Chart-Track: The Old Republic disqualified from Christmas number one

Chart-Track chief Dorian Bloch has said the release of Star Wars: The Old Republic before Christmas Eve weekend has disqualified it from being in the running for this year's Christmas number one.

The Christmas charts will be decided, Bloch told MCV, on the week ending December 17, not the week ending Christmas Eve.

"Normally we always say the last chart published before Christmas is the Christmas chart," he said. "We will stick with week 50, ending on December 17. One issue with not going for week 51 is getting all the data from retail, which will be up to and including December 24."

The BioWare MMO launches worldwide on December 20 for PC.

The current favorite for the number one at the time is Modern Warfare 3 with odds of 1/12, according to Paddy Power and MCV. Behind it is FIFA 12 at 9/1, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood at 20/1 and Gears of War 3 at 25/1. By the by, Battlefield 3's at 40/1.