The easiest (and hardest) way to enter the Pokémon World Championships is to stand on the podium the previous year. The top four TCG finishers in each age division and the Champions from each division in the Video Game Championships earn an automatic invitation to the following year's competition. Of course, earning one of those top spots is one of the most impressive feats in the world of Pokémon games!

Players who manage to endure the grueling challenge of winning a Pokémon qualifying event are awarded a well-earned seat at the World Championships. Challengers from across the globe compete in their home countries for the opportunity to make it to this ultimate test of TCG and video game skills. In the United States and Japan, the video game qualifying events are the National Championships. Throughout the world, National Championships determine the representatives for the Pokémon TCG World Championships.

Pokémon TCG players competing in Pokémon Organized Play Premier Events over the course of the tournament season are rated based on their performances. The best players in each Rating Zone earn an invite to Worlds. Only the best of the best rise to the top! Click here for more details about Premier Ratings.

The aptly named Last Chance Qualifier gives Pokémon players one final opportunity to the make the cut. This intense tournament takes place the day before the World Championships. For TCG Championships, the top four finishers in each age division guaranteed a chance to progress to the main event. The top eight finishers in each division of the Video Game Last Chance Qualifier will compete in the main tournament.