Pokemon: League Challenge November

The Gamers' Emporium is hosting a Pokemon TCG League Challenge on Friday 27 November, starting at 6:00pm. It's part of the Play! Pokémon Championship Series, which is the official competitive circuit for the trading card game. These Challenges are the entry-level tournaments of that series, run at local Play! Pokémon Stores rather than as big standalone events, so it's a good place to get a feel for how the competitive side of the game works without having to travel far.

If you're playing for more than just the fun of it, there's a proper incentive on the line. You earn Championship Points for taking part, which go towards an invitation to the World Championships. Even if you don't make the top of the table, everyone gets a Play! Point just for playing. The events run roughly once a month, so if you're looking to build up your points over the season, this is one of the regular stops.

The format is Swiss, which means you'll play a set number of rounds against other players and won't be knocked out after a single loss. There's no top cut to a single-elimination bracket, so you're in for the whole thing regardless of your record. The cap is 16 players, so it's a relatively tight field.

Before you turn up, there are a few things you'll need to have sorted. You'll need a Pokémon Trainer Club account with a Player ID, and you have to opt in to the Play! Pokémon program. You'll also need a Standard Deck List ready to go. Entry is £8.29, and it all kicks off at 6:00pm at The Gamers' Emporium, 5-6 Union Street, SA1 3EE, Swansea.