A 22-year-old Pokémon card, the 2004 Torchic Star from the EX Team Rocket Returns set, is nearing an eye-watering sale price of $1.3 million despite visible flaws, sparking fierce debate among collectors about whether grading standards have become too inconsistent or lenient. The card has been certified Gem Mint 10 by grading service PSA, a rating meant to denote near-perfect condition, yet close-up images show white spots on one side and frayed edges on the other, prompting accusations online that the grading does not match the card's actual state. The row highlights growing tension in the trading card hobby as huge sums of money pour in, putting pressure on grading firms and raising questions about consistency in older certifications.

With eight days left on the auction, a successful sale at the current bid would make the Torchic card the second-highest Pokémon TCG sale of all time, behind only Logan Paul's $16.4 million Pikachu Illustrator card. Only around 19 PSA 10 copies of this card are thought to exist, most unavailable to buyers, which some fans argue justifies the extraordinary price despite the card's imperfections; a CGC-graded 10 copy owned by Steve Aoki sold for $117,800 as recently as February 2026. Commentators suggest the PSA 10 grading likely predates today's much stricter standards, which have tightened as demand and grading backlogs have surged, meaning older "10s" may not meet current benchmarks. Reactions from fans on social media have ranged from disbelief, with some suggesting the card would only merit a PSA 7 if reassessed, to acceptance given its rarity and age.