It has been confirmed that the UK will be playing host to the Pokémon World Championships in 2020.
The announcement came during the 2019 World Championships closing ceremony that took place on the weekend in Washington. It was later confirmed on the official Pokémon Twitter account:
We’d like to see you here in the United Kingdom! 😉 Think we can work that out?
— Pokémon UK (@PokemonNewsUK) August 18, 2019
the news comes after announcing the opening of a Pokémon pop-up store this October in London.
The Pokémon World Championships is an annual invitation-only event held in a separate place where players can compete with multiple local, regional and global tournaments to qualify for.
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Pokken Tournament DX and the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) attended last weekend’s 16th annual event in Washington. Live attendance of more than 7,000 players and supporters.
Young British player Teddy French finished runner-up at the 2019 Pokémon Video Game World Championships Junior Division on the weekend, losing in the final to Taiwan’s Pi Wu. This division is for those born in 2008 or later.
A one-of a-kind Pokémon World Championship trophy (one of which broke after the winner received it) was awarded to this year’s champions, an invitation to the 2020 Pokémon World Championships, and a financial award in the form of a scholarship, cash award, or travel certificate. This year’s prize pool totaled over $500,000.
2019 POKÉMON TRADING CARD GAME WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Junior Division Finalists
World Champion: Haruki Miyamoto [JPN]
Second Place: Isaac Terceira [USA]
Senior Division Finalists
World Champion: Kaya Lichtleitner [DEU]
Second Place: Grant Shen [USA]
Masters Division Finalists
World Champion: Henry Brand [AUS]
Second Place: Shintaro Ito [JPN]
2019 POKÉMON VIDEO GAME WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Junior Division Finalists
World Champion: Pi Wu [TWN]
Second Place: Teddy French [GBR]
Senior Division Finalists
World Champion: Ko Tsukide [JPN]
Second Place: Lewis Tan [AUS]
Masters Division Finalists
World Champion: Naoto Mizobuchi [JPN]
Second Place: Hirofumi Kimura [JPN]
2019 POKKÉN TOURNAMENT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Senior Division Finalists
World Champion: ashninja1 [USA]
Second Place: Kato [JPN]
Masters Division Finalists
World Champion: Subutan [JPN]
Second Place: Haruyuki [JPN]
