This past weekend in Orlando, Florida, Pokemon trainers from nearly 30 countries converged and competed at the 2008 Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) World Championships and the first Pokemon Video Game Showdown.

Grand winners of the TCG were awarded a $7,500 scholarship plus an invitation to the 2009 World Championships. After two days of competition with more than 400 players, three top place players were announced for each age division.

2008 Pokemon Trading Card Game World Champions - Junior Division
First Place: Tristan Robinson (11) from Denver, CO USA
Second Place: Takuto Itagaki (11) from Japan
Third Place: Simone Zucchelli (10) from Italy

2008 Pokemon Trading Card Game World Champions - Senior Division
First Place: Dylan Lefavour (14) from New England USA
Second Place: Paul Atanassov (11) from Canada
Third Place: Nicholas Kolibas (14) from Boston, MA USA

2008 Pokemon Trading Card Game World Champions - Masters Division
First Place: Jason Klaczynski (22) from Chicago, IL USA
Second Place: Khan Le (15) from Norway
Third Place: Gino Lombardi (18) from Johnston, RI USA

The top 64 Pokemon Diamond and Pearl video game players, determined by regional contests, from the U.S. and Japan won trips to the Orlando event. Both champions from the Junior and Senior winners got a grand prize six-day vacation for four to New York City, Honolulu or Tokyo, and a custom Nintendo DS.

Pokemon Video Game Showdown Junior Champion
Knight Silvayne (11) from Chicago, IL USA

Pokemon Video Game Showdown Senior Champion
Izuru Yoshimura (21) from Hiroshima City, Hirsoshima Pre. Japan