Tyler Blevins may have started out his career as an Esports professional with games like PUBG, Halo and League of Legends but nowadays he’s probably best known as the Fortnite/Twitch streamer, Ninja.
Ninja became a household name after his livestreams made him an internet sensation, and whether or not you approve of his current game choices it can’t be denied that his most recent achievement is definitely a big one…
So excited to the first professional gamer to be featured on @espn the Magazine. Cover and profile will be shown on Sports Center tomorrow in the 7 AM EST hour. pic.twitter.com/gzlSJihroM
— Ninja (@Ninja) September 18, 2018
Posting to Twitter, Ninja has confirmed that he will officially be the world’s first professional gamer to grace the cover of ESPN magazine – one of the most recognisable brands in the world of sport.
Whether or not you’re a fan of Ninja, this is a really important step for professional gaming as it’s a sport that’s still often dismissed as being less-than legitimate when it comes to competitive play.
Well done, Ninja!
It’s been a great year for 27-year-old Blevins as he recently celebrated becoming the first Twitch streamer to reach 10 million followers, absolutely trumping his competitors who were yet to break the 5 million mark.
First streamer on twitch to ever hit 10 million followers! This milestone is seriously ridiculous and the one I am most proud of. I have been streaming for a very very long time… and I cannot express how grateful I am to be in the position I am in.
Love you guys pic.twitter.com/6aqdAM4icw
— Ninja (@Ninja) August 2, 2018
Announcing his victory royale via Twitter back in August, Ninja wrote to his fans: “First streamer on twitch to ever hit 10 million followers! This milestone is seriously ridiculous and the one I am most proud of. I have been streaming for a very very long time …and I cannot express how grateful I am to be in the position I am in. Love you guys.”
10 million might not seem like a huge amount if you compare it to some of the biggest YouTubers on the planet (aka PewDiePie) but considering Ninja mostly streams Fortnite nowadays, it’s still a massive accomplishment.
Hopefully the latter half of 2018 will keep bringing in more good news for Ninja!
Don’t forget to let us know what you think about his ESPN cover in the comments below.