by ERIK LEIJON

If any sports television network is a good indicator, the growth of quasi-sports such as poker, billiards and bowling has been torrid. Is it only a matter of time before video gaming, which if anything is more demanding on the thumbs and requires cat-like reflexes, becomes as popular as Texas Hold ’Em?

Is the world ready to embrace e-sports and their cyber-athletes? LAN tournaments are widespread, but they can hardly be considered a spectator sport. The World Cyber Games (WCG) Canadian Championships has aspirations of being a watchable video game contest. Organizers are pulling out all the stops for the Sept. 1-3 tourney, being held at La Ronde’s Le Jardin des Étoiles, to not only present an air of professionalism to the event—after all, the winners will qualify for the World Cyber Games in Monza, Italy this November—but to make non-gamers actually care.

Fame and fortune

If video gaming is to become Canada’s next great pastime, then there is a need for superstars to become the faces of the sport. Team EG’s Counter-Strike squad, which dominates the team-based shooter game, is already poised to become gaming’s first dynasty.

“Within our little world, all of the players and myself are considered celebrities, but I don’t know if in the future outside world or the mainstream, whatever you want to call it, will accept us or think of us as celebrities,” says Alex Garfield, the American-born manager of the Canadian Team EG. In its three-year history, Team EG’s current roster has only lost once in Canada. As manager, Garfield handles the finances and management part of the team.

In 2005, the Team won over $35,000 (U.S.) in various tournaments. They practice four hours a day, five days a week, even though many of them still go to school.

“Most Counter-Strike players around the world, they don’t even know people play for money,” Garfield says. “So there’s a lot of room for growth; once people hear about (gaming tournaments) I see it going into the mainstream.” The team’s biggest payouts thus far were two prizes of $10,000. They play about two tournaments a month and their sponsors cover travel and equipment costs.

Team EG will be one of 13 teams participating in the Counter-Strike tourney. WCG organizers say they are expecting 5,000 spectators over the weekend, who will get a chance to watch the best in the nation compete at seven games: Counter-Strike 1.6, Project Gotham Racing 3, Warcraft 3, StarCraft: Brood War, Dead or Alive 4, FIFA 2006 and Dawn of War: Winter Assault. Patrons can watch the action on two giant screens and gaming Internet radio station Radio iTG (www.radioitg.com) will be providing play-by-play for spectators and for their Web site.

WCG has been organizing the Canadian Championships since 2000, but this will be the first in Montreal. Players had a chance to qualify during the summer in local tournaments throughout the country (both of the online and LAN variety). While the number can fluctuate because of no-shows, 120 gamers are expected.

Best foot forward

Philippe Seyouth, who lives in Pointe-aux-Trembles, qualified for the FIFA Soccer finals. The CEGEP Maisonneuve student doesn’t actually play soccer, but Seyouth’s previous tournament experience playing Counter-Strike should prove beneficial.

“I was only playing FIFA for fun, but now I’m very dedicated and focused to be ready for the big event,” Seyouth says. “I’ve been playing Counter-Strike for about four years now and I’ve played a lot of tournaments during those years. It’s always a great experience, and gaming allows me to travel around the country, in the U.S. and hopefully overseas in a near future.” He currently practices FIFA four to five hours a day, excluding his Counter-Strike training.

“When I started to play games, my parents thought that it was a waste of time. They were more interested in my school grades,” Seyouth recalls. “But I was able to perform well in both. So, when I started to earn money by winning tournaments, they changed their mind and now support me.”

Aspirations for gamers and organizers are high. Stephan Richard, executive director of WCG (Canada), plans on creating a WCG television show. Eventually the main goal is a North American e-sports league. Richard is also looking into government funding, saying, “We believe we contribute just as much to our culture and heritage as do other festivals.”