The Country’s Best Pokemon Players Compete In National Championships June 27th and 28th

Top Pokemon Video Game and Trading Card Game Competitors Face-Off in St. Louis for Chance to Compete at the 2009 Pokemon World Championships

BELLEVUE, Wash., June 22 /PRNewswire/ — After months of intense head-to-head regional tournaments, The Pokemon Company International, the worldwide leader in video games and trading card games, today announced details for its 2009 Pokemon(R) Video Game and Trading Card Game (TCG) National Championships. This weekend — June 27th & 28th — Pokemon Video Game and TCG competitors from across the nation will converge at the America’s Center in St. Louis, MO, in hopes of surviving the two-day storm of battles. Those that rise victorious will then test their skills against the best players from across the globe at the 2009 Pokemon World Championships in August.

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Pokemon Video Game National Championships

After using their remarkable talents and strategy for battles in Seattle, San Francisco, Phoenix, Dallas, Philadelphia, and Nashville, 48 master Pokemon Trainers have emerged from over fifteen hundred other players to guarantee their place in the Pokemon Video Game National Championships. Divided equally into two divisions – Juniors (born in 1997 or later) and Seniors (born in 1996 or earlier) – these competitors competed on the recently released video game Pokemon Platinum Version with their sights set on the World’s Championships in San Diego.

However, it is not necessary to win a Regional Championship Event to attend and compete at the Pokemon Video Game National Championships. The event will open its doors to the public for entry via random selection and hopeful contenders can show up for check-in at the America’s Center with a copy of Pokemon Platinum Version for the Nintendo DS. Senior Division registration takes place on Saturday, June 27th from 8:30 – 9:30 A.M.; Juniors registration is from 11:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.

First and second place finishers will be awarded travel for two (invitee and a guest) and the opportunity to play in the Pokemon Video Game World Championships, trophies, and a Pokemon prize package including a Nintendo Wii(TM) console (first place only), a Nintendo DSi(TM) game system, and other cool Pokemon items. Competitors in each division placing 3rd-16th will also receive travel for two to play in the World Championships.

For details on Pokemon Video Game National Championships including prizes and times as well as Pokemon restrictions and rules, please visit www.pokemonvgc.com.

Pokemon Trading Card Game National Championships

The 6th annual Pokemon Trading Card Game National Championships will host as many as 1,000 players in the Junior (born in 1998 or later), Senior (born in 1994, 1995, 1996, or 1997) and Masters (born in 1993 or earlier) Divisions. Players from across the nation are expected to compete in this weekend’s two-day event in hopes of securing the title of National Champion. First-place winners are awarded a National Champion trophy, a prize kit containing a variety of Pokemon merchandise and a Travel Award to attend the 2009 World Championships.

The 2009 Pokemon TCG National Championships is the last title event of the 9-month TCG season where the toughest participants compete to receive a guaranteed slot to compete in the 2009 World Championships this August.

The Pokemon TCG National Championships is a sanctioned title event open to all U.S. resident players in good standing. Onsite pre-registration for the U.S. National Championships will take place on Friday, June 26th, from 4:00 P.M. through 8:00 P.M. Saturday registration takes place from 8:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M. This year’s tournament follows a record-setting 2008 U.S. National Championships, which drew nearly 1,000 TCG competitors from around the country.

More information about Pokemon Trading Card Game National Championships, including prizes, tournament locations, times, and rules can be found by visiting www.go-pokemon.com.

Pokemon World Championships

The first Pokemon Video Game World Championships and the 2009 Pokemon TCG World Championship will be held on August 14th and 15th in San Diego, CA. Both championship events will promote the fun of the trading card and video games as players are required to use skill, strategy, and creativity to play.

For the Pokemon Video Game World Championships, 32 U.S. Pokemon Platinum Version competitors will be selected to meet their international rivals from events held in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Japan. In addition to bragging rights as the best Pokemon video game player on the planet, first place winners in each division will be awarded an invitation and travel award to defend their titles at the 2010 Pokemon Video Game World Championships, as well as a trip for four to Tokyo, Japan, New York, NY or Oahu, Hawaii.

Considered the ultimate test of a player’s Pokemon TCG skill, strategy, and creativity, the 2009 Pokemon TCG World Championship brings together hundreds of players from more than 25 countries around the globe. In addition to earning the prestigious title of TCG World Champion, the top 16 winners in each of the three age categories will be awarded various Pokemon prizes and merchandise. Scholarship awards worth more than a total of $100,000 will also be distributed amongst the top 8 winners in each division.

Over the past 13 years Pokemon has established its prominence as one of the most successful kids’ franchises of all-time. In 2009, the Pokemon animated series will be broadcast in as many as 153 countries in more than 25 languages. The Pokemon Platinum Version game has sold more than 3.75 million copies worldwide. The Pokemon Trading Card Game is the number one collectible trading card game of all time and boasts over 150,000 organized play members worldwide.

About Pokemon

The Pokemon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokemon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokemon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokemon website. Pokemon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, visit www.pokemon.com.

SOURCE The Pokemon Company International