Pokémon World Championships 2024: Everything you need to know

I choose you, Honolu-chu! The Pokémon World Championships are back and taking place in Hawaii this year.

Some of the greatest Pokémon players in the world are gearing up for the Pokémon World Championships in Hawaii.

It's the biggest and most important Pokémon tournament around, attracting some of the very best trainers to compete to be crowned world champion.

Thousands of Pokémon fans from all over the globe have gathered for the event, which takes place from 16 August to 18 August in Honolulu, the capital city of Hawaii.

Find out more about the tournament below...

What are the Pokémon World Championships?

The tournament takes place each year and attracts the very best players of all ages to compete for thousands of pounds of prize money, and to prove that they are the greatest in the world.

Players taking part in the tournament can compete in four different categories:

Trading Card Game (TCG), Video Game (VG), Pokémon GO! and Pokémon Unite.

People of all ages and genders take part in the games

TCG is played with Pokemon cards and the VG competitions is played using the Scarlet and Violet game on the Nintendo Switch console.

Pokemon GO! is played on mobile phones, and Pokémon Unite is played on mobile, or Switch consoles.

The TCG and VG competitions are split into three age groups: Junior (under 12 years old), Senior (12-16) and Masters (17 and up).

Players can win by using a mixture of strategy and skill to out-think their opponent.

Top players competing on stage at the World Championships in London in 2022

Regular fans were also able to buy tickets to attend the event, where they can watch the Championships from big viewing galleries, and take part in special themed activities and exhibitions.

The competition is streamed online, so that fans from around the world can watch from home.

Where are the Pokémon World Championships taking place this year?

Declan aged nine is taking part in this year's Championship in Hawaii

In 2024 the Pokemon World Championships are taking place at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu, the capital city of Hawaii.

It is the fourth time the Championships have taken place in Hawaii, having previously been held in Waikoloa Village in 2007, 2010 and 2012.

On Wednesday 15 August a special welcome ceremony took place at the event.

A blessing was given by Kahu Kordell Kekoa - a Hawaiian spiritual guardian and priest - where a symbolic floral maile lei was untied.

In 2023 the Championships were held in Tokyo, in Japan, for the very first time - You might remember Newsround went along!

In 2022 the Championships came to London in the UK, after the tournament was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, becoming the first time that Worlds had taken place in Europe.

Who plays in the Pokémon World Championships games?

To be invited to compete in the World Championships players must have earned enough Championship Points.

These are gained by competing in local competitions around the world throughout the year.

The better you do in the competition, the more points you earn, increasing your chances of qualifying.

The number of points needed to get an invitation to Worlds is based on the area players are based in (for example in Europe, or the US and Canada) and what age category they're playing in (Junior, Senior or Masters).

For example, for players competing in the Junior age category in Europe, it's 350 points in TCG, and 300 points in VG.

Declan aged nine is one of the competitors in the 2024 World Championships

People of all ages and genders can take part in the competitions.

Some children from the UK are travelling to Hawaii to compete.

Players at the games have put in lots of practice to be able to compete at this high level.

History of the World Pokémon Championships

The first ever Pokémon World Championships with held in 2004, and just featured the Trading Card Game (TCG).

This took place at Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa in Florida, in the US.

The video game category was added in 2008.

2024's World Championships are the 18th tournament to be held across the world, with many of them taking place in North America.

In 2020 and 2021 the games were delayed due to the coronavirus pandamic.

Do you think you have what it takes to compete in the World Championships? Or, is there another game you think you would win a World Championship in? Let us know in the comments.