The world championships for the Pokémon video games and trading cards is over for another year, as the venues for 2025 are announced.
For the first time since 2007, the Pokémon World Championships returned to Honolulu, as the world’s best trainers and players came together to play the mainline video games, Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokémon Go, and the free-to-play Pokémon Unite.
It was a long way to travel, even for players from mainland United States, let alone players from Europe, but the community showed up in force and with the vibrant backdrop of Honolulu’s beaches, and the cultural richness of Hawaii, this year’s championships brought a sense of nostalgia, celebration, competition, and a bit of controversy.
Honolulu proved to be an exceptional host, offering a perfect blend of relaxation and intensity, that mirrored the dual nature of the competition itself. The Hawaiian spirit of aloha was evident throughout the event, with a stunning opening ceremony giving praise to the Hawaiian Goddess of Volcanos, Pele. There was beautiful, beach-themed merchandise and even a special Pokémon Go in-game event, that allowed players to catch exclusive Pokémon in the region and ‘Scubacu’ Pikachu kitted out in Suba gear and a cute waddle.
The venue, the Hawai’i Convention Center, was buzzing with excitement, with thousands of fans and players coming together to witness the pinnacle of Pokémon competition and, of course, wait in outrageous queues for the Pokémon Center.
In the Pokémon Video Game Championships (VGC), players were competing on Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. The Master Division saw Italian Luca Ceribelli taking the crown. Cerbelli’s team was a finely tuned machine, featuring a combination of Ogerpon-H, Whimsicott, Miraidon, Farigiraf, Iron Hands, and Urshifu. This team composition wasn’t surprising, given the current metagame trends, but what set Ceribelli apart was his impeccable prediction skills and the ability to adapt his strategy mid-match.
In the Senior Division, it was Ray Yamanaka from Japan who took home the trophy. Ray’s team mirrored many of the successful elements of Ceribelli, with added Entei. The Junior Division winner was Kevin Han from the US, who brought a team that reflected the bold and sometimes unpredictable nature of younger competitors. Han’s team included Calyrex-I, Incineroar, Raging Bolt, and Urshifu-Rapid.
I spoke to VGC competitor Arthur Mereur, from France, who ranks 499th in the world. ‘It was very fun, it’s my first year competing, so my objective is just to be here,’ he said. ‘There are the best players in the world here, so when you face someone, it’s not nobody. It’s hard, every game is hard. But the result here is not very important to me, just being at the event is very cool, to be with friends and family is great, so I’m really enjoying myself here.’
16-year-old Yekai ‘Yekai0904’ Zhang, from Hong Kong, claimed the Pokémon Go World Championship title and the $20,000 (£15,166) main prize, marking a historic moment for the competitive scene. Yekai0904’s team comprised Altaria, Skarmory, Lickitung, Charjabug, Shadow Quagsire, and Annihiape. His gameplay was characterised by flawless energy management and impeccable timing, often catching his opponents off guard with precise switch-ins and perfectly timed charge moves.
I also spoke to Pokémon Go competitor Tristan Wastell, from Seattle. ‘I’ve been playing Pokémon Go competitively since 2019,’ he explains. ‘I started out doing grassroots and then when Pokémon Go came to the Pokémon circuit I started competing in that as well. I only went to a couple of tournaments last year but did a bit more this year, once we got championship points.
‘I went to New Orleans as well, for NAIC [North America International Championships] and, you know, it’s been a lot of fun competing. The Pokémon Go community is a really tight knit community, it’s really high-level competition. I didn’t have a ton of time to prepare for it, so kind of came in and just wanted to do my best and see how I stacked up against the best of the best.
‘It’s wonderful being here. It was my first time qualifying for world, so it was a really cool feeling to qualify and just to get to compete and see how I stacked up against some of the top trainers in the world.’
FENNEL, the South Korean powerhouse, stormed to victory at the 2024 Pokémon esports Unite World Championships, earning themselves $100,000 (£75,842) and delivering a masterclass in team coordination and strategy. Known for their aggressive playstyle and razor sharp decision-making, Fennel dominated the competition from start to finish, leaving no doubt as to their superiority.
The Pokémon Trading Card Game portion of the event was equally thrilling, with players demonstrating incredible deck-building prowess and in-game decision-making. The Master Division was dominated by Fernando Cifuentes from Chile, with a well-crafted Iron Thorns EX deck. His ability to draw the right cards at the right moments, combined with a deep understanding of matchups, made him an unstoppable force throughout the tournament.
In the Senior Division, Brazilian player Evan Pavelski made waves with his Regidrago VSTAR deck. Known for its high consistency and power output, it was a popular choice and allowed him to clinch victory in a very competitive field. The Junior Division saw a surprising but well-deserved win for Japan’s Sakuya Ota. Ota’s Ancient Box deck was a masterclass in consistency and energy acceleration, allowing him to set up powerful attacks.
No major competitive event is complete without its share of drama and the 2024 Pokémon World Championships were no exception. One VGC competitor, Ian Robb, made it to the Master’s quarterfinals. Robb beat his opponent Fernando but The Pokémon Company’s international global esports and events director, Chris Brown, had to step in before the next match and hand out a penalty to Robb for unsporting conduct. A lewd hand gesture was made as he turned to the crowd after winning and lost him his shot at the title.
As the sun set over the Hawaiian beaches, crowds oohed and ahhed at the dedicated nightly Pokémon Drone show. Champions were crowned and new strategies were born as attendees sat down to watch the closing ceremony, which announced that the 2025 Worlds would take place in Anaheim, California and that the 2026 Championship would occur in San Francisco.
With Disney announcing that the Lorcana World Championship will be held at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, rather than Disneyland Anaheim, prevents any uncomfortable card game clashes that might have ensued. As well as the surprise of these two upcoming locations, the closing ceremony revealed the release date for Pokémon TCG Pocket, the brand new mobile animated card collecting game that was demoed for the first time in Hawaii.
The Pokémon World Championships continue to be a celebration of skill, passion, and the enduring appeal of the Pokémon franchise. With the next season on the horizon, players and fans alike are already looking forward to what the future holds.
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