Online gamers control characters in a virtual world

UKonline gamersareon red alertas they prepare for the arrival of theCyberathleteProfessional League World Tour.

The tour, which takes in nine countries on four continents, is the first of its kind and demonstrates the desire amongst thepro-gamingcommunity to be taken seriously as a professional sport.

For those who don’t know, online gamers compete against each other playing popular games such as Counter Strike, World of Warcraft, and Unreal Tournament. The games are played onPCsrather thangames consoles.

Thousands of fans are expected to descend upon Sheffield, a city in the north of England, to watch their favourite pro-gamersbattle it outin a $1million tournament. One competitor who is sure tocause a splashis 23-year-old American, Jonathan Wendel, better known bygaming alias, “Fatal1ty”.

Despite his youth, “Fatal1ty” is a gaming legend, having won three Cyberathlete Professional League championships and become the world’s first Doom 3 world champion, for which he won $25000 prize money. He has also signedlucrative sponsorshipdealswith companies which produceperipheralsand accessories for gamers.

The UK is alsofielding a strong team. Top UK player, David Treacy, a member of the British team Four-Kings, has alreadysecured a placein the events grand final in the United States. The Four-Kings Counter Strike team have also made good progress taking second place overall in the first season of the tournament and winning $20000 in prize money.

The team have recently competed in the World E-Sports Games league in South Korea. The reception they received there demonstrates the growing status of pro-gamers. ‘They weremobbedfor photographs andautographsbefore they played the season final’, says Four-Kings co-manager Phillip Wride.

Chinese gaming fanatics don’t have long to wait for their opportunity towitness the spectacleof world-class gaming. The CPL World Tour comes to Beijing on October 13th with a top prize of $50000. So keep your finger on thetrigger– maybe you could be the next world champion.