"Boot camp" has a whole new meaning when you're talking about pro gaming. With less than five days until the final stop of the CPL World Tour, and Winter Qualifiers for Quake 4 just around the bend, some of the top players in the world are gearing up and getting in shape the best way a gamer can: LAN!

I arrive in Kansas City, Missouri to be welcomed by the famous Jonathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel. On arrival at his home, shared with roommate Jarod "Streetrunner" Reisin, I'm given the grand tour of the gamer palace and introduced to all the Painkiller superstars. With a few days of practice already under their belts, the guys were firmly planted in their chairs, surrounded by dozens of soda cans and paper plates. But they're not just here for the thrill of the kill - they have a lot of work to do before their trip to New York City. Rigorous nights of running around maps and learning how to flank enemies are just the first steps.

In the two rooms above the Painkiller group, I join the ranks of Quake 4 fanatics. When the smoke fades away from the CPL World Tour Finals, the next prize in sight is a chance to compete worldwide on the newly released Quake 4. The death of Painkiller is inevitable with the end of this year's CPL tour. Wendel was sure to keep the two groups separate, as many of the Painkiller players were yearning for a chance to get away from their training. Iisakki "Beam" Ahonen, one of the pro players in attendance, bought his copy of Quake 4 while still training for the PK finals - something that many pros consider an unnecessary distraction.

Iisakki "Beam" Ahonen and Marc "Wombat" Larsen