The Pokémon World Championships are underway: how a passion can become a career.

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA. The sun is shining, the air is warm but not stifling, and the ocean breeze makes everything more bearable. Outside the Convention Center, the atmosphere is that of a grand occasion. Some people casually wear Eevee ears, some clutch a Nintendo Switch like a lightsaber, and some review strategies on a tablet with the focused gaze of those who know everything is at stake. In the background, a mosaic of different languages, all driven by a single, universal passion: Pokémon.

Welcome to the 2025 Pokémon World Championships , the world championship that celebrates the highest level of competition in the franchise that has spanned generations, continents, and consoles for nearly thirty years. For many, Pokémon is a fragment of childhood—the trading cards, the TV theme song, the Game Boy cartridge. But those in Anaheim aren't here for nostalgia. This is where things get serious.

Over the course of three days (August 15–17), the California convention center hosts the world's elite in the four official competitive categories: TCG (card game), VGC (video game), Pokémon GO, and Pokémon UNITE. Getting there requires more than just a good instinct: it involves competing through an entire season, including monthly regional tournaments and three Internationals—in Europe, South America, and North America. Only the top 125 Europeans in each category receive the coveted invitation.

An invitation that, let's be clear, doesn't cover flights or hotels. For most players, participating is an investment in itself: money, time, and energy. And that's not all: in Hall D of the convention center, the official merchandise becomes a veritable collector's trap. Exclusive plush toys, promotional cards, pins, backpacks, clothing, and limited editions: here, many attendees shell out thousands of euros just to grab a souvenir (or more) to take home. After all, Poké-shopping is an art form.

Inside the Convention Center, the atmosphere is that of a mini-geek Olympics: matches live-streamed in multiple languages, packed stands, referees, lights, announcers, and cosplayers alternating between the stands. Each match is the result of months of preparation: mathematical calculations, resource management, knowledge of the metagame, the ability to read the opponent, and—why not?—a pinch of composure.

Among this year's Italian stars is Alberto Conti, from Bergamo, ranked number 1 in Italy and number 2 in Europe in the TCG. With total winnings approaching $26,000, he's decided to take the plunge: "I quit my job and now I live solely on Pokémon. This year I've managed to support myself, and not only that: at last year's World Championship, I met a German girl, and now we're engaged." From top cut to happy ending.

In the VGC, flying the blue flag is Luca Ceribelli, nickname "Ceree," the reigning world champion. He won the title in 2024 and has accumulated over $42,000 in prize money. A graduate and about to begin a master's degree in statistics, he lives in Bergamo with his parents, but his future seems elsewhere. "The best thing? The people. The Pokémon community is truly unique: inclusive, global, full of authentic connections," he says. His goal is clear: to defend the title.

Completing the trio is Federico Camporesi, 20, from Forlì, aka "FedeCampo." He's considered one of the absolute favorites for the VGC World title. He's already won the 2025 North American International and several regionals. He still lives with his parents but earns more than them thanks to prize money, and he has very clear ideas: "The only thing missing is the World Championship. No one has ever managed to win the regional, international, and world championships in the same season. I want to be the first."

The Californian sun accompanies the year's most important challenges, while inside the convention center, personal ambitions, budding careers, and childhood passions intersect. For some, like Alberto, Pokémon have changed their personal lives; for others, like Luca and Federico, they represent a springboard to even greater goals. But for everyone, the stakes are the same: to step onto the stage, hold the trophy, and leave an indelible mark on competitive Pokémon history.