In exciting news for Pokémon video game players across Europe, The Pokémon Company International today announced the long-awaited dates and locations for the Pokémon European Video Game Championships. Pokémon Trainers from all over Europe and of all skill levels are encouraged to compete at the open events. Held in three major cities across the continent—Milan, Italy (May 11^th-12), Bochum, Germany (May 26), and Birmingham, United Kingdom (June 2)—players will battle for the chance to earn a Travel Award to the 2013 Pokémon World Championships in Vancouver, Canada, this August. At the World Championships, some of the world’s elite Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) and video game players from more than 30 countries will compete for the title of Pokémon World Champion.

New to the 2013 Pokémon European Video Game Championships, competitors in good standing will have the opportunity to play in multiple rounds over the course of the event. In this Swiss format, players are not eliminated after a single loss, which allows players to continue playing Pokémon all day long! Top players will advance to a single elimination round format to determine the Pokémon Video Game National Champion. Each event is divided into three age divisions—Junior Division, Senior Division, and Masters Division. The top four Masters Division and Senior Division players and the top eight Junior Division players from each event will win a coveted Travel Award to the 2013 Pokémon World Championships in Vancouver.

Players can build their teams using Pokémon from the National Pokédexⁱ and must play using Pokémon Black 2 or Pokémon White 2 video games for the Nintendo 3DS^TM or Nintendo DS^TM family of systems. Players will need to bring their Player ID to their event in order to compete. To get a Pokémon Trainer Club account and Player ID, please visit Pokemon.co.uk. Players can also receive a Player ID when registering at the event.

Players will compete in one of three age divisions, based on their dates of birth:
·         Junior Division—born in 2002 or later
·         Senior Division—born in 1998, 1999, 2000, or 2001
·         Masters Division—born in 1997 or earlier

Registration Information
All tournaments are free to play, with entry granted on a first-come, first-served basis. For the first time in Europe, the Pokémon Video Game and Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) National Championships will occur over the same weekend, at the same venue. The Pokémon TCG portion of the event will only be open to British, German, and Italian players (depending on location).

Visit Pokemon.co.uk for more information, including rules, regulations, and registration for the 2013 Pokémon European Championships.

2013 Pokémon International Challenge Wi-Fi Tournaments
Also new for the 2013 Pokémon Video Game Championships Series season, The Pokémon Company International has added Global Battle Union (GBU) Wi-Fi tournaments to its listed events, making it easier than ever for Pokémon video game players to have the opportunity to earn invitations to the 2013 Pokémon World Championships! Top finishers in each age division of a qualifying Pokémon International Challenge Wi-Fi tournament will earn a first round bye at a Pokémon European Video Game Championship event. Top participants will also receive Championship Points, bringing them one step closer to earning an invitation to the 2013 Pokémon World Championships in Vancouver. For more information please visit Pokemon.co.uk .

Dates and Locations for Upcoming Pokémon Video Game and Trading Card Game National Championships and Pokémon International Challenge Wi-Fi Tournaments
·         April 19–22: Video Game Wi-Fi Event: 2013 Pokémon International Challenge April
·         Saturday & Sunday, May 11–12: Video Game and TCG Live Event: Italy, Milan, Mediolanum Forum
·         Saturday & Sunday, May 25–26: Video Game and TCG Live Event: Germany, Bochum, RuhrCongress Bochum
·         Saturday & Sunday, June 1–2: Video Game and TCG Live Event: UK, Birmingham, National Exhibition Center (NEC, Pavilion 1)
·         June 21–25: Video Game Wi-Fi Event: 2013 Pokémon International Challenge June
ⁱRestrictions are in place on certain Legendary and Mythical Pokémon. Please see www.pokemon.co.uk for full details.

About Pokémon
The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996, and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, visit www.pokemon.co.uk.