Planning is underway for the 2021 Championship Series season. Pokémon Organized Play joins players in looking forward to the resumption of exciting competitions around the world. The health and safety of our communities continue to be the most important aspect of resuming live events, and the situation is being continually monitored. The timing for the next live Play! Pokémon events will be determined by the health mandates, guidelines, and recommendations provided by appropriate government agencies.

This update provides information about the 2021 Championship Series season under the assumption that play can resume in some form over the next 12 months. Play! Pokémon events remain suspended, but the plans for the next season anticipate that the Pokémon World Championships will take place in London in August 2021.

Accordingly, the following changes are being made:

• The age division for players in the 2021 season will be the same as the age division for the 2020 season

  • Junior Division: Born in 2009 or later

  • Senior Division: Born in 2005, 2006, 2007, or 2008

  • Masters Division: Born in 2004 or earlier

• The 2021 World Championships will take place over four days, beginning on a Thursday.

• The Championship Points (CP) that eligible players earned in 2020 will transfer in whole to the 2021 season. Players will continue to add to this total with any CP earned in the 2021 season.

• There will be two CP qualification bars:

  • Thursday players: players who reach the qualification bar that is the same as the 2020 bar. Therefore, players who previously qualified for Worlds are still qualified for 2021.

  • Friday players: players who reach a new CP bar set in 2021 when more information is available about qualifying events. Players who hit the Friday CP bar will skip play on Thursday.

  • The number of CP for qualification will be announced at a later date.

• Information on Best Finish Limits will be available at a later time.

This is only the first update regarding the 2021 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.