Pokémon World Championship 2023: Everything you need to know

The Pokémon World Championship 2023 is just around the corner, featuring many exciting activities for fans and players of some of our favourite Pokémon games.

Taking place from 11 to 13 August in Yokohama Japan, the Pokémon World Championship will feature the World Championship games for Pokémon TCG and VCG, Pokémon UNITE, and Pokémon GO.

Whether you’re celebrating Pokémon Worlds in Yokohama or from home, there are a ton of things to watch, explore, and participate in.

So before the celebration and competition commences, we’d like to help you get ready. Here’s your ultimate guide on the Pokémon World Championship 2023.

What is Pokémon Worlds?

Trainers from all over the world get together every year at the Pokémon World Championships to celebrate the games they love and fight to be the best.

The Pokémon World Championships are held annually in August and attract the best Pokémon players from all over the world. This year is a special one because it’s the first time that the event will be celebrated in Asia.

The 2023 Pokémon World Championships will be at the PACIFICO Yokohama Convention Center in Yokohama, Japan.

What games are included in the Pokémon World Championship?

For this year, there will be tournaments for Pokémon TCG, Pokémon VGC, Pokémon GO, and Pokémon UNITE.

Pokémon TCG

Invitations to this elite tournament are given only to those players who have excelled throughout the Championship Series season.

Invitations are sent to the best Pokémon TCG players from each rating zone at the end of the season, with consideration given to their Championship Points total.

Competing players in the tournament will be competing for the lion’s share of US$119,000. On top of all these, the Top 32 Pokémon TCG players will receive 72 Pokémon TCG booster packs and other prizes, regardless of attendance. For a list of the prizes, check here.

Format:

Day 1 will follow a Swiss format. Players who achieve the necessary match points move on to the Swiss Main Event, with 4 to 9 rounds based on player count. Winning earns 3 points while drawing earns 1 point.

In Day 2, all players, Day Two invitees and Friday advancers alike, will play in new Swiss rounds on Saturday. Players can use any deck they want, and Friday's match records won't carry over.

After these rounds, the Top 8 players will advance to the Playoffs, where players will compete in a best-of-three single-elimination bracket.

Pokémon VCG

Competing in Pokémon VGC tournaments during the 2023 Championship Series will qualify players for this event. Invitations to this elite tournament are given only to those players who have excelled throughout the Championship Series season. Competing players in the tournament will be competing for the lion’s share of US$51,500.

Format:

In Day 1, the event will follow the Swiss format. Players who have 2 or fewer losses advance to the Swiss Main Event.

Day 2 will be the Main Swiss Event, where Friday advancers and Saturday direct invites will play in another round using the Swiss Format. This will be treated as a new tournament; any Day 1 progress won’t carry over and players aren’t required to use the same teams as they did on Friday.

Players with two or fewer losses move on to the Playoffs, where players will face each other in a best-of-three single-elimination bracket.

Pokémon GO

The Pokémon GO tournament will happen from 11 to 12 August.

Participants in Pokémon GO competitions during the 2023 Championship Series season qualify for this event. By excelling at one of these events, players can earn invitations to the prestigious 2023 Pokémon GO World Championships.

All participants in the Pokémon GO World Championship will be competing for a top spot that will earn them various prizes like a scholarship, a Pokémon Visa® prepaid card, and the lion’s share of US$47,000.

Format:

Day 1 will be a double-elimination bracket until the Top 32 while Day 2 will follow a double-elimination bracket until the Grand Final. All matches will be a best-of-three, except the Grand Finals, which will be a best-of-five.

Pokémon UNITE

The Pokémon UNITE World Championship is the culminating event of the 2023 Pokémon UNITE Championship Series circuit, where 11 regional champions and 21 other regional runner-ups will compete against each other for the championship title and the lion’s share of US$500,000.

In addition, regardless of attendance, the top four Pokémon UNITE teams will receive 72 Pokémon TCG booster packs.

Format:

Group Stage: A total of 31 teams are split into 8 groups, each containing 4 teams. These teams compete in a Single Round-Robin Bracket, engaging in best-of-three matches. The top team from each group progresses to the Playoffs.

Playoffs: The event uses Bo3 Double Elimination, and the Finals are Bo5 with a potential bracket reset.

Participating Teams: Regional Winners

• Secret Ship - Japan Champion (Japan)

• Agjil - Korea Champion (Korea)

• OMO – Odd Man Out – APAC East Champion (Philippines)

• Rex Regeum Qeon – APAC West Champion (Indonesia)

• SBUL Esports – India Champion (India)

• Talibobo believers – Europe Champion (EU)

• TTV – NA Champion (North America)

• Entity7 – Latin America North Champion (LAN)

• PERÚ – Latin America South Champion (LAS)

• 00 Nation – Brazil Champion (Brazil)

• EXO Clan – Oceania Runner-Up (Australia)

Other Qualifiers:

• Mjk, Team Tamerin, Oyasumi Macro (Japan)

• Team 3 Stars (Korea)

• FS Esports (India)

• Orangutan APAC East – (Taiwan)

• Kumu APAC East – (Philippines)

• TeamMYS APAC West 2nd– (Malaysia/Singapore)

• UD Vessuwan (APAC West 3rd) – (Thailand)

• iClen – Oceania Circuit Points – (Australia)

• Nouns Esports – Europe Circuit Points (EU)

• Team Peps – Europe Circuit Points (EU)

• Time to Shine – Europe Circuit Points (EU)

• Hoenn – Latin America North Circuit Points (Mexico)

• FUSION – Latin America North Circuit Points (Mexico)

• Amaterasu – North America Circuit Points (USA)

• Luminosity Gaming - North America Circuit Points (USA)

• Team YT - North America Circuit Points (USA)

• STMN Esports – Latin America South Circuit Points (LAS)

• Rise Gaming (Brazil Circuit Points)

Where to watch

If you want to watch the tournaments online, you can tune in through Pokémon’s Twitch channel. Stream schedules are as follows:

Pokémon TCG:

• Thursday, 10 August: 8am to 7.30pm Singapore Time (SGT) — Day 1 Swiss

• Friday, 11 August: 8am to 9pm SGT — Day 2 Swiss, Top 8, and Top 4

• Saturday, 12 August: 9am to 1pm SGT — Final matches for all three Pokémon TCG age divisions on Twitch.tv/Pokémon

Pokémon VGC:

• Thursday, 10 August: 8am to 7.30pm SGT — Day 1 Swiss

• Friday, 11 August: 8am to 9pm SGT — Day 2 Swiss, Top 8, and Top 4

• Saturday, 12 August: 1am to 4am SGT (next day) — Final matches for all three Pokémon VGC age divisions on Twitch.tv/Pokémon

Pokémon GO:

• Thursday, 10 August: 8am to 5pm Singapore Time (SGT) — Bracket Stage

• Friday, 11 August: 8am to 4pm SGT — Bracket Stage until Top 2

• Saturday, 12 August: 8am to 9am SGT — Grand Finals

Pokémon UNITE:

• Thursday, 10 August: 8am to 7pm Singapore Time (SGT) — Group Play

• Friday, 11 August: 8am to 9pm SGT — Bracket Play

Closing ceremonies:

• Sunday, 13 August: 4pm to 4.30pm Singapore Time (SGT)

Anna is a freelance writer and photographer. She is a gamer who loves RPGs and platformers, and is a League of Legends geek. She's also a food enthusiast who loves a good cup of black coffee.

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