At 15, His Mom Took Him Out of School to Focus on His Fortnite Career… What Happened to Him Five Years Later?

In 2019, the gaming world turned its attention to a 15-year-old British player known as BenjyFishy. While most teens were navigating high school, Benjy was competing at top Fortnite tournaments, supported by a major decision from his mom: she withdrew him from traditional schooling so he could focus entirely on his gaming career. Fast forward nearly five years, and BenjyFishy’s story has taken some unexpected twists.

BenjyFishy’s Rise in Fortnite

Benjy, whose real name is Benjy David Fish, showed exceptional skill on Fortnite early on. His mom’s decision to homeschool him was met with skepticism, but Benjy’s career soon silenced the critics. At just 15, he won €11,300 in an online Fortnite tournament. The big turning point came when he amassed a stunning $392,447 in 2019 from Epic Games competitions alone. Then, a year later, he pocketed another $147,000, bringing his total earnings to nearly half a million dollars before he was even old enough to drive.

Homeschooling allowed Benjy to stay in sync with American time zones, making it easier for him to compete against the best in the Fortnite world. His success wasn’t just limited to tournaments; his Twitch channel exploded, with an average of 24,000 viewers and over 20 million hours watched in 2020. But even as his fanbase grew, Benjy sensed that Fortnite’s competitive scene might not hold its excitement forever.

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A Switch from Fortnite to Valorant

By 2022, BenjyFishy made a bold announcement: he was leaving Fortnite. While his skill and charisma had earned him a devoted following, he was ready for a fresh challenge, choosing to pursue a professional path in Valorant, a first-person shooter by Riot Games. Switching games brought excitement but also uncertainty. Would his audience follow him?

Benjy quickly adapted to the Valorant scene, joining the American team NRG and later moving to Team Heretics, a prominent European team. While he was adjusting to the new environment, his audience began to shift. Many of his Fortnite fans, who had initially fueled his success, weren’t as interested in Valorant. In 2023, his viewership dropped by 53%, with a steep decline in watched hours compared to his Fortnite heyday. Still, he retained a steady fanbase, averaging around 2,200 viewers—a fraction of his former numbers but respectable for a game with a smaller streaming audience.

From Rising Streamer to Valorant Pro

For BenjyFishy, the shift to Valorant wasn’t just a casual change; it was a serious career move. In late 2022, he focused his energy on becoming a top Valorant player, and by 2023, his efforts paid off. He secured a spot on Team Heretics, signing a contract that would keep him with the team until 2025. Now based in Spain, Benjy has successfully transitioned from being known as a Fortnite sensation to an emerging figure in the Valorant competitive world.

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Despite the dip in his Twitch numbers, BenjyFishy has managed to secure a place among the top 150 Valorant streamers, holding his own in a competitive streaming landscape. For a young player who once captivated Fortnite fans, his journey shows that the gaming world can be unpredictable, but also full of possibilities.

From High School Dropout to Esports Star

BenjyFishy’s path has been anything but typical. What started as a leap of faith—a 15-year-old leaving school to play Fortnite—has evolved into a successful, though challenging, gaming career. Today, at 19, he’s living his dream in Spain, playing professionally with Team Heretics and proving that the right mix of talent, adaptability, and support can lead to success, even in an industry as changeable as esports.

As Benjy’s story shows, gaming careers don’t always follow a straight line. But with passion and a willingness to adapt, he’s carved out a place for himself in the ever-evolving world of competitive gaming.

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