2016 World Championships

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The 2016 Pokémon World Championships was held at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis in San Francisco, California in the United States from August 19 to 21, 2016. It was the thirteenth invitation-only championships for players of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, as well as the eighth for players of the Pokémon video games. In addition, it is also the second event to host a Pokkén Tournament competition (and the first to have it announced in advance). It is the first time that San Francisco has hosted the event.

Like the previous year's event, there was no Last Chance Qualifiers for either the Trading Card Game or the video games at the event. Instead, players who earned enough Championship Points during the preceding season had the opportunity to enter the tournaments on either Friday or Saturday, depending on the amount of Championship Points received. The Pokkén Tournament Championships, on the other hand, held Last Chance Qualifiers on Friday.

Trading Card Game Championships

The Pokémon Trading Card Game featured the 2015-16 Standard format, using all cards from XY onward. Players were able to receive invitations from outstanding performances at their country's National Championships, the previous year's World Championships, or through the number of Championship Points they obtained throughout the year.

The first day of the tournament featured a preliminary tournament for all World Championship qualifiers who did not earn an automatic invitation to day two. Players who earned enough match points during Swiss rounds joined the automatic qualifiers on day two. The second day of the tournament featured a series of Swiss rounds in each division. At the end of Swiss rounds, the top eight players in each division were seeded into single-elimination tournaments, with the finals being played on Sunday, to determine each division's World Champion.

Junior Division

Rowan Stavenow of Canada was the defending champion in the Junior Division. Rowan became eligible for the Senior Division in 2016, and earned an invitation to Day Two where he finished 84th.

Shunto Sadahiro of Japan became the new World Champion with a record of 8-0-2.

Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Championship match
1	Enrico Marini
8	Riku Ushirosako
					8	Riku Ushirosako
					5	Yuta Ozawa
5	Yuta Ozawa
4	Asaki Hasegawa
										8	Riku Ushirosako
										6	Shunto Sadahiro
3	Christian Moreno
6	Shunto Sadahiro
					6	Shunto Sadahiro
					2	Roan Godfrey-Robbins
7	Kai Abe
2	Roan Godfrey-Robbins

Senior Division

Patrick Martinez of the United States was the defending champion. Martinez earned an invitation to Day Two, where he finished in the Top 16.

Jesper Eriksen of Denmark became the first Danish World Champion, finishing with a final record of 9–1.

Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Championship match
1	Jesper Eriksen
8	Tanner Hurley
					1	Jesper Eriksen
					5	Raphael Souto
5	Raphael Souto
4	Spencer Perez-Dormitzer
										1	Jesper Eriksen
										2	Connor Pederson
3	Attar Ricco
6	Calvin Connor
					3	Calvin Connor
					2	Connor Pederson
7	Kim Hyeok
2	Connor Pedersen

Masters Division

Jacob Van Wagner of the United States was the defending champion, but finished 59th in Friday's tournament (Day One).

Shintaro Ito of Japan became the new World Champion with a final record of 9–1.

Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Championship match
1	Bert Wolters
8	Ross Cawthon
					8	Ross Cawthon
					4	Cody Walinski
5	Brad Curcio
4	Cody Walinski
										4	Cody Walinski
										2	Shintaro Ito
3	Samuel Hough
6	Luca Schuster
					3	Samuel Hough
					2	Shintaro Ito
7	Gustavo Wada
2	Shintaro Ito

Video Game Championships

The first day of the tournament featured a preliminary tournament for all World Championship qualifiers who did not earn an automatic invitation to day two. Players with two or fewer losses during swiss rounds joined the automatic qualifiers on day two. Unlike in previous tournaments, players' match records were not carried over from Friday, and players were not forced to use the same team as on Friday. Players with no more than two losses (and no ties) competed in single-elimination rounds late Saturday. The top eight players in each division were seeded into single-elimination tournaments, with the finals being played on Sunday, to determine each division's World Champion.

This year, matches were Double Battles using Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. Any Pokémon in the National Pokédex were eligible, except Mythical Pokémon. Unlike previous years, up to two special Pokémon could be used. All Pokémon were required to have a blue pentagon.

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 except for Soul Dew could be used, but no two Pokémon from the same team could hold the same held items. Players were not allowed to change their held items after they had registered, and could only use items from within the game and those received at an official Pokémon event or promotion. Players were allowed to change teams after Friday's preliminary tournament.

Junior Division

Kotone Yasue of Japan was the defending champion but was eligible for the Seniors Division this year. The 18 players who finished with two or fewer losses in Saturday's tournament were invited to the single-elimination rounds.

Cory Connor of the United States, who finished in the Top 8 the previous year, became the new Junior Division World Champion.

Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Championship match
1	Rikuto Noda
8	Chang Joon Seo
					1	Rikuto Noda
					12	Cory Connor
12	Cory Connor
4	Corey Yuen
										12	Cory Connor
										11	Shu Harasaki
3	Kaisei Ichikawa
11	Shu Harasaki
					11	Shu Harasaki
					2	Enzo Reci
10	Parker Hurley
2	Enzo Reci

Senior Division

Mark McQuillan of the United Kingdom was the defending champion. McQuillan became eligible for the Masters Division in 2016. The 16 players who finished with two or fewer losses in Saturday's tournament were invited to the single-elimination rounds.

Carson Confer of the United States became the new World Champion.

Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Championship match
16	Carson Confer
9	Nils Dunlop
					16	Carson Confer
					4	Mostafa Afr
5	Daravone Souphommanychanh
4	Mostafa Afr
										16	Carson Confer
										11	Yuki Wata
3	Hong Ju Young
11	Yuki Wata
					11	Yuki Wata
					7	Kazuki Ogushi
7	Kazuki Ogushi
15	Brendan Zheng

Masters Division

Shoma Honami of Japan was the defending champion. The 24 players who finished with two or fewer losses in Saturday's tournament were invited to the single-elimination rounds.

On his sixth consecutive visit to Worlds, including being runner-up at the 2012 World Championships, Wolfe Glick of the United States won the Masters Division Video Game World Championship.

Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Championship match
1	Aaron Traylor
9	Markus Stadter
					9	Markus Stadter
					5	Wolfe Glick
4	Justin Carris
5	Wolfe Glick
										5	Wolfe Glick
										19	Jonathan Evans
18	Eduardo Cunha
23	Baris Akcos
					18	Eduardo Cunha
					19	Jonathan Evans
19	Jonathan Evans
6	Barry Anderson

Pokkén Tournament Championships

Unlike the surprise Pokkén Tournament invitational competition at last year's event, invitations for the first Pokkén Tournament World Championships were won at various tournaments held throughout the year or through accumulating enough Championship Points. The Pokkén Tournament Championship Series has only two age divisions, Seniors and Masters, as opposed to the three used by the TCG and video game tournaments. A strict limit of players per division was placed upon the Championships, only allowing 64 Masters Division players and 16 Seniors Division players. Of those players, only 43 from the Masters and 8 from the Seniors received invitations; the North American and European regions had 18 Masters and 4 Seniors invitations each, while Japan had 7 Masters invitations (an eighth was given but the player did not attend Worlds). All remaining slots were given to those who qualified through the Last Chance Qualifiers.

Invitations were given to the winners, and in select cases runners-up, of various tournaments throughout the year. Several were sanctioned independent tournaments, including: DreamHack events held in Austin, Texas and Jönköping, Sweden; St. Louis Showdown held in Collinsville, Illinois; CEO 2016 held in Orlando, Florida; and EVO 2016 held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Invitational tournaments were also held at the US Spring Regionals and the National Championships of Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The tournament was the double elimination format. Top 16 sets and below were best two out of three games, while Top 8 sets and above were best three out of five. All games were played on Ferrum Stadium.

Seniors Division

Josh "woomy!gun" Simmonite of the United Kingdom beat Dale "Bolimar" Causey of the United States to become the first Pokkén Tournament Seniors Division World Champion.

Winners Semifinals

Winners Final

Grand Final

Reset

Blaziken

Wayland Lindsay

Lucario

Bolimar

Lucario

Bolimar

Pikachu Libre

(EZ$) Jaxob

Charizard

woomy!gun

Charizard

woomy!gun

Charizard

woomy!gun

Charizard

woomy!gun

Lucario

Bolimar

Lucario

Bolimar

Losers Quarterfinals

Losers Semifinal

Losers Final

Blaziken

Wayland Lindsay

Lucario

Bolimar

Pikachu

A-aron

Blaziken

Wayland Lindsay

Blaziken

Wayland Lindsay

Pikachu Libre

(EZ$) Jaxob

Suicune

Galactasaur

Suicune

Galactasaur

Masters Division

Masami "Potetin" Sato of Japan beat Takuma "Azazel" Araki of Japan to become the first Pokkén Tournament Masters Division World Champion.

Winners Semifinals

Winners Final

Grand Final

Reset

Machamp

Azazel

Sceptile

Teejay

Machamp

Azazel

Lucario

Deity Light

Weavile

Potetin

Machamp

Azazel

Machamp

Azazel

Mewtwo

Potetin

Mewtwo/Chandelure

Potetin

Chandelure

Potetin

Losers Quarterfinals

Losers Semifinal

Losers Final

Sceptile

Teejay

Mewtwo

Potetin

Suicune

Buntan

Sceptile

Teejay

Lucario

Deity Light

Lucario

Deity Light

Lucario

Deity Light

Mewtwo

Tanoshimi

Event Pokémon

Bulbasaur

#0001 Bulbasaur ♂/♀ Level 5 Type: Ability: Chlorophyll Held item: Venusaurite	ID: 08196 OT: WORLDS16 Met: WCS 2016 (fateful encounter) Nature: Random Ribbon: Event Ribbon
Tackle Normal Physical Growl Normal Status Celebrate Normal Status
Games Method Region Location Duration ORAS local wireless all 2016 World Championships, San Francisco, United States August 19 to 21, 2016
Moves in bold can be taught again at the Move Reminder as a special move if forgotten.
Date received is the receiving system's date when the Wonder Card is received.
This Pokémon is set to the same language as the game that received it.

Charmander

#0004 Charmander ♂/♀ Level 5 Type: Ability: Solar Power Held item: Charizardite X	ID: 08196 OT: WORLDS16 Met: WCS 2016 (fateful encounter) Nature: Random Ribbon: Event Ribbon
Scratch Normal Physical Growl Normal Status Celebrate Normal Status
Games Method Region Location Duration ORAS local wireless all 2016 World Championships, San Francisco, United States August 19 to 21, 2016
Moves in bold can be taught again at the Move Reminder as a special move if forgotten.
Date received is the receiving system's date when the Wonder Card is received.
This Pokémon is set to the same language as the game that received it.

Squirtle

#0007 Squirtle ♂/♀ Level 5 Type: Ability: Rain Dish Held item: Blastoisinite	ID: 08196 OT: WORLDS16 Met: WCS 2016 (fateful encounter) Nature: Random Ribbon: Event Ribbon
Tackle Normal Physical Tail Whip Normal Status Celebrate Normal Status
Games Method Region Location Duration ORAS local wireless all 2016 World Championships, San Francisco, United States August 19 to 21, 2016
Moves in bold can be taught again at the Move Reminder as a special move if forgotten.
Date received is the receiving system's date when the Wonder Card is received.
This Pokémon is set to the same language as the game that received it.

External links

• Official website
• 2016 VGC Rules, Format, and Penalty Guidelines

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.