Vegas eRace: Gamer Bono Huis beats professional drivers to land $200,000 jackpot | CNN

Vegas eRace: Gamer Bono Huis beats professional drivers to win $200,000

2 minute read
Updated 7:32 AM EST, Mon January 9, 2017
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Vegas eRace: The $1 million simulated showdown
01:39 - Source: CNN

Story highlights

Gamer Bono Huis wins Vegas eRace

Pro driver Felix Rosenqvist comes 2nd

Technical glitch demotes Olli Pahkala to 3rd

CNN  — 

Twenty professionals. Ten gamers. At stake – a $1 million prize pot.

Since its inaugural season in 2014-15, Formula E has delivered street racing to some of the world’s biggest cities, and that trend continued Saturday.

Except for one small difference: It was in the virtual world.

The Las Vegas eRace pitted 20 professional Formula E drivers against 10 eSports fanatics for a chance to win a chunk of the seven-figure jackpot.

Gamer Bono Huis eventually came out on to top secure the $200,000 prize for first place, after on-the-road winner Olli Pahkala was handed a 12-second penalty for a technical glitch which had given him an unfair FanBoost advantage.

“This first eRace in Las Vegas was a great success,” Formula E founder and CEO Alejandro Agag said.

“It’s exciting to have brought Formula E into the inner sanctum of CES – the biggest and most influential technology show in the world. I think this can be the first in a big future for Formula E in eSports racing.

“We will continue to pursue new and innovative ways to improve our presence in this fast growing landscape, while maintaining fan engagement at the forefront of all our initiatives.”

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CNN's Supercharged presenter Nicki Shields gets behind the wheel of one of the simulation pods used in the Las Vegas eRace.
CNN's Supercharged presenter Nicki Shields gets behind the wheel of one of the simulation pods used in the Las Vegas eRace.
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Finnish gamer Olli Pahkala initially thought he'd claimed the $200,000 first place jackpot -- but was then demoted to third place after a glitch saw him receive an unfair FanBoost advantage.
Finnish gamer Olli Pahkala initially thought he'd claimed the $200,000 first place jackpot -- but was then demoted to third place after a glitch saw him receive an unfair FanBoost advantage.
CNN
A capacity crowd crammed into Las Vegas' Venetian Hotel to watch the race which pitted 20 professional Formula E drivers against 10 eSports fanatics.
A capacity crowd crammed into Las Vegas' Venetian Hotel to watch the race which pitted 20 professional Formula E drivers against 10 eSports fanatics.
CNN
Alejandro Agag, Formula E founder and CEO, called the event a "great success" and hopes to continue integrating Formula E and eSports.
Alejandro Agag, Formula E founder and CEO, called the event a "great success" and hopes to continue integrating Formula E and eSports.
CNN
Gamer Bono Huis (podium R), who led throughout every qualifying round, was eventually promoted to first place and claimed the $200,000 winner's jackpot. Professional Formula E driver Felix Rosenqvist came second.
Gamer Bono Huis (podium R), who led throughout every qualifying round, was eventually promoted to first place and claimed the $200,000 winner's jackpot. Professional Formula E driver Felix Rosenqvist came second.
CNN
Gamer Bono Huis wins first ever eRace in Las Vegas

The race was hosted in front of a packed crowd at Vegas’ Venetian Hotel, where Dutchman Huis also scooped an additional $25,000 jackpot for pole position.

Professional Felix Rosenqvist showed a penchant for eSports as he came second to finish as the best-placed Formula E driver.

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Following a post-race investigation, Pahkala’s penalty dropped him to third place to round off the podium.

Professionals Jose Maria Lopez, Sam Bird, Daniel Abt and Nelson Piquet Jr. also finished in the top 10 to further emphasize the narrow margins between the Formula E drivers and sim racers.

Renault e.dams driver David Greco crossed the line in 15th but set the fastest lap to scoop the $10,000 prize.

Having topped every session throughout the event, in which every driver competed in a simulation cockpit, few could argue Huis wasn’t a deserving overall winner.

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Formula E will return to the US on July 15-16 for the inaugural New York City ePrix, which takes place against the backdrop of Lower Manhattan.

CNN’s Supercharged will bring you all the action and reaction to the race and news from CES in this month’s show, which debuts on January 21.