Yu-Gi-Oh! Organized Play Canceled in North America

[Joo-Soo-Ten]

North Las Vegas, NV (February 17, 2009) — Due to circumstances beyond its control, Upper Deck regrets to announce that all future Organized Play programs and events in North America for the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME have been canceled. The unavailability of product and prizes affects all upcoming North American Yu-Gi-Oh! OP programs and events, including Shonen Jump Championships, Regional Qualifiers, the National Championship and the monthly Hobby League program



For months, Upper Deck has continued in good faith to support Yu-Gi-Oh! OP, so as not to abandon the player and retailer community of which it has been an integral part for six years. Upper Deck remains committed to the Yu-Gi-Oh! community and will continue to fight Konami’s actions in court. Upper Deck hopes to once again be able to offer Duelists the high caliber events to which they have become accustomed.





About The Upper Deck Company

Upper Deck is the leading sports and entertainment trading card and collectibles company. For more information on Upper Deck and its products please visit www.UpperDeck.com.



Media Contact:

Anna Maria Mannino

702.633.0747

[e-mail]

[Brandon]

haha teddy u crazy

[Teddy "So Handsome" Barbosa]

hmmm, lets jus run tournies n e ways (not sanctioned of course) for green teas!!
ahhhhh 1st place is a case of green tea!!
i would enter!

[Matty the Squid]

Don't forget that Upper Deck needs stuff from Konami to run OP. Things like prize kits for regionals, SJCs, and Hobby Leagues, and sealed product for Sneak Previews. When Konami decided to cut UD off from all that, UD didn't really have any choice but to cut OP. The only one sabotaging Konami is Konami.

[Joo-Soo-Ten]

The news was announced in nevada...cmon now

as teddy would say...
OBEY

[DJ Cdisk]

Yeah if the tcg ban list is like the ocgs..... This may be the most creative format by far. Isn't it ironic don't you think? :)

[Arnold "Certified Judge" Yago]

Once that March 1st list hits... Until Konami gets its OP program together, without high-level tournaments like SJCs, no one is gonna have any main sources to netdeck from. In a way, for those who really love this game, we can start to see creativity flow. As for a local level, people are gonna have to fend for themselves as to what kind of deck is the most powerful.

But as Nick said, without OP, unsanctioned tourneys wouldn't need to follow the rules of OP (including forbidden/limited lists).

[ELTRUPR]

^^^I think the feeling of winning is the best prize. 8] No sarcasm intended.

[DJ Cdisk]

It's for the entire north America which includes us. Sadly it looks like konami controls product but upper deck controls organized play. Since upper deck won't be getting any profit from yugioh in distribution rights I.e new products like crimson crisis, there gonna hurt konami by killing op for them thus product demand will drastically fall were talking millions of dollars lost cause there is no organized play....

Example look at the upcoming pre release it will be only open dueling no seald tournament which I think it's cause konami can't get the rights from upper deck to release op to them

Finally what does this mean for Hawaii players. We may have to have a lot of unsanction tourneys which may mean higher entry fees or little to no prize support.

[motsuji]

Thanks for posting. We will keep you posted when Konami announces their plans. For now it is just the Open Dueling for Crimson Crisis.

[Asar]

gosh lets see does it say in north america or in nevada..