More than thirty countries around the world will be hosting national Pokemon Championships, as the road to the 2014 Pokémon World Championships heats up. These championships will allow players of Pokemon X and Y (the video game) as well as the Pokemon Trading Card Game, around the world, to meet at the prestigious Eleventh Annual Pokemon World Championships in Washington D.C. in August this year.

“Our vibrant Pokémon community loves a good Pokémon battle,” said J.C. Smith, director of Consumer Marketing, The Pokémon Company International. “The Pokémon National Championships will bring out the best players and biggest fans in each country.”

The Pokemon National and World Championships are surprisingly competitive every year, and more than 2,000 people are expected to participate in the US National Championship this year (which will be held in July in Indianapolis). With this seemingly being an off year for the Pokemon franchise (no new game is announced to release this year), this could be a good chance to further boost the sales of Pokemon X and Y, and all associated merchandise. At last count, the 3DS exclusive games stood at 11.87 million units sold worldwide in less than three months.

Most of you might have stopped playing the Pokemon Trading Card game about a decade or so ago, but it still remains one of the highest selling TCGs on the market. Predictably, with the impending release of the sixth generation Pokemon games, Pokemon X and Y, the TCG is getting the next generation experience of Pokemon with the Pokemon TCG: XY set.

The new set debuts on November 8, 2013, roughly a month after the games. Headlining the release is the Pokémon TCG: XY—Kalos Starter Set, which gives players and collectors a choice of three 60-card decks, each one featuring a brand-new Pokémon: Chespin, Fennekin, or Froakie. Obviously, the sets will have many other new Kalos region Pokemon for fans to discover as well.

In addition to the new Pokemon, the XY expansions to the TCG also add Fairy Type Pokemon and moves, along with the Fairy Type energy card to go with it. Fairy Type is the eleventh new type in the Pokemon TCG, and the second new addition to the TCG type matchup chart in recent times, following Dragon Type in 2012.

The Pokemon marketing wave is in full swing. We’ll keep you updated on the upcoming games.