In the event Call of Duty: World at War couldn’t hang on to the number one spot. Instead another seasonal stalwart has swooped to seize the day, with a late goal deep, deep into extra time. We’re talking about FIFA 09, of course.

We should have seen it coming. A version of FIFA has been at or near the top of the Crimbo charts for years now and EA is rather fond of the Yuletide all-formats number one, having scored six in the last eight years. Furthermore this year’s FIFA has been boosted by a couple of very timely and frankly irresistible retail promotions which helped elevate sales by nearly 90% on the previous week. In short CoD:WaW never stood a chance, poor thing.

But we daresay Activision will be happy to settle for the number two slot and a 13% uplift, even if the gap twixt CoD and Mario Kart Wii has now narrowed to the proverbial gnat’s chuff - just 3000 sales now separate the two.

After all that it’s more or less business as usual, with a moderate amount of musical chairs, a welcome debut for Professor Layton and a small resurgence for Quantum of Solace. Any road up, here’s the Christmas top ten. Joy to the world etc:

1. FIFA 09 (3)
2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (1)
3. Mario Kart Wii (2)
4. Need for Speed: Undercover (4)
5. Quantum of Solace (9)
6. Professor Layton and the Curious Village (NE)
7. Tomb Raider: Underworld (8)
8. Wii Fit (9)
9. Guitar Hero: World Tour (7)
10. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (10)

Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, ©2008 ELSPA Ltd.