WCQ Information

• What happens at the North American World Championship Qualifier?
• When is the North American World Championship Qualifier?
• Where is the North American World Championship Qualifier?
• What time does the North American World Championship Qualifier start?
• When is registration for the North American World Championship Qualifier?
• What are the prizes for the North American World Championship Qualifier?
• How much does it cost to enter the North American World Championship Qualifier?
• Are there any pack prizes?
• Is there a participation prize?
• What is the format for the North American World Championship Qualifier?
• How many rounds will the North American World Championship Qualifier have?
• How many Duelists will advance to Day 2?
• How many Duelists will advance to the Top Cut?
• What will I need to bring to the North American World Championship Qualifier?
• I’ve never been to a Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship Qualifier, what should I expect?
• I will be bringing my children to the North American World Championship Qualifier. Is there anything I should know?
• Will the North American World Championship Qualifier have the Bounty Feature?
• Will there be meal breaks during the tournament?
• What happens if I am not done with my Match after 40 minutes? (Swiss)
• What happens if I am not done with my Match after 40 minutes? (Single-Elimination)
• Who should I contact if I have questions about the North American World Championship Qualifier?

Registration Information

• When can I register for the North American World Championship Qualifier?
• What will I need to bring in order to register?
• When and how will I receive my participation prizes?

Invitations

• Do I need an invitation to participate in the North American World Championship Qualifier?
• If I qualified in a Dragon Duel tournament (for players aged 12 and under) can I play in the regular World Championship Qualifier?
• How and when will I receive my invite?
• What should I do if I can’t find my name on KDE’s online invite list?

Public Events

• Will there be Public Events? * UPDATE *
• Will the YCS Free Public Event Coupons be redeemable at the WCQ?
• What are the point values for the Public Events?
• What is the Public Events playoff?
• What is the Ever Changing Rules event?

Card Legality

• What cards are legal for play?
• Can I use OCG cards (cards printed for use in Japan and other Asian territories) in my Deck?
• Can I use foreign language cards in my Deck?

Dragon Duel Championship

• When is the Dragon Duel Championship?
• Do I need an invitation to participate in the Dragon Duel Championship?
• What are the prizes for the Dragon Duel Championship?

Video Game

• Who will be competing in the 2011 Video Game World Championship Qualifier?
• How many will go on to the World Championship?
• What game will the Finalists be competing with?
• What do the Top 4 Finalists win?
• When will the 2011 Video Game National Championship take place?
• How can I participate next year?

Travel

• What is the closest airport to the North American World Championship Qualifier?
• What’s the best way to get to the tournament from the airport?
• Is there a Yu-Gi-Oh! room rate at any nearby hotels?

Miscellaneous

• I want to judge at the North American World Championship Qualifier, instead of competing as a player – how can I volunteer?
• Will there be vendors on site so I can buy single cards and supplies and sell my cards?
• I want to vend at the North American World Championship Qualifier, whom should I contact?
• Can I buy and sell from other people at the event?
• Where can I get food and drinks during the tournament?
• Will there be Duel Terminals at the North American World Championship Qualifier?
• Can I get a COSSY ID number at the North American World Championship Qualifier, or will I need to have one before I attend the event?
• Will there be coverage of the North American World Championship Qualifier?

WCQ Information

Q: What happens at the World Championship Qualifier?

A: The North American World Championship Qualifier is an invite-only tournament, where Duelists will compete for a chance to represent North America at the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship tournament. The Top 6 winners of the WCQ will receive paid travel and accommodations to the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship, along with a host of other prizes, and the winner will receive the title of “North American Champion 2011.”

The North American World Championship Qualifier is a 3-day event. On Friday, July 15th, Duelists who have not qualified for the WCQ can play in Last Chance Qualifiers to earn an invite to the WCQ, which will take place on Saturday, July 16th.

In addition to the World Championship Qualifier, there will be numerous Public Events, including tournaments specifically for Duelists aged 12 and under, and Regional Qualifier tournaments, that are open to anyone.

Q: When is the North American World Championship Qualifier?

A: July 15th-17th, 2011

Q: Where is the North American World Championship Qualifier?

A:  David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Meeting Rooms 319-321 (Friday Only)
Exhibit Hall B (Saturday and Sunday)
1000 Ft. Duquesne Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Q: When is registration for the North American World Championship Qualifier?

A: Friday, July 15th:
12:00pm – 7:00pm
MEETING ROOMS 319-321

Saturday, July 16th:
7:30am – 9:45am
EXHIBIT HALL B

Q: What are the prizes for the North American World Championship Qualifier?

A:

Q: How much does it cost to enter the North American World Championship Qualifier?

A: There is no entry fee into the North American World Championship Qualifier, but entry fees are required for Public Events.  Each Duelist will receive participation packs equal to the entry fee for all Public Events.

Q: Are there any pack prizes?

A: The only booster pack prizes are listed above in the prize breakdown. No other booster pack prizes will be awarded.

Q: Is there a participation prize?

A: Yes, all Duelists who register for the North American World Championship Qualifier will receive a World Championship Qualifier Game Mat, and a pack of World Championship Qualifier Card Sleeves.

Q: What is the format for the North American World Championship Qualifier?

A: World Championship tournaments are Constructed events, which means each Duelist must bring his or her own Deck in order to compete. Decks must be constructed according to the latest Advanced Format guidelines. (See here for more information: http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/limited/#limited_adv) The Advanced Format changed as of March 1st. You will need to make sure your Deck matches the current format.

Q: How many rounds will the North American World Championship Qualifier have?

A: The total number of Duelists will determine the number of rounds that are played.

Q: How many Duelists will advance to Day 2?

A: If there are 513 – 1024 Duelists registered for the WCQ, then the Top 128 Duelists OR all players with a minimum of 16 Points, whichever number is larger, will advance to Day 2.

If there are 1025 or more Duelists registered for the WCQ, then the Top 128 Duelists OR all players with a minimum of 19 Points, whichever number is larger, will advance to Day 2.

If there are 2049 or more Duelists registered for the WCQ, then the Top 256 Duelists OR all players with a minimum of 19 Points, whichever number is larger, will advance to Day 2.

Q: How many Duelists will advance to the Top Cut?

A: The top 64 Duelists after the Swiss rounds are complete will advance to the Top Cut.

Q: What will I need to bring to the North American World Championship Qualifier?

A: You should bring a tournament-legal Deck as described above, registration sheet, and a completed Deck List (which can be downloaded as a fillable PDF here). The registration sheet and Deck List can also be found on-site. You should also bring any tournament supplies you will need; such as paper and pen to track Life Points, dice or counters if you are using cards which require them, extra sleeves to replace any that become damaged, and so forth. If you have earned an invite to the WCQ, you must bring your COSSY ID number and a form of personal identification with a picture, as you will need proof of identity in order to register.  If you are only competing in Public Events, if you already have a COSSY ID number, you should bring your number and barcode or if you do not have one, you can obtain one at the event.  You should also bring money for your incidentals (food, drinks, Public Events, etc.).

Q: If I’ve never been to a World Championship Qualifier, what should I expect?

A: World Championship Qualifiers are a showcase for a country’s top Duelists, and attract other Duelists of all ages and skill levels to participate in the Public Events. Many Duelists will travel great distances to attend the World Championship Qualifier, so you can expect to meet lots of fellow Yu-Gi-Oh! fans from all over your country.

Duelists are responsible for paying attention to information from judges and/or tournament staff in order to understand what is going on. If players have questions about the event either beforehand or while they are there, they should check with the Event Manager.
Duelists should read over the KDE Tournament Policy and Penalty Guidelines carefully before the event.  You may find these Guidelines by clicking the following links. 

Tournament Policy
Penalty Guidelines
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Policy

Q: I will be bringing my children to the North American World Championship Qualifier. Is there anything I should know?

A: We will have a Parents’ Lounge available, where parents can relax while their children are occupied in the tournament. This area is open only to parents and their children. You are not required to stay on site, but we strongly recommend that you do, especially if your children are young or if this is their first event. Please know that the tournament staff cannot be responsible for looking after your children, or their possessions. Always make sure your child has a way to contact you, and is provided with any necessities such as food, drink, or extra money if you do not wish to remain in the tournament area.

When your child is preparing for the event, encourage him or her to leave any bulky or expensive possessions at home. Electronics and large collections of cards are hard to keep track of during a big tournament – your child will have a much easier day without having to worry about these kinds of items.

Trading cards is a big attraction at large tournaments, but if you are concerned about your child trading away valuable cards, talk to him or her before the event and set some guidelines. You can always have your child check with you before making a trade.

Q: Will the North American World Championship Qualifier have the Bounty Feature?

A: No, the Bounty feature will not happen at the North American World Championship Qualifier.

Q: Will there be meal breaks during the tournament?

A: There will not be any meal breaks scheduled into the tournament.

Q: What happens if I am not done with my Match after 40 minutes? (Swiss)

A: Sometimes a match will not be finished when the time ends for a round. If this happens, the Duelist should note whose turn it is when time is called, and raise their hands for a judge. The judge should be notified that the match is ongoing and whose turn it is. The judge may or may not stay to supervise the End of Match procedure, but should ensure that both Duelists understand the following procedure.

Please follow these instructions when proceeding to End of Match procedures during the Swiss portion of the tournament:

• Continue until the end of the current turn.
• If the Duel is not over at the end of the turn, go to “Extra Turns.”
  • Extra Turns = Conduct (5) additional turns starting from the opponent’s turn.
• If a win condition (a Duelist’s Life Points is reduced to 0 or an instant win condition such as the effect of Exodia the Forbidden One or Final Countdown) occurs within these (5) turns, the Duel ends as normal.
• If a win condition does NOT occur within these (5) turns, the Duelist who has higher Life Points after the “Extra Turns” (5 turns) wins.
• If both Duelists’ Life Points are the same after the “Extra Turns” are completed, the Duel is considered a Draw.
  • After the Duel is concluded, the Duelist who has won the most Duels is declared the winner of the Match.
  • If both Duelists won one Duel and the third Duel ends in a Draw, the Match is considered to be a Draw.
  • If time is called before a Duel begins (during Side Decking, before drawing their opening Hands), and both Duelists have won the same number of Duels, the Match is considered to be a Draw.
  • If time is called before a Duel begins (during Side Decking, before drawing their opening Hands), and one Duelist has won more Duels, the Duelist with more wins is declared the winner of the Match.

Draws may only occur during the Swiss portion of a tournament and only during End of Match procedures.  Duelists may not intentionally end a Match in a Draw.  Intentionally ending a Match in a Draw is against tournament policy and could result in a Disqualification.

Q: What happens if I am not done with my Match after 40 minutes? (Single Elimination)

A: During Single Elimination rounds, if Duelists have not completed their matches during their allotted time limit, proceed to End of Match procedures. Please follow these instructions when proceeding to End of Match procedures during the Single Elimination portion of the tournament:

• Continue until the end of the current turn.
• If the Duel did not end at the end of the turn, go to “Extra Turns.”
  • Extra Turns = Conduct (3) additional turns starting from the opponent’s turn.
• If a win condition (a Duelist is reduced to 0 Life Points or an instant win condition such as the effect of Exodia the Forbidden One or Final Countdown) occurs within these (3) turns, the Duel ends as normal.
• If a win condition does NOT occur within these (3) turns, the Duelist who has higher Life Points after the “Extra Turns” wins.
• If both Duelists’ Life Points are the same after the “Extra Turns” are completed, then play will continue until the first change in Life Points – an increase or a decrease – and the Duelist with the highest Life Point total becomes the winner.
  • If Life Points are changed as a chain is being created, the Duelist with the higher Life Points wins the moment the change in Life Points is made.
  • If Life Points are changed as a chain is resolving, all effects that are already on the chain should be resolved before comparing Life Points for the purpose of checking which Duelist has more Life Points.
  • If a Duelist’s Life Points reach 0 or if a win condition occurs while resolving the chain, normal game play rules apply.
• Once the winner has been determined for the current Duel, the match winner is determined.
  • If a Duelist has more wins than his or her opponent, that Duelist wins the Match.
  • If both Duelists have the same number of Duel wins, they will begin a new Duel with specific guidelines.
    • Neither Duelist may use his or her Side Deck.
    • Whichever Duelist that lost the previous Duel chooses who will go first.
    • The Duel will continue for a total of (4) turns, two turns for each Duelist, unless a Duelist manages to win the Duel before the (4) turns are up.
    • Once the four turns are completed, Life Point totals are compared and the Duelist with the highest Life Point total wins the Match.
    • If both Duelists’ Life Points are the same after the (4) turns are completed, then play will continue until the first change in Life Points – an increase or a decrease – and the Duelist with the highest Life Point total becomes the winner.  Please use the same criteria listed above (Step 5).

Draws cannot occur during Single-Elimination.  There must always be a winner.

Q: Who should I contact if I have questions about the North American World Championship Qualifier?

A: e-mail: fdebrito@kde-us.com

Registration Information

Q: When can I register for the North American World Championship Qualifier?

A: Registration will be open on Friday, July 15th from 12:00pm until 7:00pm, and on Saturday, July 16th, from 7:30am until 9:45am. We strongly recommend that you register on Friday, to make sure you are ready to play on Saturday. If you register on Friday, you do not need to register again on Saturday.

Q: What will I need to bring in order to register?

A: Make sure you have all of the following, in order to register for the North American World Championship Qualifier:

• Your COSSY ID (if you have lost your ID and cannot remember your number, we will be able to look it up on site).
• A proper form of identification, with your name and photo. A driver’s license, school ID, or passport are all acceptable forms of identification. Since this tournament is invitation-only, it is important that we verify the identity of all participants.
• Completed Deck List (downloadable here)
• Completed registration form (downloadable here)
  

Q: When will I receive my participation prizes?

A: You will receive your participation prizes when you register for the WCQ.

Invitations

Q: Do I need an invitation to participate in the North American World Championship Qualifier?

A: Yes, you must have earned an invite at a Regional Qualifier, Dragon Duel, Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series event, or Last Chance Qualifier in order to participate in the North American World Championship Qualifier.

Q: If I qualified in a Dragon Duel tournament (for players aged 12 and under) can I play in the regular World Championship Qualifier?

A: Duelists who have earned an invitation from July 2010 - July 2011 at a Dragon Duel event are eligible to play in the World Championship Qualifier, in addition to any separate events held specifically for Duelists aged 12 and under. The Dragon Duel Championship takes place at 10:00am on Sunday, July 17th.

Q: How and when will I receive my invite?

A: The list of players who have earned invites to their World Championship Qualifier is posted online at www.yugioh-card.com/en/events. You will not receive a physical invitation, or an invitation through email or postal mail – you will be entered into the invite list database.

Information about your World Championship Qualifier will be posted online – it will not be mailed or sent to you. Duelists are responsible to verify that their name appears on the appropriate invite list, and to access posted information about their World Championship Qualifier tournament by checking the www.yugioh-card.com/en/events page for updates.

Q: What should I do if I can’t find my name on KDE’s online invite list?       

A: First, look at the Regional Qualifier list. Events that are highlighted in blue and marked with an asterisk have had their results updated to the invite list.

Check the invite list carefully, to see if you have missed seeing your name. Look at the COSSY ID numbers as well. If you do not see your name and the event at which you qualified is highlighted in blue, you should email us-opsupport@konami.com and ask. Please provide your full name, COSSY ID number, and the date and location of the event at which you qualified, along with your question, so we can answer you quickly and efficiently.

If you see an error in your name or COSSY ID, you can also report this to us-opsupport@konami.com. Make sure to include your full name, COSSY ID, and the date and location of the event at which you qualified.

Public Events

Q: Will there be Public Events? * UPDATE *

A:

FRIDAY, JULY 15th
Time	Name	Entry Fee
10:00 AM – 4:00PM	Last Chance WCQ (16-player flights)	$10.00
12:00 PM – 4:00PM	Retro Draft (8-player flights)	$12.00
12:00 PM – 5:00PM	Win-A-Mat (8-player flights)	$12.00
1:00 PM	3 vs. 3 Team Dueling	$30.00/team
2:00 PM	Dragon Duel (Qualifies for 2011 Dragon Duel Championship)	$4.00
3:00 PM	ATTACK OF THE GIANT CARD!!	$12.00
SATURDAY, JULY 16th
Name	Time	Entry Fee
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM	2012 Regional Qualifiers (16-player Flights)	$12.00
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM	Retro Draft (8-Player Flights)	$12.00
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM	Win-A-Mat (8-Player Flights)	$12.00
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM	Pegasus Challenge (Caste Party Format)	$10.00
3:00 PM	Dragon Duel (Qualifies for 2011 Dragon Duel Championship)	$4.00
4:00 PM	ATTACK OF THE GIANT CARD!!	$12.00
SUNDAY, JULY 17th
Name	Time	Entry Fee
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM	2012 Regional Qualifiers (16-player Flights)	$12.00
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM	Retro Draft (8-Player Flights)	$12.00
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM	Win-A-Mat (8-Player Flights)	$12.00
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM	Pegasus Challenge (Caste Party Format)	$10.00
10:00 AM	3 vs. 3 Team Dueling	$30.00/team
12:00 PM	Ever Changing Rules	$10.00
1:00 PM	Over the Nexus Video Game Tournament	$10.00
3:45 PM	Cut-off to earn points for Public Events Playoffs
4:00 PM	Public Event Playoffs

 

Q: Will the YCS Free Public Event Coupons be redeemable at the WCQ?

A: No, you will not be able to redeem the YCS Free Public Event coupons at any Public Events being held at the WCQ.

Q: What are the point values for the Public Events? * UPDATE *

A:

Duelists must be present for the start of the first round of each event for which they register, in order to receive the entry points. You cannot register in more than one event at a time. If you register for an event while you are still enrolled in a previous event, you will forfeit all Public Event points for all events in which you are simultaneously registered.

Q: What is the Public Events playoff?

A: The Public Events playoff gives 8 hopeful Duelists a chance to win their very own copy of the coveted YCS Prize Cards! There are two different playoffs, each of which awards the YCS Prize Cards to the winner.

Playoff 1: Four names will be drawn at random from all Public Events entrants over the course of the weekend. These four competitors will then play two rounds of single elimination to determine a winner, who will receive a Super Rare set of the YCS Prize Cards.

Playoff 2: The four Duelists who have accumulated the highest number of Public Event points will play two rounds of single elimination to determine a winner, who will receive a Super Rare set of the YCS Prize Cards. In case of a points total tie, the selection will be made by random drawing from the tied competitors.

Q: What is the Ever Changing Rules event?

A: The Ever Changing Rules event is your chance to play Yu-Gi-Oh! in a way that changes constantly, and in a completely unpredictable manner!

• The event will be limited to three Swiss rounds, regardless of the number of participants that enter.
• Advanced Format.
• The Ever Changing Rules event will have special rules that will change randomly. Rules will be called out at random intervals, and these rules could impact everyone, they could impact only a few Duelists, but they will always be interesting!

Card Legality

Q: What cards are legal for play?

A: Please check the “Products” page online at http://www.yugioh‐card.com/en/products/ for the most current legality dates of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s product releases, prior to preparing your Deck for the event.

Also check this link for the current legality of all promotional cards http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/gameplay/cardlegality.html.

Q: Can I use OCG cards (cards printed for use in Japan and other Asian territories) in my Deck?

A: No, cards printed for Asian markets are not legal for play in TCG tournaments, even if you have a translation available.

Q: Can I use foreign language cards in my Deck?

A: You may use foreign-language copies of legal-for-play cards printed for the TCG market, as long as you can show an official translation of the card when asked to do so by an opponent or tournament official. Translations do not have to be a local language version of the card. An official translation written down or printed is acceptable. If you want to use a local language version of the card as your translation, you must keep that card outside of your Deck box.

 

 

Dragon Duel Championship

Q: When is the Dragon Duel Championship?

A: The Dragon Duel Championship will take place on Sunday, July 17th at 10:00am.

Q: Do I need an invitation to participate in the Dragon Duel Championship?

A: Yes, you must have earned an invite at a Dragon Duel Qualifier in order to participate in the Dragon Duel Championship.

Q: What are the prizes for the Dragon Duel Championship?

A:

Video Game

Q: Who will be competing in the 2011 Video Game World Championship Qualifier?

A: The Top 4 Regional Finalists from across the nation have been invited to compete live in Pittsburgh.

Q: How many will go on to the World Championship?

A: The Top 2 Finalists will go on to compete in the World Championship Tournament.

Q: What game will the Finalists be competing with?

A: Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s World Championship 2011 – Over the Nexus

Q: What do the Top 4 Finalists win?

A:

Q: When will the 2011 Video Game National Championship take place?

A: Sunday, July 17th at 11:00 AM.

Q: How can I participate?

A: Visit the tournament website www.yugiohuschampionship.com and register to compete.

 

Travel

Q: What is the closest airport to the North American World Championship Qualifier?

A: Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)

Q: What’s the best way to get to the tournament from the airport?

A: There are numerous transportation options to get to the convention center, with Super Shuttle being the most cost effective.

http://www.pittsburghcc.com/cc/directions.html
http://www.supershuttle.com/en/PITAirportShuttlePittsburgh.html

Q: Is there a Yu-Gi-Oh! room rate at any nearby hotels?

A: There is no hotel block arranged at any of the downtown hotels, but for a list of hotels near the convention center, please visit the following website: http://www.pittsburghcc.com/cc/images/PDFs/Hotel_Map.pdf

Miscellaneous

Q: I want to judge at the World Championship Qualifier, instead of competing as a player – how can I volunteer?

A: If you’re interested in judging at the North American World Championship Qualifier, please email KDE’s Judge Manager at us-judgesupport@konami.com. We are always on the lookout for judges – please provide your full name, contact information including email and phone number, and a description of your previous judging experience. You can also request to be added to the KDE Judge Roster, which will enable you to receive additional information and updates about the Judge Program.

Potential judges do not currently need to hold Konami certification in order to judge, however we recommend all potential judges pass the online Rulings Comprehension Level 1 test, in order to better prepare themselves for these prestigious events. You can find information about the test, and a link to take it, here: http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/judges/index.html

Q: Will there be vendors on site so I can buy single cards and supplies and sell my cards?

A: There will be a number of vendors present, selling single cards, sealed product, and card supplies such as sleeves and deck boxes. Vendors will also be buying cards on site.

Q: I want to vend at the World Championship Qualifier, whom should I contact?

A: Vending space is available free of charge at the World Championship Qualifier, but is only available to Official Tournament Stores in good standing. Vendors must meet certain requirements and agree to abide by set guidelines. Interested vendors should email us-opsupport@konami.com with the header “Request to Vend at [name and location of event].” Vendors will be required to complete and submit an application for each event at which they wish to vend.

Cash transactions with anyone other than an approved vendor at an approved location are prohibited at World Championship Qualifier events. Attendees who conduct cash transactions, such as selling of cards or product, to anyone other than an approved vendor at a World Championship Qualifier event risk penalties including disqualification and expulsion from the venue.

Q: Can I buy and sell from other people at the event?

A: Duelists are not allowed to buy or sell from one another at the World Championship Qualifier. If you do so, you risk incurring penalties, including being disqualified and removed from the event.

Q: Where can I get food and drinks during the tournament?

A: There are numerous dining opportunities at the convention center and immediately outside the venue. For a comprehensive list of dining options, please follow this link: http://www.pittsburghcc.com/cc/images/PDFs/HungryBrochure.pdf

Q: Will there be Duel Terminals at the North American World Championship Qualifier?

A: Yes, there will be Duel Terminals at the North American World Championship Qualifier. The Duel Terminals will be set up during normal tournament hours in the event hall. The Duel Terminal machines accept $1, $5, $10, and $20 bills only – no coins. Please bring an adequate amount of dollar bills if you would like to use the Duel Terminals – each Duel Terminal costs $1.00 per play.

Q: Can I get a COSSY ID number at the North American WCQ, or will I need to have one before I attend the event?

A: If you do not have a COSSY ID number, you can get one at the event.

Q: Will there be coverage of the North American World Championship Qualifier?

A: There will be round-by-round online coverage of this event, including feature matches, a photo gallery, Deck analysis and more at www.yugioh-card.com/en/events. Even if you’re unable to make it to the event, you can still be part of the action as the coverage page is updated with live content from the tournament site.