Brace yourselves!!

It's almost time for the

Rockford City Championships
Sat Jan 7th, 2012

The 2011-2012 Pokémon TCG City Championships are the first title events in the Championship Series, culminating at the 2012 World Championships in Kona Hawaii. Each City Championship is part of a title event series where players compete to earn the title of Champion! These events will be held in hundreds of cities across the world. Results of the City Championships count toward your Premier Ratings.

Where will this fantastic event take place?
Where else but at our favorite store,
Top Cut Comics
5600 N. 2nd St
Rockford IL 61111
(Click here to View a Map with directions to our store)

Registration opens at 9am ends at 9:45am sharp
And don't worry, we'll have plenty of room for everyone! We'll be using all 3 gamerooms for this big event!

This is a FREE event and you do not have to have won or participated in any previous events in order to enter! Everyone may enter, no matter what age or skill level, you just need to know how to play and have a Modified Legal Deck (or purchase one right at Top Cut!), so be sure to bring all your friends and come join us in Rockford for an awesome day of competition!
PLUS - All participants will receive an exclusive City Championships promo card, while supplies last!

Up to Top 8 for the Finals, based on the total number of players in each age group...
Prizes for 1st - 4th place in EACH of the 3 age groups...

Plus Side Events and plenty of things to make for a fun time!
We'll even have drinks and snacks for sale right at the store for your convenience,
so come make a day of it with us! You KNOW you want to!

And don't worry, there will be PLENTY of room for everyone... room for 160+ players -
we'll have ALL 3 gamerooms in use!.

*************Here are the Details **************

Decklists will be required for this Championship Premier Event. You can print it out ahead of time here (pdf) or I'll have them there to fill out too. Here's a link to a wonderful Decklist maker that really makes it easy to do your decklist ahead of time... just click on the drop down menu to make your selections, then print it out and bring it in! Either way is fine. Just be sure to be there early enough to get them filled out and turned in before 9:45am, because you must have a decklist to be entered in the tourney! And remember, it's you're responsibility to make sure that your deck is legal and matches your decklist completely, so take care in writing it out! (that's why we suggest using the Decklist Maker ahead of time and printing it out... it's so easy!) but we will have people who can help you fill it out or check over your deck when you get there, so just let me or one of my Judges know if you need some help..

So, what time do you suggest we be there??
I suggest you come closer to 9, unless you already have your decklist all made out. Due to the large number of players we will likely have, (probably around 120+, weather permitting) the cut-off for entrance into Round 1 will be 9:45am sharp.. 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 playing 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. Bring your DS and your Diamond & Pearl or Black & White Games! Once your decklist is turned in, you can participate in DS battles, art contests, or any other activities we might have while you wait. But you Must have your decklists turned in by 9:45am to be entered in Round 1.
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 Top Cut on the week prior to the 7th during our League time, we can teach you how to play. I'll have open League time 12-5pm on Sat Dec 31st to help teach anyone who doesn't know how to play. But for this particular event, you should at least already know the basics of how to play.

What do I need to bring with me? You'll need to bring your own 60 card legal deck, bring your own damage counters or dice, (they also have them for sale at Top Cut Comics), you may want to bring a sack lunch or money to buy lunch, snacks, products for sale, or to enter in some of our Side Events after the Main Event, but no money is required for entry to this event. You should also know your POP ID number. If you've forgotten it, jot me an email and I'll look it up for you. You WILL need your POP ID number to include it on your decklist. And if you're new and don't have a POP ID number yet, no worries... I can get you set up with one right there.

Format: Modified Constructed - Bring your own best HGSS-on Modified decks to play in this tournament.
The sets legal in the Modified Format have been updated as of September 1, 2010. The New Modified format is HeartGold SoulSilver on through Noble Victories(click here to see the list ). Players may not use cards from Pokémon sets prior to HGSS (except 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 HGSS to NVI

Remember, this is Title Premiere Event... so keep in mind the following rules and restrictions:
Cards from the World's Championship Decks with the silver borders are NOT allowed in Tournaments.
Sleeves must be single color with no artwork or holographic design, exceptions being the Japanese Pokeball or Pikachu Sleeves, or any of the US Pokemon Sleeves from Prereleases.
Cards must be in uniform condition if unsleeved so as not to appear to be marked in any way.
Cheating will be dealt with severly, so don't do it! Always play honorably and fair!

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. Top Cut Comics has several Preconstructed Theme Decks available to purchase right there at a nominal cost, that contain everything you need to play. We may also have a limited number of 'loaner' decks to borrow for the event, on a first come, first serve basis, if you arrive and find 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 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.

I heard all 3 Game Rooms will be used... what room will I be in?
Yes, for this event we'll have the Juniors and Seniors in the Main game room and the Masters in the newly remodeled back game room. Just come in the main door to the store(near the driveway) and we'll direct you to the registration table and the right area!

Be sure you know your POP ID number (contact me ahead of time if you've forgotten it), and which Division you're in - that will be the first question we ask you when you arrive!

These are the 3 age groups:
Junior Division (born in 2001 or later)
Senior Division (born in 1997, 1998, 1999, or 2000)
Masters Division (born in 1996 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.
This means that after the main tournament, the top ranked players in each of the 3 age groups will continue on to play additional rounds (the number of additional rounds will depend on how many players were in each age group), the winner being determined by winning 2 out of 3 matches within an hour's time, and continuing on to another elimination round until one City Championship winner in each age group remains..

Are there Prizes?
YES! Of course there are!

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

1st Place
18 Pokémon TCG booster packs
A City Champion gift (TBA)

2nd Place
10 Pokémon booster packs

3rd & 4th Place
4 Pokémon TCG booster packs

Are there Door Prizes? Sure there are! We'll have an assortment of various items for door prizes! All sorts of different items, including awesome Pokemon Play mats, Booster Packs, Binders, Pokemon Hats, Posters, Deck boxes, Pokemon Beachballs, Pokemon stickers and pencils, and other various Pokemon items will be randomly given out at various times to random players. I'll even give away a Free Pre Pass to our upcoming Prerelease!

What's the tentative timetable?
Here's a tentative timetable, but it will give you a genera guideline of what to expect. Sometimes there are unforseen circumstances, but we'll do our very best to keep things rollin' to keep it to the schedule. You can help by making sure you're there on time with your decklist and POP ID ready. This will be a big, Tier 1 event, with around 120 - 140 players, with most likely 5 rounds for the Juniors with a Top 4 Finals, 6 rounds for the Seniors with a Top 8, and 7 rounds for the Masters with a Top 8.

Tentative Player Time Schedule
Registration…9am to 9:45 am. If your decklist is turned in after 9:45 am, you'll have a Round 1 loss but be in Round 2. I really encourage you to either have your decklist already made out when you arrive, or be sure to arrive by 9am to fill it out there. You don't want to miss out on Round 1! (I'll also have decklists available at Top Cut Comics on Sat 12/31 during our all-day League time that week)

Update: Jimmy will have Pizza available right at the store, which may help speed up our timetable :)

10am Post Roster/Pairings
Round 1 10:15 - 11:00
Round 2 11:00 - 11:45
Round 3 11:45 - 12:30
lunch break until 1:15
Post list of Door Prize winners
Round 4 1:15 - 2:00
Round 5 2:00 - 2:45
Round 6 2:45 - 3:30 Jr Deck Checks 2:45 - 3:00 Top 4 JR 3:00 - 4:00
Round 7 3:30 - 4:15 Sr Deck Checks 3:30 - 4:00/Top 8 SR/Top 2 JR 4:00 - 5:00
Dinner break until 5:15
MA Top 8/ SR Top 4 5:15 - 6:15
MA Top 4/ SR Top 2 6:30 - 7:30
MA Top 2 7:45 - 8:45

What if we don't make the Top Cut? Will there be side events?
Yes of course! So what if you didn't make the Top Cut... oh well, pick a Side Event!!

Win-a-Box - New Event! - Limited Availability!
Format: Modified Sanctioned
Type: 8 player, 2 out of 3, Single Elimination Tournament
Price: $15.00 - each player receives one pack when they sign up
Prize: Full Sealed Box of most current set

Mutant Draft
Price: $15.00 for 4 packs
8 player, 3 rounds, Single Elimination Tournament
Winner of each round gets a pack

$5 Modified - 2nd Chance tourney
A pack in the prize pool for each player entered

There may even be other interesting side events as well, depending on player interest! If there's room, we'll also have an Art Area set up for anyone who feels the urge to express themselves in some artwork! Our Art Contests are always a favorite! Bring your DS along too, I'm sure there will be plenty of others you can play and trade with!

HeyCamille, will you give away a Pokemon Hat for this event too?
Sure I will!! I'll make a couple of them! Stay tuned for pictures!

Also, I'm trying to get a new picture of a BUNCH of people wearing the hats I've made, so if you've got one, how about wear it, and join in the fun!

FOOD-
I understand that players get cranky and don't function well when they're hungry... no one wants cranky players. So, we will be having a set lunch break to keep you all happy and in a good mood ^_^ There are several fast food places within a mile, including McDonalds, Subway, Little Ceasars & Arbys.

UPDATE! Jimmy will have Pizza available by the slice for the players, so you can stay right at the store! And of course he's got all kinds of good snacks in the vending machines at Top Cut, as well as a wide variety of beverages as well!

ALSO PLEASE NOTE:

Please be respectful of Top Cut's other store customers...and please don't park in their prime parking spaces.

Top Cut Comic's TRADING CARDS policy -
While trading is fine, please note that buying/selling cards with anyone except for our authorized dealer(s), or soliciting to do so elsewhere, is strictly forbidden at this event. Failure to obey this rule may result in both the buyer and the seller being removed from the event, and banned from attending future events.

Top Cut Comics also reserves the right to limit the amount of space being occupied by any one individual while trading, and does not allow the use of suitcases, handcarts, luggage carts, etc. to be used for the purpose of transporting excessive amounts of trade stock. We need to be considerate of all those around us and I ask that you respect that.

Can't you just feel that City Championship Win??
You can do it!
Come join us in Rockford for a great day of competition!

So bring your best deck, your dice, your damage counters, your lucky charms...
whatever you need to give your best performance ...
and don't forget to bring your POP ID numbers!
But whatever you do, DON'T BE LATE, and forget to bring a positive attitude!


We'll see you there!

Can't wait!!