*We have been contacted by Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., which expressed concern that some in the Yu-Gi-Oh! community may be confused by the invitation we extended this week.
We wanted to make sure there is absolutely no confusion whatsoever. All individuals who were invited to the 2009 Yu-Gi-Oh! National Championships in the United States or Canada are now also invited to play Magic: The Gathering and compete in the 2009 Magic: The Gathering National Championships. Neither Konami Digital Entertainment nor any other entity associated with or responsible for the Yu-Gi-Oh! brand, has authorized or endorsed this invitation. Despite the recent public announcement that Yu-Gi-Oh! National Championships were cancelled (see, for example, http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/14341.html, Konami tells us they are in fact in the midst of preparations for their own Nationals. We applaud all trading card game tournament activity, as it benefits the industry as a whole. We wish Konami, and the players, every success.
The trademark Yu-Gi-Oh! is owned by Shueisha, Inc. in the United States and may be pending or registered in other countries. Wizards of the Coast is not endorsed or sponsored by, or affiliated with, Shueisha or Konami.
March 2, 2009 - Renton, WA - Wizards of the Coast today announced that invitations to the Magic: The Gathering® Nationals tournament will be extended to qualified Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game players in response to the recent announcement that their National Championships are cancelled.
“We respect the accomplishments of all high-level tournament players,” said Chris Galvin, VP of Organized Play for Wizards of the Coast. “We’d like to do what we can to honor their achievements and keep them gaming.”
Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game players who hold an invitation to the Yu-Gi-Oh! US or Canadian Nationals that were scheduled to take place this year will be welcomed to come play Magic at the equivalent Magic: The Gathering Nationals in summer 2009. Interested players can simply contact the Wizards Game Support team by visiting customer support or by calling 1-800-324-6496.
The trademark Yu-Gi-Oh! is owned by Shueisha, Inc. in the United States and may be pending or registered in other countries. Wizards of the Coast is not endorsed or sponsored by, or affiliated with, Shueisha or Konami.
About Wizards
Wizards of the Coast is the leader in entertaining the lifestyle gamer. The company holds an exclusive patent on trading card games (TCGs) and their method of play and produces the premier trading card game, MAGIC: THE GATHERING®, among many other trading card games and family card and board games. Wizards is also a leading publisher of roleplaying games, such as DUNGEONS & DRAGONS®, and publisher of fantasy series fiction with numerous New York Times best-sellers. For more information, visit the Wizards of the Coast website at www.wizards.com.
