FIFA Interactive World Cup finalists settled

Stephen Withers
Tuesday, 29 April 2008 02:45

Your IT - Entertainment

The list of finalists in the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2008 has been announced, and the reigning champion will be defending his title.

Andries Smit (Netherlands) will be up against 31 other players who have proved their FIFA 08 skills in a series of live qualifying rounds or online competition. Among them is Chris Bullard (UK), the only other previous winner to make this year's finals. Bullard has the remarkable record of getting through the preliminary rounds in three of the previous four competitions.

"I am very impressed with the level of the participants. It is clear that they have been practicing hard, and like any football event, practice is one of the most important things. The FIFA Interactive World Cup is establishing itself as a premier gaming tournament, and the only one under the FIFA banner," said FIFA executive committee member Chuck Blazer.

"This tournament is a serious one, and like its big brother tournament, the FIFA World Cup, it is the pride of being crowned the FIFA World Champion that encourages these great performances," he added.

Backed by FIFA, EA and Sony, the tournament finals will be held in Berlin on May 24 and will be co-hosted by former Ghanaian international Anthony Baffoe. The winner receives $US20,000 cash plus an invitation to the FIFA World Player Gala 2008.

A complete list of finalists can be found on the next page.