20 mai 2024
With the upcoming “Special Event” tournament in Bologna (June 1st and 2nd) and after discussing the evolution of the competitive Pokémon world in recent years, it’s essential to have an article explaining the structure of various tournaments, how to register, and how to earn Championship Points in the “Play! Pokémon” circuit.
Let’s delve deeper and discover where to start to access the major competitions. In this article, we will focus on the TCG (Trading Card Game), but the same principles apply to the video game (VGC) and Pokémon GO.
The basic prerequisites for registering for championship events and all official events are having a Pokémon Trainer Club account and a Play! Pokémon Player ID. To do this, you need to go to www.pokemon.com and access the “Play! Pokémon” section. From there, you can check the championship structure, the rules to follow, find tournaments in your region through the “event locator” tool, and check the rankings.
Moreover, you will find all the necessary information about Championship Points and how to earn them. Championship Points (CP) are points to collect each season by participating in various tournaments, allowing qualification for the world championship once the required number of points is reached.
To register and monitor the moments when tournament registrations open, you need to go through the RK9 platform (www.rk9.gg). My sincere advice is to stay informed about events (and the most current decks) also through the LimitlessTCG platform (https://limitlesstcg.com/).
On Limitless, online tournaments are often organized, to be played through the Pokémon Live app, which you can participate in every day.
Tournaments take place worldwide but are managed by three different entities:
- The Pokémon Company International (TPCi): Manages events in Europe, North America, Latin America, Oceania, the Middle East, South Africa, and Russia. The events follow the Play! Pokémon program. All events guarantee Championship Points (CP), and the major events also include a cash prize, scholarships, trophies, and other exclusive Pokémon merchandise.
- The Pokémon Company (TPC): Manages events in Japan and Southeast Asia.
- Pokémon Korea (TPCK): Manages events in South Korea.
While all tournaments follow the same structure, there are substantial differences in how one can qualify for the world championships, the availability of events, and the rewards in Championship Points, as well as the points required to qualify for the world championship. The results obtained in one of these systems do not exclude those obtained in another, and certain events are restricted to residents of specific nations. However, every event organized by TPCi is available and open to players from any region worldwide, who can aim for the cash prize but unfortunately not for the Championship Points.
The categories for each discipline are three and vary based on age, established at the beginning of the season and remaining unchanged until the end of it. For the 2024 season, they are divided as follows:
- Junior: Born in 2012 or later
- Senior: Born between 2008 and 2011
- Master: Born in 2007 or earlier
It’s worth noting that this distinction is sometimes not made in non-TPCi regions, such as often happens in Southeast Asia, but it is respected every year at the World Championships.
The 2024 season is full of events taking place on all five continents. These events are divided into two main categories: major events and local events. Major events include the International Championships, Regional Championships, and the so-called “Special Events,” often managed by third parties and always streamed live on Twitch. Local events are more accessible, especially for those starting to enter the circuit, and include the League Challenge and League Cup.
During each season, the common goal is to secure a spot at the Pokémon World Championships. Smaller events are held at local venues such as video game or collectible stores. Larger events, such as regionals, internationals, or world championships, are always held in large halls, exhibition pavilions, etc.
Now let’s specifically analyze all the main events, starting with the smaller and more accessible tournaments:
League Challenge
League Challenges are an excellent first step for those who want to approach the competitive Pokémon circuit. All players can register, and the prize in Championship Points is relatively low (usually 15). The prizes are typically at the organizer’s discretion, often varying based on an entry fee, and are always given in products or promotional cards.
League Cup
League Cups are the next step after Challenges. The competition level increases since the Championship Points at stake are 50. The prize, in addition to products, typically includes a playmat with the “Champion” inscription.
Given the higher level, League Cups are an excellent opportunity to train for larger events, such as Regionals. All players can register, but they offer a higher level of competition.
Regional Championships (Regional) and “Special Events”
Regional Championships and Special Events are identical in terms of CP prizes, and both include an invitation to the World Championships for the winner. The difference (as in the case of the upcoming Bologna tournament) is that registration for Special Events is free, and there is no cash prize. They take place worldwide and are the second-largest events (the first being the Pokémon International Championships) in terms of the number of participants and Championship Points.
These events are always streamed live on Twitch, on various Pokémon channels, and offer a very high level of competition, always including the three main disciplines (TCG, VGC, Pokémon GO). The total prize pool can go up to $50,000 across the three categories, in cash, scholarships, or gift vouchers, depending on the age category and placement.
Everyone can register for these events, often with limited spots due to the significant increase in participation in recent years, and there is no need to qualify or be a resident. The Championship Points at stake are usually 200!
International Championships
The Pokémon International Championships are a high-profile competition, a coveted goal for players worldwide each championship season. These spectacular events are divided by continent (Europe, Latin America, Oceania, and North America) and consist of a very high amount of Championship Points (500 for this season) and a total prize pool that, depending on the participants, can reach up to $250,000!
The competition is at a very high level, and this year’s European Championship in London reached a record with 2,605 people registered just for the TCG Master category. The winner, Tord Reklev, won $25,000, 500 Championship Points, and a total of 216 booster packs (6 Booster Boxes), as well as the unique winner’s playmat.
The finalists, often the top 4, are also awarded a travel prize (Travel Award) ranging from $3,500 to $5,000, often used to finance another Regional or International stop.
For the International Championships, there is no need to be qualified or a resident, but surely an excellent preparation and necessary experience background are required to face them.
World Championships
The Pokémon World Championships are the most awaited moment of the year, every year, for competitive Pokémon play in each of its disciplines. For a couple of years, the event has also included Pokémon Unite, the beloved MOBA under the Pokémon brand.
They almost always take place in August and host the crème de la crème from each region for TCG, VGC, Pokémon GO, and Pokémon Unite. The best compete to win the coveted title of world champion, thousands of dollars, and an invitation to the next year’s World Championships.
Once the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown ended, and the doors to various events reopened, the Pokémon World Championships returned to shine like never before, bringing the event back to London in 2022 and then to Yokohama in 2023. This year’s highly anticipated event will take place in Honolulu, Hawaii, from August 16-18, with a total prize pool of about $2 million!
At some point in the season, at the end of the cycle of Regional and International Championships and before the World Championship, the results will be tallied, and the players who meet the requirements to participate in Honolulu 2024 will be determined.
Players will qualify if they have obtained: for the USA and Canada, 600 CP (compared to 350 last season!), 500 CP for Europe, 350 CP for Latin America, 300 CP for Oceania, and 250 CP for the Middle East and South Africa.
Additionally, the winners of each Special Event and Regional Championship, as well as the finalists of each International Championship, and any player who has received a special invitation of level 1, 2, or 3 during the season will be admitted.
Players in Japan, South Korea, and the Asia-Pacific region will be rewarded with an invitation to the World Championships based on their esports programs and organized play. Players from these areas do not have access to earning an invitation to the World Championships through Championship Points or automatic invitations for winning Regional Championships in their respective regions.
To better understand these aspects, to detail who is admitted to the tournament, what the special invitations on three levels include, and why they are received, I advise visiting the page related to the Honolulu 2024 World Championship: Pokémon World Championships.
And you? Have you already registered for any tournament? The Special Event in Bologna is coming, and personally, I can’t wait for it to arrive!
See you then on the first two days of June; the event will take place exactly at this location: Bologna Fiere – Pavilion 20 Piazza della Costituzione, 4 40128 Bologna, BO
For those who could not register, but especially for those who can’t wait to follow the World Championship, every Pokémon tournament is broadcast live on Pokémon’s Twitch channels:
- https://www.twitch.tv/pokemontcg for TCG tournaments
- https://www.twitch.tv/pokemon The central Pokémon channel, where VGC competitions are broadcast, and from which you can access broadcasts of each discipline and find information about tournaments
- https://www.twitch.tv/pokemongo is the channel to follow Pokémon GO competitions
- https://www.twitch.tv/pokemonUNITE To follow the official live broadcasts of Pokémon Unite
Do not hesitate to visit the official Pokémon websites to discover all the information about it; I’m sure Honolulu 2024 will be an incredible event!