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, along with a celebratory photo opportunity. The Chilean government publicly lauded Cifuentes and his nine fellow Chilean competitors who reached the second day of the World Championships.
President Boric's Instagram post highlighted the positive social impact of trading card games, emphasizing their role in fostering collaboration and friendship amongst young people.
Cifuentes received a personalized framed card featuring himself and Iron Thorns, the Pokémon instrumental to his victory. The card's inscription reads: "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 appreciation for Pokémon is well-known; he previously declared Squirtle as his favorite Pokémon during his 2021 presidential campaign. Following Cifuentes' win, the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs presented him with a Squirtle and Pokéball plush.
A Nail-Biting Victory
Cifuentes' path to victory was far from easy. He narrowly avoided elimination in the Top 8 after his opponent, Ian Robb, was disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct. This unexpected turn of events propelled Cifuentes to the semifinals, where he defeated Jesse Parker and ultimately Seinosuke Shiokawa to claim the $50,000 prize.
For more information on the 2024 Pokémon World Championships, please see our related article.
