Worldwide Halo 2 tourney under way

It's time to sharpen up those plasma pistol/SMG dual-wielding skills. GameStop and Bungie are looking for the ultimate Master Chief in the first-ever global Halo 2 online tournament. Winners will be decided from each of Xbox Live's 24 regions, and then they'll duke it out for the title of global Halo 2 champion.

The tournament will be played in the Rumble Pit matchmaking playlist over Xbox Live beginning sometime around May 2. Gamers who register and compete in Rumble Pit optimatch sessions will have their statistics recorded for the duration of the competition. At the end of the tournament, on May 30, a winner will be announced based on the highest ranking.

The US winner will then participate in the global Halo 2 championships in a double-elimination slayer format. More details on the world championships will be disclosed at the end of May.

The top dog of the US regional will win $500 in cash, a Samsung digital camcorder, and Halo 2 gear, including a half-size statue of the game's hero, Master Chief. The winner of the global competition will receive $1,500 cash, a 50-inch Samsung DLP television and HD DVD player/recorder, a 24-karat-gold Halo 2 disc, and a trophy.

For more information on the tournament, head over to the official Web site.

Halo 2 is rated M for Mature and retails for $49.99. To learn more on the game, read GameSpot's full review.