The 2024 Play! Pokémon season will start on September 2023 and will come to an end at the 2024 World Championships in Honolulu.
On this page, you can find all info regarding event types and qualification for the World Championships. Keep in mind that all information is subject to change at TPCi’s discretion. To check out the information on rules & regulations of VGC battles, check this page.
Latest update: 28 Aug 2023
Table of Contents
One World, Three Systems
Official Pokémon tournaments happen all around the world, but are managed by different entities and thus are ruled by different standards.
- The Pokémon Company International (TPCi): handles events in Europe, North America, Latin America, Oceania, the Middle East-South Africa and Russia. The events are under the Play! Pokémon program. All events grant Championship Points (CP), and major events may also hand out prizes as cash money or scholarships, trophies and other Pokémon exclusive merchandise.
- The Pokémon Company (TPC): handles events in Japan and South East Asia.
- Pokémon Korea (TPCK): handles events in South Korea.
While all tournaments follow roughly the same structure (events are played using the Double Battles Video Game Championships, or VGC, format), there are major differences on the availability of events, as well as ways of qualifying to the World Championships.
Results on one system do not carry out to the others, and some events are also locked to residents of specific countries. However, all TPCi events are available to players from other regions, and they can still opt in for the prize money, but not the Championship Points.
On this page, we cover and summarize all info available for all three systems, with a main emphasis on the Play! Pokémon program, since it’s the one available to most regions.
Types of Events
The 2024 season is made up of events happening in all 5 continents. These events are divided into two main categories: major events and local events.
- Major events:
- Play! Pokémon: International Championships, hosted directly by TPCi, as well as Regional Championships and Special Events, hosted by outsourcer companies.
- TPC/TPCK: National Championships, which usually have an online qualifier event locked for residents, as well as Regional Championships in some regions, like Taiwan.
- Local events:
- Play! Pokémon: Midseason Showdowns and Premier Challenges, which are events run by volunteer organizers that allow newer players and smaller communities to take part of the game. These events do also grant Championship Points, and may grant prizes at each organizer’s discretion.
- TPC/TPCK: there’s no local events for these regions announced at the moment.
Age Divisions
The Play! Pokémon program separates players into three age divisions: Juniors (JR), Seniors (SR), and Masters (MA).
The age division that a player belongs to is set at the beginning of the season, based on the year of birth, and does not change over the course of that season. This allows players to compete against the same pool of opponents during the entire season.
These are the age divisions for the 2024 season:
- Juniors: born in 2012 or later
- Seniors: born in 2008 to 2011
- Masters: born in 2007 or earlier
Event Prizes
Championship Points (CP)
Events in the Play! Pokémon program award Championship Points (CP) to the best players at each tournament.
These points allow players to qualify for the World Championships depending on their season-long amount, as well as obtain Travel Awards for International Championships based on the amount of points obtained during specific time periods.
However, CP depend on the event’s kicker and best finish limit:
- Best Finish Limit (BFL) is the maximum amount of tournaments of a same kind, such as Regionals and Special Events, that are counted towards the total ranking of the season. For example, if BFL of a type of tournament is 2, only the 2 best results that a player has in that type of tournament are counted.
- However, even if a player does not obtain any seasonal CP from an event type after maxing it out, they may obtain quarterly CP towards their International Championships Travel Awards.
- Kicker is the minimum amount of players that need to participate in any given tournament so that players with lower standings get CP. For example, if the kicker for top 8 to get CP at a tournament type is 17, it means that top 8 finishers will only get CP if there were at least 17 participants in the tournament.
Local Events
The Premier Challenge (PC) are the lowest grade of events, and thus also the kind that happens near you most of the time.
These events welcome players of all skill levels, and have no qualifications or residency restrictions, so even if you’re a player from TPC regions visiting over, you can play, provided you have a Pokémon Trainer Club account.
You can always find the nearest Premier Challenge to you using the official event locator.
- BFL: 6
- Max obtainable CP (2024 Worlds Invite): 180 CP
| Placement | Championship Points | Kicker |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 CP | 0 |
| 2 | 16 CP | 0 |
| 3-4 | 12 CP | 0 |
| 5-8 | 8 CP | 17 |
| 9-16 | 6 CP | 48 |
| 17-32 | 4 CP | 80 |
- BFL: 6
- Max obtainable CP (2024 Worlds Invite): 300 CP
| Placement | Championship Points | Kicker |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 50 CP | 0 |
| 2 | 40 CP | 0 |
| 3-4 | 32 CP | 0 |
| 5-8 | 25 CP | 17 |
| 9-16 | 20 CP | 48 |
| 17-32 | 16 CP | 80 |
| 33-64 | 13 CP | 128 |
Some online competitions, namely Global Challenges (GC), also award Championship Points. These events are played directly using the game’s Battle Stadium over the span of a weekend, Friday through Sunday, and you can play against players from across the globe from your couch.
- BFL: 3
- Max obtainable CP (2024 Worlds Invite): 480 CP
| Placement | Championship Points | Kicker |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 160 CP | 0 |
| 2 | 130 CP | 0 |
| 3-4 | 100 CP | 0 |
| 5-8 | 80 CP | 17 |
| 9-16 | 60 CP | 48 |
| 17-32 | 50 CP | 80 |
| 33-64 | 40 CP | 128 |
| 65-128 | 30 CP | 256 |
| 129-256 | 20 CP | 512 |
| 257-512 | 10 CP | 1024 |
| 513-1024 | 5 CP | 2046 |
Regional Championships & Special Events
Regional-level events include Regional Championships and Special Events. These events are identical in regards to CP payouts.
Players must have a Pokémon Trainer Club account with a Player ID attached, and must have opted in to the Play! Pokémon program in order to earn points and awards.
You can find all Regionals and Special Events for the season here.
- BFL: 6
- Max obtainable CP (2024 Worlds Invite): 1200 CP
| Placement | Championship Points | Kicker |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 200 CP + Tier 3 Invite to Worlds* | 0 |
| 2 | 160 CP | 0 |
| 3-4 | 130 CP | 0 |
| 5-8 | 100 CP | 0 |
| 9-16 | 80 CP | 48 |
| 17-32 | 60 CP | 80 |
| 33-64 | 50 CP | 128 |
| 65-128 | 40 CP | 256 |
| 129-256 | 30 CP | 512 |
| 257-512 | 20 CP | 1024 |
*For the Champions of Regional Championships and European Special Events in each age division, a Tier 3 World Championships Invite is also awarded, regardless of their total CP amount at the end of the season. These invites do not apply to players in Japan, South Korea and South East Asia.
Regional Championships, but not Special Events, award prize money as cash, scholarship or a Visa Prepaid Card depending on the amount and age of the receiver. The prizes are in US dollars (USD) and subject to applicable tax withholding.
Players must have a Pokémon Trainer Club account with a Player ID attached, and must have opted in to the Play! Pokémon program in order to earn points and awards.
Prize Money does not have any kickers. This means that prizes are always awarded to all players in the placements listed below, regardless of the total number of players in a given tournament. Additionally to the money, players receive Pokémon TCG Booster Packs.
| Placement | Juniors & Seniors | Masters | TCG Packs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,000 USD | $6,000 USD | 72 |
| 2 | $750 USD | $4,000 USD | 72 |
| 3-4 | $500 USD | $2,000 USD | 36 |
| 5-8 | – | $1,000 USD | 18 |
| 9-16 | – | $750 USD | 9 |
International Championships
The greatest events on a season are International Championships (IC), which happen only a handful of times a year, and award the greatest amounts of CP and prizes.
For the 2024 season, there’s one for Europe, North America and Latin America, while players from the other regions of the TPCi program (Oceania, South Africa-Middle East) may also attend freely and also earn Championship Points and Prize Money. For players from other programs (TPC/TPCK), they may attend and earn rewards, but not Championship Points.
Players must have a Pokémon Trainer Club account with a Player ID attached, and must have opted in to the Play! Pokémon program in order to earn points and awards.
- BFL: 3
- Max CP obtainable (2024 Worlds Invite): 2000 CP
| Placement | Championship Points | Kicker |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 500 CP + Tier 3 Worlds Invite | 0 |
| 2 | 400 CP + Tier 3 Worlds Invite | 0 |
| 3-4 | 320 CP | 0 |
| 5-8 | 250 CP | 0 |
| 9-16 | 200 CP | 48 |
| 17-32 | 160 CP | 80 |
| 33-64 | 130 CP | 128 |
| 65-128 | 100 CP | 256 |
| 129-256 | 80 CP | 512 |
| 257-512 | 60 CP | 1024 |
| 513-1024 | 50 CP | 2046 |
*For the Champions and Finalists of International Championships in each age division, a Tier 3 World Championships Invite is also awarded, regardless of their total CP amount at the end of the season. These invites do not apply to players in Japan, South Korea and South East Asia.
International Championships award prize money as cash, scholarship or a Visa Prepaid Card depending on the amount and age of the receiver. The prizes are in US dollars (USD) and subject to applicable tax withholding.
Players must have a Pokémon Trainer Club account with a Player ID attached, and must have opted in to the Play! Pokémon program in order to earn points and awards.
| Placement | Juniors & Seniors | Masters | TCG Packs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5,000 USD | $15,000 USD | 72 |
| 2 | $3,000 USD | $10,000 USD | 72 |
| 3-4 | $2,000 USD | $7,000 USD | 72 |
| 5-8 | $1,000 USD | $5,000 USD | 36 |
| 9-16 | – | $3,000 USD | 18 |
| 17-32 | – | $2,000 USD | – |
For players in Europe, North America, Latin America and Oceania, the top players in the CP leaderboard during the season are awarded Travel Awards or Stipends to specific International Championships. Players in Middle East-South Africa and Russia are ineligible.
All events within a specific time bracket have their CP count towards both the total season tally as well as the next IC. The BFLs also apply separately, which means that you can still score points for your IC race even if you have maxed out the seasonal limit.
- Players finishing 1st ~ 4th: players receive a Travel Award amount prior to the event, and are fully responsible for booking their own travel and lodging.
- Travelling in region: $2,000 USD (over 18) and $2,500 USD (under 18 years of age).
- Travelling out of region: $3,500 USD (over 18) and $5,000 USD (under 18 years of age)
- Players finishing 5th ~ 8th: $1,000 USD paid after the event, subject to the players attending and playing at least one round of the main event.
The travel awards and stipends are in US dollars (USD) and subject to applicable tax withholding.
2024 World Championships
Qualify for the World Championships
The 2024 World Championships held in Honolulu, HI (United States) is the pinnacle of competition for the 2024 season. Players from all systems earn invites through various ways and compete in one single event. The event dates are still unknown, but it’s announced as a three-day event happening in August for now.
While the structure of the event is unknown, this season the event will have three tiers of invites:
- Tier 3: Worlds invite, awarded under three conditions:
- Earn enough Championship Points depending on their age division and region of residence; or
- Win a Regional Championship or European Special Event; or
- Place 1st or 2nd at an International Championship
- Tier 2: Worlds invite with a Travel Stipend*.
- Tier 1: Worlds invite with a Travel Award* and a Round 1 bye.
The travel awards and stipends are in US dollars (USD) and subject to applicable tax withholding.
Therefore, this season’s event does not seem to feature a Day 2 invite system, unlike previous seasons.
*Players in the Middle East & South Africa rating zone are not eligible for travel stipends and awards.
| Rating Zone | Juniors | Seniors | Masters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | 300 CP | 300 CP | 400 CP |
| North America | 350 CP | 350 CP | 500 CP |
| Latin America | 200 CP | 200 CP | 300 CP |
| Oceania | 250 CP | 250 CP | 300 CP |
| Middle East & South Africa | 200 CP | 200 CP | 200 CP |
| Japan | Top 64 players from each age division at the Japan National Championships | ||
| South Korea | Top 16 players from each age division at the Korea Trainers Cup Final Round | ||
| South East Asia |
| ||
| 2024 International Championships | |||
| 2024 Regional Championships | The Champions from each age division of every TPCi Regional Championships worldwide | ||
| 2024 Special Events (Europe only) | The Champions from each age division of every Special Event in Europe | ||
| 2023 World Championships | Top 4 players from each age division in the 2023 World Championships | ||
Players with a Tier 2 invite receive together with the right to participate a Travel Stipend of $1,000 USD paid after the event, subject to the players attending and playing at least one round of the main event.
* Players in the Middle East & South Africa rating zone are not eligible for Travel Stipends.
** This tier does not have an equivalent in TPC or Pokémon Korea regions.
| Rating Zone | CP requirements |
|---|---|
| Europe | Players finishing 17th to 22nd from each age division in the Europe CP leaderboard |
| North America | Players finishing 13th to 16th from each age division in the US and Canada CP leaderboard |
| Latin America | Players finishing 9th to 12th from each age division in the Latin America CP leaderboard |
| Oceania | Players finishing 5th to 8th from each age division in the Oceania CP leaderboard |
- TPCi regions:
- North America: $2,000 USD (over 18) and $2,500 USD (under 18 years of age)
- Europe, Latin America, Oceania: $3,500 USD (over 18) and $5,000 USD (under 18 years of age)
- TPC regions: depends on the conditions set up by TPC for each country.
| Rating Zone | CP requirements |
|---|---|
| Europe | Players finishing 1st to 16th from each age division in the Europe CP leaderboard |
| North America | Players finishing 1st to 12th from each age division in the US and Canada CP leaderboard |
| Latin America | Players finishing 1st to 8th from each age division in the Latin America CP leaderboard |
| Oceania | Players finishing 1st to 4th from each age division in the Oceania CP leaderboard |
| Japan | Top 8 players from each age division at the Japan National Championships * Only Top 4 players receive a Travel Award. All top 8 players receive the Round 1 bye. |
| South Korea | Top 4 players from each age division at the Korea Trainers Cup Final Round * The Travel Awards are different for the champion, the finalist and the semifinalists. |
| South East Asia |
|
Prizes
Prizes are awarded to the best placing players in each division. The money will be given as cash, scholarship or a Visa Prepaid Card depending on the amount and age of the receiver. The prizes are in US dollars (USD) and subject to applicable tax withholding.
Further prizes like exclusive World Championships merchandise, Pokémon TCG Booster Packs and invites to the 2025 World Championships are also normally given, but the specifics are not known yet.
| Placement | Prize Money (per division) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $30,000 USD |
| 2 | $20,000 USD |
| 3-4 | $15,000 USD |
| 5-8 | $10,000 USD |
| 9-16 | $5,000 USD |
| Rating Zone | Juniors | Seniors | Masters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | 200 CP | 250 CP | 300 CP |
| North America | 200 CP | 250 CP | 400 CP |
| Latin America | 200 CP | 250 CP | 400 CP |
| Oceania | 200 CP | 200 CP | 300 CP |
| South Africa | 100 CP | 150 CP | 200 CP |
| Japan |
| ||
| South Korea |
| ||
| Rest of Asia |
| ||
| 2019 World Championships | Top 4 players from each age division in the 2019 World Championships | ||
| Rating Zone | CP requirements |
|---|---|
| Europe | Top 24 players in the Europe CP leaderboard |
| North America | Top 12 players in the US and Canada CP leaderboard |
| Latin America | Top 12 players in the Latin America CP leaderboard |
| Oceania | Top 12 players in the Oceania CP leaderboard |
| Japan |
|
| South Korea | Top 3 players of the 2022 Trainers Cup |
| Rest of Asia |
|
| Rating Zone | CP requirements |
|---|---|
| Europe | Top 16 players in the Europe CP leaderboard |
| North America | Top 8 players in the US and Canada CP leaderboard |
| Latin America | Top 8 players in the Latin America CP leaderboard |
| Oceania | Top 8 players in the Oceania CP leaderboard |
| Japan |
|
| South Korea | Top 3 players of the 2022 Trainers Cup |
| Rest of Asia |
|
| 2019 World Championships | Top 4 players from each age division in the 2019 World Championships |
