XBox Live: Play with the Pros

Posted by: kathunter

Xbox LIVE® is the place to test your gaming skills against some of the top cyber-athletes from the Championship Gaming Series. Not only will you see how your game stacks up, you can also get valuable tips and pointers from these master gamers.

THIS WEEK - TONIGHT, FRIDAY August 15, 2008:

Phoenix and Master from the Dallas Venom will be playing Dead or Alive® 4 from 9:00 P.M. – 12:00 A.M. Eastern time (6:00 – 9:00 P.M. Pacific) on Friday, August 15. Look for the gamertags CGS Master and CGS Phoenix and send them a game invite!

Manny "Master" Rodriguez
Age: 23
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Game: Dead or Alive 4

In 2007, Manny was the third overall pick in the first CGS draft ever for the Dallas Venom. He placed second in North America in Dead or Alive 4, and was named the Dallas Venom Franchise player at the start of the 2008 season. In 2008, Manny finished 11-1 in the North America regular season and was named the North America MVP. At the World Final he was the Dead or Alive 4 Men's Individual World Champion. Manny also won two Championship Gaming Invitational events before the CGS.

Michelle "Phoenix" Pleet
Age: 19
Hometown: Townsend, Deleware
Game: Dead or Alive 4

Michelle was not selected in the 2007 North America draft, a move considered by many to be controversial. In 2008, she came back strong at the North America Combine, and was taken in the second round by GM Alex Conroy. Michelle ended up with the second-best record in the North America season at 8-4, and was the first Dead or Alive women's player to beat San Francisco franchise player Vanessa. She also beat Vanessa in the North America playoffs, accounting for Vanessa's only two losses in over 30 career CGS matches.

If you get a chance to play with the pros, we want to hear about it! Send us an email at xlmail@microsoft.com with the subject: "Play the Pros – Dallas Venom." Be sure to include your gamertag and home town.