After a full day of head-to-head Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) battles, Azul Garcia Griego earned the coveted title of Pokémon State Champion while competing at the 2016 Pokémon State Championships. Held in Bedford, N.H. on March 26, Azul competed in the Masters Division and triumphed in a tournament that brought together hundreds of players from throughout New Hampshire and the region.
Along with the title and State Champion trophy, the Watertown-native also earned valuable Championship Points that will count toward a potential invitation to the 2016 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco, CA this August. Players that achieve a top Championship Points ranking following the U.S. National Championships in Columbus, Ohio, this July will earn a spot to compete among elite players from more than 30 countries at the Pokémon World Championships.
Each year, the Pokémon Organized Play tournament series draws tens of thousands of Pokémon players to compete at various local league events and sanctioned tournaments throughout North America. This season marks with a significant milestone for Pokémon, which is celebrating 20 years in 2016. The events serve as an opportunity for the Pokémon community to come together, compete, and enjoy the game that has delighted fans worldwide for two decades.
“The 2015-2016 season will be the largest and most competitive yet, so congratulations to the players that earned the esteemed title of Pokémon State Champion and thank you to everyone that participated in the more than fifty State Championship tournaments throughout North America,” said J.C. Smith, senior director of Consumer Marketing for The Pokémon Company International. “We look forward to following each trainer as they continue their journey through the Championship series, culminating in what should the most exciting World Championships ever this summer in San Francisco.”
Players of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to participate in Organized Play events that guarantee competitors the opportunity to play in multiple rounds, no matter what their win-loss record is. For more information on future tournaments including dates, locations, prizes, and tournament rules and regulations, visit Pokemon.com/Play.
You can to Like the official Pokémon Facebook page at Facebook.com/Pokemon and follow Pokémon on Twitter @Pokemon for the latest Pokémon news and fun. To follow along with the 20-year celebration, visit Pokemon.com/20.