Nintendo of Australia yesterday announced the 2014 Pokémon Video Game Australian National Championships, to be held this July 13 at the Melbourne Town Hall.

Players who won the regional events during May were rewarded with a free trip to the upcoming event. The National Championship is open to anyone and everyone who wants to participate or spectate. All you need bring is your 3DS plus a copy of either Pokémon X or Y.

The top two winners on the day will win a trip to the World Championships, to be held this August in the US – so get practising!

Check out the official rules or read the full press release from Nintendo of Australia below. Will you make it to the big day in Melbourne? Let us know in the comments section.

6th June 2014 – Nintendo Australia today announces the 2014 Pokémon Video Game Australian National Championships will be held 13th July at the Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston St Melbourne.

Over 1000 competitors took part in exciting Regional Championships for Pokémon X and Pokémon Y for Nintendo 3DS around Australia and New Zealand in May, with the winners earning themselves flights and accommodation to the upcoming National Championships in Melbourne.

The National Championships will be a full day free event taking place in the magnificent Main Hall. The event is open to everyone to either participate in the Championship and register on the day, or spectate and enjoy the battles on the big screen – it’s shaping up to be the biggest day of Pokémon action Australia has ever seen. Fans will have the chance to learn from and test their skills against the best players in Australia and New Zealand, and the day is sure to be an incredible experience for any Pokémon fan – beginner or master!

Players must bring their own system in the Nintendo 3DS family, Pokémon X or Pokémon Y Game Card or downloadable version, with the following formats utilised to determine Champions on the day:

• Age Modified Swiss pairings, attendance permitting
• A cut to a Top 16 single-elimination finals, attendance permitting
• Single-elimination finals will be run as best-of-three games

Players who place in the top two of their age division will win flights, accommodation and invitation, and players who place 3rd and 4th in their age division will win invitation to the Pokémon Video Game World Championships, hosted by The Pokémon Company International in Washington, D.C. on 16th -17th August, 2014.

The following age divisions will apply:
• Junior Division: Born in 2003 or later
• Senior Division: Born in 1999, 2000, 2001, or 2002
• Masters Division: Born in 1998 or earlier

Players can begin to familiarise themselves with the official rules for the upcoming events at http://gamesites.nintendo.com.au/pokemon-video-game-championships/

More exciting news and announcements will be released in the coming weeks, so stay tuned to our Facebook and Twitter pages and make sure that you’ll be in Melbourne on the 13th July!