Gamers battle for 'Pro Evo' crown (From Times Series)

Gamers battle for 'Pro Evo' crown at Hendon showdown

8:00am Monday 8th February 2010 in Top Stories By Elizabeth Pears

VIDEO gamers took their skills to a shake bar in a fight to be crowned the north London champion of Pro Evolution Soccer.

The event held in Hendon, on Saturday, sought to settle the question of who is best at the game touted as one of the most influential of the decade.

Organiser David Mohammed arranged a four-screen, 32 team, World Cup format at Shoki Shakes, in Church Road.

Entrants paid £25 to join the 2010 North London Champions League, and battled it out from 2.30pm through to 8pm until just one gamer reigned supreme.

The 26-year-old law graduate said: "A lot of people do online gaming but there is no substitute for the pressure of a tournament environment with people watching.

"So many people play Pro Evo and say they are the best. But this was a chance to get some of those people together to find out who might be the best in north London."

Olumide Omisore, 29, a consultant from Golders Green, was there, armed with own controller pad, to try his luck after falling in love with the game when it was first released in 2001.

He said: "There comes to a stage in every young man's life when you realise you are not going to become a professional football player. Pro Evo is like the next best thing.

"People do take it seriously. The level of competition is fierce."

The winner was 31-year-old software engineer Joe "Asucu" Balogun, using Spanish La Liga team Real Madrid, who took home the £250 prize, a trophy and a bottle of champagne.

He beat runner-up Folusho Tade, 29, who played with Premiership team Manchester United.

Mr Mohammed said he hoped the event was the first of many staged under his self-branded business, Golden Boy Promotions, and could expand to include boxing and racing games.

He said he is working to get sponsors on board and aims to take the format on the road.

"I wanted to do this one to see how it goes", he added.

Hendon schoolboy Arman Safari, 12, who plays using Barcelona, said he joined the tournament hoping to win the £250 which he wanted to give to his dad.

He said: "I wanted to win for my dad. He loves Pro Evo but he had to go to work so I stepped in for him. But I didn't win.

"The secret is to learn all the skills. I have mastered the Zidane skill. If a player comes to attack me, that's when I use it."