The 2024 Pokémon World Championships (Worlds) took place from August 16 to 18 in Honolulu, Hawai’i. At the three-day event, Pokémon fans from around the world mingled in a celebration of the franchise. While top players competed for the title of “World Champion” across various games, regular attendees enjoyed immersive watch parties and activities. Read on to learn about the 2024 Pokémon Worlds winners and upcoming Pokémon news.

The Champions

Various Pokémon games within and outside the main series took the spotlight over the weekend. Most competitions were split across three age divisions based on birth year: Juniors (2012 or later), Seniors (2008-2011) and Masters (2007 or earlier). 

The Pokémon Video Game Championship (VGC) series, the only main series-based competition, took place in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Kevin Han (United States) in the Juniors division, Ray Yamanaka (Japan) in the Seniors division, and Luca Ceribelli (Italy) in the Masters division took home the prize.

Pokémon GO players also participated in Worlds, with in-game updates and live competitions. On the mobile front, players were able to encounter Mienfoo, Lickitung, Galarian Stunkfisk, Lickitung, and a special World Championship Pikachu to celebrate Worlds. First place in Pokémon GO went to Yekai0904 (Hong Kong). 

World Championships at the Honolulu Convention Center.

Whereas the majority of Worlds sees players go head-to-head in individual competitions, Pokémon UNITE is a team-based multiplayer game. This year, Japanese team FENNEL — Tongg, Lucapo, Mashio, Yume, and PYI — claimed first place. Viewers were particularly impressed with member PYI’s performance on Blaziken during the finals.

Finally, the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) series took the competition offline. Winners at the TCG finals included Sakuya Ota (Japan) in the Juniors division, Evan Pavelski (United States) in the Seniors division, and Fernando Cifuentes (Chile) in the Masters division.

What’s Next 

Worlds 2024 was a packed event, from the numerous competitions to the in-person activations for attendees. During the weekend, several announcements were made regarding upcoming releases and updates across the franchise. The Pokémon Company International CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara made an in-person appearance to share exciting news.

Perhaps the most anticipated information to come from Worlds is the official release date for Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket. The new card-collecting mobile app will launch globally starting October 30. An engaging trailer for a new TCG set revealed that fan-favorites — including N and his Reshiram and Zoroark ex and Lillie’s Clefairy ex and Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex — will join the roster in 2025.

Images courtesy of The Pokémon Company International.

Nothing was revealed about Pokémon Legends: Z-A, leaving fans yearning for more about the highly-awaited new game. However, Ishihara announced that Pokémon Worlds 2025 and 2026 will take place on the West Coast. Specifically, next year’s championships will be hosted in Anaheim, while the 2026 tournament will be in San Francisco.

Keep up with the latest announcements from The Pokémon Company International on social media. 

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