Between March 29th and April the 1st, the usually gentile calm of Newbury Race Course will be shattered as gamers flock to compete and watch en masse. The i10 event, as you may have guessed, is the tenth in Multiplay’s popular i-series of LAN-events, though it could exceed all levels of the past – with the organisers hoping this might be their largest yet with over 1000 attendees.

The festivities begin at 9am on Friday March the 29th, and don’t stop until 6pm on Monday the 1st. That’s 81 hours of solid gaming; for those ‘hardcore’ enough to live with the sleep deprivation! It is still undecided whether the event will occupy the huge ‘Grandstand’ venue, or the “luxurious” Berkshire stand, and the positioning of the venue will no-doubt depend upon popularity.

Multiplay tout the i-series as the most popular LAN parties in the UK, apparently attracting gamers from all over the and Europe. What’s more, the high-speed network available offers participants the opportunity to experience a multitude of favourite games as they were meant be enjoyed: free from the lag and connection of internet play.

The cost of a ticket covering the whole event if you wish to bring along your to play, is £70, covering entrance on all four days for you; spectator passes are also available for £5 a day – for those of you not fancying a dabble yourselves.

Sponsorship of the event is being provided by BT/Games Domain, and they’re promising a host of exclusive maps for such games as Counter-Strike and Return to Castle Wolfenstein; the former no doubt being the most popular game at the show.