Nintendo UK Announces Battle Tournament 2014 + VGC National Details
Nintendo UK have announced another tournament series for UK players, this time taking place throughout March and April. Beginning on 1st March and running until 5th April, there will be a number of qualifier tournaments at various GAME stores around the country, with some events taking place in shopping centres with no specific location mentioned at the moment. There are currently no known prizes for regional tournament winners, other than an invitation to the London grand final on 26th April, although travel stipends will be available to winners to make their way there.
If you manage to win a regional tournament, you’ll get to play in the finals in London where you have a chance to win some great prizes, perhaps the most important of which is a First Round BYE at this years United Kingdom Pokémon Video Game Championships National Tournament in May for the winner and runner-up. Other prizes are a week-long trip to Tokyo, Japan for two and lots of other goodies.
United Kingdom National
Along with this announcement, Gordian Knot Games have announced that the United Kingdom National Event will take place on 24th-25th May, in Manchester, England. The venue is Event City, situated across the road from the Trafford Centre. You can discuss it on our forum thread.
UK & Ireland Pokémon Nationals
24th & 25th May, 2014
Event City
Phoenix Way,
Barton Dock Road,
Urmston,
Manchester M41 7TB
Nintendo UK Event Information
There are four divisions for this tournament, with differing prizes for each:
Ultimate Pokémon Expert – The winner of the prestigious “Ultimate Pokémon Expert” title – a category open to those aged thirteen years or older – will earn themselves a week-long trip for two to Japan, the birthplace of Pokémon. They’ll be able to immerse themselves in the Pokémon world by visiting the Pokémon Center and also explore all of the sights of Tokyo. Recommended for seasoned Pokémon players the “Ultimate Pokémon Expert” title will test your Pokémon skills to the limit. The first and second place winners in the Ultimate Pokémon Expert category will receive fast track entry to the second round of the official Play! Pokémon UK VGC event this Spring.
Junior Expert – Younger Pokémon Trainers (12 or under) itching to compete can enter the “Junior Expert” category. In this competition, a weekend trip for the whole family to Alton Towers theme park with hotel stay is up for grabs, for whoever comes out victorious. The first and second place winners in the Junior Expert age category will receive fast track entry to the second round of the UK Pokémon Video Game Championships event this Spring.
Ultimate Team – The “Ultimate Team” competition is exclusively for two family members (one aged 16 or older, and one 12 or under) who want to team up and take on other families in a four-player Double Battle. Successful teams will have the chance to win a £250 Nintendo UK Online Store voucher and a group trip for four to one of the world’s best gaming shows: EGX London 2014. This event takes place in Earls Court London, from 25th – 28th September and offers visitors the chance to play the biggest games before they are released.
Pokémon Apprentice – New enthusiasts can enter the “Pokémon Apprentice” title; where complete newcomers to Pokémon X and Pokémon Y can battle it out to receive a mega bundle of Nintendo 3DS games up to the value of £300.
Crucially, you can only enter one qualifier tournament and one division. So, you’ll have to choose whether you want the chance at single player glory and the shot at a holiday and Nationals Round One BYE, or whether you’d like to play as part of a team with a sibling to win some vouchers and a visit to a great gaming show. Lastly, there is the opportunity for newer players who aren’t confident of winning one of the tougher tournaments to enter the Apprentice event.
Entering a Tournament
Sadly, the entry process of the qualifiers is not great. Think back to the early VGC Days in Europe, in 2009, or if you’ve been around as long as some of us (me), the Battle Master event in 2004 — where you can only gain entry to the tournament via a random selection process. You can enter at this link. You’ll need to enter some of your personal information and choose which division you are entering, along with choosing two qualifier tournaments you can attend. You will receive an e-mail no later than two days prior to the event stating whether you have gained entry or not and only one of your two choices can be the event you go to, which will again, be randomly selected by Nintendo UK based on popularity of each event. I assume a lot of players will miss out, so best to enter the two you can definitely make as soon as possible and get training.
Tournament Rules and Format
All tournaments (bar the team-tournament) will use the official Pokémon Video Game Championships 2014 season rules, opting for the Flat Battle and infrared process used at the previous Nintendo UK events. Tournaments will be single-elimination format, with each qualifier having a maximum of 16 participants, thus four rounds of battles to determine the winner. The team tournament will use a more specialised set of rules with players using pre-set Pokémon and borrowed consoles from Nintendo.
List of Qualifiers
- Bullring, Birmingham – 1st March
- GAME Churchill Square, Brighton – 1st March
- GAME Murraygate, Dundee – 2nd March
- Intu Eldon Square, Newcastle – 8th March
- GAME Hamleys, London – 8th March
- GAME St. David’s Centre, Cardiff – 8th March
- WestQuay, Southampton – 15th March
- GAME Meadowhall, Sheffield – 15th March
- GAME Castle Street, Banbury – 15th March
- Bluewater, Kent – 22nd March
- GAME Back Of The Inns, Norwich – 22nd March
- GAME Victoria Centre, Nottingham – 22nd March
- Intu Trafford Centre, Manchester – 29th March
- GAME Westfield Stratford City, London – 29th March
- Intu Braehead, Glasgow – 5th April
- GAME Cribbs Causeway, Bristol – 5th April
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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Is that Damian Dommett (spelling)?
I’ll be at Manchester along with my friends Luke Perry (battle time 11:30), Sean Towey aka Sean Symphony (battle time 11:30), and Jason Finch aka Die2Distroy (battle time 10:50).
My battle time is also 11:30, so it’s going to suck that I will likely have to face one or two of my friends in the first/second round depending on how we get paired off and if I/they win.
Is there any information available about where in London the final will be? Struggling to find anything on the tournament website.
Hey Havak, yeah it is Damian Dommett, and he has 10:30 so should be battling now!!
By the way does anyone know what time the afternoon tournaments have been starting? Tempted to pop to Westfield Stratford and see if I can get involved if someone doesn’t turn up!! lol
They don’t usually check for ID, but to be safe you should take some anyway or at least your confirmation email
Also you’re going to an official tournament hosted by Nintendo with junior players there. I don’t recommend using inappropriate names for your Pokemon as it would be silly to get yourself disqualified because of them
Good luck to those entering the tournament today, make sure to tell us all how it goes
I’ll be at Manchester in the afternoon! Good luck to everyone!…….Unless you play against me 3:)
Yesterday was a good day, tournament staff knew a lot about pokemon with them either having been on the competative scene in the past and having up to date knowlage on the game as well aspopular figures. Great experience and got on well with them
Unfortunately competition was unexpectantly tough, getting knocked out round 2 to an identicle team to mine in team preview.
Shame I couldn’t try for the one today, I’ve got less than a week to go til my dissertation hand-in date and simply wouldn’t have had time for it. Good luck to all involved though.
Cya @ London I won Trafford centre junior pokemon expert so happy 🙂
Well done! Did you save any battle replays?
I won the Manchester morning tournament today, Was a few moments where i thought i was going out but managed to hang on in.
Was cool meeting everyone and really glad i didnt have to go against havak.
The tournament its self was one of the best run i have ever been too, It moved along really smoothly, the staff were friendly and knew what they were on about. No none kalos pokemon slipping through the checks.
See you guys in london
i got 3rd place in the london westfield morining tournment today lost 1-0 to maurice in the semifinals
I only recorded two because of the rush the codes are
S4ZG-WWWW-WWW6-FPMJ
HBGG-WWWW-WWW6-FPME
I had a nice time at the Manchester tournament today, The staff were absolutely fantastic, especially Storm (how cool of a name is that?). She knew more than enough about Pokémon and the rules, so oversaw all the battles very well. The event went very smoothly, the only hold-up was the waiting for players to show up (who in every case did not show up). It was a 15 minute wait just in case your opponent was late, but every time, they had to put in a reserve player anyway, so it probably could have been avoided as you were supposed to be in attendance 15 minutes before your battle time anyway. However, this is just nit-picking as 15 minutes didn’t make much difference and after the first round they weren’t as bothered about sticking to specific times, just getting the games done when the players were both ready to play.
I won my first round match against a reserve player who I assume was a friend of mikeabbo. Pretty convincing 4-0 victory for me as he wasn’t really prepared for double battles anyway. I had to face my friend Sean Towey (SeanSymphony) in the second round, and what instantly looked like it would be a convincing start for me turned sour after a double flinch, another flinch, and a Play Rough miss near enough in succession which just made it so difficult for me to come back. I made one bad turn all game toward the end, but I think I would have had to get lucky to win so it didn’t really matter at that point.
These are the Pokémon I chose to use today:
Battle Video: DHLG-WWWW-WWW6-FRPZ
This is my match against Sean for anyone interested. If not for the bad luck, I think I would have been in the final against Mike. Congratulations for winning by the way!
So umm I’m confused do we get our money there and in the finals a guy disconnected and blamed it on me they took his email then crossed it out and added mine btw it say on the golden ticket about an email on the 14/4/14 should we book a hotel now or wait till 14/04/14 plz give me advice thnx in advance
GarchompGuy
Edit : Osirius please will u add me as winner of junior pokemon expert intu Trafford centre
I went there today by myself but everyone was friendly and met some nice people. Yeah he didnt know it was doubles until like literally 1 minute before he sat down.
After that i didnt want to tell him that his chances were low.
Yeah you got really unlucky with those flinches, but honestly i was a little relieved, Your reputation proceeds you.
I should get a chance to upload my videos in the next day or so, forgot to save the semi finals so just waiting on my opponent sending it though to me.
Thanks, but im not sure of my chances in london, but then again i didnt think i was going to do well today either.
Confirming my win in the afternoon Banbury tourny, was well run and great fun.
My brother (ThrillerMiller9) just won the tourny at EGX Rezzed today.
Looking forward to the London final!
I managed to win the EGX Rezzed tournament on the 30th morning one and I must say there was such a better group of staff here then the original birmingham I went along to watch. A staff member actually knew what was not aloud in vgc’s which was great and all the competitors were all cool guys. Bring on the finals!
Any idea if the emails for Bristol have been sent yet? I’m just curious as to whether we’d know by now or when by.
I know quite a few people who have their Bristol invites, yeah.
Osirus and IAmMarti probably the two favourites to win at the moment.
Chico I receievd my email over a week ago (last monday/Tuesday afternoon), although there is still time to get one as they have said at least two days before the event so hopefully you will recieve one by tomorrow and if you don’t, you could always turn up on the day as a reserve and hope someone doesnt show.
Should be fun on Saturday, looking forward to it!!
Yep it was Alex really nice guy had a pretty good team too. I came 2nd in the Nottingham Tournament my names Sanjeet just joined Nugget Bridge today!
Good to see a new member of the community, shame I didn’t see you at the event. You must have done well in the tournament! If you’re going to the Streetpass meetup this Saturday a couple of us will be there if you want to socialise and talk about Pokemon
Ah alright, I guess im likely not going, but I can be hopeful haha.
I probs wont be going up on the day without an invite though, so good luck on the day!
I uploaded Nottingham’s Final External
I was completely drained out by 16:00 my brain stopped working made so many mistakes in this battle but it was a good experience and defiantly will be going to more tournaments in the future.
Last qualifying tournament this Saturday, does anyone know who’s going to be attending the Bristol and Glasgow event?
Just to let you guys know, my mate Sam James won the EGX Rezzed tournament on the 29th
Osirus and IAmMarti are headed to Bristol.
Maybe woopahking123 got into Glasgow?
Woop woop Bristol!
No, unfortunately I have not gotten an email from Nintendo UK yet and the tournament is tomorrow. I wasn’t allowed into Dundee either, meaning I won’t be in London and probably won’t see any of you guys again until worlds since I can’t go to uk Nats. Sad about not being able to try for a trip to japan but what can you do.
Osirus faced Rina in the first round, but later lost to someone called Ben.
IAmMarti was in the other side of the bracket and managed to win the whole thing, beating Ben in the final.
No word on anything from Glasgow.