Race for Xmas No.1 not over yet

Bookies reckon it'll take something close to a Christmas miracle to topple Modern Warfare 2.

ELSPA has announced that with less than a week to go before the Christmas Number One video game is announced, Modern Warfare 2 remains the odds-on favourite for the crown. Of the following pack it's Assassin's Creed II, FIFA 10, Wii Sports Resort and New Super Mario Bros. Wii with the shortest odds.

"Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has been a phenomenal success since its launch in November; and will certainly be a popular gift for adult audiences this Christmas as it is rated 18," said Michael Rawlinson, Director General of ELSPA, the UK video games trade body. "But as Christmas is a big family occasion, we are witnessing a rise in social gaming with more families than ever playing video games together this holiday season. There are plenty of family games in the charts and therefore Number 1 could just go to an outsider like Wii Sports Resort or perhaps even Mario & Sonic’s popular Winter Olympics outing."

The latest odds at Ladbrokes for the Christmas Number One - All Formats Chart:

1/10 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
5/1 Assassin’s Creed II
10/1 Wii Sports Resort
10/1 FIFA 10
10/1 New Super Mario Bros. Wii
14/1 Mario & Sonic At Olympic Winter Games
16/1 Just Dance
16/1 Wii Fit Plus
20/1 Forza Motorsport 3

Ladbrokes spokesman, Nick Weinberg, commented: "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is the stand-out game and it is the shortest odds we have ever offered for a festive Number One contender. Assassin’s Creed II is probably the best of the rest, but it will take a monumental effort to topple Modern Warfare 2 this close to Christmas."

Place £10 on Modern Warfare 2 and you'd get your stake plus £1 back should Infinity Ward's sequel top the chart. FIFA 10 looks a good bet to us, but we agree with Ladbrokes; it's going to take something pretty special to topple Call of Duty.

Have you had a flutter? What game is your money on?