Get a First Look at Plans for the 2023 Pokémon Championship Series

17 August 2022

Get a First Look at Plans for the 2023 Pokémon Championship Series

The 2023 Play! Pokémon season features the return of Pokémon TCG, Pokémon GO, VGC, Pokémon UNITE, and much more!

After an invigorating return to competitive Pokémon during the 2022 Pokémon Championship Series, we have more details regarding the future of the series. The 2023 Pokémon Championship Series, leading to the 2023 Pokémon World Championships, will include four different Pokémon games: the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokémon video games, Pokémon GO, and Pokémon UNITE. Regional Championships and International Championships will continue to be hosted across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Oceania, and Travel Awards will be available for these events.

The age divisions for players in the 2023 season will increase by one year from the 2022 season:

  • Junior Division: Born in 2011 or later

  • Senior Division: Born in 2007, 2008, 2009, or 2010

  • Masters Division: Born in 2006 or earlier


2023 Pokémon TCG Championship Series

The Pokémon TCG Championship Series largely remains unchanged going into the 2023 season and will continue to suspend all local Championship Point (CP) tournaments (e.g., League Challenges and League Cups) until further notice.

Most Championship Series events, including all Regional and International Championships, use the Standard format.


2023 Pokémon Video Game Championship (VGC) Series

With Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet releasing later this year, we will reevaluate the structure of the 2023 VGC circuit. After the 2022 World Championships, there will be no Video Game Championship Series events until January 2023, when all competitive events will be played in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet. More information will be released later in 2022.


2023 Pokémon GO Championship Series

Following the success of the inaugural 2022 season, Pokémon GO will return to the 2023 Pokémon Championship Series. Pokémon GO will feature at many more events alongside both the Pokémon TCG and VGC events. All players will compete in a single age division in the 2023 Pokémon GO Championship Series.


2023 Pokémon UNITE Championship Series

Pokémon UNITE will return to the Pokémon Championship Series in 2023. Stay tuned for more details.


Event Schedule and Travel Awards

Regional Championships will continue to take place in the 2023 season, with numerous events making their way to North America, Europe, and Latin America. Special Events will also return to Europe for the 2023 season. There are currently no announced Regional Championships for Oceania; however, details of those events will be announced at a later date. Most Regionals will feature both Pokémon TCG and Pokémon GO during this season’s Championship Series, and Regionals taking place after January 2023 will also feature VGC events using Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet. The main competitions for Regional Championships in North America will take place on Saturdays and Sundays, but competitors are encouraged to show up early to check in and compete in side events on Fridays. More Regionals will be announced at a later date. Dates, locations, and formats are subject to change.


North America Regional Championships Schedule

Date

Location

Game(s)

September 16–18, 2022

Baltimore Regional Championships

Baltimore Convention Center

1 W Pratt St

Baltimore, MD 21201, USA

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

September 30–October 2, 2022

Peoria Regional Championships

Peoria Civic Center

201 SW Jefferson Ave, Peoria, IL 61602

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

October 14–16, 2022

Salt Lake City Regional Championships

Salt Palace Convention Center

100 S W Temple St

Salt Lake City, UT 84101, USA

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

December 2–4, 2022

Toronto Regional Championships

The Enercare Centre

100 Princes’ Blvd Unit 1, Toronto, ON M6K 3C3, Canada

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

December 16–18, 2022

Arlington Regional Championships

Arlington Convention Center

1200 Ballpark Way, Arlington, TX 76011, USA

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

January 6–8, 2023

San Diego Regional Championships

San Diego Convention Center

111 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

VGC

February 3–5, 2023

Florida Regional Championships

Orange County Convention Center

9400 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819, USA

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

VGC

February 24–26, 2023

Knoxville Regional Championships

Knoxville Convention Center

701 Henley St, Knoxville, TN 37902, USA

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

VGC

March 10–12, 2023

Vancouver Regional Championships

Vancouver Convention Center

1055 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 0C3, Canada

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

VGC

March 24–26, 2023

Charlotte Regional Championships

Charlotte Convention Center

501 S College St, Charlotte, NC 28202, USA

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

VGC

March 31–April 2, 2023 

Fort Wayne Regional Championships

The Grand Wayne Convention Center 

120 W Jefferson Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46802

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

VGC

May 5–7, 2023

Portland Regional Championships

Oregon Convention Center

777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97232, USA

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

VGC

May 19–21, 2023

Hartford Regional Championships

Connecticut Convention Center

100 Columbus Blvd, Hartford, CT 06103, USA

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

VGC

June 2–4, 2023

Wisconsin Regional Championships

The Wisconsin Center

400 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203, USA

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

VGC


Europe Regional Championships and Special Events Schedule

Date

Location

Game(s)

September 17–18, 2022

Bilbao Special Event

Bilbao Exhibition Centre

Azkue Kalea, 1, 48902 Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

October 22–23, 2022

Lille Regional Championships

Lille Grand Palais

1 Bd des Cités Unies, 59777 Lille, France

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

November 12–13, 2022

Warsaw Regional Championships

Expo XXI

Ignacego Prądzyńskiego 12/14, 01-222 Warsaw, Poland

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

December 3–4, 2022

Stuttgart Regional Championships

ICS International Congress Center Stuttgart

Landesmesse Stuttgart GmbH, Messepiazza 1, 70629 Stuttgart, Germany

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

January 21–22, 2023

Liverpool Regional Championships

ACC Liverpool

King’s Dock, Port of Liverpool, Kings Dock St, Liverpool L3 4FP, UK

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

VGC

February 25–26, 2023

Bochum Regional Championships

RuhrCongress Bochum

Stadionring 20, 44791 Bochum, Germany

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

VGC

March 18–19, 2023

Utrecht Special Event

Jaarbeurs

Jaarbeursplein, 3521 AL Utrecht, Netherlands

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

VGC

May 20–21, 2023

Malmö Regional Championships

MalmöMässan Exhibition & Congress Center

Mässgatan 6, 215 32 Malmö, Sweden

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

VGC


Latin America Regional Championships Schedule

Date

Location

Game(s)

September 17–18, 2022

Porto Alegre Regional Championships

FIERGS Events Center

Av. Assis Brasil, 8787 – Sarandi, Porto Alegre – RS, 91140-001, Brazil

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO


International Championships will also return for the 2023 Pokémon Championship Series, with events in Latin America, Oceania, Europe, and North America. Pokémon TCG Travel Awards will function the same for this event as they did previously—CP earned from the day after the Europe International Championships through and including the North America International Championships will determine Travel Awards for the Latin America International Championships. Because VGC events do not resume until January, VGC Championship Points earned during this period will determine Travel Awards for the Oceania International Championships.


International Championships Schedule

Date

Region

Location

Game(s)

November 2022

Latin America

Brazil

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

February 2023

Oceania

Australia

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

VGC

April 2023

Europe

UK

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

VGC

June 2023

North America

USA

Pokémon TCG

Pokémon GO

VGC


This is only the first update regarding the 2023 Pokémon Championship Series season. Further updates will be provided as more information is confirmed. Please keep checking Pokemon.co.uk/PlayPokemon for the latest information on Play! Pokémon events.

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