Ok, I admit, I’ve been out of the loop over here, but, pray, how exactly did I miss this one?
World Cyber Games – Beyond the game (with its own wikipedia entry) will be held in Germany this year, and, wait for it, China next year. Gamers unite 
I’ve decided: I’m changing my career to professional gamer – with Magic the Gathering stakes and War Craft, why, oh why, am I even considering a 9-5 corporate gig?
Quick question: is there world gaming and these types of championships in Second Life as well?
If you’re good…and you have to be damned good… you can make money off both professional computer gaming and Magic the Gathering. For Magic, it might be more worth your time becoming a judge, however, which is still lucrative, but not as esteem-winning as being one of the top internationally ranked players.
Oh, cool, they have Starcraft as well!!!! Man, if I could get paid for playing this at varsity, I’d never have to worry about anything, ie. graduating, working, eating, sleeping, nothing. I could just buy everything.
On the Second Life thing, there’s an interesting thing about IBM wanting to host a simulation of Wimbledon on second life, allowing you to watch it from Second Life.