We are finally there: today is Sunday Pokemon World Championship 2022. If you’re even a bit interested in the franchise’s competitive scene, you shouldn’t miss the final game. This year, 5 tournaments will take place in London on different platforms: Pokémon Sword and Shield (VGC – for video game competition and TCG – for card game competition), Pokken Tournament, Pokémon GO and Pokémon Unite. For our part, we will have the opportunity to go there to cover the event, offering you videos, articles and interviews with players and developers.
Pokémon Worlds 2022: Dates, Locations, and Live Streams
This year, the Pokémon World Championships are returning to the physical world and will be held in London.
- Date : August 18 – August 21, 2022 (opening ceremony at 10:00 a.m. French time)
- Location : London Excel Center
- If you are not there, you can enjoy the live streaming of the matches on Twitch and Youtube.
- Official global Twitch channel with a bit of everything
- Official Twitch channel dedicated to VGC
- Official Twitch channel dedicated to the TCG
- Exclusive Official Pokémon GO Twitch Channel
- Exclusive Official Pokémon Unite Twitch Channel
- Official Pokken Tournament Twitch Channel
- Pokemon Center will sell unique goodies on the site
- Many prizes to be won on site or remotely
Pokémon Sword and Shield: VGC Contest – video game
- format : 2v2 duel in the field (players have 6 Pokémon teams, they only have to choose 4 and get 4 Pokémon to join)
- Preparation : Players are allowed to encounter 6 Pokémon from the opposing team for 90 seconds. They can therefore choose the 4 Pokémon to get their team.
- objective : It’s BO3 (You must win 2 out of 3 rounds to win the match)
- Rules apply : Season 12 in Pokemon Sword and Shield
- categories : Juniors (up to 12 years old) – Seniors (12 to 16 years old) – Masters (over 16 years old)
- the price (Masters): $51,500 distributed to first 16, $10,000 distributed to first player
- The French are already qualified for the second day (Masters) : Thomas Gravouille / Hippolyte Bernard / François-Xavier de Lageneste (Note that the 5 other French players are qualified for the Day 1 Master and the Day 2 Master. We follow him on the field).
Throughout the year, competitive players of the Pokémon Sword and Shield video game have been able to earn championship points by participating in various competitions (such as Frankfurt or Lille, which we can participate in). The best of them then managed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
- 1 day contest : All qualified players must win 7 out of 9 matches to access Day 2. But beware, the best players of the year are not obliged to participate in Day 1 and automatically join Day 2 (it is the top 2 in Europe, for example you can see it in the picture below)
- 2 days : No more Swiss tours where players have to win 7 out of 9 matches. Only the best 16 players can then qualify for Day 3.
- 3 days : 16 players compete in direct elimination until only 8 remain and then 4.
- 4 days : There is a grand finale from 12:30 p.m.
TCG/JCC Card Game Contest
We will see the famous VMAX cards at work in the competition which will be held for the first time in 4 days.
- format : 1v1 / 7 or 8 Swiss circuits on the first day. If a player loses 3 matches, he is eliminated. Just like VGC, some players get access to Day 2 without missing Day 1.
- Day 2: 8 or 9 more rounds to eliminate the players so there are only 16 left then 8
- Day 3: Single elimination limit until 2 players remain
- Day 4 (Sunday): Grand Final at 9:00 a.m.
- prize money : $119,000 split among the top 32 players
Pokemon Unite Contest
With fewer entrants than either VGC or TCG, the Pokémon Unite competition will only last two days. Unite will be at Worlds for the first time.
- format : 16 teams of 5 players each will compete in Mobe (nintendo switch). Matches are 5v5.
- objective : Matches are played in BO3. The top 2 teams from each group move on to the next day.
- the price : Cash prizes of $100,000 for the first team / $75,000 for the second team / $65,000 for the third team and $60,000 for the fourth team (the other teams also receive smaller cash prizes).
- Live French Program : FefeGG
- Day 1 (Friday): Group stage from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Day 2 (Saturday): Final at 5 p.m.
Pokémon GO Contest
Exceptionally, a last chance qualification will take place on Thursday August 17 to allow 2 additional Coaches to qualify for the World Championships.
- format : Two players compete against smartphones equipped with teams of 3 Pokémon (Bo3).
- Day 1 (Friday): Group Stage until 8 players remain
- Day 2 (Saturday): Final stages (Bo5)
- charter : Super League 1500 CP Max
- prize money : $47,000 will be split among the top 16 players
- French already qualified : IDexxBl
- Watch replays in French: Twitch channel form78
Pokken Tournament Competition
As with Pokémon GO, on the 17th there will be a last chance tournament which will allow 2 additional players to join the Worlds. Few players will participate in this championship this year, so it will take place over a single day.
- format : 1v1 on Bo5. 8-player Top Categories and 16-player Masters.
- The competition will take place on Friday August 19 at 09:00. The final will take place at 5:00 p.m. the same day.
- prize money : $20,000 to share the master
Source : Millenium
