Be the best, like no-one ever was, at this years Pokémon Video Game Championship
Calling all Pokémon Trainers! The 2011 Pokémon Video Game Championship Series are coming soon to cities across Europe and the US.
Today the Pokémon Company International announced details about the highly anticipated 2011 Pokémon Video Game Championship Series, featuring the record-breaking and critically acclaimed Pokémon Black and White.
The Championships start off in Europe on June 4th at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre, before heading off to Italy (where it will be the first time the event is held there), Spain, France and ending in Germany. The top eight finalists in each division from each of the five European locations will earn guaranteed competitor slots at the 2011 Pokémon World Championships held in San Diego.
In the US, the Series kicks off on May 14th in Seattle's Washing State Convention Center, before stopping off in San Jose, Dallas, Atlanta, Washington and Newark. At each location, the top 16 Pokémon trainers from each division will earn invitations to compete in the 2011 Pokeémon US National Championships, taking place from July 8th-10th, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Here, players will battle it out to secure a top eight finish over the weekend, to secure a guaranteed competitor slot at the 2011 Pokémon World Championships. The top finishers from Europe and the US, who make it to the Pokémon World Championships will receive travel allowances, special medals and a bunch of Pokémon prizes.
Europe also sees an increase in overall competitor slots this year, along with a new age division and revised age brackets. Players born in 2000 or later will be in the Junior category, Senior will be for players born in in 1996-1999, whereas Masters will be for those born in, or before, 1995. The Junior and Senior sees an increase number of slots to 256 with 512 slots for the Masters division. All slots are based on a first come first serve basis, so if you want to become the greatest Pokémon trainer that ever lived, make sure you get to your event nice and early (times and locations below). Only Pokémon from the Unova Pokédex can be used to battle, so keep that in mind.
Here's the dates and locations for the 2011 Pokémon Video Game National Championships
June 4th, Birmingham, United Kingdom—National Exhibition Centre, Hall 8
June 11th, Rome, Italy—Fiera Roma, Hall 12, Ingresso Nord
June 18th, Madrid, Spain—IFEMA, Hall 1, Feria de Madrid
June 25th, Paris, France—Espace Grande Arche, Parvis de La Défense
July 2nd, Cologne, Germany—EXPO XXI Köln GmbH, Gladbacher Wall 5
At all European locations, Junior and Senior Division lines open at 8:00am and close at 8:30am. The Masters line opens at 12.30pm and closes at 1:00pm
The US dates and locations are:
May 14th, Seattle, WA—Washington State Convention Center, Hall 4B
May 21st, San Jose, CA—San Jose Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 2
May 28th, Dallas, TX—Arlington Convention Center, Grand Hall
June 4th, Atlanta, GA—Gwinnett Center, Hall A and B
June 11th, Washington, D.C.—Dulles Expo Center, South Hall
June 18th, Newark, NJ—Meadowlands Exposition Center
The 2011 Pokémon World Championships:
August 12th–14th, San Diego, CA—Hilton San Diego Bayfront
Last Chance Qualifier for the 2011 Pokémon World Championships will be helpd on August 12th at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.
For more information, including rules and prizes, visit the official Pokémon Video Game Champion Series site.
