Pokémon League
From Dexnet
When any large Pokémon competition in the regions sprouts up, it can be almost certain that the Pokémon League has its fingers in it, if it isn't overseeing the event entirely. The League is an umbrella organization that contains the three regional/national leagues of the area: the Indigo League of Kanto and Johto, the Hoenn League, and the Sinnoh League. Trainers can register for the League at any Pokémon Center, and must do so before they begin earning badges for the region.
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League Functions
The League, aside from organizing competitions (including the major conferences of each region), also governs the rankings of trainers in the areas. Most trainers dream of becoming a Pokémon champion, the highest ranking the League conveys. To become a champion, the aspiring trainer must a) complete the gym badge requirements to enter the league as a member, b) place as a finalist in a regional conference to earn the right to challenge c) the Elite Four, and if they manage to defeat all of them, d) the reigning champion.
Still, most who try do not succeed - the level of competition is incredibly high at those levels, and only the best trainers ever even make it past all of the Elite.
The League is known for a number of traditions in each region, including the most famous of the Indigo League, where a flame supposedly kindled from the belly of a Moltres is carried through Kanto and Johto before arriving at the Indigo Plateau.
The League Competition Committee
The League is overseen by the League Competition Committee, upon which are seated the three regional champions, the Elite Four of the regions, and a number of other elected and volunteer officials. Together, they organize the competitions hosted by the League, vote on changes to the structure of the League and the enterprises it contains (including merchandising), and act as an advocacy group on behalf of trainers and their Pokémon to the local governments.
The current committee chairman and president of the League is Mr. Charles Goodshow.
The Sub-Leagues
The Indigo League, Hoenn League, and Sinnoh League are collectively known as the sub-leagues. Each have their own champion and high-ranked trainer group known as the Elite Four to oversee them, along with a network of gyms and gym leaders. To obtain membership to the sub-leagues, a trainer must defeat eight of the gym leaders of the area, collecting their badges. In the case of the Indigo League, this collection can comprise of any eight badges from the Kanto or Johto gyms. Membership confers the right to the trainer to enter any League-sponsored competition within the region, and is a general show of skill to other trainers, to boot.
Indigo League Council
Elite Four: Lorelei, Daelin, Agatha, Lance
Current Champion: Gary Oak
Hoenn League Council
Elite Four: Sidney, Phoebe, Glacia, Drake
Current Champion: Steven Stone
Sinnoh League Council
Elite Four: Aaron, Bertha, Flint, Lucian
Current Champion: Cynthia Camilla
League Conferences
The League Conferences are the most illustrious tournaments in the area, held annually in each region. Qualifying trainers - those who have collected eight regional badges - battle each other in an elimination-styled setup for prizes and honours conveyed by the League. Each tournament has an opening and closing ceremony, and most are presided over by a symbolic torch of some kind for the duration of the event - the flame of Moltres burns at Kanto's Indigo Conference, while the fires of Ho-oh are kindled at Johto's Silver Conference. A 'village' usually springs up in the surrounding area during this time, housing the competing trainers and event staff. Aside from the main spectacle - the battles - parades, fireworks and other celebrations may occur.
The sixteen highest-ranking trainers in each conference are given the chance to challenge the Elite Four of the area at any time during the following year.
The winner of the conference is given first pick of when their attempt will be. Additionally, the top three placing trainers generally receive trophies, as well as monetary (or otherwise) prizes.
As the Indigo League is home to two conferences - one in Kanto, and the other in Johto - there is a possibility that the same trainer will win first place in both. However, they will still only receive one try at the Indigo Elite challenge, in the interests of fairness.
As Sinnoh does not currently have a League Conference set up, any trainer who meets the gym badge requirements are eligible to challenge the Elite Four. Most do not make it past the first or second rounds.
Indigo Conference
The Indigo Conference of Kanto is held in the spring, and consists of eight rounds of battles. The first four days are composed of preliminary rounds, in which trainers compete on one of four types of (randomly-chosen) battlefields, using three Pokémon each. Two days of rest follow, and then the remaining sixteen competitors fight in full six-on-six battles, until two finalists remain. The fifth and final rounds is a three-on-three match.
Silver Conference
In the Silver Conference of Johto, held during the summer, there are three stages to the tournament. The first is a screening round, in which lower-ranked trainers are weeded out in three rounds of one-on-one battles. The top 48 trainers advance to the semi-finals. Even those who lose once during the screening round may still advance; these matches are judged on ability, not necessarily wins. The 48 trainers are then split into 16 groups of three, with each group participating in a round-robin tournament of three-on-three battles. Points are awarded based on wins, draws, and losses, and the trainer with the most point in the group advances to the finals. Like the Indigo finals, each trainer then competes in elimination six-on-six battles, until the winner is determined.
Ever Grande Conference
The Ever Grande Conference of Hoenn takes place during the fall, and is also split into three sections. The first preliminary rounds are one-on-one battles, with the winner of the battle moving onto the qualifying rounds. The qualifiers are composed of three sets of double battles, two against two simultaneously. Two of these matches must be won to qualify for the finals, in which a round-robin of six-on-six matches occurs. The winner of the conference is the trainer with the most wins after the conclusion of the final matches.
Sinnoh Conference
Sinnoh does not currently have an annual conference, although the Sinnoh League Council has made a few attempts at starting one in the past. It is rumoured that the current council, urged on by the champion Cynthia, has a new plan in place that may be initiated within the next few years.
