Preliminary rounds of what is touted as the world's largest computer and video game festival took place at 126 gaming centers in 34 states; 18 of those centers were in California and one of them was in Sunnyvale at Euphnet Cyber Café.

Euphnet owner Matt "Mac" Cuerdon said five teams of five people each started at 9 a.m. on Aug. 6, playing Counter Strike--one of eight games the cafe supports--for one of two openings for the regional competition that began at noon that day.

The winner of the regionals was a team called United 5, whose members traveled from around the United States to play in Sunnyvale.

The first place regional prize also earned the team a berth and a $750 per player travel package to the U.S. finals in New York. United 5 beat out Bay Area team Cyberglobe in a close competition of Counter Strike.

"It was pretty evenly matched. United Five won 16 out of the 30 rounds, and Cyberglobe won 14," Cuerdon said.

Winners of the U.S. competition will form Team USA and will travel to Singapore in November to compete against global players for a share of more than $400,000 in cash and prizes.

For more information about Euphnet Cyber Café, visit www.euphnet.com. For more information about the 2005 World Cyber Games, visit www.us.worldcybergames.com.