2021 Pokemon World Championship Postponed Until 2022
There's more bad news for the professional gaming scene as the 2021 Pokemon World Championship has been delayed until next year. This year is especially important for those adorable Pocket Monsters, as it's been 25 years since Pokemon Red and Green first released in Japan. Since then, we've had European ports, trading cards, spin-offs, tabletop games, anime, and live-action movies. All of this was due to be celebrated at the 2021 Pokemon World Championship. Sadly, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has stopped these plans in their tracks.
The Pokemon World Championship was due to take place in London, however, it's now been pushed to 2022, when it will return to London. There was plenty of hype surrounding the annual competition, with 2021 set to debut the Gen 8 Pokemon alongside Pokemon Sword and Shield. Sadly, it'll be another year before we get to see Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble in action.
Why was the 2021 Pokemon World Championship cancelled?
A statement on the Pokemon Company website explained, "The safety and well-being of our competitors, organizers, employees, local communities, and partners continues to be our top priority and is the primary consideration with every decision we make". Players who were due to take part in this year's Pokemon World Championship are invited back next year. The Pokemon Company promised "an expanded celebration for Pokemon next year", but it's still a blow we won't be able to mark the 25-year milestone in style.
It's a grim prognosis across the board as the world still tries to battle COVID-19. The Pokemon Company added that all other events that are part of the Play! Pokémon series are remaining suspended until further notice. There are still Pokemon events running this year, however, you'll have to go online if you want to compete in the likes of the Play! Pokémon Team Challenge and Pokémon Players Cup. In particular, the Players Cup is one to watch out for when it kicks off in June, including competitions around the Pokemon Trading Card Game, the Pokkén Tournament DX, and Pokemon Sword and Shield.
What's next for the 2021 Pokemon World Championship?
Some are questioning if we'll ever get to see another Pokemon World Championship. 2020's World Championship was supposed to showcase Sword and Shield, but was delayed by a whole year thanks to coronavirus. It feels a little like Groundhog Day considering we're hit with the same situation 12 months later. Will it be third time lucky for the 2022 Pokemon World Championship?
It could be a case of us missing out on Sword and Shield if those rumours of a Diamond and Pearl remastering come true. If this happens, it would be the first time a World Championship has skipped over a main series entry. Either way, it's sad that in a year The Pokemon Company has so much planned for its long-running franchise, we won't be able to celebrate with the 2021 Pokemon World Championship. We're sure there is a tonne of announcements to follow in the footsteps of a rerelease of the OG Pokemon Trading Cards, but still, the World Championship was marked in everyone's diary.
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Images via The Pokemon Company
