open to the first 500 people over the age of 16 to apply, with a qualifying event to be held before the women's final on January 26.
The top 100 players will compete in a final showdown the following day, with the winner pocketing $100,000.
While all the finalists take home at least $1000, the second and third place getters will win $50,000.
Registration for the Solos event starts at 9am on Wednesday, January 9.
The Duos Celebrity three-match ProAm sees popular streamers facing off to win $50,000 for the charity of their choice. However, the charity event may bar them from entering the singles tournament.
The gaming celebrities confirmed so far include Loserfruit, Lachlan, Muselk, Lazarbeam and MrFreshAsian.
