Pokémon World champ Honored

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 took place at Palacio de La Moneda, the presidential palace, on Thursday.

The visit included a luncheon with President Boric and other government officials, along with a celebratory photo opportunity. The Chilean government publicly lauded Cifuentes and his fellow Chilean competitors who reached the second day of the World Championships.

President Boric's Instagram post highlighted the positive social aspects of trading card games, emphasizing the community and camaraderie fostered through competition.

Cifuentes received a commemorative framed card featuring himself 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."

President Boric's Pokémon fandom adds another layer to this story. A known Pokémon enthusiast (his favorite is Squirtle), he received a Squirtle plushie from the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs in 2021.

Cifuentes' Victory: A Narrow Escape

Cifuentes' journey to victory was dramatic. He narrowly avoided elimination in the Top 8, benefiting from Ian Robb's disqualification for unsportsmanlike conduct. This unexpected turn of events propelled him to the semifinals against Jesse Parker, whom he defeated, ultimately securing the $50,000 grand prize and the championship title over Seinosuke Shiokawa.

For a comprehensive recap of the 2024 Pokémon World Championships, explore our related article.