This event will use the 2022 Video Game Championship Series format. Players at the 2022 Pokémon VGC North America International Championships—taking place June 24–26 in Columbus, Ohio—will be competing for Championship Points and prizes. All participants will receive 5 Play! Points and a Pokémon International Championships promo card (while supplies last) just for playing!
Registration is open to all players in good standing with the Play! Pokémon program. Players must have an active Play! Pokémon account with current and accurate information.
Players must comply with the Tournament Rules. Proof of age may be requested. Failure to provide proof of age may result in the player being denied participation in the tournament, at the organizer’s discretion.
When you show up at a Pokémon video game tournament, there are some things you must have with you:
Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield (physical or digital) for the Nintendo Switch family of systems with the latest game patch installed.
A fully charged Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch Lite system with working USB-C port.
A team of tournament-legal Pokémon (see the Tournament Rules and check back regularly before the event for updated rules).
Players are strongly encouraged to bring a charger for their systems, as tournament staff will not have chargers available for loan.
Players are strongly encouraged to bring a wired Nintendo Switch Pro controller to improve their gameplay experience.
Proof of age may be requested, and failure to provide proof of age may result in the player being denied participation in the tournament, at the organizer’s discretion.
Prizes
Prizes will be 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 into the Play! Pokémon program to earn points and awards. The final Championship Point payout will be determined by the number of players per age division.
Championship Points
| Placement | Championship Points | Kicker (# of participants) |
| 1 | 500 | 0 |
| 2 | 400 | 0 |
| 3–4 | 320 | 0 |
| 5–8 | 250 | 0 |
| 9–16 | 200 | 48 |
| 17–32 | 160 | 100 |
| 33–64 | 130 | 200 |
| 65–128 | 100 | 400 |
| 129–256 | 80 | 800 |
| 257–512 | 60 | 1,600 |
Championship Point values subject to change.
Prize Award Information
The format of each prize is dependent on the age of the recipient. Here are the International Championships prizes for the 2022 Play! Pokémon Championship Series season.
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 are based on attendance per age division. Unless otherwise specified, 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.
Award Values
| Placement | 1–100 Players | 101–200 Players | 201+ Players |
| 1 | $1,500 | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| 2 | $1,000 | $1,500 | $2,500 |
| 3–4 | $750 | $1,000 | $1,500 |
| 5–8 | $500 | $750 | $1,000 |
| 9–16 | — | $500 | $750 |
| 17–32 | — | — | $500 |
Prizes and prize distribution may be subject to change.
Additionally, the top 16 video game players will receive Pokémon TCG booster packs regardless of attendance.
Pokémon TCG Booster Packs
1st–4th place: 72 booster packs
5th–8th place: 36 booster packs
9th–16th place: 18 booster packs
