Pokémon TCG AI Battle Challenge 2026
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Quick Answer
AI competition on Kaggle by The Pokémon Company: the top eight Strategy teams each win US$30,000 (about ₹28.5 lakh). Open worldwide; entries closed 13 September 2026.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- The Pokémon Company
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- International
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 14 September 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by The Pokémon Company. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this competition
The Pokémon Trading Card Game AI Battle Challenge is a data-science and AI competition run by The Pokémon Company of Tokyo on Kaggle, with HEROZ and the Matsuo Institute. In the Strategy Category, the eight best teams each receive US$30,000 (about ₹28.5 lakh) from a US$240,000 pool. Entries closed on 13 September 2026 and judging is under way.
What the program offers
The Strategy Category ("Main Track") has a total prize pool of US$240,000 (about ₹2.28 crore). The top eight teams, from first to eighth place, each receive US$30,000 (about ₹28.5 lakh), paid in US dollars. The Kaggle page adds that finalists may also be invited to an in-person tournament hosted by The Pokémon Company in Tokyo, date to be decided. The Simulation Category, which feeds into the strategy ranking, pays no prize money. The competition is a skills contest rather than a grant: money goes to the teams that rank highest.
Who can apply
The contest is open to individuals and teams of up to five people worldwide. Entrants must be 18 or the age of majority where they live, and residents of Crimea, the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, Cuba, Iran and North Korea, or anyone under US export controls or sanctions, cannot enter. There is no India exclusion in the rules, so Indian developers, students and small AI teams could take part. It suits machine-learning engineers and game-AI developers who like reinforcement learning or search methods; it does not suit people who only want a pitch-style contest, because the entry is technical.
How to apply
Teams had to register on Kaggle and accept the rules before the entry deadline of 6 September 2026. The structure has two parts that must be entered together. In the Simulation Category (16 June to 17 August 2026), teams submit an AI Training Agent that plays automated matches on a live leaderboard, with up to five submissions per team per day. In the Strategy Category (submission deadline 13 September 2026), the same team submits a written report of up to 2,000 words explaining the strategic logic, deck design and testing. Teams must stay identical across both categories to be prize eligible. A practical tip: start the Strategy report early, because the Strategy score uses your Simulation results.
How applications are judged and what happens next
Strategy entries are scored on a Model Score worth 70% (clarity and soundness of the approach, consistency across repeated matches, and performance in the competition), a Deck Score worth 20% and a Report Score worth 10%. Judging runs from 14 September to 11 October 2026. The top eight teams qualify for the Second Round (the Finals) at a separate venue, played as Best of 3 matches with an expanded card pool, and broadcast on YouTube later in 2026. If a top-eight team declines, the spot goes to the next team.
About The Pokémon Company
The Pokémon Company is the Tokyo-based company that manages the Pokémon brand and its trading card game. For this contest it is the sponsor and funds the prizes, while Kaggle (Google) hosts the competition platform and the rules are administered under California law.
Things to check before you apply
- Entry is closed. Use this page to prepare for any future edition; the source gives no dates for one.
- The in-person Tokyo tournament is described as something finalists "may" be invited to, and the source does not say who pays travel. The US$30,000 for top-eight finishers is listed separately.
- Winners must grant the sponsor a licence to their winning submission and deliver code and documentation.
- Prize money is split evenly between team members unless the team agrees another split in writing.
- Winners must complete tax paperwork; the rules name a US W-8BEN form for foreign residents. Indian winners should check tax treatment with an adviser.
- Pokémon artwork and elements cannot be used for commercial products or to build competing services.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Organizers
Prizes & Awards
What You Get
Eight finalists each receive US$30,000 (about ₹28.5 lakh) from a US$240,000 pool (about ₹2.28 crore). Finalists may also be invited to an in-person tournament in Tokyo hosted by The Pokémon Company. Prizes are paid within about 30 days after the winning team returns the paperwork, net of taxes.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Strategy entries are scored on Model Score (70%), Deck Score (20%) and Report Score (10%) by judges that include Pokémon Company staff. Judging ran from 14 September to 11 October 2026. The top eight teams reach the Second Round, played as Best of 3 matches and broadcast on YouTube.
Application Process
- 1
Register
Join on Kaggle and accept the rules before the entry deadline.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 2
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Indian developers enter the Pokémon TCG AI Battle Challenge?
Yes. The Kaggle rules say the competition is open to residents of the United States and worldwide, except for a short list of sanctioned places. India is not on the exclusion list. Entrants must be at least 18.
How much do winners get?
Each of the top eight teams in the Strategy Category receives US$30,000. The total pool is US$240,000. The Simulation Category pays no prize money.
Is the deadline over?
Yes. The entry deadline was 6 September 2026 and the final submission deadline was 13 September 2026. Judging runs to 11 October 2026. The source does not announce a next edition.
Do I have to go to Tokyo?
Finalists may be invited to an in-person tournament hosted by The Pokémon Company in Tokyo, with the date to be decided. The Kaggle page does not say who pays for travel, so confirm it if you are invited.
Is it a grant or equity?
It is a prize competition. The sponsor pays prize money to the highest-ranked teams and takes no equity.
What do I have to submit?
An AI Training Agent in the Simulation Category and a written Strategy report of up to 2,000 words in the Strategy Category, from the same team.
Is it free to enter?
The rules state that no purchase is necessary to enter or win.
How are teams scored?
Model Score 70%, Deck Score 20% and Report Score 10%. High leaderboard ranking helps but does not guarantee a good Strategy result.
How is prize money paid?
Prizes are paid within about 30 days of Kaggle receiving the required paperwork, net of any taxes. Teams split the prize evenly unless they agree another split.
What do winners have to give up?
Winners must hand over their code and documentation and grant the sponsor a licence to the winning submission.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
