| | 2002 Halo National Championship! On August 30, sixteen finalists gathered at the G4 studios in L.A. to compete for the title of Halo National Champion! These Halo fans battled their way from local and regional competitions that started as a field of over 13,000 contestants nationwide.
The elimination rounds were brutal, but in the end there could only be one Halo National Champion. Here's a quick roster of the top contestants: - The 2002 National Champion:
Dustin Langton "-hpDarkman". Manhattan, KS - Second place winner:
Ricco Lopez "MOB MASTA". Milpitas, CA - Third Place winner:
Ben Van Hauer "bVANc". Golden Valley, MN
THE LONG ROAD TO VICTORY: Max Hoberman of Bungie Studios, creators of Halo: Combat Evolved, congratulates the top three finishers. From L-R: Ricco Lopez ("MOB MASTA"), National Champion Dustin Langton ("-hpDarkman"), Max Hoberman, and Ben Van Hauer ("bVANc"). 
Semifinal: First Round
1. Dustin Langton (-hpDarkman). Manhattan, KS*
2. Doug Fabrizio (Strangpurple). Park Ridge, NJ*
3. Eric Turk-Otero (DM). San Antonio, TX*
4. Aaron Martin (Bigsause). Three Rivers, MI*
5. Jay Zuehlke (SgtSlauter). Reedsburg, WI
6. Paul Fly (Cain). Franklin, TN
7. Elliot Epstein (VERITAS). Brookline, MA
8. Parker Trojanowski (PX). St. Petersburg, FL *top four finishers advance to final round 
Semifinal: Second Round
1. Craig Cook (dasoldier). Sand Springs, OK*
2. Joe Larama (KissCharlie). Vancouver, WA*
3. Ben Van Hauer (bVANc). Golden Valley, MN*
4. Ricco Lopez (MOB MASTA). Milpitas, CA*
5. Noah Evans (chumpp). Placentia, CA
6. Jesse Kuznia (Vegeta Punk). Chandler, AZ
7. Brad Griff (Red Ogre). Mehoopany, PA
8. John Buckley III (Zeus). Vincennes, IN *top four finishers advance to final round 
Final Round: Championship Results
1. Dustin Langton (-hpDarkman). Manhattan, KS*
2. Ricco Lopez (MOB MASTA). Milpitas, CA*
3. Ben Van Hauer (bVANc). Golden Valley, MN*
4. Aaron Martin (Bigsause). Three Rivers, MI
5. Eric Turk-Otero (DM). San Antonio, TX
6. Doug Fabrizio (Strangpurple). Park Ridge, NJ
7. Joe Larama (KissCharlie). Vancouver, WA
8. Craig Cook (dasoldier). Sand Springs, OK *prize winners |
