Twelve best Russian Counter-Strike teams have lead more than 60 matches within the first season of the Championship of National Professional Cybersport League (NPCL) which has been held in Moscow this summer in a new gaming center «4GAME». Within two months these teams have played 66000$, also they have defined four finalists, who will continue their struggle for a rank of the NPCL 2006 Champion, and prize-winning fund of 18000$.

NPCL was found about three years ago, and nowadays is in the leader of the cybersport organizations in Russia. In the year 2006 the League has started the unique Championship, held on the standard sports system of competitions. First NPCL season was prolonged 3 months, the second should increase up to 5 and in the third season the League plans to approach up to 8 months competitions by the example of NHL, NBA, UEFA Champi-ons League, etc. NPCL Championship consists of two stages: round robin and final. In a round robin stage take part 12 Counter-Strike teams (transformed into cybersport clubs by analogy to football or hockey clubs) which play among themselves in one circle "each with everyone", as a result they are distributed in the tournament table from 1st to 12th places, according to their achievements. Totally there are 66 matches in the first stage, and each match is held on a special stage in a format of show, because primary goal of the NPCL is to attract a wide spectator au-dience. Four best of twelve teams continue to contend for the NPCL Championship in a second stage, so-called “Four Final”. The general prize-winning fund in 2006 of the Championship is 84000$ which basic part (66000$) is already distributed between participants of a round robin stage, and the second part (18000$) waits for finalists of the Championship.

Finalists:

1. Virtus.pro (Moscow)
2.  TRAP (Nijniy Novgorod)
3. Seven.pro (Orel)
4. Begrip Gaming (Moscow)

Prize distribution:

1st place  – 10000$
2nd place  – 5000$
3rd place  – 3000$

We bring to your attention NPCL 2006 trailer which shows the format of the National Professional Cybersport League competitions.