2023 World Championships: Meet Team Europe!

The 2023 World Championships, which will be held on 11–13 August 2023, are hosted in Japan for the first time! In these articles, we will take a look at the best players that are qualified to compete in the biggest event of the year.

Here we have Europe! Let’s meet the 16 players with a Day 2 invite, and take a look at the other 73 Day 1 invitees this region brings. Additionally, we’ll present the 1 invitee from the Middle East & South Africa (ME&SA) TPCi region.

Europe at Worlds

Europe is home to the defending World Champion. European players will go with full force to defend the title half the world away and bring it home for a third time!

Despite being a region with so many successful trainers, only two World Championships have been claimed by Europeans: Italian Arash Ommati in 2013, and Portuguese Eduardo Cunha in 2022. Last year, the all-European finals also featured Spaniard Guillermo Castilla in second place, a feat that had only been achieved by Matteo Gini (2011) before. Going further down, only some top 4 finishes have been achieved by Europeans: it is the case of Spaniards Rubén Puig (2011) and Abel Sanz (2012), Germans Markus Liu (2014) and Markus Stadter (2016), as well as Eduardo (2016) before he won it all six years later, and Swede-American Nils Dunlop (2018).

The latest World Championships, being hosted in the United Kingdom and thus in home ground, were very fruitful for Europe. Eduardo and Guillermo battled in finals, but Briton Calvin Foster and Italian Davide Carrer also reached the top 8. Will the Europeans be able to achieve a similar level of success in Japan?

Requirements for a Worlds invite

As per the European system, all players that have achieved at least 250 CP (or Championship Points) in the 2023 season receive an invite to Day 1. Additionally, the top 16 players achieve a direct pass to Day 2 and a Travel Award.

Players in the Middle East & South Africa region are not eligible for direct Day 2 invites, but they can earn a Day 1 invite if they accumulate 200 CP throughout the season.

Day 2 players

1. Marco Silva

At 1156 CP, Marco is quite a prolific player. A former International Champion, he only has one title of higher importance to conquer! Although he has qualified five times for Worlds, this will be his fourth time competing in the stage and third time in the Masters division, after his top 16 finish in Seniors in 2018 and his participation in Masters Day 2 of 2019 and 2022.

Marco tried to recreate his OCIC win from 2020, but came short to a top 32 finish this time. In the road to EUIC, he reached top 8 in Bochum, semifinals in Utrecht, and a 10th place in the first Global Challenge, but could not advance to Day 2 at EUIC. In the latter part of the season, he got a 13th place at the third Global Challenge, was a finalist in Malmö and ended the season with a fantastic top 8 at NAIC.

Marco is one of the few Western players with some notable achievements in Ranked Battles. Just after the game came out, he achieved a 28th place in Season 1. He commonly plays in grassroots tournaments, and has achieved a top 16 in the VR Welcome to Paldea, semifinals in the Victory Road to Melbourne, and a top 16 in the VR April Challenge. In Regulation Set D, he earned the victory in one of the largest NinoPokeBros online events with this oppresive team! Additionally, Marco has played for the Italian team in the World Cup since 2021, and has also acted as co-manager in 2022 to a top 16 finish. You can find him on his Twitch channel “Marcofiero”, as he also is an Italian-language content creator!

Watch Marco’s victory over Maurice Uteg to reach Malmö finals!

2. Eric Rios

At 1090 CP, Eric is once again trying to get a shot at the highest accomplishment he has not yet achieved. Also a former International Champion, he has qualified to Worlds every year since 2013! Having achieved a top 4 finish as a Senior in 2014, he also got fantastic finishes as a Masters division player. He has played in Day 2 in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022. His best results were the top 8 he got in 2019 and top 16 in 2022.

After his astounding 2022 season, Eric came to 2023 with the difficult task to maintain that level. He started with a top 32 finish in Liverpool and a top 16 at OCIC. He came from Oceania to play even better, taking a top 16 in Bochum and a very important victory in Utrecht, but could not get that streak going into EUIC to renew last year’s title. A 22nd place in the Global Challenge III and new top 16 finishes in Malmö and at NAIC closed the season for him.

Eric has been a part of the Spanish team in the World Cup since 2021. You can find him also on his Twitch channel “Riopaser”, as he is a Spanish-language content creator.

Watch Eric’s win in Utrecht!

3. Àlex Gómez

At 1068 CP, Àlex is a staple at Worlds. This will be his tenth straight participation at the event, to which he has qualified in 2012, 2013 and 2014 as a Senior, and 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022 as a Master. His best result so far is the top 8 he achieved in 2019, and he is hungry for more.

This season was a climax in Àlex’s career. He started the season with a top 32 in Liverpool, a top 16 in Bochum, and semifinals in Utrecht, but it seemed victory was again slipping from his hands. The top 16 he achieved at EUIC kept him alive in the Day 2 race, as he tried a last shot at the last event of the regular season in North America. After 7 years without a major win, Àlex culminated his season and became an International Champion as he got the victory at NAIC!

Àlex has been a manager and player of Team Spain in the World Cup since 2021. You can also find him on his Twitch channel “PokeAlexVGC”, as he also is a Spanish-language content creator.

Watch Àlex’s win at NAIC!

4. Víctor Medina

At 942 CP, Víctor is the third Spaniard on this list so far! This is the fourth time Víctor is playing at the top stage, having played as a Senior in 2017 and 2018, making it to a top 8 finish; and as a Masters in 2022. On his second Worlds as a Master, he has guaranteed a Day 2 spot!

As his fellow compatriots, Víctor also started the season with a top 32 in Liverpool. He went on to repeat that result with top 32 finishes in Bochum and Utrecht, and finally improved that with a top 16 at EUIC. He continued his improvement with another top 16 in Turin and finally a very special semifinals finish at NAIC, equating his career-best result as a Masters player.

Víctor has been part of Team Spain in the World Cup since 2021.

Watch Víctor’s victory over Justin Knox to reach NAIC semifinals!

5. Aurélien Soula

At 902 CP, Aurélien is the best rookie of this season. This is his third Worlds appearance, having made it to Day 2 in 2019 and to top 8 in 2022 as a Senior. His path as a Masters player starts now from Day 2!

The Frenchman started the season with a 7-2 record in Liverpool, but was out of Day 2 as back then the tournament structure had not yet changed. After his impressive top 16 at OCIC in his first International as a Master, the Regional system changed, and he reached semifinals in Bochum and finals in Utrecht, before making it to Day 2 of EUIC. In the later part of the season, with the homework done, he didn’t push as much but still managed to get a top 32 finish in Turin.

Aurélien has been part of Team France in the World Cup since 2021. In last year’s edition, they made it to the semifinals!

Watch Aurélien’s victory over Àlex Gómez to reach Utrecht finals!

6. Nico Davide Cognetta

At 870 CP, Nico Davide is back at the top level of play. This is the fourth Worlds participation for the 2-time International finalist, after playing in Day 2 in 2017 and 2018, and Day 1 in 2019.

Similarly to Aurélien, Nico Davide also started the season with a 7-2 record in Liverpool but not advancing further. He proceeded to reach top 32 in Utrecht, again at EUIC and followed those with a very impressive 4th place at the Global Challenge II. His season ended in the best way possible, as he won in Turin his first-ever major event!

Nico Davide was a part of Team Italy in the 2022 World Cup, where they finished in top 16. He also is an Italian-language streamer in his Twitch channel “desuvgc”.

Watch Nico Davide’s win in Turin!

7. Giulio Tarlao

At 782 CP, Giulio is chasing his breakthrough performance. This will be his second Worlds participation, but unlike last year, where he got stuck in Day 1, he now has a direct Day 2 pass!

The Italian started the season in the other side of the world, with a top 16 finish at OCIC. He followed that with a top 8 finish in Utrecht and a big top 8 at EUIC. After those back-to-back top cuts, he finished his season with a top 16 in Malmö and some points in Turin.

Giulio likes to play grassroots tournaments and has made it to top cut in the Victory Road to Melbourne and top 16 in the VR April Challenge, both of them preceding some of his best results in the official circuit. He often streams his runs at grassroots tours in his Twitch Channel “giuliotarlaovgc”. Giulio has also been a part of the Italian team in the 2022 World Cup, where they finished in top 16.

Watch Giulio’s victory over Davide Carrer at Day 2 of EUIC!

8. Thomas Gravouille

At 726 CP, Thomas is playing his fourth World Championships. He previously qualified with a Day 1 invite in 2016 and 2018, and with a direct Day 2 pass in his peak season last year, in 2022.

The Frenchman’s path started way earlier than others’, as he made it to the semifinals of the London Open, the Regional-level side event of the last World Championships, still with Pokémon Sword & Pokémon Shield. After the release of the new games, when the season continued, he made it to top 8 at OCIC, reaching the 1st place in the Europe CP leaderboards with a very important gap behind him. He went on to finish in the top 32 in Utrecht and in Day 2 in Turin, and in Day 2 as well at the last event of the regular season, NAIC.

Thomas is also a content creator in French, better known as “Hari” for his YouTube channel. Thomas also participated as part of Team France in the 2022 World Cup, where they reached semifinals.

Watch Thomas’s set versus Yuya Tada at the top cut of OCIC!

9. Taran Birdee

At 680 CP, Taran is playing in the World Championships for the third time. He participated in Day 1 in 2019 and in Day 2 in 2022, and now he repeats with a direct Day 2 invite.

The Briton started the season with a 7-2 finish in Liverpool, but a too low OppWin% meant he was out of the tournament before Day 2. He then travelled to Australia and stayed there to make it to top 32 at OCIC and steal a win in Perth. Back in Europe, he went on to achieve his second top cut, a top 8 finish at Malmö, to put an end to his regular season, which was more prolific in Oceania than in his native Europe.

Taran likes to play online grassroots tournaments. This season, he made it to the top 16 of the Victory Road to Melbourne event. He also played the 2022 World Cup as part of Team United Kingdom.

Watch Taran’s victory over Davide Carrer in Malmö!

10. Mattie Morgan

At 650 CP, this is Mattie’s best season so far. This will be his third Worlds participation but only second as a Masters division player, as he participated as Senior in 2017. Last year, in 2022, Mattie made it all the way through Day 1 to Day 2, but he now has a direct invite!

The Irishman’s started slow with some points in Liverpool and a top 32 in Bochum, but got better as he achieved an impressive top 16 finish at EUIC, and culminated in an upset victory in Malmö, his first-ever major event win.

Mattie commonly participates in grassroots tournaments, and has made it to the semifinals of the VR Welcome to Paldea, top cut of the Victory Road to Melbourne, and a new top cut at the Victory Road to Yokohama, with this bulky, balanced Regulation Set D team. Additionally, Mattie is one of the co-managers of Team Ireland in the World Cup since 2021.

Watch Mattie’s win in Malmö!

11. Joan Perelló

At 640 CP, Joan is capitalizing on some great mid-season results and will play in the World Championships for the first time.

The Spaniard got some points in Bochum, but his season could be summed up in two weeks of April, as he got an extraordinary 4th place in the Global Challenge I and reached semifinals of EUIC. Joan travelled to North America to make Day 2 at NAIC and secured his Worlds Day 2 invite.

Watch Joan’s victory over James Evans at the top cut of EUIC!

12. Davide Carrer

At 632 CP, Davide will play in Worlds Day 2 for the fifth time, having reached this stage in 2017, 2018 (all the way from Day 1), 2019 and 2022. His last appearance ended in a fantastic top 8 finish which he will try to overcome!

The Italian started the season with a top 32 in both Liverpool and Bochum and a Day 2 appearance in Utrecht, and culminated it with a top 16 at EUIC. Davide’s only top cut this season was in Malmö, in which he made it to top 8.

Watch Davide’s set versus Fevzi Özkan in Bochum!

13. Flavio Del Pidio

At 630 CP, Flavio is looking forward to his fourth time at the World Championships, where he has previously participated in Day 2 in 2018, 2019 and 2022, the latter of which making it all the way to top 16. He is a former International Champion, and the next step lies ahead!

The Italian saw his Liverpool run end after failing to make Day 2 despite his 7-2 record. He went on to finish in top 32 in Utrecht and a peak top 16 at EUIC, while also making it to the 12th place of the Global Challenge III. Some more points in other Regional-level events were enough to secure the Day 2 invite!

Flavio likes to stream his grassroots tournament runs in his Twitch channel “PadoVGC”. He has also been player and co-manager for Team Italy in the World Cup since 2021; they reached top 16 last year!

Watch Flavio’s set versus Guillermo Castilla in Bochum!

14. Pan Si Ming

At 612 CP and having moved to the United Kingdom, Si Ming has qualified for his second Worlds! He already participated in Day 2 in 2022 after winning last year’s Hong Kong National Championship in his home region.

The Hongkonger is a beast in ladder events, and he took advantage of that by winning the Global Challenge I. Already with a Worlds Day 1 invite in his hand, he tried to defend his National title in the TPC-run competition: he won the in-game ladder Qualifier and tried to defend his title, but ended his run in top 8 of the Hong Kong National, played with a brutal single-elimination, best-of-1 structure. Si Ming decided to go for the Day 2 race in Europe and travelled to the United States to achieve a top 16 finish at NAIC, successfully earning a Worlds Day 2 spot!

Si Ming is a name commonly found in the top spots of the in-game monthly ladder seasons of Ranked Battles. He achieved a 27th place in Season 3, in Regulation Set B; and an 18th place in Season 6, in Regulation Set C. If you find “Lanbaoshi” (蓝宝石) on ladder, it’s likely you’re facing him!

Watch Si Ming’s victory over Patrick Cheng at the top 64 of the Hong Kong National!

15. Leonardo Bonanomi

At 600 CP, Leonardo will be playing his fifth World Championships. He previously played in Day 1 in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022. In 2019, he made it all the way to Day 2; and in 2022, he pushed even further, making it all the way to Day 2 for the second time in a row, and also making top cut!

The Italian started his major results with a top 32 in Bochum, another top 32 in Utrecht and yet another top 32 at EUIC. He went on to improve those results with a top 16 in Malmö and another top 16 in Turin. He was so close several times, but never converted those results into a top cut, as he did with last year’s World Championships!

Leonardo has been a player for Team Italy in the World Cup since 2021; they reached top 16 last year!

Watch Leonardo’s victory over Giacomo Bovolenta in Day 2 of Turin!

16. Kevin Salvetto

At 590 CP, Kevin has earned the last European Day 2 spot in the World Championships, and will be playing it for the third time, second as a Master. He played back in 2015 in the Seniors Division, earning a top 16 finish, and again in 2022, already a Master, in Day 1. Now he has a direct pass to Day 2!

The Cuban-Italian’s season has been just good enough for what he needed. He found some success in North America with a top 32 finish in Orlando, and came back to Europe for a top 16 in Utrecht and a Day 2 finish at EUIC. He got an impressive 17th place in the Global Challenge III, and with some more points here and there he took that last Day 2 spot.

Kevin commonly plays grassroots tournaments, and made top cut at the VR Welcome to Paldea event at the start of the season. He has not been featured in any stream this season, which may play to his advantage at Worlds!

Day 1 players

Europe and the Middle East & South Africa (ME&SA) TPCi regions have 74 representatives in Day 1 of Worlds, some of which are big names in the scene. These include 2-time National Champion Francesco Pardini, 2013 World Champion Arash Ommati, former International Champions Alessio Yuri Boschetto and Simone Sanvito, 2-time National Champion and 2022 Worlds finalist Guillermo Castilla, and the defending World Champion Eduardo Cunha.

The following list comprises all other players with 250 or more CP in the Europe rating zone, those with over 200 CP in the ME&SA rating zone, and are based on the official Play! Pokémon leaderboard, or who qualified through last year’s Worlds results.

2022 WCS

400+ CP

300-399 CP

250-299 CP

200+ CP (ME&SA)