The Winter Snow Cup's arena was actually quite small. Unlike the Pokémon League tournament, it had no separate battlefields, just a simple platform surrounded by spectator stands.
There were fewer contestants than one might have expected. After all, it was only a small-town competition, with just 64 official entrants!
The tournament would last three days. The first day would narrow the field from 64 to 32, the second from 32 to 16 and then to eight, and the third would wrap everything up!
The reason they didn't finish it in two days was to give the advancing contestants' Pokémon enough time for treatment and rest.
So the tournament's pace was actually quite brisk!
For the round of 64, each contestant could use one Pokémon. In the rounds of 32 and 16, that increased to two!
Starting with the quarterfinals, the battles would be three-on-three.
Yong arrived at the contestants' area with Kong, and they drew their numbers at random. Kong got number 28, while Yong got number 34!
Under the tournament rules, however, Yong's number 34 meant he would be battling quite late!
All the contestants gathered in the preparation area. Once everyone had drawn a number, the matchups would run from 1 versus 64, to 2 versus 63, and so on, all the way to 32 versus 33!
The winners advanced, while the losers were eliminated outright!
"Looks like I won't be facing you in the first round, Yong!"
Kong looked at their numbers and said with a smile.
"Ah, that's fine. Meeting later works too. We'll face each other sooner or later!"
Yong nodded, looking over the other contestants as he smiled.
"Just be careful not to slip up! There might be some hidden experts here!"
"Hahaha! That would make me even happier!"
Kong didn't mind in the