Imagine standing on the big stage, controller in hand. Everyone in the audience is cheering your name, and even more are watching live at home. After advancing through the tournament, you are about to start the finals. If you win this round, you will be named the Nintendo World Championships 2017 tournament winner. Your heart is beating. The competition begins…

Make this scenario your reality this October 7 by taking part in the Nintendo World Championships 2017 tournament in New York at Manhattan Center’s Grand Ballroom.

Yes, the Nintendo World Championships is back again this year after its grand return at E3 2015 in Los Angeles and fans of all ages and walks of life competing in a variety of Nintendo games, both recent and retro!

Here’s how it all works:

Starting on Aug. 19, select Best Buy stores around the country will host qualifying events in eight locations around the country. Players will be divided into two groups based on their age, and both groups will play Mario Kart 7 for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. The first age group, 12 and Younger, will play as Mario on the Nintendo DS “Luigi’s Mansion” course using Standard Kart, Standard Wheels and Super Glider. The second age group, 13 and Older, will play as Bowser on the Game Boy Advance “Bowser Castle 1” course using Standard Kart, Standard Wheels and Super Glider. The player with the best Time Trial entry in each age group at the end of the two-day event at each location will qualify for the Nintendo World Championships 2017!

Additionally, anyone who visits these events at Best Buy will be able to try demo versions of the Super Mario Odyssey game, launching Oct. 27 for the Nintendo Switch system and the Metroid: Samus Returns game for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, arriving on Sept. 15. Plus, visitors who are My Nintendo members will be able to check in using their My Nintendo QR Code at any of the qualifier event locations to receive 100 Platinum Points. My Nintendo members who are one of the first 200 to check in daily at each location will receive a My Nintendo pin as an added bonus.

During the Nintendo World Championships event in New York, players will battle their way through a variety of games where they will be eliminated or will advance their way through the tournament based on their performance.

“The format of the Nintendo World Championships means that anyone has a chance to become the winner,” said Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Audiences are hungry to watch competitive video games in action, and many of our most classic games, both old and new, are well-suited to competition by players of all ages.”

The qualifying rounds will take place at the following Best Buy stores:

Participation in the qualifying events is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tickets to attend the final event in New York will be limited. Details on ticket availability and distribution will be shared in the coming weeks.

For more information about the Nintendo World Championships 2017 and full rules for the qualifying events, visit this link.

 

[the_randomizer]

Gee, those locations are sure convenient To hell with that. Thanks, Nintendo, not everyone lives in California or New York.

 

[ov3rkill]

I'm hyped for Shaq Fu announcement.

 

[loler55]

I live in Germany and thats a Nintendo usa championship thanks For that ninty it help me nothing

 

[Nekomaru]

How is it a world championship if it's only held in US?
Man I would love to enter this but travelling/staying in US is not cheap.

Damn it, you beat me to it

World First, America Firster ROFL

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Gee, those locations are sure convenient To hell with that. Thanks, Nintendo, not everyone lives in California or New York.

At least you live in US. I'm all the way over here in Norway so driving is not an option and I'd need to stay at a hotel. Not worth it just to enter a competition I have no chance of winning

 

[LuigiXL]

... the guys name is Doug Bowser !? so good!

 

[sniper_x002]

I have MK64, MKDS, MKW, MK7, MK8 and MK8D. Don't see how MKDS is relevant though.

Whoops, I misread the OP. I saw "Play as mario on Mario Kart DS: Luigis Mansion". You're right.

 

[gudenau]

Whoops, I misread the OP. I saw "Play as mario on Mario Kart DS: Luigis Mansion". You're right.

Happens to the best, and worse of us.

 

[TangentingTangerines]

Of course the Minnesota one is right when school starts for me in South Dakota. I might have actually been able to qualify if I could make it, Mario kart 7 is my main mario kart

 

[Ryu X]

Nothing close to me but these events are always a camp out and wait in line for 8+ hour events anyway.

 

[Sub Zippo]

What a surprise, California gets two again while Michigan gets zero... Really sick of how Nintendo has been distributing these events. Michigan hasn't gotten anything cool since the first round of Cube Clubs. There's clearly demand here. Youmacon gets 20,000 people and there's always a lot of Nintendo content, but we have to beg and wait four years to get the Zelda Symphony on a damn weekday.

 

[ww97]

@LaPingas @HaloEliteLegend Remember, it's just for qualifiers, and the list for final round will be surprising... Looking forward to MK8D, ARMS, Pokken DX and SMO

 

[LaPingas]

@LaPingas @HaloEliteLegend Remember, it's just for qualifiers, and the list for final round will be surprising... Looking forward to MK8D, ARMS, Pokken DX and SMO

I know, but still.
I actually love mk7
If Nintendo is smart, they'll do grand finals a new smash bros game for the switch, I doubt it tho

 

[Wizardkoer]

There's still an element of chance with Mario Kart, the power ups...

 

[LaPingas]

There's still an element of chance with Mario Kart, the power ups...

It's time trial..

 

[Scarlet]

I know, but still.
I actually love mk7
If Nintendo is smart, they'll do grand finals a new smash bros game for the switch, I doubt it tho

Can you imagine if they used the same stage to announce Mario Maker again for the Switch lol
Y'know, I wouldn't even be mad. I'd have some respect for pulling the same shit twice to what would probably be great effect.

 

[Sketchy1]

I think it's pretty dumb to play mk7 in the qualifiers and not promote that latest game mk8dx but I love mk7 so I wouldn't care.. if I could compete

true, but mk7 has been out for longer.

putting in 8 instead would make a bias for the people who have money, because not everyone has a switch atm (or any experience with it for that matter)

 

[pandavova]

I would love to have a My Nintendo Pin... Cause its the (first?) Thing that you can feel from the new "Nintendo Club"... :/

 

[Xabring]

World Championship? Where's The rest of Amuurrrica? And Africa? And Europe, and Australia, and Asia....and...Antartica?
MORE LIKE BEST BUY CHAMPIONSHIP!

 

[magico29]

World Championship? Where's The rest of Amuurrrica? And Africa? And Europe, and Australia, and Asia....and...Antartica?
MORE LIKE BEST BUY CHAMPIONSHIP!