Hey everyone!
If you're looking for where to play Pokémon TCG in Belo Horizonte and the surrounding area, this post is here to help.
The goal here isn't to build a definitive ranking or try to say which store is "the best". That doesn't really make sense. Every place has its own energy, its own kind of community, its own level of play and its own identity. The idea is much simpler: to share, based on what I've experienced, how I see some of the places that keep the scene running around here.
I also want to keep updating this text over time, as more stores, events, and communities show up on the TCMG Top Cut radar.
And before going further, let me make it clear: this is my personal opinion. It's not an ad, it's not a sponsored post, and it's not disguised promotion. It's just a text from someone who plays, hangs out at stores, talks to the community, and wanted to bring it all together in one place to help anyone who wants to get into the scene.
Now, of course, if someone ever wants to support TCMG Top Cut, sponsor the project, or contribute in some way, I'd be thrilled. I have a lot of ideas I want to bring to life and a lot of motivation to make this project grow.
So let's get to it.
Sunday — ForFun Arena, in Betim, at 10:00 AM
Betim, MG
Address: Praça dos Expedicionários, 16 - Loja 6 - Decamao
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For me, ForFun Arena is one of the coolest stores in the region when it comes to community.
And that runs straight through Carlim.
Anyone who knows him knows how much he gives of himself to make things happen. And I say that without exaggeration. In many moments, I'm certain he pulls money from his own pocket to make the event better, to run streams, to bring people in, and to give the community a better setup. It's not the kind of organization on autopilot. You can tell there's genuine care there.
And it's not just basic care. Carlim likes to give the events their own personality. He works with 3D printing to create trophies, keepsakes, and other custom details, thinks of things nobody would normally think of, and gives the tournament a stronger identity. In team events like the Team Challenge, for example, he even customized items with the Pokémon each player liked. That says a lot about the kind of experience he tries to build.
I also want to mention Ladies, which was previously hosted at ForFun and has always had Carlim's support. For those who don't know, Ladies is an event and a group for the women of Belo Horizonte, very well led by Jamila and Carol. It's a really cool project and an initiative that deserves a lot of recognition within the community.
Now, beyond the store itself, there's the Betim crew. And that matters a lot. I've had the chance to spend more time with Felipe, Gabriel and Pedro, and I've always been made to feel welcome there. Always.
So if you live in Betim or nearby, I really think it's worth showing up. You'll find tournaments, you'll find great people, and you'll find a store that clearly cares about the scene.
And there's one more important detail, maybe the most important of all: if you get hungry, there's a pastel shop nearby that is ridiculously good.
Tuesday — Vespa TCG, at 7:30 PM
Belo Horizonte, MG
Address: Av. Raja Gabáglia, 3950 - Loja 13B/14B - Estoril
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Vespa TCG is the store I've been playing at the most lately.
A lot of that is just scheduling. Between work, the site, English classes, and the rest of life, Tuesday just fits perfectly for me. And what I can say is that every time I go there, I come back happy I went. Even when the results aren't great.
Felipe Vespa is an amazing guy. He cares about the community, he cares about people and, most importantly, he doesn't sit in that ego place where the store owner thinks they already know everything. If the community feels something could be improved, he listens. And that really makes a difference.
I've talked to him myself about monthly rankings, quarterly rankings, that kind of thing, and he genuinely took it into consideration. It didn't stop at the conversation.
That's really important because it shows the store isn't just a place where the tournament happens. It's a place where the people who show up also help build it.
Another thing I really like there is the judging. Henrique does excellent work as a judge. He tries to help, tries to be fair, and conveys confidence. For anyone playing competitively, that counts for a lot.
The store is in a mall, has parking, and sits in a good area, and that makes a big difference for anyone already tired after a long day. There's also something I really value: what happens after the tournament. A lot of times the crew ends up going to McDonald's, reviewing rounds, talking decks, laughing at misplays and keeping the hangout going.
Because in the end it's not just show up, play, and go home.
For those who think it's far, there's usually carpool with an open seat, which makes it much easier for anyone who wants to start showing up more.
And another practical detail: the store usually has product in Portuguese and English, which helps a lot for anyone building a deck or just starting out.
In the end, it's a place where I feel good.
Wednesday — Dimensão, at 7:30 PM
Belo Horizonte, MG
Address: R. Aurora, 11 - Miramar (Barreiro)
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Dimensão, or Grimmensão as it's more commonly known, is a store I've always heard great things about. And when I played Pokémon Day there, I immediately understood why.
I felt very at ease.
It was that feeling of walking into a place and not looking out of place. It feels like if you sneeze, someone nearby will want to help you with something. And that, for me, counts for a lot.
Henrique Normal is also very present there, and he's a guy who's fully in favor of the community. He pushes, organizes, encourages, helps the scene happen, and clearly cares about the atmosphere.
Dimensão also has a really cool quarterly circuit where the best player of the period takes home an ETB (Elite Trainer Box). I think that's awesome because it creates consistency. It makes the community follow along more, come back more, and take the store's circuit seriously.
And, of course, there's the technical level. There are very strong players there. If you want to learn more, grow, and play against strong opponents, it's a great place for that. It's not the kind of store where you just show up to pass the time. You'll play and, most likely, leave a better player than you came in.
I'm also happy to mention Pedro Allan, who just joined the dev team at TCMG Top Cut. He's already helping me with the site and other parts of the project, so you'll be hearing plenty about him around here.
Now I need to talk about the only "problem" at Dimensão: Hudson and Alex.
These guys clean everyone out.
But I say that more laughing than complaining. And I also want to leave a thought here: don't avoid a store because it has strong players. Quite the opposite. Even Tord can have a bad run. A very strong player isn't a reason to run away. It's a reason to look and think: "alright, one day I want to beat this guy".
So treat Hudson and Alex like they're gym leaders. Go there, give it your best, and try to take them down.
Thursday — Stop TCG, at 7:30 PM and Saturday at 10:00 AM
Belo Horizonte, MG
Address: R. Guarda Custódio, 618B - Ouro Preto
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Stop TCG has an identity I really like: the idea of being a store built by players for players.
Rafael Salazar has always been very focused on that. When you talk to him, you can tell he genuinely loves the game, loves being around the community, and thinks about what actually makes sense for the players. And that shows in practice.
The store supports competitive play, helps with travel, provides financial aid, and runs tournaments aimed at strengthening anyone who wants to grow in the game. It's not just nice talk. There's real effort there to keep the wheel turning.
I've had the chance to go there a few times, including just to hang out, and it's always been a great experience. It's one of those places where the owner isn't distant from the community. Quite the opposite. You'll chat with him and you'll probably end up with plenty to talk about. Rafael genuinely enjoys conversation, and that gives the store a lighter energy.
The community there is also really good. Very engaged, welcoming, and important for the Pampulha area, because not everyone can cross the city during the week to play downtown.
And I say "cross the city" because, as a good formiguense, anything over ten minutes already starts to feel like a trip to me.
Another cool thing is that Stop also makes room for other formats like MetaNãoPode and GLC (Gym League Challenge). I won't pretend to understand much about that because I really don't. And since this text is opinion-based, I prefer to talk only about what I've lived. But if you're curious, it's worth reaching out to the store because I'm sure Rafael will enjoy explaining it to you.
So if you want a place with a good community, a present owner, and real support for competitive play, Stop deserves your attention.
Thursday — Vault of Cards, at 7:30 PM
Belo Horizonte, MG
Address: Av. Augusto de Lima, 527 - Centro
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For me, Vault has the best location in the city.
That alone helps a lot. For anyone working in downtown Belo Horizonte, being able to leave work and easily reach a store makes a huge difference. You avoid traffic, avoid an annoying commute, and don't need to turn the evening tournament into a survival mission.
But, to be honest, what stands out the most at Vault is the level of play.
For me, it has one of the highest levels of play in Minas Gerais. There you'll find an Intercontinental champion, players with Day 2 at Regionals, Day 2 at LATAM, and people with multiple Worlds invites. It's a genuinely strong place. If you want to play against great players to improve, Vault is one of the best places for that.
At the same time, it's not the kind of environment where you walk in and feel you don't belong. A lot of that runs through Tiago Marins. And I say this without hesitation: if needed, he's the kind of person who'd stop playing just to lend you a deck. That's how great this guy is.
So Vault ends up with a combination that's hard to find: excellent location, top-tier level of play, and people who welcome you well.
And there's also the after. After the tournament, people almost always go to Juicy, grab something to eat, hang out, review rounds, and keep the conversation going. I still haven't tried the sandwich there, but I owe it to myself.
Conclusion
I want to close this text by reinforcing one simple thing: everything here is my personal opinion, based on what I've experienced.
I wasn't paid to speak well of anyone, I didn't receive sponsorship to write this, and, thankfully, I've never had any issue with any store owner in the community. My experience so far has been very positive, and I hope it stays that way.
I also didn't write this to say which store is the best in absolute terms. That's not the idea. Each place has its own identity, its own rhythm, and its own community. The point here is to help you find a place where you want to play, improve, and feel good.
And, of course, I hope this kind of content helps strengthen TCMG Top Cut. I've been working really hard to make this project happen, because I truly believe in what it can become. There's a lot I still want to build, a lot of good ideas to bring to life, and a lot of motivation to do something increasingly useful for the community.
So if you want to support the project, sponsor, contribute in any way, or just chat, I'm always open to a conversation.
If something today is holding you back from getting started, feel free to reach out to me or to any of these stores. You don't need to be competitive to be part of the community. Everyone will find their own path within the game.
I hope this guide helps you. And, more than that, I hope to see you at one of these stores soon.
Until next time.