This year we added a bunch of new categories to the eSports Award. For the first time we honor the best Call of Duty 4 player, the Consoles Player of the Year, the Consoles Team of the Year, the Best Halo 3 Player and the eSports Photo of the Year each with a specific award. Today we announce the winners of these five new categories.

eSports Award 2008 - Winners of the Online Categories

eSports Photo of the Year


When we think of eSports there are these images in our heads. It is a great achievement to perfectly capture a moment and make it stick in the audience's mind. Our best eSports photographers shape the way that we look at eSports. In the category eSports photo of the Year, the eSports Award honors these pictures and their authors.

The winner
Rafal Lagowski - Bitter Taste of Defeat


Best Call of Duty Player


The Call of Duty series gains more relevance with each passing year. From the fourth part on, this game has firmly established itself as part of the pro gaming canon. The future looks bright for this series of games. The eSports Award pays tribute to the rising stars of Call of Duty, by honoring the Best Call of Duty Player of the year.

The winner
Antonin 'OZWALD' Grenier


Consoles Player of the Year


For a few years already, eSports has not been confined to the PC any more. In a wide range of games, with a whole lot of tournaments, an individual pro gaming community has formed. Consoles fans celebrate the star players. With the emergence of professional leagues using console games as part of their games selection, it is natural that the eSports Award honors the achievement of the Consoles Player of the Year.

The winner
Tom 'OGRE2' Ryan (Halo 3)


Consoles Team of the Year


As a lot of consoles tournaments are team-based, it is natural to also award the best effort in teamplay. The Consoles Team of the Year award goes out to the one squad that has excelled throughout the year in performance, skill and elegance.While it is widely accepted that there are extraordinary achievements within PC FPS shooters, the merits of the best of the best within the consoles world have so far been overlooked. The Halo series has shaped star players known throughout the world and is represented on a large slate of eSports tournaments. The eSports Award now decorates the Best Halo Player of the past 12 months for his outstanding performance.

The winner
Final Boss (Halo 3)


Best Halo 3 Player


While it is widely accepted that there are extraordinary achievements within PC FPS shooters, the merits of the best of the best within the consoles world have so far been overlooked. The Halo series has shaped star players known throughout the world and is represented on a large slate of eSports tournaments. The eSports Award now decorates the Best Halo Player of the past 12 months for his outstanding performance.

The winner
Benjamin 'Karma' Jackson

At the Games Convention, which is going to take place at Leipzig trade fair in about one month, the greatest achievements within eSports since the last award are going to be honored. On 23rd of August at 8 pm CET the winners within the remaining nine categories are to be honored. The whole ceremony is going to be broadcast on ESL TV and will be available as a free live stream.