We recently caught up with Andy Reif, the Commissioner and CEO of the Championship Gaming Series, which is the only worldwide professional gaming league, to talk about his views on the event, the participants, and its impact on the industry.  Reif joins CGS from the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, where he served as chief operating officer. Having run operations at the AVP since 2001, Reif has an established track record in delivering an incredible experience to fans and advertisers while working with an elite level of athletes.

Reif also has a background in motion pictures and television, including senior positions with International Creative Management (ICM) and Paramount Pictures:

Allakhazam: First off, could you please state you name and position at the CGS, and give us a brief background of you for our readers?

Andy: I am Andy Reif, Commissioner and CEO of Championship Gaming Series. I joined CGS from the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour where I served as Chief Operating Officer.

Allakhazam: For those that don't know, the CGS is the Championship Gaming Series. Many people would just shrug and say "Oh, another gaming nerd gathering". But it's so much more! In you words, what exactly is the CGS and why is it such a highlight each year?

Andy: Not unlike skateboarding before ESPN created the X-Games, we believe competitive gaming is the next great sports property. Therefore, Championship Gaming Series was designed to make gaming engaging, compelling TV entertainment that will excite audiences of gamers and non-gamers alike. It is the first and only worldwide professional gaming league and it’s structured no differently than any other professional sports league, with contracted professional gamers that represent 18 city-based teams from around the world and TV broadcast partners that bring CGS competitions to more than 425 million potential viewers across five continents.

Allakhazam: Can you give us a brief overview of the structure in the CGS and how that affects its overall success?

Andy: CGS teams are comprised of 10 gamers that were selected based on talent displayed during an NFL-style combine and drafted to one of 18 global teams by those teams’ respective General Managers. Teams consist of five Counter-Strike: Source players, two Forza Motorsport 2 racers, 1 FIFA 08 gamer, 1 Dead or Alive 4 male and 1 Dead or Alive 4 female. Teams go head to head in each game, with points accumulating for a total franchise score that determines the winner. Top tanking teams at the end of each regional final event are invited to compete in the CGS World Final where a $1 million prize purse is at stake. CGS will also kick-off its Pro-Am Division this fall, featuring tournaments for Call of Duty 4, Counter-Strike: 1.6 and Team Fortress 2.

Allakhazam: Knowing what I know of gamers in general, I would expect that there are some very strong personalities at this event. How do you manage those types of people and keep the Series from becoming a slug-fest? Can you recall for us any particularly rowdy years?

Andy: Like any athletes at the most elite level of their sport, our gamers are passionate about what they do. While, certainly, we uphold high standards of sportsmanship, we consider the emotion and energy that comes with competition an absolute asset to the league and a key differentiator between Championship Gaming Series and the isolated tournaments hosted by other gaming organizations. The historic rivalries, gut-wrenching upsets and unexpected defeats that accompany each season are what make the league exciting to watch and keep fans coming back.

Allakhazam: What is your favorite event of the Series each year, and why?

Andy: Given the degree of talent required from a professional gamer, I really enjoy watching all of our games played at the highest level. Dead or Alive 4, our ninja-fighting game, is an intense one-on-one battle between two fighters. FIFA 08 and Forza Motorsport 2, two of our sports titles, offer competition similar to their traditional sports counterparts. Counter-Strike: Source (CS:S) is a unique game that requires top-notch teamwork. Each 5-person CS:S team spends hours every day perfecting strategies and communication. Our 3-v-3 World of Warcraft Arena Tournament is also exciting because of the strategy it requires. It is very compelling to watch these eSports athletes put their hard training into action during our competitions.

Allakhazam: If there was one thing you could change about the CGS, what would it be and why?

Andy: As the next wave in sports entertainment, we want to bring professional gaming to all parts of the world. Right now, CGS competitions are broadcast to more than 425 million potential viewers worldwide. Last year, we launched the league simultaneously in many global regions, but we are continuing to increase our distribution, as evidenced by recent television distribution deals with Eurosport and G4. For 2008 and beyond, I want to continue expanding the league’s reach throughout the world and increase our exposure to the mainstream audience.

Allakhazam: We always love to believe that those who are in positions to be driving forces are also gamers themselves. Can you tell us if you game, and what game(s) you play? What is your favorite game of all time?

Andy: To tell you the truth, I am not much of a gamer but I am an avid sports fan and that’s what initially attracted me to CGS. My background in sports and entertainment allowed me to bring a fresh outsider’s perspective to CGS and eSports and it’s helped numerous times when we try to think of ways to keep our existing fans really engaged while also appealing to all new audiences. Even though I don’t play games often, I still love to watch our players compete, and I see pro gaming no differently than a traditional sports property and believe it will become the next great sport for today’s digital generation. I am also constantly surrounded by gamers and am pretty immersed in gaming culture on a daily basis so I’m very familiar with the major publishers, games and industry news.

Allakhazam: Knowing how difficult it can be to coordinate something of this scale, just how much planning goes into it and what is always your greatest challenge in making it a success?

Andy: CGS has a crew of some of the most talented people in the industry, working daily to create first-rate sports entertainment for a global mainstream audience. With the brightest minds in the television, gaming and corporate marketing worlds behind the operation - from Mike Burks, an 12-time sports Emmy award winner who serves as executive producer, to longtime eSports leaders such as Jason Lake, manager of Los Angeles Complexity to gaming legends Fatal1ty and Dj WHEAT who serve as our commentators - it truly is a ‘dream team.’ It can be challenging to coordinate an operation as massive as ours – 18 teams across the planet and a full slate of live, televised and online competitions – but we’ve got a great staff committed to the future of our sport.

Allakhazam: What is the greatest impact you feel the CGS has had on the gaming industry as a whole, and what reason(s) do you have for that?

Andy: Before CGS, gaming was an underground hobby where only a handful of gamers were compensated for their accomplishments. These gamers have dedicated years to perfecting their sport and CGS has provided them a league where their talent can truly be rewarded.. Not only are they receiving paid contracts and the chance to win millions of dollars in prize money, but these dedicated and highly skilled gamers are now able to share their talents with the world. Also, having pioneered cutting-edge production and cinematography techniques, CGS has actually made gaming exciting to watch on TV.

Allakhazam: Finally, can you tell us which Team is your favorite pick this year?

Andy: Given the amount of talent drafted for our 2008 season, it is really difficult to pick a favorite. Every team in our league truly has outstanding talent. Right now 3D.New York is definitely looking strong but it’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top when the top 8 teams from around the world converge in Los Angeles on July 14th for the World Final.

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions!