BECKLEY, W.Va. — WVU Tech esports returns to postseason action Tuesday night as the junior duo of Dr.unrushed (Ryan Hayden) and TheWacki1 (Keith Karwacki) competes in the ECAC Fortnite Zero Build Duos Semifinals. The Golden Bears advanced after a consistent seven-week regular season that placed them in the top 75 teams nationally, securing their spot in the playoff field.
Hayden and Karwacki have been side-by-side since arriving on campus as freshmen and remain one of WVU Tech's most experienced and steady esports pairings. Now juniors, the two continue their run in one of the ECAC's largest and most competitive leagues.
The Duo
Dr.unrushed (Ryan Hayden)
Junior • Computer Engineering • Slippery Rock, Pa. • Slippery Rock Area High School
TheWacki1 (Keith Karwacki)
Junior • Forensic Investigation • Ripley, W.Va. • Ripley High School
Season Snapshot
The Golden Bears completed seven weeks of Zero Build competition with a cumulative score that placed them in the Semifinals bracket under the ECAC's updated playoff format.
Updated Qualification Rules
- Top 35 → Advance directly to Zero Build Finals
- 36th–75th → Advance to Zero Build Semifinals
- Top 15 from Semis → Advance to Finals
WVU Tech enters Tuesday's Semifinals inside the qualifying window and trending upward after a strong late-season push, including multiple top-10 placements across October.
2025 Zero Build Highlights
Across the fall regular season the Golden Bears posted:
- Victory Royale in Week 1, earning 77 points behind six combined eliminations
- Consistent mid-to-upper placements through Weeks 2–7
- Multiple top-10 finishes, including 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 11th place games
- Season eliminations:
- Dr.unrushed: 10
- TheWacki1: 10
- Combined: 20
Best finish after Week 1: 6th place (Week 7)
What's at Stake
A top-15 finish on Tuesday would send WVU Tech to the ECAC Zero Build Finals on Dec. 2 and Dec. 9. The Golden Bears are one strong night away from a championship berth.
Watch Live
Tuesday, Nov. 18 • 8 p.m.
Twitch: twitch.tv/wvutechgoldenbears
Know the Map: Springfield Arrives in Fortnite
This postseason arrives during one of Fortnite's most unique mini-seasons: the full-scale Simpsons takeover of Chapter 6 Season 4. The island has transformed into a completely new, cel-shaded Springfield, complete with landmark POIs like:
- Springfield Nuclear Power Plant
- Evergreen Terrace
- Donut District
- Springfield Town Square
- Burns Manor
- Kamp Krusty
Matches now run on a slightly smaller 80-player map, speeding up battles and rewarding quick rotations, positioning and aim — all hallmarks of Zero Build strategy.
Zero Build also removes Fortnite's signature construction mechanics, placing full emphasis on aiming, movement, awareness and item management. Duos earn points through eliminations and placement, with the shrinking storm accelerating action as the field narrows.
