Bellevue, WA - June 28, 2011 - Thousands of Pokémon™ Trading Card Game and video game players from all across the nation will converge on Indianapolis, Indiana, July 8th-10th, for the chance to become a Pokémon U.S. National Championships finalist and move one step closer to the 2011 Pokémon World Championships in San Diego, California, this August.

The Pokémon U.S. National and World Championships are major events in what has already been a blockbuster year for the Pokémon franchise, which included the highly anticipated March release of the Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version video games for the Nintendo DS™ family of systems, a brand-new Pokémon TCG: Black & White expansion, and the imminent debut of the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online that will allow Pokémon TCG fans to battle head to head, anytime, anywhere.

Pokémon Trading Card Game National Championships
More than 1,500 players are expected to attend the 8 th annual Pokémon Trading Card Game National Championships, the culmination of the nine-month Pokémon TCG season in the United States.

Competitors from across the United States in the Junior Division (born in 2000 or later), the Senior Division (born in 1996, 1997, 1998, or 1999), and the Masters Division (born in 1995 or earlier) will battle during the three-day tournament that is open to all U.S.-resident TCG players in good standing in the Play! Pokémon program. Players do not need to qualify for the Pokémon TCG National Championships; however, there will be a limited number of slots available on a first-come, first-served basis. Pre-registration for the Pokémon TCG National Championships will take place on Thursday, July 7th, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and on Friday, July 8th, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., at the Indiana Convention Center.

Players who finish in the top eight in each division will receive invitations to the 2011 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Championships in San Diego, California, August 12 th-14 th, with the top four winners receiving paid travel and accommodations to Southern California. There, U.S. Pokémon TCG players will battle against top players from more than 25 countries all around the world.

The Pokémon Company International awards scholarships, medals, and other prizes to top finishers at the Pokémon Trading Card Game U.S. National Championships.

Pokémon Video Game National Championships
This spring, thousands of Pokémon video game players competed in six Pokémon Video Game Championship series Regional tournaments in Seattle, Washington; San Jose, California; Dallas, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Washington, D.C.; and Newark, New Jersey. Now only the top Regional finalists remain to compete at the Pokémon Video Game National Championships for 24 spots at the 2011 Pokémon Video Game World Championships in San Diego, California, August 12th-14th.

Divided equally among the Junior Division (born in 2000 or later), the Senior Division (born in 1996, 1997, 1998, or 1999) and the new Masters Division (born in 1995 or earlier), the Regional finalists will battle head to head playing the recently released, top-selling Pokémon Black Version or Pokémon White Version video game.

Players who finish in the top eight in each division at the Pokémon Video Game National Championships will receive invitations to the 2011 Pokémon Video Game World Championships in San Diego, California, August 12 th-14 th, with the top four winners receiving paid travel and accommodations. At the Pokémon World Championships, U.S. video game players will battle against top players from Europe, Japan, and South Korea.

Top Pokémon Video Game National Championship finishers also receive medals and a Nintendo 3DS™ system.

U.S. National Championships Video Game Last Chance Qualifier
For fans who think they've missed their chance to compete at the 2011 Pokémon Video Game National Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana, The Pokémon Company International is offering one last chance to attend and compete!

The U.S. National Championships Video Game Last Chance Qualifier tournament will be held on Friday, July 8th, at the Indiana Convention Center. The event will begin with the Junior Division and Senior Division registration from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., followed by the Masters Division registration from 1:00p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Hopefuls will need to arrive for registration with their copy of Pokémon Black Version or Pokémon White Version and their Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi, Nintendo DSi XL or Nintendo 3DS system. The top 16 players in each division will earn the right to play the following day in the 2011 Pokémon National Championships.

Visit www.pokemon.com/vgc for more information about the Last Chance Qualifier for the 2011 Pokémon Video Game National Championships.

Be sure to follow all the action at the Pokémon National Championships, including announcements of the tournament's winners, at www.pokemon.com/vgc.