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. 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 & 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 |
|
|
USA & 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 |
5 |
5 |
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 |
Pokémon World Championships Travel Awards
Pokémon TCG, Pokémon video game, and Pokémon GO competitors can qualify for Travel Awards to the World Championships based on their performance and their Championship Points standing in their home rating zone (North America, Latin America, Europe, or Oceania) during the 2025 Pokémon Championship Series season.
The tables below lay out what type of invitation a competitor earns based on their final ranking in the Championship Points standing in their rating zone at the end of the season. All other competitors who earn qualification to the World Championships in their rating zone or a guaranteed invite from placing highly in an eligible event outside of the Tier 1 or Tier 2 placement will receive a Tier 3 invite to the World Championships.
Pokémon TCG Travel Award Invitations
|
Rating Zone |
Tier 1 |
Tier 2 |
Tier 3 |
|
USA & Canada |
1–16 |
17–22 |
- |
|
Europe |
1–22 |
23–28 |
- |
|
Latin America |
1–12 |
13–16 |
- |
|
Oceania |
1–4 |
5–8 |
- |
|
Middle East & South Africa |
1–2 |
- |
- |
Pokémon VGC Travel Award Invitations
|
Rating Zone |
Tier 1 |
Tier 2 |
Tier 3 |
|
USA & Canada |
1–12 |
13–16 |
- |
|
Europe |
1–16 |
17–22 |
- |
|
Latin America |
1–8 |
9–12 |
- |
|
Oceania |
1–4 |
5–8 |
- |
|
Middle East & South Africa |
- |
- |
- |
Pokémon GO Travel Award Invitations
|
Rating Zone |
Tier 1 |
Tier 2 |
Tier 3 |
|
USA & Canada |
1–8 |
9–12 |
- |
|
Europe |
1–8 |
9–12 |
- |
|
Latin America |
1–8 |
9–12 |
- |
|
Oceania |
1–2 |
3–4 |
- |
|
Middle East & South Africa |
- |
- |
- |
Competitors who qualify for a Tier 1 invitation to the World Championships will receive a flat Travel Award amount prior to the event. Each competitor is fully responsible for booking their own hotel and travel. The award amount is based on the age of the recipient, their region of residence, and the region of the event. Residents of Russia and South Africa are not currently eligible for Travel Awards.
18 years of age and older:
-
$3,500 for competitors outside of region, $2,000 for competitors in-region
Under 18 years of age:
-
$5,000 for competitors outside of region, $2,500 for competitors in-region
Unless otherwise specified, all Travel Awards are paid in US dollars and are subject to applicable tax withholding. Travel Award winners should consult a qualified tax professional regarding their tax obligations.
Competitors who qualify for Tier 2 invitations to the World Championships are eligible to earn a $1,000 Travel Stipend, paid after the event and subject to them attending and completing at least one round of play in the main event.
Subject to change.
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 |
|||||||
