Top NERF Athletes From Across United States Dominate 2011 NERF DART TAG World Championship

ORLANDO, Fla. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - This summer's nationwide search for the top NERF DART TAG athletes ended this weekend when Hasbro, Inc.'s (NASDAQ: HAS) NERF brand crowned kids and teens the winners of the 2011 NERF DART TAG World Championship held at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, FL. The competition marks the third annual NERF DART TAG World Championship and the first year that all eligible players from across the United States had the chance to be "drafted" to the World Championship, where they were divided into teams and entered into heated round robin tournaments against fellow recruits for $25,000 per team, per age group.

From left to right, Jon-Marc Hatton, Gideon Schow, Colin Barrett and Jake Wood celebrate their victory at the 2011 NERF DART TAG World Championship 13 to 17 year old tournament at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Saturday Aug. 20, 2011 in Orlando. The team won a $25,000 grand prize defeating DART TAG players from around the United States. (Photo: Business Wire)

To be considered for the DART TAG 'draft,' prospective NERF DART TAG athletes were invited to visit NERF.com earlier this year and explain how they embody the brand's 'It's NERF OR NOTHIN'' motto, why they have what it takes to be a DART TAG Champion, and answer a series of questions regarding their athleticism, favorite NERF blasters, and playing style and strategies. On August 1^st - "Draft Day" – lucky fans received the news that they had been selected for the 2011 DART TAG roster. Once chosen, players were divided into two age groups, 8-12 and 13-17, and then into teams.

After two action-packed days filled with outstanding athleticism and team spirit, two teams rose to the top of their age group and achieved DART TAG victory. The winning team in the NERF DART TAG World Championship 8-12 year old age group includes: Samuel Faulker from Oregon, Ethan Knorr from Utah, Ethan Snyder from Oregon, and Joseph Van Boxtel from Washington. The winning team in the NERF DART TAG World Championship 13-17 year old age group includes: Colin Barrett from Washington, Jon-Marc Hatton from Oregon, Gideon Schow from Utah, and Jake Wood from Utah. In addition to a shared $25,000 grand prize, members of each team had their team banner hung from the NERF Battle Arena for all to see and their team names will be engraved on the NERF DART TAG World Championship trophy.