Dust off your Pokédex, the Pokémon Regional Championships are returning to Portland this year for three days of trading card and video game competition.
The tournament comes to the Oregon Convention Center May 5-7. Hundreds of players will battle in Pokémon TCG (the trading card game), Pokémon Scarlet/Violet (those are the latest video game versions) or Pokémon GO, the augmented reality game that’s played on a phone app. The tournament offers up to $65,000 in prizes and a chance for the top finishers to compete in the Pokémon World Championships.
Players in the video game competition of the 2017 Pokémon Regional Championships in Portland.Mark Graves
The Pokémon franchise started in 1996 as a video game for Nintendo’s Game Boy, and it evolved into a trading card game, animated television series, comics, movies and a ubiquitous pop culture phenomenon. Most people who have no idea how to play the game can identify a Pikachu.
Players in the Pokémon universe are “trainers,” seeking to find and grow a personal army of “pocket monsters,” which they train to compete against other trainers.
Spectator passes to watch the action at Portland’s regional tournament have sold out, but more may become available after 2 p.m. May 6, according to the event website. Fans can also watch a livestream of the tournament online.
Competitors can still register for the tournament. Cost is $70 per player in either junior, senior or master divisions. Competitors must have a Pokémon Trainer Club account and bring their own 60-card deck, Nintendo Switch console, or have an active Pokémon GO account.
To register or see a full schedule of events, visit the Team NW website.
— Samantha Swindler, sswindler@oregonian.com, @editorswindler