ZETA DIVISION TCG Player Maku (Arai Kaito) Qualifies for Pokémon World Championships 2026 in San Francisco!

GANYMEDE Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Daisuke Nishihara), which operates the professional esports team "ZETA DIVISION," is pleased to announce that Maku (Arai Kaito) from its TCG division, specializing in POKÉMON CARD GAME, has secured a spot in the "Pokémon World Championships 2026" (hereinafter referred to as WCS2026), to be held from August 28 (Fri) to 30 (Sun), 2026, in San Francisco, California, USA, after achieving a high ranking in the "Pokémon Japan Championships 2026" (hereinafter referred to as PJCS2026) held on June 6 (Sat) at Pacifico Yokohama.

PJCS2026 Card Game Division Tournament Results

The PJCS2026 is Japan's highest-level official tournament, determining the best in Japan across four divisions: Video Games, Card Game, Pokémon GO, and Pokémon UNITE. It also serves as the final qualifier for the "Pokémon World Championships 2026" (hereinafter referred to as WCS2026), where elite players who have triumphed in regional Champions Leagues and City Leagues gathered for the card game division.

The Master League was held over two days. Day 1 featured a Swiss-draw format (BO1) with up to 10 rounds, where only players with two losses or fewer advanced to Day 2. On Day 2, the main tournament continued with Swiss-draw matches, carrying over the win-loss records from the previous day. The top 8 players advanced to the single-elimination finals. The winner of the BO3 format tournament earned the title of Japan Champion.

In the Master League, the top 64 players overall qualified for the WCS2026, with the top 4 receiving an invitation with travel expense support.

Maku achieved a strong record of 9 wins and 1 loss on Day 1, securing his advancement to Day 2. In his first match on Day 2, which was selected as a featured match (MAIN FEATURE), he achieved a decisive victory. Carrying his momentum from the previous day, he finished the Swiss rounds in 1st place and advanced to the top 8 finals. Although he was narrowly defeated in a mirror match in the finals, resulting in a final ranking of 5th-8th place, he successfully secured his qualification for the WCS2026.

Maku (Arai Kaito) will now compete on the world's highest stage against top players from various regions.

Pokémon World Championships 2026 Tournament Details

Tournament Name: Pokémon World Championships 2026

Date: August 28 (Fri) - 30 (Sun), 2025

Location: Moscone Center, San Francisco, California, USA

Official Website: https://worlds.pokemon.com/ja-jp

About ZETA DIVISION

Established in 2018, ZETA DIVISION is a leading brand that continues to establish a gaming lifestyle and disseminate new culture. We aim to enrich the lives of gamers and the surrounding culture, discover new creators, and shape the next generation of culture. We strive to continuously transmit new styles unbound by existing culture, aiming for a future where gaming culture is established as a widely accepted common value.

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