Packing a huge venue in East London, competitors and fans of the Pokemon franchise gather on the first day of the Europe International Championships, with those playing hoping to qualify for the world title tournament set to be held in Hawaii later this year. The London event boasts thousands of dollars worth of prizes to be spread among a range of categories, including the Japanese franchise's trading card game and various video games. "The atmosphere is incredible" says Emily Douglas, who is competing in the trading card game event. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES