For over two decades, since the inception of the Pokemon franchise, competitive gaming – be it trading cards or video games – has consistently remained a significant part of it. However, each year’s global celebration stands out as the ultimate peak for competitive play, managing to surpass its own grandeur every time.
As a dedicated Pokémon fan, I can’t help but feel exhilarated when I reflect on these events. Not only do they bring us all together in celebration of our shared passion, but they also seem to grow more spectacular each year!
For the Worlds 2025 event, TopMob was among numerous media outlets and content creators invited to explore how Anaheim’s iteration signifies a significant milestone in Pokémon’s competitive gaming scene. As one of the most ambitious gaming events known, it has now become essential to attend.
What is Pokémon Worlds?
For those who are new to it, the Pokémon Worlds is an annual gathering where the best players from various formats throughout the year, such as Video Game Championships (VGC, in this instance, Scarlet & Violet), the Trading Card Game (TCG), Pokémon GO, and Pokémon UNITE, all come together to battle for global championship titles.
In this collection, you’ll find three different categories of brackets as well. For participants under 12 years old prior to the commencement of the tournament, we have the Junior category. The Senior category is for those aged between 13 and 16. Lastly, the Masters category is designed for individuals who are 17 and older.
Additionally, winning a prestigious Pikachu trophy and exclusive card is guaranteed for those who secure a top four position. Furthermore, there’s an added incentive – the potential to win cash prizes valued at up to $50,000!
Indeed, it’s not just a competition; rather, it serves as a unique blend of a festival, convention, and a worldwide gathering. This event invites both newcomers and veterans to explore and engage with every corner of the Pokémon world.
At the Anaheim Convention Center, for instance, Worlds 2025 metamorphosed the location into a vibrant exhibit of their brand.
Outside the bustling competition arenas and a spectacular opening spectacle with musical performances by artists such as NateWantsToBattle, there were additional tournaments open for participation by fans and those who didn’t make it to the Worlds finals.
Additionally, there were Play Lab workshops for novices to learn playing the card game competitively, as well as Scarlet & Violet, plus a cosplay exhibition, a museum showcasing past Pokémon games and Worlds champions, an art gallery for TCG artworks, panels from renowned fandom figures like Joe Merrick (Serebii), a large Miraidon motorcycle, autograph sessions with skilled TCG artists, chances to purchase additional merchandise and pricey collectible cards, and numerous other engaging activities. At the Worlds event, the Pokémon world felt like an (Cl)oyster of experiences to us.
Before the tournament week began, we had the opportunity to enjoy some exceptional additional experiences. Not only did we get a sneak peek at the newly opened Pokémon Centre pop-up store in Anaheim, filled with unique merchandise available exclusively for Worlds, but we were also among the first globally to try out the upcoming Pokémon: Legends Z-A game (outdoing even Gamescom’s offerings).
A festival as much as a tournament
At Pokémon Worlds, such as the one held in Anaheim, the vast array of available activities distinguishes it from other gaming events focused on franchises, making it unique and exciting.
During the competition period from August 15th through August 17th, fellow competitors faced off against each other. However, spectators had a wealth of other activities to engage with, such as viewing the initial tournaments on large screens scattered across the venue, designated areas for card and pin trading, cosplay exhibitions, additional side-event competitions, opportunities to play the latest games like the Legends: Z-A demo, and an art showcase featuring Black Bolt & White Flare – thus demonstrating that the Championships now offer entertainment for both competitive and casual enthusiasts.
It seems that events leading up to Sunday, the 17th, were merely preparations, as the real highlight began with the four finals that took place in the arena of the Anaheim Convention Center – these final events left us utterly spellbound.
In a groundbreaking move for both the Pokémon Worlds tournaments and the entire Pokémon franchise, each battle took place on an extraordinary center stage. This stage was encircled by thousands of enthusiastic spectators, accentuated by vibrant LED lighting, dynamic commentary, and captivating stage effects. It created an atmosphere that mirrored the grandeur of the international sports events we all envisioned while playing Pokémon Silver in 2001, where battles were depicted as artistic masterpieces.
Previously, I expressed this on my Instagram account, and I’ll repeat it here: Now, I truly grasp the excitement that football, wrestling, and Formula One enthusiasts express when they talk about an environment like this being ideal for fans.
Despite not delving deeply into the specific statistics of this year’s Pokémon World Championships, it’s apparent that its popularity is on the rise. Fortunately, we do have access to those details if needed.
According to representatives from The Pokémon Company International, the 2025 Pokémon Worlds event hosted approximately 2,500 competitors from 48 different countries and regions. The event attracted over 25,000 attendees, covering more than 60 distinct areas, and was supported by a staff of over 1,500 individuals.
Insights from the organisers
As these numbers are undeniably massive, it’s hard not to ponder about the future as Pokémon steps into a new phase in its gaming world. This new phase includes the highly anticipated Generation 10, the release of new Switch games (versions 1 and 2), and the continuous growth of the Trading Card Game with fresh sets. So, what lies ahead for our beloved Pokémon?
During a chat with Chris Brown, who’s the international director of global esports and events at The Pokémon Company, we inquired about the future trajectory of the event and the Pokémon competitive scene, focusing on the World Championship Tournament, over the next five years.
Leaving the complex logistics for another time, Brown expressed a sense of optimism, stating, “We aim for steady, sustainable growth annually.
He went into more detail, stating that last season in Europe, our regional championships typically drew crowds of over 3,000 people. He estimated that there were almost 2,000 players per event. Interestingly, he predicted that we would see a substantial increase in both attendance and participants next year, which indeed happened.
The team considers the approach annually, questioning past achievements such as “Did we sell out last year in this age group?” followed by an assessment of demand. Then, they attempt to forecast future trends based on that data.
In about five years, I am optimistically looking forward to a potential doubling of the number of attendees at our events. For instance, in Europe, we might witness an increase from around 3,000 attendees per event to possibly 6,000 or even 7,000 attendees per event. At that point, I can only express my sincere hope for such growth.
What’s next for Pokémon Worlds 2026?
Initially, the prospect of a 100% or more increase within the upcoming five years seemed ambitious, but once we grasped the subsequent details, it became relatively clear why such an aim was proposed.
Following the thrilling finals of the Worlds’ VGC tournament (a spectacular showdown between Giovanni Cischke and James Evans that you really shouldn’t miss), the closing events quickly ensued. These events weren’t just about wrapping up, they also showcased upcoming content previews for TCG, Legends: Z-A, GO, TCG Pocket, and Unite, as well as an exhilarating teaser for the Pokémon Worlds 2026 in San Francisco.
Previously, it was understood that the event in Anaheim served a purpose, but we weren’t aware that it was primarily a trial run for future plans regarding the American edition of the upcoming World Pokémon Championships.
In addition to the finals taking place at the Chase Center, an NBA-sized arena that outshines Anaheim’s setup, they will also introduce PokémonXP – a fan-focused program combining panels, workshops, guest appearances, and specialty stores. This program offers fans a wider range of interactive opportunities to enjoy.
In essence, the activities we undertook in the past were like a free preview or beta test for the upcoming appetizer event at next year’s Worlds.
Frankly speaking, it’s fantastic timing that elevates the already exceptional Pokémon esports event even more.
Fancy yourself a Pokémon master? Try our quiz below!
- Best Pokémon gifts – the greatest merch
- Best Pokémon games on Switch – our ranking
- Best shiny Pokémon – the coolest creatures
- Best Dragon-type Pokémon – who’s your fave?
- All cat Pokémon – the felines to catch
- Pokémon natures guide – all you need to know
- Pokémon type chart – strengths and weaknesses explained
- Legendary Pokémon – the full list
- Pokémon Scarlet and Violet cheats – handy hacks
- Pokémon Emerald cheats – what you need to know
- Pokémon Fire Red cheats – all codes
- Pokémon Go friend codes – and how to find them
- Pokémon games in order – where to start
Read More
- EUR JPY PREDICTION
- Don’t Miss the BBC Proms 2025: Full Schedule Revealed!
- USD JPY PREDICTION
- All New Items in Abiotic Factor 1.0
- BTC EUR PREDICTION. BTC cryptocurrency
- GBP CHF PREDICTION
- Gold Rate Forecast
- 15 Biggest Games Launching in August 2025
- ENA PREDICTION. ENA cryptocurrency
- EUR UAH PREDICTION
2025-08-23 16:06