A few days ago, the Chilean Fernando Cifuentes He stole all the attention when he was crowned Pokemon World Champion.
The 17-year-old rose to the top of the official Pokémon trading card game world tournament, taking first place and a million-dollar prize.
Now, the Presidente Gabriel Boric He recognized it with a tribute at the La Moneda Palace, along with the rest of the “delegation” of Chilean gamers who traveled to Hawaii for the competition.
In addition to the President, the Minister was present at La Moneda Camila Vallejothe Minister(s) of Foreign Affairs, Glory of the Fountainand the Japanese ambassador, This is Takako
President Boric welcomes Pokémon champion at La Moneda
Fernando Cifuentes said he did not know the president was going to appear.I didn’t expect it. The minister was already talking before that she was going to be there, but The President was unexpected, he came out of nowhere. So I was very surprised. But no, I am very grateful to be recognized at this level,” he said excitedly.
“That the President and the minister came to recognize me… And all the players who are here, who also did very well in the World Cup,” he added in the conversation with ADN.
Fernando Cifuentes was invited to the presidential palace by the president, to be honored for his win at worlds.
The other 9 chilean players that made day 2 were invited as well.I dont know if this has ever happened before with a Pokemon world champion.#PlayPokemon pic.twitter.com/z8fmDYd1Pe
— PabloL (@PabloLovesGames) August 29, 2024
President Boric personally praised the 17-year-old champion and the others for their performance. “He congratulated me a lot, he congratulated us all a lot for what we had achieved.. And he was very proud of us,” he shared.
Cifuentes also mentioned that the president is “very close to the Pokémon world”, although he also acknowledged that “It is closer to the world of Magic (cards)but he also knows a lot about the world of the Pokémon TCG.”
Although he is a world champion, he revealed that his life has not changed that much. “I continue to live my life normally, as I would every day. But it has changed in the sense that, for example, Sometimes I go out on the street, they recognize me, they ask me for a photo“They ask me for my autograph when I go to school,” said the Pokémon champion. “The kids at recess always ask me for my autograph, for photos. They ask me to send their regards. But I continue living my life normally as I would” he concluded.
