Wallace Cup

The Wallace Cup (Japanese: ミクリカップ Mikuri Cup) is an anime-exclusive tournament that is held once a year at a different location, with the host city alternating between several places worldwide. It is a multiregional Pokémon Contest that attracts Pokémon Coordinators from all around the globe, since its prize, the prestigious Aqua Ribbon, can be used to enter every known Grand Festival. It is promoted and judged by Contest Master Wallace, hence its name.

Wallace and Milotic presenting the Aqua Ribbon

The Wallace Cup in Sinnoh was announced on Sinnoh Now in Our Cup Runneth Over!, where Dawn found out about it and decided to participate, making it her comeback to the Pokémon Contest circuit after a time mourning her two consecutive losses. Eventually, she and her friends ran into Wallace himself, who was relaxing with his Milotic at a lake, where Wallace convinced Ash to enter the tournament with his Buizel after witnessing a practice Contest Battle between Dawn and Ash.

In Goodbye, Junior Cup - Hello Adventure!, Dawn announced she intended to compete in the Wallace Cup again, this time held in Johto.

In Reuniting for the First Time!, Ash met up with Wallace in Lilycove City where the latter references the Wallace Cup whom Ash competed in with May and Dawn.

Competition

The Wallace Cup is a special, annual Pokémon Contest that is hosted at various locations throughout the Pokémon world, with the prize being the Aqua Ribbon, a unique Contest Ribbon that counts towards the Grand Festival of each region known to host Pokémon Contests. For this reason, Pokémon Coordinators migrate from all around the world to participate in the event. The competition is promoted by Wallace, a well-known Contest Master who regularly travels all over the world holding the Wallace Cup.

In the Sinnoh region, the Wallace Cup was held in the Contest Hall located on the shores of Lake Valor. The competition was featured from Staging a Heroes' Welcome! to Strategy with a Smile!. During the competition, Coordinators stayed at the Lakeside Resort. Like all Sinnoh Pokémon Contests, Marian was the announcer. Jessadia also hosted the Wallace Cup with Marian, interviewing the contestants in between rounds.

May traveled all the way from Johto to compete in the Wallace Cup in Sinnoh, but she lost to Dawn in the final round.

Rounds

 
The panel of judges

Each round is judged by a panel of four individuals: the Chief of the Pokémon Activities Committee, Mr. Contesta; the Head of the Pokémon Fan Club, Mr. Sukizo; the operator of the local Pokémon Center, Nurse Joy; and the event's titular main promoter, Wallace.

Appeals

In the Performance Stage of the Wallace Cup, Coordinators have to show off their Pokémon's style in a visually impressive manner, displaying their moves and skills in order to appeal to the judges just like in regular Pokémon Contests. The stage has a gigantic swimming pool which contestants can use to their advantage, especially those who use Water-type Pokémon. Each performance is carefully evaluated, and after the judges' deliberation, the 16 top scoring Coordinators advance to the second round.

Battles

The second stage marks the beginning of the Wallace Cup's Contest Battles. All Coordinators are matched-up randomly by a computer up to the semifinals, which is the last round that the computer will choose a random match-up. The contestants move up the brackets in single-elimination style. Those who run out of points, have the least amount of points at the end of the five-minute time limit, or have their Pokémon knocked out over the course of a battle are automatically eliminated from the competition. After a winner is decided, Wallace presents them with the Aqua Ribbon.

Known contestants

 
Dawn with the Aqua Ribbon
Coordinator Place
Dawn Winner
May Runner-Up
Zoey Top 4
Kyle Top 4
Ash Top 8
Jessilina Appeals
Ursula Appeals

In other languages

Language Title
  Finnish Wallace Cup
  French Coupe Marc
  German Wassili-Cup
  Italian Coppa Adriano
  Korean 윤진 컵 Yunjin Cup
  Norwegian Wallace-cupen
  Polish Puchar Wallace'a
  Portuguese Copa Wallace
  Russian Кубок Уоллеса Kubok Uollesa
Spanish   Latin America Copa Wallace
  Spain Copa Plubio


Anime-exclusive Pokémon competitions
Multiregional Grand FestivalPokémon Baccer World CupPokémon League ConferencePokéRingerWallace Cup
World Coronation Series (Masters Eight Tournament)
Kanto Aura Guardian FestivalBeach Beauty and Pokémon Costume ContestBig P Pokémon RaceIndigo Plateau Conference
Kanto Grand FestivalMagikarp High Jump CompetitionP1 Grand PrixPokémon Grand Eating ContestPokémon Orienteering
Queen of the Princess Festival
Johto Extreme Pokémon RaceFire and Rescue Grand PrixGrass TournamentMareep FestivalPokémon Balloon Race
Pokémon Beauty ContestRock and Tumble One-on-One Tauros CompetitionRunning of the Tauros
Seaking Catching CompetitionSilver ConferenceSumo ConferenceSunflora FestivalTour de Alto MareWhirl Cup
Hoenn Battle Frontier Flute CupCrossgate PokéRingerEver Grande ConferenceFriendship FestivalHoenn Grand Festival
Marine Athletic RaceTrick House Contest
Sinnoh Croagunk FestivalFestival Battle ChallengeHearthome City Tag Battle CompetitionHearthome Collection
Lily of the Valley ConferencePokémon Dress-Up ContestPokémon Iceberg RacePokémon Ping Pong Tournament
Pokémon Summer AcademyPokémon TriathlonSinnoh Grand FestivalSinnoh Pokémon HustleSquallville PokéRinger
Unova Club BattleClubsplosionEindoak Harvest FestivalPokémon Performance CompetitionPokémon World Tournament Junior Cup
Pokéstar Studios Film CompetitionSubway Bosses' Stamp RallyVertress ConferenceWishing Bell Festival
Decolore Marine Cup TournamentPokémon Sumo TournamentScalchop King Competition
Kalos Lumiose ConferencePoké Puff ContestPokémon ShowcasePokémon Sky RelayPokémon Summer Camp
Alola Alola Bread FestivalCharjabug raceManalo Conference‎‎Pokémon Catch Adventure RacePokémon Pancake Race
Pokémon Ping-Pong tournamentPokémon Sled Jump GamesVikavolt race
Galar All-Alcremie Decoration Challenge
Unknown Pigton Town Tag BattlePokémon Catch Race


  Pokémon Contests  
Necessary Spoils
PokéblocksPoffins
Contest Categories
CoolBeautifulCuteCleverTough
Rounds
AppealBattleDanceVisual
Participation
ContestSuper ContestContest Show
CoordinatorContest HallContest Pass
The Grand Festival
KantoHoennSinnoh
Top CoordinatorRibbon Cup
Others
Combinations • Opponents (IIIIVVIVIII) • Double PerformanceJamming
Ribbons (list) • StickersBall CapsulesRanksJudgesAnnouncersWallace Cup


  This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.