At the Pokémon World Championships 2026 held in San Francisco, the defending champion successfully retained their title in a thrilling best-of-seven finals match.

The finals pitted the favorite against an underdog from the Southeast Regional circuit. In a match that went the full distance, the defending champ's expertise with team building and in-game decision-making proved decisive.

Key moments: - Game 6 featured an unprecedented triple-status effect chain - Both players max-revived fallen team members in critical moments - The deciding game came down to a 1v1 scenario in the final turn

The champion earns $250,000 USD, an invitation to future invitational events, and the prestige of being recognized as the world's best Pokémon trainer. The runner-up receives $100,000 and a guaranteed spot on next year's championship circuit.