The nation’s top video game players are bringing their A game to New York City for the World Cyber Games U.S. Finals, taking place at the Hammerstein Ballroom from Sept. 8-10. This is the first time the Big Apple has hosted the event in its five-year history.
More than 40,000 gamers turned out to qualify at local and regional events during the summer, but only 184 have advanced to the U.S. finals, where they will vie for prizes totaling $34,000. Winners will then go on to represent America at the Grand Final in Singapore this November.
Players will be competing in the popular games Half-Life: Counter-Strike, FIFA Soccer, Need for Speed: Underground 2, StarCraft: Brood War, WarCraft III: the Frozen Throne, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, Dead or Alive Ultimate and Halo 2.
The World Cyber Games, sponsored by Samsung, Intel, Shuttle and Razer, is part of a growing trend known as e-Sports. "We have been committed for the past five years to see this take root in America and we will continue to create an environment for e-Sports to grow and flourish,” says Hank Jeong, World Cyber Games CEO.
Opening ceremonies will be held Thursday, Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m., kicking off three days of live competition, which spectators can watch on giant monitors. New York Tokyo Anime films and rock band performances will also be on the entertainment schedule.
Leave a Reply