2004 Pokemon World Champions Crowned

Pokemon USA recently announced the winners of the 2004 Pokemon Trading Card Game World Championships held this weekend in Orlando, Florida. The invitation-only event attracted approximately 300 players from 28 countries including William Hung, who gained world-wide fame with his rendition of "She Bangs" on the television show American Idol.

Competitors were vying for the title of Pokemon TCG World Champion.

According to a press release, winners in each of the age groups were:

10 and Under
First Place winner Hayato Sato, Japan
Second Place winner Reed Weichler, Los Altos, California
Third Place winner Akira Miyazaki, Japan

11 to 14 Years Old
First Place winner Takuya Yoneda, Japan
Second Place winner Kevin Nguyen, San Diego, California
Third Place winner Takayuki Nishide, Japan

15 and Older
First Place winner Tsuguyosi Yamato, Japan
Second Place winner Chris Fulop, North Olmsted, Ohio
Third Place winner Go Miyamoto, Japan

Players entered local and regional Pokemon TCG tournaments in the months leading up to the World Championships, and went on to compete and be ranked in the national and international competition.

The year-long contest culminated with a three-day event at the Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa in Walt Disney World. First place winners in each age bracket received scholarship awards ranging from $1,000 to $7,500, a Pokemon TCG World Championship trophy, as well as an assortment of Pokemon merchandise and an invitation and travel award for two to the 2005 World Championships.

Tsunekaz Ishihara, a creator of the Pokemon Trading Card Game, made a special appearance to hand-out the awards.

Over 28 countries were represented, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States.

"This year saw our biggest and perhaps the most exciting World Championships event yet," said Susan Scheid, senior marketing manager at Pokemon, in a press release. "The tournament always brings out the best in the contestants. We saw innovative strategies, cliffhanger decisions and above all, a group of competitors who embraced the atmosphere of good sportsmanship and fair play that embodies the spirit of the Pokemon Trading Card Game."

Following the Japanese Nationals on Aug. 20, as well as a last chance qualifying event that afternoon, the weekend continued with eight rounds of tournament play Aug. 21, and the final four rounds on Aug. 22.