Map of Pokémon National Championships

Google's search for Pokémon Masters may have been an April Fools' joke — albeit with a fun mini-game included — but true Poké-legends will emerge at this year's Pokémon Championships for both Pokémon X & Y and the Pokémon Trading Card Game. National Championships will take place in over 30 countries across six continents (the Antarctica championships must have been cancelled), and the tournaments will culminate on 16th-17th August with the 11th annual Pokémon World Championships in Washington, D.C. in the U.S.

A few important dates for those of you keen to take part:

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German National Championships
3rd-4th May in Bochum, Germany
UK National Championships
24th-25th May in Manchester, England
Italian National Championships
31st May-1st June in Milan, Italy
Canadian National Championships
28th June in Kitchener, Ontario
US National Championships
4th-6th July in Indianapolis, Indiana
World Championships
16th-17th August in Washington, D.C.

The World Championships in D.C. will take place at the 2,300,000-square-foot Walter E. Washington Convention Center, which will be decked out in all means of Poképhernalia for the thousands in attendance. If you want to take part in these tournaments head over to http://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/ to see more details.

Will you be competing in or attending any of the tournaments? Let us know in the comments below.

[source pokemon.com]