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After three days of head-to-head Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) and video game battles, Aaron Traylor joins an elite group of Pokémon players to earn a top spot at the 2016 Pokémon U.S. National Championships. Held in Columbus, OH, from July 1-3, thousands of supporters and fans were in attendance as the Needham native clinched second in the video game Masters Division. Along with the top finish, Aaron also earned valuable Championship Points that will count towards a potential invite to the 2016 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco, CA this August.
“As the largest event of the year, the 2016 Pokémon U.S. National Championships brought together more than 2,000 Pokémon competitors, their families and friends, and the broader Pokémon community. Thank you to all the fans who came out to support and to the players for displaying such competitive spirit and positive sportsmanship throughout the tournament,” said J.C. Smith, senior director of Consumer Marketing for The Pokémon Company International. “Special congratulations to those players who earned invitations to the 2016 Pokémon World Championships. We’re looking forward to seeing you compete against the world’s best next month in San Francisco.”
The 2016 Pokémon World Championships is an invitation-only tournament in which the most elite Pokémon players from around the world will compete for the coveted title of Pokémon World Champion. Competitors from more than 30 countries including Japan, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Australia, and South Korea will travel to San Francisco to vie for the title, scholarships and prizes. This year, Pokkén Tournament was introduced to the Pokémon U.S. National Championships, welcoming the video game tournament to the national stage along with the video game tournament featuring Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire. Elite Pokkén Tournament players will have the chance to compete for a $100,000 prize pool at the 2016 Pokémon World Championships.
Each year, the Pokémon Organized Play tournament series draws tens of thousands of Pokémon players to compete at hundreds of local league events and sanctioned tournaments. This season marks 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 games that have delighted fans worldwide for two decades.
