COMPETE FOR $100K+ CASH PRIZE POOL IN NEWLY ANNOUNCED UPPER DECK RUSH OF IKORR TCG CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
Carlsbad, CA (Mar. 3, 2026) — Upper Deck, the worldwide leader in games, sports and entertainment collectibles, today announced an exciting new tournament centered around its original trading card game (TCG) Rush of Ikorr. At this year’s Gen Con (July 30–August 2, 2026), North America’s largest and longest-running gaming convention, fans and gamers will have the opportunity to compete for the 0K+ cash prize pool at the Rush of Ikorr TCG Championship Tournament. This tournament does not require participation in pre-qualification tournaments to enter and have a chance at the grand prize.
“We’re incredibly proud of the innovation that Rush of Ikorr has brought to the TCG space as an exciting and fresh multi-player game, and as a part of our commitment to support players, we are excited to introduce our first Championship Tournament as well as other organized play opportunities,” said Jason Masherah, President of Upper Deck.
The Rush of Ikorr TCG Championship Tournament will take place at Gen Con in Indianapolis from July 30 to August 2, 2026. To register, players must purchase both a Gen Con badge and a tournament event ticket through Gen Con’s website. Gen Con attendee badges are available for purchase now at gencon.com. Event tickets for the tournament are priced at and will be available for purchase on gencon.com starting at 12 PM EST on May 17. These tickets can only be purchased by those with a Gen Con badge.
The tournament will feature a 3 vs. 3 format, with players required to register as a complete team of three. The playable card pool will feature Rush of Ikorr Act 1, which includes Shattered Chaos, Merciless Battlegrounds, and the upcoming Luminary Strike. The 0K+ cash prize pool breakdown is as follows:
- First Place – ,000 (,000 per player)
- Second Place – ,000 (,000 per player)
- Third and Fourth Place – ,000 per team in each place (,000 per player)
- Fifth through Eighth Place – ,300 per team in each place (,100 per player)
Upper Deck also unveiled additional organized tournaments that will take place throughout the year, starting in March and running through the end of 2026. These events will offer participation prizes such as a Rush of Ikorr promo pack and themed playmat, as well as cash prizes with an average of ,000 per tournament. Currently, 13 events are planned in collaboration with Star City Games (SCG) CON, Pro-Play Games (PPG) Summit, and LVLUP Expo:
| Pittsburgh, PA – Mar. 13, 2026 | Baltimore, MD – Sept. 11, 2026 |
| Las Vegas, NV – Apr. 24, 2026 | Orlando, FL – Sept. 24, 2026 |
| Cincinnati, OH – May 15, 2026 | Los Angeles, CA – Oct. 9, 2026 |
| Washington, D.C. – May 29, 2026 | Hartford, CT – Oct. 23, 2026 |
| Las Vegas, NV – June 26, 2026 | TBA – Dec. 2026 |
| Dallas, TX – July 3, 2026 | |
| Dallas, TX – Sept. 4, 2026 |
More events will be added to the schedule throughout the year in collaboration with Upper Deck’s Certified Diamond Dealer (“CDD”) game shops. Players can visit their local shop to find more information.
You can purchase Rush of Ikorr now at your local CDD game shop, GameStop, or UpperDeckStore.com. Learn more about the Rush of Ikorr TCG Championship Tournament, as well as other organized play events throughout 2026. Stay up to date on everything related to Rush of Ikorr in the official Upper Deck Discord server. Participation in the 2026 Rush of Ikorr Trading Card Game Championship Tournament is subject to the official rules located at my.upperdeck.com/100k-tournament (“Rules”). Failure to comply with the Rules will result in disqualification.
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About Upper Deck:
Upper Deck is a global entertainment company creating trading cards, memorabilia, collectibles, games, and online platforms that deliver the experiences collectors crave. Upper Deck has set the unmatched industry standard for quality, authenticity, and innovation, and continues to bring generations of fans closer to their favorite athletes and characters with unique and authentic sports and entertainment product offerings, as well as its digital trading ecosystem. The company prides itself on creating collectibles that produce invaluable experiences for sports and entertainment’s most dedicated and loyal fans, with a goal to deliver excellence to the community across the most coveted properties as a means to develop memorable moments for collectors of all kinds.
Find more information at www.upperdeck.com or follow us on Facebook (/UpperDeck,/UpperDeckEnt), Instagram (UpperDeckSports,UpperDeckEnt), X (formerly known as Twitter) (UpperDeckSports,UpperDeckEnt), and YouTube (UDvids).
Media Contact: Nicole Curro, nicole@carvecomms.com
The post COMPETE FOR 0K+ CASH PRIZE POOL IN NEWLY ANNOUNCED UPPER DECK RUSH OF IKORR TCG CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT appeared first on Upper Deck.
Categories: Upperdeck Tags: $100K+, announced, Cash, Championship, COMPETE, Deck, Ikorr, NEWLY, POOL, Prize, Rush, Tournament, Upper
UPPER DECK ANNOUNCES COLLABORATION WITH THE GRATEFUL DEAD, FIRST TRADING CARD SET
Carlsbad, CA (Feb. 26, 2026) — Upper Deck, the worldwide leader in sports and entertainment collectibles, today announced a collaboration with one of the most popular bands in music history – the Grateful Dead. A legendary group that has spanned generations, the Grateful Dead has inspired some of the most passionate fans of all time. Now, Dead Heads and music fans around the world can interact with the band through collectibles from Upper Deck, highlighted initially by a newly released trading card set that celebrates the band’s 60th Anniversary.
“We’re incredibly excited to collaborate with one of the most celebrated bands to ever take the stage, and give music fans another way to connect with the Grateful Dead,” said Travis Rhea, Director of Entertainment Brands at Upper Deck. “In addition to amazing, iconic music, the Grateful Dead are known for vibrant colors and incredible visuals, perfect for music trading cards. They also have one of the most dedicated fanbases the industry has ever seen, so we can’t wait for Dead Heads to get their hands on our Grateful Dead collectibles.”
‘The Grateful Dead – 60 Years So Far… A Visual Trip’ trading card set spans the band’s rich 60-year history. Each box includes a full 50-card base set collection of Grateful Dead iconography, classic characters, and show posters, with an additional five cards that could be serial-numbered hits, themed inserts, or an autograph card. Fans can look forward to familiar Grateful Dead symbols, including the famous Dancing Bears and Uncle Sam. Visuals featured on 1-of-1 High Potency Purple variants and Dancing Parallels will be recognizable to long-time Dead Heads. And for band historians, ‘Transmissions from Dave’s Desk’ illustrates the work of official archivist, producer, and legacy manager David Lemieux. It features artwork, set lists, and show-facts from the first 50 ‘Dave’s Picks’ albums. Collectors also have the chance to pull parallel cards autographed by Lemieux himself – each numbered to five.
“I’ve dedicated much of my life to showcasing the joy that the Grateful Dead spread through their music, so working with Upper Deck to translate that journey into trading cards has been really special,” said Lemieux. “From characters that have become synonymous with the band to tour posters that are a trip through time, there is so much for Dead Heads to enjoy in this set.”
The Grateful Dead 60th Anniversary trading card set is available now – and this is just the beginning of the collaboration between Upper Deck and the Grateful Dead. Fans can look forward to many ways to collect the Grateful Dead – including future trading card sets with different card technologies and original art, as well as gallery prints, and more. For more information, visit www.UpperDeck.com.
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About the Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead is a social and musical phenomenon that grew into a genuine American treasure. In 1965, an entire generation was linked together by common ideals, gathering by the hundreds and thousands. This movement created a seamless connection between the band and its fans. As the band toured, Dead Heads would follow. Not because it was a part of popular culture but because it is a true counterculture that exists to this very day-one that earnestly believes in the value of its beliefs. By 1995, the Grateful Dead had attracted the most concertgoers in the history of the music business, and today remains one of the all-time leaders in concert ticket sales. Eventually, the caravan evolved into a community with various artists, craftsmen and entrepreneurs supplying a growing demand for merchandise that connected them to the music with their final tally being 2,318 total concerts. The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and received a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007, commemorated in the 47th class of the Kennedy Center Honorees, as well as the 2025 MusiCares Persons of the Year honored at the 67th Annual GRAMMY® Awards. The Grateful Dead celebrated their 66th Top 40 album on the Billboard chart —a feat no other artist has achieved —claiming the Guinness World Records title for the most Top 40 albums charted on the US Billboard 200.
About Upper Deck
Upper Deck is a global entertainment company creating trading cards, memorabilia, collectibles, games, and online platforms that deliver the experiences collectors crave. Upper Deck has set the unmatched industry standard for quality, authenticity, and innovation and continues to bring generations of fans closer to their favorite athletes and characters with unique and authentic sports and entertainment product offerings, as well as its digital trading ecosystem. The company prides itself on creating collectibles that produce invaluable experiences for sports and entertainment’s most dedicated and loyal fans, with a goal to deliver excellence to the community across the most coveted properties as a means to develop memorable moments for collectors of all kinds.
Find more information at www.upperdeck.com or follow us on Facebook (UpperDeck), Instagram (UpperDeckSports, UpperDeckEnt), and X (@UpperDeckSports), and YouTube (UDvids).
Media Contact:
Nicole Brief-Curro, nicole@carvecomms.com
The post UPPER DECK ANNOUNCES COLLABORATION WITH THE GRATEFUL DEAD, FIRST TRADING CARD SET appeared first on Upper Deck.
Categories: Upperdeck Tags: announces, Card, COLLABORATION, Dead, Deck, First, GRATEFUL, Trading, Upper
TOP-RANKED GOLFER NELLY KORDA SIGNS AS UPPER DECK EXCLUSIVE ATHLETE
Carlsbad, CA (Feb. 17, 2026) – Upper Deck, the worldwide leader in sports and entertainment collectibles, is expanding its commitment to golf by announcing that top talent Nelly Korda has joined the Upper Deck roster as an exclusive athlete. She joins an already impressive roster led by Tiger Woods, and including Collin Morikawa, Rose Zhang, and Lydia Ko. As the company celebrates 25 years of producing high-quality and innovative golf collectibles, collectors will have a chance to chase Korda’s coveted Young Guns trading card and other unique inserts as part of 2026 Upper Deck Golf. Additionally, an all-new, thoughtfully curated Upper Deck Authenticated (UDA) memorabilia collection highlights her successful and groundbreaking career.
“Upper Deck has a long history of working with world-class athletes like Nelly who transcend their sport and become cultural icons,” said Jason Masherah, President of Upper Deck. “She can bring new collectors to the hobby, and in turn we’ll deliver the Upper Deck standard: premium trading cards and memorabilia that reflect Nelly as a one-of-a-kind athlete.”
Since she turned pro at the age of 17 and won her first professional event that same year, Korda has perennially ranked near the top of the Women’s World Golf Rankings, where she has collectively spent more than 100 weeks as number one. Among her 21 professional titles, she won two major championships in 2021 and 2024, along with a gold medal representing the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. Korda’s 2024 season was historic, as she won seven times on the LPGA Tour, including five tournaments in a row culminating in a major title at the 2024 Chevron Championship. It’s moments like these that will be captured in Upper Deck products, including Upper Deck Golf and Goodwin Champions trading cards, as well as UDA signed memorabilia. Korda’s first collection is available now, offering fans and collectors a curated selection of items to commemorate her achievements. The release features signed polos and visors, as well as original designed prints celebrating her career, with select pieces highlighting her standout 2024 season.
“I’ve seen firsthand the passion and joy that collecting brings to so many people, and the way that Upper Deck honors that passion and creates memorable experiences for collectors and fans. I’m excited to collaborate with Upper Deck and engage with the community,” said Korda. “It isn’t just about creating collectibles; it’s about working with a company that knows how to best represent your brand and help connect with fans all over the world – which Upper Deck has done for years with the most notable athletes of all time.”
Alongside Korda’s UDA collection, 2026 Upper Deck Golf will be available at Certified Diamond Dealers worldwide, mass retailers, as well as Upper Deck’s e-Pack
platform. Fans can stay up to date on future trading card sets and memorabilia featuring Korda at UpperDeck.com.
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About Upper Deck
Upper Deck is a global entertainment company creating trading cards, memorabilia, collectibles, games, and online platforms that deliver the experiences collectors crave. Upper Deck has set the unmatched industry standard for quality, authenticity, and innovation, and continues to bring generations of fans closer to their favorite athletes and characters with unique and authentic sports and entertainment product offerings, as well as its digital trading ecosystem. The company prides itself on creating collectibles that produce invaluable experiences for sports and entertainment’s most dedicated and loyal fans, with a goal to deliver excellence to the community across the most coveted properties as a means to develop memorable moments for collectors of all kinds.
Find more information at www.upperdeck.com or follow us on Facebook (/UpperDeck), Instagram (UpperDeckSports), X (formerly known as Twitter) (UpperDeckSports), and YouTube (UDvids).
Media Contact:
Matt Burkey, matt@carvecomms.com
The post TOP-RANKED GOLFER NELLY KORDA SIGNS AS UPPER DECK EXCLUSIVE ATHLETE appeared first on Upper Deck.