Madison Square Garden, NYC - Ambitious gamers from around the tri-state battle it out to claim immortality on the virtual football field.

The 360 tournament's regional prize includes: five EA Sports videogames, a 50 dollar BestBuy giftcard, and a trip to Los Angeles, CA to represent your region in the Madden Challenge Finals where the winner can receive a total of 60,000 dollars in cash and prizes.

Who will claim victory out of the 256 hopefuls?

Tournament registration started 10 o'clockish and it didn't end until the late night. It turns out that many more walk-ins showed up, yet they were allowed to enter the tournament anyway thus expanding the competition much more than the original 256. After all was said and done, four players remained. However, these four players had never been to the playoffs in any Madden Challenge except for Big Show who has been in the semifinals in a previous challenge. Will experience come out on top?

Semifinals
MDot vs. Evil Ryu

Here in the semifinals, you do whatever it takes to get your points. That includes going for the two point conversion right off the bat. MDot drew first blood as he took the first touchdown, yet he failed in his two point conversion. Evil Ryu came right back with some crazy bootleg play and put up a touchdown with the extra point. MDot's possession came up big with a touchdown and this time his two point conversion was good for eight points. Evil Ryu at this point could not seem to get it together as MDot finished off the first half with a field goal. Score at the half: 17-7 MDot.

Evil Ryu got posession in the second half yet was unable to score. MDot scored another touchdown shortly after Evil Ryu's posession making it 24-7. He would go unanswered for the rest of the half. MDot took his final match in a convincing 24-7 win.



RG vs. Big Show

Would Big Show come up big against RG? Pre-match prediction across the fans still remaining heavily favored RG. After the kick off, Big Show demonstrated why he belongs in the semi's by scoring a touchdown off the opening drive. RG fought back valiantly, but Big Show was able to hold RG to a fieldgoal. The first quarter ended 7-3 in favor of Big Show. The second quarter, RG scored the first touchdown but Big Show answered right back with one of his own. The second half ends 14-10 in favor of Big Show.

The third quarter heavily favored RG, as he took the only touchdown; Big Show failed to convert any points in the third quarter. Big Show, however, would not stop rallying back and he took a touchdown in the fourth quarter. It looked as if RG would take it away after by answering one with his own. With seconds left in the fourth quarter and a finalist spot on the line, Big Show needed a fieldgoal to take it into overtime. Tension filled the air as everyone held their breath for the final few seconds. Big Show kicks it into overtime: 24-24. RG could not seem to catch a break because the coin toss to Big Show who quickly took advantage of the situation to score a touchdown. Big Show's experience and luck sneaks him by 31-24.