2024 Pokémon GO World Championships Competitor Preview

Aloha, Trainers! The road to the World Championships in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, has been an exhilarating journey—one full of ups and downs, unexpected twists, and thrilling turns along the way. But the end is in sight. With all Championship Points locked in and participants registered, Pokémon GO fans around the world will be tuning in to Twitch.tv/PokemonGO eager to see who will be crowned the 2024 World Champion. Get out your Caterpie party hats and get ready to celebrate, because this event is going to be a memorable one!

The action kicks off on August 16, and here’s some of the key Pokémon GO players to watch.

Look how far we’ve come!

As the players approach their final events, let's take a moment to appreciate how far we've come in this remarkable Pokémon GO season. Though this is only the third year for competitive Pokémon GO, this Championship season marks many significant milestones in the game. With open team sheets, this year’s format has not only showcased Trainers’ teambuilding skills, but also puts their team-reading abilities to the test, adding a new layer of excitement to the battles.

In addition to the format change, this year introduced the Championship Points system, allowing Trainers to earn their qualifications for the World Championships through consistent performance in events at all levels, from League Cups to International Championships. It has been a fierce competition, with players vying not only for the glory of winning battles but also for the points to top their Rating Zone leaderboards, aiming to secure Travel Awards or Travel Stipends.

Following the intense battles at the North American International Championships (NAIC), the last qualifying event of the season, 249 invitations were sent out to the most skilled competitors who hope to be the very best and battle for the title of the 2024 World Champion.

If you've been keeping up with the 2024 Pokémon GO Championship Series, you're likely familiar with some of the top contenders who have showcased their skills throughout the season. Here are some names that you may see rise above the tide in Honolulu.

Asia and Oceania Battlers

Let’s first look at players from a region that often receives less recognition. While many events in North America, Europe, and Latin America are streamed, allowing viewers to engage with the latest tactics and Pokémon choices, the talent pool from Asia and Oceania runs just as deep, despite receiving less exposure.

Starting with Australia, we have Yacobervitch, the first Trainer in the world to win two Regional Championships in a single season. He also clinched victory at the 2023 Oceania International Championship (OCIC) and is widely regarded as one of the top battlers in Australia. Many competitors rank him among the top 10 battlers globally, and it will be interesting to see if he Kangas-khan uphold his reputation in Honolulu.

The Asian qualifying system is a bit different than the rest of the world’s system. Rather than Championship Points, Trainers compete in region specific tournaments to determine who will be making their way into the championship arena. The top players from the qualifying regions earn their placement at the World Championships.

From Asia, it's essential to highlight CrescentAngels, the only player from Japan to qualify for all three Worlds competitions. He gained significant recognition during the inaugural Pokémon GO World Championships in 2022, where he placed third overall. He placed 25th in the 2023 World Championships, but many are hoping that the third time is the charm for this highly skilled Trainer.

Additionally, Bjpawat, one of Thailand's strongest competitors, will return to the big stage after participating in the 2023 Worlds competition. Joining these Trainers are Beelzeboy from India and 0SirPanicalot from Indonesia, both newcomers to the Worlds competition, though experienced veterans ... no... LEGENDS in the PvP scene.

Latin American Battlers

When we turn our attention to the Latin America region, numerous remarkable names come to mind. The Latin America International Championships (LAIC) in São Paulo, Brazil marked the first major International Championships of the season, and the hype at the first event has been hard to match. Many Latin American players have qualified for Worlds, and several have a legitimate shot at claiming the title.

Let’s begin with Desinked, a Chilean player who has been on a remarkable streak in his region’s competitions. He secured his spot at Worlds with a first-place finish at the Special Event in Buenos Aires, Argentina, followed by a second-place result at the Regional Championships in Santiago, Chile. Both of these victories were in the same month and Desinked used a completely different team for each, with only Charjabug and Shadow Quagsire on both squads!

We’ve mentioned LNDsRargef and LNDstSteinar several times throughout the season, but it's essential to include them in any discussion involving potential World Champions. LNDsRargef made history with an undefeated run at the Regional Championships in Curitiba, Brazil and then went on to win LAIC shortly after. Although he narrowly bested his friend and teammate LNDstSteinar, who finished fourth at LAIC, the tables turned at the North American International Championship (NAIC), where LNDstSteinar secured third place overall by defeating LNDsRargef.

JavierV20 was previously highlighted as a contender to win NAIC after his first-place finish in Mexico City and fifth-place finish at LAIC put him on the map. However, we cannot discuss NAIC without mentioning AshtonAsh, a Trainer who swept in out of nowhere and achieved a remarkable second-place finish in one of the season's largest tournaments. With such a high level of success in the same format as Worlds, many players will be considering strategies to counter his team and especially AshtonAsh’s shadow Alolan Sandslash! (Try saying that five times fast.)

North American Battlers

The 2023 World Championships series concluded with three North Americans at the top, and this region is determined to run it back for the second consecutive year. The reigning World Champion, ItsAXN, will be competing and ready to fend off anyone looking to usurp the throne.

And Canadian trainer LyleJeffsIII may be one of those potential usurpers! Although he only competed in five tournaments this season, he reached the top cut in four of them and secured first-place finishes in both Charlotte and Vancouver. All his victories were in the previous formats, however, so many will be interested to see which Pokémon he packs in his bag to bring to Worlds.

Sjamesp21 is another contender; despite participating in just two tournaments, he came in second at Peoria and won the title in Indianapolis. Interestingly, Sjamesp21 was born in Hawaiʻi and has stated that it’s a major goal of his to compete there, perhaps giving him a home turf advantage that will make him feel right at home in sunny Honolulu!

Other notable names we've followed throughout the season who are topping the North American leaderboards include our NAIC champion OutofPoket; Reis2Occasion who is the only competitor to win a Regional every season; and Doonebug97, a Trainer who has won three Regional Championships this season alone and is considered by many to be a top pick to win it all.

European Battlers

When we turn our attention to Europe, there are many contenders for the crown. MEweedle, our one and only Senior Division World Champion, continues to add titles to his name, winning a Regional Championships and, most recently, the 2024 European International Championships (EUIC). The only title missing from his resume is the Master’s Division World Champion, and this could be the year he achieves it.

Paualasha97 and Colin6ix are the only Trainers in Europe with two or more first-place Regional Championships finishes to their names. Colin6ix was the first to accomplish this feat, winning in Lille in 2023, followed by victories in Stuttgart and Bologna in 2024. Additionally, Colin6ix is the only European Trainer to win two Regional Championships events in a single season! However, Paualasha97 has also had an impressive run, placing in the top 8 in seven tournaments this season and winning it all in Stockholm—she always brings the current excitement, just like her Magnezone!

Two other Trainers worth mentioning as potential dark horse contenders are the second-place prince TomahawkUK and the very first Pokémon GO Regional champion, LurganRocket. LurganRocket has had a tremendous season and is well-known for his team-building skills and in-game knowledge. In fact, LurganRocket is so renowned for his team-building skills that North American player Sjamesp21 used the team that LurganRocket built (which secured a fifth-place finish at EUIC and a third-place finish in Stockholm) to achieve victory in Indianapolis!

Meanwhile, Gholdengo isn't the only one chasing gold; TomahawkUK is a Trainer on a mission! He’s come so close to that gold medal on three separate occasions, earning silver in Warsaw, Poland in 2023, and twice this season in Liverpool, UK, and Bologna, Italy.

Don’t Miss the Action!

 DancingRob and ItsAXN, the previous World Champions, have set the bar high. Now, in the tropical paradise of Honolulu, a wave of fresh talent will emerge, hoping to etch their legacy into Pokémon GO history.

If you aren’t able to witness the battles live in Hawaiʻi, be sure to tune in to the stream to watch the epic battles. Not only do you get to see the best of the best in action, but each day of the competition features different Twitch Drops for viewers! Look forward to Special Research around the 2023 World Champion ItsAXN, Special Research for the 2025 competitive season, Stardust, and so much more! The World Championship 2024 Pikachu will also be available in-game, and if you’re lucky, you may encounter a shiny Pikachu.

You won’t want to miss any of the action, so make sure you’re tuning in August 16–18 to see a new champion being crowned!

For more Pokémon GO strategy and analysis, be sure to visit Pokemon.com/Strategy.