One of the largest and most popular video-game tournaments in the U.S., the Evolution Championship Series is an annual fighting-game competition that pits gamer against gamer. Featuring popular fighting franchises such as Street Fighter and Tekken, the contest sees gamers flock to Las Vegas each year. Championship duels play out before packed houses, scored by a chorus of chants from fellow gamers as the last geeks standing play for cash and prizes.
Top 10 Nerdy Competitions
Last weekend saw the convening of the 2010 European Rubik's Cube Championship in Budapest, with skilled competitors solving the puzzle in a matter of seconds. TIME takes a look at some of the world's geekiest contests