Rockford Register Star: Pokemon TCG State Championship Recap!

[PokemonElite2000]

Rockford Register Star: Pokemon TCG State Championship Recap!
-03/05/07-

The Rockford Register Star has a recap of the Illinois State Pokemon TCG Championship:

First ‘monsters’ state championship - Rockford Register Star
Jeremiah Williams learned Pokemon before he learned to read and write.

The 7-year-old from Loves Park picked up the game at 4, when he began memorizing the cards, his father, Rich, says.

The father and son were part of a crowd of 112 players that gathered Saturday at Forest Hills Lodge for the Illinois State Pokemon Championships.

It was the first time the popular trading card game’s state championships were held in Loves Park. Previously, Chicago had been the home for state tourneys. This year’s event was put on by Tomorrow is Yesterday, a Loves Park comic and novelty store.

“We have a really good solid player base here in Rockford,” said Pokemon Premier Tournament Organizer Camille Peltier-Robson “We have about 40-50 local players that play all the time, so it seemed natural to host the big event here.”

Loves Park will also be the site of the regional tournament on April 14. It’s one of less than 10 regionals in North America, Peltier-Robson said.

“Pokemon is alive and well in Rockford that’s for sure,” Peltier-Robson said.

To read the entire article, go here: First 'monsters' state championship

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The older Pokemon fans showed their numbers at the event, with 65 players in the Masters Division, which is more than the Junior Division (23 players) and Senior Division (23 players) combined, for a total 111 players at the event.

Illinois State Pokemon TCG Championship - Winners
Junior Division - Born in 1996 or later (23 Players)
1st - Drew F
2nd - Benjamin M
3rd - Angela W
4th - Jeremiah W

Senior Division - Born in 1992, 1993, 1994 or 1995 (23 Players)
1st - Quinn D
2nd - James F
3rd - Jeff V
4th - Christopher W

Masters Division - Born in 1991 or earlier (65 Players)
1st - Richard L
2nd - Jimmy B
3rd - Tom S
4th - Dave C II

Jimmy Ballard, who came in second in the Masters Division at the 2006 Pokemon TCG World Championships, took second place at this State Championship.

According to the tournament organizer, this year's Illinois State Pokemon TCG Championship showed some significant growth in attendance: "Just a point of interest, last year's IL States had 79 players and Regionals had 99... our States had 111 this year, dealing with some unfortunate weather." You can view the tournament organizer's post here: IL States - Rockford IL PTO PokeMama

Related Links
Pokemon-TCG.com - 2007 Pokemon TCG U.S. State Championships FAQ

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