CGC Trading Cards Certifies Complete 2015 Pokémon World Championships No. 1-4 Pikachu Trophy Cards

One of each of the 2015 Pokémon World Championships Trophies — among the rarest and most desired English trophy cards from the franchise — have recently been certified by the experts at CGC® Trading Cards. These cards are numbered 1 through 4, corresponding with the final placement that each competitor must achieve to receive these coveted awards. Overall, the cards received grades from Near Mint/Mint (CGC 8) to Near Mint/Mint + (CGC 8.5). Only a few collectors have ever been able to put together complete sets of these cards, let alone sets within a matching year of release.

Each trophy features Pikachu in full display brandishing a large trophy cup in either Gold (No. 1), Silver (No. 2), or Bronze (No. 3 and No. 4). The prizes are adorned with some of the most ornate texturing ever used in the production of Pokémon Trading Cards.

2015 Pokemon World Championships Trophy Cards Trainer No. 1-4 Click image to enlarge.

Beginning in 2014, the Full Art versions of the World Championships Trophies were given to the highest-ranking competitors at the internationally anticipated event. This particular 2015 set comes from the second time this artwork was ever awarded to winners. In order to complete a set, collectors need to obtain cards from at least four separate competitors because each competitor only receives one trophy card, based on their placement, when they achieve the grand feat of Top 4 in the world.

Due to cancellations of the 2020 and 2021 Pokémon World Championships amid the coronavirus pandemic, this art has not been distributed since the 2019 Pokémon World Championships held in Washington D.C. from August 16-18.

Earning a trophy card

Competitors seeking a chance to earn a trophy only have two ways of doing so: the annual Trading Card Game tournament and the annual Video Game tournament, each of which provides its top four finishers with trophy cards. Each tournament is comprised of three age divisions: Juniors (Kids 10 and under), Seniors (11-14) and Masters (15+).

In total, there are only six copies of each trophy distributed each year (one for each age division of each of the two tournaments). Each year’s trophies are uniquely marked by their copyright date, the dated invitation in the card’s primary text and the World Championships logo in the bottom right of each card.

These trophies join the ranks of other high-end Pokémon rarities that CGC Trading Cards has graded, such as the “holy grail” Pokémon Illustrator Card, several coveted Battle Road varieties, and the recently-auctioned Blastoise test card.