The 2008 Championship Gaming Series North America Season kicks off today with a live, free webcast of the qualifiers. The stream starts tonight at 9pm ET/6pm PT. 

You can watch the webcast by clicking here (it will pop open a new browser window).

The full season will run until the North America Final on July 7th followed by the World Finals starting on July 14th.

Teams of 10 will be competing in Counter-Strike: Source (PC), Dead or Alive 4 (X360), Forza Motorsport 2 (X360), and FIFA 08 (PC).

Be sure to check out all the action.

During the course of those action-packed two months, gamers from eight teams across the globe will convene in Los Angeles to battle over US$1,000,000 in prize money and the winning team will receive a payout of US$500,000. Players will live in CGS-supplied apartments in Los Angeles and practice with their team players every day in preparation for the World Final, which begin with quarterfinal matches on Monday, July 14 and Wednesday, July 16.

You'll be able to watch the qualifiers on live on the internets at the link above or at thecgs.com every weeknight for the next two weeks. Hit the jump for the schedule of events.

ALL TIMES EASTERN

Monday, June 2

• Chicago Chimera vs. Carolina Core 9:00 PM
• New York 3D vs. Dallas Venom 11:00 PM
• San Francisco Optx vs. LA Complexity 1:00 AM

Tuesday, June 3

• LA Complexity vs. New York 3D 9:00 PM
• San Francisco Optx vs. Dallas Venom 11:00 PM

Wednesday, June 4

• Chicago Chimera vs. San Francisco Optx 9:00 PM
• Carolina Core vs. LA Complexity 11:00 PM

Thursday, June 5

• New York 3D vs. Carolina Core 9:00 PM
• Dallas Venom vs. Chicago Chimera 11:00 PM

Friday, June 6

• LA Complexity vs. Dallas Venom 9:00 PM
• San Francisco Optx vs. New York 3D 11:00 PM

Monday, June 9

• Chicago Chimera vs. LA Complexity 9:00 PM
• Carolina Core vs. San Francisco Optx 11:00 PM

Tuesday, June 10

• Dallas Venom vs. Carolina Core 9:00 PM
• New York 3D vs. Chicago Chimera 11:00 PM

Wednesday, June 11

• LA Complexity vs. Dallas Venom 9:00 PM
• New York 3D vs. Carolina Core 11:00 PM

Thursday, June 12

• Chicago Chimera vs. New York 3D 9:00 PM
• LA Complexity vs. San Francisco Optx 11:00 PM

Friday, June 13

• San Francisco Optx vs. Dallas Venom 9:00 PM
• Chicago Chimera vs. Carolina Core 11:00 PM