Pokémon

2025 Pokémon World Championships: Everything you need to know about the event

The Pokémon World Championships are returning to California.

Update: Aug 8th, 2025 03:07 CEST

As every August, the time to meet the best Pokémon players in the world is almost here. After three consecutive years of competitions in London, Yokohama, and Honolulu, The Pokémon Company has decided to bring the excitement of this tournament back to Anaheim, California, almost eight years after it was last held in this city. With just one week to go before the games begin, let’s take a look at everything you need to know about this tournament.

What are the Pokémon World Championships?

First of all, what are the Pokémon World Championships? This is an annual tournament that, since 2004, has brought together the best Pokémon players. It began with a focus on the Trading Card Game, later adding the video game in 2008 with the arrival of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. Subsequently, other titles in the franchise have joined the event, such as Pokkén Tournament DX (although this last participated in 2022), as well as Pokémon GO and Pokémon Unite. Access to the tournament is by invitation based on the scores obtained by participants in different tournaments, from local stores to regional and international events.

The event features an opening and closing ceremony. In addition to welcoming competitors and awarding prizes to the winners, announcements related to Pokémon and its titles are also made during these ceremonies. Although in previous years a Pokémon Presents event has preceded the event, this has not prevented the most important announcements from being made during these ceremonies.

When and where will the 2025 Pokémon World Championships be held?

The 2025 Pokémon World Championships will be held this year from August 15 to 17 in Anaheim, California. The Anaheim Convention Center is the venue chosen to host this year’s competition, as well as special activities for spectators. Unlike in 2017, when only Hall D was used, 2025 will take over the entire convention center for the various activities throughout the three days of competition.

If you are unable to attend and would like to watch the tournament broadcasts, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies, you can follow all the action on the Pokémon channels on YouTube and Twitch.

What games are competing in this tournament?

The 2025 Pokémon World Championships will determine this year’s champions in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, Pokémon GO, and Pokémon Unite. The first two have three different categories: Junior, Senior, and Masters. Pokémon GO has no age limit, and Pokémon Unite is the only game played in teams.

In terms of prizes, these will be distributed as follows:

Pokémon VGC

1st – $30,000
2nd – $20,000
3rd and 4th – $15,000
5th to 8th – $10,000
9th to 16th – $5,000

Pokémon TCG

1st – $50,000
2nd – $30,000
3rd and 4th – $20,000
5th to 8th – $15,000
9th to 16th – $10,000
17th to 32nd – $5,000

Pokémon GO

1st – $20,000
2nd – $15,000
3rd – $13,000
4th – $12,000
5th and 6th – $9,000
7th and 8th – $5,000
9th to 12th – $2,000
13 to 16 – $1,000

Pokémon Unite

1st – $100,000
2nd – $70,000
3rd and 4th – $50,000
5th to 8th – $37,500
9th to 16th – $10,000

Stay tuned to Meristation these days, as we will be bringing you all the coverage related to this event.