Pokémon 2013 European Championship winners off to Vancouver
The best of Europe's Pokémon trainers are off to Canada for the 2013 Pokémon World Championships, having battled it out for the regional crown last week.
The 2013 Pokémon European Championship, which includes both the video games and the TCG, took place this last weekend, ahead of the World Championships in Vancouver in August.
In the UK national event, organisers switched things up a little from past years' formulae by using Swiss pairings in the video game tournaments, so players had many more battles and chances to advance their way through the brackets. The tournament used Pokémon Black & White Version 2, and there were three different age divisions. The winners of this year's UK regional comps are listed in full below, along with some photos and video from the day; the top five in each division are off to Vancouver.
In Canada, the UK champs will face competitors from Canada, Japan, Korea and the US as well as fellow European qualifiers from other national events. Prizes include travel packages, trophies, and special Pokémon themed packages as well as the all-important titles.
There is one last chance to get onboard if you have the chops, via a WiFi event - the 2013 Pokémon International Challenge, June 20-24.
2013 Pokémon Trading Card Game National Champions—Junior Division
1st: Oliver Newson
2nd: Dylan Saunders
3rd: Khalil Ben-Gacem
4th: Omar Ben-Gacem
2013 Pokémon Trading Card Game National Champions—Senior Division
1st: Sam Taylor
2nd: James Luo
3rd: Rhys Williams
4th: Thomas Robinson
5th: Dan Saunders
6th: Liam Campbell-Lowe
7th: Luke Taylor
8th: Sam Marshall-Smith
2013 Pokémon Trading Card Game National Champions—Masters Division
1st: Robert Kinbrum
2nd: Sami Sekkoum
3rd: Ben Stewart-Armstead
4th: Jake Walvin
5th: Adam Hawkins
6th: Duncan Surgue
7th: Kai Colston
8th: Oliver Barnett
2013 Pokémon Video Game National Champions—Junior Division
1st: Keilan Urch
2nd: Ahren Bundy
3rd: Calon Stevens
4th: Adam Balela
5th: Bilal Hussain
6th: Hayden Cottle
7th: Lily Taylor
8th: Florence Kennington
2013 Pokémon Video Game National Champions—Senior Division
1st: Edward Thompson
2nd: Alese Gomes
3rd: Henry Strutt
4th: Gabriele Spagnolo
5th: Benjamin M'Bonyimana
6th: Mark McQuillan
7th: Eric Riopaser
8th: Morgan Hollindale
2013 Pokémon Video Game National Champions—Masters Division
1st: Ben Kyriacou
2nd: Abel Sanz
3rd: Albert Bauere
4th: Lee Provost
5th: Daniel Nolan
6th: Ben Goud
7th: Rachel Annand
8th: Matthias Sucholdski
