It’s finally here! Thanks to Drew G. for letting me know the info is out.
The 2010 U.S. National Championships happen this June!
Pokémon Organized Play is pleased to announce that the 2010 U.S. National Championships will take place June 25th through June 27th at the Indiana Convention Center, located at 100 South Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana 46225.
The Indiana Convention Center, located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, offers competitors and spectators a variety of accommodations and meal options with nearly a dozen hotels within walking distance and even more restaurants nearby to fit any budget. All of these are just minutes from the front door of what is sure to be the biggest Pokémon tournament of the year.
We look forward to seeing all of you in Indianapolis this summer!
Pokémon U.S. National Championships General Information
Due to the overwhelming growth of the U.S. National Championships, Pokémon Organized Play will now operate the U.S. National Championships as a THREE-day event.
The U.S. National Championships will be held at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, from Friday, June 25th, through Sunday, June 27th, 2010, with pre-registration taking place on Thursday, June 24th.
Events at the Indiana Convention Center will begin on Friday, June 25th, at 9:30 a.m., with a variety of tournaments and league play going all day, in addition to the U.S. National Championships itself.
The address of the Indiana Convention Center is:
100 South Capitol Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46225-1071
As U.S. National Championships will now take place on three consecutive days, each day’s activities are outlined below.
Thursday, June 24th:
* Onsite preregistration for all players will take place from 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. outside of Exhibit Hall C
o Competitors who register on Thursday will receive a National Championships T-shirt and promo card, while supplies last.
Friday, June 25th:
* Open registration
o Open registration will take place from 8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.
* Approximately half of the total Swiss rounds take place, based on total attendance
Players registering on Friday will receive a National Championships promo card, while supplies last.
Players not in line for registration by 8:30 a.m. will be registered for the event with a first-round loss. All players must be in their assigned seats with completed decklists by 9:30 a.m. for the start of the players’ meeting. Players not seated at this time risk being dropped from the tournament.
Saturday, June 26th:
* Remaining Swiss rounds
o Players not in their seats by 9:00 a.m. will receive a game loss for that round and will be dropped from the event if they have not reported by the end of that round
* Single elimination finals played down to top 16
Sunday, June 27th:
* Remaining single elimination rounds (top 16) for all age groups
o Players must be checked in and ready to play by 8:30a.m. or they will forfeit their match
Results of all rounds of the U.S. National Championships will count toward players’ Premier Ratings.
What does it cost?
Entry to play in the Pokémon TCG National Championships is free, and there are no fees charged to enter the event as a spectator. Sealed-format side events will require an entry fee of $25.
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
1st Place
* A Pokémon TCG National Championships First-Place Trophy
* An invitation to the 2010 Pokémon TCG World Championships
* A Travel Award for the winner (and parent or legal guardian for players under 18) to the 2010 World Championships
* A scholarship award worth $5,000. Go here for scholarship details and restrictions
* A Nintendo DSi game system
* A combination of 72 booster packs from current Pokémon TCG expansions
* Other great Pokémon-themed merchandise!
2nd Place
* A Pokémon TCG National Championships Second-Place Trophy
* An invitation to the 2010 Pokémon TCG World Championships
* A Travel Award for the winner (and parent or legal guardian for players under 18) to the 2010 World Championships
* A scholarship award worth $3,000. Go here for scholarship details and restrictions
* A Nintendo DSi game system
* A combination of 72 booster packs from current Pokémon TCG expansions
* Other great Pokémon-themed merchandise!
3rd Place
* A Pokémon TCG National Championships Third-Place Trophy
* An invitation to the 2010 Pokémon TCG World Championships
* A Travel Award for the winner (and parent or legal guardian for players under 18) to the 2010 World Championships
* A scholarship award worth $1,500. Go here for scholarship details and restrictions
* A Nintendo DSi game system
* A combination of 36 booster packs from current Pokémon TCG expansions
* Other great Pokémon-themed merchandise!
4th Place
* A Pokémon TCG National Championships Fourth-Place Trophy
* An invitation to the 2010 Pokémon TCG World Championships
* A Travel Award for the winner (and parent or legal guardian for players under 18) to the 2010 World Championships
* A scholarship award worth $1,500. Go here for scholarship details and restrictions
* A Nintendo DSi game system
* A combination of 36 booster packs from current Pokémon TCG expansions
* Other great Pokémon-themed merchandise!
5th through 8th Place
* An invitation to the 2010 Pokémon TCG World Championships
* A scholarship award worth $750. Go here for scholarship details and restrictions
* A combination of 36 booster packs from current Pokémon TCG expansions
9th through 16th Place
* A combination of 36 booster packs from current Pokémon TCG expansions
17th through 32nd place
* A combination of 18 booster packs from current Pokémon TCG expansions
Who is eligible to play at the U.S. National Championships?
* Registration will be guaranteed to the first 270 Junior Division players, 270 Senior Division players, and 640 Masters Division players. While we will attempt to accommodate every player wishing to participate, we cannot guarantee seating beyond these limits.
* 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.
* The Pokémon TCG U.S. National Championships is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. Residency in this case is defined as a person who legally resides in the United States or one of its territories, not necessarily a U.S. citizen.
* Players who are found in violation of the rules of eligibility are subject to suspension from Pokémon Organized Play and loss of prizes, including, but not limited to, invitations and Travel Awards.
Review the Rules of Eligibility in our Tournament Rules document.
What is the tournament structure?
The tournament is run using the Modified (DP-on) Format and Swiss plus Single Elimination.
The National Championships will be broken into groups by age divisions and will be run using Swiss Pairings. Because Swiss rounds are dependent upon total attendance of each age division, Swiss rounds will be announced on site. Swiss rounds will feature one-game matches.
After the final round of Swiss, the top players from each age division (depending on attendance levels) will move into a single-elimination round. Single-elimination rounds will be a best-of-three game format and will have a 60-minute time limit per match.
National Championships events have a K-Value of 32.
Awesome!!!
The awards are even better this year!!
Thanks Adam for keeping us up to date even though you have school and upcoming exams like me LOL
Do we know which expansion sets will be permitted in the Nationals?
DP-HGSS, and then whatever our next set is outside of Japan.
I’m gonna have to practice!!! Does anyone know where to find PokeTurn in the apprentice patch?
If I recall correctly, it’s “TGI Poke Turn”.
I’m gonna have to practice!!! Does anyone know where to find PokeTurn in the apprentice patch?
If I recall correctly, it’s “TGI Poke Turn”.
When they state “first 640 Masters” is that in reference to premier rating? I am ranked 557 right now. Does that mean as of now I would be invited? I would need to maintain that ranking through States and Regionals as well, right? I just started playing a few months ago so I am not sure how it works. Thanks.
No, they mean the first 640 to show up.
When they state “first 640 Masters” is that in reference to premier rating? I am ranked 557 right now. Does that mean as of now I would be invited? I would need to maintain that ranking through States and Regionals as well, right? I just started playing a few months ago so I am not sure how it works. Thanks.
No, they mean the first 640 to show up.
ugh I want to go but I don’t know if I can just drop 300+ bucks right now for flight/hotel/food :{
Why can’t it be in MA :S
Yeah it’s going to be tough for me to get out there too. I’ll probably end up hitchhiking. :6
The registration limits seem a little low, but I don’t see any way they’d start turning people back once they go over those limits.
I already know I won’t be able to go, I’m a senior who lives in NJ! :(
I already know I won’t be able to go, I’m a senior who lives in NJ! :(
Pretty close to the same limits they had last year, which we went well over, and they took care of us.
also the Indy convention center is definitely large enough for way more over flow.
and one last brag, being from Indy this is going to work out AMAZING.
woot.
Pretty close to the same limits they had last year, which we went well over, and they took care of us.
also the Indy convention center is definitely large enough for way more over flow.
and one last brag, being from Indy this is going to work out AMAZING.
woot.
Awesome!!!
The awards are even better this year!!
Thanks Adam for keeping us up to date even though you have school and upcoming exams like me LOL
Hahah yeah Graham I was thinking about that. Things worked out well for you! How close are you to the convention center?
Do we know which expansion sets will be permitted in the Nationals?
DP-HGSS, and then whatever our next set is outside of Japan.
Indiana…yeah, not so close to Philly. Oh well, maybe I’ll find a way to get there.
@Adam
hahaha, like 25 minutes! I live on essentially the northern part of Indianapolis.
ugh I want to go but I don’t know if I can just drop 300+ bucks right now for flight/hotel/food :{
Why can’t it be in MA :S
@Adam
hahaha, like 25 minutes! I live on essentially the northern part of Indianapolis.
Yeah it’s going to be tough for me to get out there too. I’ll probably end up hitchhiking. :6
The registration limits seem a little low, but I don’t see any way they’d start turning people back once they go over those limits.
Hahah yeah Graham I was thinking about that. Things worked out well for you! How close are you to the convention center?
Indiana…yeah, not so close to Philly. Oh well, maybe I’ll find a way to get there.
Awwwww makes me wanna go :p
But being in England would make it impossible. Oh well I just gotta get to our nationals. I thought I was a master but it turns out I’m senior I might actually try to win a trip now :D
BTW Isent the biggest event this year gonna be worlds xPP
No, biggest event’s going to be US Nats, since Worlds is in Hawaii this year. This means all the Americans that normally go to the grinder most likely won’t be going.
@Scnappy I live in England as well, any one got any info on UK nats?
Awwwww makes me wanna go :p
But being in England would make it impossible. Oh well I just gotta get to our nationals. I thought I was a master but it turns out I’m senior I might actually try to win a trip now :D
BTW Isent the biggest event this year gonna be worlds xPP
No, biggest event’s going to be US Nats, since Worlds is in Hawaii this year. This means all the Americans that normally go to the grinder most likely won’t be going.
@Scnappy I live in England as well, any one got any info on UK nats?
This looks to be an exspensive trip. Hope i can make it there. School and two jobs are going to greatly hinder my chances but I will have to see what i can swing! I wonder if anyone else from Oklahoma will go?
What do you guys think will be the most played deck there? Any one have an idea?
Magikarp donk is still BDIF for sure. If you come to MS States, and ask around for me, I’ll talk more (serious) strategy with you there.
LOL I’m in Oklahoma, But if you come here, and ask around for me, i would be glad to talk more (serious) strategy with you. Because I’m not playing Gyrados. Pointers would be appreciated.
No clue yet, I think we still have another set coming out before then.
Thanks Adam.
This looks to be an exspensive trip. Hope i can make it there. School and two jobs are going to greatly hinder my chances but I will have to see what i can swing! I wonder if anyone else from Oklahoma will go?
What do you guys think will be the most played deck there? Any one have an idea?
Magikarp donk is still BDIF for sure. If you come to MS States, and ask around for me, I’ll talk more (serious) strategy with you there.
LOL I’m in Oklahoma, But if you come here, and ask around for me, i would be glad to talk more (serious) strategy with you. Because I’m not playing Gyrados. Pointers would be appreciated.
No clue yet, I think we still have another set coming out before then.
Thanks Adam.
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