LOS ANGELES --- The bracket is set. The competitors have been flown in from all corners of the country and globe. Rico “Hollywood” Williams and Top Taylor are looking good, ready to grace the small screen for the first time in EA Sports history. All the preparation and hype will come to a head Wednesday afternoon when EA Sports kicks off their Madden Challenge Finals held Wednesday and Thursday at the Fear Factor studios in Universal Studios Hollywood.

GotFrag.com is live here in Los Angeles!

Not only will this week be used for crowning a new Madden King, it will also be used to tape a six-episode series that will premier on ESPN in January, with the finale airing on Feb. 2 (only a few days before the Super Bowl). The added presence of the worldwide leader in sports is adding to the excitement here on site in Los Angeles. EA Sports gave GotFrag.com an inside look at the over $100,000 stage where the Madden Finals will be held. Pictures of the set can not be released at this time, but we can safely say that this pumped up set puts the Best Buy lounge to shame.

All the gamers are bunked up at the Sheraton Universal Hotel together, and seem in good spirits as they mull around with each other and even exchange strategy. We’d expect that to subside once they are pitted against each other in competition.

The majority of the gamers flew in on Monday and used Tuesday to relax while Rico “Hollywood” Williams and Top Taylor made their way over to the studio to rehearse for what will be a big day of taping on Wednesday morning. The big buzz to come out of Tuesday night was the release of the brackets. Click here for a copy of the bracket. Earning byes in the first round were Eugene “Big Gene” Williams, Ronney “Sirus the Virus” Casey, Ryan “RG” Glick, Justin “Chow” Chow, Eric “Problem” Wright, Haaruwn “Houseshoe” Brown, Robert “40 Gs” Hart and Anthony “Young Nephew” Brinson. Here is a breakdown of the first-round matches that will take place on Wednesday, along with GotFrag.com’s predictions.