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

Cifuentes, along with nine fellow Chilean competitors who reached the second day of the World Championships, enjoyed a meal and photos with President Boric and other government officials. The government publicly lauded their achievements.

President Boric's Instagram post highlighted the positive social aspects of trading card games, emphasizing the collaborative spirit fostered within these competitive communities.

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 Pokémon World Championships 2024 Masters Finals in Honolulu, Hawaii."

President Boric's Pokémon fandom is well-known; he previously declared Squirtle his favorite Pokémon during his 2021 presidential campaign. Following Cifuentes' victory, the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs gifted him a Squirtle and Pokéball plush.

A Hard-Fought Victory

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

For more information on the 2024 Pokémon World Championships, please see our related article.