The CPL Announces the World's Largest Computer Game Competition

The CPL Announces the World's Largest Computer Game Competition CPL World Tour Establishes First Year-Long Sports Season for Competitive Video Gaming DALLAS, Jan. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL) today announced the launch of the CPL World Tour, the first-ever, year-long, competitive tour for the growing sport of video game competitions. The CPL, which has produced 35 national and international live gaming events since 1997, is the owner and principal operator of the World Tour. The head sponsor of the tour is Intel, the world's largest chip maker and a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communication products. In addition to their top sponsorship and local activities at all ten stops, Intel will provide the microprocessors inside every gaming PC used during the entire CPL World Tour. Other tour sponsors include: NVIDIA (the world's leader in graphics and digital media processors) and CompUSA (the nation's largest computer superstore retailer). Boasting the largest competitive purse, a Million-Dollar pool for a single computer game, the World Tour will debut in Istanbul, Turkey on February 10, 2005. Following are confirmed stops in Spain, Brazil, Germany, United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, China and Chile. A $500,000 Grand Final is planned for late November 2005. The landmark CPL World Tour represents: The largest, first-ever, year-long competitive tour spotlighting the popular and growing new sport of video game competitions. In addition to the primary game of the tour: Painkiller; event-specific competitions will be added to the stops based on local appeal. The establishment of a February-to-November, sports season, complete with a unified, competitive points system and the crowning of year-end champions. Massive, multi-platform marketing commitments, utilizing both internal and external resources in support of the competitors and the new tour. Marketing platforms will include various television, radio, print, online, and event marketing initiatives. The World Tour also includes: Free cultural journey at each stop, to enhance the competitors' awareness and appreciation of each host country and promote solidarity between the competitors. Extensive amateur and grassroots competitions and workshops designed to develop and spotlight the next generation of sports stars. Lifestyle and entertainment elements at each stop featuring exhibitions, live music, concerts and more. Scott Valencia, who joined CPL after overseeing the gaming division of CompUSA for several years, was appointed Operations Director of the World Tour. Scott will oversee tour marketing, business development and operations. CPL President, Angel Munoz will be responsible for press and competitor relations for the tour. "Our plan is to work with the competitors, sponsors and industry to bring real structure and consistency; provide better context and meaning to the sport and create the definitive world tour while growing the sport and its stars," said Angel Munoz. For more information on the CPL World Tour visit http://www.cplworldtour.com/ commencing Wednesday, January 26, 2005. All company and/or product names may be trade names, trademarks and/or registered trademarks of the respective owners with which they are associated. Source: Cyberathlete Professional League CONTACT: George Kaspiris of Cyberathlete Professional League, +1-416-648-3764, or george.kaspiris@thecpl.com Web site: http://www.cplworldtour.com/ ------- Profile: International Entertainment