Play! Pokémon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Play! Pokémon

Type	Gaming
Founded	2003
Headquarters	Bellevue, Washington, United States
Parent	The Pokémon Company International

Play! Pokémon is a special part of The Pokémon Company International. It started in 2003. This group is famous for hosting the Pokémon World Championships. This is a big competitive event for eSports players.

The championships feature the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) and the Pokémon Video Game Championships (VGC). They also include the Pokkén Tournament Championships. Play! Pokémon is the official group that runs these competitive events. They also organize many fun programs for players who just want to play for enjoyment.

How Play! Pokémon Works

Play! Pokémon runs most of the big tournaments, like the International and World Championships. These are managed by The Pokémon Company International.

However, smaller tournaments are often run by volunteers. These volunteers are part of a special program called the 'Professor Program'.

These volunteers are known as Pokémon Professors. Play! Pokémon allows them to help promote the game. They do things like judging games, telling people about events, and helping out at tournaments. They make sure everyone plays fairly and has fun. Pokémon Professors can also host their own tournaments for players in their local area.

Fun Ways to Play Pokémon

Play! Pokémon organizes many programs for new players. These are great for learning the Trading Card Game or the Video Games. These programs are usually casual and relaxed. Pokémon Professor volunteers often run them. You can find them in places like game stores, community centers, or libraries.

• Play! Pokémon Leagues: Leagues are run by volunteers who have been approved by Play! Pokémon. A league usually has eight seasons. Each season lasts about five weeks. They often have fun Pokémon themes, like gym badges or starter Pokémon. Players can earn prizes, such as real Gym badges or special cards. You get these by completing goals on a score card. There might be short breaks between seasons. Most leagues keep playing so players can catch up on prizes. League sessions usually last two to four hours. Players often meet once a week.

• Local Tournaments: These tournaments can be held by an organizer approved by Play! Pokémon. Prizes and entry fees can change. It depends on how many players join. Some tournaments are free to enter. Others might ask for a small fee. This is up to the organizer. These tournaments often use a "single-elimination" or "Swiss-system" format. Single-elimination means you're out if you lose. Swiss-system means you keep playing even if you lose, and you're matched with players who have similar scores. Sometimes, they use an "Age Modified Swiss" system. This means players are matched based on age first, then their game record. Players might also be put into age groups if there are many players. These groups are Junior (12 and under), Senior (13–15), and Master (16 and over). After the tournament, players get a rating based on how well they played. This uses the Elo rating system.

• Prerelease Tournaments: These are Trading Card Game events. Players get to play with cards from a new set before it's officially released. This can be up to two weeks early! The entry fee is usually around $20–35. Each player gets six booster packs, a special promo card, and card sleeves. Players build a 40-card deck using the cards they open. Basic Energy cards are provided. At the end of the event, players receive three more booster packs. Players can also choose to play a 'Theme Deck challenge' instead. In this, they play with a themed deck and get four booster packs.

Pokémon Championship Series

The Pokémon Championship Series includes competitive tournaments. Players earn Championship Points based on how well they finish. If a player gets enough points by the end of the season, they get to compete in the yearly Pokémon World Championships. The number of points needed changes each season. It depends on the game, the player's age group, and their region.

These Premier Tournaments vary in size and how often they happen. Entry-level and mid-level events are often run by local organizers. They happen all year. Larger events are less common. But they offer better prizes and more Championship Points. The biggest events give the most points for winning.

Countries in Play! Pokémon

The Play! Pokémon program is run in many countries. These countries are grouped into four 'rating zones'. These zones are based on where they are located. The zones are North America, Europe, Latin America, and Oceania. On June 10, 2020, it was announced that Asia would no longer be part of the Play! Pokémon program. Asia now has its own way to qualify for the Pokémon World Championships.

As of June 2, 2020, here are the countries in each rating zone: