Some of Europe’s best Pokémon video game and TCG players will be venturing to the home of maple syrup this summer. This news comes after a host of hopefuls demonstrated their skills this past weekend in a true contest of champions, with the victors winning invitations and Travel Awards to the 2013 Pokémon Video World Championships, taking place this August in Vancouver, Canada.

The 2013 Pokémon TCG and Video Game National Champions are:

2013 Pokémon Trading Card Game National Champions—Junior Division
1st: Oliver Newson
2nd: Dylan Saunders
3rd: Khalil Ben-Gacem
4th: Omar Ben-Gacem

2013 Pokémon Trading Card Game National Champions—Senior Division
1st: Sam Taylor
2nd: James Luo
3rd: Rhys Williams
4th: Thomas Robinson
5th: Dan Saunders
6th: Liam Campbell-Lowe
7th: Luke Taylor
8th: Sam Marshall-Smith

2013 Pokémon Trading Card Game National Champions—Masters Division
1st: Robert Kinbrum
2nd: Sami Sekkoum
3rd: Ben Stewart-Armstead
4th: Jake Walvin
5th: Adam Hawkins
6th: Duncan Surgue
7th: Kai Colston
8th: Oliver Barnett

2013 Pokémon Video Game National Champions—Junior Division
1st: Keilan Urch
2nd: Ahren Bundy
3rd: Calon Stevens
4th: Adam Balela
5th: Bilal Hussain
6th: Hayden Cottle
7th: Lily Taylor
8th: Florence Kennington

2013 Pokémon Video Game National Champions—Senior Division
1st: Edward Thompson
2nd: Alese Gomes
3rd: Henry Strutt
4th: Gabriele Spagnolo
5th: Benjamin M’Bonyimana
6th: Mark McQuillan
7th: Eric Riopaser
8th: Morgan Hollindale

2013 Pokémon Video Game National Champions—Masters Division
1st: Ben Kyriacou
2nd: Abel Sanz
3rd: Albert Bauere
4th: Lee Provost
5th: Daniel Nolan
6th: Ben Goud
7th: Rachel Annand
8th: Matthias Sucholdski

This year, for the first time, the video game tournaments used Swiss pairings, which meant players competed in many more battles throughout the day to make it to the top. Video game competitors battled using copies of thePokémon Black Version 2 or Pokémon White Version 2 video games for the Nintendo DS^TM family of systems.

The winning players were drawn from three different age divisions—Junior, Senior, and Masters—and proved themselves with superb displays of skill and strategy during the 2013 Pokémon National Championships, held at the NEC in the UK.
Those players now have the opportunity to test their mettle against some of the best Pokémon video game and Trading Card Game players from around the globe, including competitors from the U.S., Canada, Japan, Korea, and across Europe.
These Pokémon Trainers will be joined by other successful Pokémon video game and Trading Card Game players competing in National competitions in other countries throughout Europe.

For players who couldn’t make it to a live event, there is one more Pokémon International Challenge Wi-Fi Competition:
·         June 20–24: Video Game Wi-Fi Competition: 2013 Pokémon International Challenge June

The top Pokémon Trainers in each division at the National Championships earn invitations to the ultimate stage, the 2013 Pokémon World Championships in Vancouver this summer, where they will battle against players from all over the globe. Players at the World Championships have a chance to win travel packages, trophies, and special Pokémon prize packages.

For more information about the Pokémon Video Game Championship series, including rules, tournament locations, dates and times, prizes, and more, please visit www.pokemon.co.uk.

For more information about the Pokémon Trading Card Game Championship series, including rules, tournament locations, dates and times, prizes, and more, please visit www.pokemon.com/uk/play-pokemon/championship-series.

For an interview with any of the winners or more information on the 2013 Pokémon
National Championships, please contact:

Premier
Lauren Dillon
Lauren.Dillon@premiercomms.com
0207 292 6438