Just a few short years ago, Donovan 'Tekkz' Hunt was a FIFA esports child prodigy, but he's now one of the most experienced players around.
Aged just 16, Tekkz was thrust into the limelight after winning the 2018 FUT Champions Cup in Barcelona, and instantly became the face of FIFA Esports. Following his first tournament win, Tekkz went on to win the PGL FIFA 19 Cup in Bucharest, the FIFA eClub World Cup, a few more FUT Champions Cups, the first-ever ePremier League for Liverpool and many more. There aren't many FIFA esports tournaments left for him to win.
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But one of those is the EA Sports eChampions League, and with the FIFA 22 Finals taking place this weekend, Tekkz has the chance to add the trophy to his growing collection. Tekkz is still only 20 years old, but of the eight professional FIFA players involved in the finals, four of the players competing are younger than him, highlighting how quickly things can change.
Tekkz's beloved Liverpool, for whom he won the ePremier League in 2019, are also looking forward to playing in a big game this weekend, with Jurgen Klopp's side set to take on Real Madrid in the Champions League final. Ahead of an action-packed weekend, The Mirror caught up with Tekkz, who spoke about feeling old aged just 20, wanting to emulate Liverpool's success in real life and how he decides how to play depending on which side of the bed he wakes up on.
"It's weird because obviously, I used to be the new kid on the block, and I still feel that way," said Donovan 'Tekkz' Hunt.
"I still feel like I'm a kid like, in day to day life. I'm just a massive kid. I don't take anything seriously. Everyone now is 16, 17, 18. I'm 21 next week, I'm getting on a little bit!
"So now I come to these tournaments and I've probably got more experience than every single player here. I've played in finals, finals, loads of finals. I've had down moments, up moments, I've had more experience than everyone so it's weird.
"I feel like I'm a more confident person. I think a big thing is COVID. Because when I used to come to tournaments, I didn't really enjoy it, in the moment.
"I got a bit scared. So now since COVID, you sort of appreciate things a lot more and I live in the moment. I still get nervous and stuff and my heart still pounds. But all in all, I'm just a more confident, chilled out person."
So, what can his fans and his competitors expect from Tekkz at the EA Sports FIFA 22 eChampions League Finals? Well, not even Tekkz himself can answer that!
"You know, honestly, it depends on the day of the week. Like some days I'm attacking sometimes I'm very defending. It just depends on how I wake up.
"But when I play well, I think I'm top three at defending in the world and top three at attacking in the world. So you put those two together. It's good news. So yeah, I think my speciality, I'm sort of just good at everything."
And with Liverpool playing in the Champions League final on the same weekend, Tekkz is hoping for a big weekend for both him and the football club.
"That's the dream. I've got a flight to Paris straight after the eChampions League. I promise you as soon as our tournament has finished. Hopefully, I lift the trophy and then run to Paris.
"Hopefully the Paris fans have got a parade ready for me so I can lift the eChampions League trophy."
The EA SPORTS FIFA 22 eChampions League Finals are set to take place at the Space Arena in Stockholm this Friday, with eight of Europe’s elite FIFA players competing to lift the trophy.
Kicking off the day before the UEFA Champions League final, players will be battling it out for a share of the $280k prize money; with the winner taking home $75k. Some of the biggest names in EA SPORTS FIFA 22 esports are set to compete including the 2019 FIFA eClub World Cup winner Donovan ‘Tekkz’ Hunt, FGS 22 Masters Cup winner Gonzalo Nicolas ‘Nicolas99fc’ Villalba and Matias ‘Matias’ Bonanno; winner of the recent Team of the Season Cup.
Action will be broadcast live on Twitch.TV/EASPORTSFIFA, YouTube.com/UEFATV and TikTok.com/@ChampionsLeague.
