Woodridge’s Pokémon Video Game Player Triumphs At The 2012 Pokémon Autumn Regional Championships

BELLEVUE, WA—October 15, 2012—After a weekend of head-to-headPokémon video game battles, Matt Sybeldon of Woodrdige, Ill. earned the esteemed title ofPokémon Autumn Regional Champion at the 2012 Pokémon Autumn Regional Championships. Held in Philadelphia on October 13th and 14th, Matt is among only five Masters Division Autumn Regional video game Champions from across North America to earn a travel award to compete at the 2013 Pokémon U.S. National Championships next summer. There, Matt will compete for an invitation to the 2013 Pokémon World Championships held next August in Vancouver, B.C. where they will battle for the ultimate title of Pokémon World Champion.

“Congratulations to all of the Pokémon Autumn Regional Champions and a special thank you to the thousands of family, friends and Pokémon fans who attended the five events across the U.S. and Canada,” said J.C. Smith, director of Consumer Marketing for The Pokémon Company International. “The 2012-2013 Play! Pokemon season has gotten off to an exciting start and we’re looking forward to what’s in store for the rest of the year, including the Pokémon Winter and Spring Regional Championships.”

Players of all ages and skills are encouraged to participate in Play! Pokémonevents. For more information on future tournaments including dates, locations, prizes, and tournament rules and regulations, visit www.pokemon.com/play.

Be sure to “Like” the official Pokémon Facebook page atFacebook.com/Pokemon and follow Pokémon on Twitter @Pokemon for the latest Pokémon news and fun!

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About Pokémon

The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokémon website.Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, visitwww.pokemon.com.