The 2018 season Pokémon Trading Card Game Europe International Championships are open to all players in good standing with the Play! Pokémon program. Players must have an active Play! Pokémon account that is updated with accurate information. If there's an issue with your account, it must be reported to customer service before November 1, 2017.
This competition will use the Standard format. Players must bring their own valid 60-card deck. Players are allowed to use English-language cards, as well as cards from their home market in languages other than English. Players who wish to compete in a Pokémon Trading Card Game event, including the International Championships, must adhere to the Pokémon TCG Rules and Formats.
Masters Division players will begin on Friday and compete using a two-day Swiss format followed by single-elimination rounds. The top players—all players with a record of X–2–0 or better, or all players ranked in the Top 32, whichever number is greater—will advance to Day Two of Swiss rounds and then a Top 8 on Saturday. Top 4 will be played and streamed on Sunday.
Junior and Senior Division players will compete in Swiss rounds followed by a single-elimination Top 8 round (if applicable) on Saturday. The Top 4 round will be played and the finals will be streamed on Sunday.
Prizes for the 2018 Season Pokémon TCG Europe International Championships
Players at the 2018 season Pokémon TCG Europe International Championships will be competing for Championship Points and prizes. The final Championship Point payout is determined by the number of players per age division.
Championship Point Awards
Placement | Championship Points | Kicker (# of participants) |
1 | 500 | 0 |
2 | 400 | 0 |
3–4 | 320 | 0 |
5–8 | 250 | 24 |
9–16 | 200 | 48 |
17–32 | 160 | 100 |
33–64 | 130 | 200 |
65–128 | 100 | 400 |
129–256 | 80 | 800 |
257–512 | 60 | 1600 |
Championship Point values are subject to change.
Pokémon TCG Prizes
Prizes are awarded to the top players in each of three age divisions. Players must have a Pokémon Trainer Club account with a Player ID attached, and must have opted in to the Play! Pokémon program to earn points and awards.
For the Pokémon TCG and Video Game International Championships, the format of each prize is dependent on the age of the recipient. Here are the International Championships prizes for the 2018 Play! Pokémon Championship Series season.
Awards valued at $5,000 and higher:
Participants 18 and older receive a choice of cash or scholarship
Participants under 18 receive a choice of scholarship or Visa Gift Card
Awards valued under $5,000:
Participants 18 and older receive cash
Participants under 18 receive a Visa Gift Card
Pokémon TCG International Championships Award Values
Prizes are based on attendance per age division. All prizes are paid in US dollars and subject to applicable tax withholding. Prize winners should consult a qualified tax professional regarding their tax obligations.
Placement | 1–100 attendees | 101–200 attendees | 201+ attendees |
1 | $2,500 | $5,000 | $10,000 |
2 | $1,500 | $2,500 | $5,000 |
3–4 | $1,000 | $1,500 | $2,500 |
5–8 | $750 | $1,000 | $1,500 |
9–16 | $500 | $750 | $1,000 |
17–32 | — | $500 | $750 |
33–64 | — | — | $500 |
Prizes and prize distribution may be subject to change.
Additionally, the top 64 Pokémon TCG players will receive Pokémon TCG booster packs, regardless of attendance.
1st–8th place: 216
booster packs
9th–16th place: 144
booster packs
17th–32nd place: 72
booster packs
33rd–64th place: 36
booster packs