Just days after the city hosted Pokémon GO Fest in Grant Park, Chicago has been named the host of the 2027 Pokémon North American International Championship.
According to organizers, the annual event, which had been held for the last three years in New Orleans, will move to the Windy City next year, bringing together some of the top Pokémon players in the world to compete for more than $500,000 in prizes.
In addition to the cash prizes, players who finish in the top spots in each of the different types of Pokémon games qualify for the world championships, which are held later in the year.
According to organizers, players compete in three different types of games, including the Pokémon trading card game, the Pokémon Champions video game and in Pokémon GO, a mobile game that is marking a decade of encouraging players to visit different parts of their communities in pursuit of the game’s titular characters.
For fans and competitors, the event typically features a Pokémon pop-up shop, unique photo opportunities with characters from the video games and more, according to a press release.
Chicago recently hosted Pokémon GO Fest around Grant Park in early June, drawing thousands of players to the city. Players were offered opportunities to catch exclusive Pokémon, compete in different events and to explore parts of the city.
More information can be found on the Pokémon tournament website.
