November

2023 Fantastic Classic Fundraiser to Benefit St. Jude Children's Hospital - Sat, Nov 4!

Our exciting Standard TCG tournament and fun-filled fundraiser is back in 2023! Our previous fundraisers raised over $4,800 and 100% of the money was donated to St. Jude Children's Hospital. Our goal this year is to raise $3,000! You can make a donation at any time directly on our League's St. Jude webpage. On Nov 4, you can also play in any of the following activities and your entry fee is donated to St. Jude. See the flyer and details below for all the activities!

On Nov 4, we'll be offering two fun Pokémon activities: (1) a Standard Format Trading Card Game (TCG) Tournament and (2) Side Events with many Pokémon activities you can choose from! And thanks to the generosity of the Fantastic Store and local area restaurants and businesses, we'll be offering awesome prizes that you can win just by participating in our fundraiser activities!

You can enter the Standard Format TCG tournament and/or fun Side Events simply by donating on our St. Jude Fantastic Classic webpage. Or you can simply make a donation!

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

2. Click the Make a gift button.

3. Select a donation amount:

   • $30 or higher donation amount will reserve a spot in our Standard Format TCG Tournament

   • A donation under $30 will enable you to play in our fun Side Events

4. Complete the donation form and Submit.

And that's it! Organizer Ken will reach out to you using the email address you provided in the donation to get additional information from you.

NOTE: You can also provide additional support for our Fantastic Classic fundraiser by creating your own Fundraiser page! When you navigate to our St. Jude Fantastic Classic webpage, simply 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. 

Here's additional information for our two fun Pokémon activities ...

Main Event: The Fantastic Classic Standard Format TCG Tournament

Proxies are not allowed for this tournament. Your deck must be a legal Standard Format deck. A decklist is needed. Decklist must be printed out. You can create your decklist on RK9 and print it out using CONTROL+P on your keyboard.

Check-in for the TCG tournament is from 10:30 - 11:00 am. We'll have a player's meeting shortly after check-in closes, to announce the total # of players and the number of rounds to be played (depending on the number of players). We aim to start by 11:15 am. Players may have their decklist returned to reuse for a Championship Event that weekend.

Prizes will include Pokemon products donated by the Fantastic Store, restaurant gift cards, and League promo cards. BONUS: If the Master's Division reaches 30 or more players, a Lost Origin booster box will be added to the MA prize pool!  Prizes will be announced during the tournament.

Side Events & Prize Wall

You can also support our fundraiser by playing in our Side Events available throughout the day starting at 11:00 am. These events will be running all day. We'll finish up around the store's closing time at 6 pm. $5 donation for most activities except where noted. A prize ticket is awarded to the winner of each side event, except where noted. *IMPORTANT: Because this is a fundraiser, we have limited prize wall items available. Only the overall winner of a Side Event activity can earn a prize wall ticket.

• 2- or 4-person pods: TCG/VGC/Pokemon GO PvP Battles. Elimination-style battles. Players in a pod can decide on the format they want to play. For example, for a TCG pod, players can choose from Standard, Expanded, or Unlimited formats.

• Build and Battle (Prerelease format): $20 for recent Pokemon sets. Pods of 2 or 4 players. Purchase a BnB box, build a 40-card deck, and then play in elimination-style battles.

• Build and Battle (Prerelease Ditto draft format): $20 for recent Pokemon sets. Pods of 2 or 4 players. Purchase a BnB box, build a 40-card deck following the Ditto Draft rules, and then play in elimination-style battles. 

• Gym Leader Challenge: Pods of 2 to 4 players. Elimination-style battles.

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

• Pack Battles: Pods of 2 or 4 players. Buy a pack, create a 10-card deck, and then play in round-robin battles.

• 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.

The following activities will not have a prize ticket reward. But players will receive free Pokémon cards and other League rewards for playing!

• Learn to play the trading card game

• Poke Catch: Pods of 2 players.

• Memory Challenge: Pods of 2 players.

• Board games, puzzles, and more!

Our Prize Wall offers cool Pokémon goodies - collection boxes, plushies, packs, hats, and knick-knacks - as well as donated gift cards from local eateries! All of the awesome Pokémon prizes are donated by the Fantastic Store, Organizer Ken, the Tuskeys, other Pokémon Organizers, and our awesome Pokémon community! Each item can be redeemed using the prize tickets you earn from Side Events! 

Here are some pics showing off some of the cool rewards you can get:

Our fundraiser is also posted on local media outlets! You can also share these links with your family and friends to help us spread the word!

• Fairfax Now - Fairfax County local news site 

• Fairfax County Times 

• Dulles Mom Calendar of Events 

• Upcoming Events website 

Nov Open Play Leagues: Saturdays starting at 2:00 pm. 

Earn Play Pokémon Prize Packs and collectible promo cards for participating in League! Earn More Rewards In Our Leaderboard Contest!

• Nov 4:  No League on this day. We'll be hosting the Fantastic Classic Fundraiser to benefit St. Jude Children's Hospital. You can donate here at any time and join us on Sat, Nov 4 for a day of Pokémon fun! 

• Nov 11:  League starts at 2:00 pm. Optional Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn a Play Pokémon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! Drop off a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots and receive a cool, classic League holofoil promo card as a thank-you gift!

• Nov 18:  League starts at 2:00 pm. Optional Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn a Play Pokémon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! Drop off a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots and receive a cool, classic League holofoil promo card as a thank-you gift! 

Q4 Leaderboard contest continues! A new contest started with the Oct 7 League and runs through the last League in Dec! The player with the most Pikachu points wins a special League prize! So come to League, play in the TCG, VG, or Pokémon 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

Special League Events!

Learn-to-Play Demo Events

This new offering is designed for newcomers and Pokémon fans interested in learning to play the trading card game. We have a dedicated coach, demo decks, and easy-to-follow instructions to guide you through the rules of the game and get you started playing the card game! Plus, all attendees who complete a game will receive a special reward!

• Oct 14:  Demo Event starts at 2:00 pm led by Professor Phillip. 

• Oct 21:  Demo Event starts at 2:00 pm. 

Gym Leader Challenge Workshop and Tournaments

Gym Leader Challenge (GLC) is a new format created by TrickyGym, an avid Pokémon fan and content creator, where you take on the role of a Gym Leader and play the Pokémon TCG using a deck of a single type of Pokémon. Every card matters! Unlike the official formats like Standard and Expanded, the Gym Leader Challenge's ban of all Rule Box Pokémon makes games feel less explosive. The singleton rule makes the deckbuilding choices feel much more potent in GLC. Since a deck can only play one of any given card, finding cards that can replicate important effects (like Boss's Orders) is a defining part of building any deck. (Content summary from You Should Be Playing Pokémon Gym Leader Challenge in TCGPlayer)

You can learn more about this fun format and partner with your friends at League to build your own fun GLC deck!

• Oct 28:  Gym Leader Challenge Workshop starts at 2:00 pm led by Professor Tanner. 

Oct Leagues: Saturdays starting at 2:00 pm. 

Earn Play Pokémon Prize Packs and collectible promo cards for participating in League! Earn More Rewards In Our Leaderboard Contest!

• Oct 7:  League starts at 2:00 pm. Optional Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn a Play Pokémon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

• Oct 14:  League starts at 2:00 pm. Optional Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn a Play Pokémon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

• Oct 21:  League starts at 2:00 pm. Optional Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn a Play Pokémon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

• Oct 28:  League starts at 2:00 pm. Halloween Party and Pokemon Costume Contest! Optional Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn a Play Pokémon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

Q4 Leaderboard contest starts! A new contest starts with the Oct 7 League and runs through the last League in Dec! The player with the most Pikachu points wins a special League prize! So come to League, play in the TCG, VG, or Pokémon 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.

Oct Events: Scarlet & Violet Paradox Rift Prereleases!

• Prerelease #1: Sat, Oct 21. Register between 11:00 - 11:30 am at the store. 

• Prerelease #2: Wed, Oct 25. Register between 5:30 - 6:00 pm at the store. 

• Prerelease #3: Sat, Oct 28. 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 of the event. If this is your first time attending an event at the Fantastic Store, you will also need to provide your Pokémon Player ID and your birthday. We need this information to enter you into the event.

This latest Pokémon set - Scarlet & Violet: Paradox Rift - will be available at the Fantastic Store starting Oct 31, 2023! Check out all the S&V products they have available. This set releases on Nov 3 and becomes Legal for tournament play starting Nov 17. Get a preview of cards in the set.

September

Sept Leagues: Saturdays starting at 11:00 am or 2:00 pm. 

Earn Play Pokémon Prize Packs and collectible promo cards for participating in League! Earn More Rewards In Our Leaderboard Contest!

• Sept 2:  League starts at 2:00 pm (Challenge starts at 11 am). Optional Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn a Play Pokémon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

• Sept 16:  League starts at 2:00 pm. Optional Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn a Play Pokémon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

• Sept 30:  League starts at 11:00 am. Optional Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn a Play Pokémon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

Q3 Leaderboard contest concludes! The contest concludes at the last League in Sept, where the player with the most Pikachu points wins a special League prize! So come to League, play in the TCG, VG, or Pokémon 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.

Local Championship Point Events: League Challenges and Cups

• Sat 9/23: Fall 2023 League Cup: Advanced reg open until 10 AM on  9/23. Check-in: 10:30 - 11 am. Advanced Reg: $25 | Onsite Reg: $35. Standard Format. Printed decklist IS required. The winner in each age division wins a Champion mat! Top finishers earn CPs (based on kicker) and booster pack prizes (based on attendance).

Congratulations to our Chantville League Cup - Fall 2023 Winners!

August

July/August Events: Scarlet & Violet Obsidian Flames Prereleases!

Prerelease #1: Sat, July 29. Register between 11:00 - 11:30 am at the store. 

Prerelease #2: Thur, August 3. Register between 5:30 - 6:00 pm 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 of the event. If this is your first time attending an event at the Fantastic Store, you will also need to provide your Pokémon player ID and your birthday. We need this information to enter you into the event.

This latest Pokémon set - Scarlet & Violet: Obsidian Flames - will be available at the Fantastic Store starting August 8, 2023! Check out all the S&V products they have available. This set releases on August 11 and becomes Legal for tournament play starting August 25. Get a sneak peek of cards in the set.

August Leagues: Saturdays starting at either 11:00 am or 2:00 pm, depending on the events for that day. 

Earn Play Pokémon Prize Packs and collectible promo cards for participating in League! Earn More Rewards In Our Leaderboard Contest!

• Aug 5:  League starts at 11:00 am. Optional Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn a Play Pokémon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

• Aug 12: League starts at 11:00 am. Optional Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn a Play Pokémon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

• Aug 19:  League starts at 11:00 am. Optional Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn a Play Pokémon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

• Aug 26: League starts at 2:00 pm (Challenge starts at 11 am). Optional Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn a Play Pokémon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

Q3 Leaderboard contest continues! The contest runs through the last League in Sept, where the player with the most Pikachu points wins a special League prize! So come to League, play in the TCG, VG, or Pokémon 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.

July

Community Poll! Choose New Play Formats For League!

We are looking to expand our League offerings and your input is needed! Respond to this survey (closed) and we'll start expanding our League offerings to include alternative play formats that you choose! 

July Leagues: Saturdays starting at either 11:00 am or 2:00 pm, depending on the events for that day

Earn Play Pokémon Prize Packs and collectible promo cards for participating in League! Earn More Rewards In Our Leaderboard Contest!

• July 8:  League starts at 11:00 am. Optional Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn a Play Pokémon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

• July 15: League starts at 2:00 pm (Prerelease starts at 11 am). Optional Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn a Play Pokémon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

• July 22:  League starts at 11:00 am. Optional Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn a Play Pokémon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

• July 29: League starts at 2:00 pm (Challenge starts at 11 am). Optional Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn a Play Pokémon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

Q3 Leaderboard contest starts! The new contest starts in July and runs through the last League in Sept, where the player with the most Pikachu points wins a special League prize! So come to League, play in the TCG, VG, or Pokémon 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.

The Big Lick Comic Con Retrospective in pictures! 

Relive our exciting weekend of Pokémon play!

June

June Leagues: Saturdays starting at either 11:00 am or 2:00 pm, depending on the events for that day. Earn Play Pokémon Prize Packs and collectible promo cards for participating in League! Earn More Rewards In Our Leaderboard Contest!

• June 3: League starts at 2:00 pm (Prerelease starts at 11 am). Optional Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn a Play Pokémon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

• June 10:  League starts at 11:00 am. Optional Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn a Play Pokémon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

• June 17: League starts at 2:00 pm (Challenge starts at 11 am). Optional Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn a Play Pokémon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

Q2 Leaderboard contest concludes! The current contest started in April and runs through the last League in June, where the player with the most Pikachu points wins a special League prize! So come to League, play in the TCG, VG, or Pokémon 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.

May/June Events: Scarlet & Violet Paldeo Evolved Prereleases! Saturdays starting at 11:00 am.

• May 27:  Prerelease tourney for all age divisions for a $30 entry fee (reg until 11:30) which gets you a Build and Battle kit at the start of the event and, if you complete the 3-round tournament, 3 additional booster packs.

• June 3:  Prerelease tourney for all age divisions for a $30 entry fee (reg until 11:30) which gets you a Build and Battle kit at the start of the event and, if you complete the 3-round tournament, 3 additional booster packs.

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 of the event. If this is your first time attending an event at the Fantastic Store, you will also need to provide your Pokémon player ID and your birthday. We need this information to enter you into the event. Note 

This latest Pokémon set - Scarlet & Violet: Paldea Evolved - will be available at the Fantastic Store starting June 6, 2023! Check out all the S&V products they have available. This set releases on June 9 and becomes Legal for tournament play starting June 23. Check out the official Pokémon press release.

Local Championship Point Events Have Returned Starting April, 2023! League Challenges and Cups are Back!

You now have opportunities to earn Championship Points at the local League level starting in April, 2023! Check out this official announcement from Pokémon about the return of in-store competitions. We'll be running our April League Challenge on Sat, 4/29! May League Challenge on Sat, May 13! And June League Challenge on Sat, June 17! PLUS, our first League Cup will be held on Sat, June 24!

League Challenge details:

• Registration: from 11:00 to 11:30 am onsite.

• Entry Fee: $10 (cash or Paypal only)

• Decklist: printed decklist is required. We recommend using the RK9 decklist creator from your Player Dashboard (and print out using CONTROL-P). Proxies are NOT allowed.

• Format: Standard, 60-card deck. 30-minute, single game Swiss Rounds. Number of rounds based on attendance. No Top Cut.

• Prizes: current booster packs based on attendance. And you may also earn a Prize Pack.

• Championship Points: Top finishers in each age division earn CPs based on the kicker (see chart below)!

League Cup details:

• Advanced registration: Link coming soon!

• Entry fee: Advanced registration: $20 | Onsite registration (if spots are still available): $30 (cash or Paypal only)

• Decklist: printed decklist is required. We recommend using the RK9 decklist creator from your Player Dashboard (and print out using CONTROL-P). Proxies are NOT allowed.

• Format: Standard, 60-card deck. 30-minute, single game Swiss Rounds. Number of rounds based on attendance. Top Cut based on attendance.

• Prizes: The winner in each age division wins a Champion mat! And top finishers win current booster packs based on attendance.

• Championship Points: Top finishers in each age division earn CPs based on the kicker (see chart below)!

Here are the official Play Pokémon pages about League Challenges and League Cups.

May

The Big Lick Comic Con Retrospective in pictures! 

Relive our exciting weekend of Pokémon play!

May Leagues: Saturdays starting at 2:00 pm. Earn Play Pokémon Prize Packs and collectible promo cards for participating in League! Earn More Rewards In Our Leaderboard Contest!

• May 6: Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn the new Play Pokémon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

• May 13:  Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn the new Play Pokémon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

Q2 Leaderboard contest continue! The current contest started in April and runs through the last League in June, where the player with the most Pikachu points wins a special League prize! So come to League, play in the TCG, VG, or Pokémon 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.

Local Championship Point Events Have Returned Starting April, 2023! League Challenges and Cups are Back!

You now have opportunities to earn Championship Points at the local League level starting in April, 2023! Check out this official announcement from Pokémon about the return of in-store competitions. We'll be running our April League Challenge on Sat, 4/29! May League Challenge on Sat, May 13! And June League Challenge on Sat, June 17! PLUS, our first League Cup will be held on Sat, June 24!

League Challenge details:

• Registration: from 11:00 to 11:30 am onsite.

• Entry Fee: $10 (cash or Paypal only)

• Decklist: printed decklist is required. We recommend using the RK9 decklist creator from your Player Dashboard (and print out using CONTROL-P). Proxies are NOT allowed.

• Format: Standard, 60-card deck. 30-minute, single game Swiss Rounds. Number of rounds based on attendance. No Top Cut.

• Prizes: current booster packs based on attendance. And you may also earn a Prize Pack.

• Championship Points: Top finishers in each age division earn CPs based on the kicker (see chart below)!

League Cup details:

• Advanced registration: Link coming soon!

• Entry fee: Advanced registration: $20 | Onsite registration (if spots are still available): $30 (cash or Paypal only)

• Decklist: printed decklist is required. We recommend using the RK9 decklist creator from your Player Dashboard (and print out using CONTROL-P). Proxies are NOT allowed.

• Format: Standard, 60-card deck. 30-minute, single game Swiss Rounds. Number of rounds based on attendance. Top Cut based on attendance.

• Prizes: The winner in each age division wins a Champion mat! And top finishers win current booster packs based on attendance.

• Championship Points: Top finishers in each age division earn CPs based on the kicker (see chart below)!

Here are the official Play Pokémon pages about League Challenges and League Cups.

April 

April Leagues: Saturdays starting at 2:00 pm. Earn Play Pokemon Prize Packs and collectible promo cards for participating in League! Earn More Rewards In Our Leaderboard Contest!

• April 1:  Led by our League Leader, Michael! Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn the new Play Pokemon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

• April 8:  Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn the new Play Pokemon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

• April 29:  Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn the new Play Pokemon Prize Pack or collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

NEW Q2 Leaderboard contest starts! The new contest will run from April through the last League in June, 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.

Exciting News! Chantville League and Blowout Cards at the Big Lick Comic Con!

Chantville League and Blowout Cards will run the first-ever Pokemon TCG tournament at the Big Lick Comic Con that is coming to the Dulles Expo Center from Sat, April 15 through Sun, April 16! We'll be offering a Standard Format Pokemon TCG Tournament there! 

• It'll be the first weekend of Standard Format rotation! 

• PLUS Scarlet and Violet is LEGAL! 

• Awesome prizes - Scarlet & Violet booster packs awarded to the top finishers! Prizing will depend on the number of players in the tournament.

Click here for the registration link, which is on the RK9 website! 

IMPORTANT: RK9 registration INCLUDES ticket entry into the Comic Con! 

This tournament is capped at 150 players, so register early to avoid missing out! Note that there will only be one division, so all players will be playing together. In other words, no separate Juniors, Seniors, or Masters divisions. This is to help ensure that the tournament can be completed in one day, on Sat, 4/15. 

Tournament Schedule:

• 9:00 am: Big Lick Comic Con doors open ONLY for Pokemon tournament players

• 9:45 am: Player's meeting - Round 1 pairings will be posted a few minutes before the meeting. Players need to be seated at their Round 1 table for the meeting.

• 10:00 am: Tournament begins!

• Lunch break - we'll look to offer a lunch break after Round 4.

Additionally, we'll be offering a Learn to Play the Pokemon TCG area for newcomers and beginners. And for both days - Saturday AND Sunday, we'll be offering Side Events. What are Side Events? If you are not familiar, learn more on our webpage about League Activities and Tournaments. There will be give-aways, door prizes, and lots of goodies for attendees!

• Standard tournament: Sat, 4/15

• Side Events with Prize Wall: Sat, 4/15 starting at 11:00 am. Sun, 4/16 starting when doors open at 11:00 am

• Learn-to-Play: All day Sat and Sun

If you did not register for the Pokemon TCG tournament and want to attend the Comic Con and just play in Side Events, you will need to purchase a ticket for entry into the Comic Con here.

League Challenges and Cups are Back!

Check out this official announcement from Pokemon about the return of in-store competitions. We'll be running our April League Challenge on Sat, 4/29! 

• Registration: from 11:00 to 11:30 am onsite.

• Entry Fee: $10.

• Deck list: printed deck list is required. You can use the RK9 deck list creator from your Player Dashboard. Proxies are NOT allowed.

• Format: Standard, 60-card deck. 30-minute, single game Swiss Rounds. Number of rounds based on attendance. No Top Cut.

• Prizes: current booster packs based on attendance. And you may also earn a Prize Pack.

• Championship Points: Top finishers in each age division earn CPs!

March 

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

• March 4:  Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn the new Play Pokemon Prize Pack or older, collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

• March 11:  Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn the new Play Pokemon Prize Pack or older, collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

March Scarlet & Violet Prereleases: Saturdays starting at 11:00 am.

• March 18:  Prerelease tourney for all age divisions for a $30 entry fee (reg until 11:30) which gets you a Build and Battle kit plus 3 booster packs upon completion of the tourney.

• March 25:  Prerelease tourney for all age divisions for a $30 entry fee (reg until 11:30) which gets you a Build and Battle kit plus 3 booster packs upon completion of the tourney.

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 of 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.

The latest Pokemon set - Scarlet & Violet - is available at the Fantastic Store starting March 27, 2023! Check out all the S&V products they have available.

Q1 Leaderboard Contest to Conclude at the Last League in March!

The Q1 Leaderboard contest runs from Jan through the last League in March, 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.

Decklist Idea - the Yveltal Control Deck!

Check out this article from Nathan about one of his favorite decks to play!

February 

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

• Feb 4:  Standard format tourney for all age divisions, First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn the new Play Pokemon Prize Pack or older, collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! 

• Feb 11:  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 the new Play Pokemon Prize Pack or older, collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! Starts at 2:00 pm.

• Feb 18:  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 the new Play Pokemon Prize Pack or older, collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! Starts at 2:00 pm.

The Q1 Leaderboard contest runs from Jan through the last League in March, 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.

Play Pokemon! League Rewards Are Here!

Check out this article on pokemon.com for details about the Prize Pack rewards delivered to Leagues. 

January 

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.

This fundraiser was definitely boosted by the incredibly generous donations from the Fantastic Store, as well as gift cards from local area restaurants! A HUGE THANK YOU to the following businesses for their support: 

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

• Jan 7:  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 the new Play Pokemon Prize Pack or older, collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! Starts at 2:00 pm.

• Jan 14:  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 the new Play Pokemon Prize Pack or older, collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! Starts at 2:00 pm.

• Jan 21: League Leader Michael will run this League! He's getting input from the community on Discord whether to start at a different time. So stay tuned. Standard format tourney for all age divisions. Open League play - First Step (learn to play the TCG!), casual play, trading, VG, POGO, Unite, and more! Earn the new Play Pokemon Prize Pack or older, collectible League promo cards just for playing in League! We are running low on the new Play Pokemon Prize Packs, so be sure to come to League soon so that you can earn one!

A new Leaderboard contest runs from Jan through the last League in March, 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. 

Sword & Shield Crown Zenith - is available now at the Fantastic Store. 

Local Championship Point Events May Be Returning in 2023! 

There may be opportunities to earn Championship Points at the local League level starting in 2023. In preparation for this, I will be using Play Pokemon's COVID-19 recommendations for local events, specifically, the following: 

• If you have any potential symptoms of COVID-19, please stay at home, rest, and take care of yourself. Do not come to League. 

• Although Play Pokemon recommends that attendees wear a mask, I will not require this at our League. Your choice whether you would like to wear one or not.

• Eating or drinking inside the venue must remain clearly separated from the League play area. There are a few tables near my Organizer table that will be dedicated for eating and drinking.

• Please bring your own hand sanitizer and use prior to each match.

• For the time being, you may forego the traditional handshake before the start of a match. If you like, you can be creative and do something like a fist bump, elbow bump, etc.

Your cooperation with these guidelines is greatly appreciated to ensure that we maintain a healthy and safe environment for all attendees, especially younger children and those that may be immuno-compromised. If Play Pokemon updates its guidelines, I will adjust as needed. Here's a link to the official Pokemon COVID-19 policies. You can also keep track of Pokemon reopenings info by region.