More than 800 of the best Pokémon TCG players on the planet will step through the doors of the Anaheim Convention Center on 15 August 2025 for the showpiece event of the 2024-25 Pokémon TCG season: the World Championships. This will be the third time that the Pokémon TCG World Championships will be held in Anaheim after 2006 and 2017.

How the Tournament Will Work

The tournament schedule is as follows (all times listed are PDT):

15 August, 8:30AM to 8:15PM: Day 1 Swiss
16 August, 8:30AM to 6:45PM: Day 2 Swiss, quarterfinals, semifinals
17 August, 12:30PM onwards: finals (all age divisions)

On Day 1, a number of Swiss rounds yet to be determined will be played. Every player who loses two or fewer best-of-3 matches on Day 1 will advance to Day 2; everyone else will be eliminated from the tournament. The Pokémon TCG uses a point system similar to that of European football—three points for a win, one point for a draw.

On Day 2, further Swiss rounds will be played before the start asymmetrical top cut begins. In the asymmetrical top cut, every player with the same number of match points as the player in eighth place will play for a spot in the quarterfinals. After the end of the asymmetrical top cut has concluded, the quarterfinals will begin. From the quarterfinals onward, the tournament will be a straight knockout tournament.

On top of the main Masters tournament, there are also two other age divisions. The Senior division is open to players born between 2009 and 2012 while the Junior division is open to players born in 2013 or later.

Prize Pool

The prize pool is as follows:

• 1st place – US$50,000
• 2nd place – US$30,000
• 3rd-4th place – US$20,000
• 5th-8th place – US$15,000
• 9th-16th place – US$10,000
• 17th-32nd place – US$5,000

How to Watch

The 2025 Pokémon TCG World Championships can be viewed on the official Pokémon TCG Twitch channel as well as the official Pokémon TCG YouTube channel.

On both channels, Pokémon TCG Live codes for five cards will be displayed and can be redeemed by viewers until 5:59 PDT on 25 August. These cards are the illustration rare Tynamo, Eelektrik, and Eelektross from Black Bolt [BLK], the ultra rare Hilda from White Flare [WHT], and the ultra rare N’s Plan from Black Bolt [BLK].

Those watching on Twitch, meanwhile, will receive codes for special Pokémon TCG Live Twitch drops including an in-game deck box, card sleeves, World Championships-themed coins, and the following three cards: the illustration rare Deino and Zweilous cards and the special illustration rare Hydreigon ex card from White Flare [WHT].

Finally, those who watch a partnered co-streamer on Twitch will gain access to Pokémon TCG Live codes to redeem the special illustration rare versions of the aforementioned Hilda and N’s Plan cards as well as the illustration rare Frillish and special illustration rare Jellicent from White Flare [WHT].

In other TCG-related news, check out the Yveltal card from Shiny Star V [S4a]. Alternatively, you can also head over to the SNKRDUNK App via the banner below and find the top trending and latest single cards and boxes.

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