The top eight Madden players are competing today at the Madden NFL Live Challenge Draft Champions Invitational, hosted by EA Sports in Burbank, CA, and you can watch it right now.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Madden eSports scene that’s been building up this year, the tournament will be using the Draft Champions mode, and will run up until the finals which will take place in San Francisco during Super Bowl week. It’s high stakes, and it also serves as a great look into what the future might bring with EA’s new competitive gaming division.
EA has provided some bios for the challengers in today’s tournament, which you can find below.
Serious Moe
Favorite Team: Dallas Cowboys
Favorite Playbook: Dallas Cowboys
Favorite Offensive Play: Gun Doubles FL Middle
Favorite Defensive Play: Cover 2 & Cover 4
When did you start playing Madden: Madden 2005 with my brother.
Describe your play style: Defensive minded, like to get my opponent thinking quick
What would winning the EA SPORTS Madden NFL Live Challenge mean to you: The prestige of winning a madden challenge, put that bullet point in my resume that’s most definitely needed.
Fool
Favorite Team: San Francisco 49ers
Favorite Playbook: Miami Dolphins
Favorite Offensive Play: Slants Shotgun 2 back
Favorite Defensive Play: 3-4 cover 3
When did you start playing Madden: When I was 14 years old. Madden 2004
Describe your play style: On the fly and read my opponents play style
What would winning the EA SPORTS Madden NFL Live Challenge mean to you: It would mean everything. I would feel like I’m the best to every play the game once I get this put on my resume and 2nd EA madden challenge win
Problem
Favorite Team: San Francisco 49ers
Favorite Madden Team: Minnesota Vikings
Favorite Offensive Playbook: Washington Redskins
Favorite Defensive Playbook: New England Patriots
Favorite Offensive Play: Changes from game to game based on my opponents weaknesses
Favorite Defensive Play: Changes from game to game based on my opponents weaknesses
When did you start playing Madden: Started playing in Madden 93 Sega Genesis
Describe your play style: Defensive minded.
What would winning the EA SPORTS Madden NFL Live Challenge mean to you: Winning the Madden Challenge would be great. I would love for it to be added to the other prestigious Madden events I have won.
Nephew
Favorite Team: Pittsburgh Steelers.
Favorite Offensive Play: Usually bootlegs because it opens up the running game.
Favorite Defensive Play: Cover 3 because it’s safe.
When did you start playing Madden: I started playing Madden when I was 7, Madden 96. I didn’t start playing professionally until I turned 14.
Describe your play style: I would describe my playing style very controlled style. Meaning running the ball and clock management and on defense I like to make people work up the field and not give up any long plays.
What would winning the EA SPORTS Madden NFL Live Challenge mean to you: Winning the EA SPORTS Madden NFL Live Challenge would mean a lot to me because I’ve been playing Madden my whole life and this is what I like to do, so it would be awesome.
Tweezy
Favorite Team: Houston Texans
Favorite Playbook: Browns Offense & Patriots Defense
Favorite Offensive Play: Gun Split Close X Drag Trail
Favorite Defensive Play: 3–4 Normal Sam Mike 2
When did you start playing Madden: Madden 13
Describe your play style: Defensive based, enough offense to get by.
What would winning the EA SPORTS Madden NFL Live Challenge mean to you: Winning the Madden Challenge would not only help me decide what route I would like my life to go but also it would give me a hint of credibility when explaining what I want to do with my life to my friends and family. Video games wouldn’t just be a hobby anymore.
Mychael “TRAW” Ryann
Favorite Team: Arizona Cardinals
Favorite Playbook: Offense-Kansas City Chiefs, Defense-New England Patriots
Favorite Offensive Play: Gun Bunch Mesh Post
Favorite Defensive Play: 43 under cover 2
Describe your play style: Aggressive , high risk high reward playstyle
What would winning the EA SPORTS Madden NFL Live Challenge mean to you: Winning the EA SPORTS Madden NFL Live Challenge would mean a great deal to me because of all the time I put into this game. All of the hours labbing, all of the people who said I wouldn’t make anything out of this. It wouldn’t just be huge for me but everyone who supports the TRAWArmy.
William “Secret” Wolf
Favorite Team: Chicago Bears
Favorite Playbook: Arizona Cardinals
Favorite Offensive Play: Four Verticals
Favorite Defensive Play: Cover 2 Man
When did you start playing Madden: 18 years ago in Madden 199
Describe your play style: Balanced but known for my offense.
What would winning the EA SPORTS Madden NFL Live Challenge mean to you: I’ve placed several times but never got the job done, it would mean a lot to me.