Photos: John Cena Appears at an EA Sports Video Game Tourney

By Nick Paglino





The World’s Best Gamers Crowned in Gillette – EA SPORTS Champions of Gaming Tournament powered by Xbox LIVE

Global Champions of Gaming celebrate their victories by taking on Gillette Champion Tiger Woods and other sports superstars

 ORLANDO, February 4, 2009 – If there is anything better than being crowned a Champion of Gaming, it’s playing Tiger Woods in a head-to-head matchup on his own video game, according to Steven Ward of Nhill, Australia, also known by his GamerTag as mixie1316.  Ward was one of five champions crowned in the Gillette® – EA SPORTS® Champions of Gaming tournament powered by Xbox LIVE® in Orlando, Florida on February 3, 2009. The tournament also celebrated the launch of the latest entry into Gillette’s Fusion™ razor family – the gaming-inspired Fusion Power Gamer™, which features Fusion’s 5-bladed shaving surface for unsurpassed comfort and a sleek new look. 

Gillette [PG], the world’s leading grooming brand, and EA SPORTS™, a label of Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ: ERTS), kicked off the Gillette – EA SPORTS Champions of Gaming tournament on October 31, 2008, inviting participants to compete against other players on Xbox LIVE, Microsoft’s online gaming platform.  The global competition attracted more than 350,000 participants, making it the world’s largest online multi-sport gaming tournament, and consisted of one (1) nine (9) part qualification round and one (1) knockout round in three regions – the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. 

The regional champions competed on leading EA SPORTS titles for the chance to be crowned a Gillette – EA SPORTS Champion of Gaming and were part of the live event that will air on Spike February 18, 2009 at 11:30 p.m. ET.   

The global champions earned one-on-one matchups with some of sports’ finest athletes, including Gillette Champions Tiger Woods and Derek Jeter, NASCAR driver and Gillette Young Gun Denny Hamlin, NFL tailback Reggie Bush and NBA all-star point guard Jameer Nelson.

Representing the Asia Pacific region, Ward won the Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 09 championship round and the chance to play a few holes with Woods on the Gillette Champion’s signature golf game in front of thousands of fans at the University of Central Florida Arena. 

“This was an unforgettable experience.  I am a big fan of Tiger Woods PGA Tour® 09,” said Ward.  “To have the opportunity to compete against some of the best players in the world and then play Tiger Woods in his own game is unbelievable – it’s an experience I will never forget.”

“The tournament was great,” said Woods.  “The finals for all the games were intense and I enjoyed watching these great players battle it out for the global championship.  These guys can really bring it in the game.”

The Global Champions are Michael Loyd (GamerTag: Mix311) of Copperas Cove, Texas (NASCAR® 09), Paul Glasgow (GamerTag: OOPS SQUAD UP) of North Preston, Nova Scotia (Madden NFL 09), Steffon Dunlop (GamerTag: noffets89) of Queens Village, N.Y. (NBA LIVE 09) and Jose Miguel Morales Herrera (GamerTag: CAPELLOOO) of Nezahualcoyotl, Mexico (EA SPORTS™ FIFA Soccer 09).

“These newly crowned Gillette – EA SPORTS Champions of Gaming have proven that they have what it takes to compete at the highest level, just like our Gillette Champions,” said Peter Clay, Vice President, Gillette Global Grooming.  “Through our partnership with EA SPORTS, we’re proud to provide our winners with the experience of a lifetime and the chance to compete against some of the top names in sport.”

“The Gillette – EA SPORTS Champions of Gaming tournament brought gamers together like never before,” said Peter Moore, President, EA SPORTS.  “On behalf of EA SPORTS, we congratulate the Gillette – EA SPORTS Champions of Gaming for their outstanding performances.”

The global finalists, listed by region, are as follows:

The Americas

o        Bradley Williams, BDUBYAS, United States (Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 09)

o        Paul Glasgow, OOPS SQUAD UP, Canada (Madden NFL 09)

o        Steffon Dunlop, noffets89, United States (NBA LIVE 09)

o        Jose Miguel Morales Herrera, CAPELLOOO, Mexico (EA SPORTS™ FIFA Soccer 09)

o        Michael Loyd, Mix311, United States (NASCAR® 09)

Europe

o        Adam Kearns, k2damoon, Great Britain (Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 09)

o        Graham Johnston, Benson321, Great Britain (Madden NFL 09)

o        Javier Mora Muñoz, xavi7pichotos, Spain (NBA LIVE 09)

o        Roberto Garrapa, Gladiat0r57, Italy (EA SPORTS™ FIFA Soccer 09)

Asia-Pacific

o        Steven Ward, mixie1316, Australia (Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 09)

o        Scott Burgess, z SN34KY z, Australia (Madden NFL 09)

o        Mark Riethmuller, riethmuller, Australia (NBA LIVE 09)

o        Stephen Coorey, SCOOREY, Australia (EA SPORTS™ FIFA Soccer 09)

For complete details on the Champions of Gaming visit www.gillette.com/easports and http://insideblog.easports.com. 



Nick Paglino
Nick Paglino

Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.

Nick attended New York University and graduated in 2001 with a degree in Drama.

Nick first entered the internet wrestling community back in 2004 when he became the co-host of The Voice of Wrestling Radio Show. From there, Nick made the transition from radio personality to editor when he began working with WrestleZone in 2008.

Nick is a member of two Off-Broadway theatre companies, Another Urban Riff, and the Drama Desk Award winning Godlight Theatre Company. Nick has appeared in over a dozen Off-Broadway plays since he moved to New York City, and has shot several short and feature length films. In 2010, he completed principle photography on a film titled "How to Score Your Life," which also features TNA Knockout ODB.

Inspiration in his life has come from many people including his family, Woody Allen, Steven Spielberg, Jack Nicholson, The Beatles, and of course, Lassie.

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