British FIFA star Donnovan “F2Tekkz” Hunt has won the first major of the FIFA 19 season in the Romanian capital Bucharest. The 17-year-old, who represents YouTube football freestylers The F2 in the FIFA esports scene, beat American player Joksan Redona in the grand final of the FUT Champions Cup #1 to claim $50,000 in prize money. Hunt was also the winner of the first FIFA 18 major last season in Barcelona, as a then unknown and unsigned 16-year-old. Amongst the favourites for the competition, Hunt defeated Ajax’s Dani Hagebeuk in the Xbox console final 6-3 over two legs. He then dominated in the Grand Final against PS4 winner Redona with a 7-1 aggregate win. In his post-match interview, a confident Hunt said: “After I won my first major last time people were calling me a one tournament wonder… well they definitely can’t say that now.” He has also already qualified for the second and third FUT Champions Cups, as well as two other Licenced Qualifiers, in what is shaping up to be a busy season for the youngster. The tournament in Bucharest was the first of six FUT Champions Cups across the FIFA 19 competitive calendar, with the second Cup taking place later this month in a yet to be confirmed location.

A CUP FULL OF SHOCKS

Despite two of the favourites making it to the final, there were a number of shocks to big name players in the early stages of the tournament. Two of the UK’s most experienced FIFA pros crashed out in the Swiss-style group stage: FIFA 17 world champion Spencer “Gorilla” Ealing and Tassal “Tass” Rushan of FaZe Clan. Fellow Brit Sean “Dragon” Allen, who plays for Leicester City defender Christian Fuchs' esports organisation “No Fuchs Given”, was also eliminated in the group stages. And despite going unbeaten in the groups and looking full of confidence, German player Mohammed “MoAuba” Harkous suffered a shock defeat in the first knockout round to Spain’s Andoni “Andonii_PM” Martin.