Yu‑Gi‑Oh! World Championship 2025: New Champions Crowned
Electric Finals in Paris
Konami’s Yu‑Gi‑Oh! World Championship (WCS) 2025 concluded in spectacular style on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at the elegant Maison de la Mutualité in Paris, France. This marked the first time in nearly five years that the finals returned to Europe, igniting the dueling world with renewed excitement.
TCG Glory: Julien Kehon Takes the Crown
In the prestigious Yu‑Gi‑Oh! Trading Card Game (TCG) category, Julien Kehon from the United States emerged victorious, defeating Germany’s Tom Kleingräber to claim the title of 2025 Yu‑Gi‑Oh! TCG World Champion.
Duel Links Showdowns: Speed and Rush Duel Wins
The Duel Links categories delivered intense, high-speed action.
- In Speed Duel, Philipp Thomas of Germany seized the championship.
- In Rush Duel, the title went to Kenya Nagatani from Japan.
Master Duel Team Triumph
The Yu‑Gi‑Oh! Master Duel tournament culminated in a thrilling 3-on-3 showdown in which Team Ragnarok bested Chaiba Corp. The winning trio—Herman Husson, Luca Forjan, and Antonio Papagal—were crowned the 2025 Master Duel World Champions.
Tokyo Awaits: WCS 2026 Plans Revealed
During the WCS 2025 broadcast, fans got a special preview: the Yu‑Gi‑Oh! World Championship 2026 will be held in Tokyo, Japan, inviting duelists from across the globe to compete in the world’s dueling capital.
Exciting Partnerships and Fashion Collab Unveiled
- A brand-new crossover between Yu‑Gi‑Oh! TCG and eFootball™ / eFootball™ Champion Squads was announced, featuring football superstar Neymar Jr. along with five French national team players serving as ambassadors.
- In a stylish twist, FINE CHAOS, a Copenhagen-based streetwear brand, debuted a limited-edition Yu‑Gi‑Oh!-inspired fashion capsule. Initially available exclusively via online lottery, the collection blends industrial aesthetics with iconic Yu‑Gi‑Oh! artwork—perfect for duelists, creators, and collectors.
Global Reach and Digital Engagement
Yu‑Gi‑Oh! continues to thrive worldwide, with TCG products available in over 80 countries in nine languages. Meanwhile, Yu‑Gi‑Oh! Duel Links has achieved over 150 million downloads, offering mobile and PC players the chance to duel alongside legendary heroes like Yami Yugi, Jaden Yuki, and Yusei Fudo.
Final Thought
The 2025 World Championship brilliantly showcased Yu‑Gi‑Oh!’s enduring global appeal—from its triumphant return to Europe, crowning world-class champions in each category, to unveiling Tokyo as the next stage of competitive glory. The blend of high-octane dueling action, mainstream partnerships, and cultural crossover (especially in fashion) highlights Konami’s expanded vision for the franchise. It’s clear: Yu‑Gi‑Oh! isn’t just a card game—it’s a global phenomenon that keeps evolving, inspiring, and uniting duelists around the world.
