Konami Digital Entertainment is launching its new year-round Ultimate Duelist Series (UDS) tournament program this weekend.

The UDS was announced earlier this year at GTS (see “New Tournament Series for 'Yu-Gi-Oh!'”), but launch was delayed until summer. The first UDS Invitational tournament will be held this weekend in Philadelphia.  The Winter Season will begin in October and run through January, with its invitational being held next February.

The year will be divided into a Summer Season and a Winter Season.  Participants collect “Ultimate Duelist Series Points” by playing in tournaments at Official Tournament Stores and at premier events.  Points are also awarded for participation in other existing organized play programs sponsored by Konami, including YCS and WCQ tournaments.  The UDS points can then be spent to participate in the Ultimate Duelist Invitational tournament held at the end of the season.  Exclusive prizes will also be awarded at UDS events.

Yu-Gi-Oh! continues to be a top-seller in the collectible card game category, ranking third in ICv2’s list of top games this spring (see “Top Collectible Games-Spring 2015”).