End-of-round procedures were updated on September 1, 2025, so when time was called in a round at a Championship event, the competitors would have one additional turn to complete their match. In addition to this, an “overtime clock” of 10 minutes was instituted to ensure that both players had plenty of time to complete that final turn and to provide structure to enact slow-play penalties where applicable. Following months of competition and significant community feedback, it’s clear that the current procedures aren’t hitting the mark, and we’re updating the rules for the rest of the season.

Starting on February 13, 2026, at the 2026 Europe International Championships, end-of-round procedures for Pokémon TCG Championship events will return to a system where competitors are given +3 turns to complete their match. When time is called, the active competitor will finish their current turn, and then three additional turns will be played, starting (and ending) with the opponent.

Maintaining round time consistency at Championship events is still important, so the current “overtime clock” is being increased to 15 minutes, providing ample time for competitors to complete their match. For more details on end-of-round procedures, please refer to the official Play! Pokémon Tournament Rules Handbook.

Good luck during the remainder of the 2026 Pokémon Championship Series season, Trainers!