Oh here we go! It's time for the

Rockford City Championships
Saturday Jan 10, 2009

To be held at the North Suburban Women's Club
6320 N 2nd St Rockford,IL 61111
about 4 blocks North of E.Riverside (Hwy 53)on N. 2nd St(Hwy 251).
On the corner across from Big Lots mini-mall.

Here's a Mapquest link for you.
From I90, I39, Hwy51, Hwy 55, or Hwy 11
take the route 55 exit to the West (Exit 64 - E. Riverside Dr). Go left on Riverside if you're coming from the south or right if you're coming from the north. Then when you get to Hwy 251 (also called N. 2nd St ) go right. It's up the street on the left side, I think 4 more blocks, on the corner across from Big Lots mini-mall

Registration opens at 9am
Final call for decklists to be turned in will be at 9:45
(to be included in Round 1. After that time you'll be entered in Round 2)
Tourney begins at 10am

Participants will receive an exclusive City Championships promo card and a commemorative pin,
while supplies last..

Decklists will be required. You can print it out here ahead of time or I'll have them there to fill out too. Just be sure to be there early enough to get them filled out and turned in before 9:45!

So, what time do you suggest we be there??
Due to the number of players we will likely have, the cut-off for entrance into Round 1 will be 9:45. Decklists will be required, so allow time to fill them out. If you haven't turned in your decklist by 9:45am you can still be entered into the tournament, but you'll start in Round 2, you'll miss the first Round.. We will not delay the tourney for latecomers as it's just not fair to those who get there on time. (So I suggest you come closer to 9:30, unless you already have your decklist all made out!) Bring your DS and your Diamond & Pearl Games, or even your GBAs! Once your decklist is turned in, you can participate in GameBoy battles, art contests, trivia contests, or any other activities we might have while you wait.
Better too early than too late!

Who may enter in the Tournament? Anyone who knows how to play the game may enter, you do not need to be a resident of the City of Rockford ... All are welcome, of all ages, from far away, or right in Rockford! If you're new to the game and want to learn more about it, check out the Pokemon Organized Play website for instructions on how to play so you'll already know how when you get there, or stop by TIY on the 2 weeks prior to the 10th during our League time at 3:30.. we can teach you how to play. But for this event, you should at least already know the basics of how to play.

Format: Modified Constructed - Bring your own best DP-on Modified decks to play in this tournament.
The sets legal in the Modified Format have been updated as of September 1, 2008. The New Modified format is Diamond & Pearl -on (DP-on). Players may not use cards from Pokémon sets prior to Diamond & Pearl(with the exception of basic Energy cards and cards that were reprinted in Modified legal sets)
Please make sure you're ready with a legal deck. Modified Format includes all sets from DP to SF
(click here to see the set names and symbols)

Of course if you have any questions at all as to if your deck is Tourney ready or not, please feel free to stop in a little early and have us check over your deck for you.

If you arrive and find that your deck is not legal to play in this tourney, don't worry, you will still be able to play. Some starter decks will be available to purchase right there at a nominal cost. We may also have a limited number of 'loaner' decks to borrow, on a first come, first serve basis, if your deck isn't legal for the tourney, if you don't have money for a new one, or if you know how to play and want to, but just don't have a deck.

This event will most likely will be Age Separated Swiss (everyone will play within their own age group in all the rounds, the number of rounds being determined by number of players in each age group) The City Championships series will have a K-Value of 16. For more information on how the K-Value affects your Premier Rating, please see the Ratings and Rankings FAQ.

Age groups:
Junior Division: Born 1998 or later
Senior Division: Born in 1994, 1995, 1996, or 1997
Masters Division: Born in 1993 or earlier

Also after the Swiss Rounds, in each of the 3 age groups we will have a Top Cut,
with a Maximum of a cut to Top 8.

Are there Prizes?
YES! Of course there are!

All participants will receive an exclusive City Championships promo card and a commemorative pin, while supplies last.

Top 4 finishers in each of the three age categories receive the following prizes:

1st Place
18 Pokémon TCG booster packs
A City Champion medal

2nd Place
10 Pokémon booster packs

3rd & 4th Place
4 Pokémon TCG booster packs

Are there Door Prizes? Sure! We'll have an assortment of various items for door prizes! All sorts of different items, including Booster Packs, posters, Deck boxes, Pokemon Beachballs, and other various Pokemon items will be randomly given out at various times to random players.

Will there be side events?
Yes, most likely there will be. Based on player interest, of course. We could have a free Modified tourney for 3/2/1 pack prizes, or a $5 Modified for bigger prizes, A Theme Deck Challenge, or even a Booster Draft if we have the players and Judge available for it.

Tentative Time Schedule

9am - Registration opens
9:55am - last call for inclusion in Round 1
10am - Opening introductions and announcements
10:15 - 11:00 Round 1
11:05 - 11:50 Round 2
Break for lunch until 12:30
12:30 - 1:15 Round 3
1:20 - 2:05 Round 4
2:10 - 2:55 Round 5
3:00 - 3:45 Round 6 Masters
(and Announce Top 4 for Jrs/Srs, do deckchecks )

3:15 - 4:15 Top 4 Jrs/Srs
3:45 - 4:15 deckchecks, Prep for Top 8 for Masters
4:15 - 5:15 Top 8 Masters/Top 2 Finals Jrs/Srs
5:15 - 6:00 Announce Jr/Sr Winners - Dinner Break
6:00 - 7:00 Top 4 Masters
7:00 - 8:00 Top 2 Finals Masters

Again, this is a tentative timetable. We'll try to stick to it as best we can, but may vary due to the actual number of players attending.

Now, I'm still having some serious back problems and some pinched nerves, making it hard for me to walk sometimes, so I might have to be in a wheelchair or have to use my cane so I don't overdo it (like I most often do). I'll have to be very careful, but I won't let that stop me from bringing you a City Championship Event in Rockford! I might need help from some of my regular players to get things set up and also cleaned up afterwards, so contact me if you're able to help me out, ok? Thanks! I appreciate it!

Complete details to be posted shortly! So stop back often!

And be sure to check out our MW Pokemon Event Information website for information on all the other area City Championship events, as well as information on our Upcoming Midwest Regional Championships on April 18, 2009 at the amazing Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, WI

Next up... our Platinum Prerelease on Jan 31st at TIY! See you there!