Pokémon Go gets first official PVP tournament in August

Pokémon Go players who enjoy PvP content will get their turn to shine at the 2019 Pokémon World Championship on Aug. 16 in Washington, DC.

While the World Championship is probably best known for the Pokémon trading card game, it also includes competitions for Pokémon Sun and Moon and Pokkén Tournament. Pokémon Go players will take the stage for the first-ever official PvP competition.

Fans across the world have hosted their own PvP competitions before. Joining any local Discord server for Pokémon Go will typically bring up a channel where you can join in on a competition now and then, but this is the first time The Pokémon Company is helping out.

Any players attending the event can apply to claim the last competitor position through the official Pokémon website, though only applicants from the United States will be accepted. Several well-known members of the community, like Kieng, will get to compete alongside big names like Game Freak director Junichi Masuda and designer Shigeki Morimoto.

Trainer battles in Pokémon Go have a niche following, but regardless, it’s neat to see the game move to a competitive side.

Update (July 30): This story has been updated with additional details about the Pokémon World Championship.