This new event circuit will start in June in Louisville, Kentucky followed by four more events and a final event in December. Sponsored by both Intel and Xbox 360, these events will last 3-5 days and include “150,000 square feet of tournaments, exhibitions, concerts and other attractions.”

With rumors about the CPL’s sponsorship woes gracing several eSports sites, this announcement indubitably reassures many people about the future of eSports. The WSVG has teamed up with many respected organizations in the eSports world including the CPL, Lanwar, and DreamHack. Scott Valencia, former CPL employee and current Executive Vice President of Games Media Properties, explained how the WSVG is structured in an interview with GotFrag.

“We have structured the World Series of Video Games similar to the PGA Tour model with its new FedEx Cup format. Tournament organizations such as CPL, and Lanwar will become “Major” events of the Series, and other new “Majors” will be named after participating sponsors,” said Valencia. “Each of these “Major” events will then contribute winning players and teams into the WSVG championship at the end of the year.”

The WSVG games for 2006 include CounterStrike, Quake 4, Warcraft III, and several Xbox titles*. Valencia also explained that the WSVG is currently drafting their rules and procedures.

"We are in the process of evaluating the platforms, rules, and procedures from all well-known gaming tournaments as well as from the other major professional sports. We will be taking the best elements of each to create the WSVG standards,” said Valencia “When this is complete, we will be better able to give you an idea of how our tournaments will proceed.”

The World Series of Video Games will be offering one million dollars in cash prizes, but Valencia also said that the WSVG will not be pulled into ‘purse wars.’

“We will not allow ourselves to be pulled into the “purse wars” that have been escalating over the last 3 years and have frankly weakened some of the organizations,” said Valencia. “The current rate of growth in cash purses is not sustainable and creates an artificial interest in these events.”

WSVG’s goal is to turn eSports from its current state of separate and sporadic events into a circuit of events that will allow for traditional media coverage and exposure. In addition instead of simply promoting the WSVG brand, the WSVG will help its tournament organizers develop their own business and identity as well as create “the next Pebble Beach, or British Open for our series.”

The eSports community now has another event to watch closely and their position on gaming is summed up by Matthew Ringel, President and CEO of Games Media Properties in WSVG’s press release.

“Video games are the entertainment of choice for millions of people worldwide and competition and achievement are of paramount importance to gamers,” said Ringel. “In bringing together some of the most well-known tournaments, the best gamers and unprecedented media exposure, the World Series of Video Games will help promote a new class of champions, and bring the excitement of gaming competitions to a wider audience.”

Stay tuned to GotFrag.com for more updates on this story.

*This was included in Scott Valencia's interview with GotFrag, not their press release