Pokemon card tournament to try its hand in Huntley

When you think Huntley, do you think Pokemon?

If not, you might want to start.

Friday, the Pokemon City Championships are rolling into the village and setting up shop at the REC center. The collectible card tournament, open to people of all ages, is expected to draw 120 players.

The Huntley tournament is part of a Pokemon marathon in the Chicago area with seven tournaments in seven days. The other host towns are: Streamwood, Des Plaines, Oswego, Loves Park, Joliet and Countryside.

This is the third time the tournament is sweeping into Huntley, but the first time it's been included with other towns.

“This time we decided to string them all together and do a marathon because you tend to get more attendance and it gives something for the kids to do when they're out of school on Christmas break,” said Jimmy Ballard, who lives in Plainfield and is the tournament's organizer.

Participants collect and trade Pokemon cards and use them to assemble decks of 60 cards — there are hundreds of Pokemon characters, so no two decks are ever alike, Ballard said, adding that some decks are overpowering and do lots of damage.

The game works like this: You and your opponent play seven cards from each deck and each set out another six cards as prizes.

Whoever is able to recapture their own prize cards first wins the game. The cards have different powers, so you can employ any number of strategies to win. And once you start the tournament, you can't change decks.

“You're just trying to out-Chess your opponent,” Ballard said.

There are usually about a half dozen early rounds, which separate the top eight players from the bunch, then the top four, the top two and finally a champion.

Players are trying to add enough points to their ranking so they can qualify for the world championships, which will be held in Hawaii.

The Huntley location is ideal because it's halfway between Chicago and Rockford, Ballard said, adding that he's expecting players of all ages from the region and from other parts of the country, including Florida and California.

The free tournament, sanctioned by The Pokemon Company International, begins at 9 a.m. at the Huntley REC Center, 12015 Mill Road.

For more information about the Huntley tournament, click here.