April 9th 2024.
The Pokémon European International Championships were recently held in London, and it was an event to remember. GameCentral attended the tournaments and got a first-hand look at the intense competition that took place. This event was just the beginning for Pokémon players from all over Europe, as it served as a qualifying round for the highly coveted World Championships. This year's World Championships will be held in Hawaii, a location that hasn't been visited since 2007.
The Pokémon World Championships have been around since 2004, originally focusing on the popular trading card game. However, as the franchise has grown, the competition has expanded to include various Pokémon video games such as Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Pokémon Go, and Pokémon Unite. Each year, the European International Championships draw in players from all over the continent to battle for Championship Points in both the trading card game and video game categories.
The tournaments were divided into different divisions for professionals, seniors, and juniors, with each game having its own rules and format. The prize money for each tournament varied, with the larger competitions offering a grand prize of around £8,000. To qualify for the Pokémon TCG World Championships, players must earn enough Championship Points throughout the competitive season by placing well in official Pokémon tournaments.
The trading card game competitions took place over three days, with the final showdown happening on Sunday afternoon. Five-time Champion Tord Reklev emerged victorious, defeating Isaiah Bradner in a close match. It was exciting to see new decks featuring the latest expansion, Scarlet & Violet – Temporal Forces, in action. Incineroar and its powerful Blaze Blast move were particularly popular among players.
Jude Walker, a 10-year-old player from Hove, shared his experience competing in the Junior division of the Trading Card Game Championships: "I'm trying to earn enough points to go to Worlds, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it. The competition is tough, and there are some really skilled players. I've been using Charizard in my deck and have won one match and lost one so far. I love playing Pokémon because it allows me to travel all over England and maybe even to other countries, although Hawaii is pretty far away. My favorite Pokémon is Mankey because it's a mix of a pig and a monkey."
For those who couldn't make it to the World Championships, the Pokémon Horizons series on BBC iPlayer is the perfect way to experience the adventures of Captain Pikachu, Roy, and Liko as they explore the animated Pokémon world.
The most energetic and enthusiastic crowd was at the Pokémon Unite Aeos Cup, where Team Fusion emerged victorious against Kabichans in the 2024 finals. The Pokémon Go Battle League final also had fans on the edge of their seats as MEweedle took down Doonebug97 using a powerful Vigoroth with its Counter move. The Pokémon Go meta was a topic of discussion among players, but it didn't dampen the excitement of the Pokémon Go Classic Community Day. This event featured a shiny Bagon for all players to catch and special EUIC-themed Field Research tasks that could only be unlocked by watching the event on the Pokémon Twitch channel.
The video game competition featured Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and was divided into Junior, Senior, and Masters divisions. In the Masters Division, Nils Dunlop from the US emerged as the victor, thanking his mom for her support. There were also long queues for the pop-up Pokémon Center, where fans could purchase exclusive EUIC merchandise featuring popular battle bots.
In addition to the pop-up store, the Play Lab was also a popular attraction, offering fans and visitors a chance to learn the basics of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Retro consoles were also available for those who wanted to try their hand at the Pokémon video games or challenge experienced Pokémon Professors.
As the new champions were crowned at the ExCel, all eyes are now on the North American International Championship in New Orleans this June. This will be the final stop for many players before they head to Hawaii for the World Championships in August. With the ever-evolving meta and new challengers emerging, the spirit of competition and community in the world of Pokémon continues to shine bright.
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