Gamers own at MLG digital battleground

Plenty of pros, an abundance of amateurs, and flocks of fans gathered this past weekend at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports for Major League Gaming's Pro Circuit kick-off.

This year's Pro Circuit features Halo 3, Tekken 6, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Bic's tent had screens for Halo 3 in a free-for-all competition where professional players, amateurs, and fans could take on each another without being a part of a team.

More than 200 teams of four players each competed at Halo 3 in the first of a five-city US Pro Circuit tour competition.

The Pro Circuit tour will end in a championship event with a $100,000 prize.

Competing against the best players in the world, team Instinct took first prize for the season's opening event, earning them $20,000.

Sponsored by Old Spice, Instinct's players — Roy, Lunchbox, ElamiteWarrior and Cloud — won for the first time as a team.

Instinct was the first team to win an event in the 2010 season.

Roy and Lunchbox have been in the finals of Halo 3's 4v4 competition the past two years but have not come through with a victory until now.

Cloud won last year's national championship and has followed up on that with a season-opening victory to kick off Instinct's season on the right foot.

"The thrill [of professional gaming] is unlike anything I've ever felt," said Bryan Rizzo, a.k.a. Legit, from the team Str8 Rippin. "Everyone's watching, and when you do something good, everyone gets excited, and that pumps you up even more."

In 2006, MLG signed its first multi-year sponsorship deal. In 2008, there were 250 members.

Now MLG is the largest professional video game league in the world, and team tickets to this year's Pro Circuit event in Orlando sold out in three hours at $240 each.

MLG targets about 40 million gamers in North America, all of whom passionately and competitively play video games as a social activity.

Through MLG's competitions, these players are offered an opportunity to compete, improve skills and socialize.

"This is unique," Rizzo said. "Everyone here has a common interest, and you get to meet people from all over the world. Everyone you play online comes here, and you get to meet face to face."

Most professional players are sponsored to compete.

Sponsors such as Stride gum, Doritos, Old Spice, Bic, Dr Pepper and Hot Pockets guarantee at least some cash to their players, but if the players don't perform, their sponsorship may be cut.

Stride sponsors individual players, and Old Spice, Hot Pockets and Dr Pepper sponsor their own teams.

Dr Pepper's team, Str8 Rippin, has consistently placed among the top competitors.

"Not many people get to say that they are the best in the world" said Charles R. Thomas, Str8 Rippin's manager.

The MLG season will continue in Columbus from June 4-6, head to Raleigh Aug. 27-29, move on to Dallas from Nov. 5-7 and end at the MLG Championships, which does not yet have a date or location set.