Pikachu is perhaps the principle mascot of Pokémon, but it surely simply bought one-upped on the 2024 Pokémon World Championships. And it’s all as a result of a really particular Pachirisu captured the hearts of spectators each close to and much when it emerged from its Poké Ball.
Gamers and followers alike gathered for the 2024 Pokémon World Championships in Honolulu, Hawaii, over the weekend. The match hosted competitions for a number of video games, together with the Pokémon Buying and selling Card Recreation and the latest technology of video video games, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Whereas this meant spectators bought to see newer additions to the Pokédex, like a few of the highly effective Paradox Pokémon, the true showstopper was a Pachirisu that belonged to Sejun Park, the 2014 world champion within the online game Masters Division.
To know the hype round Park and his Pachirisu, it’s useful to run down a short historical past of their roles within the aggressive Pokémon scene. Previous to his win in 2014, Park frequently positioned on the prime of the worldwide participant rankings, however by no means received. Then, in 2014, he ran a artistic group centered round Mega Gyarados and Pachirisu. Due to the success of his group, and the truth that his Pachirisu stood out in a sea of comparable however extra aggressive choices, his Pachirisu took on a legendary standing throughout the Pokémon group. As we speak, a video from the Official Pokémon YouTube channel describes his win as “arguably probably the most iconic second in aggressive historical past.”
On Friday, 10 years after his large win, Park determined to deliver Pachirisu again once more, and onlookers couldn’t have been extra thrilled. A recording from the Worlds stream reveals the second when Park despatched out Pachirisu and you’ll hear the group roar. Pachirisu had the title “the Chosen One,” and followers watched because the little man tanked an assault with a vital hit from Aaron Zheng’s Chien-Pao.
On-line, individuals on X hailed the return of “King Pachirisu” and shared clips and artwork that includes the cute Pokémon. One tweet, with virtually 16,000 likes, confirmed a picture of Park’s lineup and mentioned, “HE BROUGHT BACK PACHIRISU NOOOO WAY?!?!”
Sadly, Park’s technique didn’t work as nicely this time. Park went up in opposition to Zheng and misplaced two video games in a row — and, later that day, his spot within the match. Nonetheless, I’ve to present him respect for being loyal to Pachirisu. On the finish of all of it, he shared a celebratory tweet with side-by-side photos from his win in 2014 and the 2024 competitors. Whereas it’s been 10 years since Park’s Worlds win, it warmed my coronary heart to see his plushie pal Pachirisu remains to be by his aspect.
