Sports
Five Expert Tips on How to Spot Fake Pokémon Cards
The Pokémon card market has grown considerably since the franchise first came to the fore in 1999, with over 190 collections of cards now in circulation.
Naturally, this has led to a lot of fake cards being manufactured and sold to collectors, sometimes for thousands of dollars, fooling even the most experienced into believing they are buying genuine cards.
Ahead of Pokémon Day on 27th February, the online gaming information site Indivisible Game has outlined what collectors can do to identify forgeries and avoid spending on counterfeits.
Compare Card Printing Quality
Authentic Pokémon cards are printed with high-quality materials and precision. Examine the printing quality, colour vibrancy, and detail as counterfeit cards may have blurry images, inconsistent colours, or pixelation.
Pay attention to the overall print resolution and clarity of text and symbols, while also checking for grammatical errors within the text, which is an easy way to spot a fake card.
Check the Card Texture and Material
Pokémon cards typically have a specific texture and feel, while counterfeit cards may have a smoother or glossier finish.
Run your fingers over the card’s surface and compare it to known authentic cards. Genuine Pokémon cards often have a slightly grainy texture, while fakes may feel slick or too smooth, so you should be able to tell the difference just by touching the surface.
Inspect the Holographic Foil Elements
Many Pokémon cards in various collections feature holographic foil patterns. Counterfeiters often struggle to replicate these holographic effects accurately – so, look for irregular patterns, such as missing details, inconsistent shine, or a lack of depth.
The authentic holographic foil should display a distinct and consistent pattern when tilted under a light. A quick test is to compare the energy symbol with other cards; a common trait in fakes is that this is slightly larger or distorted.
Verify Card Size and Thickness
Authentic Pokémon cards adhere to specific size and thickness standards, which differ for each collection. Counterfeit cards sometimes deviate from these dimensions, so be sure to use a ruler to measure the card’s length, width, and thickness compared to a known authentic card from the same set. As well as this, bend the card a little, as fakes often feel flimsy compared to high-quality real ones.
An easy way to spot a certain fake is to examine the edge of the card closely. Real Pokémon cards have a very thin sheet of black between the cardboard; it’s only visible up close, but you’ll be able to see the darkness between the two thin halves of the card. Without this, it’s not a genuine Pokémon card.
Be Familiar with All Characters and Stats
For those buyers who aren’t familiar with all 1,025 Pokémon characters, it’s easy to be duped by fake cards that have character images from other franchises that have been heavily influenced by Pokémon, such as Digimon. The sheer volume of characters can make it tricky to be certain from memory alone, so do your research and verify the picture is of an official Pokémon.
Specific stats can also reveal a card’s authenticity; for example, if the HP is over 340 (aside from a few unique rare cards), it is likely to be fake. Verifying the attacks on the card will also confirm if they are real, as counterfeit cards have previously listed some that don’t exist.
Commenting on the expert advice, a spokesperson from Indivisible Game said: “It is truly incredible that after a quarter of a century, Pokémon cards remain as popular as they were when they first appeared.
“Pokémon Day always sparks even more interest in the franchise and, naturally, will see new and old fans starting a card collection. Fortunately, these tips can help budding collectors avoid being tricked into buying fake cards.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
English football club, Aston Villa, emerged as the winners of the 2026 Europa League on Wednesday night, beating German club Freiburg 3-0 in Istanbul, Turkey.
It is their first trophy for 30 years and their first European prize since winning the European Cup in 1982.
Two stunning first-half strikes from Youri Tielemans and Emi Buendia gave Villa control before Morgan Rogers’ strike sealed a second major European title 44 years after they won the European Cup.
It also re-established Villa’s Spanish coach Unai Emery’s dominance in the tournament, winning his fifth title. He previously won three with Sevilla (2013 – 2016) and one with Villareal in 2021, defeating Manchester United on penalties. The former Arsenal coach has only lost with the team in the competition’s final after a 4-1 thumping by Chelsea in 2019.
Aston Villa started on a weaker foot and looked to be struggling against their German opponents right up until the 41st minute, when Tielemans emphatically opened the floodgates, drifting into space from a corner kick and before superbly volleying home from Morgan Rogers’ floated cross.
With the last kick of the first half, Emiliano Buendia curled in a left-footed strike out of the reach of Freiburg’s goalkeeper, Noah Atubolu.
The game was good as done in the 58th minute with Buendia turning provider for Rogers to send the Birmingham club into early celebration.
Amadou Onana hit the post, and Buendia should have netted a fourth; by then, Villa had already sealed victory.
Aston Villa, already guaranteed a place in the Champions League next season, opens the possibility of a sixth team representing the Premier League in the tournament.
Another English team, Crystal Palace, will hope to clinch another trophy when they face Spanish club Rayo Vallecano in the final of the Conference League in Leipzig, Germany, next Wednesday (May 27), while Premier League champions, Arsenal, will be looking to win the Champions League against holders Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on Saturday, May 30.
In the Women’s Champions League, Barcelona will be looking to win its third title in four years against the competition’s most dominant team, OL Lyonnes, which is gunning for a ninth title, when both sides meet on Saturday, May 23.
By Adedapo Adesanya
After a twenty-two-year wait, Arsenal have emerged as Premier League champions after Manchester City drew 1-1 at Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
The Gunners won the English top-flight trophy for the first time since Arsène Wenger’s Invincibles in 2004 after back-to-back near successes that saw Man City and Liverpool win the coveted prize.
It caps a remarkable achievement for Coach Mikel Arteta in his first job in management after taking over from Unai Emery in December 2019.
Arsenal, which finished as runners-up in the past three campaigns, led the league for most of this season before City whittled down the North London’s nine-point lead after beating them at the Etihad in April.
However, City suffered a misstep after they drew against Everton, while Arsenal recorded four successive wins without conceding a goal. Arsenal beat Burnley 1-0 on Monday.
The club will now receive the Premier League trophy at Selhurst Park on Sunday after they face Crystal Palace in their final league game.
Arteta will become the longest-serving manager in England’s top four divisions when Manchester City’s coach Pep Guardiola’s departure from the Etihad after 10 years is confirmed. He has the chance to emulate his mentor by winning the Champions League when Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain on May 30.
The Gunners will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Manchester United, Liverpool, and City, to become another English team to win the league and the Champions League in the same season.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Josep “Pep” Guardiola will reportedly leave Manchester City after 10 years as manager of the football club at the end of this season.
Despite no official confirmation from the club, the English media have widely reported that the Spaniard will coach his last game as Manchester City manager against Aston Villa on Sunday (May 24), the final day of the Premier League season.
Chelsea’s former coach, Enzo Maresca, who is out of work after leaving the London club in January, is expected to replace him.
Manchester City will play Bournemouth away on Tuesday as the club looks to further exert pressure on Arsenal, who are in contention to lift their first Premier League trophy in 22 years, on the final day.
They need to win both games to give them a chance of taking the Premier League from the league leaders and to secure a domestic treble. The Mikel Arteta-coached Arsenal will be champions if they beat Crystal Palace on Sunday. The team could also win the title tonight if the Cityzens lose at the Vitality Stadium.
Since his appointment in February 2016, the 55-year-old football manager has won everything club football-related at the Dubai-owned club.
Guardiola won his third FA Cup with City last Saturday when they beat Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley, and his fifth League Cup in March, after beating Arsenal 2-0.
As manager, Guardiola has won six Premier Leagues and a Champions League with Man City. He has also won the FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and three Community Shields.
Guardiola, a former Barcelona coach, started at Manchester City on July 1 2016, joining from Bayern Munich. He finished third in his first Premier League season, won by Leicester City and then won the title six times over the next seven years.
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