The much-anticipated Pokémon World Championships 2025 took place this past weekend in Anaheim, California. As the premier event in the Pokémon Trading Card Game and esports scene, it captivated fans and competitors alike.
The prestigious event was segmented into four categories, with top contenders battling for supremacy in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokémon Video Game Championships, Pokémon GO, and Pokémon UNITE. Here are the distinguished winners from each division.
Pokémon VGC Championships
In a thrilling all-domestic final, James Evans and Giovanni Cischke faced off in the VGC Masters World Championship. Cischke triumphed with a 2-1 victory to clinch his first tournament title. Additionally, Luke Whittier and Kevin Han dominated the Juniors and Seniors divisions, respectively, ensuring a clean sweep for the United States in the VGC category.
Pokémon TCG Championship Success
Canada’s Riley McKay shone brightly in the Trading Card Game category, overpowering most of his playoff challengers, including Justin Newdorf in the finals. This remarkable achievement earned McKay his inaugural world championship along with a prize of $50,000 (~£36,913). Liao Fuguan from China excelled in the Seniors division, while Yuya Okita from Japan claimed victory in the Juniors division.
Triumph in Pokémon UNITE
Though initially placing second in the group stage, the South American team PERÚ delivered an outstanding performance to win the Pokémon UNITE championship. They overcame Luminosity Gaming in the semi-finals and defeated ZETA Division from Japan in the final. This victory marked their first championship win after achieving top-eight finishes in the 2024 and 2023 tournaments.
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Pokémon GO Championship Achievement
Indian player Ved ‘Beelzeboy’ Bamb emerged victorious in the Pokémon GO competition, having previously ended in fourth place at last year’s championship. With decisive scores of 3-1 and 3-2, Bamb defeated Leo ‘P4T0M4N’ Marín, marking a milestone as the first Indian player to secure an esports world championship title.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The Pokémon World Championships are set to move to San Francisco in 2026, hosted at the Chase Center—a venue known for hosting notable esports events like the 2022 League of Legends World Championship. Attendees can start purchasing multi-day passes on September 17th.
The 2026 championship will debut the Pokémon Champions competition, a new strategic venture within the franchise, launching as a free-to-play game available on the Nintendo Switch 2, current Nintendo Switch models, and mobile devices. Fans can also look forward to Pokémon XP at the Moscone Center, offering a diverse range of activities and experiences.