Chilean President Lauds Pokémon TCG World Champion

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, alongside nine fellow Chilean competitors who reached the second day of the World Championships. The President publicly lauded Cifuentes and his fellow competitors, highlighting the positive social aspects of competitive card games, emphasizing their role in fostering collaboration and friendship.

Cifuentes received a personalized framed card commemorating his victory, featuring himself and his championship Pokémon, Iron Thorns. The card inscription translates to: "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 familiarity with Iron Thorns reflects his own known enthusiasm for Pokémon; he previously declared Squirtle as his favorite Pokémon during his 2021 presidential campaign.

A Dramatic Victory

Cifuentes' path to victory was dramatic. 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 against Jesse Parker, whom he defeated, ultimately securing the $50,000 grand prize after overcoming Seinosuke Shiokawa in the finals.

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