CGC Trading Cards Grades Rare Pokémon No. 1 Trainer Trophy Card

The first Pokémon card graded by CGC Trading Cards was a No. 1 Trainer from 2016, featuring beloved Pikachu and a golden winner’s trophy. This iteration of the No.1 Trainer card was first awarded in 2014 at the Pokémon World Championships.

For the 2014 World Championships, the No. 1 Trainer artwork was given an update by 5ban Graphics. Compared to previous versions, the embossed “Full Art” Pikachu has intricate texturing that gives the card awesome detail and dimension. Pikachu bursts toward the flying trophy in a flurry of glittering confetti.

Only a very small number of No. 1 Trainer cards have been printed since they were introduced in 1997. Currently, just six World Championship cards, which are printed only in English, are awarded each year. This makes No. 1 Trainer one of the rarest English trophy cards in existence.

The No. 1 Trainer featured above received a grade of Mint 9 from CGC Trading Cards and sub-grades of 9.5 for Centering, 9.5 for Surface, 9 for Corners and 8.5 for Edges. CGC Trading Cards graders use a highly accurate, industry-standard 10-point scale and evaluate cards with advanced authentication and grading equipment, including devices that perform ultra-microscopic inspections and precisely calculate centering.

Even though the 2016 No. 1 Trainer is only four years old, it is a very desirable card in Mint 9 due to its high grade and limited numbers. The card’s gold border is unique to the first-place version. Second-place has a silver border, and the third-place and fourth-place versions have bronze borders. First-place cards are the most valuable among most releases, including this 2016 edition.

The No. 1 Trainer is no doubt one of the most significant cards to Pokémon collectors due to its “winning” design and exclusivity. Now certified by CGC Trading Cards, its provenance and condition are securely preserved.

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CGC Trading Cards provides expert and impartial authentication, grading and encapsulation services for virtually all Pokémon TCG and Magic: The Gathering cards. Its graders use a highly accurate, industry-standard 10-point grading scale and evaluate cards using advanced equipment, including devices that perform ultra-microscopic inspections and precisely calculate centering. After cards have been authenticated and graded, they are encapsulated in the CGC Trading Cards holder, which combines crystal-clear optics and advanced archival materials for the best in display and protection. Learn more at CGCcards.com

You can also learn more about Pokémon TCG on our blog like How to Tell if a Pokémon Card is a First Edition.