 Well, Paul Bunyan Communications provides a GigaZone internet service. It's a fast speed that's helpful for many things, including playing video games online. For the first time, gamers were able to play to win right here in Bemidji, get on your mark, get set and game on. Clady Clodder has the story. The first stadium-style eSports event in the region took place on Saturday at the GigaZone Gaming Championship. A lot of people don't realize how many people game here in northern Minnesota. This is a great opportunity for whether you're a big-time gamer or just somebody who does it a little bit here and there to come get together, have fun, all the fun was free and see each other and talk gaming. The public participated in open tournaments with games like Street Fighter and Donkey Kong. Time to get in the game. There's just such a variety here. Maybe not all of the ones I'd like to see but still enough and I have my friend here with me so we're having fun together. Gaming is considered to be more than just a hobby to some like Justin Kruger, who considers himself a game fanatic playing since 2005. This is a sport. You have to really train hard to react faster than many other people react in other sports. In the main event, the best of the best competed in the League of Legends. The top eight qualifying teams battled it out for a chance to win more than $4,500 in cash and prizes. Nathan Altizer was well prepared for the challenge. We had almost every night we were online practicing because it's an online game. You can play, you can just play from home and then we have this voice system that we talk over and discuss the game and play that way. The convention center had gamers of all ages and players are looking forward to coming back. I really hope that they do these again and be cool to like see a Street Fighter 5 tournament focused on that so I could, I'd love to jump on that in the main stage. That'd be really cool. It doesn't matter if you're playing sports, drama, or combat sports, video games can be endless. From the Sanford Center in Bemidji, Haiti-Claude, Lakeland News. A team by the name of Pro Freaks won the Gigazone Gaming Championship and walked away with the $2,500 grand prize. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.