Pokémon Trading Card Game matches for the Pokémon Players Cup III will take place via the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online. Eligible Masters Division players will compete through several tournament phases for glory, bragging rights, and prizes.
In the first phase, players will compete to reach the top of their rating zone’s Pokémon TCG Online Tournament Rep leaderboard in the Standard format for the month of February 2021. The top players in each rating zone—after removing ineligible players—will advance and be able to register for the Pokémon Players Cup III Region Qualifiers. There is no charge to register.
Pokémon Players Cup III and the February Leaderboard
The Players Cup III will continue to use the new feature first rolled out for the second Players Cup. All eligible players will have 50 Tournament Keys added to their Pokémon TCG Online account prior to the start of the open qualifier period, which runs from January 26 at 10:00 a.m. PST to February 26 at 9:59 a.m. PST. Each Tournament Key provides one entry into a special Standard format Pokémon Players Cup III qualifier tournament queue. No additional Tournament Keys will be distributed during the qualifier period, so every eligible player will have the same number of chances to qualify during the Pokémon Players Cup III open qualifier phase!
Additionally, Tournament Rep awards will be disabled for all other Standard format tournament queues for the duration of the qualification period, so the only players that will appear on the February Standard format Tournament Rep leaderboard will be those participating in the Pokémon Players Cup III qualifier tournaments.
In order to receive these Tournament Keys, a player must meet all the eligibility requirements and have logged in to the Pokémon TCG Online with a Pokémon Trainer Club account that has a linked Player ID between the dates of October 18, 2020, and January 18, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. PST. Tournament Keys will appear in accounts on January 25.
As a reminder, starting with the second Players Cup, the way Tournament Rep is calculated has been updated. Tournament Rep points will be awarded as follows.
1st place: 5 points
2nd place: 3 points
3rd & 4th place: 1 point each
5th–8th place: 0 points
Players Advancing from the February Leaderboard
North America rating zone (US and Canada): 256 players
Europe rating zone (Europe): 256 players
Latin America rating zone (Latin America and Caribbean): 256 players
Oceania rating zone (Australia and New Zealand): 128 players
In March, these players will compete in a Region Qualifier within their region (based on rating zone, excluding South Africa and Russia). Each Region Qualifier will be a separate double-elimination bracket taking place over two weekends so play times can be optimized by rating zone. Players will be required to register their deck list online before the first Region Qualifier date and will need an account with both Discord and Battlefy to participate.
Matches will be best of three and will use the Standard format. Specific details on rules and report times will be available closer to the event.
The full tournament rules are available here.
Advancing players will be contacted via email with next steps and registration information once results are finalized. It is essential that the email address on your Pokémon Trainer Club account is accurate and up-to-date in order for you to receive this communication. Players should check their accounts and ensure their email addresses are correct before February 10, 2021. If you require assistance updating your email address, please reach out to Customer Support.
The bracket will be seeded based on players’ performance in the previous qualification stage. If there are byes due to the number of players who complete registration for the Region Qualifiers, the byes will be awarded to the top-seeded players.
Pokémon Players Cup III Regional Online Qualifier Schedule
March 20: Double-elimination bracket play until 16 players remain in each region
March 27: Bracket play continues until 4 players remain in each region
The players handbook and email communication will provide the specific play time for each region, which will be announced closer to the event date.
Pokémon Players Cup III Global Finals
The Global Finals will include 16 players—4 from each Region Qualifier. The finals will be a new double-elimination bracket, and players will be able to submit a new deck list. The Global Finals will be played April 10–11 at a time to be determined and sent to finalists via email.
Pokémon Players Cup III Eligibility
The following players will not be eligible to participate in the Region Qualifiers.
Players who were born in 2005 or later (Junior and Senior Divisions, based on the 2021 season)
Players who reside outside countries supported by the following Play! Pokémon rating zones: North America (US and Canada), Europe, Latin America, and Oceania
Players who have not opted in to the Play! Pokémon Terms of Use
Players who do not log in to the Pokémon TCG Online between October 18, 2020, and January 18, 2021, at 18:00 UTC after successfully opting in to the Play! Pokémon Terms of Use and receiving a Player ID
Additional eligibility rules may apply.
*All details, including rules, dates, and eligibility are subject to change.
