For the past three months, players around the world have gone head-to-head online in the first ever global motion-sports competition, the “Kinect Sports Rivals World Championship.” Now, 11 skilled semi-finalists have played their way to the top, and will be flown to California for a live, in-person championship during San Diego Comic-Con to battle for their country’s glory and the grand prize. The final championship will take place in the Xbox Gamers Lounge at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego on Saturday, July 26 between 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. PDT.



The grand prize winner at San Diego Comic-Con will be awarded $10,000 in cash, plus the trip of a lifetime for two to one of four amazing destinations: a water sports adventure in Bora Bora, walking the Great Wall of China, trekking to Machu Picchu or skiing the Swiss Alps. Additional prizes include:

2nd Place: USD $5,000

3rd Place: USD $2,500

4th Place: USD $1,000

5th – 11th Place: USD $500 each

The 11 “Kinect Sports Rivals World Championship” semi-finalists include:





Alex Vlas



Country: Australia



Gamertag: AlexVlas



How long have you been gaming? I started playing games when I was six. The first day I started playing computer games, I actually forgot to go home and my mom had to pick me up later that night. I can still remember the walk back home, all I could think is that I wanted more. I wanted to be the best.



What do you like most about “Kinect Sports Rivals?” “Kinect Sports Rivals” is my first complete motion game and I am amazed by the accuracy it has in capturing every movement. I love Wake Racing and enjoy playing it for hours.



What was the hardest thing about securing your winning spot in the competition? Bowling. I tried to get the perfect 300 for a very long while and was not able to get it. Hopefully, I will be able to get it at the San Diego finals.



What drives you to win this competition? Well, as mentioned before, I have been a gamer all my life and tried winning all sorts of tournaments, but never made it out of the national qualifiers, always got 2nd place. This is my first, and probably last, try at winning an international championship. I will give it everything I have and more. I did not sleep at all the last night of the qualifiers and I will continue with this level of dedication until the end.



André Sander Ferreira Pinheiro



Country: Brazil



Gamertag: TiziuSheik



How long have you been gaming? Since I was a child, I was always fanatical about video games.



What do you like most about “Kinect Sports Rivals?” “Kinect Sports Rivals” is a fun game, in which you can have fun alone, with family or with friends of all ages.



What was the hardest thing about securing your winning spot in the competition? It was difficult because all the competitors were good, but with grapple and determination I managed to defend the first place in Brazil.



What drives you to win this competition? What drives me is to be recognized in this sport because I’ve always loved video games. I would like to win the grand prize also to help my family.



Christian Lagunas Peñaloza



Country: Mexico



Gamertag: Wing L Halcon L



How long have you been gaming? About 17 years. I started with the N64.



What do you like most about “Kinect Sports Rivals?” I get to exercise.



What was the hardest thing about securing your winning spot in the competition? I really wasn’t so sure that I would win the competition, but I played harder on the last day.



What drives you to win this competition? That I can play with players from other countries.



David Schiebort



Country: Germany



Gamertag: Lucktose



How long have you been gaming? I’ve been gaming since I was 9 years old in 1999. My first console was the PS1, followed by the PS2. Then I switched to Xbox 360 and Xbox One until now.



What do you like most about “Kinect Sports Rivals?” I really like the way I play it. It’s a unique feeling and so much fun to control the game so precisely with my own motions, without any controller.



What was the hardest thing about securing your winning spot in the competition? Bowling, definitely Bowling. Almost daily I tried for a whole month to get 299. There’s nothing more to say.



What drives you to win this competition? The thrill to win an E-Sport event live on stage.



Edward Vasquez



Country: United States of America



Gamertag: NinjaXinfinity



How long have you been gaming? I’ve been gaming since I was a little boy, when my father walked in to me and my brother’s room with a little device called Nintendo. Before then, I never knew what gaming was. “Super Mario Bros.” was my very first game.



What do you like most about “Kinect Sports Rivals?” The ability to play using my body as the controller. Sheesh, you really get a work out going during Rock Climbing.



What was the hardest thing about securing your winning spot in the competition? It was definitely bowling a 300. Wow, was that agonizing. Technically, you didn’t have to bowl a 300, but if your competition bowled a 300, well you had no choice but to bowl a 300. After about 3 weeks of bowling games, where I’ll get nine strikes in a row just to bowl the tenth time and have one pin wobble for 3 seconds and decide “I’m not going to fall today,” is enough to drive anybody strait into an insane asylum – haha. But I have an unflinching desire to win, so the day finally arrived when I bit down and bowled all afternoon, and amazingly bowled a perfect game. It was an unbelievable feeling of joy and disbelief. My wife and I were literally jumping up and down, as if I had scored the winning goal in the World Cup.



What drives you to win this competition? I want to be the first ever world champion in motion control gaming history… That’s a pretty neat title, don’t you think?



Keith Gobel



Country: United States of America



Gamertag: FusedDaelin



How long have you been gaming? Started back around 1995.



What do you like most about “Kinect Sports Rivals?” Rock Climbing, had the most fun playing that.



What was the hardest thing about securing your winning spot in the competition? Trying to find the time to play.



What drives you to win this competition? It’s just fun. I’m competitive by nature. I simply want to win.



Joshua Barrionuevo



Country: United States of America



Gamertag: TRU3 CHOSEN ONE



How long have you been gaming? Since Atari 2600.



What do you like most about “Kinect Sports Rivals?” The “Kinect Sports Rivals World Championship.”



What was the hardest thing about securing your winning spot in the competition? The most challenging part about securing my spot in the competition would have to be work and family. I love spending time with my family, and this has taken some of that time. Since I work full time, it was challenging to find the time to play. After work, I would go home and do family time first and then play. Let’s just say that I feel asleep in one too many meetings at work.



What drives you to win this competition? My son is my motivation to win. I want to show him that hard work and dedication does pay off and when you set your mind you can accomplish anything.



Kevin Weiler



Country: Canada



Gamertag: AestheticaL



How long have you been gaming? I’ve been gaming all of my life.



What do you like most about “Kinect Sports Rivals?” I love the community that this championship has brought together, but Rock Climbing is my favorite sport!



What was the hardest thing about securing your winning spot in the competition? Getting the perfect game in Bowling was the hardest achievement, as it secured my win for Canada.



What drives you to win this competition? This tournament is a big opportunity for me to get my name out there and put my website on the map, and hopefully help me land a career in this field!



Lilian Trochon



Country: France



Gamertag: II Lilian 31 II



How long have you been gaming? Since I’ve been four years old.



What do you like most about “Kinect Sports Rivals?” Wake Racing and Football.



What was the hardest thing about securing your winning spot in the competition? Achieve the perfect-bowling score.



What drives you to win this competition? Play and perseverance.



Michael Griffiths



Country: United Kingdom



Gamertag: Mikey G85



How long have you been gaming? All my life. My parents bought me a Sega Mega Drive back in 1991.



What do you like most about “Kinect Sports Rivals?” I love how it gets everyone up on their feet. It’s got loads of replay value, especially when you’re trying to beat the times of players from around the world.



What was the hardest thing about securing your winning spot in the competition? For me, it had to be getting below 40 seconds in the Rock Climbing event.



What drives you to win this competition? The prizes are incredible, and representing the UK is an amazing feeling that really makes me want to bring home the win.



Thomas Fortman



Country: United States of America



Gamertag: tomfortman2009



How long have you been gaming? 10 years.



What do you like most about “Kinect Sports Rivals?” The tournament.



What was the hardest thing about securing your winning spot in the competition? Staying determined.



What drives you to win this competition? Prizes.



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