Issa calls it quits due to an ongoing hand injury.
Fortnite World Cup Finalist - Issa "Issa" Rahim (pictured right) - quit Fortnite today after two years of playing professionally. He announced this startling move on Twitter earlier today as he moves on from the Battle Royale title that granted him countless opportunities. Issa cited nerve damage in his hand as one of the many reasons he is retiring from Fortnite. It's truly a tragedy for someone that most consider one of the original standout controller players in the Battle Royale's three-year history. Issa's story is a cautionary tale that taking breaks from gaming will preserve your entire career, something that plagued the European player for the last two years.
Issa Announces Retirement
quit
Read: https://t.co/SkrRWM1YfT
— issa (@issa) November 30, 2020
The former Ghost Gaming member took to Twitter with the announcement, nearly one month after signing with a new organization. Issa posted a Twitlonger, explaining his decision to retire from Fortnite.
"I don't know how to start this, but I'm quitting. As many of u know I signed with an org and was gonna try content creation but it just doesn't work with my hand.... I've been going back and forth for a while and realized I need to either do it or quit. I appreciate every single one of you that supported me on my journey over the past 3 years and I'm very grateful for all of you, I had the best time of my life and became one of the best which has always been my dream. Couldn't have done any of this without you guys, still gonna stream every once in a while, but I'm mostly gonna focus on other stuff and do my thing.
Maybe in the future, I can explain everything better, but for now, it's just best for me to quit. Shoutout to all the people I've met during all of this and a special shoutout to @KamoLRF for being like a brother to me since the beginning."
Issa paid homage to his long-time duo partner and former Ghost Gaming teammate Liam "Kamo" Fillery. The two competed at the ESL Katowice Royale in 2018, finishing in ninth place, Fortnite World Cup Qualifiers and even recently reached FNCS Heats in Chapter 2 - Season 2. Issa faired well leading up to this decision, placing decently in Duo Cash Cups alongside Kamo. Unfortunately, the nerve damage in his hand that's affected him since before the Fortnite World Cup ultimately got the better of him.
Nerve Damage Issues Led to Retirement
for everyone saying take breaks, i already barely play, i literally take a week off between every wc week idk how i qualified i legit have no gametime and its already messing up my gameplay.... and for clarification, this is what i have to get surgery done for: pic.twitter.com/5gWJTZKPKf
— issa (@issa) June 15, 2019
Issa's hand pains date back to before the Fortnite World Cup Finals. He stopped playing the game as often due to the lingering injury. Despite this, he played through the pain at Fortnite's inaugural World Championship event, where he took 37th place overall. Issa tweeted the state of his Fortnite career in September of 2019.
"its either i quit fortnite or switch to mouse and keyboard, just gotta face it that i cant play controller anymore especially not on a pro level because i simply cant play the game..... idk man i keep tweeting about this but i just cant decide," he said.
Issa went on hiatus until Chapter 2 - Season 2, where he returned to competition with Kamo. Unfortunately, Issa's hand was never the same.
A Cautionary Tale in Gaming
update on my hand:
so i went to the doctor and he told me i can get surgery done and it would fix my wrist, but it wouldnt fix the pain in my hand/fingers, he said ill have to massage my whole arm every day from now and just play less.... not sure what the plan is :/
— issa (@issa) September 5, 2019
Issa’s doctor's told him that surgery would fix his wrist, but the pain will linger and that he'd have to cut down his playing time. A decision one year in the making led Issa to retire from Fortnite as one of the best controller players of all time. He transcended what was possible on controller back in the Battle Royale's prime and became just one of a few controller players to qualify for the Fortnite World Cup. Although not physically demanding in a traditional sense, nonstop gaming can result in many health-related issues down the line. In this case, Issa's nerve damage cost him what could have been an even more successful career in competitive Fortnite.
Some of Fortnite's best, including Kyle "Mongraal" Jackson and Martin "MrSavage" Foss Andersen offered words to Issa as he exits Fortnite.
"ur gonna be successful in anything else you wanna do, so many good memories because of you I love you bro," said Mongraal.
It's a tragic occurrence for one of Fortnite's original dominating forces. Hopefully, Issa will find success in the future as a gamer or otherwise. We will always remember him as a controller king.
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