The 2023 World Championships, which will be held on 11ā13 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.
Table of Contents
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: ItalianĀ Arash OmmatiĀ inĀ 2013, and PortugueseĀ Eduardo CunhaĀ inĀ 2022. Last year, the all-European finals also featured SpaniardĀ Guillermo CastillaĀ in second place, a feat that had only been achieved byĀ Matteo Gini (2011) before. Going further down, only someĀ top 4 finishes have been achieved by Europeans: it is the case of SpaniardsĀ RubĆ©n PuigĀ (2011) andĀ Abel SanzĀ (2012), Germans Markus Liu (2014) and Markus Stadter (2016), as well as EduardoĀ (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 BritonĀ Calvin FosterĀ and ItalianĀ Davide CarrerĀ 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 finishĀ this time. In the road to EUIC, he reached top 8 inĀ Bochum, semifinals inĀ Utrecht, and a 10th place in the firstĀ Global Challenge, but could not advance to Day 2 atĀ EUIC. In the latter part of the season, he got a 13th place at theĀ third Global Challenge, was a finalist inĀ MalmƶĀ and ended the season with a fantastic top 8 atĀ 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 inĀ Season 1. He commonly plays in grassroots tournaments, and has achieved a top 16 in theĀ VR Welcome to Paldea, semifinals in theĀ Victory Road to Melbourne, and a top 16 in theĀ VR April Challenge. In Regulation Set D, he earned the victory in one of the largestĀ NinoPokeBros online eventsĀ withĀ this oppresive team! Additionally, Marco has played for the Italian team in theĀ World CupĀ 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!
2. 
Eric Rios
At 1090Ā 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 inĀ LiverpoolĀ and a top 16 atĀ OCIC. He came from Oceania to play even better, taking a top 16 inĀ BochumĀ and a very important victory inĀ Utrecht, but could not get that streak going into EUIC to renew last year’s title. A 22nd place in theĀ Global Challenge IIIĀ and new top 16 finishes inĀ MalmƶĀ and atĀ NAICĀ closed the season for him.
Eric has been a part of the Spanish team in theĀ World CupĀ since 2021. You can find him also on his Twitch channel “Riopaser”, as he is a Spanish-language content creator.
WatchĀ Eric’s win in Utrecht!
3. Ćlex GĆ³mez
At 1068 CP, Ćlex 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 Ćlex’s career. He started the season with a top 32 inĀ Liverpool, a top 16 inĀ Bochum, and semifinals inĀ Utrecht, but it seemed victory was again slipping from his hands. The top 16 he achieved atĀ EUICĀ 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, Ćlex culminated his season and became an International Champion as he got the victory atĀ NAIC!
Ćlex has been a manager and player of Team Spain in theĀ World CupĀ since 2021. You can also find him onĀ his Twitch channel “PokeAlexVGC”, as he also is a Spanish-language content creator.
Watch Ćlex’s win at NAIC!
At 942 CP, VĆctor is the third Spaniard on this list so far! This is the fourth time VĆctor 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, VĆctor also started the season with a top 32 inĀ Liverpool. He went on to repeat that result with top 32 finishes inĀ BochumĀ andĀ Utrecht, and finally improved that with a top 16 atĀ EUIC. He continued his improvement with another top 16 inĀ TurinĀ and finally a very special semifinals finish atĀ NAIC, equating his career-best result as a Masters player.
VĆctor has been part of Team Spain in theĀ World CupĀ since 2021.
5. 
AurƩlien Soula
At 902 CP, AurĆ©lien 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 playerĀ starts now from Day 2!
The Frenchman started the season with a 7-2 record inĀ Liverpool, but was out of Day 2 as back then the tournament structure had not yet changed. After his impressive top 16 atĀ OCICĀ in his first International as a Master, the Regional system changed, and he reached semifinals inĀ BochumĀ and finals inĀ Utrecht, before making it to Day 2 ofĀ 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 inĀ Turin.
AurĆ©lien has been part of Team France in theĀ World CupĀ since 2021. In last year’s edition, they made it to the semifinals!
At 870 CP, Nico Davide is back at the top level of play. This is theĀ 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 AurĆ©lien, Nico Davide also started the season with a 7-2 record inĀ LiverpoolĀ but not advancing further. He proceeded to reach top 32 inĀ Utrecht, again atĀ EUICĀ and followed those with a very impressive 4th place at theĀ Global Challenge II. His season ended in the best way possible, as he won inĀ TurinĀ his first-ever major event!
Nico Davide was a part of Team Italy in theĀ 2022 World Cup, where they finished in top 16. He also is an Italian-language streamer inĀ his Twitch channel “desuvgc”.
WatchĀ Nico Davide’s win in Turin!
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 atĀ OCIC. He followed that with a top 8 finish inĀ UtrechtĀ and a big top 8 atĀ EUIC. After those back-to-back top cuts, he finished his season with a top 16 inĀ MalmƶĀ and some points inĀ Turin.
Giulio likes to play grassroots tournaments and has made it to top cut in theĀ Victory Road to MelbourneĀ and top 16 in theĀ 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 theĀ 2022 World Cup, where they finished in top 16.
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 theĀ London Open, the Regional-level side event of the last World Championships, still with PokĆ©mon Sword & PokĆ©mon Shield. After the release of the new games, when the season continued, he made it to top 8 atĀ 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 inĀ UtrechtĀ and in Day 2 inĀ Turin, and in Day 2 as well at the last event of the regular season,Ā NAIC.
Thomas is also a content creator in French, better known as “Hari” forĀ his YouTube channel. Thomas also participated as part of Team France in theĀ 2022 World Cup, where they reached semifinals.
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 inĀ 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 atĀ OCICĀ and steal a win inĀ Perth. Back in Europe, he went on to achieve his second top cut, a top 8 finish atĀ Malmƶ, 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 theĀ Victory Road to MelbourneĀ event. He also played theĀ 2022 World CupĀ as part of Team United Kingdom.
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 inĀ LiverpoolĀ and a top 32 inĀ Bochum, but got better as he achieved an impressive top 16 finish atĀ EUIC, and culminated in an upset victory inĀ Malmƶ, his first-ever major event win.
Mattie commonly participates in grassroots tournaments, and has made it to the semifinals of theĀ VR Welcome to Paldea, top cut of theĀ Victory Road to Melbourne, and a new top cut at theĀ Victory Road to Yokohama, withĀ this bulky, balanced Regulation Set D team. Additionally, Mattie is one of the co-managers of Team Ireland in theĀ World CupĀ since 2021.
Watch Mattie’s win in Malmƶ!
11. Joan PerellĆ³
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 inĀ Bochum, but his season could be summed up in two weeks of April, as he got an extraordinary 4th place in theĀ Global Challenge IĀ and reached semifinals ofĀ EUIC. Joan travelled to North America to make Day 2 atĀ NAICĀ and secured his Worlds Day 2 invite.
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 bothĀ LiverpoolĀ andĀ BochumĀ and a Day 2 appearance inĀ Utrecht, and culminated it with a top 16 atĀ EUIC. Davide’s only top cut this season was inĀ Malmƶ, in which he made it to top 8.
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 hisĀ LiverpoolĀ run end after failing to make Day 2 despite his 7-2 record. He went on to finish in top 32 inĀ UtrechtĀ and a peak top 16 atĀ EUIC, while also making it to the 12th place of theĀ 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 inĀ his Twitch channel “PadoVGC”. He has also been player and co-manager for Team Italy in theĀ World CupĀ since 2021; they reached top 16 last year!
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 theĀ 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 ladderĀ QualifierĀ and tried to defend his title, but ended his run in top 8 of theĀ 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 atĀ 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 inĀ Season 3, in Regulation Set B; and an 18th place inĀ Season 6, in Regulation Set C. If you find “Lanbaoshi” (čå®ē³) on ladder, it’s likely you’re facing him!
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 makingĀ top cut!
The Italian started his major results with a top 32 inĀ Bochum, another top 32 inĀ UtrechtĀ and yet another top 32 atĀ EUIC. He went on to improve those results with a top 16 inĀ MalmƶĀ and another top 16 inĀ 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 theĀ World CupĀ since 2021; they reached top 16 last year!
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 inĀ Orlando, and came back to Europe for a top 16 inĀ UtrechtĀ and a Day 2 finish atĀ EUIC. He got an impressive 17th place in theĀ 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 theĀ VR Welcome to PaldeaĀ 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 ChampionĀ Francesco Pardini, 2013 World ChampionĀ Arash Ommati, former International ChampionsĀ Alessio Yuri BoschettoĀ andĀ Simone Sanvito, 2-time National Champion and 2022 Worlds finalistĀ Guillermo Castilla, and the defending World ChampionĀ 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! PokĆ©mon leaderboard, or who qualified through last year’s Worlds results.Ā
Ā Eduardo CunhaĀ (2022 World Champion)- Ā Guillermo CastillaĀ (2022 Worlds finalist)
- Ā Luca CeribelliĀ (580 CP)
- Ā Adam CherfaouiĀ (580 CP)
- Ā Giovanni PiscitelliĀ (565 CP)
- Ā Ćlex SotoĀ (550 CP)
Ā Oliver EskolinĀ (520 CP)- Ā Federico CamporesiĀ (520 CP)
- Ā Antonio SĆ”nchezĀ (490 CP)
- Ā Alessio Yuri BoschettoĀ (466 CP)
- Ā Francesco P. PeroĀ (430 CP)
Ā Zhang HengyueĀ (410 CP)
Ā Andrea OleaĀ (406 CP)
- Ā Rafa BusutilĀ (390 CP)
- Ā Lauri HalonenĀ (384 CP)
Ā Maurice UtegĀ (380 CP)- Ā Simone SanvitoĀ (376 CP)
- Ā Markus StadterĀ (370 CP)
- Ā Arash OmmatiĀ (370 CP)
Ā Bas van der HeijdenĀ (366 CP)- Ā Francesco RasiniĀ (365 CP)
- Ā Roberto ParenteĀ (360 CP)
Ā David KouteshĀ (360 CP)- Ā Baris AkcosĀ (356 CP)
- Ā Marco MarrasĀ (350 CP)
- Ā Francesco IozziaĀ (342 CP)
- Ā Quentin ClĆ©mentĀ (335 CP)
- Ā Sebastian LiĀ (328 CP)
Ā Nils DunlopĀ (320 CP)- Ā Francesco PardiniĀ (312 CP)
- Ā Michael KelschĀ (312 CP)
- Ā Faaiz AshfaqĀ (310 CP)
- Ā Sidy BadianeĀ (306 CP)
- Ā Alessandro MarchionneĀ (296 CP)
- Ā Ben MarkhamĀ (295 CP)
- Ā Timo van der VlietĀ (292 CP)
- Ā Juan M. OdriozolaĀ (290 CP)
- Abtin Ghaad Amini (290 CP)
- Ā JuliĆ”n PiƱeiroĀ (290 CP)
- Ā Joan GarcĆaĀ (285 CP)
- Ā Javier SeƱorenaĀ (280 CP)
- Ā Wang ShengyuĀ (280 CP)
- Ā Calvin FosterĀ (275 CP)
- Ā Pablo GallardoĀ (275 CP)
Ā Bartosz EkiertĀ (272 CP)- Ā Leung Pak HeiĀ (272 CP)
Ā Kurt WonkaĀ (270 CP)- Ā Antonio M. RodrigoĀ (270 CP)
- Ā Christian SmiljaniÄĀ (268 CP)
- Ā Fevzi ĆzkanĀ (267 CP)
- Ā Hippolyte BernardĀ (266 CP)
- Ā Nathan RoubyĀ (266 CP)
- Ā Juan BenĆtezĀ (262 CP)
- Ā Nicolas LegouxĀ (260 CP)
- Ā Giovanni PanarelloĀ (260 CP)
- Ā Sam BenthamĀ (260 CP)
- Ā Matt MaynardĀ (260 CP)
- Ā Jack ClarkeĀ (260 CP)
- Ā Anthony LiuzzoĀ (260 CP)
- NicolĆ² Pollato (260 CP)
- Ā Marc SeguĆĀ (260 CP)
- Ā Florian HenryĀ (258 CP)
- Ā Mateus de Moura P.Ā (257 CP)
- Ā Luca LussignoliĀ (257 CP)
Ā Ilias RoufogalisĀ (255 CP)- Ā David RidorsaĀ (255 CP)
- Ā Thomas DowlingĀ (254 CP)
Ā Nikolaj HĆøj NielsenĀ (252 CP)- Ā Eric E. LegrouxĀ (252 CP)
- Ā Frederik HĆøj NielsenĀ (252 CP)
- Ā Selahattin SturmĀ (252 CP)
- Ā Giuseppe MusiccoĀ (250 CP)
- Ā Andrea PaganoĀ (250 CP)
Ā Enosh ShacharĀ (250 CP)
Closing words
Congratulations to all European players having qualified for the World Championships! Coming from so much success in 2022, they are definitely a force to be reckoned in Japan. We wish you all the best of luck.
If you’re not attending, you can follow their battles from home. Check all info about the PokĆ©mon World ChampionshipsĀ here!
