Nintendo UK Presents Pokémon Winter Championships
Nintendo UK is hosting a Pokémon Championships series across the UK, spanning over the rest of November and early December. We can only apologise for any short notice, the information was only recently released. There will be multiple qualifiers held around the UK, which are fan-run events organised by StreetPass Groups that you may have heard of. The finals, which is an official Nintendo UK run event, will be held in London, on an as of yet unknown date and venue.
To qualify for the finals in London, you must reach the top 3 in one of the qualifiers. Unfortunately, the rules do slightly differ from event to event. All will use Double Battle and Flat Battle Rules, however, some will limit you to the Kalos Dex only, while others may allow you to use anything you can catch in X & Y right now. This is noted on the section for each event as either Kalos Only or National Dex. Prizes will also differ for each tournament, though for the most-part, eShop Vouchers, plushies, and other Nintendo merchandise are likely.
As of right now, we are to assume that these invitations to the finals do not include a travel award, so you’ll have to pay your own way there if you qualify. We will also have to note, that these events are not in conjunction with The Pokémon Company International’s Video Game Championship Series, so you do not have to worry about missing out on Championship Points.
This post will be updated we hear about more events. Continue onto the forum thread where we have an updated list of winners and qualified players!
Qualifiers
Manchester
(Hosted by StreetPass Manchester)
Sunday, November 3rd, 2013
12pm-6pm
TV21 – 10 Thomas Street, M4 1DH
Event Page (Facebook)
Kalos Only
Liverpool
(Hosted by StreetPass Liverpool)
Sunday, November 10th, 2013
12pm-5pm
The Scythe and Teacup Gamer Cafe – 61a Kempston Street, L3 8HE
Event Page (Facebook)
National Dex
Nottingham
(Hosted by StreetPass East Midlands)
Sunday, November 10th, 2013
12pm-5pm
Walkabout – 11-15 Friar Lane, NG1 6DA
Event Page (Facebook)
Kalos Only
Derry
(Hosted by StreetPass Derry)
Saturday, November 16th, 2013
2pm-
Java Coffee Shop –
Event Page (Facebook)
Kalos Only
Gateshead
(Hosted by StreetPass Newcastle)
Saturday, November 16th, 2013
2pm-
Ambar (Above Odeon) Metrocentre – Gateshead, NE11 9XZ
Event Page (Facebook)
Kalos Only
Portsmouth
(Hosted by StreetPass Portsmouth)
Saturday, November 16th, 2013
12pm-5pm
Tiger Tiger – Gunwharf Quays, PO1 3TP
Event Page (Facebook)
Kalos Only
Taunton
(Hosted by StreetPass Somerset)
Wednesday, November 20th, 2013
6pm-9pm
Cosy Club Taunton – Hunts Court, Corporation Street, TA1 4AJ
Event Page (Facebook)
Kalos Only
Brighton
(Hosted by StreetPass Brighton)
Saturday, 23rd November, 2013
12pm-2:30pm
Ohso Social – 250A Kings Road Arches, BN1 1NB
Event Page (Facebook)
Kalos Only
Swansea
(Hosted by StreetPass South Wales)
Saturday, November 23rd, 2013
1pm-
Swansea YMCA – 1 The Kingsway, SA1 5JQ
Event Page (Facebook)
Kalos Only
Bangor
(Hosted by StreetPass North Wales)
Sunday, November 24th, 2013
2pm-4pm
Academi – Deiniol Road, LL57 2UW
Event Page (Facebook)
Kalos Only
Leeds
(Hosted by StreetPass Leeds)
Sunday, November 24th, 2013
11am-4pm
Tiger Tiger – The Light, 117 Albion Street, LS2 8DY
Event Page (Facebook)
Kalos Only
London
(Hosted by DS London)
Sunday, November 24th, 2013 (To be Confirmed)
2pm- (To be Confirmed)
Venue TBA
Event Page (Facebook)
Kalos Only
Northampton
(Hosted by StreetPass Northamptonshire)
Saturday, November 30th, 2013
1:30pm-4pm
Costa Express, Grosvenor Centre
Event Page (Facebook)
Rules TBA
National Final
London
(Hosted by Nintendo UK)
TBA
About the Author
Havak has competed in the VGC series since 2009 when it was first introduced to Europe, qualifying for the World Championships in 2011. Since 2009, he has also been a big influence in the United Kingdom's competitive scene by helping run local tournaments.
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This is actually really cool, I wonder if Nintendo of America would ever organize something at all.
Would like to add that Streetpass East Midlands has a Pokemon Tournament on Sunday 10th from 12 noon. (Kalos Dex only)
Cheers Jason, knew I missed one!
Marti here from StreetPass Somerset. If anyone wants to come along please join the facebook group and click attending on the event. This is so I have a better idea how many I’m expecting and so the event runs smoothly. Thanks.
I’ll probably be at the leeds event, its like 5 mins away from me
The East Midlands one isn’t too far from me, I’ll see if I can go!
EDIT: Can’t go. Just too short notice :/
Think I’ll be attending this one, btw Marti I’m moving down to Somerset after Christmas
Definitely in for Nottingham, I’m not choking in round 1 this time!!!
I’d be attending and winning the Nottingham one but apparently there is a Derby tournament in the works =P
Might be at the Leeds event. Anyone else going?
TAUNTON ARE YOU ******* KIDDING ME? On at Wednesday night during term time? How are kids supposed to attend? PROMISE ME THIS ISN’T SERIOUS.
Is there going to be different age groups for juniors, seniors, and masters?
Also edinburgh needs an event. We have a thriving community here and there were two Scottish worlds players last year in VGC. One of them top cutting and both providing top class banter at the event.
There should be a LCQ in London, as me & probably quite a few people in London won’t be able to attend any of the other events
Depending on other locations announced I may be able to make one, but with it being so close to some deadlines probably not
I think it’s one age division for the finals. There was also a Juniors tournament in Manchester, but that was after all the younger players (13 and below I think) were eliminated from the main tournament – just as a side-tournament kind of thing with a few prizes.
I’m trying to find out if DS London (the London StreetPass Group) are doing an event, which they really should, but I’ve had no luck yet. I don’t think there will be time for LCQ in London, as last I heard the time for the event was going to be 12pm-6pm. I do think they should do one as well, but it’s obviously down to what Nintendo UK decide. I really hope they can announce the information next week as people will be starting to plan travel and work holidays.
London is most likely 7th December, Saturday. However, don’t take this as a given yet obviously.
Woopahking, there is also a StreetPass Edinburgh Group who are doing an event on 30th November that I have found, however, their event has no mention of a Pokémon tournament yet. I’m trying to get onto them and ask them to run one as that one still has a decent amount of time between now and then. They really should run one, so I don’t know why they’ve made an event for this month without mention of it.
Edit: Sorry Woopah, but it seems like StreetPass Edinburgh just tend to do their own thing and stay out of touch with the other groups. Really sad, but their organiser just seems to want to do things his way and not get involved with the rest of us.
I’ll also be looking into the other StreetPass Groups in the UK that I know of to try and make sure more events happen this month. Sorry for all the short notice, but it really is the fault of Nintendo UK forcing this upon the fans who run these StreetPass Groups with such little notice.
I didn’t even find out I was qualified until this week after I’d won at Manchester. If I lost in a top 8 match there I’d be really disappointed!
Added South Wales and Portsmouth events.
I’ll still try to make it to London to catch up with everyone & cheer people on!
There will be an event in Bangor, North Wales as well. Information hopefully over the weekend.
Will prolly go to london for spectating.
Should be able to make it to Portsmouth, and will probably come along to London to watch the matches and catch up with people
Oh, Gateshead is brilliant for me. Closest to Scotland and at a better time of day. Almost guaranteed attendance.
Firstly – No go away I want to win a golden ticket
Secondly OMG NO WAY WHERE?
I’ll probably attend if there is a LCQ/London tournament.
Bangor, Basildon, Cambridge, Cornwall, Derby, and London are all working on running events too! I’ll let you know if they manage it in time.
Ouch
Sadly no age divisions. We are only a small group, can handle no where near as many as places such as Manchester and dont have much time. Also I’ve had people wanting a pre-xmas Pokémon meet and sadly this is the best I can do before Xmas.
The winner of the Nottingham tourny is Eden Batchelor. Also, hoping for a tourny close to Oxford.
2nd: Ben Kyriakou (Kyriakou)
3rd: Jake Birch (WhiteAfroKing92)
something near Milton Keynes pls
What was attendance like at these events
Liverpool had 75 competitors and 110 attendance (advertised on Nintendo social media). Manchester had 62 competitors and 130+ attendance (not advertised on Nintendo social media). Not sure on Nottingham, but from the images I’ve seen it looked considerably less, probably 50~.
StreetPass Groups do social gatherings to play any game you like, and obviously to use the 3DS’s features like Puzzle Swap and the StreetPass games which you can only experience to the fullest by StreetPassing people! So a lot of the people who go may not want to play a Pokémon tournament, but nab passes off them and play other games with other people.
I do expect some of these tournaments to only attract sub-20 people or so, but we’ll see how it goes!
Edit: Nottingham was 50~ attendance, 25 competitors.
Also, here is the Nottingham final: PSNG-WWWW-WWW2-ZZ6H
Edit: Having issues finding it… I’ll see what the problem is.