Pokémon Professors, pay heed. Prepare to participate in playoffs to prove your Pokémon proficiency. That’s right—Pokémon Professors from around the world are invited to take part in the new 2021 series of online Professor Cup tournaments. These events are a way to say thanks to the Professors who have helped fans and players enjoy Play! Pokémon activities during the hiatus of the Championship Series.

Schedule and Prizes

Professors will have four opportunities to compete in these online events throughout the year, and everyone who does will receive a special in-game set of card sleeves and a deck box for their Pokémon Trading Game Online account. The highest-placing Professors will also earn commemorative trophies and an exclusive messenger bag featuring the powerful Water-type Pokémon Blastoise. Other prizes, such as Professor-branded playmats, notebooks, and booster packs of the latest Pokémon TCG expansion, are also available to win.

The online Professor Cup tournaments will take place at the following times:

• Professor Cup Spring

  • Saturday, April 17, 2021, beginning at 8 a.m. PDT (with top cut on April 24, 2021)

• Professor Cup Summer

  • Saturday, July 24, 2021, beginning at 11 a.m. PDT (with top cut on July 31, 2021)

• Professor Cup Fall

  • Saturday, October 9, 2021, beginning at 4 p.m. PDT (with top cut on October 16, 2021)

• Professor Cup Winter

  • Saturday, December 11, 2021, beginning at 3 a.m. PST (with top cut on December 18, 2021)

Qualifications and Registration

The online Professor Cup tournaments are open to all Professors in good standing with Play! Pokémon who meet either of the following criteria:

• Have a Stage 1 or Stage 2 certification

• Have earned 50 or more Professor Points since:

  • January 1, 2021 (for Professor Cup Spring)

  • April 1, 2021 (for Professor Cup Summer)

  • July 1, 2021 (for Professor Cup Fall)

  • October 1, 2021 (for Professor Cup Winter)

Visit the Professor Cup section of the Pokémon Organized Play forums for more details, to register for these special tournaments, and to find opportunities to earn Professor Points.

Pokémon Professor Webinars and Seminars

You can keep in touch and learn alongside your fellow Professors with the Pokémon Professor Webinar Series. These monthly sessions focus on a distinct topic relevant to Professors, providing valuable insight from experts and program veterans. Attendees will receive 10 Professor Points for each Webinar they attend.

You can take a look at the Pokémon Professor Webinar schedule, and be sure to check back often as more sessions will be added as the season progresses.

Pokémon Professors from around the world also continue to help one another learn, grow, and strengthen their local communities by running regular monthly activities including seminars and workshops within the program. Each activity offers at least five Professor Points to all who participate.

Visit the Professor Seminar section of the Pokémon Organized Play forums for more details, including topics, timing, and registration.

Thank you again, Pokémon Professors, for your hard work and dedication. Good luck in the Professor Cup tournaments!