2012 World Championships

2011
World Championships
2013

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.

Logo

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

Bulbanews has an article related to this subject:


Pokémon World Championships
Pokémon Trading Card Game only 2004-2008; TCG and Video Games 2009-on
2004: Blaziken TechMagma SpiritRocky BeachTeam Rushdown
2005: Bright AuraDark TyranitarKing of the WestQueendom
2006: B-L-SEeveelutionsMewtrickSuns & Moons
2007: FlyveesLegendary AscentRamboltSwift Empoleon
2008: Bliss ControlEmpotechIntimidationPsychic Lock
2009: StallgonCrowned TigerQueengarLuxdrill
2010: LuxChomp of the SpiritHappy LuckPower CottonweedBoltevoir
2011: MegazoneReshiphlosionThe TruthTwinboar
2012: Pesadelo PrismTerraki-MewtwoEeltwoCMT
2013: Anguille Sous RocheAmerican GothicDarkraiUltimate Team Plasma
2014: Plasma PowerTrevgorEmerald KingCrazy Punch
2015: The Flying HammerPunches 'n' BitesHonorStoisePrimal Groudon
2016: Black DragonBebe DeckMagical SymphonyNinja Blitz
2017: Infinite ForceGolisodorIce Path FTWSamurai Sniper
2018: Victory MapDragones y SombrasGarbanetteBuzzroc
2019: Pikarom JudgeFire BoxMind BlownPerfection
2022: ADPThe Shape of MewCheryl AgainIce Rider Palkia
2023: Mew's RevengePsychic EleganceColorless LugiaLost Box Kyogre
2024:
Champions Jason KlaczynskiJun HasebeRay 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.