Elk Grove chooses you, Pikachu

While the popularity of the Pokémon anime has faded recently, the Pokémon Trading Card Game has gained a cult folllowing. Pokémon TCG, for short, will be holding regional championships this Friday. Imaginative people of all ages will pit their fire, water and lightning cards against each other. And in the ensuing “battles,” imaginary graveyards of “knocked out” Japanese manga monsters will pile high on the way to crowning the regional champion. It’s an official sanctioned event of Pokémon Organized Play, or POP, an international body that will crown the 2011 Pokemon TGC World Champion next summer in San Diego. Intimidating though it may be, Pokémon fans, family and friends need not fret: It’s a free tournament open to all players. Plus, newbies can earn their first Premier Ratings points. If you go far enough in one of the three age divisions, you can even win some extra TGC booster packs or a City Championship medal. Just don’t let your classmates or friends find out.

Pokémon City Championships takes place Friday, November 26, at 11 a.m. Free. Round Table Pizza, 10054 Bruceville Road in Elk Grove. For more information, e-mail <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript">{ document.write(String.fromCharCode(60,97,32,104,114,101,102,61,34,109,97,105,108,116,111,58,112,116,101,103,97,109,101,115,64,99,111,120,46,110,101,116,34,62,112,116,101,103,97,109,101,115,64,99,111,120,46,110,101,116,60,47,97,62)) } </script> or visit www.ptegames.com.