The Pokemon Video Game Championships have now added Wi-Fi Tournaments to their list of official, large-scale tournaments, with the introduction of the Global Battle Union tournaments to the series. These online tournaments have been done before, but they haven't given out coveted Championship Points before, which are required in order for players to earn invitations to the Pokemon World Championships in Vancouver, BC. This new series of GBU tournaments changes that by giving out Championship Points for top finishers.

The first tournament in this series is the 2012 VGCS Winter Battle, which takes place online from December 13th through December 17th. Registration takes place starting today at 4:00pm PST and ends Thursday, December 13th, at 3:59pm, right before the tournament itself takes place. This tournament requires participants to have a copy of Pokemon Black 2 or Pokemon White 2 as well as an account on the Pokemon Global Link that is tied to their game cards, although keep in mind that registration is first come, first serve. Players with a low rate of disconnects during the tournament will receive a Custap Berry, which is a rare berry that, when held, allows a Pokemon to strike first after consuming the berry when its HP is low.

Here is a list of all of the upcoming tournaments in the North American 2013 Video Game Championship Series:

• Wi-Fi Event: 2012 VGCS Winter Battle (December 13th-17th, 2012)
• Live Event: 2013 Pokemon Winter Regional Championships, North America (January 20th, 2013)
• Wi-Fi Event: 2013 Pokemon International Challenge January (January 24th-28th, 2013)
• Wi-Fi Event: 2013 Pokemon International Challenge March (March 21st-25th, 2013)
• Live Event: 2013 Pokemon Spring Regional Championships, North America (April 14th, 2013)
• Wi-Fi Event: 2013 Pokemon International Challenge April (April 18th-21st, 2013)
• Wi-Fi Event: 2013 Pokemon International Challenge June (June 20th-24th, 2013)
• Live Event: 2013 Pokemon U.S. National Championships, Indianapolis, Indiana (July 5th-7th, 2013)
• Live Event: 2013 Pokemon World Championships, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (August 9th-11th, 2013)

The full press release can be found after the break.

Pokemon.com Press Release

BELLEVUE, WASH.-December 5, 2012-The Pokémon Company International announced today it is adding Global Battle Union (GBU) Wi-Fi tournaments to its North American 2013 Video Game Championship Series season, making it easier than ever for video game players to step down the road to the Pokémon World Championships. Beginning with the 2012 VGCS Winter Battle, taking place December 13^th through December 17^th, top finishers of the Wi-Fi tournament will earn byes at live tournaments, including January’s Pokémon Winter Regional Championships. Top participants will also receive Championship Points, bringing them one step closer to potentially earning invitations to the 2013 Pokémon World Championships in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The 2012 VGCS Winter Battle is the first time results from a GBU Wi-Fi Competition will count in a North American Pokémon Video Game Championships Series season, adding to an already exciting year that kicked off with the Autumn Regional Championships this October. Players can register for the event between Wednesday, December 5^th at 4:00 p.m. PST and Thursday, December 13^th at 3:59 p.m. PST at pokemon.com/pgl with gameplay beginning December 13^th at 4:00 p.m. PST. Adding to the fun, players who maintain a low disconnect rate in the 2012 VGCS Winter Battle will be awarded a Custap Berry. The powerful Custap Berry gives the Pokémon holding it a better chance to strike first the turn after its HP gets low.

“Incorporating Wi-Fi tournaments into the North American Play! Pokémon Video Game Championships Series provides opportunities for players to battle more often,” said J.C. Smith, director of Consumer Marketing for The Pokémon Company International. “The upcoming GBU Wi-Fi Competitions are an easy way to battle competitively and take a step down the road to the Pokémon World Championships.”

The 2012 VGCS Winter Battle is one of five GBU tournaments scheduled for the Video Game Championship Series season, joining live events taking place throughout North America. Numerous casual GBU tournaments will be announced soon. Upcoming GBU Wi-Fi and live Video Game Championship Series tournaments include:

• Wi-Fi Event: 2012 VGCS Winter Battle (December 13^th-17^th, 2012)
• Live Event: 2013 Pokémon Winter Regional Championships, North America (January 20^th, 2013)
• Wi-Fi Event: 2013 Pokémon International Challenge January (January 24^th-28^th, 2013)
• Wi-Fi Event: 2013 Pokémon International Challenge March (March 21^st-25^th, 2013)
• Live Event: 2013 Pokémon Spring Regional Championships, North America (April 14^th, 2013)
• Wi-Fi Event: 2013 Pokémon International Challenge April (April 18^th-21^st, 2013)
• Wi-Fi Event: 2013 Pokémon International Challenge June (June 20^th-24^th, 2013)
• Live Event: 2013 Pokémon U.S. National Championships, Indianapolis, Indiana (July 5^th-7^th, 2013)

The 2012 VGCS Winter Battle runs Thursday, December 13^th at 4:00 p.m. PST through Monday, December 17^th at 3:59 p.m. PST (Start and end times listed in UTC-time on the Pokémon Global Link website). Players wishing to compete need a copy of the Pokémon Black 2 or Pokémon White 2 video game, a Pokémon Trainer Club account, a Nintendo DS or Nintendo 3DS system, and broadband Internet access. Registration and battles will take place in the Global Battle Union (www.pokemon.com/pgl).

For more information about the 2013 Video Game Championship Series season, including rules, regulations, and registration details, please visit pokemon.com/play. To create a Pokémon Trainer Club account, please visit www.pokemon.com/us/account/signup.

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