Final Eight Players Determined for 'Verizon FiOS Grand Tournament'; Competitors to Vie for $100,000 on July 29

The Verizon FiOS Grand Tournament is one of the largest onlinevideo game tournaments ever held, with more than 6,500 registrants.The following competitors have made it to the tournament's final roundof eight and will be flown to Hermosa Beach, Calif., to square offduring the Verizon FiOS Grand Tournament weekend on July 28-29:

-- Dominic Anderson, Portland, OR

-- Micah Ernst, Meadville, PA

-- Stefan Hock, Trumbull, CT

-- Zachariah Kendall, Colville, WA

-- Brian Kihneman, Austin, TX

-- Richard Oliver, Virginia Beach, VA

-- Scott Rogoff, Trumbull, CT

-- Kenny Wells, Towson, MD

"After a month of online competition, these final eightcyber-athletes have shown the speed, skill and determination to makeit to the final round of competition," said Brian Angiolet, directorof Marketing for Verizon FiOS. "They will have to step up their gameanother notch as the finals will take place over Verizon FiOSbroadband, providing breakthrough fiber-optic speed that will thrillboth participants and observers alike. We're looking forward tocrowning a champion."

Being held on The Strand in Hermosa Beach directly across from themunicipal pier, FiOS Grand Tournament activities for the weekendinclude:

Friday, July 28

-- Finals Qualifying Rounds 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

The eight finalists begin facing off for a chance to advance tothe next day's competition and the $100,000 top prize. By the end ofthe day only four players will remain.

-- PMS University 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Hosted by PMS Clan, the largest female group of online gamersworldwide, this event will offer consumers tutorials for finding orsetting up an online game via Verizon's PlayLinc game service.Participants also will get hints for setting up player computers andkeyboards for maximum success and an opportunity to experience thespeed of Verizon FiOS.

Saturday July 29

-- Celebrity Pro-Am Video Game Challenge, 2:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.

A video game tournament in support of two charities, Women for theWorld and Youth Speaks (www.youthspeaks.org). Celebrities such as MTVand Entertainment Tonight's Vanessa Minnillo and models includingCarolyn Murphy, Kiara Kabukuro and Brighdie Grounds will be pairedwith pro players from PMS Clan to compete for charity.

-- FiOS Grand Tournament Finals, 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The top two players square will battle for the $100,000 grandprize.

A Verizon demo station will highlight the amazing speed andcapabilities of fiber-optic broadband service. Verizon offers FiOShigh-speed broadband service in parts of 16 states, bringing thebenefits of fiber all the way to the home. With download connectionsof up to 50 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload connections of up to5 Mbps,- FiOS provides gamers with the speed they need to compete.*

More information about the tournament can be found online atwww.fiosgrand.com.

*NOTE: Actual (throughput) speeds will vary

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a Dow 30 company, is aleader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wirelesscommunication innovations to mass market, business, government andwholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliablewireless network, serving 53 million customers nationwide. VerizonBusiness operates one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IPnetworks. Verizon Telecom is deploying the nation's most advancedfiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of convergedcommunications, information and entertainment services to customers.Based in New York, Verizon has a diverse workforce of more than250,000 and generates annual consolidated operating revenues ofapproximately $90 billion. For more information, visitwww.verizon.com.

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