The value of Pokémon cards is booming, but for people who gather weekly to trade and battle their Pikachus and Togepis, the cards mean much more than cash

On a sleepy Tuesday night, beneath an arts and crafts store in the heart of Sydney, there are battles raging.

Long white tables stretch out under bright lights to the back of the room. Chairs on each side are occupied by hoodies, smart work shirts and pop culture tees as players – mostly men – arch forward in deep focus.