2008 Pokémon TCG World Championships

August 15th through 17th, 2008
Frequently Asked Questions

Information subject to change, last updated: 1/10/2008

What are the Pokémon TCG World Championships?

The 2008 Pokémon TCG World Championships are the ultimate test of a player’s Pokémon TCG skills, strategy, and creativity, and awards the most prestigious title offered by Pokémon Organized Play (POP) to one player in each age division: the Pokémon TCG World Champion!

The Pokémon TCG World Championships event is operated by Pokémon USA, Inc.

When will the Pokémon TCG World Championships take place?

The Pokémon TCG World Championships will take place August 15th through August 17th, 2008.

Where will the 2008 Pokémon TCG World Championships be held?

The Pokémon TCG World Championships will be held at the Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort.

Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort
1751 Hotel Plaza Boulevard
Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830
U.S.A.
Phone: 407-827-4000

Is there a special room rate available at the Hilton for fans who may not have earned a Travel Award?

Pokémon USA, Inc., opened up a block of rooms for guests, but the block has now sold out. We may open up more rooms on this block, so please check back at a later date. If you would like to reserve a room at the normal rate, please use the contact information above to contact The Hilton.

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.

2007 World Championships	Junior	Senior	Masters
2007 Winners	4	4	4
National Championships	Junior	Senior	Masters
Argentina	2	2	2
Australia	2	2	2
Austria	2	2	2
Belgium/Luxembourg	2	2	2
Brazil	2	2	2
Canada	4	4	4
Chile	2	2	2
Czech Republic	2	2	2
Denmark	3	3	3
Finland	3	3	3
France	4	4	4
Germany	4	4	4
Italy	4	4	4
Japan	5	5	5
Malaysia	2	2	2
Malta	2	2	2
Mexico	4	4	4
Netherlands	4	4	4
New Zealand	2	2	2
Norway	4	4	4
Philippines	2	2	2
Slovenia	2	2	2
Sweden	2	2	2
Switzerland	2	2	2
United Kingdom	3	3	3
United States	8	8	8
Premier Ratings	Junior	Senior	Masters
Ratings APAC Zone	4	4	4
Ratings LA Zone	2	2	2
Ratings NA Zone	25	25	25
Ratings EU Zone	20	20	20
Last Chance Qualifier	Junior	Senior	Masters
Guaranteed Invites	4*	4*	4*

*Minimum invites per division. The maximum number of invites awarded at the Last Chance Qualifier is determined by the maximum event size of the World Championships, not by total attendance of the Last Chance Qualifier. Players who earn invitations without Travel Awards must send travel verification in the form of airline itineraries, hotel booking receipts, or other proof of planned travel to organizedplay@go-pokemon.com no later than 7/14/2008 or forfeit their seat into the event.  Seats not claimed may be rolled into the Last Chance Qualifier.

Invitations with POP-sponsored Travel Awards will be given to:

• The top 4 finishers in each age division from the 2007 World Championships
• The 2008 National Champion in each age division for the countries listed below

Australia	Italy
Austria	Japan
Belgium/Luxembourg	Malaysia
Brazil	Mexico
Canada (Top 2)	Netherlands
Chile	Norway
Czech Republic	Philippines
Denmark	Sweden
Finland	Switzerland
France	United Kingdom
Germany	USA (Top 4)

Invitations without POP-sponsored Travel Awards will be given to:

• The 2008 National Champion in each age division for the countries listed below

Argentina	New Zealand
Malta	Slovenia

• All other qualifying players from the 2008 National Championships in each age division, as defined in the table above
• Players qualifying through the 2007–2008 Premier Ratings
• Players qualifying through the 2008 Last Chance Qualifier

Players outside of North America are encouraged to ask their local Organized Play provider if they will be sponsoring Travel Awards for qualified players who did not receive a POP-sponsored Travel Awards.

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 seating is determined on a first-come, first-served basis.

Other Information

• Invitation and Travel Awards 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 (HP-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 (HP-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 Sunday, August 17th, 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 1997 or later

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

Masters Division: Born in 1992 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 2009 World Championships
• A Travel Awards for the winner (and parent or legal guardian for players considered a minor) to the 2009 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
• Other great Pokémon-themed prizes to be announced!

2nd Place

• A Pokémon TCG World Championships Second-Place Trophy
• An invitation to the 2009 World Championships
• A Travel Awards for the winner (and parent or legal guardian for players considered a minor) to the 2009 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
• Other great Pokémon-themed prizes to be announced!

3rd Place

• A Pokémon TCG World Championships Third-Place Trophy
• An invitation to the 2009 World Championships
• A Travel Awards for the winner (and parent or legal guardian for players considered a minor) to the 2009 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
• Other great Pokémon-themed prizes to be announced!

4th Place

• An invitation to the 2009 World Championships
• A Travel Awards for the winner (and parent or legal guardian for players considered a minor) to the 2009 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
• Other great Pokémon-themed prizes to be announced!

5th through 8th Place

• A scholarship award worth $1,500 (Click here for scholarship details and restrictions)
• One box of the next upcoming Pokémon TCG expansion
• Cool Pokémon World Championships commemorative items
• Other great Pokémon-themed prizes to be announced!

9th through 16th Place

• A scholarship award worth $1,000 (Click here for scholarship details and restrictions)
• One box of the next upcoming Pokémon TCG expansion
• Cool Pokémon World Championships commemorative items

17th through 32nd Place

• One box of the next upcoming Pokémon TCG expansion
• Cool Pokémon World Championships commemorative items

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