Pokémon TCG World Champion Honored by the President of 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, which included a presidential luncheon and photo opportunity, took place at Palacio de La Moneda, the presidential palace. Nine other Chilean competitors who advanced to the second day of the World Championships also participated. The Chilean government publicly lauded Cifuentes and his fellow competitors.

President Gabriel Boric, a known Pokémon fan (his favorite is Squirtle!), highlighted the positive social aspects of trading card games, emphasizing their role in fostering collaboration and friendship. Cifuentes received a commemorative framed card featuring himself and his championship Pokémon, Iron Thorns, with an inscription celebrating his historic win as the first Chilean World Champion.

A Dramatic Path to Victory

Cifuentes' journey to the $50,000 grand prize 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 propelled Cifuentes into the semifinals, where he ultimately triumphed over Jesse Parker and runner-up Seinosuke Shiokawa.

For a comprehensive recap of the 2024 Pokémon World Championships, please refer to our related article.