A handful of elite EA Sports™ FIFA gamers have enjoyed an accomplishment that has eluded over half a million challengers: winning the FIFA Interactive World Cup.

The face of virtual football was changed forever when the very first FIWC tournament took place in 2004.  In the maiden edition, Brazil's Thiago Carrico de Azevedo bested Matija Biljeskovic in a 2-1 thriller to become the first ever FIWC champion. The final was played at the FIFA Headquarters in Zurich and streamed live to the world on FIFA.com. Next, came Chris Bullard’s remarkable 2005 championship win in London. Bullard played for 70 minutes with 10 men to snatch the second crown.

In 2006, Amsterdam was the scene of a second FIWC win on home soil. After a ten-goal finale, Andries Smit claimed his place in the FIWC history books. Who can forget Smit standing on the stage, filled with emotion after holding his nerve the entire tournament. "I'm so happy, I can't stop shaking. This is great - the best moment of my life," exclaimed the young champion.

2008 was the year of Alfonso Ramos. The Spaniard won both the Spain Live Event and topped the online leaderboard going into the Berlin Grand Final. Thousands watched the Ramos-Ribeiro finale as the two opponents attempted to steer their respective Barcelona sides to the big win. Alfonso, wielding an uncanny knack for stylish attacking football, edged out the New Jersey boy to claim the fourth FIWC title.

And then there was 2009, the largest contested FIWC tournament to date. Over five hundred thousand hopefuls started out on the road to the Grand Final. In the end, one man was left standing on the stage in Barcelona, a massive trophy cradled in his arms. Frenchman Bruce Grannec - the reigning FIWC champion; the man who will try and make history in the FIWC10 by successfully defending his title, a feat as yet unaccomplished by all the FIWC winners. 

Do you have what it takes to stand amongst the FIWC hall of famers? Prove yourself in the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2010, and you could claim a number of massive prizes including a trip to the FIFA World Player Gala 2010, USD$20,000 and a place in the FIWC Hall of Fame.