Gotta catch them all: European Pokémon championships take place in London

The Pokémon Europe International Championships drew more than 7,000 competitors from 70 countries to London, making it Europe's largest e-sports tournament. The event showcased how the franchise has evolved from a 1990s Game Boy title into a global entertainment phenomenon. Judges formed a guard of honor to welcome players to the tournament floor, applauding as they entered the competition area. The championship trophy was on display, waiting for the eventual winner. A giant Pikachu hung from the event center ceiling, suspended high above the competition area below. Presenters introduced the opening ceremony on large screens positioned throughout the venue. The Pikachu mascot made its entrance into the arena to cheers from the crowd. More than 17,000 visitors filled the event floor from February 13 to 15, supported by over 1,100 staff working across the venue. Screens showcased Pokémon Go, the mobile game phenomenon that has received more than one billion downloads globally since launching in 2016. These are one-versus-one battles to catch Pokémon in the wild using the popular mobile phone app. In another area, players competed in Pokémon UNITE. Competitors formed teams of five players within their region and battled in five-versus-five matches on Nintendo Switch or mobile devices. Video game competitors played Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet across three age divisions. Players brought four Pokémon into double battles against their opponents. Chris Brown, Director of Global Esports and Events at The Pokémon Company International, said the scale of the tournament demonstrates the franchise's enduring appeal. “Today at this show, we've got over 6,800 competitors,” he said. “This is the largest e-sport tournament in Europe. One of the largest e-sport tournaments in the whole world.” Brown said the event attracted participants from every corner of the globe. “We've got 71 countries and regions represented. So, it truly is a global event. It's not just Europe,” he said. “We've got players from North America, from Latin America, obviously, of course, all over Europe.” This article was provided by The Associated Press.