The tournament will pit sixteen of the nation's best Yu-Gi-Oh! duelists against one another. The top five winners from the U.S. Finals will win valuable prizes as well as travel to Japan and compete against the best duelists in the world at the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2005 Tournament in Tokyo August 5th - 7th.
"The Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise is an important property in Konami's outstanding and diverse video game library," said Geoff Mulligan, Chief Operating Officer of Konami Digital Entertainment - America. "Through this tournament, we are supporting the Yu-Gi-Oh! community by giving the best duelists around the country the opportunity to show off their skills, share in their experiences and prove who will be the ultimate Yu-Gi-Oh! video game champion."
Konami launched its Web based search for the best Yu-Gi-Oh! duelists on April 1st, 2005. Hundreds of people from all over the country chimed in at the chance to compete in the U.S. Finals video game tournament. Fourteen lucky duelists advanced to the U.S. Finals by correctly answering the numerous Yu-Gi-Oh! related questions posted to the Web site. In addition, two of the top participants from last year's tournament have also been invited to return this year to compete once again for a coveted spot on the U.S. Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship team. These sixteen players will compete in the U.S. Finals using the Yu-Gi-Oh! 7 Trials to Glory World Championship Tournament 2005 video game for the Game Boy Advance.
Konami will host the Yu-Gi-Oh! U.S. Finals video game tournament on June 24th from 9:00am - 3:00pm at Konami Digital Entertainment - America's offices in Redwood City, Calif. Sixteen finalists will compete in a bracketed tournament for the opportunity to claim the Yu-Gi-Oh! U.S. Video Game Champion title, and an outstanding prize package, which will include a copy of Yu-Gi-Oh! Online (PC), Master Collection set and a limited edition booster pack of Yu-Gi-Oh! cards from Upper Deck, Yu-Gi-Oh! branded merchandise, and a spot to duel in the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2005 Tournament in Tokyo, Japan.
To learn more about the U.S. Finals and the Yu-Gi-Oh! 7 Trials to Glory World Championship Tournament 2005 video game, please visit: http://www.2005tournament.com . To get more information about the acclaimed new online game Yu-Gi-Oh! Online, please visit: www.yugioh-online.net . Yu-Gi-Oh! Online faithfully reproduces Konami's "Yu-Gi-Oh! Official Card Game" over the Internet and makes it possible to play, duel and interact online with players around the world.