Many collectors place the 1999 Japanese Tropical Mega Battle Tropical Wind card among the upper echelon of early offerings from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. As the precursor to the Pokémon World Championships, the Tropical Mega Battle has produced some of the rarest and most valuable Pokémon cards ever created. The inaugural tournament occurred in 1999 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu, with the main event staged as an invitation-only tournament. The best 50 players from Canada, Latin America, Europe, the United States, and Japan duked it out over two days to earn the title of Pokémon master. Each tournament participant received this 1999 Tropical Wind offering as a participation prize, and because of its scarcity, the card rarely surfaces. Featuring the classic artwork of Sumiyoshi Kizuki, this offering depicts Psyduck attempting to relax in a hammock on the beach. PSA has only reviewed 91 examples of this card, and only three have earned a higher designation than this Pop 16 PSA 9 offering. Collectors will bask in the serenity this Tropical Wind provides with even a passing glance at this pivotal piece of Pokémon history.
