With the release of the first “Neo” expansions in early 2000, Gen 2 Pokemon became the focal point of both the video games and the TCG.
Navigation
2000
January 2000
Members of the Pokemon Fan Club receive a jumbo promo card to celebrate the new millennium.
January 9 - 30, 2000
11th Next generation World Hobby Fair takes place in 4 locations across Japan and distributes promo versions of the 3 Gen 2 starter Pokemon to attendees.
January 9 - February 20, 2000
The last tournaments of the Grand Party campaign, Champion Road 2000, begin.
Champion Road 2000
Champion Road 2000 was a regional tournament circuit and national championships that concluded the 1999 – 2000 Grand Party Campaign that had started with the Challenge Road 1999 Summer. The
January 15, 2000
CoroCoro Comic’s February 2000 issue is published with a promo card
January 22, 2000
How I Became a Pokemon Card (commonly known as “Natta Wake”) Vol.3 is published with a promo card
January 23, 2000
A girl player wins 1st place in the juniors division of the Champion Road 2000 Tokyo event on Day 2. She is the first female champion in the history of the Pokemon TCG.
JAN
January 8, 2000
Year 1 of the American Pokemon League officially begins and distributes a non-holo Mew promo card to all members.
February 4, 2000
“Gold, Silver, To the New World…” (Neo Genesis overseas) is released.
February 27, 2000
First ever Champion’s League event is held a day after the Champion Road 2000 finals.
FEB
February 2000
Top Deck Magazine‘s Vol.2, issue 2 is published with a jumbo promo card.
February 24, 2000
Base Set 2 is released in America. This was the first set to be exclusive to non-Japanese countries
February 29, 2000
Pokemon Stadium is released in America and comes with a promo card. This card would be later released through Pokemon Leagues as well.
March 1, 2000
Pokemon Card Trainers Magazine Vol.5 is released with a promo card.
March 15, 2000
CoroCoro Comic’s April 2000 issue is published with a jumbo promo card
March 15, 2000
Pokemon Card Game World Challenge Spring begins
World Challenge Spring & Summer 2000
Similar to the Challenge Road 1999 regional tournaments, the World Challenge 2000 events were a series of regional tournaments across Japan. There was both a spring and summer circuit, with
MAR
March 2000
Wizards Pokemon Leagues release a promo card to participants.
March 2000
Top Deck Magazine‘s March issue is released with a W-stamped Wartortle from the Base Set 2 expansion.
March 21, 2000
Pokemon the First Movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back is released on VHS. The video tape package contains a promo card.
April 1, 2000
Pokemon Fan Club begins distributing Eevee and Porygon promo cards for members who earn 500 & 700 GET points
APR
April 2000
Jungle expansion is released in England
April 2000
Nintendo Powers‘s April 2000 issue is published with a promo card.
April 2000
Top Deck Magazine‘s April 2000 issue is published with a Dark Charmeleon and an unlimited Fossil booster inside.
April 2000
Wizards Pokemon Leagues release a promo card to participants. This is a holofoil version of the Mew released earlier in the year.
April 10, 2000
Pokémon Trading Card Game on Game Boy Color is released in America, and includes a promo Meowth. The game guide released alongside it includes a promo Venusaur.
April 24, 2000
Team Rocket Expansion is released in America. Prerelease events are held at Pokemon Leagues and distributed a stamped Dark Gyarados.
May 1, 2000
Gotta Magazine‘s May 2000 issue issues a glossy English version of the promotional Mew card given away earlier in the year in America.
MAY
May 2000
Wizards Pokemon Leagues release a promo card to participants.
June 15, 2000
CoroCoro Comic’s July 2000 issue is published with a promo card
June 28, 2000
“Can You Name All the Pokémon Neo?” CD released with a special promo card.
“Can You Name All the Pokémon Neo?” Music CD
Can You Name All the Pokémon Neo? (Japanese: ポケモン言えるかneo?) is a single-style album, released on June 28, 2000. The songs are sung by Suzukisan (a Pokémon rap group made up
June 30, 2000
Gotta Magazine‘s August 2000 issue issues a glossy French version of the Pikachu released for the first Pokemon movie without a stamp.
JUN
June 2000
Wizards Pokemon Leagues release a promo card to participants.
July 1 - 31, 2000
All Nippon Airways “Get it with a Jet! 2000” campaign begins and distributes the first of 2 promo cards. The second promo would be distributed later in the year.
July 1 - August 6, 2000
Pokemon Card Game World Challenge Summer Begins
World Challenge Spring & Summer 2000
Similar to the Challenge Road 1999 regional tournaments, the World Challenge 2000 events were a series of regional tournaments across Japan. There was both a spring and summer circuit, with
July 1, 2000
Pokemon Card Trainers Magazine Vol.7 is released with a promo card.
July 6, 2000
Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic Special’s August 2000 issue is released with a jumbo promo card.
July 7, 2000
“Crossing the Ruins…” (known as Neo Discovery overseas) is released in Japan
July 8, 2000
The third Pokemon movie, Emperor of the Crystal Tower: Entei (Spell of the Unown: Entei overseas), is released in Japan. Theatergoers would receive a set of 2 promo cards.
July 8, 2000
Neo Premium File 2 gets early released alongside the third Pokemon Movie. It gets general release on August 5, 2000.
JUL
July 2000
To celebrate the upcoming release of the second Pokemon movie, The Power of One, Warner Bros. stores across America give out a jumbo promo card.
July 21, 2000
Pokemon the Movie 2000: The Power of One, is released in America. For the first week, theatergoers receive an exclusive promo card
July 22, 2000
The first Super Trainer Showdown is held on a decommissioned cruise ship, The Queen Mary, in Long Beach, CA.
Super Trainer Showdown 2000
The Super Trainer Showdowns 2000 were two official Pokemon TCG tournaments that occurred in the summer and fall of 2000. They were the first top-level event that Wizards of the
July 28, 2000
For the weeks after initial release week, Pokemon the Movie 2000: The Power of One theatergoers receive one of three promo cards.
August 2000
Pokemon Fan Club Members are sent a jumbo card to commemorate the new century. It rewards them with 200 GET points
August 1 - 20, 2000
Japan Rail holds a stamp rally that distributes English cards. The JR East line distributes an Eevee & Mewtwo, while the JR West line distributes a Meowth.
August 19, 2000
Secret Super Battle 2000 Best in Japan Match (the seniors division national championship) is held at the Official Pokemon Card Gym in Tokyo, Japan.
World Challenge Spring & Summer 2000
Similar to the Challenge Road 1999 regional tournaments, the World Challenge 2000 events were a series of regional tournaments across Japan. There was both a spring and summer circuit, with
August 20, 2000
2nd Champion’s League event is held. 11 of the previous champions from Japan’s tournaments were invited to play in a round-robin tournament to determine a true champion.
August 26, 2000
Tropical Mega Battle Best in Japan Match 2000 (the juniors division national championship) is held at the Official Pokemon Card Gym in Tokyo, Japan.
August 26 - 27, 2000
International Tropical Mega Battle is held in Hawaii, USA.
International Tropical Mega Battle 2000
The 2000 Tropical Mega Battle (sometimes known as the World Exchange Battle) was an international event held on August 26-27, 2000 at the Hilton Hawai’ian Village in Honolulu, Hawai’i. The
August 23, 2000
How I Became a Pokemon Card (commonly known as “Natta Wake”) Vol.4 is published with a promo card
AUG
August 2000
Wizards Pokemon Leagues release a promo card to participants.
August 2000
Top Deck Magazine‘s August issue is released with a W-stamped Misty’s Psyduck from the Gym Heroes expansion.
August 2000
Nintendo Powers‘s August 2000 issue is published with a promo Dark Persian card. Some versions of this card accidentally don’t have the HP printed on them.
August 14, 2000
Gym Heroes Expansion is released in America. Prerelease events are held at Pokemon Leagues and distributed a stamped Misty’s Seadra.
September 1, 2000
Pokemon Card Trainers Magazine Vol.8 is released with a promo card.
September 1 - October 31, 2000
All Nippon Airways “Get it with a Jet! 2000” campaign distributes the second of 2 promo cards.
SEP
September 2000
Wizards Pokemon Leagues release a promo card to participants.
September - November 2000
Wizards runs a mail-in campaign where Pokemon League players could mail in illustrations for a Birthday Pikachu promo.
Wizards of the Coast Illustration Contests
Much like the Japanese illustration contest held in 1998, Wizards of the Coast also held its own art contests through its Pokemon Leagues. Unlike the Japanese contests that had multiple
September 15, 2000
2000 Summer Olympics is hosted in Sydney, Australia. The Pokemon 2000 Pikachu World Collection is sold at the event and contains 9 special prints of various Pikachu cards in 9 languages.
October 15, 2000
CoroCoro Comic’s November 2000 issue is published with a promo card
OCT
October 2000
Nintendo Power‘s October 2000 issue is published with a promo card.
October 15, 2000
Pokemon Gold Version and Pokemon Silver Version are released in the United States, marking the start of Gen 2 overseas
October 16, 2000
Gym Challenge Expansion is released in the United States. Previously known as “Challenge from the Darkness” in Japan.
November 23, 2000
3rd Neo series expansion is released in Japan, known as “Awakening Legends”.
November 23, 2000
Neo Premium File 3 is released in Japan.
NOV
November 14, 2000
Pokemon the Movie 2000: The Power of One is released on VHS / DVD in the United States and comes with a promo card.
November 18, 2000
2nd Super Trainer Showdown is held at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ in the United States.
Super Trainer Showdown 2000
The Super Trainer Showdowns 2000 were two official Pokemon TCG tournaments that occurred in the summer and fall of 2000. They were the first top-level event that Wizards of the
December 1, 2000
Pokemon Card Trainers Magazine Vol.9 is released with a promo card.
December 15, 2000
CoroCoro Comic’s January 2001 issue is published with a promo card
DEC
December 2000
Wizards Pokemon Leagues release a promo card to participants.
December 2000
Top Deck Magazine‘s December issue is released with a W-stamped Brock’s Vulpix from the Gym Challenge expansion.
December 16, 2000
The first Neo series expansion is released in the United States as Neo Genesis
2001
January 1, 2001
Pokemon Card Information Vol. 1 is published with a promo card.
JAN
January 2001
Year 2 of the Pokemon League begins.
Wizards of the Coast Pokemon Leagues: Prototypes and Years 1 & 2
Shortly after Wizards of the Coast acquired the American license for the Pokemon TCG in December 1998, plans were set in motion for organized play. Wizards of the Coast were
January 2001
Wizards Pokemon Leagues release a promo card to participants.
February 11 - March 31, 2001
Neo Spring Road tournaments are held across Japan.
Pokemon Card Battle Neo Spring / Summer Road 2001
In 1999 and 2000, Japan’s regional tournaments all occurred during the summer, when kids were off from school. However, unlike previous years, 2001 had two circuits: one in the spring,
FEB
February 2001
Wizards Pokemon Leagues release a promo card to participants.
Wizards Pokemon Leagues in Hong Kong release a W-stamped promo card to participants.
March 1, 2001
Pokemon Card Trainers Magazine Vol.10 is released with 2 promo cards.
March 28, 2001
The sequel to the Pokemon TCG Game Boy game, Pokémon Card GB2: Here Comes Team GR! is released with 2 promo cards. This game would not be released overseas.
MAR
March 2001
Wizards Pokemon Leagues release a promo card to participants.
April 1, 2001
Pokemon Card Information Vol. 2 is published with a promo card.
April 1, 2001
3rd Champions League is held in Tokyo, Japan.
April 12, 2001
The guidebook to the Pokemon TCG Game Boy game, Pokémon Card GB2: Here Comes Team GR! is published with a promo card.
April 15, 2001
CoroCoro Comic’s May 2001 issue is published with a promo card
April 15, 2001
The 4th Neo series expansion, “Darkness, and to Light…” (known overseas as Neo Destiny) is released in Japan.
APR
April 2001
Wizards Pokemon Leagues release a promo card to participants.
April 6, 2001
The 3rd Pokemon movie, Spell of the Unown: Entei, is released in the United States. Theatergoers receive a promo card for attending.
May 2001
Shining Magikarp starts being offered to Pokemon Card Fan Club members who reach 600 GET points. This printing has no rarity symbol and embossed foiling.
MAY
May 2001
Wizards Pokemon Leagues release a promo card to participants.
June 2001
Pokemon Card Fan Club members are given a jumbo promo card and 200 GET points.
JUN
June 2001
Wizards Pokemon Leagues release a promo card to participants.
June 1, 2001
Neo Discovery (known as “Crossing the Ruins…” in Japan) is released in the United States.
June 23 - 24, 2001
3rd Super Trainer Showdown is held at the new Jersey Meadowlands Convention Center.
July 1, 2001
Pokemon Card Trainers Magazine Vol.12 is released with a promo card.
July 7, 2001
The 4th Pokemon Movie, Celebi: a Timeless Encounter, is released in Japan with a promo card given to attendees.
July 13 - September 30, 2001
All Nippon Airways (ANA) launched their “Pokemon Card Special ’01 Version” campaign and distributes 2 promo cards
July 15, 2001
CoroCoro Comic’s August 2001 issue is published with a promo card
July 19, 2001
The Pokemon VS set is released in Japan. It was the first set to utilize the new e-Series card layout, though they didn’t have e-Reader capabilities.
July 19, 2001
Pokemon Card Information Vol. 3 is published with a promo card.
July 20 - August 12, 2001
Neo Summer Road tournaments are held across Japan.
Pokemon Card Battle Neo Spring / Summer Road 2001
In 1999 and 2000, Japan’s regional tournaments all occurred during the summer, when kids were off from school. However, unlike previous years, 2001 had two circuits: one in the spring,
July 23, 2001
How I Became a Pokemon Card (commonly known as “Natta Wake”) Vol.5 is published with a promo card
JUL
July 2001
Wizards Pokemon Leagues release a promo card to participants.
July 31, 2001
Southern Islands special set is released in the United States.
August 24 - 26, 2001
Nintendo Space World 2001 is held and the official guidebook comes with a promo card
August 25, 2001
Neo Summer Road Best in Japan finals take place at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan.
August 25 - 26, 2001
International Tropical Mega Battle is held for the 3rd time in Hawaii
International Tropical Mega Battle 2001
The 2001 International Tropical Mega Battle (or World Exchange Battle) was the third international championship event for the Pokemon TCG. Once again, the tournament returned to the Hilton Hawai’ian Village
AUG
August 2001
Wizards Pokemon Leagues release 3 promo cards to participants.
August 21, 2001
The 3rd Pokemon Movie, Spell of the Unown: Entei, is released on VHS and DVD in the United States and contains a promo card.
September 23, 2001
How I Became a Pokemon Card (commonly known as “Natta Wake”) Vol.6 is published with a promo card
SEP
September 2001
Wizards Pokemon Leagues release a promo card to participants.
September 21, 2001
3rd Neo Series expansion, Neo Revelation is released in the United States. It was known as “Awakening Legends” in Japan.
October 20, 2001
Pokemon Card Web expansion is released in Japan. Booster packs were available exclusively online via the Pokemon Center website.
OCT
November 1, 2001
Pokemon Card Trainers Magazine Vol.13 is released with 2 promo cards.
November 15, 2001
CoroCoro Comic’s December 2001 issue is published with a promo card
NOV
November 16, 2001
Pokemon Center New York’s grand opening at the Rockefeller Center in New York. This was the first dedicated US store for Pokemon. The grand opening distributed 2 promo cards.
December 1, 2001 - April 30, 2002
The Starter Triple Get campaign starts in Japan and distributes 6 promo cards of starter Pokemon via lottery
December 15, 2001
CoroCoro Comic’s January 2002 issue is published with a promo card
DEC
December 1 - 2, 2001
4th and final Super Trainer Showdown is held at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.