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2010 POKÉMON TCG WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
What are the Pokémon TCG World Championships?
The 2010 Pokémon TCG World Championships™ are the ultimate test of a player’s Pokémon TCG skills, strategy, and creativity. They award the most prestigious title offered by Pokémon Organized Play (POP) to one player in each age division—Pokémon TCG World Champion!
The Pokémon TCG World Championships event is operated by The Pokémon Company International.
When will the Pokémon TCG World Championships take place?
The Pokémon TCG World Championships will take place from Thursday, August 13th, through Saturday, August 15th, 2010.
Where will the 2010 Pokémon TCG World Championships be held?
The Pokémon TCG World Championships will be held at the Hilton Waikoloa Village.
Hilton Waikoloa Village
69-425 Waikoloa Beach Drive
Waikoloa, HI 96738
U.S.A.
Phone: 1-800-HILTONS
Is there a special room rate available at the Hilton for fans who may not have earned an invite?
More information on Pokémon room rates will be posted when available.
How can I play at the Pokémon TCG World Championships?
The Pokémon TCG World Championships is an invitation-only event, meaning that only those players who receive an official invite from Pokémon Organized Play will be able to compete for the title of Pokémon World Champion.
The 2010 World Championships Invitational Structure can be viewed here.
How much does the event cost?
There is no entry fee to participate in the World Championships or the Last Chance Qualifier. Seating is limited at the Last Chance Qualifier, however, and is determined on a first-come, first-served basis.
Other Information
- Invitation and Travel Award winners will receive a packet of important information. Please make sure you read this packet thoroughly and return the requested documents to Pokémon Organized Play by the deadlines given, or you may lose your seat in the event.
- You must bring your own deck to play. Your deck must comply with the Modified (DP-on) Format as outlined in the Pokémon Organized Play Tournament Formats document.
- To participate in the event, you must be a player in good standing and abide by the Pokémon Tournament Rules and all other applicable event rules.
What is the tournament structure?
The tournament is run using the Modified (DP-on) Format and Swiss plus Single Elimination pairings. The number of Swiss rounds run will depend on total attendance at the event.
After Swiss rounds are complete, there will be a cut to single-elimination finals. The top players (number to be determined by final attendance) from each age division will then play in the single-elimination finals on Saturday, August 15th, beginning at 9:00 A.M.
Single-elimination finals will be a best-of-three game format. Each single-elimination round will last 75 minutes.
What are the prizes?
Prizes are awarded to the top 32 players in each age division.
The divisions are:
Junior Division: Born in 1999 or later
Senior Division: Born in 1995, 1996, 1997, or 1998
Masters Division: Born in 1994 or earlier
The top 32 finishers in each of the three age divisions receive the following prizes:
1st Place
- A Pokémon TCG World Champion Trophy
- An invitation to the 2011 World Championships
- A Travel Award for the winner (and parent or legal guardian for players considered a minor) to the 2011 World Championships
- A scholarship award worth $7,500 (Click here for scholarship details and restrictions)
- One box of each of the most current Pokémon TCG expansions for a year
- Cool Pokémon World Championships commemorative items
- A customized Pokémon Nintendo DSi XL™!
2nd Place
- A Pokémon TCG World Championships Second-Place Trophy
- An invitation to the 2011 World Championships
- A Travel Award for the winner (and parent or legal guardian for players considered a minor) to the 2011 World Championships
- A scholarship award worth $5,000 (Click here for scholarship details and restrictions)
- One box of each of the most current Pokémon TCG expansions for a year
- Cool Pokémon World Championships commemorative items
- A customized Pokémon Nintendo DSi XL™!
3rd Place
- A Pokémon TCG World Championships Third-Place Trophy
- An invitation to the 2011 World Championships
- A Travel Award for the winner (and parent or legal guardian for players considered a minor) to the 2011 World Championships
- A scholarship award worth $3,500 (Click here for scholarship details and restrictions)
- One box of the next upcoming Pokémon TCG expansion
- Cool Pokémon World Championships commemorative items
- A customized Pokémon Nintendo DSi XL™!
4th Place
- An invitation to the 2011 World Championships
- A Travel Award for the winner (and parent or legal guardian for players considered a minor) to the 2011 World Championships
- A scholarship award worth $3,500 (Click here for scholarship details and restrictions)
- One box of the next upcoming Pokémon TCG expansion
- Cool Pokémon World Championships commemorative items
- A customized Pokémon Nintendo DSi XL™!
5th through 8th Place
- A scholarship award worth $1,500 (Click here for scholarship details and restrictions)
- 36 booster packs from the next upcoming Pokémon TCG expansion
- Cool Pokémon World Championships commemorative items
- A customized Pokémon Nintendo DSi XL™! 9th through 16th Place
- A scholarship award worth $1,000 (Click here for scholarship details and restrictions)
- 36 booster packs from the next upcoming Pokémon TCG expansion
- A customized Pokémon Nintendo DSi XL™!
17th through 32nd Place
- 36 booster packs from the next upcoming Pokémon TCG expansion
- A customized Pokémon Nintendo DSi XL™!
2010 POKÉMON VIDEO GAME WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
How can I play in a Pokémon Video Game World Championships?
The Pokémon Video Game World Championships is an invite-only event, open to a limited number of participants. A total of 49 invitations are available to each age division, which are distributed in the following manner:
- The 2009 Pokémon Video Game World Champion
- The top 8 players at the Japanese National Championships
- The top 16 players at the US National Championships
- The top 4 players at the UK World Championships Qualifier
- The top 4 players at the German World Championships Qualifier
- The top 4 players at the French World Championships Qualifier
- The top 4 players at the Spanish World Championships Qualifier
- The top 8 players at the World Championships Last Chance Qualifier
What does it cost to attend?
There is no entry fee to participate in the Pokémon Video Game World Championships or the Last Chance Qualifier.
What is the tournament structure for the World Championships?
The World Championships is a Swiss plus Single Elimination event. Each Swiss and Single Elimination match will be a best-of-3 format, with the first player to win 2 games winning the match. The total number of rounds will be determined by the total attendance in each age division. Each player will participate in every Swiss round. After the final Swiss round, the top 8 players in each division will face off in Single Elimination play to determine who will claim the title of Pokémon Video Game World Champion.
What is the tournament structure for the Last Chance Qualifier?
The Last Chance Qualifier will be run using Single Elimination tournament format. When a player loses a match, that player is eliminated from the tournament. Game play will end when there are 8 undefeated players remaining in each age division.
What are the prizes for the World Championships?
Prizes are awarded to the top finishers in each of the two age divisions.
1st Place:
- A World Championships 1st Place trophy
- A custom Nintendo DSi
- Airfare and 4 day/3 night hotel accommodations for the winner (including parent or legal guardian for players under 18) to attend the 2011 World Championships.
- An invite to participate in the 2011 World Championships.
- A trip for four to Tokyo, New York or Oahu, including airfare and 6 day/5 night accommodations.
- Additional Pokémon items
2nd Place:
- A World Championships 2nd Place trophy
- A custom Nintendo DSi
- Airfare and 4 day/3 night hotel accommodations for the winner (including parent or legal guardian for players under 18) to attend the 2011 World Championships.
- An invite to participate in the 2011 World Championships.
- Additional Pokémon items
3rd-8th Place:
- A custom Nintendo DSi
- Additional Pokémon
If I already have an invitation to participate in the Pokémon World Championships, can I play in the Last Chance Qualifier?
Players who already have an invitation to participate in either the TCG or VGC World Championships are ineligible to compete in the Last Chance Qualifier. Players found to be in violation of this rule risk losing their invitation to the World Championships, and disqualification from the Last Chance Qualifier.
REGULATIONS QUESTIONS
How does auto-leveling effect my Pokémon?
The GS Cup uses an auto-level feature, which sets all Pokémon level 51 and higher to level 50. Their stats are adjusted accordingly. All other aspects of the Pokémon remain the same, including moves known and evolution.
For example, during a GS Cup battle, a level 100 Tyranitar, which learned Hyper Beam at level 70 would be reduced to level 50, and its stats would be adjusted to what they would be at level 50. Though this puts Tyranitar below the level at which it evolved from Pupitar, and the level that it learned Hyper Beam, it remains a Tyranitar that knows Hyper Beam. After the battle ends, Tyranitar is returned to level 100, and its stats return to normal.
A Pokémon below level 50 will not have its level or stats adjusted up. For example, during a GS Cup battle, a level 36 Typhlosion would remain level 36, and its stats would not be adjusted.
How will you verify that my Pokémon have not been modified by an external device?
We cannot and will not discuss the extent of verification that will be used during the Video Game Championship series. Additionally, we cannot provide you with any information about checking your own Pokémon by yourself.
Players are advised to use only Pokémon that you have raised yourself and items that you have received through normal game play.
Why do a need to fill out a Team Information Sheet?
The Team Information Sheet allows the registration staff to check that your Pokémon meet the basic regulations of the event. This sheet also allows the tournament staff to verify that you continue to use the same Pokémon throughout the event. Each player is responsible for ensuring that his or her team adheres to the tournament regulations.
