BELLEVUE, Wash. March 3, 2008 Pokemon USA, Inc., a worldwide leader in trading card games, today announced the Pokemon Trading Card Game ( TCG ) State Championships. State Championships provide players the opportunity to succeed at an intellectual sport and test a player's Pokemon TCG skills, strategy, and creativity. The Pokemon TCG State Championships is a title event series where players in each of the three POP-recognized age divisions compete to earn the title of State Champion.

Pokemon TCG State Championships will be held in various locations throughout North America March 1st and 8th. Competitors are divided into three divisions: Junior Division ( born in 1997 or later ), Senior Division ( born in 1993, 1994, 1995, or 1996 ), and Masters Division ( born in 1992 or earlier ). All participants will receive a State Championships promo card and commemorative pin while supplies last and will have the opportunity to advance to the National Championships, leading to the final title series tournament: the Pokemon TCG World Championships held in Orlando, Florida, in August. Prizes are awarded to the top eight players in each age category. First-place winners will receive a State Champion trophy, a prize kit containing cool Pokemon merchandise, and a travel allowance to attend the National Championships in June.

Following City Championship events are the 2007 - 2008 Pokemon TCG State/Province/Territory Championships, the next step toward the 2008 World Championships in Orlando, Florida. Think you have what it takes to be one of the top three? Here's your chance to prove it and at the same time earn a trophy and other awesome prizes that show your accomplishment.

Sources: Go-Pokemon.com & Media-Newswire