2018 World Championships

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The 2018 World Championships was held at the Nashville Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee from August 24 to 26, 2018. It was the fifteenth invitation-only championships for players of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the tenth for players of the Pokémon video games, and the third for players of Pokkén Tournament. This was the first time the competition was held in Nashville.

Invitations for the Trading Card Game and the video game events were awarded to players who accumulated enough Championship Points throughout the season. Invitations for Pokkén Tournament were awarded to the top placements at two International Championships and the UK Regional Championships. There were also Last Chance Qualifiers held on Friday for Pokkén Tournament.

Saddle Up, Trainers! was composed as the competition's theme song.

Trading Card Game Championships

The Pokémon Trading Card Game featured the 2017-18 Standard format, using all cards from BREAKthrough onward. Players received invitations from gaining enough Championship Points throughout the year or from the previous year's World Championships.

Day One of the tournament consisted of Swiss rounds for all players who didn't receive a Day Two invitation. Players with enough points moved onto Day Two, where a new set of Swiss rounds were played that did not carry over Day One's records. Decks could be changed between the two days. The top eight then competed in a single-elimination tournament.

Junior Division

Tobias Strømdahl was the defending champion but became eligible for the Senior Division in 2018. He earned an invitation to Day Two where he finished 72nd.

Naohito Inoue of Japan became the new World Champion with a record of 9-0-1.

Quarterfinals   Semifinals   Championship match
1  Naohito Inoue Japan  
8  Sechan Oh South Korea  
    1  Naohito Inoue Japan  
    5  Walker Halliburton United States  
5  Walker Halliburton United States
4  Kota Onohara Japan  
    1  Naohito Inoue Japan
    2  Sebastian Enriquez United States
3  Rune Heiremans Belguim  
6  Benjamin Bussert United States  
    3  Rune Heiremans Belguim
    2  Sebastian Enriquez United States  
7  Joao Gabriel Penteado Brazil
2  Sebastian Enriquez United States  



Senior Division

Zachary Bohkari was the defending champion but did not attend.

Magnus Pedersen of Denmark finished with a record of 8-1-1 to become the new World Champion.

Quarterfinals   Semifinals   Championship match
1  Takumi Kaji Japan  
8  Tanner Hurley United States  
    1  Takumi Kaji Japan  
    4  Connor Pedersen United States  
5  Jihun Choi South Korea
4  Connor Pedersen United States  
    4  Connor Pedersen United States
    7  Magnus Pedersen Denmark
3  Caleb Banwarie Canada  
6  Matthew Campbell United States  
    6  Matthew Campbell United States
    7  Magnus Pedersen Denmark  
7  Magnus Pedersen Denmark
2  Benjamin Branch-Trevathan United States  



Master Division

Diego Cassiraga was the defending champion, which earned him an invitation to Day Two where he finished 96th.

Robin Schulz of Germany became the first German Pokémon World Champion with a record of 8-0-2.

Quarterfinals   Semifinals   Championship match
1  Robin Schulz Germany  
8  Brian Miller United States  
    1  Robin Schulz Germany  
    5  Klive Jun Jie Singapore  
5  Klive Jun Jie Singapore
4  Shuto Itagaki Japan  
    1  Robin Schulz Germany
    6  Jeff Kolenc Canada
3  Nicolas Galaz Chile  
6  Jeff Kolenc Canada  
    6  Jeff Kolenc Canada
    7  Pedro Eugenio Torres Spain  
7  Pedro Eugenio Torres Spain
2  Eric Smith United States  



Video Game Championships

Day One of the tournament consisted of Swiss rounds for players who didn't receive a Day Two invitation. Invitations from the 2017 World Championships were only for Day One, meaning all Day Two invitations were awarded through Championship Points accrued through the year. Players with two or fewer losses and no ties advanced on to Day Two. Day Two consisted of a new set of Swiss rounds not using the previous day's records and players could change teams between the days. Players from this round with two or fewer losses and no ties were then seeded into a single-elimination tournament.

Matches took place in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon and were all Double Battles. All Pokémon except Ash-Greninja, Mythical, and special Pokémon were eligible, given they had an Alola symbol. All held items were allowed, including Mega Stones. Levels for all Pokémon were adjusted to level 50 and no duplicate Pokémon or items were allowed. Players were given five minutes of move selection time per game.

Junior Division

Nicholas Kan was the defending champion but became eligible for the Senior Division in 2018. He finished 25th on Day Two.

Wonn Lee, a South Korean living in Japan, became the new World Champion.

First round   Quarterfinals   Semifinals   Championship match
1  Justin Miranda-Radbord Canada  
16  Ricco Cantrell Italy     16  Ricco Cantrell Italy  
9  Ignacio Del Compare Argentina   8  Bilel Lakehal France  
8  Bilel Lakehal France       8  Bilel Lakehal France  
5  Yuri Yahashi Japan       14  Wonn Lee Japan  
13  Jaesung Lee South Korea     5  Yuri Yahashi Japan
14  Wonn Lee Japan   14  Wonn Lee Japan  
4  Emily Eastham United States       14  Wonn Lee Japan
3  Connor Yuen Singapore       11  Sota Tamemasa Japan
12  Haley Repas United States     12  Haley Repas United States  
11  Sota Tamemasa Japan   11  Sota Tamemasa Japan  
6  Junhyuk Song South Korea       11  Sota Tamemasa Japan
7  Yujiro Arai Japan       7  Yujiro Arai Japan  
10  Aidan Patterson United States     7  Yujiro Arai Japan
15  Teddy French United Kingdom   15  Teddy French United Kingdom  
2  Keigo Tatsuma Japan  



Senior Division

Hong Juyong was the defending champion but was eligible for the Masters Division in 2018. He received an invitation to Day Two where he placed 43rd.

James Evans of the United States defeated Bram De Jonge of the Netherlands to become the new World Champion.

First round   Quarterfinals   Semifinals   Championship match
1  Simone Bernardi Italy  
16  Shota Yamada Japan     16  Shota Yamada Japan  
9  Finn Cooper Australia   8  Victor Medina Spain  
8  Victor Medina Spain       16  Shota Yamada Japan  
5  Ethan French United Kingdom       14  James Evans United States  
13  Noboru Matsuura Japan     5  Ethan French United Kingdom
14  James Evans United States   14  James Evans United States  
4  Andrew Boudreaux United States       14  James Evans United States
3  Ayumu Iwasaki Japan       6  Bram De Jonge Netherlands
12  Westley Long United States     12  Westley Long United States  
11  Marco Hemantha Kaludura Silva Italy   6  Bram De Jonge Netherlands  
6  Bram De Jonge Netherlands       6  Bram De Jonge Netherlands
7  Cedric Derouchie United States       10  Gabriel Duran Peru  
10  Gabriel Duran Peru     10  Gabriel Duran Peru
15  Zachary Lazaroff United States   2  Zach Kelly Singapore  
2  Zach Kelly Singapore  



Masters Division

Ryota Otsubo was the defending champion but was knocked out in Day One.

After finishing in the Top 4 in the previous year, Paul Ruiz defeated Emilio Forbes to become the first Ecuadorian Pokémon World Champion.

First round   Quarterfinals   Semifinals   Championship match
1  Kiwamu Endo Japan  
16  Federico Turano Argentina     16  Federico Turano Argentina  
9  Yusie Matsuno Japan   9  Yusie Matsuno Japan  
8  Melvin Keh Singapore       9  Yusie Matsuno Japan  
5  Emilio Forbes United States       5  Emilio Forbes United States  
13  Paul Chua United States     5  Emilio Forbes United States
14  Tomohiro Seki Japan   14  Tomohiro Seki Japan  
4  Brendan Zheng United States       5  Emilio Forbes United States
3  Nils Dunlop Sweden       15  Paul Ruiz Ecuador
12  Koji Morimoto Japan     3  Nils Dunlop Sweden  
11  Alessio Yuri Boschetto Italy   6  Arash Ommati Italy  
6  Arash Ommati Italy       3  Nils Dunlop Sweden
7  Simone Sanvito Italy       15  Paul Ruiz Ecuador  
10  Roberto Poretti Italy     10  Roberto Poretti Italy
15  Paul Ruiz Ecuador   15  Paul Ruiz Ecuador  
2  Carson Confer United States  



Pokkén Tournament World Championships

After the previous year combined the age divisions, the 2018 Pokkén Tournament Championships reintroduced the Senior and Masters Divisions. The limited number of entrants did not increase however, with the Masters Division keeping the 16 player limit and the Senior Division having an eight player limit. Invitations were given out to top placements at the Oceania and North American International Championships and the Sheffield Regional Championships. Two Senior and four Masters invites were awarded at the North American and Sheffield Championships each, while the Oceania Championships only awarded one Senior and two Masters invites. The remaining invitations were split between Japanese players and players who made it through the Last Chance Qualifiers.

Pokkén Tournament DX was used for the tournament, with every player required to use their own HORI Pokkén Tournament DX Pro Pad. Unlike previous years, stages were not limited to Ferrum Stadium. The double-elimination format was used, with matches being best three out of five rounds.

Hisaharu "Tonosama" Abe was the defending champion but did not attend.

Senior Division

Kato Yusuke defeated Colin "Ashgreninja1" Jones to become the Pokkén Tournament Senior Division World Champion.

Winners Semifinals   Winners Final   Grand Final   Reset
 kato Japan  
 Ashgreninja1 United States      kato Japan  
 Galactasaur United Kingdom    Galactasaur United Kingdom     Pikachu Libre/Darkrai/Mewtwo  kato Japan      N/A  
 TheJrJam United States     Garchomp/Shadow Mewtwo  Ashgreninja1 United States      N/A  
Losers Quarterfinals   Losers Semifinal   Losers Final
 TheJrJam United States      Ashgreninja1 United States
 rapiD United Kingdom      TheJrJam United States      Galactasaur United Kingdom
 Ashgreninja1 United States    Ashgreninja1 United States  
 William United States  

Masters Division

Jacob "ThankSwalot" Waller defeated Kota "TARUTARO" Aragaki to become the first American Pokkén Tournament Masters Division World Champion.

Winners Semifinals   Winners Final   Grand Final   Reset
Aegislash  haruyuki Japan  
Aegislash/Pikachu Lubre  subutan Japan      haruyuki Japan  
Sceptile  ThankSwalot United States   Sceptile  ThankSwalot United States     Gengar  TARUTARO Japan   Gengar  TARUTARO Japan
Chandelure  Mikukey_HIKARI Japan     Sceptile/Empoleon  ThankSwalot United States   Sceptile  ThankSwalot United States
Losers Quarterfinals   Losers Semifinal   Losers Final
Aegislash/Chandelure/Pikachu Libre  subutan Japan      TARUTARO Japan
Machamp/Shadow Mewtwo  Wingtide Germany      subutan Japan      haruyuki Japan
Chandelure  Mikukey_HIKARI Japan    TARUTARO Japan  
Gengar  TARUTARO Japan  

Event Pokémon

#0648 Meloetta Black clover.png
Cherish Ball summary IV.png Level 50 648Meloetta.png
Type:
NormalIC SM.png PsychicIC SM.png
Ability: Serene Grace
Held item: Metronome Metronome
ID: 081824
OT: Worlds18
Met: WCS 2018 (fateful encounter)
Nature: Random
Ribbon: Event Ribbon Event Ribbon
Sing
Normal Status
Celebrate
Normal Status
Round
Normal Special
Relic Song
Normal Special
Games Method Region Location Duration
SMUSUM local wireless all Nashville Music City Center Halls C & D, Nashville, Tennessee, United States August 24 to 26, 2018
Moves in bold can be taught again at the Move Reminder as a special move if forgotten.
Date received is the date on the system when the gift is picked up from the deliveryman.
This Pokémon is set to the same language as the game that received it.


Pokémon World Championships
Pokémon Trading Card Game only 2004-2008; TCG and Video Games 2009-on
2004: Blaziken TechMagma SpiritRocky BeachTeam Rushdown
2005: Bright AuraDark TyranitarKing of the WestQueendom
2006: B-L-SEeveelutionsMewtrickSuns & Moons
2007: FlyveesLegendary AscentRamboltSwift Empoleon
2008: Bliss ControlEmpotechIntimidationPsychic Lock
2009: StallgonCrowned TigerQueengarLuxdrill
2010: LuxChomp of the SpiritHappy LuckPower CottonweedBoltevoir
2011: MegazoneReshiphlosionThe TruthTwinboar
2012: Pesadelo PrismTerraki-MewtwoEeltwoCMT
2013: Anguille Sous RocheAmerican GothicDarkraiUltimate Team Plasma
2014: Plasma PowerTrevgorEmerald KingCrazy Punch
2015: The Flying HammerPunches 'n' BitesHonorStoisePrimal Groudon
2016: Black DragonBebe DeckMagical SymphonyNinja Blitz
2017: Infinite ForceGolisodorIce Path FTWSamurai Sniper
2018: Victory MapDragones y SombrasGarbanetteBuzzroc
2019: Pikarom JudgeFire BoxMind BlownPerfection
2022: ADPThe Shape of MewCheryl AgainIce Rider Palkia
2023: Mew's RevengePsychic EleganceColorless LugiaLost Box Kyogre
2024:
Champions Jason KlaczynskiJun HasebeRay Rizzo


Project TCG logo.png This article is part of both Project TCG and Project Games, Bulbapedia projects that, together, aim to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon Trading Card Game and Video Game Championship Tournaments. Project Games logo.png