2012 World Championships

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The 2012 Pokémon World Championships were held at the Hilton Waikoloa Village hotel in Waikoloa Village, Hawaii in the United States from August 13 to 15, 2012. The event was the ninth annual invitation-only World Championships for players in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, as well as the fourth year for players of the Pokémon video games. This was the third time that the Waikoloa Village hosted the World Championships, the previous two years being 2007 and 2010.

Trading Card Game Championships

The Pokémon Trading Card Game continued with the 2011-12 Modified format introduced this year using all cards from HeartGold & SoulSilver onward. Players were able to receive invites from outstanding performances at their country's National Championships, the previous year's World Championships, or through the number of Championship Points they obtained compared to others in their region. In addition, players could win an invitation during the Last Chance Qualifier on the first day of the tournament.

The second day of the tournament featured seven rounds of Swiss Pairings within each division. At the end of the day, the top 16 players in each division were seeded into single-elimination tournaments on Sunday to determine each division's World Champion.

Junior Division

Gustavo Wada, of Brazil, was the defending Junior Division TCG World Champion, however he became eligible to participate in the Senior Division in 2012, where he would finish in 23rd place after day two.

Shuto Itagaki, of Japan, succeeded Gustavo as World Champion, finishing the tournament 10-1.

Round of 16					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Championship Match
1	Joey Ruettiger
16	Ian Robb				16	Ian Robb
9	Brandon Sharp				9	Brandon Sharp
8	Terao Motoharu									16	Ian Robb
5	Aleksandrs Brodie									4	Itsuku Kito
12	Alex Schemanske				12	Alex Schemanske
13	Ondrej Kujal				4	Itsuku Kito
4	Itsuku Kito														16	Ian Robb
3	Shuto Itagaki														3	Shuto Itagaki
14	David Tomahave				3	Shuto Itagaki
11	Ishaan Jagiasi				6	Giacomo Forza
6	Giacomo Forza									3	Shuto Itagaki
7	Zachary Bokhari									7	Zachary Bokhari
10	Tristan Paguirigan				7	Zachary Bokhari
15	Daniel Sargent				2	Wesley Hollenberg
2	Wesley Hollenberg

Senior Division

Christopher Kan, of Australia, was the defending Senior Division TCG World Champion, and finished in 48th place in after day two.

Chase Moloney, of Canada, succeeded Christopher as World Champion, finishing the tournament 10-1.

Round of 16					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Championship Match
1	Liam Williams
16	Dario Ang				16	Dario Ang
9	Colter Decker				9	Colter Decker
8	Samu Saarinen									9	Colter Decker
5	Jack Pitcher									5	Jack Pitcher
12	Miloslav Posledni				5	Jack Pitcher
13	Kohei Takenaka				4	Koichi Nishida
4	Koichi Nishida														9	Colter Decker
3	Dean Nezam														2	Chase Moloney
14	Brandon Smiley				3	Dean Nezam
11	Karuki Ishimaru				6	Alex Croxton
6	Alex Croxton									3	Dean Nezam
7	Wo Pan Wong									2	Chase Moloney
10	Hayden Caneron-Jacobus				7	Wo Pan Wong
15	Henry Prior				2	Chase Moloney
2	Chase Moloney

Masters Division

David Cohen, of the United States, was the defending Masters Division TCG World Champion, and finished in 109th place after day two.

Igor Costa, of Portugal, succeeded David as World Champion, finishing the tournament 9-2.

Round of 16					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Championship Match
1	Sami Sekkoum
16	Dylan Bryan				1	Sami Sekkoum
9	Adrian Loke				8	Michael Diaz
8	Michael Diaz									8	Michael Diaz
5	Xavier Chua									12	Igor Costa
12	Igor Costa				12	Igor Costa
13	Clifton Goh				4	Yuta Komatsuda
4	Yuta Komatsuda														12	Igor Costa
3	Stefan Tabaco														15	Harrison Leven
14	Roberto Shirasago				3	Stefan Tabaco
11	Aaron Curry				6	Jay Hornung
6	Jay Hornung									6	Jay Hornung
7	Michael Pramawat									15	Harrison Leven
10	Steven Mao				7	Michael Pramawat
15	Harrison Leven				15	Harrison Leven
2	Patricio Gonzalez Walsh

Video Game Championships

As Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 were not yet available worldwide, participants used the Black and White Versions for the tournament.

All matches were conducted via Double Battles and any Pokémon in the National Pokédex could be entered, with the exception of Mewtwo, Mew, Lugia, Ho-Oh, Celebi, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Jirachi, Deoxys, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem, Keldeo, Meloetta and Genesect.

Similar to Flat Battle mode, Pokémon of Levels 51 and above were temporarily reduced to Level 50, while Pokémon Level 50 and below retained their levels. Held items may be used, but no two Pokémon from the same team may hold the same held item. Players were not allowed to change their held items after they have registered, and can only use items from within the game and those received at an official Pokémon event or promotion.

Moves were restricted to those learnt from the game through leveling up, breeding, TMs and HMs, from a character in the game or from an official event or promotion. Sky Drop and Dark Void were banned in this format, with Sky Drop being banned due to a glitch.

In addition, the Wonder Launcher was not permitted to be used.

Junior Division

Brian Hough, of the United States, was the defending Junior Division VG World Champion. Brian finished in second place to Abram Burrows, who succeeded Brian as World Champion, finishing the tournament 9-0.

Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Championship Match
1	Abram Burrows
8	Bianca Coluccelli
					1	Abram Burrows
					5	Kippei Takaki
5	Kippei Takaki
4	Aiko Hiura
										1	Abram Burrows
										2	Brian Hough
3	Brendan Zheng
6	Ayaan Nadeem
					3	Brendan Zheng
					2	Brian Hough
7	Nathan Aubert
2	Brian Hough

Senior Division

Kamran Jahadi, of the United States, was the defending Senior Division VG World Champion. Kamran, who was undefeated after day two, finished in fifth place, losing in the quarterfinals.

Toler Webb, of the United States, succeeded Kamran as World Champion, finishing the tournament 7-2.

Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Championship Match
1	Kamran Jahadi
8	Jaime Martinez Alonzo
					8	Jaime Martinez Alonzo
					4	Nitesh Manem
5	Aaron Zheng
4	Nitseh Manem
										8	Jaime Martinez Alonzo
										7	Toler Webb
3	Santa Ito
6	Henry Mason
					6	Henry Mason
					7	Toler Webb
7	Toler Webb
2	Gavin Michaels

Masters Division

Ray Rizzo was the two-time defending Masters Division Video Game World Champion. Ray achieved victory once again, posting a 9-0 record to claim his third consecutive Video Game World Championship.

Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Championship Match
1	Ray Rizzo
8	Jumpei Yamamoto
					1	Ray Rizzo
					5	Joe Pulkowski
5	Joe Pulkowski
4	Matthew Coyle
										1	Ray Rizzo
										6	Wolfe Glick
3	Se Jun Park
6	Wolfe Glick
					6	Wolfe Glick
					2	Abel Martin Sanz
7	Guillermo Castilla
2	Abel Martin Sanz

Event Pokémon

Pokémon Info				Trainer Memo	Battle Moves		Ribbons
Pikachu	♀	Dex No.	0025	Timid nature.	Flying	Fly
Lv. 50		Type			Electric	Thunderbolt
		Electric		Unknown	Worlds 2012	Grass		Grass Knot
		OT	WORLD12	Apparently had a	Normal	Protect
		ID No.	08122	fateful encounter at	This Pokémon was available in the United States on August 12, 2012.
Item		Ability		Lv. 50.
Light Ball		Lightningrod
The date this Pokémon was received is determined by the date on the DS when the Wonder Card is received.
This Pokémon is English in origin.
Can be obtained with: B W B2 W2

External links

• Rules for Official Tournament Formats in 2011-2012
• Official website

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.