‘I screamed’: Battle-ready Pokemon fans gear up for the World Championships on home turf

Jonathan Ng (bottom left) competes in a Pokemon Trading Card Game match during a local tournament.

Published Sep 04, 2026, 06:00 PM

Updated Sep 04, 2026, 06:00 PM

The 2027 Pokemon World Championships will be held in Singapore, marking the first time in South-east Asia and featuring competitions in TCG, VGC, and Pokemon GO.

Top players must qualify through prior tournaments; fans are preparing intensely to compete and showcase their skills.

Local communities and shops like KouritenSG thrive on the event, but fans worry about scalpers exploiting exclusive merchandise amid growing hype and trading card value.

SINGAPORE – For years, local Pokemon fans had to shell out hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to fly overseas to attend the Pokemon World Championships.

But come August 2027, the ultimate battleground will be right at their doorstep .

Tens of thousands of gamers from across the world will descend upon Singapore, battling to be crowned the Pokemon World Champion.

Among them will be 26-year-old Ian Lim, who has been hooked on the franchise since he was just three.

“I screamed when I first heard that Singapore was going to be the venue,” he said. “I hope my neighbours didn’t actually hear me.”

For Ian Lim and other fans who spoke to The Straits Times, the event – also known in the community as “Worlds” – is an opportunity they refuse to pass up.

“It is something every single person in the fandom deserves to experience at least once,” he added.

Set to take place from Aug 13 to 15, 2027, at the Singapore Expo, the Pokemon World Championships will culminate in the ultimate grand finals at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Championship Sunday.

The tournament marks a historic first for South-east Asia, and only the second time it has ever been hosted in Asia .

The 2027 stage will feature competitions across the Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG), the Pokemon Video Game Championships (VGC) and Pokemon GO.

Meanwhile, Pokemon Unite – which was included in the 2026 Worlds – will run as a separate, standalone event.

Where players of the highest calibre go to compete

Earning a spot to compete at the World Championships is strictly by invitation only. Players must prove their mastery by ranking well in prior tournaments, such as the Premier Ball League and the Master Ball League, to qualify.

Ian Lim, who served as a commentator for the 2026 Singapore Master Ball League, hopes to return to the mic for next year’s Worlds.

But he also aims to qualify as a competitor in the VGC battles.

“My allegiance has always been to the video games I grew up with,” he admitted.

Ian Lim (right) as a commentator for Singapore Master Ball League in May 2026. PHOTO: IAN LIM

Ian Lim (right) as a commentator for Singapore Master Ball League in May 2026.

When asked how he intends to prepare over the coming year, he said that player’s game sense is crucial.

“Their knowledge of the game, their understanding of what their opponents may or may not do – that is something that comes only with experience. It is something that separates the top players from the hopefuls.”

One such top player is Kashvinder Singh Mann, 36, who has been a fan since 1999.

Better known to his friends as Kash, he has competed in TCG battles in two previous World Championships, including the latest 2026 edition which concluded on Aug 30 in San Francisco.

Kash placed 146th out of 797 elite players worldwide in the California tournament, falling just one point short of making it to Day 2.

Now, he is determined to redeem himself at the 2027 Worlds in Singapore. “I want to right my wrong,” he said. “Doing it at home would be amazing.”

Kashvinder Singh Mann competing in the 2026 Pokemon World Championships in San Francisco in August. PHOTO: KASHVINDER SINGH MANN

Kashvinder Singh Mann competing in the 2026 Pokemon World Championships in San Francisco in August.

PHOTO: KASHVINDER SINGH MANN

Sharing that competitive drive is a 22-year-old student also named Ian, surname Tay, who is setting his sights on qualifying for the TCG.

To Ian Tay, Worlds represents the pinnacle, where “players of the highest calibre go to compete”.

The best trainers – as players are often called – are not necessarily those who have the “Best 60” in the world, Tay said, referring to the standard size of a main deck.

Instead, they are the ones who can “maximise being lucky”.

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity,” he said, adding that the best players are able to create the most opportunities for themselves.

Also vying for a spot in the games is 29-year-old Jonathan Ng, who narrowly missed out on a TCG invite during the last competitive season.

Having placed in the top 20 nationwide in 2026, he is now all the more determined to make the cut for next year’s showdown in Singapore.

“I will attend all major events and try my best,” said Ng, who has been playing since primary school.

To prepare for the games, Ng plans to frequent local card shops for “casuals” – less intense, community-run matches that double as opportunities to practise one’s skills.

One such training ground is KouritenSG, affectionately known by regulars as K10.

Pokemon fans play the Trading Card Game at KouritenSG, a local game store in Chinatown. PHOTO: KOURITENSG

Pokemon fans play the Trading Card Game at KouritenSG, a local game store in Chinatown.

‘A big win’ for Singapore’s local training grounds

“K10 originally started off selling anime and hobby goods, carrying Pokemon as part of its selection of merchandise,” Rainald Lim, 35, co-owner of KouritenSG, told ST.

The game shop hosts weekly Pokemon battles for players to meet up and practise, and also conducts regular beginner learning sessions.

“Now, as more players decide to call K10 their second home, the shop is filled with similar players from various communities of different games every night.”

Recalling his time in Yokohama, Japan, for the 2023 World Championships, Rainald hopes the tournament will showcase Singapore and spark island-wide celebrations.

The 2023 championship transformed Yokohama: a Pokemon-themed cruise ship docked for weekend battles, a dazzling 800-drone show that formed iconic characters, the iconic Ferris wheel illuminated with animated Pikachu and Pokeball light shows, and carnivals near the main tournament area provided fringe activities for non-competitors.

“It was really enjoyable,” he said.

Still, securing the 2027 Worlds is already “a very big win” for Singapore, Rainald added, noting the country is also set to host the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship that same year.

The 2023 Pokemon World Championships in Yokohama featured an 800-drone spectacle illuminating the night sky with fan-favourite Pokemon characters. PHOTOS: SCREENGRABS FROM MANGEKYOU STORE/FACEBOOK

The 2023 Pokemon World Championships in Yokohama featured an 800-drone spectacle illuminating the night sky with fan-favourite Pokemon characters.

PHOTOS: SCREENGRABS FROM MANGEKYOU STORE/FACEBOOK

The announcement to host Worlds 2027 in Singapore was made at the end of the San Francisco edition in August.

“To hear it live in person was quite special,” Kash said. “As someone who has been playing Pokemon all his life, I never imagined it would be held here in Singapore.”

On the other hand, Ian Tay was not surprised by the announcement.

“We are a central location in South-east Asia,” he explained, pointing out that fans have long speculated that the next generation of Pokemon games had taken inspiration from the region.

The trailer for Pokemon Winds and Waves, scheduled for release in 2027, features sweeping tropical landscapes – such as terraced rice fields, coastal villages, mangroves and islands – reminiscent of Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia.

The threat of scalpers

For long-time fans like 30-year-old Muhammad Dzulfiqhar Shah – known by friends as Dzul – who has been immersed in the world of Pokemon since he was five, the excitement extends beyond the arena to beloved physical keepsakes.

He is hoping to get his hands on the special edition Pikachu plushie or card that is limited to every Worlds event, tailored to the local culture.

However, alongside his anticipation comes a touch of anxiety over scalpers seeking to mark up exclusive merchandise to resell at inflated prices.

It’s a concern shared by Ian Lim.

“The prevalence of scalping in Singapore cannot be overstated,” he cautioned, noting that the recent boom in trading cards turning into financial assets has brought an influx of people into the scene for the wrong reasons.

“My only hope is that we exist in an environment where we can celebrate the Pokemon franchise as a whole and not have scalpers take that away from us.”

Jonathan Ng (centre, left picture) celebrating with friends after placing second in the Ultra Ball League in June 2025, alongside a photo of him opening Pokemon card packs with Ian Tay (right). PHOTOS: JONATHAN NG

Jonathan Ng (centre, left picture) celebrating with friends after placing second in the Ultra Ball League in June 2025, alongside a photo of him opening Pokemon card packs with Ian Tay (right).

Beneath the desire to win and hype over merchandise, every fan shares the same reason for loving the world of Pokemon: the friendships cultivated.

For Ng, the “welcoming community” is why he never walked away from the game.

For Ian Lim, Pokemon has been a sanctuary that “fosters empathy” and helps people from all walks of life find a safe space.

And for Dzul – who has played generations of Pokemon on the Game Boy, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Switch and online – the games have allowed him to make life-long friends.

“As a Pokemon fan from a very early age, it’s nice to see Worlds being held on home turf,” he said.

Ticketing details for the 2027 Pokemon World Championships in Singapore have yet to be announced, with more information expected closer to the date.

Ann Neo is with ST Now, the desk that covers breaking and trending news for The Straits Times.

Collectors/Collections

Jonathan Ng（左下）正在参加当地锦标赛的宝可梦集换式卡牌游戏比赛。

发布于2026年9月4日下午6:00

更新于2026年9月4日下午6:00

2027 年宝可梦世界锦标赛将在新加坡举行，这将是该赛事首次在东南亚举办，比赛项目包括集换式卡牌游戏、电子竞技比赛和宝可梦 GO。

顶尖选手必须通过之前的比赛才能获得参赛资格；球迷们正在积极备战，力争参赛并展示自己的技能。

当地社区和像 KouritenSG 这样的商店都因这项活动而繁荣发展，但粉丝们担心黄牛会趁着热度和交易卡价值不断上涨之际，哄抬独家商品的价格。

新加坡——多年来，本地宝可梦粉丝不得不花费数百甚至数千美元飞往海外参加宝可梦世界锦标赛。

但到了 2027 年 8 月，最终的战场将就在他们家门口。

来自世界各地的数万名游戏玩家将涌入新加坡，争夺宝可梦世界冠军的头衔。

其中包括 26 岁的 Ian Lim，他从 3 岁起就迷上了这项运动。

“当我第一次听说比赛将在新加坡举行时，我尖叫了起来，”他说。“我希望我的邻居们没有听到我的尖叫。”

对于伊恩·林和其他接受《海峡时报》采访的球迷来说，这项赛事（在圈内也被称为“世界赛”）是他们绝不会错过的机会。

“这是每个粉丝都应该至少体验一次的事情，”他补充道。

宝可梦世界锦标赛将于 2027 年 8 月 13 日至 15 日在新加坡博览中心举行，最终的总决赛将于冠军赛星期日在新加坡室内体育馆举行。

该赛事对东南亚而言具有历史意义，也是亚洲第二次举办该赛事。

2027 年的比赛将涵盖宝可梦集换式卡牌游戏 (TCG)、宝可梦电子游戏锦标赛 (VGC) 和宝可梦 GO 等多个项目。

与此同时，原定于 2026 年世界锦标赛中的宝可梦大集结将作为一项独立的赛事举办。

顶尖球员竞技的地方

世界锦标赛的参赛资格完全由邀请制。选手必须在之前的赛事（例如超级球联赛和大师球联赛）中取得优异成绩，才能获得参赛资格。

曾担任 2026 年新加坡大师球联赛评论员的 Ian Lim 希望明年能重返解说席，为世界锦标赛担任评论员。

但他还希望获得参加 VGC 对战的资格。

“我始终忠于我从小玩的电子游戏，”他坦言。

伊恩·林（右）于2026年5月担任新加坡大师球联赛的解说员。照片：伊恩·林

2026 年 5 月，Ian Lim（右）担任新加坡大师球联赛的评论员。

当被问及他打算如何备战接下来的一年时，他表示球员的比赛意识至关重要。

“他们对比赛的理解，他们对对手可能采取或不采取的行动的洞察——这些只能通过经验积累。这正是顶尖球员与怀揣梦想的球员之间的区别。”

其中一位顶级球员是 36 岁的卡什温德·辛格·曼恩，他从 1999 年起就是一名球迷。

他的朋友们更熟悉他的另一个名字 Kash，他曾参加过两届世界锦标赛的 TCG 对战，包括最近一届于 8 月 30 日在旧金山落幕的 2026 年锦标赛。

在加州锦标赛中，卡什在全球 797 名精英选手中排名第 146 位，仅差一分就能晋级第二天。

如今，他决心在2027年新加坡世锦赛上证明自己。“我想弥补我的过错，”他说。“如果能在家乡做到这一点，那就太棒了。”

卡什温德·辛格·曼恩 (Kashvinder Singh Mann) 于 8 月在旧金山参加了 2026 年宝可梦世界锦标赛。照片：卡什温德·辛格·曼恩

卡什温德·辛格·曼恩将于 8 月在旧金山参加 2026 年宝可梦世界锦标赛。

照片：卡什温德·辛格·曼恩

与他一样充满竞争精神的还有一位名叫伊恩（Ian），姓泰（Tay）的22岁学生，他的目标是获得TCG的参赛资格。

在伊恩·泰看来，世界锦标赛代表着巅峰，是“最高水平的选手们竞技的舞台”。

Tay表示，最好的训练家（玩家通常被称为训练家）不一定是拥有世界上“最好的60张卡牌”的人，他指的是主卡组的标准大小。

相反，他们才是能够“最大限度地利用好运”的人。

“运气就是准备遇到机会的结果，”他说，并补充说，最好的球员能够为自己创造最多的机会。

同样渴望获得参赛资格的还有 29 岁的 Jonathan Ng，他在上个竞技赛季中与 TCG 的邀请擦肩而过。

2026年他跻身全国前20名，现在他更加坚定了要晋级明年在新加坡举行的决赛的决心。

“我会参加所有重大赛事，​​并尽我所能，”从小学就开始打球的吴说道。

为了备战比赛，吴计划经常光顾当地的卡牌店参加“休闲赛”——这些比赛强度较低，由社区组织，同时也是练习技能的机会。

其中一个训练场地是 KouritenSG，常客们亲切地称之为 K10。

宝可梦粉丝们在唐人街一家名为KouritenSG的本地游戏商店玩集换式卡牌游戏。照片：KOURITENSG

宝可梦粉丝们在唐人街的当地游戏商店 KouritenSG 玩集换式卡牌游戏。

新加坡本地训练基地取得“重大胜利”

KouritenSG 的共同所有人、35 岁的 Rainald Lim 告诉《海峡时报》：“K10 最初是销售动漫和爱好商品的，其中就包括宝可梦。”

这家游戏商店每周都会举办宝可梦对战活动，供玩家们见面和练习，还会定期举办新手学习课程。

“现在，随着越来越多的玩家选择将 K10 作为他们的第二个家，这家店每晚都挤满了来自不同游戏社区的类似玩家。”

回想起他在日本横滨参加 2023 年世界锦标赛的经历，雷纳德希望这项赛事能够展现新加坡的风采，并引发全岛的庆祝活动。

2023 年锦标赛改变了横滨：一艘以宝可梦为主题的游轮停靠在港口，供周末比赛使用；一场由 800 架无人机组成的炫目表演，构成了标志性角色；标志性的摩天轮被动画皮卡丘和精灵球灯光秀照亮；主赛场附近的嘉年华为非参赛者提供了周边活动。

“这真是一次愉快的经历，”他说。

雷纳尔德补充说，尽管如此，获得 2027 年世界锦标赛的举办权对新加坡来说已经是“一个巨大的胜利”，他还指出，新加坡也将在同年举办游戏王世界锦标赛。

2023年横滨宝可梦世界锦标赛上，800架无人机联袂呈现了一场精彩绝伦的灯光秀，将粉丝们喜爱的宝可梦角色点亮夜空。图片：来自MANGEKYOU STORE/FACEBOOK的截图

2023 年在横滨举行的宝可梦世界锦标赛上，800 架无人机上演了一场精彩的表演，用粉丝们最喜爱的宝可梦角色点亮了夜空。

图片：截图来自万花筒写轮眼商店/Facebook

2027 年全球总决赛将在新加坡举办的消息是在 8 月份旧金山站比赛结束后宣布的。

“能亲耳聆听这场演出真是太特别了，”卡什说道。“我从小就玩宝可梦游戏，从未想过这场演出会在新加坡举办。”

另一方面，Ian Tay 对这一消息并不感到意外。

“我们是东南亚的中心地带，”他解释说，并指出粉丝们长期以来一直猜测下一代宝可梦游戏的设计灵感来源于该地区。

计划于 2027 年发布的《精灵宝可梦：风与浪》预告片展现了壮丽的热带景观——如梯田、沿海村庄、红树林和岛屿——让人联想起印度尼西亚、菲律宾和马来西亚。

黄牛党的威胁

对于像 30 岁的 Muhammad Dzulfiqhar Shah（朋友们称他为 Dzul）这样的老粉丝来说，这种兴奋感不仅限于竞技场，还延伸到心爱的实体纪念品上。Dzul 从 5 岁起就沉浸在宝可梦的世界中。

他希望能得到每届世界赛限定的、根据当地文化量身定制的特别版皮卡丘毛绒玩具或卡片。

然而，在期待之余，他也有些焦虑，担心黄牛会趁机抬高独家商品的价格转售。

这也是伊恩·林所担忧的问题。

他警告说：“新加坡的黄牛现象之普遍不容低估”，并指出，近期集换式卡牌交易成为金融资产的繁荣，吸引了大量动机不纯的人涌入这一领域。

“我唯一的希望是，我们能够生活在一个可以尽情庆祝宝可梦系列作品的环境中，而不是被黄牛党夺走这一切。”

2025年6月，Jonathan Ng（图中左侧中间）在超级球联赛中获得亚军后与朋友们庆祝，旁边是他和Ian Tay（右）一起打开宝可梦卡包的照片。照片：Jonathan Ng

2025 年 6 月，Jonathan Ng（中间，左图）在超级球联赛中获得第二名后与朋友们庆祝，旁边还有一张他和 Ian Tay（右）一起打开宝可梦卡包的照片。

在渴望胜利和热衷于周边商品的背后，每个粉丝热爱宝可梦世界的理由都是一样的：那就是培养友谊。

对吴来说，“热情友好的社区”是他从未离开游戏的原因。

对于 Ian Lim 来说，宝可梦是一个“培养同理心”的避难所，它帮助各行各业的人们找到一个安全的空间。

对于在 Game Boy、Nintendo DS、Nintendo Switch 和网络上玩过几代宝可梦游戏的 Dzul 来说，这些游戏让他结交了终生的朋友。

“我从小就是宝可梦的粉丝，很高兴看到世界锦标赛在本土举行，”他说。

2027 年新加坡宝可梦世界锦标赛的门票详情尚未公布，预计临近比赛日期时会公布更多信息。

Ann Neo 就职于 ST Now，该部门负责报道《海峡时报》的突发新闻和热点新闻。

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