FLYING to Los Angeles to compete for $1million in prize money – not bad for playing computer games.

Ryan Oldfield, 18, has just flown to America to take his seat on the stage of the World Gaming Championship today and tomorrow.

The former Westcliff High School for Boys student, who is known in the gaming world as Fluxy, is part of a four-man British team called Flame Retardant competing in the Call Of Duty competition.

After winning the British qualifiers, Ryan, of Parkanaur Avenue, Thorpe Bay, is feeling confident heading into the world championship.

He said: “The only thing which has made me a little bit nervous is the fact we know as a team we are one of the top three in Europe, but we haven’t really come up against the American teams before.

“We know the Americans are quite hyped about the event so they will be tough, but I still feel confident going in.”

During the event, Ryan will be pitted against gamers in teams from 31 other countries to play the newest version of Call of Duty, entitled Modern Warfare 3, while 6,000 computer game fans watch on.

Ryan has been playing games since he was at primary school, but started taking things more seriously at the age of 15.

“I had played computer games casually for years”, Ryan said; “But then I noticed I was pretty good at playing Call of Duty.

“Then some people who were part of a team approached me to join them and it has gone from there really.”

Call of Duty is the most successful computer game in history, with the Black Ops edition of the game, released last, year selling more then 226 million copies.

The games are set during different wars, including the Second World War and Cold War, which allows players to complete the game doing individual missions or play against others in a multi-player shoot-em-up style.

The Modern Warfare 3 edition of the game is not due for public release until December.