Pokémon TCG Champ Feted in Chile

Chilean President Honors Pokémon TCG World Champion

Fernando Cifuentes, the 18-year-old Pokémon TCG World Champion, received an extraordinary honor: a meeting with the President of Chile. This remarkable event, held at Palacio de La Moneda, the presidential palace, saw Cifuentes and nine fellow Chilean competitors enjoy a meal and participate in a photograph with President Boric and other government officials.

The Presidential Recognition

President Boric highlighted the positive community aspects of trading card games, emphasizing their role in fostering collaboration and friendship among young people. Cifuentes' achievement was further celebrated with a personalized, framed card featuring him and his championship Pokémon, Iron Thorns. The card's inscription reads (translated from Spanish): "Fernando and Iron Thorns. Ability: World Champion. Fernando Cifuentes, from Iquique, made history as the first Chilean to win the Pokémon World Championships 2024 Masters Finals in Honolulu, Hawaii."

The President's Pokémon Fandom

President Boric's appreciation for Pokémon is well-known. During his 2021 presidential campaign, he declared Squirtle his favorite Pokémon. His admiration extends to celebrating Cifuentes' victory, further highlighting the national pride surrounding this accomplishment.

A Hard-Fought Victory

Cifuentes' journey to victory was far from easy. He narrowly escaped elimination in the Top 8 after his opponent, Ian Robb, was disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct. This unexpected turn of events led Cifuentes to face Jesse Parker in the semifinals, ultimately securing his win against Parker and runner-up Seinosuke Shiokawa, earning him the $50,000 grand prize.

Learn more about the 2024 Pokémon World Championships in our related article!