Editor’s Note: This article was updated on 22 August 2024 to clarify certain program changes. Further adjustments were also made to International Championships CP value, International Championships Best Finish Limits (BFLs), and Round 1 byes at Worlds in response to community feedback.
After another exciting season of battles across the Pokémon TCG, Pokémon video games, and Pokémon GO, we’re ready to announce a suite of changes coming to the 2025 circuit that include adjustments to the World Championships qualifications system, Championship Points (CP) updates, and more. The 2025 Pokémon Championship Series will run from July 2024 to May 2025, with the exceptions of the 2025 North America International Championships and the 2025 Pokémon World Championships.
More information regarding the 2025 Pokémon UNITE Championship Series and its place in the broader 2025 Pokémon Championship Series will be shared after the 2024 World Championships in August.
World Championships Qualification Update
The qualification system for the Pokémon World Championships is changing for the 2025 season. Most recently, invitations were based on a fixed CP threshold that players needed to accumulate to receive an invitation. In 2025, a set number of players from each rating zone, age division, and game will earn an invitation to the World Championships based on their Championship Points leaderboard standings. At the conclusion of any qualification period, if two or more Trainers are tied with the same amount of Championship Points, the Trainer with more Premier Points will be ranked higher. This update applies to Pokémon TCG, Pokémon video game, and Pokémon GO players.
In addition to the players who qualify via Championship Points, individual top performers eligible for the 2025 World Championships at major events—regardless of region—will earn automatic invitations to the Pokémon World Championships. Regional and Special Champions will receive an invitation, and the top four finishers of each International Championships will earn an invitation. Invites earned through this method will not count against the total invitation slots for that player’s rating zone.
With the new qualification system comes one additional change: competitors will no longer be eligible to earn a Round 1 bye at the 2025 World Championships. This change is intended to reduce additional pressure on competitors to push beyond a standard Worlds invite—which is an incredible achievement in and of itself—and to simplify player logistics (e.g. check-in and player meetings) on Day 1 of the World Championships.
As the Pokémon Championship Series continues to grow, this adjustment will provide a variety of long-term benefits. This includes balancing player qualification across all rating zones to foster diverse competition, ensuring that we’re prepared to provide the best competitor experience possible at the Pokémon World Championships, and better supporting the growth of the Pokémon Championship Series as a whole.
We also look forward to sharing more about a Championship Points Season Reward program for competitors who show great dedication to the Play! Pokémon program, which will operate similar to the fixed CP threshold from recent years.
Pokémon TCG Championship Invitations
|
Age Division |
Junior |
Senior |
Masters |
|
US and Canada |
75 |
100 |
125 |
|
Europe |
75 |
100 |
125 |
|
Latin America |
50 |
50 |
100 |
|
Oceania |
10 |
10 |
20 |
|
Middle East & South Africa |
5 |
5 |
10 |
Pokémon VGC and Pokémon GO Championship Invitations
|
|
Pokémon VGC |
Pokémon GO |
||
|
Age Division |
JR |
SR |
MA |
|
|
US and Canada |
20 |
20 |
75 |
75 |
|
Europe |
20 |
20 |
75 |
50 |
|
Latin America |
15 |
15 |
50 |
50 |
|
Oceania |
10 |
10 |
20 |
10 |
|
Middle East & South Africa |
– |
– |
– |
5 |
In conjunction with the new Worlds qualification system, CP tables have been realigned for greater parity across games. Best Finish Limits, Kickers, and prizing have all been updated for clarity. See below for a full CP table that encompasses Pokémon TCG, Pokémon VGC, and Pokémon GO competitors.
2025 Championship Points: League and Global Challenge
|
Placement |
LEAGUE |
VGC Global Challenge |
||
|
Challenge |
Cup |
|||
|
BFL -> |
4 |
4 |
3 |
|
|
Kicker (# of participants) |
|
|||
|
1 |
0 |
15 |
50 |
170 |
|
2 |
4 |
12 |
40 |
160 |
|
3–4 |
8 |
10 |
32 |
150 |
|
5–8 |
17 |
8 |
25 |
140 |
|
9–16 |
33 |
6 |
20 |
130 |
|
17–32 |
65 |
4 |
16 |
120 |
|
33–64 |
129 |
|
13 |
80 |
|
65–128 |
257 |
|
|
65 |
|
129–256 |
513 |
|
|
50 |
|
257–512 |
1025 |
|
|
35 |
|
513–1024 |
2049 |
|
|
20 |
2025 Championship Points: Championship Events
|
Placement |
|
CHAMPIONSHIPS |
|
|
Regional & Special |
International |
||
|
BFL -> |
5 |
||
|
Kicker (# of participants) |
|||
|
1 |
0 |
350 |
500 |
|
2 |
4 |
325 |
480 |
|
3–4 |
8 |
300 |
420 |
|
5–8 |
17 |
280 |
380 |
|
9–16 |
33 |
160 |
300 |
|
17–32 |
65 |
125 |
200 |
|
33–64 |
129 |
100 |
150 |
|
65–128 |
257 |
80 |
120 |
|
129–256 |
513 |
60 |
100 |
|
257–512 |
1025 |
40 |
80 |
|
513–1024 |
2049 |
20 |
40 |
Pokémon Video Game Championship (VGC) Event Names
Two store-level competitions are getting a name change: the Premier Challenge will be called the Video Game League Challenge, and the Midseason Showdown will be called the Video Game League Cup. This aligns the names more closely to equivalent Pokémon TCG and Pokémon GO events.
Booster Packs and Cash Prizing
Players will receive Pokémon TCG booster packs for competing in Pokémon TCG, Pokémon video game, and Pokémon GO Championship Events. The number of booster packs earned is based on individual placement, as well as the number of participants in an event. Prizing that is dependent on the attendance of the event is referred to as a Kicker.
We’re expanding the booster pack prize Kicker in the 2025 season for the majority of Championship Events. Here is the breakdown of booster pack prizes:
|
Competitors per Division |
||||||||
|
Placement |
<33 |
33–64 |
65–128 |
129–256 |
257–512 |
513–1024 |
1025–2048 |
2049+ |
|
1 |
108 |
108 |
108 |
108 |
108 |
108 |
108 |
108 |
|
2 |
72 |
108 |
108 |
108 |
108 |
108 |
108 |
108 |
|
3–4 |
36 |
72 |
72 |
108 |
108 |
108 |
108 |
108 |
|
5–8 |
18 |
36 |
36 |
72 |
108 |
108 |
108 |
108 |
|
9–16 |
9 |
18 |
36 |
36 |
72 |
72 |
72 |
108 |
|
17–32 |
18 |
18 |
72 |
72 |
72 |
72 |
||
|
33–64 |
9 |
36 |
36 |
36 |
36 |
|||
|
65–128 |
18 |
18 |
36 |
36 |
||||
|
129–256 |
9 |
18 |
18 |
|||||
|
257–512 |
9 |
|||||||
Cash prizes are also on the line at Regional, International, and World Championships. Last year saw a substantial increase, and we’re maintaining these prize values for the 2025 Championship Series season.
The format of each prize is dependent on the age of the recipient.
18 years of age and older:
-
Awards of $5,000 or more: Choice of scholarship or cash
-
Awards under $5,000: Cash
Under 18 years of age:
-
Awards of $5,000 or more: Choice of scholarship or Pokémon Visa® Prepaid Card
-
Awards under $5,000: Pokémon Visa® Prepaid Card
Prizes and prize distribution may be subject to change. Unless otherwise specified, all prizes are paid in US dollars and are subject to applicable tax withholding. Prize winners should consult a qualified tax professional regarding their tax obligations.
Pokémon TCG Cash Prizes
Regional Championships |
||
|
Placement |
Junior & |
Masters Division |
|
1 |
$2,500 |
$10,000 |
|
2 |
$2,000 |
$7,000 |
|
3–4 |
$1,000 |
$5,000 |
|
5–8 |
$750 |
$3,000 |
|
9–16 |
- |
$2,000 |
|
17–32 |
- |
$1000 |
|
33–64 |
- |
- |
International Championships |
||
|
Placement |
Junior & |
Masters Division |
|
1 |
$7,000 |
$25,000 |
|
2 |
$5,000 |
$15,000 |
|
3–4 |
$3,000 |
$10,000 |
|
5–8 |
$2,000 |
$7,000 |
|
9–16 |
$1,000 |
$5,000 |
|
17–32 |
$750 |
$3,000 |
|
33–64 |
- |
$2,000 |
World Championships |
|
|
Placement |
All Age Divisions |
|
1 |
$50,000 |
|
2 |
$30,000 |
|
3–4 |
$20,000 |
|
5–8 |
$15,000 |
|
9–16 |
$10,000 |
|
17–32 |
$5,000 |
Pokémon Video Game Championship (VGC) Cash Prizes
Regional Championships |
||
|
Placement |
Junior & |
Masters Division |
|
1 |
$1,000 |
$6,000 |
|
2 |
$750 |
$4,000 |
|
3–4 |
$500 |
$2,000 |
|
5–8 |
- |
$1,000 |
|
9–16 |
- |
$750 |
International Championships |
||
|
Placement |
Junior & |
Masters Division |
|
1 |
$5,000 |
$15,000 |
|
2 |
$3,000 |
$10,000 |
|
3–4 |
$2,000 |
$7,000 |
|
5–8 |
$1,000 |
$5,000 |
|
9–16 |
- |
$3,000 |
|
17–32 |
- |
$2,000 |
World Championships |
|
|
Placement |
All Age Divisions |
|
1 |
$30,000 |
|
2 |
$20,000 |
|
3–4 |
$15,000 |
|
5–8 |
$10,000 |
|
9–16 |
$5,000 |
Pokémon GO Cash Prizes
|
Placement |
Regional Championships |
International Championships |
World Championships |
|
1 |
$2,500 |
$5,000 |
$20,000 |
|
2 |
$2,000 |
$3,000 |
$15,000 |
|
3 |
$1,500 |
$2,000 |
$13,000 |
|
4 |
$1,200 |
$1,500 |
$12,000 |
|
T-5 |
$1,000 |
$1,200 |
$9,000 |
|
T-7 |
$750 |
$1,000 |
$5,000 |
|
T-9 |
- |
$800 |
$2,000 |
|
T-13 |
- |
$600 |
$1,000 |
|
T-17 |
- |
$500 |
- |
|
T-25 |
- |
$400 |
- |
Prizes and products are subject to change, and substitutions may be made due to unforeseen inventory shortages.
International Championships Travel Prize Updates
We’re also making updates to Travel Prizes for qualifying players in the 2025 season. We are expanding the Travel Rewards program to Pokémon GO competitors, and have also added new prize tiers for Pokémon TCG, Pokémon video game, and Pokémon GO competitors that provide Priority Registration for top participants. Priority Registration was already a part of the Travel Award and Travel Stipend benefit and will be maintained for those tiers as well.
|
TCG |
VGC |
GO |
||||
|
Out of Region |
In Region |
Out of Region |
In Region |
Out of Region |
In Region |
|
|
1st – 4th |
$3,500 (18+) |
$2,000 (18+) |
$3,500 (18+) |
$2,000 (18+) |
$3,500 (18+) |
$2,000 (18+) |
|
$5,000 (U-18) |
$2,500 (U-18) |
$5,000 (U-18) |
$2,500 (U-18) |
$5,000 (U-18) |
$2,500 (U-18) |
|
|
5th – 8th |
$1,000 |
$1,000 |
$1,000 |
$1,000 |
Priority Registration |
Priority Registration |
|
9th – 16th |
$1,000 |
$1,000 |
Priority Registration |
Priority Registration |
Priority Registration |
Priority Registration |
|
17th – 32nd |
Priority Registration |
Priority Registration |
||||
Players can qualify for Travel Prizes to the International Championships based on their performance and their standing in Championship Points in their home rating zone during stand-alone qualification periods. Players in the Russia, Middle East, and South Africa rating zone are not eligible for Travel Awards, Travel Stipends, or Priority Registration.
To ensure there are no delays in receiving Travel Awards, players should check to make sure the information on their Play! Pokémon accounts is accurate and up to date. Players are fully responsible for booking their own hotel and travel.
Adjusting Swiss Tournament Format and Top Cut
Similar to the 2024 World Championships, shifts to the Swiss tournament format and method for determining which players advance to the top cut will continue throughout the rest of the 2025 Championship Series season.
For Special Championships, Regional Championships, International Championships, and the World Championships, Pokémon TCG and video game tournaments will be played in a more conventional Swiss round count plus an additional round, rather than the modified version of the Swiss format used in recent seasons.
|
Number of Participants |
Total Swiss Rounds |
Day 1 Swiss Rounds |
Day 2 Match Points Threshold |
Day 2 Swiss Rounds |
|
33–64 |
7 |
7 |
N/A |
0 |
|
65–128 |
8 |
6 |
12 |
2 |
|
129–256 |
9 |
7 |
15 |
2 |
|
257–512 |
10 |
8 |
18 |
2 |
|
513–1024 |
11 |
8 |
18 |
3 |
|
1025–2048 |
12 |
8 |
18 |
4 |
|
2049–4096 |
13 |
9 |
21 |
4 |
|
4097–8192 |
14 |
9 |
21 |
5 |
Swiss round breakdown details for tournaments with fewer than 33 participants will be clarified at a later date.
After all Swiss rounds are completed, the Top 8 competitors, plus all competitors with the same number of match points as 8th place (to a maximum of 32), will advance into an asymmetrical top cut single-elimination bracket to determine the winner of the event.
Overall, this change to Swiss will promote more streamlined tournament days to improve both the flow of the event and potential daily fatigue. For top cut, this update allows competitors a way to better advance in a tournament based on their skills while reducing factors that are partially out of their control, such as the opponent’s match win percentage.
More online tournaments are coming in the 2025 season, giving players more opportunities to make progress toward earning an invitation to the Pokémon World Championships. Look forward to the return of Global Challenges in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet! Trainers competing in the Pokémon Video Game Championship Series will be able to earn Championship Points in online events starting in September. There will be eight Global Challenges in total, with events taking place in September, October, December, January, February, March, April and May.
The first three tournaments in September, October, and December, and the final one in May, will be exclusive to competitors in Championship Point–earning regions—these four tournaments will be called Grand Challenges. The remaining tournaments from January through April will be fully international, with competitors from all regions eligible to participate.
Pokémon UNITE will also continue to be supported by online tournaments as a part of its path to Worlds, with additional details available on the official Pokémon UNITE website.
Regional Championships and Special Championships
Dates and locations of all Pokémon Regional Championships and Special Championships taking place in the rest of 2024 have been determined. All Regional Championships and Special Championships are planned to feature the Pokémon TCG, Pokémon video games, and Pokémon GO.
Regional Championships main events will take place on Saturday and Sunday. Event listings that include a Friday date feature side events and smaller competitions on that day.
Special Championships award the same number of Championship Points as a Regional Championships, but all other rewards are at the discretion of the event organizer. Special Championships are noted in green on the schedule below.
The event schedule will be updated as more events are announced.
Regional Championships and Special Championships Schedule
|
Date |
Venue |
Location |
|
Sept. 13–15, 2024 |
Baltimore Convention Center |
1 W Pratt St |
|
Sept. 28–29, 2024 |
Westfalenhallen |
Rheinlanddamm 200 |
|
Sept. 28–29, 2024 |
Convention and Exhibition Center Expoville |
R. XV de Novembro |
|
Oct. 5–6, 2024 |
Centro de Convenciones de la Cámara de Comercio de Lima, Perú |
v. Giuseppe Garibaldi 396 |
|
Oct. 11–13, 2024 |
Kentucky International Convention Center |
221 S 4th St |
|
Oct. 19–20, 2024 |
Lille Grand Palais |
1 Bd des Cités Unies |
|
Nov. 2–3, 2024 |
AMBEREXPO |
Żaglowa 11 |
|
Nov. 9–10, 2024 |
Centro Vasco - Salon Basaldua |
Av. Belgrano 1144 |
|
Nov. 22–24, 2024 |
SAFE Credit Union Convention Center |
1401 K St |
|
Nov. 30 – Dec. 1, 2024 |
Messe Stuttgart |
Messepiazza 1 |
|
Dec. 7–8, 2024 |
Radisson Bogotá Metrotel |
74 St 13-27 |
|
Dec. 13–15, 2024 |
Metro Toronto Convention Centre |
255 Front St W |
Dates, locations, and formats subject to change. Check back for additional Regional Championships and Special Championships as they are announced.
International Championships Schedule
The International Championships return to their host cities from the 2024 season. Once again, the Latin America International Championships will take place in São Paulo, Brazil, in November 2024. Then London will play host to the Europe International Championships in February 2025, a couple months earlier than it has been recently. Meanwhile, the North America International Championships will return to New Orleans in June 2025.
Fans planning to head to New Orleans for the 2025 North America International Championships can also take advantage of a special benefit—you can get discounted rates at hotels close to the event location and get a head start on planning for next year’s competition! We will be sharing more details on this later to support those booking travel.
International Championships Dates and Locations
|
Event |
Date |
Venue |
Location |
|
Latin America International Championships |
Nov. 15–17, 2024 |
Expo Center Norte – Vermelho Hall 1 |
José Bernardo Pinto Street |
|
Europe International Championships |
Feb. 21–23, 2025 |
ExCeL Center London |
1 Western Gateway |
|
North America International Championships |
June 13–15, 2025 |
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center |
900 Convention Center Blvd |
The Play! Pokémon program is committed to creating the best possible experience for Pokémon competitors and fans. We look forward to the 2025 Championship Series season and working with our global community as the program continues to evolve for years to come.
Many more exciting updates are in store for the Championship Series, including information about the 2025 Pokémon UNITE Championship Series, community-focused side event experiences, and the remaining 2025 season Regional and Special Championships. Please expect to hear more after the 2024 World Championships!
