Perhaps you want to know about day 2 of the LAN, but really the story starts yesterday, or, more accurately, last night at Ronner's. It was a big get-together of about 20 players and the like, which served as a great introduction to each other and much downing of beer. More of that later!

Hello, and welcome from Rotterdam! Early morning starts all round as myself, [flag=0] fusen and unblind met bleary eyed at Stanstead airport, and somehow managed to stumble our way to the correct gate and board our plane.

This Saturday at 9.30am, everything was set to go. The two great foes of sFx Evil and Team Delta were set to meet yet again at TGS, Rotterdam, to settle once and for all just who is the greater power. But as news broke of Team Delta's 11th hour withdrawal from the competition, action stations were called to yet again fill all available slots and keep the Crossfire Prizefight Challenge steady and on course for a weekend of explosive and terrific action.

Ok. So they beat us in the football. But you know what? It doesn't matter, and i'll tell you why. 2 nights ago I witnessed one of the most memorable games of ET in my entire life. Forget Eurocup finals. Say goodbye to quakecon. I'm talking major league style here, in a game which had absolutely everything - you name it, it had it.

So then, the match in question:

Ever since raza coded the most recent software for the site, Crossfire has been running a tournament for the top clans in ET, and over that period, we've gathered some interesting observations - things that only come via experience.

It's always nice to share what goes on behind the scenes with you, the public, who only get to see the end product 99% of the time. Let's give you the story so far:

I will write this opening statement twice, to stress the point. Take this article with "a pinch of salt", because I hardly think you should outlaw Red Bull, or prevent Loekino from tripping out on Golden Power. I even have a can or two from time to time. But the conflict in issues cannot fail to go unnoticed, if not for irreverence than seriousness.

By now, you've probably heard the whispers and backwards glances when your boss or teacher isn't looking. The immistakable mating call that is e-sports, or, as oddly dubbed by carmac, V-sports, trying to set itself free.

Here's a little task for you. Think back as far into your earliest playing memories, back to when shrubmod seemed 'the place to be', when 5XP from a stolen uniform was otherwise known as a godsend, and when your screen flashed red on the many occasions before death's imminent arrival. Yes, there are you, fulfilling your role as a 'noob player' on a 'noob' public server, probably playing fueldump.

America is huge. From size of landmass to girth of stomach, the most powerful nation on the planet exercises control of pretty much everything she sees fit. Moving from McFries to computer chips, all the big players in the game have all traditionally come from the states. Yet somehow, when it comes to ET, America just hasn't got it worked out.

The question I have to ask is simple. Who comes first: Players or ETTV?