End of the Winter Regional Championship this weekend!

If you didn't already know the end of the Winter Regional Championship will be this upcoming weekend. You will want to make sure you don't miss it because the prizes at these are quite nice. These types of tournament's have no prerequisites they only require that you bring a Legal Trading card game deck and you can play all day. The matches are done in Swiss-style so players get to play every round until the players for the finals are chosen.

The regional champion points recieved in the tournament give players a chance to earn travel awards which can allow them to participate in the national games and it can also allow them a chance to get an invitation for the Pokemon World Championships located in Washington, DC.

The location of the Regional Championship this weekend will be:

January 25th–26th, 2014
International Palms Resort

6515 International Dr.

Orlando, FL 32819

Besides the chance to get into the national's top finishers will recieve booster packs, trophies as well and usually promo cards are also given out at many of these events for all the players who participate. These type of events can be a lot of fun for someone who really loves playing the Pokemon Trading Card Game.

During these Regional Championships there are three different age divisions and players that are top of each are awarded the first, second, and third prizes for each age bracket. All participants 3 Pokemon play points and a Pokémon Regional Championships promo card just for participating in the Winter Regional Championships.

1st Place:

•  Pokemon Trading Card Game Regional Championships 1st Place award
•  First- and second-round bye at the U.S. National Championships##
• A combination of 72 booster packs from current Pokemon Trading Card Game expansions
• 150 Championship Points

**Masters Division players obtain an extra 144 packs (216 total)

2nd Place:

• Pokemon Trading Card Game Regional Championships 2nd Place award
• First- and second-round bye at the U.S. National Championships##
• A combination of 72 booster packs from current Pokemon Trading Card Game expansions
• 135 Championship Points (if division attendance is 4 or greater)

**Masters Division players obtain an extra 72 packs (144 total)

3rd and 4th Place:

• Pokemon Trading Card Game Regional Championships 3rd or 4th Place award
• A combination of 36 booster packs from current Pokemon Trading Card Game expansions
• 105 Championship Points (if division attendance is 8 or greater)

**Masters Division players obtain an extra 72 packs (108 total)

5th Place through 8th Place:

• A combination of 24 booster packs from current Pokemon Trading Card Game expansions
• 75 Championship Points (if division attendance is 32 or greater)

**Masters Division players obtain an extra 27 packs (54 total)

9th Place through 16th Place:

• A combination of 18 booster packs from current Pokemon Trading Card Game expansions
• 45 Championship Points (if division attendance is 64 or greater)

**Masters Division players obtain an extra 18 packs (36 total)

17th Place through 32nd Place:

• A combination of 9 booster packs from current Pokemon Trading Card Game expansions
• 30 Championship Points (if division attendance is 128 or greater)

**Masters Division players obtain an extra 15 packs (24 total)

33rd Place through 64th Place:

• Masters Division players receive a combination of 9 booster packs from current Pokemon Trading Card Game expansions
• 15 Championship Point (if division attendance is 256 or greater)

## Players can earn a bye at a country other than their country of residence. Byes are awarded at the National Championships corresponding to the player’s nationality. Byes do not “stack.” If you have won a bye in another event (such as the S/P/T Championship) and finish in the top 2 of a Regional Championship, you can only receive a maximum first- and second-round bye at your National Championships.

The travel awards and Travel Stipends are awarded to the top Trading Card Game performers during the season’s Championship Point rankings. The awards will be given out according to the points at the end of spring and will be as follows:

• 1st–16th: Travel Award and a $300 Travel Stipend
• 17th–30th: $750 Travel Stipend
• 31st–60th: $500 Travel Stipend
• 61st–100th: $300 Travel Stipend

The Pokemon video game players can also earn Travel Stipend depending on ranking points during the end of spring as well these will be as follows:

• 1st–16th: Travel Award and $300 Travel Stipend
• 17th–32nd: $700 Travel Stipend
• 33rd–64th: $350 Travel Stipend

The first place winner of the Pokemon video game players during each division at each Regional Championships will also win a Nintendo 3DS handheld system.

You might also be wondering how to obtain these play points if you only have heard about them more recently. These points are awarded at the various Pokemon tournament's and events during the rest of the year some of these include:

Non-Premier Events:

• Tournament: 1 per event per month, up to 12 total per year
• League: 1 per League season, up to 8 total per year

Premier Events:

• Pre-release tournament: 1 per event, no limit
• League Challenge: 1 per event, no limit
• City Championships: 2 per event, no limit
• State/Province/Territory Championships: 3 per event, no limit
• Regional Championships: 3 per event, no limit
• National Championships: 10 points Some side events may also award Play! Points

World Championships: Award 3 points

Some side events may award Play! Points as well!

Another reason to participate in the Pokemon tournament's is that top finishers at the Pokemon Trading Card Game U.S National Championships and the Pokemon World Championships also get Pokemon Scholarships. With all of these great prizes it is worth it to participate in all of the games that you can. And you still have the chance for promotional cards and other great prizes. One year I received Pokemon pins as well.