The 2023 Pokémon Card Masters Beijing was the first major regional tournament of Mainland China’s Sword / Shield TCG era. It kicked off the 2023 regional tournament circuit within China, with several major cities each hosting large tournaments. Over 3000 trainers competed in this tournament.
The event was held from June 23-24, 2023 at the China International Exhibition Center (Chaoyang Hall) in Beijing, China.
Entry
The tournament was divided into 3 age groups, which each division having different entry methods. Participants who were eligible for multiple groups could choose which to participate in, but could only compete in one.
- Open Group: Participants must be 9 years old and above (born on or before July 13, 2015)
- Junior Group: Participants are 13 years old and above, and under 18 years old (born between July 15, 2006 and July 14, 2011)
- Children’s Group: Participants are 9 years old and above, and under 13 years old (born between July 15, 2011 and July 14, 2015)
Qualifiers (Open Group)
For the Open Group, qualifier tournaments were held nationwide. Based on the number of participants in each tournament, Trainers who achieved a certain ranking at each tournament can obtain a bye or qualification to participate in the open group. This qualifiers used the the standard competition format , using a deck of 60 cards and 6 prize cards.
When the number of participants was 64-127, the champion of the qualifying tournament would be eligible for two byes in the preliminaries of the Masters Tournament Beijing, the runner-up will be eligible for one bye preliminaries of the Masters Tournament Beijing, and the third and fourth place winners will be eligible to participate in the Masters Tournament Beijing.
When the number of participants was 128 or above, the champion of the qualifying tournament will be eligible for two byes in the preliminaries of the Masters Tournament Beijing, the runner-up will be eligible for one bye in the preliminaries of the Masters Tournament Beijing, and the third to eighth place will be eligible to participate in the Masters Tournament Beijing.
The Qualifiers were held from June 10-18, 2024 in two batches.
Lottery (Open and Junior groups)
Using the official “Pokémon Card Membership” WeChat mini program, Trainers could register for a participation opportunity via lottery. The registration period was 18:00:00, June 7, 2023 (Wednesday) to 23:59:59, June 13, 2023 (Tuesday). The following allocations were given via lottery:
- 3000 Open group Trainers
- 128 Junior Group Trainers
Winners were notified via WeChat by June 14, 2023. Additionally, on the day of the event any unfilled spots were distributed to on-site attendees via lottery.
On-site registration (Children group)
Children Group Trainers who wanted to participate in the competition needed to register as members of the “Pokémon Card Membership” applet and bring their valid ID to enter.
Tournament Structure
The tournament was divided into 2 main segments, the initial “preliminary” stage and the main competition. For the Open Group, the preliminary took place on June 23, and for the two younger age groups they took place on the same day of the main competition on June 24.
Schedule
Open Group
Preliminary
- June 23, 2023 (Friday)
- Admission (Online applicants and those who have qualified in the preliminary round): 8:00~9:00
- Admission (on-site recording): 9:00~10:00
- Competition: 10:30~21:00
Main Competition
- June 24, 2023 (Saturday)
- Admission: 8:00~9:00
- Competition: 9:00~20:00
Junior Group
- Admission (online registration): 8:00~9:00
- Admission (on-site recording): 9:00~9:30
- Competition: 9:30~17:30
Children’s Group
- Registration/Admission: 10:00~14:30
- Competition: 12:00~17:30
Format
The tournament used the standard competition format, with 60-card decks and 6 prize cards. Due to the Chinese TCG releasing many sets at once to catch up with the current international sets, the card pool for the event was unusually large and had several powerful cards all technically legal at the same time. Therefore, the following 12 cards were banned from the competition:
Preliminary
The preliminary round was played on June 23 by trainers in the Open Group age divisions. Juniors and Childrens Groups would play both their preliminary round and main competition on June 24. All participants of the preliminary tournament received a sealed booster pack containing one of 3 cards:
In the Open Group, all players were evenly divided into Group A or Group B, and each group would play 25 minute best-of-one Swiss rounds separately with a maximum of 9 rounds. In the Juniors and Group, there was only one group as there were fewer competitors.
Wins would award 3 points, and losses 0 points. There were no draws. If a winner was not determined at the end of the game’s overtime turns, both players would lose the game.
Trainers who had placed highly in the Qualifier tournaments would get byes for up to the first 2 rounds, depending on how well they had placed.
After the final round of the preliminaries, the scores of all Open Group players in Groups A and B were combined. Junior and Children Groups players didn’t need to combine scores as there was only one group. The top players in each age division advanced to the main competition.
While the Open and Junior Groups utilized a swiss tournament system in the preliminaries, the Children Group utilized a “Victory Breakthrough system” instead. In this system, each game was a best-of-1 match. The competition had 0 win zone, 1 win zone, 2 win zone, and 3 win zone. Each participating trainer started from the 0-win zone. According to the accumulated number of wins, the trainer would advance to the corresponding zone for battle. The first 8 who entered the 3 win zone would advance to the main competition.
In the event of a tie, ranking was determined based on independent match calculations.
In total the following number of players advanced to the Main competition:
- Open Group: top 128 players after combining scores from Groups A & B
- Juniors Group: Top 8 players
- Children Group: Top 8 players
Depending on the number of matches they won, players in each age group would also receive a Rare Candy promo card stamped with the tournament’s logo.
- Open Group: 6 wins or more in the preliminaries
- Junior Group: 4 wins or more in the preliminaries
- Children’s Group: 3 wins or more in the preliminaries
Main Competition (All Groups)
The main competition was a single-elimination tournament. The match structure and game time differed depending on age group.
- In the Open Group, each round was played as a best-of-3 match for 70 minutes.
- In the Juniors and Children Group, each round was played as a best-of-1 match for 35 minutes
There was a complex system for tiebreakers in the main competition. The player with the fewest prize cards remaining would be the winner at the end of game time, but if both players had the same number remaining, the follow rules would be followed:
Tiebreaker system
1. If the winner has not been determined at the end of the game time, the game will continue as follows:
1.1 If it is the turn of the first attacker in the current match, the game will continue, and after the current turn, the second attacker will be given an additional turn, and no additional turns will be given thereafter.
1.2 If it is the turn of the second attacker in the current match, the game will continue until the end of the current turn, and no additional turns will be added.
※Pokémon inspection is not included.
2. If the winner is still undecided at the end of the specified time, the winner will be determined or the game will continue according to the following situations:
2.1 If the first match is still undecided:
2.1.1 If the two teams have different numbers of Reward Cards required to win, the team with the fewer Reward Cards required to win wins the game.
2.1.2 If both parties have the same number of Reward Cards required to win, the game will continue until one party reaches the winning condition, or the number of Reward Cards required to win by one party is less than that of the other party, and that party wins the game.
2.1.3 If both players reach the game victory conditions at the same time after continuing the game, resulting in a draw, an additional point-grabbing match with only one reward card will be held, and the winner of the point-grabbing match will win the game.
2.2 If the second match is still undecided, and both sides have more than or equal to 3 Reward Cards to win, the second match is considered a draw, and the winner of the first match wins the match.
2.3 If the second match is still undecided, and one (or both) of the two sides has less than or equal to 2 Reward Cards to win:
2.3.1 If the two teams have different numbers of Reward Cards required to win, the team with the fewer Reward Cards required to win wins the second match.
2.3.2 If both parties have the same number of Reward Cards required to win, the game will continue until one party reaches the winning condition, or if one party has fewer Reward Cards required to win than the other party, then that party wins the second game.
2.3.3 If both players reach the game winning conditions at the same time after continuing the game and the game ends in a tie, an additional point-scoring match with only one reward card will be played. The winner of the point-scoring match will win the second match.
2.3.4 If both teams have 1 win in this game due to 2.3.1, 2.3.2, or 2.3.3, an additional point-scoring game with only 1 reward card will be played. The winner of the point-scoring game wins the game.
2.4 If the third match is still undecided:
2.4.1 If the two teams have different numbers of Reward Cards required to win, the team with the fewer Reward Cards required to win wins the game.
2.4.2 If both parties have the same number of Reward Cards required to win, the game will continue until one party reaches the winning condition, or the number of Reward Cards required to win by one party is less than that of the other party, and that party wins the game.
2.4.3 If both players reach the game victory conditions at the same time after continuing the game, resulting in a draw, an additional point-grabbing match with only one reward card will be held, and the winner of the point-grabbing match will win the game.
At the end of the Main Competition there would be an awards ceremony for all the winners.
Prizes
The top 64 players in the Open Group received a Top 64 stamped Rare Candy with the tournament logo
Players in all age groups who placed 5th – 8th would receive a Top 8 stamped Rare Candy with the tournament logo.
The 3rd and 4th place players of each age group would receive both a 3rd place Rare Candy and a 3rd place Victory Proof card.
The 2nd place players of each age group would receive both a Runner-up Rare Candy and a Runner-up Victory Proof card.
The champion of each age group would receive both a Champion Rare Candy and a Champion Victory Proof card.
The Champion of the Open Group also received a special ceremonial trophy plate and “Master Fan” of the 2023 Pokémon Trading Card Game Masters Beijing.
All participants also received tournament points based on their final placements. These would factor into which players from China would get invites to the World Championships.
Side events
Like major tournaments in other regions, there were also numerous side events for attendees to participate in. These events would give points that could be redeemed for exclusive merchandise at the event.
Special event booster packs were also distributed with promo cards in them for participants of all side events.
Pokémon Cards Beginner Classroom
This event was meant for new or beginning players to learn how to play the Pokemon TCG. Trainers who participated in it would get a paper playmat.
Newbies welcome!
This side event was meant for Trainers to learn more advanced techniques. Preconstructed decks were distributed to participants to use.
Points were awarded based on the number of wins.
TAG TEAM Doubles
This side event was a 2v2 team event. Each team would compete in best-of-1 matches, with points being awarded based on the number of wins.
Fairy Eevee Challenge
This side event was meant to increase the representation of female Trainers playing the TCG. Only girls were allowed to compete in this event.
Points were awarded based on the number of wins.
Breakthrough
This side event had “zones” similar to the Children’s Group tournament. There were 0, 1, 2, and 3 win zones, with a player advancing to a new zone with each corresponding win. Upon winning a match in the 3-win zone, the player would make a “breakthrough” and win the competition.
Points were awarded based on the number of wins.
Battle Party Experience event (8-player competition)
This event had an entry fee of 28 yuan and was an 8-player competition. Participants had to use the Pokémon Card Mini App to register for the event. It utilized a new product made specifically for in-person side events called the Battle Party Pack.
Each Battle Party Pack includes eight 60-card decks that represent a different type, three Battle Master Reward Packs, one Battle King Reward Pack, a score sheet, and four cardboard sheets containing damage counters, Special Condition markers, GX markers, and a coin.
The cards from each deck are enclosed in three 20-card packs, which are held in a plastic wallet. Each pack bears the expansion code of the deck it belongs to, should the box contents become jumbled. The cards within these packs are always the same for each deck; however, each one has a chance to have all cards inside printed in Reverse Holofoil instead of the standard non-Holofoil.
Battle Master Reward Packs come in silver packaging and contain one random card from the Reward Packs’ regular card list. Battle King Reward Packs come in gold packaging and contain one random card from the Reward Packs’ Secret card list. All cards from the Reward Packs are Holofoil.
Trainers would randomly select 1 Battle Deck to compete in 3 rounds of Swiss Battles. Based on the actual battle results, 1 Battle King and 3 Battle Masters would be decided, and they would receive the gold Battle King Reward Pack and silver Battle Master Reward Pack included in the [Battle Party Pack accordingly.
Battle Party King’s Contest (64-player competition)
This event had an entry fee of 32 yuan and was an 64-player competition. Similar to the 8-player Battle Party Experience event, it utilized the Battle Party Pack product.
8 groups of 8 players would each open open one Battle Party Pack per group and compete in a 3-round Swiss tournament.
The 8 winners of each group would then open a new Battle Party Pack in the finals and use those decks to compete in another 3-round Swiss tournament to determine a champion.
All trainers who participated in the event received a promotional The Masked Royal promo card.
The champion of each event would also receive a full art etched holofoil The Masked Royal promo card.
Carnival
At the event were also other attractions besides Pokemon TCG-themed ones. These were known as the Pokemon Carnival.
There was a “Pokémon Sun & Moon” exhibition area where attendees could participate in question-and-answer interactions, check in and take photos, and visit the “Dream Journey” short film scene and to watch a movie!
Trainers who visited the Pokémon Animation Gallery will had the opportunity to prizes.
Additionally, there was an area for the Pokemon Gaole arcade game. Trainers who participated in the experience event can receive a special bonus Tapu-Koko Gaole piece while supplies lasted.
There was a “challenge” area themed around four attributes: “grass”, “fire”, “water” and “electricity”. Attendees could participate in these challenges to get prized.
Various costumed Pokemon were also at the event for photo opportunities.
Lastly, like most official events, there was a store that sold various goods and cards.
Legacy
Continuing from the success of the first 2023 Pokemon Card Masters Guangzhou event, the Masters Beijing event kicked off a series of Sword & Shield era regional tournaments, with Masters tournaments being held in Shenzhen and Shanghai for the rest of 2023. These tournaments would continue in 2024 and onwards, with new locations like Suzhou being added in 2025.
