December 2022

The 2022 Fantastic Classic Raised Over $2,550 for St. Jude Children's Hospital!

WOW! What an incredible fundraiser! THANK YOU to everyone that was able to join us at the Fantastic Store; all the people that could not make it in person, but donated on our St. Jude event site; all the incredible volunteers - the Tuskeys and Tim C. from Richmond, Phillip our photographer, the awesome store staff - Robert, Scott; and also to the area restaurants! Every single person and business that supported us helped to make this event the success it was. We raised more than the two previous events combined! So THANK YOU again for your contribution and for helping St. Jude.

We had 44 players in our main TCG event! Check out the final standings in the main tournament. And we had lots of action in our Side Events where we gave out some great Pokemon prizes; and raffled off a new, sealed Silver Tempest booster box as well as a cool Mission BBQ gift basket with $100 worth of gift cards. Enjoy these photos (and more from our Non-Profit page) from the event:

Chantville League and the Fantastic Store Is a Drop-Off Location for the Toys for Tots Campaign!

The Toys for Tots campaign runs through December 15, after which, we'll be delivering all the toys to the local distribution center. So consider bringing a new, unwrapped toy the next time you visit the Fantastic Store or join us for League. Thank you in advance for your generosity and support!

Team Challenge Season 4 FINAL Qualifier Scheduled in December!

The Play! Pokémon Team Challenge Qualifiers run from Sept 9 through Dec 17. Our final one is scheduled to run in December! Sign up one week before each qualifier. These events will be held at the Fantastic Store.

December Leagues: Saturdays starting at 2:00 pm. Earn promo cards for participating in League! Earn More Rewards In Our Leaderboard Contest!

• December 3:  Team Challenge Qualifier 4.4: This official, sanctioned Pokemon tournament is open to Masters only (those born in 2006 or earlier). TC Reg opens Fri 12/2 after 2 pm. TC check-in: 2-2:30 pm at the Fantastic Store.  There will also be casual play and, if there is enough interest, a non-sanctioned fun tournament w/ a $5 entry fee. Starts at 2:00 pm.

• December 10:  Standard format tourney for all age divisions for a $5 entry fee (reg until 2:30), First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn League promo cards just for playing in League! Starts at 2:00 pm.

• December 17: Standard format tourney for all age divisions. Discuss the upcoming rotation in 2023 for competitive players and Learn-to-Play for newcomers!  Earn League promo cards just for playing in League! Starts at 2:00 pm.

The Leaderboard contest runs from Oct through the last League in December, where we will reward the player with the most points earned in the contest. So come to League, play in the TCG, VG, or Pokemon Go and earn points! Earn a point when you win a casual, fun League tourney, a Team Challenge qualifier, or when you win 3x in any combination of games. See current Leaderboard standings here.

New Play Pokemon! League Rewards Coming Soon!

Check out this article on pokemon.com for details about the new Prize Pack rewards coming to Leagues in 2023. 

November 2022

The 2022 Fantastic Classic to Support St. Jude Children's Hospital!

Our fundraiser is set for Sat, November 19 starting at 11 am! Our first two events raised over $2,300 for St. Jude Children's Hospital. This year, the local Pokemon community decided on the non-profit that we support! Just like previously, 100% of the money raised will be donated! For the third time, we'll be supporting St. Jude Children's Hospital! Besides the main tournament, which will be Standard Format (Sword and Shield to Silver Tempest), we'll also be offering fun Side Events with awesome Pokemon prizes donated by the Fantastic Store and other rewards from area restaurants. Event activities:

• $30 entry fee (donation to St. Jude) for the main tournament  - see below to sign up.

• $5 entry fee (donation to St. Jude) for most of our side event activities - see below to sign up; earn tickets that can be redeemed at our Prize Wall!

• $5 Lunch deal (donation to St. Jude): delicious pizza and a drink deal; starting around 12:30 pm 

To sign up for the main TCG tournament, or to simply make a donation:

1. Navigate to our St. Jude Fantastic Classic webpage.

2. Click the Make a gift button.

3. Select the $30 (or higher) donation amount and complete the donation form.

And that's it! You'll be signed up for the main tournament! Then, get your standard deck ready, create your decklist on RK9, and be ready to play on Sat, Nov 19! 

If you are interested in creating your own Fundraising page to support our Fantastic Classic, you can click the red Register button. You will create an account and will be helping us raise money for St. Jude! If you need more info, DM me on our League Discord or email me at chantvillepokeleague@gmail.com. 

Main Event: The Fantastic Classic TCG Standard Tournament

Proxies are not allowed for this tournament. Your deck must be a legal Standard format deck. A decklist is needed for the main event. Decklist must be printed out (handwritten decklists will not be accepted). You can create your decklist on RK9 and print out using CONTROL+P on your keyboard. Note that because this event is not a sanctioned Premiere Event, there is no standard print option on the webpage. But pressing CONTROL + P on your keyboard will enable you to print your decklist. Note that Silver Tempest cards are not in the RK9 database yet. After you print out your decklist, you can hand write these cards neatly and clearly onto your list.

Check-in for the main event is from 11 - 11:30 am. We'll have a player's meeting shortly after check-in closes, which will go over the number of rounds to be played (depending on the number of players), if there is a top cut, and the prizes for the top finishers. We aim to start Round 1 by 11:45 am. 

Prizes will include Pokemon products donated by the Fantastic Store, restaurant gift cards, and League promo cards. The overall winner of the tournament will win a Silver Tempest booster box!

Side Events

You can also support our fundraiser by playing in our Side Events available throughout the day starting at 11:30 am. These events will be running all day. We'll finish up around the store's closing time at 6 pm. $5 for most activities except where noted:

• TCG/VGC/Pokemon GO PvP Battles: Pods of 2 or 4 players. Elimination-style battles. Players earn one prize ticket for each win.

• Build and Battle (Prerelease format): $20 for Silver Tempest/$30 for Forbidden Light. Pods of 2 or 4 players. Purchase a box, build a 40-card deck, and then play in elimination-style battles. Players earn one prize ticket for each win.

• Build and Battle (Prerelease Ditto draft format): $20 for Silver Tempest/$30 for Forbidden Light. Pods of 2 or 4 players. Purchase a box, build a 40-card deck following the Ditto Draft rules, and then play in elimination-style battles. Players earn one prize ticket for each win. 

• Raid Format: Groups of 3-5 players. Beat the raid boss and each player earns one prize ticket.

• Poke Catch: Pods of 2 players. Winner earns one prize ticket.

• Memory Challenge: Pods of 2 players. Winner earns one prize ticket.

• Pack Battles: TBD - depends if we can get a booster box. Pods of 2 or 4 players. Buy a pack, create a 10-card deck, and then play in round robin battles. Top 2 players earn a prize ticket.

• YOU Decide - Alternative Play Format:  Pods of 2 or 4 players. A group of players that can decide on an alternative play format available in the Handbook, but with the flexibility to change rules. All players in the pod must agree on the alternative play rules before play can begin. Players earn one prize ticket for each win.

What's on our prize wall? Lots of Pokemon goodies - collection boxes, plushies, packs, hats and knick-knacks, restaurant gift cards, and more! Here are pics from our past Prize Wall to give you an idea:

Besides the awesome donation of many Pokemon products from the Fantastic Store, you'll have the chance to win gift cards from local area restaurants! Top finishers in the main tournament will receive prizes, we'll have raffles for a Lost Origins booster box, a special gift card basket containing a number of gift cards from area restaurants, door prizes, and our ever-popular Prize Wall!

Shout out to the following businesses for their support: 

Also, our Press Release was published in Fairfax Now and Fairfax County Times. And our event was published on the DullesMoms calendar! Please share this fundraiser with your family and friends and help us make this as successful as possible!

Team Challenge Season 4 Third Qualifier Scheduled in November!

The Play! Pokémon Team Challenge Qualifiers run from Sept 9 through Dec 17. Our third one is scheduled to run in November! Sign up one week before each qualifier. These events will be held at the Fantastic Store.

November Leagues: Saturdays starting at 2:00 pm. Earn promo cards for participating in League! Earn More Rewards In Our Leaderboard Contest!

• November 5:  Sword & Shield Silver Tempest Prerelease #2: Starts at 2:00 pm. Reg: $30 payable at the store counter from 2 - 2:30 pm. Get a receipt and bring to the back room and provide to Ken to be registered in the tournament.

• November 12:  Team Challenge Qualifier 4.3: This official, sanctioned Pokemon tournament is open to Masters only (those born in 2006 or earlier). TC Reg opens Fri 11/4 after 2 pm. TC check-in: 2-2:30 pm at the Fantastic Store.  There will also be casual play and, if there is enough interest, a non-sanctioned fun tournament w/ a $5 entry fee.

• November 19: The Fantastic Classic to benefit St. Jude Children's Hospital! PLUS lots of Side Events with a Prize Wall where you can earn cool Pokemon items and gift cards from local area restaurants. Starts at 11:00 am. 

The Leaderboard contest runs from Oct through the last League in December, where we will reward the player with the most points earned in the contest. So come to League, play in the TCG, VG, or Pokemon Go and earn points! Earn a point when you win a casual, fun League tourney, a Team Challenge qualifier, or when you win 3x in any combination of games. See current Leaderboard standings here.

October

Team Challenge Season 4 First Two Qualifiers Scheduled for October!

The Play! Pokémon Team Challenge Qualifiers run from Sept 9 through Dec 17. Our first two are scheduled to run in October! Sign up one week before each qualifier. These events will be held at the Fantastic Store.

October Leagues: Saturdays starting at 2:00 pm. Earn promo cards for participating in League! Earn More Rewards In Our Leaderboard Contest!

• October 1:  Casual play-test Lost Origins for competitive players and Learn-to-Play for newcomers! 

• October 8:  Team Challenge Qualifier 4.1: This official, sanctioned Pokemon tournament is open to Masters only (those born in 2006 or earlier). TC Reg opens Fri 9/30 after 2 pm. TC check-in: 2-2:30 pm at the Fantastic Store.  There will also be casual play and, if there is enough interest, a non-sanctioned fun tournament w/ a $5 entry fee.

• October 22:  Team Challenge Qualifier 4.2: This is the second official, sanctioned Pokemon tournament (again, open to Masters only - those born in 2006 or earlier). TC Reg opens Fri 10/14 after 2 pm. TC check-in: 2-2:30 pm at the Fantastic Store.  There will also be casual play and, if there is enough interest, a non-sanctioned fun tournament w/ a $5 entry fee.

• October 29: Sword & Shield Silver Tempest Prerelease: Starts at Noon. Reg: $30 w/ the Tuskeys onsite from Noon - 12:30 pm.

The Leaderboard contest runs from Oct through the last League in December, where we will reward the player with the most points earned in the contest. So come to League, play in the TCG, VG, or Pokemon Go and earn points! Earn a point when you win a casual, fun League tourney, a Team Challenge qualifier, or when you win 3x in any combination of games. See current Leaderboard standings here.

September

Lost Origin Prerelease set for Sat 8/27 and 9/3!

In order to purchase a Build n Battle kit for the prerelease event, you need to compete in the tournament. After completing the tournament, you will receive additional booster packs. These kits are also available for sale at the Fantastic Store. Check out the Lost Origin FAQ.

For Sat 8/27: Register between 11:00 - 11:30 am at the store. Pay the $30 entry fee at the store counter and get a receipt. Bring the receipt to the back room where the event is being held, print your first and last name clearly on the back of the receipt, and give it to Ken, the organizer for the event. If this is your first time attending an event at the Fantastic Store, you will also need to provide your Pokemon player ID and your birthday. We need this information to enter you into the event.

For 9/3: Register between Noon - 12:30 pm at the store. Go to the back room and pay the $30 entry fee directly to the Tuskeys. If this is your first time attending an event at the Fantastic Store, you will also need to provide your Pokemon player ID and your birthday. We need this information to enter you into the event.

September League set for Sat, 9/24!

Standard format tourney for all age divisions for a $5 entry fee (reg until 2:30), First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn League promo cards just for playing in League! 

For the Standard format tourney - this is a fun tourney. Depending on the # of players we get, the top finishers will win booster packs. Registration is from 2 to 2:30 pm. Proxies are allowed, BUT they must be printed copies of the actual cards. Note that all cards in your deck must be legal in the Standard format.

August

The 2022 Fantastic Classic to Support St. Jude Children's Hospital!

Our tournament to benefit a non-profit is returning in 2022! Our first two raised over $2,300 and the money was donated to St. Jude Children's Hospital. This year, the local Pokemon community decided on the non-profit that we support! Just like previously, 100% of the money raised will be donated! For the third time, we'll be supporting St. Jude Children's Hospital! Besides the main tournament, which will be Standard Format, we'll also be offering fun Side Events with awesome Pokemon prizes donated by the Fantastic Store and other rewards from local businesses. Stay tuned for more details!

Lost Origin Prerelease set for Sat 8/27 and 9/3!

In order to purchase a Build n Battle kit for the prerelease event, you need to compete in the tournament. After completing the tournament, you will receive additional booster packs. These kits are also available for sale at the Fantastic Store. Check out the Lost Origin FAQ.

For Sat 8/27: Register between 11:00 - 11:30 am at the store. Pay the $30 entry fee at the store counter and get a receipt. Bring the receipt to the back room where the event is being held, print your first and last name clearly on the back of the receipt, and give it to Ken, the organizer for the event. If this is your first time attending an event at the Fantastic Store, you will also need to provide your Pokemon player ID and your birthday. We need this information to enter you into the event.

For 9/3: Register between Noon - 12:30 pm at the store. Go to the back room and pay the $30 entry fee directly to the Tuskeys. If this is your first time attending an event at the Fantastic Store, you will also need to provide your Pokemon player ID and your birthday. We need this information to enter you into the event.

August League at the Fantastic Store set for Sat, the 6th and 13th! 

Standard format tourney for all age divisions for a $5 entry fee (reg until 11:30), First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn League promo cards just for playing in League! 

For the Standard format tourney - this is a fun tourney. Depending on the # of players we get, the top finishers will win booster packs. Registration is from 11 to 11:30 am. Proxies are allowed, BUT they must be printed copies of the actual cards. Note that all cards in your deck must be legal in the Standard format.

2023 Regional Championships Schedule Has Been Released! The 2023 World Championships Will Be Held in Yokohama, Japan!

The 2023 Play! Pokémon season features the return of Pokémon TCG, Pokémon GO, VGC, Pokémon UNITE, and much more! These events will include four different Pokémon games: the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokémon video games (not in Regionals until 2023), Pokémon GO, and Pokémon UNITE. Regional Championships and International Championships will continue to be hosted across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Oceania, and Travel Awards will be available for these events. You can earn CPs at these events for the 2023 World Championships, which will be held in Yokohama, Japan! This is only the second time that Worlds will be held outside of North America.

The age divisions for players in the 2023 season will increase by one year from the 2022 season:

• Junior Division: Born in 2011 or later

• Senior Division: Born in 2007, 2008, 2009, or 2010

• Masters Division: Born in 2006 or earlier

The Pokémon TCG Championship Series largely remains unchanged going into the 2023 season and will continue to suspend all local Championship Point (CP) tournaments (e.g., League Challenges and League Cups) until further notice. Most Championship Series events, including all Regional and International Championships, use the Standard format. With Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet releasing later this year, we will reevaluate the structure of the 2023 VGC circuit. After the 2022 World Championships, there will be no Video Game Championship Series events until January 2023, when all competitive events will be played in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet. Check out the Worlds 2022 website for a recap!

Play! Pokémon Live Competitions Are Back!

Upcoming Major Events: Baltimore Regionals! Registration opens on RK9 Labs on Sun, 8/28 at 7 pm for the Pokémon TCG and Pokemon GO tournaments. Note that local-level organized play is not available yet, as provided in this reopening page on Pokemon.com. But when they do start reopening play in the US, you will need to comply with the official Pokemon COVID-19 policies in order to be able to participate in official events. Some bad news though as Pokemon has yet to re-establish League Challenges and League Cups (or whatever new format they have planned) for the 2023 season.

July

Bringing back the Fantastic Classic in 2022!

Our tournament to benefit a non-profit is returning in 2022! Our first two raised over $2,300 and the money was donated to St. Jude Children's Hospital. This year, the local Pokemon community decided on the non-profit that we support! Just like previously, 100% of the money raised will be donated! For the third time, we'll be supporting St. Jude Children's Hospital! Besides the main tournament, which will be Standard Format, we'll also be offering fun Side Events with awesome Pokemon prizes donated by the Fantastic Store and other rewards from local businesses. Stay tuned for more details!

July League at the Fantastic Store set for Sat, the 9th and 16th!

Note that the store is closed on Sat, July 30, so League is canceled for that day.

Standard format tourney for all age divisions for a $5 entry fee (reg until 11:30), First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, and more! Earn League promo cards just for playing in League! 

For the Standard format tourney - this is a fun, unsanctioned event. So, no Championship Points are available. Depending on the # of players we get, the top finishers will win booster packs. Registration is from 11 to 11:30 am. Proxies are allowed, BUT they must be printed copies of the actual cards. Note that all cards in your deck must be legal for the Standard format.

June

Fun Online Tournament via PTCGO set for Sat, June 4!

Registration for our upcoming tournament on 06/04/2022 at 12:00 PM is now open! If you would like to register, send “JMUBoy” one pack of Brilliant Stars and you will receive a join code for the Battlefy tournament registration. For complete details and rules, see the Discord channel #tournament-announcements.

June League at the Fantastic Store set for Sat, June 11 and 18!

We'll be offering a Standard format tourney for all age divisions for a $5 entry fee. This is a fun tourney. Depending on the # of players we get, the top finishers will win booster packs. Registration is from 11 to 11:30 am. Proxies are allowed, BUT they must be printed copies of the actual cards.

April/May

Astral Radiance Prerelease at the Fantastic Store set for Sat, May 14!

Team Challenge Season 3, Qualifier #4 Scheduled for Friday, April 15!

Registration opens on Fri, April 7 at 7:00 pm on RK9. Click here to register.

April Meetups at the Fantastic Store on Sat, 4/9 and 4/23!

We'll be offering a Standard format tourney for all age divisions for a $5 entry fee. This is a fun tourney. Depending on the # of players we get, the top finishers will win booster packs. Registration is from 11 to 11:30 am. Proxies are allowed, BUT they must be printed copies of the actual cards.

February/March

Team Challenge Season 3, Qualifier #3 Set for Saturday, March 11!

Congrats to John for winning today's qualifier! He earns the 3rd spot on our Playoff Team. One more qualifier left before the Playoffs start in May/June.

Sword & Shield - Brilliant Stars prerelease events planned for Sat, Feb 12 (starting at Noon) and 19 (starting at 11:00 am). 

In order to purchase a Build n Battle kit for the prerelease event, you need to compete in the tournament. After completing the tournament, you will receive additional booster packs. These kits are also available for sale at the Fantastic Store. Check out the Brilliant Stars FAQ.

Team Challenge Season 3, Qualifier #2 Set for Saturday, February 26!

Registration is open on RK9. Click here to register.

Pokemon announces the next Sword & Shield expansion set - Brilliant Stars - set for release on Feb 25, 2022!

Get ready Pokemon collectors, the next Sword & Shield set has been announced and it will have a new mechanic - VSTAR! This power can only be used once per game (GX mechanic deja vu!). This set includes the following:

• 20 Pokémon V and 15 full-art Pokémon V

• Four new Pokémon VSTAR

• Three new Pokémon VMAX

• 22 Trainer cards and six full-art Supporter cards

• One new Special Energy card

Legal for TCG tournament play: March 18, 2022

January

Play! Pokemon Team Challenge Season 3 starts on Sat, Jan 15!

Congratulations to Justin B for winning our first TC Qualifier! We had 13 registered players with a Top Cut of 4. Our second TC Qualifier is scheduled for Fri, February starting at 7:00 pm. Registration will open on Fri, Feb 4, and close one hour before the start of the event from our RK9 Tournament Details page. You must submit a decklist in RK9 in order to play in the event. 

Great news from Pokemon! A new TCG event is starting soon and players in the US can take part online. Check out this official Pokemon announcement and also the one from Tournament Center to get details on when to expect event schedules. Chantville League and the Fantastic Store are registered to take part in this event, and you can now register to play in Qualifier #1 set for Sat, Jan 15 on the RK9 site. All events will be run via RK9, so you'll need to set up a Player's account.

In-person Casual Play on Sat Jan 22!

Sadly, I have to cancel the Jan 8 meetup due to illness. But I hope to be back to full health for the next meetup.

We'll offer a Standard format fun tourney (Sword & Shield base set and newer sets). Check-in is from 11:00 to 11:30 am. Entry fee is $5 payable to Ken. Cash and Paypal accepted. Decklist is NOT required. Open to all age divisions. Proxies are allowed, BUT they must be printed copies of the actual cards. Prizes will be recent booster packs to the top finishers (depending on the # of players entered).