Capital Convergence

As with two years ago and one year ago, I feel compelled (and required) to make this post. The post will concern, of course, the Pokémon World Championships, which start today in the U.S. and takes place over this weekend. As I'm not a competitor and have never been there - though one day I'd like to come whether to compete or to observe - I can only discuss it in a roundabout manner. This year, the Championships take place in Washington, DC, which anyone surely recognizes as the capital of the United States. That explains the title of this post, as it is a convergence (meeting) in the capital city.

As evidenced over the years and especially in the past two years, the Championships have been held in different cities in the U.S., not necessarily the capital or even the business center. It's a stark contrast to what would happen with events (Pokémon or otherwise) of similar scale where I am, which would often be invariably be held in the capital city, which serves as the business center. It's not that it's a bad thing, but it does affirm the "capital convergence" for just about everything. Lately there has been talk about moving the capital, so when it happens, there will be no capital convergence... but all the same, that city might still strongly be a magnet for major events.

At the same time, the holding of the Championships in the U.S. does affirm it as a "capital" of Pokémon, removed from its origins in Japan. In that sense, there is a convergence from year to year. The location might be in different cities, but each one will still serve as a "makeshift capital" for that year. The convergence might be considered to be in a loosely general sense, and yet it does happen, year in and year out. For many Pokémon players, there is probably the hope that this does continue to happen, and that they can be part of the convergence.

This year, the best of the best for the VGC tournament of the main series, TCG tournament with the cards, and the fighting game Pokkén converge in order to duke it out over three days' worth of rounds and come out the very best. There is also one important new thing: for the first time ever, and thanks to its introduction months ago, PvP tournament of Pokémon Go is part of the festivities. For now, the tournament is only an invitational one held with a small group of players on the first day, but if this is a rousing success, it may just lead to another point of convergence.

Whatever happens, there will always be convergence with the Pokémon World Championships. It will be in one city or another, but the convergence will happen somehow. It won't necessarily be at the capital city proper either, but wherever it is, Pokémon players (and the best ones of them) may be only too happy to converge. And when all is said and done, the point of the Championships is to converge to whoever comes out as the very best, a noble thing for anyone who knows Pokémon inside and out.

One year ago: Getting Lucky with It
Two years ago: I Want to Splurge