Hi there. In this gaming post I cover the existence of Pokemon TCG Pocket live tournaments in South Korea. South Korea is pretty big when it comes to gaming and e-sports. It looks like they have entered the Pokemon TCG Pocket space.
I found out about this from a reddit post I saw. Then I looked more into and the Pokemon Korea Youtube channel. They go crazy in this mobile game. It looks like to them they are treating Pokemon TCG Pocket as an e-sport. (This is kind of too much for me.)
Eight Player Tournament
Someone who is Korean could provide translation and more context. I am purely guessing here.
From this video below, it looks like a 8 player tournament held in mid June 2025 (before the Eevee Grove mini-set). This tournament looks like an invitational tournament with a single elimination format.
I don't know any of the players other than Sejun Park. Sejun Park is a Pokemon VGC Player who also played some physical Pokemon TCG with Miraidon ex.
The only English name that I can read is SungDae.
These videos are in Korean but you can recognize the cards being played based on the pictures. Obviously a Pokemon card that has mostly red on it and has a Pokemon is a Fire type. Something that is white is a Colourless Pokemon and so on.
From skimming through some video, the matches are in the Best of 3 format. You have to win 2 games out of 3 in your match to win.
I don't want to spoil but I can provide some decks that are shown. They are mostly top meta decks like:
- Silvally + Charizard ex
- Giratina ex with Darkrai ex
- Buzzwole ex with Celesteela
- Solgaleo ex with Shiinotic
- Oricorio Wall Deck
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Semifinals
Semifinals video is here.
Finals
I think this video is the finals.
Closing Notes
I am surprised that there is a televised tournament in Pokemon TCG Pocket. However I am not surprised that it is South Korea doing this. South Korea is very experienced in hosting gaming tournaments. Gaming there is another form of live entertainment.
From the videos I do like the user interface for the viewers. You can see both players and both hands. The screen does show the first person of one player more than the other player. The second player's hand is kind of visible at the top.
Who knows how future Pokemon TCG Pocket tournaments will be organized and televised in South Korea and in other places. Prizing for future tournaments is unknown. As of June 2025, I think there are more Pocket players than physical Pokemon TCG players. It is easier to get cards in the mobile game than the physical TCG with all these scalpers.