GYM CHALLENGES (14 and under)
What is it?
Gym Challenge Events are basically like the Qualifier Tour last year, but
smaller.
Info regarding European Events:
- there will be approximately 10 Gym Challenges tournaments in Europe though
the definitive number is yet to be confirmed. Almost sure is that there will
be Gym Challenge events in Scandinavian countries, Benelux, Germany, UK and
Eastern Europe.
- players will be able to compete in the events outside their country. That
means for example that the belgian players can come to France and beat everyone
there. ;)
- each Gym Challenge will qualify two players for the Pokémon World
Championship in USA. One player that is 11-14 years old and one that is 10
years or younger.
- Gym Challenges do not qualify players for the Stadium Challenges (no free
trip)
STADIUM CHALLENGES (open to all ages)
What is it?
Gym Challenge Events are basically like the Qualifier Tour last year, but
larger. They will be huge events with an STS-style
number of players.
Info regarding European Events:
-there will be two Stadium Challenges in Europe, one in Italy and one in
Amsterdam
-the event in Amsterdam will be in June
-players will be able to compete in the events outside their country
-each Stadium Challenge will qualify players for the World Championship.
Rumours, still not confirmed:
-Stadium Challenges will also have trips for
players age 15 and up
-There might be more Stadium Challenges than the two already announced.
PROFESSOR PROGRAM (15+)
Facts:
The Porfessor Program will be a "club" for players 15 and up only. The "Professors"
will have special Events and be able to playtest future formats and expansions
before anyone else. To become a Professor, you must complete a test which
involves many difficult questions about Pokémon and DCI rules.
Info regarding European Events:
- the amount of Professor Program events is not confirmed and
will depend on the enthusiasm shown towards the program
- Prof tournaments may or may not necessarily be held at the
same time or location as the Challenges.
- the first Professor event could be at the first Gym Challenge
(Germany ?)
- the test could be taken at the first Professor event, or online
on the Wizards European pages.
- there will be Prof events at the two Stadium Challenges and
at 2 other events
- one prize for the Profs will be a trip to judge at the World
Championships 4 European profs, winners of the Prof events, will win a trip
to the Worlds (are UK, France and Italy included or will there be more qualified
Profs from these countries events ?)
- the test of the Prof program will be translated (number of
languages and which languages has to be determined, but we may expect at
least English, French and German). The tests in local language
will follow within a few weeks after the English text is posted.
- Professor events do not qualify players for other Prof events
(no free trips)
- It will maybe be possible that Professors have the opportunity
to be (head) judges at big events in other European countries, maybe with
a WotC contribution for the trips. This has to be confirmed.
- WotC UK could organize a Prof event at GenCon UK (Aug 30 to Sep
2 2001 at the London Olympia)
TEAM PLAY
Facts:
Team Play will be a way to play team vs team VS team in a multiplyaer game
of Pokémon! We will see this new addition to the rules in late 2002.
Info regarding European Events:
- no information up to now
