If you fancy yourself a skilled Pokémon trainer, consider getting yourself down to the San Mateo County Event Center next Saturday, May 15, for the 2010 regional Pokémon Video Game Championship Series tournament.

The tournament, one of seven regional events around the continental U.S., is open to any Pokémon players on a first-come, first-serve basis, with the top 16 finishers in each of two different age groups advancing to the national championship on June 26-27 in Indianapolis. (The top finishers from there will take on the best players from Europe and Japan in Kona, Hawaii on Aug. 14-15.)

According to the news release I received, competitors are required to play with the recently released “Pokémon HeartGold” or “Pokémon SoulSilver” DS games. Reflecting the series’ younger audience, participants will be divvied up into two age groups, those born in 1998 and later and the oldsters. Registration for the younger group starts at 8 a.m., while the older group begins registering at 1 p.m.

To participate, you’ll need your own, North American English-language copy of either “Pokémon HeartGold” or “Pokémon Soul Silver,” as well as a team of tournament-legal Pokémon.

It’s worth noting that, even if you don’t set the world on fire, everyone who brings his or her own copy of the game can walk away with a Shiny Eevee character for use in the game. (No, I’m not sure what that means, either, but free stuff is good.)

For more information, including detailed rules, directions to the San Mateo County Event Center and other goodies, check out the tournament’s official website. Bear in mind that the site serves as the hub for all seven regionals, so you may have to hunt around a bit to find the relevant info.

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