Today the World Series of Video Games and the Cyberathlete Professional League have announced a partnership for the next CPL Summer event set to take place July 5, 2006 through July 9, 2006 at the Gaylord Texan located in Grapevine, TX. This announcement comes just 6 days after WSVG was launched.

The press release indicates CPL Summer will be the Second Event in the World Series of Video Games Competition Circuit following WSVG’s kick off event at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky from June15-18, 2006.

The press release indicates the partnership aims to bring “new level of professionalism and organization to the sport” and will expand the CPL to “occupy 150,000 square feet of convention space.” The CPL Summer tournament has also adjusted cash prizes in both the Counter-Strike and Quake 4 tournaments to $150,000 and $75,000 respectively, to reflect the “$1,000,000 World Series of Video Games format”.

GotFrag will post an interview with Angel Munoz shortly. The official press release can be found below.

WORLD SERIES OF VIDEO GAMES PARTNERS WITH CYBERATHLETE PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE

CPL Summer Championship Expands To Become Second Event in
World Series of Video Games Competition Circuit

New York - February 22, 2006 - Games Media Properties, which recently launched the first-ever World Series of Video Games (WSVG), today announces a partnership with the Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL), the world's first electronic games sports league. The 2006 CPL Summer Championship will serve as a major event on the World Series of Video Games circuit, and Games Media Properties has acquired exclusive rights to operate and broadcast the CPL Summer Championship. The announcement was made by Games Media Properties CEO Matthew Ringel and CPL Founder and President, Angel Munoz.

The 2006 CPL Summer Championship, now the second event in the World Series of Video Games circuit, will be held July 5 through July 9, 2006 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, located in Grapevine, Texas. The event, which currently has over 3,000 gamers registered from 58 countries, will be expanded to occupy 150,000 square feet of convention space, and is now expected to attract over 15,000 attendees from across the globe. Prizing for the two tournaments previously announced by the CPL will be adjusted to fit into the $1,000,000 World Series of Video Games format. The Counter-Strike 1.6 tournament cash prize is now $150,000 and the Quake 4 tournament cash prize is $75,000. Additional cash prize tournaments will expand the field of competition.

The partnership between the newly founded World Series of Video Games and the highly respected CPL will raise the profile of video game competitions while bringing a new level of professionalism and organization to the sport. Matthew Ringel, President and CEO of Games Media Properties, said, "The World Series of Video Games is establishing a competitive circuit among the world's most well-known and respected tournaments. The CPL Summer Championship has long been the premier competitive event in the world, and we are very happy to include it as a central part of this season."

Angel Munoz, Founder and President of the CPL, said, "The CPL has led the world of e-sports for nine years, and we are always looking for ways to bring competitive gaming to the next level. We see a combination of our brand and the World Series of Video Games as a real win for the community. This partnership is truly unprecedented and we hope it will usher a new era of cooperation between all e-sport organizations worldwide."

The World Series of Video Games is the first video game competition circuit on multiple gaming platforms that culminates in final rounds at which true world champions emerge. The 3-5 day events will be open to the public and will encompass 150,000 square feet of tournaments, exhibitions, concerts and other attractions.


ABOUT GAMES MEDIA PROPERTIES:

Games Media Properties produces video game tournaments, events, and television programs. It operates the world's largest touring video game festival, GameRiot, and has customized gaming events for corporate sponsors including MTV, Nestle, DaimlerChrysler, Microsoft, and Blockbuster. A venture of the William Morris Agency, the company was founded in 2002. For more information on the World Series of Video Games visit www.thewsvg.com.

ABOUT THE CYBERATHLETE PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE (CPL):

Launched June 26, 1997, the Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL) is the world's first computer game sports league and has been the major force in the transformation of computer game competitions to a professional sport. For more information on the Cyberathlete Professional League visit www.thecpl.com.


# # #

WSVG Media Contact: Shari Mesulam/Taffy Miller
smesulam@mprm.com/tmiller@mprm.com
323-933-3399

CPL Media Contact: George Kaspiris
george.kaspiris@thecpl.com
(416) 648-3764