World Championships: Difference between revisions
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The '''Pokémon World Championships''' are an annual event staged by the [[Play! Pokémon]] organized play division of [[The Pokémon Company International]] (formerly known as Pokémon USA). | The '''Pokémon World Championships''' are an annual event staged by the [[Play! Pokémon]] organized play division of [[The Pokémon Company International]] (formerly known as Pokémon USA). The first Worlds event was run by [[Wizards of the Coast]], a division of [[Hasbro]], in 2002 in Seattle, with the second—and last under Wizards—in 2003 at GenCon Indy. Upon taking over the licensing of the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game|Trading Card Game]] from Wizards, Nintendo's first World Championships were staged in 2004. Prior to the start of the World Championships {{DL|Play! Pokémon|TCG Premier Events|tournament}} structure, the best players from around the world competed at the [[Tropical Mega Battle]] between 1999 and 2001, as well as at several Super Trainer Showdown events held in the US in 2000 and 2001. | ||
An annual invitational-only event held in August of a given year, players are chosen on overall ratings, national champions and past performances in the previous year's World Championships. | An annual invitational-only event held in August of a given year, players are chosen on overall ratings, national champions and past performances in the previous year's World Championships. |
Revision as of 16:00, 19 November 2015
The Pokémon World Championships are an annual event staged by the Play! Pokémon organized play division of The Pokémon Company International (formerly known as Pokémon USA). The first Worlds event was run by Wizards of the Coast, a division of Hasbro, in 2002 in Seattle, with the second—and last under Wizards—in 2003 at GenCon Indy. Upon taking over the licensing of the Trading Card Game from Wizards, Nintendo's first World Championships were staged in 2004. Prior to the start of the World Championships tournament structure, the best players from around the world competed at the Tropical Mega Battle between 1999 and 2001, as well as at several Super Trainer Showdown events held in the US in 2000 and 2001.
An annual invitational-only event held in August of a given year, players are chosen on overall ratings, national champions and past performances in the previous year's World Championships.
Trading Card Game
The championships are staged utilizing that year's Standard format, previously referred to as Modified Format prior to the 2014 season. The 2015 season introduced the Expanded format. Set over three days with a last chance qualifier (known to players as "The Grinder") on the Friday to fill seats left vacant for various reasons (no travel, local qualifiers) until all seats are filled. The second day is limited to Swiss Pairings over a set number of rounds, and the top players (16 each in the Junior and Senior Divisions, as well as the top 32 in the Masters division) move onto the Sunday rounds. The format for this final is single elimination, until the finals, which are a best two matches out of three to decide the World Champion. There are three divisions: Junior (known as the 10 Years Old and Under Division until 2006), Senior (known as the 11 to 14 Year Old Division until 2006) and Masters (called the 15 Years and Older Division until 2006).
Standard/Modified Format Sets
- 2004 — Expedition to EX Hidden Legends
- 2005 — EX Ruby & Sapphire to EX Emerald
- 2006 — EX Hidden Legends to EX Holon Phantoms
- 2007 — EX Deoxys to Diamond & Pearl
- 2008 — EX Holon Phantoms to Majestic Dawn
- 2009 — Diamond & Pearl to Rising Rivals
- 2010 — Diamond & Pearl to Unleashed
- 2011 — HeartGold & SoulSilver to Black & White
- 2012 — HeartGold & SoulSilver to Dark Explorers
- 2013 — Black & White to Plasma Freeze
- 2014 — Next Destinies to Flashfire
- 2015 — Boundaries Crossed onward
Expanded Format Sets
- 2015 — Black & White onward
World Championship decks
- Main article: World Championships Deck (TCG)
World Championship decks are purchasable non-tournament-legal prints of 60-card decks used by World Championship players.
Video games
The format for the Video Game Championships, first staged in 2009 in San Diego, California is virtually the same as the TCG counterparts in which winners of those in the National tournament play. In 2010, a Last Chance Qualifier was held on Friday to fill all vacant spots. In 2011, a Masters age Division was added to parallel the TCG. The most recently released Pokémon game is used for battles. The event format consists of swiss rounds, followed by a single elimination tournament. In 2009, the top two advanced to play the finals on Sunday, whereas since 2010, the top eight advance to play in a head-to-head single elimination event to decide the World Champions.
Games used
- 2009 — Pokémon Platinum
- 2010 — Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
- 2011 — Pokémon Black and White
- 2012 — Pokémon Black and White
- 2013 — Pokémon Black 2 and White 2
- 2014 — Pokémon X and Y
- 2015 — Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire