Fatal1ty Takes Home $150,000 1st Prize in CPL World Tour Finals Championship
USA's Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel Stuns Rival to Sweep Finals and Capture Largest Purse in Video Game History
(Woodland Hills, CA, November 29, 2005) - Auravision, Inc., Master Licensor for Fatal1ty Brand Products, congratulated Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel today for his stunning victory at the Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL) World Tour Finals Championship contested last week in New York City.
Fatal1ty demonstrated why he is the undisputed FPS (First Person Shooter genre) Champion by adding the 5th world title to his career record, an unprecedented run, with all five titles being won while playing a different FPS game.
The CPL World Tour title was doubly pleasing for Wendel as he emerged from the lower bracket of the double elimination tournament to reach the finals against the Tour's most dominant player this year, Sander "Vo0" Kaasjager. Fatal1ty needed to take two 'best of three' matches (sets) against "Vo0". Wendel's play was never better as he swept four straight maps (games) to secure the CPL World Tour title. The Finals and entire nine stop World Tour was contested playing the PC video game, PainkilleR.
The Nokia Theater, located at Times Square in New York City, hosted the CPL World Tour Finals, the most promoted video game competition to date, and offered the richest purse in history for a single video gaming event. MTV Networks was on hand to provide live coverage on MTV Overdrive and contributed significantly to the international coverage of the heavily viewed affair.
Fatal1ty was ecstatic, leaping from his computer with his fists pumping upon capturing the title. He was quick to thank the CPL's founder, Angel Munoz, for his vision, and to congratulate his Fatal1ty Brand Partners; ABIT Computer, Creative Labs, SoundBlaster X-Fi, & Zalman Tech for their support. He also thanked Intel, who funded the World Tour's $1,000,000 prize money, and NVIDIA for their continuing commitment to gaming. He also gave credit to Brian "Zen" Grapatin and Alessandro "stermy" Avallone, all members of Free Players Organization, for their assistance in helping to prepare him for the Tour's final matches. Stermy, an emerging global video star in his own right, placed 3rd at the Finals with his electrifying play to earn a cool $70,000, while long time Fatal1ty training partner, Zen, took home $6,250 with his 9th place finish.
Fatal1ty and stermy, after a night of celebration with the entire Fatal1ty organization, immediately departed for Sweden to attend a promotion for Fatal1ty Brand Partners, Creative and ABIT, at Dreamhack, billed as the world's largest LAN event.
Next up for the Fatal1ty Organization; Wendel will be hosting his 'Long Winter Nights of Gaming' parties during the CPL Winter event to be held at the Grand Hyatt in Dallas December 14-18. Free Players Organization "FPlayers", Zen and stermy, along with some of the PMS Girls, will also be on hand during the parties. For more information check the Fatal1ty website for updates.
About Auravision, Inc.
Auravision, a pioneer in the field of personal interface devices with its first introduction of an illuminated keyboard utilizing EluminX® technology, is the master licensor for the Fatal1ty brand. Leading companies have signed agreements to bring innovative products to market carrying the Fatal1ty brand in order to meet the needs of a growing gaming lifestyle.
Present Fatal1ty brand licensed partners include ABIT Computer Corp., Creative Labs, SoundBlaster X-Fi, and Zalman, Tech.
For more information on Auravision visit www.auravision.com.
About Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel
Johnathan became the world's first full time professional video gamer in October 1999, when he placed third at the CPL's Frag3 tournament. Two weeks later he was invited to represent the USA in an international tournament in Stockholm, where he went undefeated with a perfect performance, winning all 18 maps and losing none. He has continued to dominate competitions all over the world, competing in 6 continents during his 6-year professional career.
Winning the 2005 CPL World Tour Finals in New York City secured his fifth world title - accomplished while competing in 5 different games - an unprecedented achievement and bringing his winnings for 2005 to $231,000.
For more information on Fatal1ty visit www.fatal1ty.com
About Free Players Organization (FPO)
Free Players Organization is comprised of professional video game players with the intention of raising the profile of e sports and the individual players that make up the organization. The first members of "FPlayers" consist of Brian "Zen" Grapatin and Alessandro "stermy" Avallone. Discussions are underway with a number of additional pro gamers who are seeking membership in FPO.
About the CPL
Launched June 1997, the Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL) was the first organization to advance computer game competitions to the level of a professional sport. Today, the CPL is the global leader in competitive computer gaming, having held 35 live tournaments on five continents. The CPL has also sanctioned a large number of qualifying tournaments held in over 30 countries. Visit the CPL website at www.thecpl.com
Contact:
Rita Tennyson
Terpin Communications
310/821-6100x104
rita@terpin.com