The invitation
Along with José Iuri, I was invited by João and Flávio, from Central TCG, to take part in the event. We went to see the venue, record content and, above all, help bring together two communities that have everything in common: the people who collect and the people who play.
The venue
The first thing that caught my eye was the organization. The space was designed for people who like to trade and talk: tables set up for trading, collectors opening their binders and showing their products, and lots of people walking around, browsing and negotiating at their own pace.
The booths also gave the event a special charm. Yellow Duck, Stop, Chris, a collector, and the Central TCG crew were all there. Each one with their own collection, their products and, of course, plenty of good card talk.
On top of that, the event had its own schedule, with activities and giveaways that kept the mood up from start to finish.
Collecting and competitive play: a natural bridge
Walking around Conclave was a great chance to better understand the collecting scene in BH and to see how much it connects with the competitive side.
For us players, event promo cards are real trading currency. People who play tournaments end up opening a lot of prize product and, along the way, pile up promos that were never part of the plan. At an event like Conclave, those cards take on a different value: they become the bridge to the playable cards still missing from your deck, the must-have cards everyone wants.
And there is another side I consider very important: the chance to see, up close, collections with some of the most sought-after cards on the market, cards you don't see every day. For anyone who loves Pokémon, that alone is worth the visit.
What we hope for the next edition
For the next editions, what I hope for is the same atmosphere and the same warm welcome we had at this one. And if a Pokémon TCG event can be added to that, even better: that way we can put the cards we got from trading and buying into play right there.
When and where the next Conclave happens
Conclave already has a date. The next edition takes place on December 12, from 9 a.m., at Hotel Royal Golden Savassi, in Belo Horizonte. It is organized by Central TCG, and news comes out first on their Instagram, @centraltcgbh. The venue announcement is in this post. And if you want to play in BH, see the stores with tournaments on each day of the week.
Conclusion
I left Conclave with nothing but praise. The atmosphere was welcoming, the organization was flawless, the event felt safe and the organizers were very attentive to everyone. It was a really positive experience, and I'm glad to see the Pokémon community in Belo Horizonte growing and coming together like this.
Here's to the next editions!
