2023 Pokémon World Championships

2023 Pokémon World Championships

Official logo of the event
Host city	Yokohama, Japan
Motto	Challenge the World![1] (Japanese: 世界に挑戦してみよう！)
Events	8 in 4 games[2]
Opening	August 11, 2023 (2023-08-11)
Closing	August 13, 2023 (2023-08-13)
Main venue	Pacifico Yokohama
Website	worlds.pokemon.com

The 2023 Pokémon World Championships (Japanese: 2023 ポケモンワールドチャンピオンシップス) was an international multi-game event held from August 11, 2023 (2023-08-11) to August 13, 2023 (2023-08-13) in Yokohama, Japan, following its announcement as the host city during the closing ceremony of the 2022 edition in London.[3]

The Games were the 18th edition of the Pokémon World Championships, following the 2022 Pokémon World Championships in London. Yokohama is the first city in Japan and in Asia to host the Pokémon World Championships. The Games was also the first time that the Pokémon World Championships was held consecutively outside of North America.[4]

The Pokémon Company (TPC) removed Pokkén Tournament from the games lineup after the game has been in the Pokémon World Championships since 2016. This was also the first time TPC removed a game from the main events.[5] The release of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet has also adjusted all of the main events through new Pokémon, abilities, and moves.[6]

Hosts Japan swept the VGC (Pokémon Scarlet and Violet) podium, winning at the Juniors, Seniors, and Masters level.[7] This is the fourth VGC podium sweep in the history of the Pokémon World Championships, with the other three podium sweeps occurring in 2011, 2012, and 2016, all done by the United States.[8] In Pokémon Unite, Luminosity Gaming defended their title, still standing as the only Esports team with a world championship in Pokémon Unite.[9] In Pokémon Trading Card Game, Brazil had 25 entrants, and was one of the three countries with 20+ entrants (behind hosts Japan and the United States). In addition, Taiwan won their first championship in TCG at the Juniors level.[10] In Pokémon Go, the United States swept the podium.[11] The closing ceremony announced that the United States will host the 2024 Pokémon World Championships for the 16th time in Honolulu.[12]

Also at the closing ceremony, The Pokémon Company announced meta-defining news for each event in the games lineup. In Pokémon Go, Pokémon from the Paldea region from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will be integrated in the game in September 2023.[13] In Pokémon Trading Card Game, Paradox Pokémon from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will be released in November 2023.[14] In Pokémon Unite, Blaziken, Mimikyu, and Meowscarada will be the next batch of new Pokémon.[15] In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, more information was revealed for the DLC, most notably that all starters from every Pokémon region will be available when the second DLC releases in Winter 2023.[16]

The Championships

2023 Pokémon World Championships games lineup[17]
Pokémon Go Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Juniors (Born in 2011 or later) Seniors (Born from 2007 to 2010) Masters (Born in 2006 or earlier) Pokémon Trading Card Game Juniors (Born in 2011 or later) Seniors (Born from 2007 to 2010) Masters (Born in 2006 or earlier) Pokémon Unite

Games

The tournament featured eight events in four games. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet made its debut as the ninth Pokémon video game in the Pokémon World Championships.[18] For Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and the Pokémon Trading Card Game, there were three events for both games where each event was dedicated to a specific age division.[19] For Pokémon Unite and Pokémon Go, there was one event each where participants must be at least 16 and 13 years old to participate, respectively, although countries may require participants to be older.[20][21][22]

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet introduced a new mainline battle mechanic called Terastallization, where Pokémon have the ability to change their type at any point during the battle. This is the fourth mainline battle mechanic introduced in the Pokémon video game series, after Mega Evolution in Pokémon X and Y, Z-Moves in Pokémon Sun and Moon, and Dynamax in Pokémon Sword and Shield.[23] The Terastallization phenomenon, abilities, and new Pokémon has had substantial impact in the other titles in the Games, such as Terastal Pokémon in TCG.[24] This is also the first time that a new ruleset (called "Regulation D") was first implemented at the Pokémon World Championships, rather than during the regular season.[25]

Calendar

All times and dates use Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)[26]

OC

Opening ceremony

●

Event competitions

1

Championship

CC

Closing ceremony

August 2023	11th Fri	12th Sat	13th Sun	Events
Ceremonies	OC		CC	—
Pokémon Go	●	●	1	1
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet	●	●	3	3
Pokémon Trading Card Game	●	●	3	3
Pokémon Unite	●	1		1

Summary

Medalists

Games	First	Second	Third
Pokémon Go details	ItsAXN  United States	xXRubixMasterXx  United States	wdage  United States
Pokémon TCG – Juniors details	Shao Tong Yen  Taiwan	Gabriel Torres  Brazil	Hayashi Yukito  Japan
Pokémon TCG – Seniors details	Gabriel Fernandez  Brazil	Sydney de Bruijn  Netherlands	Yuya Tada  Japan
Pokémon TCG – Masters details	Vance Kelley  United States	Tord Reklev  Norway	Michael Pramawat  United States
Pokémon VGC – Juniors details	Sora Ebisawa  Japan	Kohei Ukai  Japan	Pietro Nihal Kaludura  Italy
Pokémon VGC – Seniors details	Tomoya Ogawa  Japan	Robbie Schaaij  Netherlands	Yuta Okada  Japan
Pokémon VGC – Masters details	Shohei Kimura  Japan	Michael Kelsch  Germany	Mao Harada  Japan
Pokémon Unite details	Luminosity Gaming Sean Tucker William Byrnes III Kihyun Lee Angelo Huang Amrit Rama Nicholas Kim (alt.)	OMO Abyssinian Jose Miguel Ringpis Liban Joe Daryl Padao Maghanoy Luis John Felizarte Michael Vaughn Ocio Joshua De Leon Justine De Guzman (alt.)	Oyasumi Makuro Yudai Koseko Shouki Takada Yumeto Tanabe Futo Kamikido Kaito Nagao

[27]

Pokémon Go

The Top 108 Pokémon Go players in the world were invited and competed in group stage format to determine a Top 16 knockout stage.[28]

						Round 2					Round 3					Round 4															Final
						ElCheasdasd (CHI)		2
						Inadequance (NED)		0
											ElCheasdasd (CHI)		0
											wdage (USA)		2
						wdage (USA)		2
						Avrip (AUS)		1
																wdage (USA)		2
																ItsAXN (USA)		3
						Luminous0430 (JPN)		0
						ItsAXN (USA)		2
											ItsAXN (USA)		2
											xXRubixMasterXx (USA)		0
						xXRubixMasterXx (USA)		2
						chiodoSH01 (JPN)		1
																															ItsAXN (USA)		3
																															xXRubixMasterXx (USA)		1
	Lower round 1					Lower round 2					Lower round 3					Lower round 4					Lower round 5					Lower final
						chiodoSH01 (JPN)		2
																ElCheasdasd (CHI)		2
	HumanCatcherBug (DEN)		0			ISHIKAWABOY (JPN)		1
											chiodoSH01 (JPN)		2			chiodoSH01 (JPN)		1
	ISHIKAWABOY (JPN)		2
											Luminous0430 (JPN)		1													wdage (USA)		2
						Luminous0430 (JPN)		2
																					ElCheasdasd (CHI)		0			xXRubixMasterXx (USA)		3
	TontonBatteuse (FRA)		2			TontonBatteuse (FRA)		1
																					xXRubixMasterXx (USA)		2
	RicFlareon (AUS)		0
						Avrip (AUS)		0
																xXRubixMasterXx (USA)		2
	Paulasha97 (ESP)		0			Scafo99 (ITA)		2
											Scafo99 (ITA)		2			Scafo99 (ITA)		0
	Scafo99 (ITA)		2
											ROROI1230 (KOR)		0
						Inadequance (NED)		1
	Auburnnnn (USA)		1			ROROI1230 (KOR)		2
	ROROI1230 (KOR)		2

Pokémon TCG

Participating nations

A total of 348 players from 36 nations competed in the Pokémon Trading Card Game across three age divisions.[29]

Participating nations

Argentina (5)  Australia (17)  Belgium (3)  Brazil (25)  Canada (15)  Chile (6)  China (1)  Czech Republic (2)  Denmark (5)  Finland (5)  France (8)  Germany (6)  Hong Kong (7)  Indonesia (2)  Israel (2)  Italy (14)  Japan (69) (host)  Mexico (2)  Malaysia (1)  Netherlands (8)  Norway (1)  New Zealand (2)  Peru (2)  Philippines (1)  Poland (6)  Portugal (2)  Singapore (2)  Slovakia (2)  South Africa (5)  South Korea (17)  Spain (6)   Switzerland (1)  Thailand (5)  Taiwan (11)  United Kingdom (18)  United States (66)

Juniors

The Top 93 Pokémon Trading Card Game players born 2011 or later were invited and competed in a Swiss-system format to determine the Top 8 knockout stage.[29]

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Hayashi Y. (JPN)	2
	Haruku U. (JPN)	1
					Hayashi Y. (JPN)	0
					Shao Tong Y. (TAI)	2
	Kazusa Y. (JPN)	1
	Shao Tong Y. (TAI)	2
									Shao Tong Y. (TAI)	2
									Gabriel T. (BRA)	0
	Gabriel T. (BRA)	2
	Kingsley C. (AUS)	1
					Gabriel T. (BRA)	2
					Hatsuto K. (JPN)	0
	Junwon C. (KOR)	0
	Hatsuto K. (JPN)	2

Seniors

The Top 85 Pokémon Trading Card Game players born between 2007 and 2010 were invited and competed in a Swiss-system format to determine the Top 8 knockout stage.[29]

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Akinori A. (JPN)	1
	Sydney D.B. (NED)	2
					Sydney D.B. (NED)	2
					Yuya T. (JPN)	0
	Polaris A. (USA)	1
	Yuya T. (JPN)	2
									Sydney D.B. (NED)	0
									Gabriel F. (BRA)	2
	Lucas J. (BRA)	0
	Sechan O. (KOR)	2
					Sechan O. (KOR)	0
					Gabriel F. (BRA)	2
	Gabriel F. (BRA)	2
	Rune H. (BEL)	0

Masters

The Top 170 Pokémon Trading Card Game players born between born 2006 or earlier were invited and competed in a Swiss-system format to determine the Top 8 knockout stage.[29]

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Vance Kelley (USA)	2
	Pang Kai Hing (HKG)	0
					Vance Kelley (USA)	2
					Azul García Griego (USA)	1
	Azul García Griego (USA)	2
	Dionsius Lee (SGP)	1
									Vance Kelley (USA)	2
									Tord Reklev (NOR)	1
	Tord Reklev (NOR)	2
	Victor Manuel García Montes (MEX)	1
					Tord Reklev (NOR)	2
					Michael Pramawat (USA)	0
	Shoichi Saito (AUS)	1
	Michael Pramawat (USA)	2

Pokémon VGC

Participating nations

A total of 256 players from 33 nations competed in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet across three age divisions.[30]

Participating nations

Argentina (2)  Australia (14)  Austria (1)  Belgium (2)  Brazil (4)  Canada (6)  Chile (5)  China (2)  Denmark (1)  Ecuador (2)  France (9)  Germany (8)  Hong Kong (1)  Ireland (1)  Israel (1)  Italy (19)  Japan (90) (host)  Luxembourg (1)  Malaysia (2)  Netherlands (2)  New Zealand (1)  Peru (3)  Philippines (1)  Paraguay (1)  Portugal (1)  Singapore (1)  South Korea (10)  Spain (10)  Sweden (1)  Thailand (1)  Taiwan (1)  United Kingdom (12)  United States (41)

Juniors

The Top 69 Pokémon Scarlet and Violet players born 2011 or later were invited and competed in a Swiss-system format to determine the Top 8 knockout stage.[30]

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Leland S. (USA)	0
	Kojima W. (JPN)	2
					Kojima W. (JPN)	0
					Kohei U. (JPN)	2
	Minato K. (JPN)	1
	Kohei U. (JPN)	2
									Kohei U. (JPN)	0
									Sora E. (JPN)	2
	Shunsei K. (JPN)	0
	Pietro Nihal K. (ITA)	2
					Pietro Nihal K. (ITA)	0
					Sora E. (JPN)	2
	Kanata S. (JPN)	1
	Sora E. (JPN)	2

Seniors

The Top 74 Pokémon Scarlet and Violet players born between 2007 and 2010 were invited and competed in a Swiss-system format to determine the Top 8 knockout stage.[30]

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Teddy F. (UK)	0
	Yuta K. (JPN)	2
					Yuta K. (JPN)	0
					Tomoya O. (JPN)	2
	Sali R. (ITA)	1
	Tomoya O. (JPN)	2
									Tomoya O. (JPN)	2
									Robbie S. (NED)	0
	Aidan P. (USA)	0
	Yuta O. (JPN)	2
					Yuta O. (JPN)	0
					Robbie S. (NED)	2
	Robbie S. (NED)	2
	Tomoya Z. (JPN)	0

Masters

The Top 113 Pokémon Scarlet and Violet players born before 2007 were invited and competed in a Swiss-system format to determine the Top 8 knockout stage.[30]

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Federico Camporesi (ITA)	2
	Abdullah Mohayyuddin (CAN)	0
					Federico Camporesi (ITA)	0
					Michael Kelsch (GER)	2
	Michael Kelsch (GER)	2
	Nikolaj Høj Nielsen (DEN)	0
									Michael Kelsch (GER)	0
									Shohei Kimura (JPN)	2
	Victor Medina (ESP)	1
	Mao Harada (JPN)	2
					Mao Harada (JPN)	0
					Shohei Kimura (JPN)	2
	Shohei Kimura (JPN)	2
	Mattie Morgan (IRL)	0

Pokémon Unite

Group stage

The top 28 Pokémon Unite teams (of five people) were invited and competed in a group stage format to determine the Top 8 knockout stage. The winners of each group advance to the Top 8 knockout stage.[31]

Group	Winners	Runners-up	Third place	Fourth place
A	Perú	Hoenn	Team3Stars	Secret Ship
B	Orangutan	Rex Regum Qeon	Nouns Esports	EXO Clan
C	00 Nation	Talibobo Believers	iClen
D	Akjil	Amaterasu	Rise Gaming	Fusion
E	Mjk	TeamMYS	Team Peps	TTV
F	OMO Abyssinian	Team YT	UD Vessuwan
G	Luminosity Gaming	TimeToShine	S8UL Esports
H	Oyasumi Makuro	Kumu	Entity7

Knockout stage

	Round 1					Round 2					Quarterfinals										Final
	Perú		1
	Oyasumi Makuro		2
						Oyasumi Makuro		2
						Mjk		1
	Akjil		0
	Mjk		2
											Oyasumi Makuro		0
											Luminosity Gaming		2
	Orangutan		0
	Luminosity Gaming		2
						Luminosity Gaming		2
						OMO Abyssinian		0
	00 Nation		1
	OMO Abyssinian		2																		Luminosity Gaming		3
																					OMO Abyssinian		0
	Lower round 1					Lower round 2					Lower round 3					Lower final
						OMO Abyssinian		2
	Perú		0			Akjil		0								Oyasumi Makuro		1
	Akjil		2								OMO Abyssinian		2			OMO Abyssinian		2
											Mjk		1
						Mjk		2
	Orangutan		1			00 Nation		0
	00 Nation		2

[32][33]

References

1. "Challenge the World!: 2023 Pokémon World Championships". YouTube. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
2. "2023 Pokémon World Championships Trailer: Yokohama". YouTube. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
3. "2022 Pokémon World Championships: CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY". YouTube. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
4. "The 2023 Pokémon World Championship will be held in Japan". GameReactor. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
5. Doolan, Liam (24 August 2022). "Pokémon Says Goodbye To Pokkén Tournament World Championships After Six Years". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
6. "New Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet (Gen 9)". IGN. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
7. Cocking, Tony (13 August 2023). "Japan Sweeps All Three VGC Divisions at 2023 Pokemon Worlds". Twinfinite. Archived from the original on August 25, 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
8. "Pokémon Championship Series". Serebii. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
9. "Luminosity Gaming is the first two-time champion of the Pokémon UNITE World Championships". ONE Esports. 13 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
10. "Taiwan, Brazil and the United States as protagonists in the TCG > Geek Culture %". Euro ESEuro. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
11. "Pokemon GO Results 2023 Worlds". The Pokémon Company. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
12. "2023 POKÉMON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS CLOSING CEREMONIES RECAP". Retrieved 25 August 2023.
13. "Pokémon first discovered in the Paldea region are coming to Pokémon GO!". Niantic. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
14. "Pokemon TCG Paradox Rift set: Release date, Ancient & Future species, Ace Spec cards, more". Charlie Intel. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
15. "Three new Pokémon are coming to Aeos Island soon!". YouTube. 13 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
16. "Many Surprises Await in The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero!". YouTube. 13 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
17. "Get a First Look at Plans for the 2023 Pokémon Championship Series". Play! Pokémon. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
18. "Pokémon Championship Series". Serebii. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
19. "2023 Play! Pokémon Structure". Victory Road VGC. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
20. "Pokémon GO Championship Series". The Pokémon Company. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
21. "Event Info at 2023 Worlds". The Pokémon Company. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
22. "QUALIFYING FOR THE 2023 POKÉMON UNITE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS". The Pokémon Company. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
23. "Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: How Terastal Pokemon Compare to Mega Evolutions". GameRant. 15 August 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
24. "Terastal Pokémon". Serebii. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
25. "Pokemon VGC Community In Chaos Over Regulation D Changes". Esports Illustrated. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
26. "THE 2023 POKÉMON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS". The Pokémon Company. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
27. "2023 Pokémon World Championships Event Results". The Pokemon Company. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
28. "2023 GO Championships - World Championships". Challonge. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
29. "Pokemon TCG Pairings at 2023 Worlds". RK9 Labs. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
30. "Pokemon VGC Pairings at 2023 Worlds". RK9 Labs. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
31. @UniteEsports (August 11, 2023). "After a big day full of #PokemonUNITE action, see the results from all 8 groups!" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 August 2023 – via Twitter.
32. "World Championships Day 2 - Pokémon Unite". YouTube. 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
33. "[B STREAM] World Championships Day 2 (No Commentary) - Pokémon Unite". YouTube. 11 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.