{"id":324747,"date":"2024-09-13T17:51:46","date_gmt":"2024-09-13T09:51:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/?p=324747"},"modified":"2024-09-13T18:07:43","modified_gmt":"2024-09-13T10:07:43","slug":"everything-to-know-about-the-pokemon-tournament-circuit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/2024\/09\/13\/everything-to-know-about-the-pokemon-tournament-circuit\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything to Know About the Pok\u00e9mon TCG Tournament Circuit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With the 2024-25 Pok\u00e9mon TCG tournament season just about to get underway, players from all over the world will be taking part in official tournaments at various levels. There\u2019ll be players of almost all skill levels rocking up to the tournament venues\u2014from those who just want a first experience of tournament play to those who have a legitimate shot at winning the 2025 Pok\u00e9mon TCG World Championships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how small, every official Pok\u00e9mon TCG tournament is part of the broader Pok\u00e9mon TCG tournament circuit that culminates in Worlds every August. With this in mind, let\u2019s take a closer look at the Pok\u00e9mon TCG tournament circuit and how it works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pok\u00e9mon Company (TPC) and The Pok\u00e9mon Company International (TPCi)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before we discuss the details about the tournaments themselves, we first need to make a distinction between The Pok\u00e9mon Company (TPC) and The Pok\u00e9mon Company International (TPCi).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

TPC is the main company responsible for the production, brand management, publishing, licensing, and marketing of everything related to the Pok\u00e9mon franchise in Asia. It therefore serves as the official governing body of all Pok\u00e9mon tournaments, including Pok\u00e9mon TCG tournaments, held in Japan and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

TPCi performs a similar function in areas outside Japan and Asia-Pacific. It was established as a subsidiary of TPC which specifically caters to all things Pok\u00e9mon-related outside Asia. Therefore, TPCi is the authority overseeing all Pok\u00e9mon TCG tournaments which are not held in Japan or the rest of Asia-Pacific.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, there are actually two separate Pok\u00e9mon TCG tournament circuits: one in Japan and Asia-Pacific, another in the rest of the world. It\u2019s only at Worlds that both circuits converge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pok\u00e9mon TCG Tournaments in Japan and Asia-Pacific<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As is the case in the rest of the world, the lowest-level Pok\u00e9mon TCG tournaments in Japan and Asia-Pacific are those held in individual stores and other small venues. In Japan, there are also City League tournaments which are a step up from the aforementioned low-tier tournaments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Players who have accumulated sufficient achievements at these tournaments may then proceed to a Champions League tournament (Japan) or a Regional League tournament (Asia-Pacific). These tournaments are the next step up and the second-largest of all Pok\u00e9mon TCG tournaments in Japan and Asia-Pacific.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Near the end of the Pok\u00e9mon TCG tournament season, certain countries will hold National Championships which also serve as the last chance for players to clinch a spot at Worlds. The countries which do so are as follows: China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the exceptions of the National Championships of China, Japan, and South Korea, players who reside in other Asia-Pacific countries are permitted to take part in the National Championship of a country other than their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Players from countries outside Japan and Asia-Pacific are only permitted to participate in Pok\u00e9mon TCG tournaments in these regions if they are full-time residents of one of those countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pok\u00e9mon TCG Tournaments in the Rest of the World<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Unlike Japan and Asia-Pacific, Pok\u00e9mon TCG tournaments in the rest of the world involve the use of the Championship Points (CP) system. The smallest tournaments awarding the fewest points are League Challenge tournaments; a step up from these are League Cup tournaments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another level up in scope from League Cup tournaments are Regional Championships. Regional Championships are approximately on par with Champions League and Regional League tournaments in Japan and Asia-Pacific respectively. On a similar tier are Special Events which are held in areas where Regional Championships are not held.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The most prestigious tournaments of the TPCi Pok\u00e9mon TCG tournament circuit which award the most points are International Championships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are three International Championships held every season\u2014the Pok\u00e9mon Latin America International Championships (LAIC), the Pok\u00e9mon Europe International Championships (EUIC), and the Pok\u00e9mon North America International Championships (NAIC). These events award the most Championship Points of all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Players from Japan and other Asia-Pacific countries are permitted to take part in tournaments outside those regions if they are full-time residents of such a country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Qualification for Worlds<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Pok\u00e9mon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The qualification methods for the World Championships<\/a> differ by region. In Japan and Asia-Pacific, players qualify for Worlds by achieving high-ranking finishes at their countries\u2019 respective National Championships. Elsewhere, players who are among the highest-ranking players on the Championship Point leaderboard at season\u2019s end would also have punched their tickets to Worlds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also possible for players to bypass these requirements and directly qualify for Worlds if they have fulfilled any of the following criteria:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Regional Event winner
\u2022 Special Event winner
\u2022 International Championship top 4 finisher
\u2022 Top 4 finisher at the previous year\u2019s World Championships
\u2022 Top 4 finisher in the Senior age division (13-17) at the previous year\u2019s World Championships who has aged into the Masters (18+) division<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In previous years, the highest-ranking qualifiers were awarded first-round byes at Worlds. However, this is no longer the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That more or less covers all the basics about the Pok\u00e9mon TCG tournament circuit. The tournament over the coming year are certain to have their shares of twists and turns on the road to the World Championships in Anaheim next August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which players and what decks will go on to claim ultimate Pok\u00e9mon TCG glory this season? There’s only one way to find out\u2014so let’s watch the season unfold and discover how everything plays out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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