As if two Regional tournaments, several Win-A-Box Constructed events, Booster Drafts, and Sealed Pack tournaments weren’t enough to look forward to at Gen Con So Cal, Upper Deck Entertainment will launch a brand-new tournament series in partnership with Shonen Jump at the convention on December 4. This is the start of a high-profile series of UDE tournaments spread throughout the following year—the Shonen Jump Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Championship Series. Twenty or so tournaments in the series are being scheduled across the United States as we enter 2005. Duelists will find them at large conventions and as standalone main events in major cities.
Regionals and Sneak Preview tournaments are already attracting large numbers of duelists, so why launch a brand new series of tournaments? Many duelists who attended the past two World Championship events as general attendees, not invited competitors, expressed the wish that Upper Deck would run similar large events, full of competitive opportunities and impressive prizes, and that is exactly what this tournament series is about. Upper Deck intends for these to be an intensive, larger-than-life tournament experience, like the Vs. System events they have been running. Yu-Gi-Oh! Regionals already attract duelists by the hundreds—this series is intended to attract over a thousand. Apart from the main tournament with its impressive prize structure, there will be many different side events, like “Challenge the Master” and Limited play. These events will showcase the best duelists in the game and offer a level of competition that duelists in the United States have yet to see.
If you’re planning to attend Gen Con So Cal, clear your Saturday schedule, because the inaugural event for this series will launch on December 4. This is a kickoff event worth attending! The prize list alone is enough to drag any duelist away from anything else the convention might have to offer that day. Check it out!
First Place:
• A top-of-the-line laptop computer
• An uncut sheet of Ultimate Rares
• A Championship Tournament Series trophy
• A copy of the brand new prize card Cyber-Stein
Second Place:
• A new “slim” Sony PlayStation 2
• A brand new Nintendo DS
Third and Fourth Places:
• A new “slim” Sony PlayStation 2
Fifth through Eighth Places:
• A brand new Nintendo DS
For the Top 32 or more, based on event attendance:
• Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Booster Packs
The Top 8 finishers will also receive invites to the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG U.S. National Championships, so don’t worry about losing your shot at Nationals if you opt to focus on this tournament rather than one of the Regionals.
Take note of this as well. There will be a second copy of Cyber-Stein offered as a prize at the event. This copy will go to the duelist who accumulates the most points playing in side events over the course of the weekend. So if you’re leery of the big tournament, fantastic at side events, or only want the Cyber-Stein, consider the side event option.
See what I mean? There’s no reason not to play in this event! You still have time to make your travel arrangements if you haven’t yet made up your mind to attend Gen Con So Cal. The tournament will use the Advanced format, and Rise of Destiny will be legal. Work on your decks and make sure you reserve a spot in this event!
Whether you are planning to attend this event or wait for the next, keep your eyes open for the rest as they are announced. The goal for this tournament series is to keep making improvements as time goes by. Prizes will change as the series continues, but will only keep getting bigger and better. This is what many duelists have been waiting for—the first huge showcase-type tournament events for Yu-Gi-Oh! These will be among the highlights of the upcoming Organized Play season, and with twenty or more being scheduled, there’s probably going to be at least one near you. The higher the turnout and more enthusiastic the response, the better the prizes and scheduling will become. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.
Tired of facing the same twenty people at your local card shop? Been to Regional after Regional and cleaned house at the Sneak Preview? The Shonen Jump Championship Series is definitely your next stop on the road to Yu-Gi-Oh! glory. Never been to a large-scale event, but have always hoped to go? This tournament series will pack as much Yu-Gi-Oh! into one day as you can handle. Participation in these events is going to give you a great shot at prominence in the Yu-Gi-Oh! community, a chance to meet other notable duelists, and an opportunity to show your support for these large events. If you want Upper Deck to continue to offer tournaments like these, the best way to let them know is to attend. The tournament schedule should be announced on the Upper Deck Entertainment site as soon as it is finalized, and you’ll also be hearing more about it on Metagame.com. There will probably be one that almost every duelist can attend, so count on being there, and good luck to all duelists we’ll be seeing at the kickoff event at Gen Con So Cal!