COLONIE, NY (NEWS10) – The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a common sight in card and game stores, but not everyone knows organized play or how to play the game. The Colonie Center Sports Zone began hosting Play! Pokemon events in 2023 thanks to a new Pokemon manager.
“We started very small. When we started we were at the back of the food court next to the cinema. I want to have a place that I didn't have as a child. There weren’t many places you could go and feel safe being around a group or crew,” described Andrew Cohn.
42 Pokémon trainers competed for the top spot in three different age groups. The inaugural Sports Zone League Cup raised $1,100 for the Ronald McDonald House through entry fees and raffles.
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Cohn's love of the game takes him across the country alongside competitive players vying for a chance to compete in the World Championship, being held this year in Honolulu, Hawaii.
“A trophy is a much bigger deal. For winning a cup in your division you will receive 50 points. You need a total of 600 to qualify for the World Cup. “So if you attend some of them, you can get almost half of your points allotment at local events, saving you the hassle of traveling to regional events,” explained event coordinator and streaming partner Joshua Litvinoff.
Under this rule, players can choose from a long list of cards when building a deck. It is assumed throughout the community that a few play an important role in the game and are called meta.
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“Cards like Battle VIP Pass, Ultra Ball, Nest Ball… They are included in every deck. They are so strong and so durable. There’s no reason not to play her in most decks,” explained Masters Division player Eamon Johnston.
Since it is a card game, the balance between skill and luck is difficult. “In the truest sense of the word, a mistake you make in a tournament can cost you dearly. Anything that's valuable (a set of cards that players only take after defeating their opponent's Pokémon) can also cost you,” added Masters Division player Mike Cancer.
The Sports Zone community is always looking for educational offerings with a mix of casual and competitive events. These events include:
- League day every Tuesday
- Pokémon Day, February 27, 2024
- Three League Challenges each quarter, March 5, April and May 2024
- Second League Cup, May 2024
“If you can read, you can play, and that's really all. “It’s just a healthy game that you can have a lot of fun with and actually make your way to the World Championships in Honolulu just by playing a game of cards,” said judge and streaming partner Robert Akey.
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