Last weekend saw the Pokémon trading card game and video world championships in San Diego, and now the winners have been crowned it's time to shower them in golden Internet glory.
Each game was split into three age categories: Junior, Senior and Master, with the Pokémon video game master crowned as American Ray Rizzo. His team of Escavalier, Conkeldurr, Terrakion, Gothitelle, Thundurus and Hydreigon took out Italy's Matteo Gini in the final, earning him a neat Pokémon prize pack of mystery.
In the trading card stakes, the wise saga David Cohen emerged victorious with his Reshiram deck, besting compatriot Ross Cawthon in the finals.
Congratulations to all the champions and may your voices break soon.
WORLD’S BEST POKÉMON PLAYERS CROWNED AT 2011 POKÉMON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Elite Players from More Than 27 Countries Battled in San Diego for the Ultimate Titles of Pokémon Trading Card Game and Video Game World Champions
San Diego, California — August 15th, 2011 — The dreams of competitive Pokémon™ Trading Card Game (TCG) and video game players around the world came true for a select few this weekend at the 2011 Pokémon World Championships in San Diego, CA.
Thousands of the world’s top Pokémon Trading Card Game and video game players, family, friends, and fans attended the most anticipated event of The Pokémon Company International’s Play! Pokémon season. The 2011 Pokémon World Championships featured the world’s best Pokémon players competing for the title of World Champion after advancing through nearly a year of regional and national tournaments around the globe.
Once the dust settled after three days of intense Pokémon Trading Card Game and video game battles, six skilled individuals were crowned World Champions, proudly representing their family, supporters, and home countries. The Pokémon Company International announced today its 2011 Pokémon World Champions:
2011 Pokémon TCG Junior Division World Champion, Gustavo Wada from Brazil.
2011 Pokémon Video Game Junior Division World Champion, Brian Hough from the USA.
2011 Pokémon TCG Senior Division World Champion, Christopher Kan from Australia.
2011 Pokémon Video Game Senior Division World Champion, Kamran Jahadi from the USA.
2011 Pokémon TCG Masters Division World Champion, David Cohen from the USA.
2011 Pokémon Video Game Masters Division World Champion, Ray Rizzo from the USA.
More than 400 players from over 27 countries competed in the annual event. Winners of the invite-only tournament received medals, trips, Pokémon merchandise, and collectively more than $100,000 in scholarships. The event showcased the chief qualities of Pokémon Trading Card Game and video game players: skill, strategy, creativity, sportsmanship, and fun.
“The Pokémon World Championships is more than a tournament; it’s a global event for our entire community to compete, have fun, and create lifelong friendships,” said J.C. Smith, director of Consumer Marketing for The Pokémon Company International. “It’s been an incredible weekend, and we couldn’t be happier to congratulate this year’s World Champions for their dedication, their unbelievable talent, and most importantly, their sportsmanship during the entire Play! Pokémon season.”
Pokémon is celebrating a blockbuster year in 2011 with the launch of the best-selling Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version video games; a brand-new trading card game expansion, Pokémon TCG: Black & White; an all-new season of animation, Pokémon: Black and White; and the debut of the hit movie, Pokémon—Zoroark: Master of Illusions.
James started his career in video games as News Editor on Nintendo Life. Since leaving in 2012 to join Nintendo of Europe, James has risen through the ranks to become NoE's Senior Product PR & Corporate Communications Manager.
Well, this year's VGC was another sucky metagame. Last year's was worse (where competitors were allowed to use legendaries), but this year's was just boring: I kept seeing the same 8 Pokemon. I actually entered the regional divisions this year, but lost the first round
Btw, here's the Master Division's Final Round, if you wanna see it: [youtube:p8uszlnw19c] Ray Rizzo is an effing beast, this is his second-straight championship win.
@dimi I did see some girls playing at my regional division, so yes, they do play. I think that guys are just a bit more dedicated to Pokemon than women.
All I can say is (especially after reading that link posted by Sir_Dragoon: HOLY CRAP! I totally withdraw my earlier comment! DAAAAAANG!
@Sir_Dragoon (again) Honestly, after seeing those formulas, and after imagining what it would be like to do all that math (don't get me wrong, I love math), I have just one question: Is a video game still worth playing even if you turn it into a flippin' long division problem? By then I would rather just do some homework, instead of turning something I do when I don't want to do work into just more work!
@superlink64 But can your homework be raised in infinite ways and be unpredictable? Pokemon sounds really complicated on the outside, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes one of the most addicting experiences out there.
Yeah, it really annoyed me how everybody used the exact same pokemon, with maybe one or two minor changes. (For example, instead of using Thundurus, they'd used Tornadus )
@Sir_Dragoon I like Pokémon and I get the stuff. I know about STAB and type effectiveness and EV training and all that. I'm just saying that blowing it out of proportion takes the fun out of the game.
This years TCG Worlds had too much flipping. The player who goes first has a better chance for winnning, the most popular starter Cleffa involves flipping, Pokémon Reversal is about flipping too (luckily there´ll be Pokémon Catcher in the next set, basically a Gust of Wind reprint).
Comments 30
I wanna be the very best...
Like no one ever was...
To catch them is my real test...
To train them is my cause...
Pokemon!
So, you get like, $100,000 in scholarships, for something nothing related to education...hmm...that's messed up...
Like no one ever was*
To play it is my real test, to beat them with my cards!!!
Congradulations guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thats awesome!!
XD @JarvanZheitk
Noice! They'll be swimming in the women now!
The Cookie Monster reigns victorious!
No Fair!
Stunfisk is way overpowered for tournaments!
And I see they use their "Heart of the cards" to win~
oops! wrong card game
"oops! wrong card game"
let me correct you.
oops! wrong card game on motorcycles!
I choose you Charizard-card!
Good work! Come back, Pikachu-card!
Every time I see all of these young Pokemon champs that weren't even alive when the first games made it out to the West, it makes me feel old.
@superlink64
it says collectively more than 100,000 in scholarships split between all the winners....so it's not really 100,00 per person
It's "Like no one ever was".
Well, this year's VGC was another sucky metagame. Last year's was worse (where competitors were allowed to use legendaries), but this year's was just boring: I kept seeing the same 8 Pokemon. I actually entered the regional divisions this year, but lost the first round
Btw, here's the Master Division's Final Round, if you wanna see it:
[youtube:p8uszlnw19c]
Ray Rizzo is an effing beast, this is his second-straight championship win.
Congratulations guys!!
I would one day love to be the video game champ, but I suck at Pokemon yet I still love it! D:
Being Pokemon champion automatically makes you a babe magnet
No girls play this game?
@superlink
It is part education, all the adition and subtraction...
@dimi I did see some girls playing at my regional division, so yes, they do play.
I think that guys are just a bit more dedicated to Pokemon than women.
@superlink64 Say that again after you read this.
@mumof2kids82
@Sir_Dragoon
@deegan714
All I can say is (especially after reading that link posted by Sir_Dragoon: HOLY CRAP! I totally withdraw my earlier comment! DAAAAAANG!
@Sir_Dragoon (again) Honestly, after seeing those formulas, and after imagining what it would be like to do all that math (don't get me wrong, I love math), I have just one question: Is a video game still worth playing even if you turn it into a flippin' long division problem? By then I would rather just do some homework, instead of turning something I do when I don't want to do work into just more work!
@superlink64 But can your homework be raised in infinite ways and be unpredictable? Pokemon sounds really complicated on the outside, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes one of the most addicting experiences out there.
Those poor kids look like the type that will forever be lonely
Yeah, it really annoyed me how everybody used the exact same pokemon, with maybe one or two minor changes. (For example, instead of using Thundurus, they'd used Tornadus )
Congratulations to them. Were there any prizes involved?
@Sir_Dragoon I like Pokémon and I get the stuff. I know about STAB and type effectiveness and EV training and all that. I'm just saying that blowing it out of proportion takes the fun out of the game.
Is there some sort of age limit? I would imagine that the top players would be people that got into the series during Red and Blue.
Aw wished I could have made it to the tournament
@Sir_Dragoon Wow he won again!
Next year I will try to make it >]
James wrote:
This years TCG Worlds had too much flipping. The player who goes first has a better chance for winnning, the most popular starter Cleffa involves flipping, Pokémon Reversal is about flipping too (luckily there´ll be Pokémon Catcher in the next set, basically a Gust of Wind reprint).
Congrats for the winners.
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