Spain’s Alfonso Ramos is the new FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC) champion after triumphing over FIWC 2009 champion Bruce Grannec to win the thrilling final in Dubai. Ramos is the first person to have won the tournament twice, having taken the FIWC champion title in 2008, and has now netted himself a cool 20,000USD grand prize, a ticket to the Ballon d’Or Gala and the prestigious accolade of being crowned the 2012 FIFA Interactive World Cup Champion.

With six online seasons, eleven live qualification events held worldwide, a record-breaking 1,300,000 participants and a breathtaking Grand Final staged by FIFA and Presenting Partners EA SPORTS and Sony PlayStation in the exclusive Jumeirah Resort in Dubai, the FIWC continues to set a formidable standard in the world of gaming.

After a tense 90 minutes the match ended with a stalemate as both Grannec and Ramos both struggled to break down their opponent’s rear-guard. After an equally tight extra-time period the match went to a decisive penalty shootout with plenty of opportunities for both players to win. However, Ramos stayed cool under pressure and struck the 20,000USD winning penalty.

The FIFA Interactive World Cup 2012 Grand Final was about more than just virtual football. The finalists enjoyed an incredible three-day visit to Dubai which included visiting the Burj Kalifa, the world’s tallest building, getting the chance to meet and play football with former FIFA World Cup winners Christian Karembeu and Luca Toni along with enjoying all the thrills and spills that Wild Wadi waterpark had to offer. The 24 Grand Finalists’ adventure in Dubai may be over, but their memories of it will live on forever.

Ralph Straus, FIFA’s Head of Strategy & Brand Management commented, “We are delighted to crown the first ever FIWC Champion to win the event on two separate occasions. The number of players competing in the FIWC this year represents yet another record-breaking achievement with our online community growing dramatically year on year. We are looking forward to further strengthening our collaboration with our Presenting Partners, EA Sports and Sony PlayStation, to develop and drive the online growth of this remarkable initiative.”

Nick Caplin, Head of Communications, SCEE added, “PlayStation would like to congratulate Alfonso Ramos on his fantastic victory in this year’s FIFA Interactive World Cup. This year’s tournament has been an incredible success with over 1.3m players playing via PlayStation Network and we look forward to taking the tournament from strength to strength in the coming years.”

Jon Rosenblatt, Senior Marketing Director, EA Sports, Europe and Asia, added, “Tonight’s incredibly skilled and thrilling finale provided a suitable end to this year’s competition and Alfonso Ramos is a worthy champion. The FIFA Interactive World Cup 2012 has seen the strongest field of competitors ever and to emerge as the Champion is testament to his skills on the virtual pitch – congratulations!”

Streamed live for the very first time to an online audience, the popularity of the tournament continues to soar as fans all over the world were able to join in and witness the tension and excitement first hand Ramos’s success in the 2012 FIWC Grand Final.

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The FIFA Interactive World Cup, the world largest online gaming tournament, has beaten its own Guinness World Record. This years FIWC has seen over 1 million players play in attempt to become World Champion.

And now the FIWC is headed east to Dubai’s Jumeirah Beach Hotel for the eighth FIWC Grand Final. The Final will take place from 21-23 May 2012, where 24 finalists will be flown to Dubai for a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a shot at taking the FIWC Champion crown from last year’s winner Francisco Cruz. As well as this, the finalists will get to sample all the city has to offer from indoor skiing to desert tours, as well as visiting Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.

Former FIFA World Cup champion Christian Karembeu has today been unveiled as an official FIWC ambassador and will be present at the tournament and keeping a close eye on proceedings. Karembeu, part of the Task Force Football 2014 and a member of FIFA’s Technical Study Group who assess the performance of players at FIFA events, will be hoping to test himself against some of the world’s best FIFA 12 players to see how his skills match up on the virtual pitch.

Eleven gamers from seven different countries have already qualified for the Dubai Grand Final, meaning that there are still 14 places up for grabs. Do you think you’re good at FIFA 12? Prove it!

You can participate in this year’s FIWC through the on-going online tournament played on the PlayStation Network, by registering ‘in-game’ in FIFA12 on your PS3. For more information on the FIWC, go to: www.fifa.com/fiwc. This year’s Champion will walk away with USD 20,000 and an invitation to attend the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2012.

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Last week, the Australian Live Event of the FIFA Interactive World Cup for 2012 kicked off, with pre-qualifying heats staged at EB Games stores across Australia. It was the first time that FIFA and presenting partners EA SPORTS and PlayStation have given participants from all over the country the chance to compete in this tournament. FIFA fans of all shapes and sizes turned up for the event across each of the states, with only a select few winning their way to the next stages. The winner from each heat will next be flown to Sydney on April 4 for a Grand Finale event at the Australian Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour, where Australia’s best player will be determined. The Australian champion will then be invited to compete at the international Grand Final event later in the year, for their chance to win US$20,000 as well as being awarded their FIWC trophy at the annual FIFA Players Gala alongside such football luminaries as David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Ricardo Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres, Lionel Messi, Tim Cahill and many more.

So, who were the AUssie heat winners from around the country, and what did they have to say about competing in this immense tournament?

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Sydney (Top Ryde): Mikko Quilala, 27 years; Green Valley, NSW

Quote: “Honestly guys thanks so much for the opportunity to play against absolutely awesome and truly skilled people! I’m a bit of a noob at this but honestly the last game is all luck! Thanks again mark for showing me what to expect in the finals and I won’t let you down”.

Sydney (Miranda): Adam Kharman, 17 years; Bankstown, NSW

Quote: “It’s a dream come true! Hopefully I can repeat my performance at the national final in Sydney”.

Melbourne: Kieran Murray, 21 years; Beaumaris, VIC

Adelaide: Charles Woodham, 20 years; Wattle Park, SA

Quote: “I started with a plan and everything went my way. Great comp and can’t wait to get to Sydney”.

Perth: Irshad Zamir, 21 years; Alexandra Heights, WA

Gold Coast: Todd Sekli, 17 years; Robina, QLD

Quote: “This is a dream come true, I can’t wait to get to Sydney”.

Newcastle: Samuel Lage Liberato, 23 years; Brazil

Quote: “Oh my god I can’t stop shaking”.

Rockhampton: Matthew Ouston, 18 years; Cooee Bay, Yeppoon, QLD

Quote: “Great final and excited about getting through and heading to Sydney for the grand final”.

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As part of the celebrations, there will be a limited number of tickets for people to win to attend the Australian Grand Finale Event and witness the crowning of the Australian 2012 FIWC Champion. To find out more on how you can win, visit www.facebook.com/fiwcaustralia, www.facebook.com/PlayStationAU or www.facebook.com/FIFAaus.

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PlayStation has been teaming up with FIFA and EA Sports for several years to bring the world’s greatest virtual football competition, the FIFA Interactive World Cup, to our consoles. This year, the competition has reached an important milestone and our friends of FIFA have sent over this news story.

FIFA and Presenting Partners EA Sports and PlayStation are delighted to announce that this year’s edition of the FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC) has reached a significant milestone, with one million players now registered for the tournament.

The world’s largest virtual football tournament has been part of FIFA’s event portfolio since 2004, initially beginning as live consumer events. The introduction of PS3 and its online playing mode for FIWC 09, through PlayStation Network had a huge impact on the reach of the event, resulting in exponential growth in participant figures, highlighted by the growth from 28,000 players in 2008 to one million in 2012.

Having been awarded a place in the prestigious Guinness World Records as the largest online gaming tournament in the world for FIWC 10 (775,000 players) and FIWC 11 (869,543 players), the event has broken all of its own records once more, reaching the one million mark with more than two months remaining before the qualifying for the Grand Final of the event closes.

Contestants can still participate in this year’s FIWC through an online tournament played on the PlayStation Network, by registering ‘in-game’ in FIFA ’12 on their PS3. For more information on the FIWC, go to: www.fifa.com/fiwc.

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“Who would have thought that playing EA SPORTS FIFA would one day take me to the FIFA Ballon d’Or,” said reigning FIFA Interactive World Cup champion Francisco Cruz, sitting in Zurich, Switzerland just hours after having experienced the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2011 Gala.

With his victory at the FIWC11 Grand Final in Los Angeles, Cruz earned $20,000 in prize money and a priceless invitation to the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2011 Gala. At the Gala, Francisco talked tactics with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, played FIFA 12 against Wayne Rooney and Gerard Piqué on a nearby PS3 and shook hands with superstars such as Lionel Messi, Xavi, Ronaldo, Neymar and Dani Alves. The morning following Francisco’s incredible night at the Gala, the team at FIFA.com spoke with him as he reflected on the experience.

This must have been an amazing experience for you. Does any specific moment stand out?

Francisco: I can’t really say what my favourite moment was. All of it was incredible. Beating Wayne Rooney at FIFA 12 and talking to Sir Alex Ferguson were certainly highlights. And of course meeting Lionel Messi, my favourite player. There have been so many highlights, I have to watch out that I don’t forget anything!

What did you discuss with Sir Alex?

Francisco: For me he’s a true legend. He’s been with Manchester United for more than twenty years now so I was very happy that I had the opportunity to talk to him. We talked about the best ways to cope with mental pressure in tough games. This was really helpful for me and I’ll definitely try to apply his advice at this year’s Grand Final.

You mentioned your EA SPORTS FIFA 12 match with Wayne Rooney. What was it like to play against one of your idols?

Francisco: It’s a dream playing against one of my favourite players. It’s a new experience and I would like to do it again next year, he is a good player. He kept possession of the ball well with England but he could not transfer that into goal scoring opportunities. He said he was the best FIFA 12 player at Manchester United and I believe him as he was very good. I had some good chances and I scored, but he could have scored one or two goals.

You brought your cousin to the Gala. Why did you choose him to accompany you?

Francisco: My family is very important to me. For the 2009 Grand Final in Barcelona, where I placed third, I invited my sister. Last year, my father came with me to Los Angeles, so now it was my cousin’s turn. He’s just as crazy about football as I am, plus he’s a really good friend of mine.

Did you ever imagine that you would be part of such a special night when you first played the FIFA series?

Francisco: No, not at all. It is still unbelievable. I mean who would have thought that playing EA SPORTS FIFA would one day take me to the FIFA Ballon d’Or! And now, here I am, among stars like Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney!

Is this day at the FIFA Ballon d’Or a strong motivation for you to defend your title?

Francisco: I’m very competitive and I want to win every game. Of course, this day is very special for me and If I could be part of this once more it would be fantastic. I’ll definitely give my all and try to defend my title!

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