Frequently Asked Questions

2008 Pokémon TCG National Championships: April through June 2008

Information is subject to change: Last updated [1/21/2008]

What are the Pokémon TCG National Championships?

The Pokémon TCG National Championships are sanctioned title events open to all resident players in good standing and are run using the Age Modified Swiss format. National Championships will be held in various locations around the world during the months of April, May, and June of 2008.

Results of a National Championship event will count toward players’ rankings.

When are the Pokémon TCG National Championships?

Click here to see a listing of all National Championship events and currently scheduled dates.

Where are the Pokémon TCG National Championships?

The U.S. Pokémon National Championships will be held at Origins Game Fair in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, June 28th and Sunday, June 29th. For more information, check out the US National Championships FAQ.

The Canada Pokémon National Championships will be held at the Empire Landmark Hotel, in Vancouver, B.C., on Saturday, July 5th. For more information, check out the Canada National Championships FAQ.

For more information on international events, please see the event listing table.

What does it cost?

Click here to see a listing of the maximum entry fees for each National Championships.

For more updates, click the contact information for your country.

Who is eligible to play at the National Championships?

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 National Championships are open to legal residents of the host country only. Residency in this case is defined as a person who legally resides in the host country or one of its territories, not necessarily a citizen. Proof of residency will be required upon registration.
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 here.

What are the prizes?

Prizes are awarded to the top players in each age division. Please see the event listing table for more specific information about prizes.

The divisions are:

Junior Division: Born in 1997 or later

Senior Division: Born in 1993, 1994, 1995, or 1996

Masters Division: Born in 1992 or earlier

Participants will receive a Pokémon TCG National Championships promo card and a National Championships commemorative pin, while supplies last, all just for playing!

Click here to review prize information for all National Championships.

Please note that information on this page is limited to invitations, Travel Awards, scholarships, trophies, and booster prizes.

Additional prize information for U.S., Canada, and Mexico events will be announced at a later date.

For information regarding additional prizes at international events, please use the "contact" link on the event listing.

Other Information:

Your deck must comply with the Modified Format as outlined in the Pokémon Organized Play Tournament Formats document.
Bring a list of all cards in your deck (otherwise known as a decklist). This will be reviewed at registration.
Bring your POP ID card, if you have one. If you don't have a POP ID, one will be given to you at the event.
Every qualified player must have an updated "My Pokémon Account" in order to be eligible for the Travel Award.
See the Pokémon Tournament Rules for more information about what to bring to an event.
Make sure you arrive on time. If you are late for registration, you will be entered with a first round loss. Seating is limited, and is on a first-come, first-served basis.
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.
See the Legal Notices for certain eligibility requirements and other information, including information concerning limitations on Pokémon USA, Inc.'s liability.

What is the tournament structure?

The tournament is run using the Modified (HP-on) Format and Swiss plus Single Elimination.

The National Championships will be broken into sections by age divisions and will be run using Swiss Pairings. Because Swiss rounds are dependent upon total attendance in 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 16 players from each age division (dependent 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 44. For more information on K-Value and Ratings and Rankings, click here.

Legal Notices