Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Worlds 2009 location, and new tourney structure for Japan

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<img src="http://pokegym.net/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=35475" alt="Jpn Worlds Minisite Bkgnd" />

Note: thanks to Tego for the article!


Many Pokégym members have been wondering what will happen to Japan's Battle Road (the big qualifier for Japan Nationals) tournaments, and Japan's attendance at future World Championships, after the Spring Battle Roads 2008 and the Spring Japan Nationals 2008 were abruptly cancelled after the Hokkaido and Kansai Battle Roads in March.

Yesterday, special Japanese minisite on Worlds 2009 was launched, and not only does it reveal the location of Worlds 2009 as "on the west coast of the US" (!), it also presents a new championship series structure for Japan that seems to be a big change from what we've seen until now, with the 1000-ish person Battle Road Kansai and the following terrorist threat to the Kanto (Tokyo) Battle Road.

Here's the new structure, according to the website:

* Tournaments will be held for the video games AND for the Trading Card Game at all levels, including Worlds - which now seems to be called "Pokémon World Championships", not the "Pokémon TCG World Championships".

* You can now only enter tournaments if you're a member of the (relatively) new Pokémon Daisuki Club (I Love Pokémon Club) and have a member's card

* The levels of tournaments is now:

1) Prefectural championships - one for each and every one of the 47 prefectures of Japan
2) Regional Championships - these are held in 6 locations across the country, and thus basically seem to replace the Battle Road (or Winter Challenge) events
3) Japan Nationals
4) Worlds 2009


So what does this mean? The 47 prefectural championships is something very new and exciting. At the same time, Regionals and Nationals both seem to be invite-only, and are thus both reduced to small-sized events. The giant convention center hall style events now seems to be limited to casual events for beginners and younger players, while the road to Worlds has become tougher, more competitive and possibly bigger in attendance in total. (Having one tournament in every prefecture of Japan should raise the number of people competing for a spot in Worlds IMO, but it's only a guess).

Once again it seems like PCL has tackled challenges in a great way, and it will be exciting to observe the changes in Japan's tournament system with the new season starting in October.
 
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"on the west coast of the US" Doesn't mean California. Las Vegas has some great convention centers too. ;)
 
Honestly, I doubt that it will be anywhere other than CA.
I really hate it though, I mean sure CA has tons of people there, but honestly, worlds has basically been a trade off of CA and FL with a surprise one in Hawaii.

It may not be in CA though, odds are slim, but there are other states on the "west coast", I think lol.
 
What about Washington, the site of the first world championships...

Seattle for the Pokemon Offices?

just remember that, it could be in CA, but at the same time, it may not be also
 
I hope it's somewhere near San Diego or Long Beach, that would be awesome!
But they had worlds in Los Angeles already did they? That's what I heard.

But It can be in Arizona mostly, the Premier events there barely have any people. Still, It's cool that it's in the west coast.
 
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It would be awesome if it were in Vegas! There are many things to do to kill a whole week there. But, something tells me Pokemon wouldn't do it simply for the stigma that is placed on Vegas, and the fact that they support a family friendly enviroment above all else.
 
Red Haired Shanks said:
I wish it was in San Diego, So I can go there very easily by walking down the street for LCQ =D


But It can be in Arizona mostly, the Premier events there barely have any people. Still, It's cool that it's in the west coast.
Click to expand...

Why would it be in Arizona if it barley has any people o_O IDK why im bashing the idea when im from there. But it would be nice :)
 
Interesting to see that Japan is having Nationals.

Will the Regional events in Japan carry invites for the first or second placers, and then Nationals invites for a lot more, or will invites only come from Nationals?

In other news, Magmortar's leg in that picture looks a lot like a big ol' pink egg.
 
West Coast...Mhm...

1. San Diego, Cali/Tijuana, Mexico

2. Los Angeles Metro area, Cali (Anaheim, Palm Springs etc)

3. Las Vegas, Nevada

4. San Fransisco, Cali

5. Portland, Oregon

6. Seattle, Washington (venue of the 2002 Worlds)

7. Vancouver, BC, Canada

:)
 
1 thing now way it would be in vncover bc canada the usa is allway going to have and we donot have as many player there.


EDIT: I really have to either smack my brother or log out of pokegym.....
well logging out would require to much work...RYAN! GET OVER HERE!!!!....

Translation: 1 Thing, theres no way it would ever be in Vancouver (CDN) It'll always be in the US as we don't have nearly as many players....
 
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I'm thinking it's a toss-up between San Diego, Los Angeles area, and Seattle.

Honestly, I hope it's Seattle.
 
I doubt it will be Las Vegas; the city caters to a much older audience, and since pokemon is more kid oriented, I think a more family friendly environment would suit this premier event best! Although, it has a better chance than Chicago, so PUI prove me wrong.

CMT​
 
No way Worlds will be in Las Vegas, considering that one of POP's main goals is to be kid-friendly.

I'm curious as to whether organized play for the video games will accompany the TCG everywhere, or just Japan. The Video Game Showdown seems, IMO, like the start of something bigger.
 
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