2023 Pokémon World Championships Explained

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 Championships

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]

OCOpening ceremonyEvent competitions1ChampionshipCCClosing ceremony
style=width:18%;August 2023style=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

Summary

Medalists

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

[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]

Pokémon TCG

Participating nations

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

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]

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]

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]

Pokémon VGC

Participating nations

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

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]

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]

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]

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]

GroupWinnersRunners-upThird placeFourth 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  

Knockout stage

[32] [33]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Challenge the World!: 2023 Pokémon World Championships . . 29 July 2023.
  2. Web site: 2023 Pokémon World Championships Trailer: Yokohama . . 29 July 2023.
  3. Web site: 2022 Pokémon World Championships: CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY . . 29 July 2023.
  4. Web site: The 2023 Pokémon World Championship will be held in Japan . 23 August 2022 . GameReactor . 29 July 2023.
  5. Web site: Pokémon Says Goodbye To Pokkén Tournament World Championships After Six Years . 24 August 2022 . Nintendo Life . 29 July 2023 . Doolan . Liam . en-GB . https://web.archive.org/web/20230729070420/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/08/pokemon-says-goodbye-to-pokken-tournament-world-championships-after-six-years1 . July 29, 2023 . live.
  6. Web site: New Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet (Gen 9) . 28 February 2022 . . 29 July 2023.
  7. Web site: Japan Sweeps All Three VGC Divisions at 2023 Pokemon Worlds . 13 August 2023 . Twinfinite . 25 August 2023 . Cocking . Tony . https://web.archive.org/web/20230825022921/https://twinfinite.net/news/japan-sweeps-all-three-vgc-divisions-2023-pokemon-worlds/ . August 25, 2023 . live.
  8. Web site: Pokémon Championship Series . Serebii . 25 August 2023.
  9. Web site: Luminosity Gaming is the first two-time champion of the Pokémon UNITE World Championships . 13 August 2023 . ONE Esports . 25 August 2023.
  10. Web site: Taiwan, Brazil and the United States as protagonists in the TCG > Geek Culture % . Euro ESEuro . 25 August 2023.
  11. Web site: Pokemon GO Results 2023 Worlds . . 25 August 2023.
  12. Web site: 2023 POKÉMON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS CLOSING CEREMONIES RECAP . 25 August 2023.
  13. Web site: Pokémon first discovered in the Paldea region are coming to Pokémon GO! . . 25 August 2023.
  14. Web site: Pokemon TCG Paradox Rift set: Release date, Ancient & Future species, Ace Spec cards, more . Charlie Intel . 25 August 2023.
  15. Web site: Three new Pokémon are coming to Aeos Island soon! . . 25 August 2023.
  16. Web site: Many Surprises Await in The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero! . . 25 August 2023.
  17. Web site: Get a First Look at Plans for the 2023 Pokémon Championship Series . . 29 July 2023.
  18. Web site: Pokémon Championship Series . Serebii . 29 July 2023.
  19. Web site: 2023 Play! Pokémon Structure . Victory Road VGC . 29 July 2023.
  20. Web site: Pokémon GO Championship Series . . 29 July 2023.
  21. Web site: Event Info at 2023 Worlds . . 29 July 2023.
  22. Web site: QUALIFYING FOR THE 2023 POKÉMON UNITE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS . . 29 July 2023.
  23. Web site: Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: How Terastal Pokemon Compare to Mega Evolutions . 15 August 2022 . GameRant . 29 July 2023.
  24. Web site: Terastal Pokémon . Serebii . 29 July 2023.
  25. News: Pokemon VGC Community In Chaos Over Regulation D Changes . Esports Illustrated . . 29 July 2023.
  26. Web site: THE 2023 POKÉMON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS . . 29 July 2023.
  27. Web site: 2023 Pokémon World Championships Event Results . . 26 November 2023.
  28. Web site: 2023 GO Championships - World Championships . Challonge . 13 August 2023.
  29. Web site: Pokemon TCG Pairings at 2023 Worlds . RK9 Labs . 13 August 2023.
  30. Web site: Pokemon VGC Pairings at 2023 Worlds . RK9 Labs . 13 August 2023.
  31. After a big day full of #PokemonUNITE action, see the results from all 8 groups!. UniteEsports. 1689988055548174336. 12 August 2023.
  32. Web site: World Championships Day 2 - Pokémon Unite . . 12 August 2023.
  33. Web site: [B STREAM] World Championships Day 2 (No Commentary) - Pokémon Unite]. . 12 August 2023.