Pokémon Team Masters is a new Pokémon Trading Card Game tournament built around 3-player teams. The first edition, Pokémon Team Masters 2027 in SEOUL, runs on January 23–24, 2027 at KINTEX Hall 1-2, and entry is free.
Online applications opened on September 28, 2026 at 14:00 Korea Standard Time (UTC+9) and close on October 23 at 12:00. About 670 teams (2,000 seats) can play; if more teams apply, a lottery decides who gets in. The top 4 teams each earn invitations to the Pokémon World Championships 2027 TCG Division.
Pokémon Team Masters 2027 at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | Saturday, January 23, 2027 (8:00–19:00) and Sunday, January 24, 2027 (9:00–19:00), Korea time |
| Venue | KINTEX Hall 1-2 (Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, in the Seoul metropolitan area) |
| Game | Pokémon Trading Card Game, Standard format (60-card decks, 6 Prize cards) |
| Division | Open league for all ages |
| Team size | 3 players per team, with each team registering 3 decks |
| Capacity | 2,000 seats (about 670 teams) |
| Entry fee | Free |
| Card languages | English, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Thai, Traditional Chinese |
| Top prize | Worlds 2027 TCG invitations and a trophy with the Victory Crest promo card for the top 4 teams |
Official Pokémon Team Masters Announcement Video
The Pokémon Company announced the event on its official Japanese YouTube channel alongside the new key art, which shows Pikachu and Mew in front of N Seoul Tower and a traditional Korean gate.
The Simplified Chinese Pokémon TCG account posted the same 32-second announcement on Bilibili, and the Japanese Pokémon Card Game site published its own announcement page on the same day.
How to Enter: Application Period and Lottery
Registration happens on the dedicated Pokémon Team Masters Web site, https://www.pokemon-team-masters.com . Every member must create an account, the three players form a team on the site, and only the Team Leader can submit the team's application.
| Step | Korea time (UTC+9) | UTC |
|---|---|---|
| Applications open | Sep 28, 2026, 14:00 | Sep 28, 2026, 05:00 |
| Applications close | Oct 23, 2026, 12:00 | Oct 23, 2026, 03:00 |
| Lottery results | Nov 13, 2026, 14:00 | Nov 13, 2026, 05:00 |
| Deck registration deadline | Jan 23, 2027, 07:00 | Jan 22, 2027, 22:00 |
Entry Rules to Check Before Applying
- Each person may apply only once. Multiple applications from the same player can lead to penalties, including disqualification.
- Minors need a guardian's consent to create a Team Masters Web account and to apply.
- Make sure your inbox accepts mail from the official Pokémon Team Masters and Pokémon Support addresses, since the organizer may email you to confirm application details.
- Players under 19 may bring up to two companions aged 19 or older. Entry details for guardians will be sent to selected players later.
- Skipping the event without a valid reason may bar you from future events, and event staff cannot compete.
- Decks must be registered by 07:00 on January 23, 2027 (Korea time). The opening date for deck registration has not been announced, and missing the deadline incurs a penalty.
Two-Day Schedule
Both days are tentative and may shift with the event's progress. A team that misses check-in takes a loss in Round 1, a team still not checked in when Round 1 ends cannot join the rest of the event, and from Round 2 onward a player not seated when the round starts loses that individual match.
| Day | Check-in | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 — Sat, Jan 23 | 8:00–9:30 | Qualifier (Swiss): 10:00–19:00 |
| Day 2 — Sun, Jan 24 | 9:00–10:00 | Main Competition ① (Swiss): 10:00–13:00; Main Competition ② (top 16 single elimination): 14:00–19:00 |
Tournament Format: Swiss Rounds to a Top 16
Each round, the three teammates play individual 30-minute matches against the three players on the opposing team. A team that wins at least two of the three matches wins the round and earns 3 match points; otherwise it earns 0. Match results are reported through Pokémon Team Masters Web.
- Day 1 Qualifier: up to 7 Swiss rounds. Teams with 5 or more round wins advance to Day 2.
- Day 2 Main Competition ①: up to 3 more Swiss rounds, carrying over Day 1 records. The top 16 teams advance.
- Day 2 Main Competition ②: best-of-one single elimination among 16 teams — four rounds decide the champion.
- Swiss tiebreakers, in order: match points, total individual wins across the team, opponents' match win percentage, then the system's own calculation.
- There are no automatic drops. To drop, all three teammates must go to the Judge Station together.
What Happens When Time Is Called
- Swiss rounds: if the player who went first is taking their turn, the player who went second gets one more turn; if time is called during the second player's turn, that turn is finished and no turn is added. There is no Pokémon Checkup afterward, and a game with no winner counts as a loss for both players (a double loss).
- Top 16: there are no double losses. After a judge checks the game state, play continues to the end of the second player's turn. If either player then has 2 or fewer Prize cards left, the player with fewer remaining wins (equal counts keep playing); if both have 3 or more, play continues until someone wins or gets down to 2 or fewer while holding fewer Prize cards than the opponent.
- A top-16 game that ends in a tie is replayed as a 6-Prize tiebreaker game.
Special Team Rules: Three Decks, No Shared Pokémon Names
The most important deckbuilding rule is that a Pokémon name can appear in only one of the team's three decks. That turns deck registration into a team decision: popular support Pokémon have to be assigned to one player instead of being copied into every list.
- Each team registers three decks, and teammates cannot swap decks during the event.
- Two different Shaymin cards count as the same name, so they cannot be split across two decks.
- Fezandipiti and Fezandipiti ex are treated as different names.
- If one deck uses Munkidori with the Adrena-Brain Ability, no other deck on the team may register that Munkidori.
- Decks and cards cannot be changed between rounds.
Card Languages and Legality
The event uses the Standard format with 60-card decks and 6 Prize cards. The official list of legal cards will be published later, so treat any current rotation assumptions as provisional until it appears.
- Cards may be in any of the seven supported languages.
- A deck may mix one non-English language with English cards, but not two non-English languages.
- Japanese-language cards cannot be mixed with cards in any other language, including English.
- Signed cards are generally not allowed. Other legality questions follow the Floor Rules.
Prizes and World Championships Invitations
Prizes are awarded by the team's final placement. The Worlds invitations are the headline reward: every one of the top 4 teams qualifies for the Pokémon World Championships 2027 TCG Division.
The invitations lead to the Pokémon World Championships 2027, scheduled for August 13–15, 2027 at Singapore EXPO in Tampines, Singapore — about six and a half months after Team Masters.
| Final placement | Prize |
|---|---|
| Top 64 teams | Card sleeves |
| Top 32 teams | Double deck boxes |
| Top 16 teams | Playmats |
| Top 4 teams | Invitations to the Pokémon World Championships 2027 TCG Division, plus a trophy containing the Victory Crest promo card |
Welcome Kit for All Competitors
Every competitor will get the right to buy a Welcome Kit that includes a bag and other items. Its contents and price have not been announced yet.
What to Bring on Event Day
The event runs in several languages. If communication becomes difficult during a match, ask a nearby staff member for help. Top-placing players may be interviewed.
- A deck that is legal for the event regulation
- A Pokémon coin, damage counters, and Special Condition markers
- Spare card sleeves
- A smartphone — tablets such as iPads cannot be used
- An original photo ID (copies are not accepted)
Pokémon Team Masters FAQ
When do Pokémon Team Masters 2027 applications close?
Applications close on October 23, 2026 at 12:00 Korea time (03:00 UTC). Lottery results are announced on November 13, 2026 at 14:00 Korea time.
How much does it cost to enter Pokémon Team Masters?
Entry is free. Travel and accommodation are paid by players, and the organizer is not liable for those costs if the event is changed or canceled.
How many players are on a Pokémon Team Masters team?
Three. All three must have Pokémon Team Masters Web accounts, and the Team Leader submits one application for the team.
Does Pokémon Team Masters award Worlds invitations?
Yes. Each of the top 4 teams earns invitations to the Pokémon World Championships 2027 TCG Division.
Can I use Japanese cards at Pokémon Team Masters?
Yes, but a deck with Japanese cards must be entirely Japanese. Other supported languages can be mixed only with English cards.
Where and when is the Pokémon World Championships 2027?
Worlds 2027 is scheduled for August 13–15, 2027 at Singapore EXPO in Tampines, Singapore. The top 4 Team Masters teams earn invitations to its TCG Division.
Why Team Masters Matters
Team Masters is a free, open, Worlds-qualifying TCG event that rewards coordination as much as individual play: three players have to split key Pokémon across their decks and win two of three matches every round. If you plan to enter, form your team early, have the Team Leader apply before October 23, and watch for the legal card list and deck registration opening.
For other Pokémon competitive calendar news, see our Worlds 2026 interest list guide and Play! Pokémon Mid-Year Celebrations.
Sources
- Pokémon Team Masters 2027 in SEOUL!Pokémon Team Masters · Primary source
- Event OverviewPokémon Team Masters
- Event PrizesPokémon Team Masters
- 【公式】「Pokémon Team Masters」開催決定！The Pokémon Company (YouTube)
- チーム戦形式の新しい大会「Pokémon Team Masters」の開催が決定！Pokémon Card Game Official Site (Japan)
- “Pokémon Team Masters 2027 in SEOUL”即将开启！宝可梦集换式卡牌游戏 (Bilibili)
- 2027 Pokémon World ChampionshipsThe Pokémon Company International