This weekend, Nicholas “Peekay” DePalmer, Isidro “Novusnaim” Fuentes, and Michael “michs09” LaBelle will represent Pandemic at the World Cyber Games National Championship at E4All in sunny California. If they emerge as victors, they will represent something even bigger in Cologne, Germany, later this year: the United States of America.

Pandemic's stalwart FIFA trio all managed to advance through their regional qualifiers to earn the right to battle the strongest strikers in America this weekend, and they're all feeling confident heading into the biggest FIFA 2008 event of their lives.

“I know all three of us carry high expectations for the national final, with the common goal being to win the entire thing,” smiled LaBelle, when asked about their chances, “I feel my chances as an individual are outstanding for winning this year's WCG national final, but anything can happen. I want to at a minimum finish top three but for me to make my expectations winning the event is the only way. I wish the best of luck for all my teammates, who I know are aiming for the same thing.”

The trio dominated their own regional qualifiers, with Peekay winning the California event over Dallas Venom's star Barmoa and Michs09 edging out his teammates Novusnaim in Texas, but LaBelle knows they cannot rest on their laurels. “Honestly winning those events is good for some LAN practice,” he says, “but it's expected like a stepping stone. We all know if we don't show up in the qualifiers that we won't be there for the national final, and it's as simple as that. If we don't put in practice I can guarantee someone else is practicing and aiming to take us out.”

For the Nationals, LaBelle has adjusted his own training regimen, opting to play more games against the game's AI to practice for the no-lag, LAN environment, something most of Pandemic's rivals already have a lot of familiarity with due to their play in the Championship Gaming Series.

“With the increased exposure for FIFA because of the CGS, there will be many challengers, and no one can be taken as an easy game,” explains LaBelle, “Kreegan is still the man to beat; though he struggled in CGS this season, he still is the defending champ for WCG. Eafra who is a newcomer to the FIFA world for 08' has had a fantastic year, number #1 ranked FIFA player in CGS, and won the World Individuals, so he should be pretty good competition especially on LAN. I also feel that Juanqui, who came 2nd in the National Final last year, will still be very strong; he has been playing constantly this year, and he told me that he plans on retiring after WCG, so I'm sure he wants to go out with a bang.”

“All of them are very devoted players, and put in countless hours to improving their game. At the National Final, we will see who has really developed some new tricks for everyone to see.”

Whoever comes flying out of the gates this weekend, Michs09 and the Pandemic FIFA team will be ready for whatever comes their way in Los Angeles this weekend. Competing in the biggest FIFA tournament in the USA for the chance to wear the red white and blue in an international competition is an honor reserved for a select elite few, and this weekend Pandemic's LaBelle, DePalmer, and Sifuentes will have the chance to prove they deserve that hallowed honor.

“For me this would be huge,” said LaBelle, “the biggest win in my FIFA career! Getting third last year was nice, but I still have a bad taste in my mouth knowing I could have done better, so I plan on improving on that place this year.”

Make sure to support Michs09, Peekay, and Novusnaim as they look to make their mark in LA at the WCG National Finals.