Where was the first Pokémon World Championships held in 2004?

The first Pokémon World Championships were held in Orlando, Florida, in 2004.

The inaugural event took place at the Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa. It established an international competitive structure for Pokémon players, although the earliest championship format and event details differed from the modern tournaments watched by millions online.

The Pokémon World Championships now bring together top players from multiple competitive disciplines, including the Pokémon Trading Card Game and video games. Regional and international qualifying events determine much of the field, while special invitation systems have also been used.

Orlando is sometimes mistaken for Honolulu because Hawaii hosted later Pokémon championship events, including the 2007 and 2010 tournaments at Hilton Waikoloa Village. Despite Pokémon being a Japanese franchise, most World Championships have historically been held in the United States.