Its potential beyond recreational play was largely unknown, save for a cult following of technology enthusiasts.

The playing field has changed seven years since the staging of the first World Cyber Games (WCG) the largest electronic gaming festival in the world. The e-sports lifestyle is now a reality for gamers across the globe, and its stars earn stripes with their strategy skills on the keyboard.

In South Korea and China, gaming is embraced as a sporting activity and top players are looked up to as national icons with their own fan clubs. Some gamers barely out of their teens earn more than professional balers but with a more stringent routine since eight hours of playing a day is standard for gaming pros.

For six years running, the Philippines has been fielding a contingent to the WCG through the backing of Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation, one of the strongest corporate supporters of gaming in the country. In 2005, the Philippine Counterstrike team, Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and the Philippine Warcraft champion John Cruz, gave the country its closest finish when they reached the quarterfinals.

Tjader Regis, project manager of the WCG Philippine Preliminaries, remains optimistic that as the number of gamers in the country grows, so do the chances of seeing the Philippine colors in the international winners circle. "It takes a concerted effort to produce gaming champions," he notes. "A disciplined and talented player is the minimum. But there are so many gifted gamers in Asia alone. A gamer needs to constantly test his skills against other top players. The best way to do this is to keep competing in international meets."

Unlike their counterparts in Korea, China and most of North America and Europe who receive salaries to train and compete, Filipino gamers often spend for their own training or at best negotiate free playtime in computer shops that support gaming, although this only applies to those who have already won major local tournaments. "The gamers you see in the international competitions undergo focused training for months as if they were training for the Olympics, with handlers and all. The quality of our local players has been improving each year but still not at a fast enough rate to match how gamers worldwide are developing."

The World Cyber Games is fortunate to have a strong partner in Samsung Electronics, whose support has enabled Filipino gamers to experience the thrill and challenge of international competition. Jerry Lacson, general manager for marketing of Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation (SEPCO), stresses his company’s commitment to nurture a healthy and sound cyber world.

"Samsung’s support of the WCG aims to maximize the beneficial effects of games by nurturing a healthy games culture. Through the WCG, gamers, representing their countries, can fully exercise their talent, skills and energy to attain self-esteem and self-actualization."

Samsung has consistently sponsored and supported a broad range of sporting events for almost 20 years.