Chilean Pokémon Champ Meets President

Eighteen-year-old Fernando Cifuentes, the reigning Pokémon TCG World Champion, received an extraordinary honor: a meeting with the President of Chile at Palacio de La Moneda. Accompanied by nine fellow Chilean competitors, Cifuentes enjoyed a meal and photos with President Boric and other government officials. The President highlighted the positive social impact of trading card games, emphasizing their role in fostering collaboration and friendship.

This momentous occasion wasn't just a casual meet-and-greet. Cifuentes received a personalized, framed card featuring himself and his championship Pokémon, Iron Thorns. The card commemorates his historic win as the first Chilean World Champion in the Pokémon World Championships 2024 Masters Finals in Honolulu. President Boric's own fondness for Pokémon (he previously declared Squirtle his favorite) adds a charming layer to this story. He even received a Squirtle plushie from the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs in 2021.

Cifuentes' journey to victory wasn't without its dramatic twists. A near-elimination in the Top 8, due to his opponent's disqualification for unsportmanlike conduct, propelled him to face Jesse Parker in the semifinals. Triumphing over Parker and runner-up Seinosuke Shiokawa, Cifuentes secured the $50,000 grand prize.

[Embedded YouTube Video: Link to video about Cifuentes' win]

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