Although I question how people enjoy watching competitions within poker and golf… many, many more question that of a gaming competition. The very idea of watching two people mash away at buttons against each other will get you little else but odd looks and laughter today. Only in Korea can a guy like "Fatal1ty" been seen as more of a celebrity than a nerd among nerds. 

Cyberathlete Professional League, having carried the torch for over a decade, is no stranger to the cold shoulder of pop culture. Here is an orginzation of gamers and sponsors that rewarded the kind of gamers who went beyond casual hobby to obsession and passion with video games. CPL had promises of fame, fortune, and many prizes for anyone who thought they had the thumbs to compete. For the many that met these goals, many more reached for them, competing in quarterly tournaments across the world.

"The CPL was launched in June 1997 with the pioneering mission of promoting and sanctioning video game competitions as a professional sport. For ten years the CPL events experienced increased growth - commencing with a small LAN event in Dallas, Texas, and culminating in world-class competitions across five continents."

As competitive gaming has yet to take off with pop culture in the way that other elements of video games have (Wii, Guitar Hero), the nail in the coffin of one of the biggest proprieters brings this issue into the spotlight, brighter than before. Although there are other alternatives and smaller competitions to CPL, it’s a pity nevertheless.