The Pokémon Company has announced the Pokémon Trading Card Game AI Battle Challenge with substantial monetary prizes for the participants. The Pokémon Trading Card Game AI Battle Challenge will offer fans a new way to experience the globally popular Pokémon Trading Card Game in a unique format. The challenge invites AI developers and researchers to explore how the latest AI technologies can be applied to the dynamic environment of Pokémon TCG gameplay.

YouTube Clip - Pokémon Trading Card Game AI Battle Challenge

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXOEDkPNoGI

The Pokémon Trading Card Game AI Battle Challenge

Is AI ready to take on the Pokémon TCG?
AI has faced other strategic tabletop games like Chess, Shogi, and Go. Now, AI takes on a new challenge: the Pokémon Trading Card Game. There are thousands of cards to choose from, but only sixty cards in each deck. There are type matchups, draw order, and a multitude of gameplay strategies to be explored. A game where every card played reveals a new path in a vast array of new possibilities. It is AI's turn to play. What can we expect to see?

Prizes

First Round:
Simulation Category - No prize money will be provided for the Simulation Category.
Strategy Category - 1st - 8th Place - $30,000 (per team). The top 8 teams will qualify for Second Round. In the event that a top 8 team declines their invitation, the spot will be offered to the next highest-ranking team.

Second Round:
Winner - $50,000
Runner-up - $30,000
For All Finalists - All Second Round Participants $3,000 (per individual) in Google Cloud Credits

Challenge Points

The Key Complexities Facing AI in the Pokémon TCG.

RULES OVERVIEW

Official Rules & Game Format
All matches in the Pokémon Trading Card Game AI Battle Challenge will leverage rules and regulations based on the Standard format but uniquely tailored for this tournament. However, only cards from a designated list provided by the organizers may be used. Each player will receive a maximum of 10 minutes to complete a match, and players that run out of the allotted time will lose the match.

The first round consists of two categories: the Simulation Category and the Strategy Category.
The first round: Simulation Category Period: 20:00 (JST) June 16, 2026 - 8:59 (JST) August 17, 2026 In the Simulation Category, teams will submit their developed AI Training Agent for continuous automated matches on Kaggle. Rankings will be determined in real-time on a live leaderboard using Kaggle’s proprietary rating system. Submissions are limited to five per team, per day, beginning 20:00 (JST) June 16, 2026 through 8:59 (JST) August 17, 2026.

The first round: Strategy Category Submission Period: 20:00 (JST) June 16, 2026 - 8:59 (JST) September 14, 2026
In the Strategy Category, teams must submit a report detailing the strategic logic behind the AI Training Agent submitted to the Simulation Category. Rankings will be determined by scoring the AI Training Agent’s stability, deck design concept, and Simulation Category performance. Submission is limited to one per team, beginning 20:00 (JST) June 16, 2026 through 8:59 (JST) September 14, 2026.

Second Round
The official rankings for the Simulation Category will be finalized following an approximately two-week evaluation period after its final submission deadline on August 17, 2026. Subsequently, the Strategy Category evaluations will be conducted after its deadline on September 14, 2026, also following an approximately two-week evaluation period. The top 8 teams from the Strategy Category will qualify for the Second Round (the Finals), which will be held at a separate venue. Further details will be sent individually to the qualifying teams. The Second Round is scheduled to be broadcast on YouTube later in 2026 and will be archived for on-demand viewing.

SCHEDULE

FIRST ROUND - Simulation Category: 2026.06.16 (JST) - 2026.08.17 (JST)
Strategy Category: 2026.06.16 (JST) - 2026.09.14 (JST)

SECOND ROUND - Scheduled for later in 2026

Organizer

Source: https://ptcg-abc.pokemon.co.jp/?lang=en