The Pokémon World Championships are the pinnacle of competitive Pokémon play. Typically occurring in August of each year, the Pokémon World Championships feature the best Pokémon players from around the globe. Players will compete in the three-day event for a prize pool of over $2,000,000 (the highest prize pool in the Championship Series circuit), the title of Pokémon World Champion, and return invitations for the following year’s Worlds.
The 2025 Pokémon World Championships will be held in August in Anaheim, California. Check back for more information on time and location.
World Championships Qualification
Players qualify for Worlds by earning Championship Points at events throughout the Championship Series season. 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. 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 at major events will earn direct invitations to the Pokémon World Championships. Competitors who place first at a Regional or Special Championships will receive an invitation, and the Top 4 at each International Championships will earn an invitation. The Top 4 competitors from the prior year’s World Championships will also earn an invitation. Invites earned through this method will not count against the total invitation slots for that player’s rating zone.
Players in Japan, South Korea, mainland China, and the Asia-Pacific region will be awarded World Championships invitations as per their regions’ organized play and esports programs. Players from these rating zones are not eligible to earn World Championships invitations through Championship Points.
Pokémon TCG Championship Invitations
|
Age Division |
Junior |
Senior |
Masters |
|
USA 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 2025 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.
Pokémon World Championships Cash Prizes
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 World Championships Cash Prizes
|
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 VGC World Championships Cash Prizes
|
Placement |
All Age Divisions |
|
1 |
$30,000 |
|
2 |
$20,000 |
|
3–4 |
$15,000 |
|
5–8 |
$10,000 |
|
9–16 |
$5,000 |
Pokémon GO World Championships Cash Prizes
|
Placement |
Prize |
|
1 |
$20,000 |
|
2 |
$15,000 |
|
3 |
$13,000 |
|
4 |
$12,000 |
|
T-5 |
$9,000 |
|
T-7 |
$5,000 |
|
T-9 |
$2,000 |
|
T-13 |
$1,000 |
Booster Pack Prizes
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:
|
Players 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 |
|||||||
