Play! Pokémon

The current POP logo

Pokémon Organized Play, often abbreviated as POP, is an official gathering of Pokémon Trading Card Game players to play games, trade, and just generally have fun and learn about the game. POP used to oversee activity within the Pokémon Trading Figure Game.

The division was formed by Pokémon USA in 2003 after Wizards of the Coast lost their Pokémon TCG license. With their occupation, PUSA created new league, tournament, and prize systems, as well as an improved Professor Program.

Registration

Players wishing to enter the foray of the TCG and compete in events must sign up to obtain a POP-ID. It is used to access a "My Pokémon" account, where a player can view his or her Rankings, Premier Ratings, Tournaments (for Tournament Organizers only), or Leagues (for League Leaders only).

Age divisions

So that potentially younger less experienced players are not at a disadvantage playing older more experienced ones, they are sorted into age divisions in sanctioned events. These were defined by a specific age up until the 2006-2007 season, consisting of Ten and Under (10-), Eleven to Fourteen (11-14) and Fifteen and Over (15+). Beginning with the 2006-2007 season, POP revised the system based on date of birth. The divisions are now categorized as Junior (born in 1998 or later), Senior (Born in 1994, 1995, 1996, or 1997) and Masters (Born in 1993 or earlier).

Pokémon TCG Leagues

Leagues provide a nearby place for players to get together with other fans of the Pokémon Trading Card Game and have fun. They are often held in public locations, such as stores, community centers and libraries Leagues are often the perfect venues for players starting out to learn about the TCG and to hone their skills to compete in tournaments.

Leagues often focus on a theme related to the Pokémon games every year, and break the cycle down into 7 or 8 seasons lasting around 6 weeks, each season representing a part of the theme (e.g. a specific Gym if the theme is based around Gyms featured in a Pokémon game). The theme often correlates with the current main series Pokémon games.

List of themes featured in Pokémon TCG Leagues

• 2003-2004: Hoenn League
• 2004-2005: Sevii Islands League
• 2005-2006: Battle Frontier League
• 2006-2007: Kanto League
• 2007-2008: Sinnoh League
• 2008-2009: Energy League
• 2009-2010: Trainer League

During Wizards' occupation, players received points based on actions at every League session, and these points were recorded in League books. Points were awarded for actions such as challenging a player, winning/losing a battle, trading cards, meeting new individuals and promoting good sportsmanship. Unlike Wizards, POP utilized a hybrid league system during the 2003-2004 season, where players could earn points by playing both the Game Boy Advance and the Trading Card Game. In the 2004-2005 season, this idea was scrapped in favor of the original system.

Typical prizes: In Wizards' and early POP Leagues, upon reaching a targeted amount of points within a season, players were awarded with a badge and a promotional card. The principle remains the same with current POP Leagues, though only badges are now awarded in this way. As part of the Player Rewards Program (see below), POP packs were introduced, which could be accumulated by attending multiple sessions. These essentially replaced individual promotional cards.

Player Rewards Program

This allows players who compete in Leagues, Tournaments and Premier Events to earn POP Booster packs as rewards for their efforts. Attending one of these will earn players 1 “credit”. Each credit is a step toward a Rewards "Tier." Those who play in 3–5 events qualify for Tier One and earn 5 POP packs. 6–10 events qualify for Tier Two, earning 10 packs. 11 events or more qualify for Tier Three, earning 15 packs. Thus, players can earn up to 15 POP Booster packs each quarter (three months). At the end of each quarter, POP distributes the Player Rewards to those that have earned them through the mail.

POP packs

POP packs are special Pokémon TCG packs that only contain two cards, as opposed to (at the time, nine) the current number of ten. Introduced in September 2004, the POP sets are released roughly once every six months and were created to bring useful cards that have been rotated out of play back into the game, as well as exclusive cards. Although, with an increasing number of alternate-art Promo cards in Japan, the latest POP sets currently serve as a vehicle to bring them to the West. The usefulness of recent POP sets has been a subject of debate within the Pokémon community; collectors praising PUSA for releasing these cards in English, while they face scrutiny by players, as many cards are the same as those in the current Modified format.

POP packs can typically only be found by participating in Pokémon Organized Play events, but after leagues no longer distribute them, they are occasionally included in Value Packs, etc. sold in stores.

Local Tournaments

Local Tournaments are meant for both fun and practice. They are usually held once a week in a gaming store by a local League Leader or Tournament Organizer. Prizes vary depending on the competitors. They are often free to enter, but the price can sometimes range to $5.

POP-sanctioned tournaments are either single elimination, Swiss, or Swiss followed by single elimination rounds. Some POP events use 'Age Modified Swiss', (a variation of Swiss invented by POP) in which a player's age takes priority over the player's record when the organizer pairs players.

After sanctioned tournaments are completed, the Tournament Organizer uploads the results of each match to PUSA. The results of each match are used to calculate a player's Premier Rating. POP Ratings are based on the Elo rating system.

Typical prizes: In early seasons, players could earn Promotional cards by participating in league sessions. After PUSA's revisions, players earned POP Packs upon participation instead.

Prerelease Tournaments

Prerelease Tournaments are events in which players get the opportunity to play with cards from an Expansion that will be released in stores prior to the event. They are typically held on the two weekends before the set release (although a third weekend is added to the schedule if the Prerelease clashes with a major POP event, such as Worlds). The fee is $20-25 and each player gets six Booster packs. Each player builds a 40-card deck using the cards opened out of the six packs (not including basic Energy cards, which are provided at the event).

Typical prizes: At the end of each Prerelease, players receive two extra packs, a Prerelease exclusive pin, a Prerelease exclusive Promotional card, and a deck box all featuring the new set.

Premier Events

Premier Events are meant for competition, and there are several held throughout the season every year until the climax at Worlds where the best players battle it out to become the Pokémon Champion.

City Championships

City Championships logo

The first event in the Championship Series, held between November and January. The City Championships are where players from a specific city come together to determine who is the City champion. In the 2008-2009 season, these events have a K-Value of 16.

Typical prize structure

All competitors receive a stamped promotional card and commemorative pin.

State/ Province/Territory Championships

Previously known as 'State Championships' before the 2006-2007 season, this event held in March is where the best players in their State, Province or Territory come together to play and battle to become the State/ Province/Territory champion. In the 2008-2009 season, these events have a K-Value of 32.

Typical prize structure

All competitors receive a stamped promotional card and commemorative pin.

Regional Championships

First introduced in 2005, this event divides countries into large regions and pits players against each other in order to become the Regional champion. In the 2008-2009 season, these events have a K-Value of 32.

Typical prize structure

All competitors receive a stamped promotional card and commemorative pin.

Gym & Stadium Challenges

In these events, players from many areas came together to play for a Worlds invite. Stadium Challenges were phased out in the 2005-2006 season, and Gym Challenges were also rejected with the beginning of the 2006-2007 season in favor of Battle Road Tournaments, similar to those held in Japan.

Typical prizes included an invite to play in the World Championships of that year, a travel award and hotel stay for the tournament (for those who ranked high up), a combination of Booster packs, a stamped promotional card and commemorative pin.

Battle Road Tournaments

Battle Road Autumn logo

Battle Road Spring logo

Held in Spring and Autumn, the Battle Road tournaments give players the opportunity to work on their premier ratings, potentially earning an invite and trip to Worlds. Battle Road Autumn tournaments are held between September and October. Battle Road Spring tournaments are held between May and June. In the 2008-2009 season, these events have a K-Value of 4.

Typical prize structure

National Championships

The National Championships are the penultimate event of the Championship Series. Held between April and June in countries across the globe, it gives players in good standing to compete to become National champion and give their Premier Ratings a boost, potentially winning an invitation to Worlds. In the 2008-2009 season, these events have a K-Value of 32.

Typical prize structure

All competitors receive a stamped promotional card and commemorative pin.

Last Chance Qualifier

The Last Chance qualifier, referred to casually as the "grinder," is an event held on-site at the World Championships location the day before the World Championships themselves. Typically, it consists of an eight round swiss tournament with a cut after swiss depending on the amount of players. The number of players who receive Worlds invites from the Last Chance Qualifier is dependant on how many Worlds spots have been claimed through Premier Ratings and other tournaments.

Typical prize structure

World Championships

2009 World Championships logo

The season comes to a climax at the World Championships held in August. Only players who receive invitations via their National Championships, Premier Rating, or performance at the previous World Championships are permitted to play in this event. Additionally, top-ranked players in the Last Chance Qualifier will receive an invitation to participate in the World Championships. The event hosts top players from around the world competing for the title of Pokémon TCG World Champion. In the 2008-2009 season, these events do not have a K-Value, since they are the final event of the year.

Typical prize structure

All competitors receive a promotional card and commemorative pin.

External links

• Official POP website