2018 World Championships

Logo

The 2018 World Championships was held at the Nashville Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee from August 24 to 26, 2018. It was the fifteenth invitation-only championships for players of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the tenth for players of the Pokémon video games, and the third for players of Pokkén Tournament. This was the first time the competition was held in Nashville.

Invitations for the Trading Card Game and the video game events were awarded to players who accumulated enough Championship Points throughout the season. Invitations for Pokkén Tournament were awarded to the top placements at two International Championships and the UK Regional Championships. There were also Last Chance Qualifiers held on Friday for Pokkén Tournament.

Saddle Up, Trainers! was composed as the competition's theme song.

Trading Card Game Championships

The Pokémon Trading Card Game featured the 2017-18 Standard format, using all cards from BREAKthrough onward. Players received invitations from gaining enough Championship Points throughout the year or from the previous year's World Championships.

Day One of the tournament consisted of Swiss rounds for all players who didn't receive a Day Two invitation. Players with enough points moved onto Day Two, where a new set of Swiss rounds were played that did not carry over Day One's records. Decks could be changed between the two days. The top eight then competed in a single-elimination tournament.

Junior Division

Tobias Strømdahl was the defending champion but became eligible for the Senior Division in 2018. He earned an invitation to Day Two where he finished 72nd.

Naohito Inoue of Japan became the new World Champion with a record of 9-0-1.

Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Championship match
1	Naohito Inoue
8	Sechan Oh
					1	Naohito Inoue
					5	Walker Halliburton
5	Walker Halliburton
4	Kota Onohara
										1	Naohito Inoue
										2	Sebastian Enriquez
3	Rune Heiremans
6	Benjamin Bussert
					3	Rune Heiremans
					2	Sebastian Enriquez
7	Joao Gabriel Penteado
2	Sebastian Enriquez

Senior Division

Zachary Bohkari was the defending champion but did not attend.

Magnus Pedersen of Denmark finished with a record of 8-1-1 to become the new World Champion.

Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Championship match
1	Takumi Kaji
8	Tanner Hurley
					1	Takumi Kaji
					4	Connor Pedersen
5	Jihun Choi
4	Connor Pedersen
										4	Connor Pedersen
										7	Magnus Pedersen
3	Caleb Banwarie
6	Matthew Campbell
					6	Matthew Campbell
					7	Magnus Pedersen
7	Magnus Pedersen
2	Benjamin Branch-Trevathan

Master Division

Diego Cassiraga was the defending champion, which earned him an invitation to Day Two where he finished 96th.

Robin Schulz of Germany became the first German Pokémon World Champion with a record of 8-0-2.

Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Championship match
1	Robin Schulz
8	Brian Miller
					1	Robin Schulz
					5	Klive Jun Jie
5	Klive Jun Jie
4	Shuto Itagaki
										1	Robin Schulz
										6	Jeff Kolenc
3	Nicolas Galaz
6	Jeff Kolenc
					6	Jeff Kolenc
					2	Eric Smith
7	Pedro Eugenio Torres
2	Eric Smith

Video Game Championships

Day One of the tournament consisted of Swiss rounds for players who didn't receive a Day Two invitation. Invitations from the 2017 World Championships were only for Day One, meaning all Day Two invitations were awarded through Championship Points accrued through the year. Players with two or fewer losses and no ties advanced on to Day Two. Day Two consisted of a new set of Swiss rounds not using the previous day's records and players could change teams between the days. Players from this round with two or fewer losses and no ties were then seeded into a single-elimination tournament.

Matches took place in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon and were all Double Battles. All Pokémon except Ash-Greninja, Mythical, and special Pokémon were eligible, given they had an Alola symbol. All held items were allowed, including Mega Stones. Levels for all Pokémon were adjusted to level 50 and no duplicate Pokémon or items were allowed. Players were given five minutes for each turn.

Junior Division

Nicholas Kan was the defending champion but became eligible for the Senior Division in 2018. He finished 25th on Day Two.

Wonn Lee, a South Korean living in Japan, became the new World Champion.

First round					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Championship match
1	Justin Miranda-Radbord
16	Ricco Cantrell				16	Ricco Cantrell
9	Ignacio Del Compare				8	Bilel Lakehal
8	Bilel Lakehal									8	Bilel Lakehal
5	Yuri Yahashi									14	Wonn Lee
13	Jaesung Lee				5	Yuri Yahashi
14	Wonn Lee				14	Wonn Lee
4	Emily Eastham														14	Wonn Lee
3	Connor Yuen														11	Sota Tamemasa
12	Haley Repas				12	Haley Repas
11	Sota Tamemasa				11	Sota Tamemasa
6	Junhyuk Song									11	Sota Tamemasa
7	Yujiro Arai									7	Yujiro Arai
10	Aidan Patterson				7	Yujiro Arai
15	Teddy French				15	Teddy French
2	Keigo Tatsuma

Senior Division

Hong Juyong was the defending champion but was eligible for the Masters Division in 2018. He received an invitation to Day Two where he placed 43rd.

James Evans of the United States defeated Bram De Jonge of the Netherlands to become the new World Champion.

First round					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Championship match
1	Simone Bernardi
16	Shota Yamada				16	Shota Yamada
9	Finn Cooper				8	Victor Medina
8	Victor Medina									16	Shota Yamada
5	Ethan French									14	James Evans
13	Noboru Matsuura				5	Ethan French
14	James Evans				14	James Evans
4	Andrew Boudreaux														14	James Evans
3	Ayumu Iwasaki														6	Bram De Jonge
12	Westley Long				12	Westley Long
11	Marco Hemantha Kaludura Silva				6	Bram De Jonge
6	Bram De Jonge									6	Bram De Jonge
7	Cedric Derouchie									10	Gabriel Duran
10	Gabriel Duran				10	Gabriel Duran
15	Zachary Lazaroff				2	Zach Kelly
2	Zach Kelly

Masters Division

Ryota Otsubo was the defending champion but was knocked out in Day One.

After finishing in the Top 4 in the previous year, Paul Ruiz defeated Emilio Forbes to become the first Ecuadorian Pokémon World Champion.

First round					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Championship match
1	Kiwamu Endo
16	Federico Turano				16	Federico Turano
9	Yusie Matsuno				9	Yusie Matsuno
8	Melvin Keh									9	Yusie Matsuno
5	Emilio Forbes									5	Emilio Forbes
13	Paul Chua				5	Emilio Forbes
14	Tomohiro Seki				14	Tomohiro Seki
4	Brendan Zheng														5	Emilio Forbes
3	Nils Dunlop														15	Paul Ruiz
12	Koji Morimoto				3	Nils Dunlop
11	Alessio Yuri Boschetto				6	Arash Ommati
6	Arash Ommati									3	Nils Dunlop
7	Simone Sanvito									15	Paul Ruiz
10	Roberto Poretti				10	Roberto Poretti
15	Paul Ruiz				15	Paul Ruiz
2	Carson Confer

Pokkén Tournament World Championships

After the previous year combined the age divisions, the 2018 Pokkén Tournament Championships reintroduced the Senior and Masters Divisions. The limited number of entrants did not increase however, with the Masters Division keeping the 16 player limit and the Senior Division having an eight player limit. Invitations were given out to top placements at the Oceania and North American International Championships and the Sheffield Regional Championships. Two Senior and four Masters invites were awarded at the North American and Sheffield Championships each, while the Oceania Championships only awarded one Senior and two Masters invites. The remaining invitations were split between Japanese players and players who made it through the Last Chance Qualifiers.

Pokkén Tournament DX was used for the tournament, with every player required to use their own HORI Pokkén Tournament DX Pro Pad. Unlike previous years, stages were not limited to Ferrum Stadium. The double-elimination format was used, with matches being best three out of five rounds.

Hisaharu "Tonosama" Abe was the defending champion but did not attend.

Senior Division

Kato Yusuke defeated Colin "Ashgreninja1" Jones to become the Pokkén Tournament Senior Division World Champion.

Winners Semifinals

Winners Final

Grand Final

Reset

kato

Ashgreninja1

kato

Galactasaur

Galactasaur

Pikachu Libre/Darkrai/Mewtwo

kato

N/A

TheJrJam

Garchomp/Shadow Mewtwo

Ashgreninja1

N/A

Losers Quarterfinals

Losers Semifinal

Losers Final

TheJrJam

Ashgreninja1

rapiD

TheJrJam

Galactasaur

Ashgreninja1

Ashgreninja1

William

Masters Division

Jacob "ThankSwalot" Waller defeated Kota "TARUTARO" Aragaki to become the first American Pokkén Tournament Masters Division World Champion.

Winners Semifinals

Winners Final

Grand Final

Reset

Aegislash

haruyuki

Aegislash/Pikachu Lubre

subutan

haruyuki

Sceptile

ThankSwalot

Sceptile

ThankSwalot

Gengar

TARUTARO

Gengar

TARUTARO

Chandelure

Mikukey_HIKARI

Sceptile/Empoleon

ThankSwalot

Sceptile

ThankSwalot

Losers Quarterfinals

Losers Semifinal

Losers Final

Aegislash/Chandelure/Pikachu Libre

subutan

TARUTARO

Machamp/Shadow Mewtwo

Wingtide

subutan

haruyuki

Chandelure

Mikukey_HIKARI

TARUTARO

Gengar

TARUTARO

Event Pokémon

#0648 Meloetta Level 50 Type: Ability: Serene Grace Held item: Metronome	ID: 081824 OT: Worlds18 Met: WCS 2018 (fateful encounter) Nature: Random Ribbon: Event Ribbon
Sing Normal Status Celebrate Normal Status Round Normal Special Relic Song Normal Special
Games Method Region Location Duration SMUSUM local wireless all Nashville Music City Center Halls C & D, Nashville, Tennessee, United States August 24 to 26, 2018
Moves in bold can be taught again at the Move Reminder as a special move if forgotten.
Date received is the date on the system when the gift is picked up from the deliveryman.
This Pokémon is set to the same language as the game that received it.

Pokémon World Championships Pokémon Trading Card Game only 2004-2008; TCG and Video Games 2009-on 2004: Blaziken Tech • Magma Spirit • Rocky Beach • Team Rushdown 2005: Bright Aura • Dark Tyranitar • King of the West • Queendom 2006: B-L-S • Eeveelutions • Mewtrick • Suns & Moons 2007: Flyvees • Legendary Ascent • Rambolt • Swift Empoleon 2008: Bliss Control • Empotech • Intimidation • Psychic Lock 2009: Stallgon • Crowned Tiger • Queengar • Luxdrill 2010: LuxChomp of the Spirit • Happy Luck • Power Cottonweed • Boltevoir 2011: Megazone • Reshiphlosion • The Truth • Twinboar 2012: Pesadelo Prism • Terraki-Mewtwo • Eeltwo • CMT 2013: Anguille Sous Roche • American Gothic • Darkrai • Ultimate Team Plasma 2014: Plasma Power • Trevgor • Emerald King • Crazy Punch 2015: The Flying Hammer • Punches 'n' Bites • HonorStoise • Primal Groudon 2016: Black Dragon • Bebe Deck • Magical Symphony • Ninja Blitz 2017: Infinite Force • Golisodor • Ice Path FTW • Samurai Sniper 2018: Victory Map • Dragones y Sombras • Garbanette • Buzzroc 2019: Pikarom Judge • Fire Box • Mind Blown • Perfection 2022: ADP • The Shape of Mew • Cheryl Again • Ice Rider Palkia 2023: Mew's Revenge • Psychic Elegance • Colorless Lugia • Lost Box Kyogre 2024: Champions Jason Klaczynski • Jun Hasebe • Ray Rizzo

This article is part of both Project TCG and Project Games, Bulbapedia projects that, together, aim to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon Trading Card Game and Video Game Championship Tournaments.