SINGAPORE'S first professional cybergaming team will face off with the best of the world in Los Angeles this week.

At stake is over US$1 million (S$1.4 million) in prize money, the largest in a single gaming tournament.

The 10-member Singapore Swords team, which includes a woman, is already guaranteed a minimum US$30,000 for being placed in the last eight of the Championship Gaming Series (CGS) World Final.

That is because the team received a first-round bye to go straight into the quarter-finals after winning the Pan-Asian qualifiers in October.

But the Swords suffered an early setback with the absence of its Counter-Strike player and team captain Prasad Paramajothi, 23.

The full-time national serviceman declined to say why he had to pull out but The Straits Times understands that one reason is because Mr Paramajothi has exhausted his annual leave. He has been replaced by another player.

Despite being a nation with a relatively small population, Singapore's cyberwarriors walked tall after beating traditional Asian cybergaming giants China and South Korea during the Pan-Asian rounds.

Each of the 10 players has been given a US$30,000 annual contract since winning the Pan-Asian regionals in October.

The Swords will now face the British team Birmingham Salvos in the quarter-finals match on Wednesday.

Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.