Get those Mario Kart chops ready- the qualifying rounds of the 2017 Nintendo World Championships start in just 11 days.
Following 2015’s return after a roughly two-decade hiatus, the Nintendo World Championships is back for its 2017 iteration. Announced just this morning, qualifying rounds will begin across the continental United States- sorry, Hawaii- with each event held in specific Best Buy locations; no events will be held in Canada, however residents from all providences excluding Quebec are welcome to come to the US to participate.
This time around, players will compete against each other for the fastest Time Trial results in Mario Kart 7 for the Nintendo 3DS. Each qualifier event is open for all ages, but participants will be categorized into two age brackets:
Competitors 12 years old or younger will compete for the fastest time on the “DS Luigi’s Mansion” course; their designated character and kart loadout will be Mario with the “Standard Kart”, equipped with the “Standard Wheels” and “Super Glider”. Participants 13 years of age and up will go head-to-head on the “GBA Bowser’s Castle 1” track; the older players will race using Bowser and the Standard Kart equipped with the Standard Wheels and Super Glider.
Anyone participating regardless of their age group will have two attempts to score the potentially fastest time of their event; the winners of each bracket will then qualify for an invitation to the 2017 Nintendo World Championships Finals held in Manhattan Center’s Grand Ballroom.
The NWC Qualifier dates and Best Buy locations are as follows:
August 19-20:
New York:
- Best Buy Bronix Terminal Market
610 Exterior St
Bronx, NY 10451 - Sat. 8/19, 10am-7pm
Sun. 8/20, 111am-5pm
San Francisco Bay Area:
- Best Buy San Jose
181 Curtner Ave
San Jose, CA 95125 - Sat. 8/19, 10am-7pm
Sun. 8/20, 11am-5pm
August 26-27:
Chicago:
- Best Buy Evanston
2301 Howard St.
Evanston, IL 60202 - Sat. 8/26, 10am-7pm
Sun. 8/27, 10am-5pm
Los Angeles:
- Best Buy Torrance
3675 Pacific Coast Hwy
Torrance, CA 90505 - Sat. 8/26, 10am-7pm
Sun. 8/27, 11am-5pm
September 2-3:
Minneapolis:
- Best Buy Richfield
1000 West 78th St.
Richfield, MN 55423 - Sat. 9/2, 10am-7pm
Sun. 9/3, 11am-5pm
Dallas:
- Best Buy Park Lane
9375 N Central Expressway
Dallas, TX 75231 - Sat. 9/2, 10am-7pm
Sun. 9/3, 11am-5pm
September 9-10:
Seattle:
- Best Buy Tukwila
17364 Southcenter Pkwy
Tukwila, WA 98188 - Sat. 9/9, 10am-7pm
Sun. 9/10, 11am-5pm
Miami:
- Best Buy Hialeah
4001 W 20th Ave.
Hialeah, FL 33012 - Sat. 9/9, 10am-7pm
Sun. 9/10, 10am-5pm
Interested competitors must print, complete and bring a registration form to the location of their choosing; forms can be downloaded from Nintendo’s own NWC page. Event attendees will also have the pleasure of experiencing demos for the upcoming Nintendo Switch and 3DS titles Super Mario Odyssey and Metroid: Samus Returns; My Nintendo account holders may also receive 100 Platinum Points and a My Nintendo collectible pin for checking-in at an event.
Again, the 2017 Nintendo World Championships Grand Finals will be held in the Manhattan Center’s Grand Ballroom in New York City on 10/7. The Finals will presumably be shown through Nintendo’s YouTube channel, website and other Nintendo Direct outlets (i.e. social media, consoles and handhelds).
ThePlatformer 