Eighteen-year-old Fernando Cifuentes, the reigning Pokémon TCG World Champion, received an extraordinary honor: a meeting with the President of Chile. This article details Cifuentes' remarkable achievement and his visit to Palacio de La Moneda.
A Presidential Reception at Palacio de La Moneda
Cifuentes and nine fellow Chilean competitors were invited to the presidential palace for a warm reception. They shared a meal with President Boric and participated in a celebratory photo session. The Chilean government expressed immense pride in their accomplishments, with several high-ranking officials attending to congratulate the players. President Boric’s Instagram post highlighted the positive community and collaborative spirit fostered by trading card games.
Cifuentes received a commemorative framed card featuring himself and Iron Thorns, the Pokémon that secured his victory. 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 to win the Pokémon World Championships 2024 Masters Finals in Honolulu, Hawaii." President Boric's familiarity with Iron Thorns is unsurprising, given his own declared fondness for Pokémon (Squirtle, to be precise, a fact celebrated with a gift of a Squirtle plushie from the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs).
Cifuentes' Triumphant Journey
Cifuentes' path to victory wasn't without challenges. He narrowly escaped elimination in the Top 8 after his opponent, Ian Robb, was disqualified for unsporting conduct. This unexpected turn of events propelled him to the semifinals against Jesse Parker, whom he defeated to ultimately claim the $50,000 prize and the championship title over runner-up Seinosuke Shiokawa.
For comprehensive coverage of the 2024 Pokémon World Championships, please refer to our related article.
