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June 12, 2007 7:27 PM PDT

Woman first draft pick for professional video game league

by Daniel Terdiman
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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--In the inaugural draft of the Championship Gaming Series, a new professional video game league, the biggest surprise may have been first: a woman was the first player chosen.

Vanessa Arteaga, the first pick in the brand-new Championship Gaming Series video game league's player draft

(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET Networks)

It's not, of course, that there aren't top-notch women video gamers, because there are, and many. There are even sponsored all-women teams. But it's no secret that the majority of hard-core gamers are male.

So when San Francisco OPTX General Manager Kat Hunter chose Dead or Alive player Vanessa Arteaga with the draft's first pick, a lot of people here at the Playboy Mansion, where the event is being held, may have been caught off guard.

Hunter herself is one of the stars of the video game world, being a former longtime member of the Frag Dolls. But with the No. 1 draft pick in a new league, she surely chose the best available player.

The draft still has many rounds to go, but we're off to a great start here in an event befitting the glamor status of a more established league.

Maybe video games have arrived as mainstream entertainment. And with Arteaga's selection as the first pick, maybe women will see that they have a major place at this table.

Originally posted at News Blog
Daniel Terdiman is a staff writer at CNET News covering games, Net culture, and everything in between. E-mail Daniel.
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No Surprise
by 0zzy June 12, 2007 11:56 PM PDT
This was no surprise to the gaming community. Here is a great article that tells you why:

http://www.ampedesports.com/news/3705/Vanessa-Arteaga-First-Pick-in-eSports-History/

In short: She is competing in an all girls division for the league and she is the only female who can play with the boys and she ends up dominating the girls. Because of the point system she will end up earning 3-5 points for her team each match she plays. That's why she was picked.
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