KUALA LUMPUR: A quiet childhood pastime has turned into a booming collectors’ scene as Pokémon trading cards continue to draw huge demand and eye-watering prices.
Interest soared again last month when Malaysian collector Damiral Imran made headlines after selling his entire collection for RM1.87 million.
That momentum carried into Petaling Jaya this week as a massive crowd gathered outside a popular card shop ahead of a new release.
A video from Toysbar in Damansara Jaya went viral after showing a queue stretching down the block as people waited for the Mega Evolution: Phantasmal Flames set.
Social media users said many in the line were resellers hoping to buy up stock and flip the cards for profit, with some reportedly waiting since midday the day before.
A chase card from the set fueled the rush, a gold Mega Charizard X EX, which is reselling for around RM3,500 and even higher if professionally graded.
Not everyone went home happy, as queue numbers ran out quickly and many collectors said they missed out despite lining up early.
The frenzy also reignited frustration within the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) community, with fans arguing that scalpers are making it harder for genuine players to buy new releases.
