BASIC INFORMATION

• What are Regional Qualifiers?
• Where and when are the Regional Qualifiers?
• How much does it cost to enter a Regional Qualifier?
• What are the prizes for Regional Qualifiers?
• How many Duelists will earn invites at a Regional Qualifier?
• What is the format for Regional Qualifier tournaments?
• Can I play in more than one Regional Qualifier?
• Can I get a COSSY ID number at the Regional Qualifier tournament, or will I need to have one before I attend the event?
• Will I need to complete and turn in a Deck List?
• What cards are legal for play?
• Can I use OCG cards in my Deck?
• Can I use foreign language cards in my Deck?

PREPARING FOR THE TOURNAMENT

• What will I need to bring to a Regional Qualifier tournament?
• What will I need to bring in order to register for the tournament?
• If I’ve never been to a Regional Qualifier tournament, what should I expect?
• I want to judge at a Regional Qualifier, instead of competing as a Duelist – how can I volunteer?
• I want to vend at a Regional Qualifier, whom should I contact?
• Whom should I contact for more information about a specific Regional Qualifier?

AT THE TOURNAMENT

• Will there be Public Events?
• How long will the tournament last?
• What happens if I am not done with my Match after 40 minutes? (Swiss Rounds – Tier 2 Events)
• What happens if I am not done with my Match after 40 minutes? (Swiss Rounds – Tier 1 Events and Single Elimination)
• Will there be vendors on site so I can buy single cards and supplies?
• Can I buy and sell cards from other participants at the event?
• I would like to provide feedback to KDE concerning the Regional I attended, who should I contact?

QUALIFICATION FOR 2011 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER TOURNAMENTS

• Do I have to qualify in my own country?
• If I qualified in a Dragon Duel tournament (for Duelists aged 12 and under) can I play in the regular World Championship Qualifier?
• Will Regional Qualifier invites “pass down” if someone who has already earned an invite earns another one?
• How and when will I receive my invite?
• Is travel or hotel included with my invite?

BASIC INFORMATION

Q: What are Regional Qualifiers?

Regional Qualifiers are Tier 2 tournaments in which Duelists compete to earn invites to their World Championship Qualifiers, along with exclusive prizes. Participants in Regional Qualifiers are held to the highest standards of sportsmanship and are expected to be fully prepared for the event.

Q: Where and when are the Regional Qualifiers?

A list of dates and locations for currently scheduled Regional Qualifier events can be found online at http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/events/regionals_locations.html. New dates will be added to the calendar approximately every 3 months.

Q: How much does it cost to enter a Regional Qualifier?

The cost of the tournament is $20.00 USD in the United States, and $25.00 CND in Canada. With your entry fee, you will receive 5 booster packs of the latest Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s booster set.

Q: What are the prizes for Regional Qualifiers?

In addition to the 5 booster packs each Duelist receives upon entering the tournament, prize distribution will be as follows:

• Top 8 Duelists each receive a 2011 WCQ Regional Game Mat.
• Top 4 Duelists also receive a Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s Card Binder.
• At the Tournament Organizer’s discretion, the above prizes may be supplemented with additional Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG product or accessory.
• Invites for 2011 World Championship Qualifier, depending upon the total registration of the event.

Q: How many Duelists will earn invites at a Regional Qualifier?

Invites to 2011 World Championship Qualifier tournaments are awarded after the final round of Swiss. Invites are awarded to the first place finisher and extend down to the specified number of places based on attendance.

If a Duelist who has already received an invitation to their 2011 World Championship Qualifier earns an additional invitation at a Regional Qualifier, the invite does not pass down.

Duelists who earn invites will be responsible for completing the 2011 WCQ Invite form on-site at the Regional Qualifier, in order to be placed on the Invite List. Incomplete information could prevent your invite from being verified by KDE, so please ensure that your information is complete, accurate and legible.

Invites are not mailed out. Duelists who earn an invite will be able to see their name on the World Championship Qualifier invite list within 2-8 weeks after the completion of the event they qualified in. A list of qualified Duelists can be found online at http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/events/2011/qualifiers_2011.html.

Q: What is the format for Regional Qualifier tournaments?

Regional Qualifier tournaments are Constructed events, which mean 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)

Regional Qualifiers will be run using Swiss Format, which means all Duelists will play a set number of rounds determined by the number of Duelists enrolled in the tournament. Duelists are not eliminated during the event. After the Swiss Round portion of the tournament is completed, the 8 top-ranked Duelists will participate in a one round Single Elimination playoff, to determine the top 4.

Swiss Rounds for the 2011 Regional Qualifier Season

Q: Can I play in more than one Regional Qualifier?

Duelists who meet the requirements can compete in any number of Regional Qualifiers, regardless if they have already earned an invite.

Q: Can I get a COSSY ID number at the Regional Qualifier tournament, or will I need to have one before I attend the event?

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

Q: Will I need to complete and turn in a Deck List?

Yes. All Duelists participating in a Regional Qualifier must turn in a completed Deck List in order to participate. Please check with the onsite Tournament Organizer for additional information in regards to the Deck List collection process. Duelists can download the official KDE Deck List at http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/events/forms/KDE_DeckList.pdf.

Q: What cards are legal for play?

Please check the “Products” page online at http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/products/ for an updated look at the 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.

In addition to checking the tournament legality of a product, please check the current Advanced Format Forbidden/Limited list. Certain cards in products with tournament-legal dates can sometimes be excluded from the current format.

Q: Can I use OCG cards in my Deck?

No. Cards printed for Asian markets are not legal for play in TCG tournaments.

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

You can 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, kept outside of your deck, when asked to do so by an opponent or tournament official.

PREPARING FOR THE TOURNAMENT

Duelists who wish to enter a Regional Qualifier must meet the following criteria

• Have a Deck that meets the current Advanced Format criteria.
• Have a COSSY ID number (obtainable at the event) and be in good standing.
• Have read and understood the following documents. These documents can be found at http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/gameplay/
• KDE Official TRADING CARD GAME Tournament Policy
• KDE Official Penalty Guidelines
• Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s TRADING CARD GAME Official Rulebook

Duelists who have been suspended from Organized Play by KDE are not considered to be in good standing, and may not register for or compete in sanctioned events. A list of suspended players can be found at http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/events/suspended.html.

Suspended persons may not enter the venue of a Regional Qualifier tournament. If a suspended person is discovered at the venue, they may be charged with offenses including but not limited to trespassing, as well as an extension of their suspension.

Q: What will I need to bring to a Regional Qualifier tournament?

You should bring a tournament-legal Deck as described above, along with 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 a COSSY ID number, you should bring your number and barcode. You’ll also need the entry fee for the tournament, as well as money for your incidentals (food, drink, etc.).

Duelists are responsible for looking after their own belongings at the event. Konami Digital Entertainment, Tournament Organizers, Staff, and Judges bear no responsibility for, and cannot be held liable for, any loss, theft or damage to the person or personal property of any attendee.

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

Duelist wishing to register for a Regional Qualifier will be required to complete a registration form at the event. Duelists will be required to present their COSSY ID number along with a form of ID in order to register for the event. Acceptable forms of ID include current-year School ID cards, driver’s licenses, passports, or other government-issued identification documents.

If you are under the age of 16, you can bring in a copy of your birth certificate as proof of ID. Duelists under the age of 16 are required to have a parent or guardian read and sign the registration form in order to be eligible to participate in a Regional Qualifier.

Duelists who register or attempt to register under another Duelist’s name or COSSY ID number will be disqualified from the event, and risk suspension from KDE Organized Play events. Duelists are required to register with their legal name, as it appears on their form of ID.

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

Regional Qualifiers are large tournaments, and attract competitive Duelists who are attempting to earn World Championship Qualifier invites, Regional prizes and keeping their Dueling skills honed.

There are a lot of things you should do to make sure you are prepared before heading to the tournament.

Read over the list of things you will need for the tournament, and make sure you have everything.

You’ll have a better time at the event if you don’t have too many bulky or heavy possessions to carry around, as it can get crowded there on the floor.  Think ahead while you are planning what to bring with you.

When you get to the event, you will need to register in order to play. 

To register, you’ll need a Registration form, a form of ID, your COSSY ID if you have one already, and the entry fee for the tournament.  You can get a Registration form at the event, or you can get one to print at home before the tournament by clicking on this link:
http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/events/forms/KDE_RegistrationSheet.pdf

Make sure your Registration form is filled out completely before you reach the registration station. 
You will also need a COSSY ID card – this is the ID number used to track you in the tournament. If you don’t already have one, you will be able to get one at the tournament.

If you have a COSSY ID and have lost or forgotten it, you can ask the Registration station to look it up for you. If you’ve played in a previous event, they may be able to retrieve your number.

Once you have a completed Registration form and a COSSY ID, you can register for the tournament.

You will also need a Deck List. A Deck List is required to participate in the Regional Qualifier.  You can get a Deck List form at the event when you register, or you can download one to fill out ahead of time by clicking on this link: http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/events/forms/KDE_DeckList.pdf

This is an editable PDF, so you will be able to type the card names in this form, which should help as your Deck List needs to be legible and complete – write the name of each card in full, and write down how many copies you have in your Deck.

• Make sure your name and COSSY ID are on your Deck List.
• Make sure your Deck List exactly matches your Deck.

Please check with the Head Judge for additional instructions on the Deck List collection process.

Duelists are responsible for paying attention to information from judges and/or tournament staff in order to understand what is going on. If Duelists have questions about the event either beforehand or while they are there, they should check with the Tournament Organizer. 

Before heading to the event, all Duelists should read over the KDE Tournament Policy and Penalty Guidelines carefully.   These documents tell you what you can and cannot do at an event, and give you a good idea of what to expect.  You may find these Guidelines by clicking the following links. 

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

When you compete in a Regional Qualifier tournament, you’ll b held to high standards of play and sportsmanship. You should know how the cards in your Deck work, and should take great care to prepare your Deck, sleeves, and Deck List. Duelists must pay attention to information from judges and/or tournament staff in order to understand what is going on.

Regional Qualifiers are excellent places to test your skills, learn more about deck-building and strategy, and see how well you match up against the other Duelists in your area.

Q: I want to judge at a Regional Qualifier, instead of competing as a Duelist – how can I volunteer?

If you’re interested in judging, you should contact the Tournament Organizer for the Regional Qualifier as soon as possible (use the contact number provided in the Regional Locator listing). Most Tournament Organizers are always on the lookout for judge staff, so be prepared to provide your full name, contact information including email and phone number, and a description of your previous judging experience.

You should also email us-judgesupport@konami.com with the same information, to be added to the KDE Judge Roster and receive additional information and updates about the Judge Program.

Judges are encouraged to take the Level 1 Rulings Comprehension test available at http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/judges/index.html. Following their successful completion of the test, they should follow the instructions at the above link and register as a judge with KDE. Head Judges are required to hold Level 1 Rulings Comprehension certification, and be enrolled in the KDE Judge Program in order to be eligible to Head Judge a Regional Qualifier.

Q: I want to vend at a Regional Qualifier, whom should I contact?

Vending space is generally available at Regional Qualifiers held outside of Official Tournament Stores, and is open 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 Regional Qualifier]”.

Q: Whom should I contact for more information about a specific Regional Qualifier?

Your best resource for answers about a specific Regional Qualifier event is the contact number listed on the Regional Locator. KDE won’t be able to answer questions such as “How do I get to the venue?,” “Where should I park?,” “When does registration start?,” and so forth. For questions such as these, you will need to contact the Tournament Organizer directly.

If you have more general questions about Regional Qualifiers, you can send them to us-opsupport@konami.com. Please be as detailed as possible, so we can try to provide you with the answers you’re seeking!

 

AT THE TOURNAMENT

Q: Will there be Public Events?

Some Regional Qualifiers will offer Public Events such as Dragon Duels and Win-A-Mat events. Check with your Tournament Organizer to find out.

Q: How long will the tournament last?

The number of Swiss rounds is determined by the number of Duelists enrolled in the tournament. Rounds in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME are 40 minutes long. Since you can play all rounds in a Swiss tournament, you should expect to be at the event for several hours.

Q: What happens if I am not done with my Match after 40 minutes? (Swiss Rounds – Tier 2 Events)

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, or stalling to have a Match end 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? (Swiss Rounds – Tier 1 Events and Single Elimination)

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

If your Regional Qualifier is being held in an Official Tournament Store, you will have access to tournament supplies. Regional Qualifiers held outside of Official Tournament Stores will provide vendors selling single cards, sealed product, and card supplies such as sleeves and deck boxes.

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

Duelists are not allowed to buy or sell cards from one another at Regional Qualifier venues. If you do so, you risk being removed from the event.

Q: I would like to provide feedback to KDE concerning the Regional I attended, who should I contact?

If you attended one of our Regional Qualifiers and would like to send us feedback, you can send us an e-mail about your specific event by clicking on the Feedback link located beside the event listing corresponding to the Regional Qualifier you attended. You can find the list of Regional Qualifiers at http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/events/regionals_locations.html. All feedback, including comments about the organizer, the judges, or the event itself, will be welcome! Please make sure your e-mail includes which Regional you attended, including date and location.

Please do not use the feedback button to ask general questions about the Regional.

QUALIFICATION FOR
2011 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER TOURNAMENTS

Q: Do I have to qualify in my own country?

You can earn a WCQ invite through Regional Qualifiers, Dragon Duels, and Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series Tournaments in any country, but you can only compete in the World Championship Qualifier held in your own country. For example, if a Duelist from Mexico qualifies in the United States, he or she will still play in the Central American World Championship Qualifier.

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

Duelists who are 12 or under are eligible to play in their World Championship Qualifier, in addition to any separate events held specifically for Duelists aged 12 and under.

Q: Will Regional Qualifier invites “pass down” if someone who has already earned an invite earns another one?

No, invites will not pass down for the 2011 Regional Qualifier season.

Q: How and when will I receive my invite?

A list of Duelists who have earned invites to a World Championship Qualifier is posted online.

You can find the list here:
http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/events/2011/qualifiers_2011.html

• You will not receive an invite or certificate in the mail.
• You will not receive an invite or certificate via email.
• You will not be required to present any kind of certificate in order to enter a World Championship Qualifier.
• Your name and information will be added to the Invite List, and that is proof that you qualified.
• Information about your World Championship Qualifier will likewise 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 by checking the www.yugioh-card.com/en/events page for updates.

If you have a question about your invite status, you can 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.

Please remember that invite status information isn’t automatically or instantly updated, so you should allow approximately 2-8 weeks after the conclusion of your event for results to be posted from your tournament.

Q: Is travel or hotel included with my invite?

Travel and/or lodging are not included with invites earned at a Regional Qualifier – the expenses incurred in attending a World Championship Qualifier tournament will be the responsibility of the Duelist.