Editing Pokémon Trading Card Game (section)

==Competitive play==
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| total_width       = 280
| image1            = POKEMON card battle.jpg
| caption1          = ''Pokémon TCG'' Junior (10 years old and younger) / Senior (11 to 14 years old)-class tournament
| alt1              = Children (hands holding cards) competing at a ''Pokémon TCG ''junior tournament
| image2            = Pyrkon 2022 Pokemon Trading Card Game.jpg
| alt2              = Adults (hands holding cards) competing at a ''Pokémon TCG'' junior tournament
| caption2          = ''Pokémon TCG'' Master (15 years old and older)-class tournament
| direction         = vertical
}}
In addition to the collectible aspect of the card game, [[The Pokémon Company International]] (formerly known as Pokémon USA) has also organized [[Play! Pokémon]], a program run by Pokémon Organized Play (POP),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Play! Pokémon Glossary |url=https://www.pokemon.com/uk/play-pokemon/about/tournaments-glossary/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813131440/https://www.pokemon.com/uk/play-pokemon/about/tournaments-glossary/ |archive-date=2019-08-13 |access-date=2019-07-31 |website=Pokemon.com}}</ref> players can compete against others in tournaments and earn player points, two-card booster packets for promotional sets, badges, stickers and other prizes. POP are governed by League Leaders and League Owners. Play! Pokémon also features a professor program, where individuals aged 18 or over may be nominated as a "professor", who can help sanction the tournament.

League Leaders assist in organizing the league, while League Owners are the main organizer of the event. The latter report directly to the Organized Play program every seven weeks. A league cycle is usually divided into eight seasons, each of which lasts about five weeks and is typically represented by themes found in Pokémon (e.g. gym badges, starter Pokémon). Play! Pokémon supports both standard and expanded card format, however in its competitive tournaments only standard format (i.e. card rotation format that discontinues older Pokémon cards to foster new strategies and a healthy competitive environment) are permitted. In contrast to the former, expanded card format permits inclusion of any Pokémon cards, regardless if they are older cards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 Season Pokémon TCG Format Rotation |url=https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/2020-season-pokemon-tcg-format-rotation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204020037/https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/2020-season-pokemon-tcg-format-rotation/ |archive-date=2019-12-04 |access-date=2019-12-04 |website=Pokemon.com}}</ref>

The first ''Pokémon TCG'' tournament began on June 14–15, 1997, at the Makuhari Messe Event Hall. As the tournament had no real skill-based qualifiers, participants were admitted through preregistration and through an extensive lottery system process if too many people applied. Many deck lists including the winning deck lists used in the tournament are poorly built because of the lack of skill sets in the admittance process, with many players running incomplete evolution lines and excessive Trainer cards. The tournament was divided into four sessions with three solely restricted to elementary school players and one allowing players up to junior high. The top three player of the tournament were awarded the No.1, 2, and 3 trainer trophy cards; this practice continue through subsequent ''Pokémon TCG'' tournaments and organized plays.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-25 |title=1st Official Pokemon Card Game Tournament |url=https://pokumon.com/1st-official-pokemon-card-game-tournament/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529023924/https://pokumon.com/1st-official-pokemon-card-game-tournament/ |archive-date=2023-05-29 |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Pokumon |language=en-US}}</ref>

Players in a tournament are split into three age categories: Junior (11 years old and younger), Senior (12 to 15 years old), and Master (16 years old and older).<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 June 2021 |title=Changes revealed for Play! Pokémon 2022 Championship Series |url=https://cms.upcomer.com/changes-revealed-for-play-pokemon-2022-championship-series/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307015925/https://cms.upcomer.com/changes-revealed-for-play-pokemon-2022-championship-series/ |archive-date=2023-03-07 |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=Upcomer}}</ref> Notable references include Austin Brewen who won the first junior tournament, Brenden Zhang who won the first Senior Tournament, and Arturo Heras who won the first Master Tournament. These tournaments play several rounds, where players will play a standard game against each other and wins and losses will be recorded. In most tournaments, there are some Swiss-style rounds where players are paired up against others of similar win/loss ratios,<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 August 2017 |title=How Competitive Pokemon Works |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/08/12/how-competitive-pokemon-works |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204021716/https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/08/12/how-competitive-pokemon-works |archive-date=2019-12-04 |access-date=2019-12-04 |website=IGN}}</ref> usually from their age group (this does not always occur in smaller events, though). Afterward, there will be a cut off the top record-holders (approximately the top 1/8 of participants) where players will play best two out of three matches and the loser gets eliminated (standard tournament bracket style), with an eventual winner.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 30, 2021 |title=Play! Pokémon Tournament Rules Handbook English Version |url=https://assets.pokemon.com/assets/cms2/pdf/play-pokemon/rules/play-pokemon-tournament-rules-handbook-09302021-en.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616194949/https://assets.pokemon.com//assets/cms2/pdf/play-pokemon/rules/play-pokemon-tournament-rules-handbook-09302021-en.pdf |archive-date=June 16, 2022 |access-date=July 1, 2022 |website=Pokémon Assets}}</ref>

POP runs a season for these tournaments, which allows players to earn larger prizes and play in a more competitive environment in comparison to League. These range from City and Regional Championships, all the way up to the Pokémon World Championships, the single invite-only event of the year. Players can earn invites to the World Championships by winning or ranking high at International Championships, doing well at tournaments to get Championship Points, or by qualifying in the Last Chance Qualifier.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pokemon Organised Play TCG Championship Points |url=http://suttoncoldfieldpokeclub.weebly.com/championship-points.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204025045/http://suttoncoldfieldpokeclub.weebly.com/championship-points.html |archive-date=2019-12-04 |access-date=2019-12-04 |website=Sutton Coldfield Pokemon club}}</ref> Some of these methods are only used in the United States, as PUI and POP are based in the United States, but they are represented by local distributors who provide the Organized Play program to their own country.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pokémon Championship Series |url=https://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/pokemon-events/pokemon-tournaments/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630175956/https://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/pokemon-events/pokemon-tournaments/ |archive-date=2022-06-30 |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=Pokemon.com}}</ref>

Although The Pokémon Company International tries to keep Organized Play as uniform as possible globally, there are some notable differences in how POP is run outside of the United States. The Pokémon Card Laboratory (PCL), located in Japan, is the designer of new cards and the ultimate authority on any matter relating to the ''Pokémon Trading Card Game''. It can declare rulings on any in-game circumstance, issue errata, change card text after publishing, and change the basic game rules, although the latter three rarely occur. PCL runs Organized Play in Japan. The ''Pokémon Trading Card Game'' in most European countries is currently handled by The Pokémon Company International. Certain countries have no direct official presence; in these regions, distributors of the game run tournaments. European countries can qualify for positions at the Pokémon Trading Card Game World Championships each year, through National Championships and European Rankings.

===''Pokémon TCG'' World Championships===
The first ''Pokémon TCG'' World Championships was held in 2004 at Orlando, Florida, U.S. The venue was organized by Wizards of Coasts, with more than 100 invited contestants from various countries.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-30 |title=First-Ever Pokemon Trading Card Game World Champion Titles Won by Dylan Austin, 14 of Ann Arbor, Michigan and Mindy Lambkee, 10 of Kent, Washington – IndexArticles |url=https://indexarticles.com/business/business-wire/first-ever-pokemon-trading-card-game-world-champion-titles-won-by-dylan-austin-14-of-ann-arbor-michigan-and-mindy-lambkee-10-of-kent-washington/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908043639/https://indexarticles.com/business/business-wire/first-ever-pokemon-trading-card-game-world-champion-titles-won-by-dylan-austin-14-of-ann-arbor-michigan-and-mindy-lambkee-10-of-kent-washington/ |archive-date=2023-09-08 |access-date=2023-09-08 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Wrack">{{Cite news |last=Wrack |first=Suzanne |date=2022-08-24 |title=Still catching 'em all: why the Pokémon World Championships are bigger than ever |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2022/aug/24/still-catching-em-all-why-the-pokemon-world-championships-are-bigger-than-ever |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331072102/https://www.theguardian.com/games/2022/aug/24/still-catching-em-all-why-the-pokemon-world-championships-are-bigger-than-ever |archive-date=2023-03-31 |access-date=2023-09-08 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> To qualify for the championships, players are required to collect Championship Points across regionals and other official tournaments, which can vary based on each championship and different regions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richman |first=Olivia |date=2023-07-31 |title=Pokémon Community Shocked by New Championship Point Requirements |url=https://esi.si.com/pokemon/tcg-world-championship-points-2024-qualification |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908043638/https://esi.si.com/pokemon/tcg-world-championship-points-2024-qualification |archive-date=2023-09-08 |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Esports Illustrated |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pokémon World Championships |url=https://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/pokemon-events/pokemon-tournaments/pokemon-world-championships |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230828120846/https://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/pokemon-events/pokemon-tournaments/pokemon-world-championships/ |archive-date=2023-08-28 |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Pokemon.com |language=en}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:left"
|+ 
|-
! Year !! Location
|-
|2004
|Orlando, Florida, U.S.<ref name="Wrack" /> 
|-
|2005
|San Diego, California, U.S.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Release |first=Press |date=June 22, 2005 |title=2005 Pokémon World Championship qualifier comes to town |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/article/2005-Pokemon-World-Championship-qualifier-comes-9807532.php |work=Houston Chronicle}}</ref>
|-
|2006
|Anaheim, California, U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-22 |title=Pokemon Organized Play (POP) Timeline 2005-2006 (Pokemon League Year 7) |url=https://www.elitefourum.com/t/pokemon-organized-play-pop-timeline-2005-2006-pokemon-league-year-7/37539 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205135843/https://www.elitefourum.com/t/pokemon-organized-play-pop-timeline-2005-2006-pokemon-league-year-7/37539 |archive-date=2023-02-05 |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Elite Fourum |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2007
|Waikoloa Village, Hawaii, U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-10 |title=Pokemon Organized Play (POP) Timeline 2006-2007 (Pokemon League Year 8) |url=https://www.elitefourum.com/t/pokemon-organized-play-pop-timeline-2006-2007-pokemon-league-year-8/40150 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908043658/https://www.elitefourum.com/t/pokemon-organized-play-pop-timeline-2006-2007-pokemon-league-year-8/40150 |archive-date=2023-09-08 |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Elite Fourum |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2008
|Orlando, Florida, U.S.<ref>{{Citation |title=Pokemon World Championships in Orlando, Florida | date=18 August 2008 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgPrAo7GwB4 |access-date=2023-09-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215090208/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgPrAo7GwB4&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=2017-12-15 |url-status=live |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2009
|San Diego, California, U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2009 Pokémon Championship Series |url=https://www.serebii.net/playpokemon/2009.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230729074933/https://www.serebii.net/playpokemon/2009.shtml |archive-date=2023-07-29 |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=www.serebii.net}}</ref>
|-
|2010
|Waikoloa Village, Hawaii, U.S.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Mastrapa |first=Gus |title=New Jerseyan Wins Pokemon World Championship |url=https://www.wired.com/2010/08/pokemon-championship-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222133209/https://www.wired.com/2010/08/pokemon-championship-2/ |archive-date=2016-12-22 |access-date=2023-09-08 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref>
|-
|2011
|San Diego, California, U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-08-15 |title=Kent teen wins Pokemon Trading Card Game World Championship title |url=https://www.kentreporter.com/news/kent-teen-wins-pokemon-trading-card-game-world-championship-title/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908043640/https://www.kentreporter.com/news/kent-teen-wins-pokemon-trading-card-game-world-championship-title/ |archive-date=2023-09-08 |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Kent Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|2012
|Waikoloa Village, Hawaii, U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lien |first=Tracey |date=2012-08-14 |title=Pokémon World Champions crowned in Hawaii |url=https://www.polygon.com/gaming/2012/8/14/3240908/pokemon-world-champions-crowned-in-hawaii |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208140149/https://www.polygon.com/gaming/2012/8/14/3240908/pokemon-world-champions-crowned-in-hawaii |archive-date=2023-02-08 |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|2013
|Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ellwood |first=Greg |date=2013-06-07 |title=Pokémon Trainers head to the 2013 Pokémon World Championships |url=https://entertainment-focus.com/2013/06/07/pokemon-trainers-head-to-the-2013-pokemon-world-championships/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210044556/https://entertainment-focus.com/2013/06/07/pokemon-trainers-head-to-the-2013-pokemon-world-championships/ |archive-date=2022-12-10 |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Entertainment Focus |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|2014
|Washington D.C., U.S.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2014-08-18 |title=A Weekend At The 2014 Pokémon World Championships |url=https://time.com/3136218/2014-pokemon-world-championships/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620230800/https://time.com/3136218/2014-pokemon-world-championships/ |archive-date=2023-06-20 |access-date=2023-09-08 |magazine=Time |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2015
|Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2015 Pokémon World Championship (Local Guide) |url=https://www.bostoncentral.com/events/special/p43313.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908043643/https://www.bostoncentral.com/events/special/p43313.php |archive-date=2023-09-08 |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=www.bostoncentral.com |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2016
|San Francisco, California, U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rousseau |first=Jeffrey |date=2016-08-23 |title=The Elite 4: Our 2016 Pokemon World Championship Winners |url=https://www.gameskinny.com/news/the-elite-4-our-2016-pokemon-world-championship-winners/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908043820/https://www.gameskinny.com/news/the-elite-4-our-2016-pokemon-world-championship-winners/ |archive-date=2023-09-08 |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=GameSkinny |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|2017
|Anaheim, California, U.S.<ref name="2017PokemonRecapFinals">{{Cite web |title=The 2017 Worlds Is a Wrap! |url=https://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/worlds/2017/finals-recap/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927112546/https://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/worlds/2017/finals-recap/ |archive-date=2017-09-27 |access-date=2017-09-27 |website=Pokemon.com}}</ref>
|-
|2018
|Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blogger |date=2018-08-26 |title=Day 2 of the 2018 Pokémon World Championships is complete, here's the official recap |url=https://pokemonblog.com/2018/08/26/day-2-of-the-2018-pokemon-world-championships-is-complete-heres-the-official-recap/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908043821/https://pokemonblog.com/2018/08/26/day-2-of-the-2018-pokemon-world-championships-is-complete-heres-the-official-recap/ |archive-date=2023-09-08 |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Pokémon Blog |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2019
|Washington, D.C., U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 August 2019 |title=2019 Pokemon World Championships: Prize pool, schedule, and how to watch |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/113421/2019-pokemon-world-championships-prize-pool-schedule-and-how-to-watch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307215037/https://www.shacknews.com/article/113421/2019-pokemon-world-championships-prize-pool-schedule-and-how-to-watch |archive-date=2023-03-07 |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=Shacknews}}</ref>
|-
|2020 - 2021
|All events have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marshall |first=Cass |date=2020-03-31 |title=Pokémon competitive circuit canceled for 2020 due to coronavirus |url=https://www.polygon.com/2020/3/31/21201777/pokemon-play-competitive-card-game-cricuit-canceled-coronavirus-covid-19 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307215048/https://www.polygon.com/2020/3/31/21201777/pokemon-play-competitive-card-game-cricuit-canceled-coronavirus-covid-19 |archive-date=2023-03-07 |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=Polygon}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Diaz |first=Ana |date=2021-02-09 |title=The 2021 Pokémon World Championships canceled due to COVID-19 concerns |url=https://www.polygon.com/2021/2/9/22274834/pokemon-world-championship-canceled-covid-19-tcg-sword-shield-pokken |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307215036/https://www.polygon.com/2021/2/9/22274834/pokemon-world-championship-canceled-covid-19-tcg-sword-shield-pokken |archive-date=2023-03-07 |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=Polygon}}</ref>
|-
|2022
|London, England, U.K.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pokémon World Championships |url=https://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/pokemon-events/pokemon-tournaments/pokemon-world-championships/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626110410/https://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/pokemon-events/pokemon-tournaments/pokemon-world-championships/ |archive-date=2022-06-26 |access-date=2022-07-02 |website=Pokemon.com}}</ref>
|-
|2023
|Yokohama, Japan<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yehl |first=Joshua |date=2023-08-17 |title=Underdog Defeats Pokémon TCG's Greatest Player to Become World Champion |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/underdog-defeats-pokmon-tcgs-greatest-player-to-become-world-champion |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230911143243/https://www.ign.com/articles/underdog-defeats-pokmon-tcgs-greatest-player-to-become-world-champion |archive-date=2023-09-11 |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2024
|Honolulu, Hawaii <ref>The 2024 world championships got announced during the closing ceremony of the 2023 world championship. Along with the location of Hawaiʻi Convention Center 1801 Kalākaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815.
https://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/pokemon-events/pokemon-tournaments/pokemon-world-championships {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230828120846/https://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/pokemon-events/pokemon-tournaments/pokemon-world-championships/ |date=2023-08-28 }}</ref>
|}