The chart toppers in the video games race are vying for 2006’s most important number one spot, the Christmas number 1. This will be announced by ELSPA (Entertainment and Leisure software Publishers Association) and will be the number 1 as of the week ending 23rd Dec.

Paddy Power bookmakers have been the first to release the list of candidates and their odds, and as usual, the list of candidates includes a wide range of diverse genres catering for all age groups. There are a few family orientated titles and kids titles in the mix, including Guitar Hero 2 and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire: Party Edition and Bratz: Forever Diamond and the movie tie-in game Happy Feet.

The Christmas Number One has traditionally been an enthusiastically contested position, with many surprises over its 11-year history. Although this year could be less than a surprise if PaddyPower’s favourite; EA picks up it’s 3rd Need for Speed Christmas number 1; Need For Speed: Carbon. 2004 saw Need For Speed: Underground 2 grab the top spot and 2005 saw Need For Speed: Most Wanted steal the number 1 spot from the favourite Buena Vista’s film tie-in epic, The Chronicles Of Narnia.

So will this year see the Need For Speed series pick up it’s 3rd consecutive Christmas number 1 or will one of the other great titles pip it to the post?

The full list of this year’s contenders includes:

The Odds:

Need For Speed: Carbon - 8/13 , FIFA 07 - 4/1 , Gears of War - 10/1 , Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas - 10/1 , Eragon Sierra - 10/1 , Tony Hawk Project 8 - 14/1 , Superman Returns - 16/1 , WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2007 - 16/1 , Call of Duty 3 - 20/1 , Pro Evolution Soccer 6 - 20/1 , The Sims 2: Pets - 20/1, Guitar Hero 2 - 25/1 , Grand Theft Auto: Vice City - 33/1 , Legend of Zelda: Twlight Princess - 33/1 , Bratz: Forever Diamonds - 80/1 , Happy Feet - 80/1 , Who Wants To Be A Millionaire: Party Edition -250/1

Mike Rawlinson, Managing Director, ELSPA commented: “Christmas 2006 looks like another great year for video games and we are all excited about which of the fantastic games being released this Christmas will make it to No1. There are lots of strong competitors as always and it is impossible to tell if the favourite will make it or be pipped to the post last minute. There is a great selection of games that will appeal to various age groups and styles of gameplay to battle it out.”

Sharon McHugh, Novelties Marketing Manager at PaddyPower said: "Need for Speed is the game to beat every year and this year it's no different! There are some great games out there - FIFA 07 is proving to be very popular with enhanced features that have made it go straight to No.1 in the charts. Gears of War has also been hailed as one of the best games this year, but the fact it's only available on the XBox 360 means it won't be able to compete with Need for Speed. Eragon and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas are games that will do well upon their release but I don't expect any of them to beat Need for Speed: Carbon this year. We take a lot of money on Xmas specials and this is a popular market with the customers every year. Very often a game like Superman will do well, if the movie has done well, so Eragon could be a bestseller if the Box Office does well and the kids like it enough to buy the game. Need for Speed: Carbon is on everyone's Xmas list and nothing looks like it will beat it....for now!"