Major League Gaming Heads to the Buckeye State for the Second Pro Circuit Event of the 2010 Season: Provides Homecoming Venue for League Celebrities and Draws Local Celebrity Talent

NEW YORK, May 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Major League Gaming (MLG), the professional video game league, will kick off the second Pro Circuit event of its 2010 Season in Columbus, Ohio on June 4-6. The 2010 Pro Circuit Season consists of nationwide competitions in five major US cities, drawing audiences of thousands of spectators, amateur players, and pro players. Each competition features hundreds of teams fighting it out in intense matches, culminating in an exciting Final where $20,000 is awarded to the winner.

Following a thrilling start to the Pro Circuit season in Orlando this April, the drama is intensifying as storied teams have made big roster changes and upstarts are flexing their muscles. MLG's Pro Circuit events are renowned among the gaming community for their highly competitive atmosphere fueled by the drive to win and the prospect of thousands of dollars worth of prizes.

Over 200 teams will compete in the three-day, double-elimination tournament in Columbus, which includes an enhanced and diverse game lineup for 2010. Featured games include Halo 3, now in its third Season on the Pro Circuit, and Tekken 6™, the fast-paced fighting game that demands immense technical skill. Making its 2010 Season debut in Columbus is World of Warcraft, where 16 of the top rated international 3v3 Arena teams will fight it out for supremacy.  Also featured is Super Smash Bros.® Brawl for the Wii™, which regularly draws an energetic and passionately devoted 'Smasher' fan base to the MLG Pro Circuit.

The popular Halo 3 FFA (Free-For-All or individual) competition is also on deck for the 2010 Season, thanks to the support of BIC® Flex4™. The top FFA players from each event -- the BIC® Flex4™ Elite -- will be flown to the Finals at the 2010 National Championships to compete for the $2,500 first prize.

Several local celebrities will also be on hand at the Columbus event, including Dublin, Ohio native and CW Star Annie Porembski. Ohio also provides a pivotal destination for MLG as it is home to some of the league's biggest gaming talent and broadcast celebrities:

• Chris "Puckett" Puckett (age 24, from Pickerington, Ohio) is often referred to as the John Madden of MLG. Puckett is the Lead Play-by-Play Commentator for MLG's Live Competitions and his charismatic personality, deep competitive gaming knowledge, and distinctive voice have turned him into the face of Major League Gaming. Over the course of a three-day competition, Puckett leads approximately 15 hours of live sports programming.
• Tom "Ogre 2" Ryan (age 24, from Pickerington, Ohio) is one-half of the renowned Ogre Twins, two of the original stars of Major League Gaming. They blazed the trail for competitive gaming and, as part of legendary team Final Boss, were some of the first players in the league to be awarded major brand sponsorships. The twins have won more Halo National Championships than any other players, excluding former teammate Walshy.  
• Rich "Shibby" Webb (age 24, from Delaware, Ohio) is a production coordinator and the co-host of MLG's original reality/home make-over show, "The Dr Pepper Ultimate Gaming House." After meeting Chris Puckett during their freshman year at OU, Shibby started working part-time for MLG in 2006 as a tournament director and joined the company full-time in 2008.

Eight winners from the 2010 Doritos MLG Pro-Gaming Combine in Chicago, the second dedicated amateur competition for the league, will also compete at the Columbus event as part of their prize package.  Included in the lineup is 19-year-old old Zachary "Revamp" Edwards from Dayton, Ohio, who wowed the MLG evaluators in Chicago and promises to be one of the home favorites at the Columbus competition.

Fans can purchase passes for the Columbus competition and experience firsthand the biggest event in competitive gaming.  Spectators will also see world-class competitive gaming up close, interact with fan favorites during "Play-a-Pro" matches, put their own skills to the test in exhibition matches and be in the audience for MLGPro.com's live broadcasts. Broadcast highlights include The HOT POCKETS Pre-Game Show, Friday Night Kick-Off, MLG Saturday Night, and MLG Championship Sunday, as well as the popular Old Spice Report that recaps the main gaming action each day and wraps up each night's events.

Spectators can also participate in several additional merchandise giveaways throughout the weekend. In a featured initiative unique to the Columbus event, PNC Bank will offer huge gadget raffles and tons of giveaways at its event booth, the first 200 people to apply for the Virtual Wallet® account by PNC Bank receive a 1,600 Microsoft Points Gift card.

Spectator registration for the Columbus event is open online until June 2 and full details about the event and the Pro Circuit are available at http://www.mlgpro.com/pro-circuit/2010. Passes can also be purchased onsite.

ABOUT MAJOR LEAGUE GAMING

Founded in 2002, Major League Gaming (MLG) is the dominant media property exclusively targeting the approximately 40 million consumers in North America who have a passion for playing video games as a competitive social activity. The company exclusively represents the best professional gamers and gives millions of aspiring gamers around the world an opportunity to compete, improve their skills, and socialize through its thriving online competitive community and live Pro Circuit competitions. For more information: www.mlgpro.com.

SOURCE Major League Gaming