Team 3D, the reigning MLG Halo 2 champions are out to defend their title once again. It has been six months since Team 3D took their only loss of the 2005 MLG; defeated at the Philadelphia Nationals in June, Team 3D took a little time off. After missing the Nashville, Las Vegas, and Seattle events; Team 3D returned for the Western Conference Championships in Los Angeles to reclaim their title as MLG champion. While Team 3D won the Western event, the victory in L.A. was marred by comments about Matt “Zyos” Leto being absent from the Trademark Gamer’s lineup. Replaced by Capt Anarchy, Zyos’ absence was due to his attendance of the Digital Life tournament in New York City in which he won. Because of the change in lineup, more attention was put on to the Eastern Conference Championships in Atlanta where Trademark Gamers would be in full force with their starting four players. When MLG Atlanta rolled around, what many people were expecting was a very close finals match between two of the most skilled Halo 2 teams in the nation. What happened was the exact opposite; Team 3D swept Trademark Gamers in the Finals and dismissed the notion that Team 3D had lost any claim as the best Halo 2 team in the world.

Major League Gaming’s 2005 season started off in Washington D.C. where seventy-five teams turned out to compete for number one. Twelve months later MLG’s Chicago event is boasting 135 teams in attendance, surpassing MLG Los Angeles as the largest Halo 2 tournament held to date. The return of iGameSpot, a team that was only a single map away from defeating Team 3D at the MLG St. Louis event but ultimately ended up losing to the defending champs, will surely make placing top five in this event a dogfight. It should be noted that the IGS lineup that took Team 3D to the edge in the St. Louis event was arguably weaker when compared to their current roster. There also comes the news that Matt “Zyos” Leto will be absent from this event and perhaps absent from the team permanently. His team, formerly Trademark Gamers, who is registered under their old name of Str8 Rippin, will include Tupac as their fourth. Str8 Rippin returns to their former glory as the relationship between the team and the gaming organization Trademark Gamers has ended on good terms. It is also noteworthy that Strongside, formerly of Team EG, will be playing with IGS.

Will IGS have what it takes to push Team 3D to the limit again? Will the roster change help Str8 Rippin in their quest to win another MLG? Or perhaps LegendZ and Team EG will make the push for top two? Stay tuned to the coverage as we bring you the scores and updates from the event!

Halo 2 Team Seedings:

1. Team 3D
2. Str8 Rippin
3. LeGendZ
4. Team iGameSpot
5. Team EG
6. Exit Woundz
7. H2C
8. So Sick
9. Devils Army
10. LiquidIceEnergyDrink
11. Dipjuice Returns
12. Verses
13. SCR
14. Enervate Gaming
15. The Best Killers426589110
16. Team Chuck Wolfman
17. OLR Michigan v2
18. Suicidal Army
19. Team Unrated
20. Team DIRK!
21. Tu Foxy Pastries
22. Team GR
23. CPH
24. Xtreme Gaming