The Pokémon Company Launches 2026-27 Thailand Premier Ball League at Sirikit National Convention Center

Key summary

On October 24, The Pokémon Company opened the 2026-27 Thailand Premier Ball League at the Sirikit National Convention Center. This event is part of the Pokémon Asia Championship Series for the 2026-27 season, held across seven regions: Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines. The competition features two formats: Pokémon TCG and VGC, utilizing the game Pokémon Champions as the platform. In addition to official matches, the event included trial play sessions, exhibitions, and entertainment zones open to media and the public. Jushiro Kitamura, Director of Pokémon TCG Competition Management for Asia and Asia Director at The Pokémon Company, stated that the company aims to increase opportunities for players in Thailand and other regions with growing communities by providing activities tailored to different player groups. Beyond the Premier Ball League, the company is developing the Great Ball League, held at Pokémon Gym stores, and the Ultra Ball League, a mid-sized competition between the two larger formats. For the 2026-27 season, age divisions were introduced for the Ultra Ball League to allow younger players to participate comfortably, with future adjustments planned based on attendance and player feedback. Kitamura also noted that The Pokémon Company is using the Pokémon GAME ON! concept to help players find suitable activities via the project website. Feedback from participants in the Premier Ball League and Great Ball League will be collected through surveys to improve management and elevate the player experience across Thailand. In the 2025-26 season, the Premier Ball League and Master Ball League saw record participation across the seven regions, with average competitor numbers increasing by more than double compared to two years prior in several locations. Consequently, the 2026-27 season in Thailand required expanded venue space to accommodate community growth. A key highlight for the 2026-27 season is the full implementation of the Pokémon GAME ON! project, launched on August 7, 2026 (2569 BE), aimed at making battles accessible to all levels from beginners to experienced competitors. The concept appears on posters, venue decorations, prizes, and competition start phrases. Promotional Pokémon GAME ON! cards are available at participating Pokémon TCG Gyms starting September 1, 2026 (2569 BE) until stocks run out. At the Thailand Premier Ball League 2026-27, fans can experience Pokémon TCG and VGC competitions in Junior, Senior, and Master divisions. The event also featured a 30th Anniversary exhibition displaying cards and artwork from the '30th CELEBRATION' booster pack, a New Trainer Journey zone for beginners to learn rules and try Pokémon TCG, a Nintendo Switch 2 zone for playing Pokémon Pokopia and other games, a Pokémon TCG Pocket zone for challenges with additional points for winning three consecutive matches, an anime zone for Pokémon Horizons: The Series featuring a Meet & Greet with Captain Pikachu, the PLAKORO dice battle game, and supplementary activities from Pokémon GO and Pokémon MEZASTAR.