Phew, Sunday was a helluva a long day in Paris, yet it seems a world away as I sit here this evening back in the UK.

The CS finals went off without a hitch, and incredible domination from complexity in the final against SK.dk, I really had this one down as a close match, but coL simply ran away with it, even having a 15-2 lead at one point, before SK battled back to win a few more respectability points. Wheat and Toss did a great job of casting the final and whilst I was obviously itching to be involved in the cast, I was happy to see us doing a great job again.

With the game over at around 5pm local time, my press duties would run for a further hour or so, especially as my employer (GGL) sponsored both complexity and the womens ladies CS team. Both clans won their respective tourneys and obviously the sponsor wanted maximum exposure in the way of photographic and editorial coverage. Camera in hand I was lead through the back exits of the ESWC grand stage area to a place out front to take the aforementioned pics.

I want to say thanks to both the guys and the girls for their understanding during the shoot as they were patient and helpful and an excellent advert of how to please financial sponsors despite the fact that I am sure they just wanted to get the hell out of there as soon as possible.

After the piccies were processed and sent off, I helped tidy up the GGL stand area a little and rescued my stuff from the slightly over zealous organisers removing stuff for storage. Can't blame them really, they also just wanted to get out of there.

The one thing we did miss out of our schedule (and a personal thing for me) was the role reversal Ut2004 match between me and wheat with the UT guys casting. We simply ran out of time and the ESWC guys wanted to close the net down, so it became pointless in the end. We will reserve that battle for another time then :)

After we cleared up, it was back to the hotel for a freshen up and then for me and Carmac it was a 1 hour battle against time to get to the Stade de France for the U2 concert. I have to say thanks to wheat here for the tickets, the chance to not only go and see U2 live in such an amazing venue but to have VIP tickets with hospitality and back stage passes was simply mind blowing.

We arrived in a sweltering heat at around 8.55 with 20 minutes to kill before they arrived on stage. Suffice to say, we were both like kids in the candy store and once it got started we were both so deaf, we gave up trying to relay our emotions to each other. I did manage to call my wife and let her listen to about 10 seconds of sound though and then sent her a text simply saying "lol". She wasnt best pleased ^^

We got back into Paris central for around 1am and headed for the ESWC Players end of tourney party. I shot a bit of footage and took some further pics here, but all in all with the prices being very high (5 euros for a small beer), it was not greatly attended. I headed back to the hotel at 3.30am leaving Carmac chatting up some rather tasty girl he'd seemingly "pulled" (pics to follow). Must have been his charm as it certainly isn't his looks ffs. :p

No pics of U2 from me sadly as they confiscated my camera when we entered the stadium :/ same cant be said for the lucky pole accompanying me, who some how sneeked his in despite a rigourous frisk... no doubt bragging photos will appear when he gets home.

So, bed at 4am and then up at 6am to catch my flight home... several hours wandering around Charles de Gaule didnt help my lack of sleep and irritability either, sending me to the wrong terminal, then the wrong gate and then finally "forgetting" to get the right plane to the right gate... how in hell you "forget" the plane...never mind.

Flight was better than the outbound one and I arrived back safely in the UK after what has been a fabulous experience and a truely awesome tournament.

Pics to follow, just as soon as I catch up on my self-induced jet lag.

Edit : Added the girl that Carmac pulled...