Pokemon nerds all around the world, it’s now time to prove your team is the best! Nintendo will be hosting a series of Tournaments in New York, Los Angles, and the grand finale in Orlando, all for Pokemon Diamond and Pearl. The top 8 winners from each division (Senior and Junior) from the New York and L.A Qualifier tournaments, will go on to battle Japan’s best, in an all out brew-ha-ha to prove which country has the better battlers. But to get in the qualifiers, you must pass an online test with 75% and better, if the amount of people goes over 128, then people will start to be chosen randomly.

The rules are a little different than how you may play a regular match on Nintendo WFC. Each battler may choose 4 Pokemon, no higher than level 50. You may switch Pokemon positions and items between rounds. If you tie with your opponent, you are both eliminated right then in there, if you outlast the time limit, the one with the most Pokemon wins from there. If you have ANY, and yes, I mean ANY hacked Pokemon, whether you made them yourself with an Action Replay, or received it in a GTS trade, and you get randomly searched and have one, you will be disqualified. Pokemon that cannot be used are you usual Ubers, without Salamence or Metagross, Wobbuffet, however, can be used. And the only banned item would be Soul Dew. Battles are played doubles style, 2 on 2. And finally, you must show good sportsmanship, so no yelling out, “HAXX”, if you get defeated.

But I know what you’re really waiting on, the prizes. In The qualifiers, if you manage to get in the top eight of your division, you get a 5-day/4 Night trip to Orlando, and an invitation to participate in the grand tourney there. While if you win top honors in your division, you also win A Wii with four Wii remotes, four Nunchuks, and a copy of Pokemon Battle Revolution. While if you come in eighth or better place during the Pokemon Video Game Showdown, you at least win a custom DS, and a Pokemon prize pack, while the first prize winner wins 6 day/5 night Vacation to New York, Honolulu, or Tokyo, worth around $10,000 altogether. With all of these prizes, it should be a blast for the experienced battler. The link to the site, of course, is here. The L.A Tourney takes place on July 19th, the New York tourney on the 19th, while The date of the Orlando tourney is August the 16th. I hope to see you in Orlando, cause you know I’ll be there

Sources:
The Pokemon Video Game Showdown
Bulbapedia