Chilean President Honors Pokémon Champ

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, where Cifuentes and nine fellow Chilean competitors were welcomed.

The group enjoyed a meal with President Boric and participated in a celebratory photoshoot. The Chilean government expressed immense pride in the players' achievements, with several high-ranking officials joining in the congratulations. President Boric's Instagram post highlighted the positive social aspects of trading card games, emphasizing the community and friendship fostered through competition.

Cifuentes received a commemorative framed card featuring himself and Iron Thorns, his championship Pokémon. 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 world champion at the 2024 Pokémon World Championships Masters Finals in Honolulu, Hawaii."

President Boric's Pokémon fandom is well-known; he famously declared Squirtle his favorite Pokémon during his 2021 presidential campaign. This shared passion for Pokémon likely contributed to the special recognition afforded to Cifuentes.

A Thrilling Path to Victory

Cifuentes' journey to the championship 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 him to the semifinals against Jesse Parker, whom he defeated to ultimately claim victory over Seinosuke Shiokawa and the $50,000 prize.

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