Preparations begin for 2011 Video Game Championship
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Preliminary rules for the upcoming 2011 Video Game Championships have been announced on Pokémon.com. The tournament will use the Double Battle rules that are standard in competitive play, and participating Pokémon must be listed in the Unova Pokédex. For the first time, there will be three age divisions: Juniors (born in 2000 or later), Seniors (born between 1996 and 1999), and Masters (born in 1995 or earlier). As expected, competitors in this year's tournament will be required to use the latest games released at the time; in this case Pokémon Black and White Versions.
Further information is expected after the release of Black and White. This will likely include a list of banned Pokémon.
Black and White are scheduled for release in Europe and North America during the first week of March. Players will then have anywhere from two to five months to train a team of up to six Pokémon for the tournament. Details for the regional and national qualifiers have yet to be announced, however based on previous years they are likely to be held throughout May and June across the United States and Europe. The World Championships will be held in San Diego, in August.