Pokemon contest crowns world champions from Finland, U.S.A. and Japan

KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP) - Three new world championships from Finland, the United States and Japan have been crowned at the annual Pokemon games. Tom Roos, 18, of Finland won the masters division late Sunday, while Jeremy Scharff-Kim, 13, of the United States and Jun Hasebe, seven, of Japan won the senior and junior divisions respectively.

Hasebe is one of the youngest champions ever and the lightning-fast game between him and runner-up Hioki Yano, 11, of Japan, battled down to one prize card each.

The senior division rivals played the longest as each held the other at bay with no prize cards drawn.

The masters division final had moments of Energy drought, turn after turn of no Energy for Holon Castform that culminated in an exciting end match.

Runners-up in the masters division were Steffen From, 18, of Denmark, Tsuguyoshi Yamato, 22, and Yuki Akimura, both of Japan.

In the senior division, Akira Miyazaki, 12, and Wataru Hasegawa, 13, both of Japan, joined Alexander DeCosta, 15, of Canada in the final four.

Other top placers in the junior division were Yano, Andrew Choong, nine, of Australia, and Paul Atanassov, 10, of Canada.

More than 190 world-class Pokemon players battled it out over three days in hopes of winning the winners trophy and a share of US$100,000 in scholarship money.

The annual Pokemon Trading Card Game World Championships attracted national champions and competitors this year from 28 countries.

Pokemon USA: www.go-pokemon.com

© The Canadian Press, 2007