Global World of Warcraft Tournament Detailed

Blizzard Entertainment will be sponsoring a worldwide tournament for its insanely popular PC MMO World of Warcraft, the company revealed today.

Set to begin in in April, the tournament will have players competing in three-on-three arena matches within a specialized realm that allows players to instantly create a level-70 character equipped with epic items.

It will start with two six-week rounds of online qualifiers in Europe, South Korea, North America, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. Each round will require players to pay an entrance fee, set at $20 for North American players and 15 EUR for those in Europe.

The top four teams from each region will progress to a regional tournament, where they will compete for upwards of $27,000 in prizes. The winners will them be invited to the global championship, which will award the victors with $120,000 in prizes, including a $75,000 cash payout.

"eSports is one of the most exciting facets of online gaming today," said Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime. "We're pleased to expand World of Warcraft's tournament options for players who want to focus mainly on the competitive aspect of the game."