May 20--Chicago-area gamers looking to take their Nintendo skills to the next level have a chance to qualify in Schaumburg for the Nintendo World Championships next month in Los Angeles.
Competitors -- 750 slots are available on a first-come, first-served basis -- will square off May 30 at the Best Buy, 900 E. Golf Rd., in Schaumburg. The competitor with the highest score from the Schaumburg store and the winners from seven other Best Buy stores around the country will move on to the Nintendo World Championships on June 14.
Nintendo will choose an additional eight competitors to send to the championships, which will be a multi-round competition featuring a variety of Nintendo games, Best Buy spokesman Shane Kitzman said.
In the qualifying round, gamers will play Ultimate NES Remix for Nintendo 3DS, which puts a twist on classic Nintendo games. Players will have to get their highest score on "remixes" of Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3 and Dr. Mario.
Competitors, ages 13 and up, will be able to play from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Registration begins at 9 a.m., May 30.
Kitzman said the Schaumburg store was picked to host a qualifying round because it is considered a flagship store in the Chicago area. Outside of Schaumburg, the closest store hosting a qualifier is in the Minneapolis area.
