Of the 144 teams registered, 16 are given an automatic berth into the professional bracket due to their 2005 Season Points. The amateur bracket will be a
dogfight among 128 teams for the final 16 positions in the professional bracket. The teams who manage to get out of the amateur bracket will face a very tough professional bracket and will have to face the best Halo 2 teams early on. Without a single 2005 Season Point, first time attendees will need to pull off some upsets if they intend to proceed to the professional bracket.

After the intense finals between Final Boss, formerly of 3D, and Team Phreaks, now Carbon Gaming, at the MLG 2005 Finals, FB finished their playoff sweep and looks to continue that dominance in 2006. Carbon is out to prove why they nearly defeated FB twice in the 2005 Season. The newly sponsored Check Six, formerly Exit Woundz, brings arguably their best lineup to the plate. Two of the members were on the previous Check Six Halo 2 lineup, which placed second consistently behind FB at the beginning of the 2005 season. Will history repeat?

Among the newer teams at NY is Reason Gaming, a European team. Formerly of Four Kings, they placed 5-8th at WCG 2005. Many would say they were unlucky at WCG because they had to face the Ogres early in the single elimination bracket. Regardless, history has often shown us not to underestimate the Europeans.

Will the Europeans place extremely well? Will a new year mean a new reign or will it be a continuation of 2005? Stay tuned to Gotfrag as we bring you the scores and updates!