| 2023 Pokémon World Championships | |
| Size: | 150 |
| 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] |
| Torch Label: | Cauldron lighter |
| Stadium: | Pacifico Yokohama |
| Previous: | London 2022 |
| Next: | Honolulu 2024 |
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 to 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 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]
All times and dates use Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)[26]
| OC | Opening ceremony | ● | Event competitions | 1 | Championship | CC | Closing ceremony |
| style=width:18%; | August 2023 | style=width:4%; | 11th Fri | style=width:4%; | 12th Sat | style=width:4%; | 13th Sun | style=width:6%; | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceremonies | OC | CC | |||||||
| Pokémon Go | ● | ● | 1 | 1 | |||||
| ● | ● | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| Pokémon Trading Card Game | ● | ● | 3 | 3 | |||||
| Pokémon Unite | ● | 1 | 1 |
| Pokémon Go details | ||||
| Pokémon TCG – Juniors details | ||||
| Pokémon TCG – Seniors details | ||||
| Pokémon TCG – Masters details | ||||
| Pokémon VGC – Juniors details | ||||
| Pokémon VGC – Seniors details | ||||
| Pokémon VGC – Masters details | ||||
| 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 |
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]
A total of 348 players from 36 nations competed in the Pokémon Trading Card Game across three age divisions.
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]
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]
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]
A total of 256 players from 33 nations competed in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet across three age divisions.
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]
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]
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]
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 | 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 | TimeToShine | S8UL Esports | |||
| H | Oyasumi Makuro | Kumu | Entity7 |