Irish cyber athletes gear up for world games

IRELAND’S “e-athletes” who will compete in the World Cyber Games in the US — the equivalent of the Olympics for computer gaming — were announced yesterday after a gruelling weekend of gaming.

Members of Team Ireland, all men aged between 18 and 24, beat off competition from more than 100 gamers. The seven face a fortnight of intense practice before flying to Seattle for the games, which run over five days from October 3.

Last year was the first time Ireland competed in the games. There was only one woman entrant in the national finals then and none this year. Both national finals were hosted by the Digital Hub, the Government agency charged with developing Ireland’s digital media.