Three Suffolk boys to represent UK at Pokemon World Championships

August 20, 2026 - 11:42

Three young players from Suffolk have earned their spots at the Pokemon World Championships, which kick off later this week in San Francisco. The trio, all boys aged between 12 and 15, will represent the United Kingdom against the best competitors from dozens of countries.

The road to the Worlds was not easy. Each of them spent months climbing the ranks in regional tournaments, collecting championship points and fine-tuning their decks and strategies. For two of the boys, this will be their first time on the international stage. The third, a 15-year-old from Bury St Edmunds, competed in last year's event in London but was eliminated in the early rounds.

The boys will compete in the video game division, playing the latest Pokemon titles on Nintendo Switch. They will face a grueling Swiss-style format over two days, with only the top players advancing to the knockout stage. The competition is fierce, and many of their opponents train full-time with professional coaches.

Their families have organized fundraising events to cover travel and accommodation costs, since the World Championships do not provide prize money for travel expenses. Local gaming clubs have also stepped in, offering practice sessions and advice. The boys say they are nervous but excited, and they have been studying international metagame trends for weeks.

The event runs from Friday through Sunday at the Moscone Center. Even if they do not take home the title, simply qualifying puts them in the top one percent of players worldwide. Their local community is already proud of them, and many will be watching the live stream back home.