The pressure is mounting with the season on the line at the 2024 Pokémon World Championships. With all eyes on the action in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, will the sacrifice and year of preparation for competitors and casters be enough?
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Episode 3 - The Moment | Road to Worlds: Video Game Championships
https://youtu.be/i33I4JqpHWQ
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Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Pokemon
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Pokemon
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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pokemonofficial
Episode 3 - The Moment | Road to Worlds: Video Game Championships
https://youtu.be/i33I4JqpHWQ
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NewsTranscript
00:00So the biggest development in the preparation for Worlds is Marcus and I are going to Finland
00:16for about two weeks to basically do a little boot camp.
00:20We're going with the intention of focusing solely on preparing.
00:31There is some fear.
00:33And it's not necessarily about the finish, like I know that I can cope with bad finishes
00:36or finishes below what I want, but the fear is more about, it's just such an awful feeling
00:42to work so hard and get the results so far from what you wanted.
01:12Gimli is now stealing the show, he's like, hey Rose.
01:40It's okay.
01:47So the invitations for Worlds, whether you're working it, kind of come out a little bit
01:51before the event, maybe two months or so, and you'll just get an email.
01:55And just one day you'll check your inbox.
01:57Pokemon World Championships availability.
01:59Hello, you are invited to participate as a commentator at the Pokemon World Championships
02:04in Honolulu, Hawaii.
02:05We just got the news that.
02:06I'm going to Honolulu, Hawaii.
02:08Getting the casting assignment felt special.
02:17It's very special to know that there are people that trust you with that moment and there
02:22are people that believe in you to do a great job and to have a good cast.
02:30When Rosemary and I both kind of saw the roster and were like, not only are we together, because
02:35that was the first time we found out that we were paired together.
02:38But then to see that you've also got Masters finals, it's just kind of like, this is amazing
02:42to be able to see that.
02:43It is an honor in its own way, but I also just feel like I just have to do the best
02:48job possible because there are people that believe in me to do that.
02:51I was actually watching back some of our casts and I was reminiscing on the fact that especially
02:55for the junior finals, I felt like we did such a good job with the intro of that match
02:59and then just the match overall.
03:01I was very proud of the back and forth that we had and also just how well we picked up
03:06after each other, which is something that I think we've been getting better and better
03:09at every event that we do.
03:17So it's two weeks until Worlds and I'm back from Finland, back in Germany.
03:25And today is an important day because today is my last offline practice tournament before
03:30leaving for Honolulu.
03:32Because my theory kind of is, well, if you want to be the best in the world, you've got
03:36to be the best at your local scene first.
03:41Test, test, test, test, test, test, test.
03:47It looks like we are live.
03:49This is a year where I think I absolutely could win Worlds.
03:52I have the team.
03:53I have the preparation.
03:54Like, I could do well this year.
03:55Like I actually really, I could win this year.
04:00Let's go.
04:31So today, we've got the next two hours to kind of plug through every kind of pair that's
04:44going to be casting together.
04:46That figure will go according to like tomorrow's schedule.
04:49So first up, we'll get Rosemary and Lou up at the caster booth.
04:55So to have a really good, harmonious caster pair, you need someone who's kind of the play
04:58by play role and the analyst role, traditionally speaking.
05:01The way the play by play works is they're kind of like the heartbeat of the match.
05:05They're the ones keeping the pace, keeping the tone, and kind of keeping the match going.
05:09But then at some point, you've got to pause for breath, and that's where the analyst comes
05:12in.
05:13So as the match is going on, the analyst is kind of breathing you through, taking that
05:18moment to explain what is happening and why it's happening and why it's critical.
05:22Rosemary and I are traditionally both play by play commentators, and we tend to be paired
05:26better with analysts.
05:28The fact that production wanted to try out, they had this vision that Rose and I could
05:31work well together.
05:32So we obviously wanted to make sure that we could.
05:35To be given such a prestigious event, not only is it a Masters Finals, but it is literally
05:39the very last match of the entire World Championships across all the games.
05:42And that's a big responsibility, and it's a lot of pressure, and you become very aware
05:45that this is a match that's going to be broadcast again and again and again.
05:55One thing I love about this Worlds is particularly being able to work with Rose.
05:58Last year at UIC was our first proper event together, and it was like, okay, this is a
06:02new pairing.
06:04And I was always a little bit like, are we just being put together because we're both
06:06girls and we're pushing that angle?
06:08And then the one thing I really liked is how we sat down and spoke about how we were going
06:12to do the roles.
06:13And that was the first time I properly hybrided, like ever.
06:16And we learned so much from each other, and the thing I love is the reflection and the
06:21development.
06:22I agree.
06:23I feel so honored to get a chance to cast a Masters Finals with you for a World Championship.
06:28It's going to be insane.
06:29It's going to be a round of applause for you both.
06:32I feel like it's been building up to this moment, though, for a long time.
06:33Yeah.
06:34I've wanted this for forever.
06:35I really hope that I live up to the expectation of being given this responsibility, but I
06:41also feel like I've earned it at this point.
06:45You have.
06:46It's now about enjoying it.
06:47Yeah.
06:48If you feel like you haven't earned it, let me know so I can talk some sense into you
06:51both.
06:52Because I know Impostor Syndrome gets us all, but y'all have earned it.
07:03Generally, the World Championships every year, it's the one tournament I'm looking forward
07:09to the most, because this is the tournament where, yeah, one can make history.
07:14If you win one of these, then you will always be remembered as a world champion, the best
07:21in the world.
07:22That's not something that a lot of people can say about themselves, right?
07:25Like being the best in the world at something.
07:27I have a lot of reasons why this tournament is meaningful to me, right?
07:30Like I lost in the finals of Worlds in 2012 in Hawaii, and so this is kind of a chance
07:35of redemption.
07:36But it's really hard.
07:37I think that it's always really hard, and I think this is an especially hard year.
07:40And so, like, I think I could go out in the first day.
07:43Like, there's a lot of factors out of my control, and I always have this worry that, like, maybe
07:48the team's not so good.
07:49Like, this year, I don't have any worry.
07:50I'm using the strongest Pokemon.
07:51Like, it has to be good, and I've spent so much time on it.
07:54But at the same time, I'm also trying to both be hopeful, but also be mindful that it might
07:59not go my way.
08:20It's especially awesome, because, like, to me, like, you have to go out there, and you
08:50have to go out there, and you have to go out there, and you have to go out there, and
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10:50Getting that first round in
10:51gives me a lot of confidence.
10:52I played well,
10:53I played well, so, yeah, I just want to keep going from here on out.
10:57I'm really happy that I won the first round,
10:59because I've lost Round 1 of the World Championships
11:03more years than not at this point, I think.
11:05And pretty much, it's a sign to me.
11:07It's a sign that I'm doing something right.
11:09The Rillaboom as well, not going to be worrying too much,
11:11particularly when there is such low HP on that Incineroar.
11:14He is going to concede there, and Adam Sherbouy is going to win
11:17the very first Swiss match that we have here
11:19in day number one of the 2024 Pokémon World Championships.
11:28I still can't believe this match we get to cast.
11:30I know, what did we do to deserve this?
11:32Aaron Zhang against Seijun Park, what an incredible match for us to feature.
11:49The return to the big stage is going to be claiming this set.
12:03Even the best players in the world are losing all the time in practice,
12:05you know, and Worlds itself is also such a difficult tournament,
12:09but just take it kind of one step at a time.
12:11It's just so great to be playing Pokémon at such a high level again,
12:13and so I'll do my best for all of you.
12:16I've walked this really nice line between consistent safe plays
12:21and also calculated risks, and also I normally have a backup plan
12:25where, okay, even if this goes wrong and I lose this Pokémon,
12:28I know what my next move will be to kind of keep me in the game.
12:31I always have the tools to win, and the team has held really good.
12:45ALEJANDRO MARSHALL
12:47ALEJANDRO MARSHALL
12:49ALEJANDRO MARSHALL
12:51ALEJANDRO MARSHALL
12:53ALEJANDRO MARSHALL
12:58GG, son.
13:10What happened?
13:12I lost, so I'm at one win and two losses right now.
13:17So obviously not a great record,
13:18which also means that if I want to advance to day two,
13:22I need to win all my remaining matches,
13:25which will be very difficult.
13:27So that has 50% of the competition for day number one.
13:31Yeah, and especially when you're going to be playing
13:33eight rounds of Swiss today,
13:34several more rounds tomorrow,
13:35going into an asymmetrical top cut,
13:38you can't necessarily risk those inaccurate moves.
13:41But let's get into this first game
13:43of this next best of three.
13:45We've got both Restricteds on the field,
13:46Meridon versus Lunala.
14:42Being eliminated at the World Championships,
14:45it's a feeling that I've had too many times, unfortunately.
14:50It happens at some point, right?
14:52This time it happened really early,
14:54which is not something that I was super prepared for.
15:01I think it's a good thing that I was able to win
15:03and that I was able to advance to the next round.
15:06I think it's a good thing that I was able to win
15:08and that I was able to advance to the next round.
15:11You've put in all the time and effort,
15:13and then at the end of the day,
15:15you walk away with bare hands.
15:20This year wasn't my year, won't be my year.
15:24But after a few moments, then I look around,
15:29see my friends still competing in the tournament,
15:32see the audience, see the fans,
15:34and then it just reminds me like,
15:36hey, I'm still here, I'm still with my friends,
15:39I'm in Hawaii, I'm having a good time.
15:42Maybe I didn't win this one,
15:44but there will be a next year, I can try again.
15:47So I'll just focus everything on helping Wolf,
15:51helping my other friends,
15:52that they can maybe do what I couldn't do
15:54and advance further, maybe win.
16:02I think this might favor Wolf.
16:10I appreciate it, man.
16:12I am six wins, zero losses,
16:14and I am advancing to Day 2 of the World Championships.
16:17I don't want to let my foot off the gas so soon
16:19because there's still two more rounds left today.
16:21But yeah, still a ways to go.
16:39Day 2 World Championships
16:47We do have the next match ready for you,
16:49so let's go ahead and kick it back over to our casters
16:52for the eighth and final Swiss round of the day.
16:54We will be bringing you Aaron Traylor vs. Kieran Singh at XM2.
16:58Raging Bull falls down, it's a tall Pokemon,
17:01it weighs a lot, the low kick is going to be detrimental to it.
17:04Aaron Traylor has won
17:06and will be progressing into Day 2 of the World Championships.
17:11A particular shout-out to Wolf Flick,
17:13we weren't able to get him on stream today,
17:14but apparently hasn't dropped a single game.
17:26Today, that was some of the best Pokemon ever played.
17:31Ever, ever, ever.
17:33By anybody?
17:34By anybody, yes.
17:36He went undefeated in games
17:39against, like, the best players.
17:41I think this is Japan National Champion, right?
17:44Yeah, straight sweep.
17:50Has it ever been done in Day 1?
17:53Not at Worlds.
17:54New line on the list.
17:55I think so.
17:57So, I just finished the last round,
18:00and I have won eight of my sets,
18:02lost zero of my sets,
18:03with a final record of 16 wins and zero losses.
18:06I went completely undefeated,
18:08not only in sets, but in games.
18:10If tomorrow goes badly, then, you know,
18:13like, it is what it is,
18:15but clearly I did something right.
18:1716 and 0 in game count
18:19is not something that you get incidentally.
18:22It's not something that you kind of just luck into,
18:24in my opinion, in my experience.
18:25I think the fact that
18:26I don't think anyone's ever done it before
18:28is kind of proof of that.
18:29So, I'm feeling good.
18:30I, like, still am aware of how hard this tournament is
18:33and how much there is yet to go,
18:35but this was, I mean, this was the perfect Day 1.
18:37Like, it couldn't have gone any better, in my opinion.
18:40Thanks, man.
18:42Um, okay, I think now it's time to celebrate.
18:45Yes.
18:48Oh, my God.
18:49I feel like I played that so well.
18:51Like, I'm so, so happy with how I played that.
19:01Day 2
19:12How was yesterday?
19:13It was good. It was a bit random
19:15because I was on the first round and the last round,
19:17so, like, the energy in the middle of the day
19:19was a bit like, what am I doing?
19:21Today, it's a little bit more routine,
19:23which is going to be good.
19:24I'm just trying to find Alex and Barish, so...
19:26Yeah, good luck.
19:27Yeah.
19:28Hello.
19:29You okay?
19:30No, I lost.
19:31Yeah, but that was yesterday.
19:32How are you today?
19:33Good.
19:34Yeah? Ready to clear on Alex?
19:36But no, you still did great.
19:37I'm really, really proud of you.
19:41You can't keep winning all the time.
19:44You got to lull them into a false sense of security.
19:46So, the next season, they'll be like,
19:48oh, yeah, it's just Annabelle,
19:49and then you'll just be like, whoa!
19:51And it'll be great.
19:56I love how, like, all the plushies are out.
19:58So cute.
20:00Good morning. How are you?
20:02Good?
20:05I think Alex just started.
20:16Yeah, they're already backstage.
20:17You got it, boss.
20:20Hello, good to see you.
20:21Good to see you.
20:23You are very strong.
20:24You are very strong, too.
20:25We've narrowed it down to some of the best
20:28that are trying to find their way into Top Cut
20:30and, furthermore, to be one of those few
20:32on Championship Sunday.
20:33Yeah, our players yesterday performed so well
20:35to progress into Day 2,
20:37but now is crunch time.
20:39Today is where it matters.
20:40You've got to do everything right today.
20:42And every single one of these players
20:43has a chance to become the 2024 World Champion.
20:46Wolf, Blink going up against Hirafumi Kimura
20:49to be kicking off Day 2.
20:51Two trainers that are in their own rights
20:53when you're looking at favorites
20:54to be trying to take this whole tournament down.
20:56Their names are top of the list
20:58and being undefeated.
21:00Yeah, not only undefeated,
21:01I believe that Wolf Glick,
21:02you mentioned Sierra,
21:03has not only went 8-0,
21:05but is 16-0 in sets,
21:07has not dropped a game this entire tournament.
21:09That's just absolutely incredible.
21:11100%.
21:12If anyone's going to be ending this undefeated streak
21:15that Wolf Glick has at the World Championships,
21:17it could be Hirafumi,
21:18but Wolf Glick, this team is so strong.
21:21Looking at this core of Pokemon,
21:22this Calyrex Shadowrider,
21:23the amount of pressure that could be putting off
21:25from the get-go is fast,
21:26especially if you get...
21:37And returning with a drastic glide
21:38from this Rillaboom into the Urshifu.
21:40A little 50% and the Moonblast
21:42following up into Calyrex.
21:43Something probably Wolf doesn't really want to see
21:45too much of.
21:46Oh, that's good.
21:47That's really good.
21:48That's the one I want to keep an eye on
21:49because that's the one where now the Sash is broken.
21:51Firing it off in close combat into the Chi-Yu.
21:54Will be taking it down,
21:55and Hirafumi, all of a sudden,
21:57it's all going to be...
22:04So at the end of the first game,
22:05I realized that I was going to win.
22:06I had a guaranteed win condition,
22:08and I had also learned that one of his Pokemon
22:10was faster than one of my Pokemon,
22:11and I was like, let me write that down.
22:12Let me just write that down so I don't forget.
22:14And I go to pick up my pen,
22:15and my hands aren't working.
22:18I had the pins and needles sensation,
22:19and they weren't moving properly.
22:21I think it's an unfortunate sign
22:23that I'm feeling the pressure much more than yesterday.
22:28So I think Wolf will be afraid
22:29that he has a different mental today
22:31compared to yesterday.
22:37So I think what we could do is just validate him
22:41and be like, yeah, it's exciting to be on stream,
22:44and it makes sense that it felt different this round, right?
22:49Just don't approach him with like, yeah.
22:51Oh, yeah, yeah, yes.
22:52Just keep it like, okay, great.
22:53Now next one, like...
22:54Yes.
22:57No match means more than any other match.
22:59Yep.
23:01No way to be stopping this barrage hits now
23:03as that double up is going to make it official.
23:06Wolf Blink is going to remain undefeated
23:09here at the Pokemon World Championships.
23:12Flawless victory here for Wolf.
23:13An absolute masterclass from the man himself.
23:17I said at the beginning, and I'll say it again now,
23:19like, Wolf is so winning this tournament.
23:21It's his to win.
23:24He's definitely in top cut now, right, as well.
23:26Yeah, it's guaranteed cut.
23:28One more to guarantee that he gets to the final top 16.
23:32If he wins one more, I'm 100% sure he gets it.
23:35If he loses the next two, he missed.
23:48GAME 1
24:01Game 1, turn 1.
24:02I don't know if you were really in the discord,
24:04but game 1, turn 1, the opponent, like, made the play
24:06we didn't think that they would find or do.
24:09He won.
24:10No, it's still going.
24:12So, yeah, we were in a bad spot from the beginning.
24:17I think we lose.
24:18What?
24:19I think we lose.
24:32What I'm really worried about is my mentality.
24:34Yesterday, I was so locked in, I was so focused,
24:36and today, I just haven't really hit that stride.
24:40Yeah, Wolves is losing.
24:41Or lost.
24:58A couple of those players that we're going to see
25:00advancing on in the competition,
25:02because, of course, at the top of the day,
25:04it was all eyes on Wolf.
25:06Losing can tilt you a little bit,
25:08and certainly nobody in this field
25:09is more experienced than him,
25:10so I'm sure he'll bring his best to the top cut.
25:12But I'll be excited to see how this story ends.
25:18And he will probably try and parry the Calyrex,
25:20the Tribulum, with a bold Amoongus angle.
25:22The Amoongus is really threatening.
25:24Because they could switch it in for the Shiyu.
25:26Yeah, I think we want to take out Flutterbane first.
25:29The top cut is the single elimination bracket
25:31that determines the world champion.
25:33It means that all players that qualify for it,
25:37they only have one tournament life.
25:39If they lose, they're out.
25:40But if they win, they will advance another round,
25:42and half the players get eliminated every round.
25:45So making it to this stage means that
25:47if you can win five consecutive games,
25:49you will become the world champion.
25:52Because they're fast to Urch as well,
25:53so I'm going to end up in a position where,
25:55even though I go fake out into Shiyu and Surgeon,
25:58so I don't think that this works into that plan.
26:03Thinking about it more,
26:04maybe it makes sense to bring the Bolt.
26:06Yeah, I think so too.
26:07And then not bring Rillaboom.
26:08Yeah, I think I had the same conclusion.
26:11Thanks for your help, guys.
26:12Regardless of how it goes,
26:13I'm really grateful for all of you,
26:14and I'll do my best.
26:19Hey, how's it going?
26:22Not too bad. Nice to meet you.
26:36Good luck, have fun.
26:48What do you think about the situation?
26:51I don't like it.
27:06What do you think about the situation?
27:07I don't like it.
27:08What do you think about the situation?
27:09I don't like it.
27:10What do you think about the situation?
27:11I don't like it.
27:12What do you think about the situation?
27:13I don't like it.
27:14What do you think about the situation?
27:15I don't like it.
27:16What do you think about the situation?
27:17I don't like it.
27:18What do you think about the situation?
27:19I don't like it.
27:20What do you think about the situation?
27:21I don't like it.
27:22What do you think about the situation?
27:23I don't like it.
27:24What do you think about the situation?
27:25I don't like it.
27:26What do you think about the situation?
27:27I don't like it.
27:28What do you think about the situation?
27:29I don't like it.
27:30What do you think about the situation?
27:31I don't like it.
27:32What do you think about the situation?
27:33I don't like it.
27:34What do you think about the situation?
27:35I don't like it.
27:36What do you think about the situation?
27:37I don't like it.
27:38What do you think about the situation?
27:39I don't like it.
27:40What do you think about the situation?
27:41I don't like it.
27:42What do you think about the situation?
27:43I don't like it.
27:44What do you think about the situation?
27:45I don't like it.
27:46What do you think about the situation?
27:47I don't like it.
27:48What do you think about the situation?
27:49I don't like it.
27:50What do you think about the situation?
27:51I don't like it.
27:52What do you think about the situation?
27:53I don't like it.
27:54What do you think about the situation?
27:55I don't like it.
27:56What do you think about the situation?
27:57I don't like it.
27:58What do you think about the situation?
27:59I don't like it.
28:00What do you think about the situation?
28:01I don't like it.
28:02What do you think about the situation?
28:03I don't like it.
28:04What do you think about the situation?
28:05I don't like it.
28:06What do you think about the situation?
28:07I don't like it.
28:08What do you think about the situation?
28:09I don't like it.
28:10What do you think about the situation?
28:11I don't like it.
28:12What do you think about the situation?
28:13I don't like it.
28:14What do you think about the situation?
28:15I don't like it.
28:16What do you think about the situation?
28:17I don't like it.
28:18I don't like it.
28:19I don't like it.
28:20I don't like it.
28:21I don't like it.
28:22I don't like it.
28:23I don't like it.
28:24I don't like it.
28:25I don't like it.
28:26I don't like it.
28:27I don't like it.
28:28I don't like it.
28:29I don't like it.
28:30I don't like it.
28:31I don't like it.
28:32I don't like it.
28:33I don't like it.
28:34I don't like it.
28:35I don't like it.
28:36I don't like it.
28:37I don't like it.
28:38I don't like it.
28:39I don't like it.
28:40I don't like it.
28:41I don't like it.
28:42I don't like it.
28:43I don't like it.
28:44I don't like it.
28:45I don't like it.
28:46I don't like it.
28:47I don't like it.
28:48I don't like it.
28:49I don't like it.
28:50I don't like it.
28:51I don't like it.
28:52I don't like it.
28:53I don't like it.
28:54I don't like it.
28:55I don't like it.
28:56I don't like it.
28:57I don't like it.
28:58I don't like it.
28:59I don't like it.
29:00I don't like it.
29:01I don't like it.
29:02I don't like it.
29:03I don't like it.
29:04I don't like it.
29:05I don't like it.
29:06I don't like it.
29:07I don't like it.
29:08I don't like it.
29:09I don't like it.
29:10I don't like it.
29:11I don't like it.
29:12I don't like it.
29:13I don't like it.
29:14I don't like it.
29:15I don't like it.
29:16I don't like it.
29:17I don't like it.
29:18I don't like it.
29:19I don't like it.
29:20I don't like it.
29:21I don't like it.
29:22I don't like it.
29:23I don't like it.
29:24I don't like it.
29:25I don't like it.
29:26I don't like it.
29:27I don't like it.
29:28I don't like it.
29:29I don't like it.
29:30I don't like it.
29:31I don't like it.
29:32I don't like it.
29:33I don't like it.
29:34I don't like it.
29:35I don't like it.
29:36I don't like it.
29:37I don't like it.
29:38I don't like it.
29:39I don't like it.
29:40I don't like it.
29:41I don't like it.
29:42I don't like it.
29:43I don't like it.
29:44I don't like it.
29:45I don't like it.
29:46I don't like it.
29:47I don't like it.
29:48I don't like it.
29:49I don't like it.
29:50I don't like it.
29:51I don't like it.
29:52I don't like it.
29:53I don't like it.
29:54I don't like it.
29:55I don't like it.
29:56I don't like it.
29:57I don't like it.
29:58I don't like it.
29:59I don't like it.
30:00I don't like it.
30:01I don't like it.
30:02I don't like it.
30:03I don't like it.
30:04I don't like it.
30:05I don't like it.
30:06Yeah, too much.
30:08So it's the same team, but you dropped boom for Earthshafoo and then switch the Genies.
30:14Let me write that down.
30:15Well, Ana is ready on the stage with our junior world champions.
30:20So, let's get an interview.
30:21Ana, take it away.
30:23I am here with your champion, Kevin Haight.
30:27Utah, are you gonna go through Utah's accomplishments and I'll go through Luca's?
30:30Yeah.
30:31We'll do that.
30:32Okay.
30:33But Utah.
30:34Utah, I already know the Nats thing.
30:37Well, to just get to this point,
30:39but I don't think that's enough for these players.
30:41Utilize the Amoongus, go for the score,
30:43but we're not going to have it.
30:44Instead, the Forfeit's locked in,
30:46and with that, Ray Yamanaka is going to be
30:49your Pokemon World Champion here in the Seniors Division.
30:54The bit for me that always makes me really nervous is,
30:56for example, at this World,
30:58I was watching the Seniors Finals,
30:59and it was an epic best of three set.
31:01But when that game three finishes,
31:04it's just like, oh, it's showtime,
31:06and that's when it suddenly hits you like, you got to go.
31:09I am so nervous.
31:12The Masters Finals is the final match
31:15of the entirety of the Pokemon World Championships.
31:20You guys have all done so well.
31:22The pressure is on.
31:24You did amazing.
31:25You guys did great.
31:26Looked good, sounded great.
31:27You know that that's going to be the most amount of eyes.
31:30It's the most amount of pressure.
31:34Um,
31:47Wow,
31:48what a phenomenal couple of finals
31:50we have had so far here on Championship Sunday,
31:53but we still have one more to show you.
31:56My name is Rosemary Kelly,
31:57and I'm joined by Lou Akdoshkromi,
31:59and we are so excited to bring you the Masters Finals
32:02for the video game here at the 2024 Pokémon World Championships.
32:06We only have one more champion left to crown here at the 2024 Pokémon World Championships.
32:11It has been an incredible weekend of competition across all the amazing games we have here,
32:16but now it is time for the Masters Division on the video game side of things.
32:19You can see our finalists here, Yuta Ishigaki and Luka Cherebeti
32:23being able to be one step away from the World Champion.
32:28Let's go ahead and find out, everybody,
32:29as we jump into the very first game of the Masters Finals of the 2024 Pokémon World Championships.
32:36For Luka, you are right away going to see this Rhydon next to this Urshifu,
32:40but for Yuta, it is going to be the Pelipper and the Landrys.
32:43You can start getting into a position
32:45where you might be able to set up the trick room
32:46and gain a little bit more momentum on your field,
32:48and we are going to see the Calyrex join the battle here now.
32:51And that's going to be enough for the knockout.
32:52We're going to a Game 3 between Yuta and Luka.
32:56Does it get closer than this, Pokémon Trainers?
32:58Game 3, Masters Division.
33:00Pokémon World Championships.
33:02I'm on the edge of my seat.
33:03I'm not even in my seat, Rosemary.
33:05The Electro Drift into this Iron Valiant is going to be enough to secure the knockout here.
33:09You see the heads that come off,
33:10and Yuta knows this might just be all too close.
33:13This Pelipper, the last bastion of hope here for Yuta
33:16to try to get through this game,
33:18but the rain has stopped.
33:19The protection is gone here for this Grass-type Pelipper.
33:22And as we see the Corvid locks in,
33:24we're going to see Luka Cherebeti
33:26become your 2024 Pokémon World Champion.
33:30Italy does it again.
33:32Luka Cherebeti is your 2024 World Champion.
33:37The flames are ablaze.
33:38The engines engaged.
33:39The drive and determination to win was detected for Luka Cherebeti.
33:43An encore of applause is completely deserving for our champion
33:47and the Pokémon who gave him a helping hand to victory.
33:56I was just so, so proud of us.
34:13And it was really kind of magical to end that cast and know that you did good.
34:17And I think actually at the end of finals,
34:20it wasn't so much about proving anything.
34:22It was about learning something.
34:24Because I'm now sitting here being like,
34:26someone else could have also done a fantastic job.
34:28It would have been a different job,
34:29but it could also have been epic.
34:31But that doesn't mean that Rose and I didn't also do an epic job.
34:34As well as when you see someone
34:35who you're trying to be a role model to watch you,
34:37it kind of almost makes you kind of step up a little bit and be like,
34:39okay, let's make sure what I say next is really, really good.
34:42Like Annabelle or Alex, someone who you've mentored.
34:45It's really nice to be able to see them
34:47because you also see them having a good time.
34:50It's so weird watching the closing ceremonies
34:52because you realize that it's over.
34:54You've put in all of this prep, this work
34:56into this one three-day world championship event.
35:01And it feels like it's over within the blink of an eye.
35:06And so watching the closing ceremonies,
35:07I think there's a couple of different emotions there.
35:10One, you can't believe that it's over.
35:13Almost shock in a way.
35:16Two, you're proud because yeah,
35:19we got through that weekend and we did it together.
35:23And three is almost a bit of relief
35:26because it's a hard weekend.
35:28There's a lot that goes into the making of the show
35:31that a lot of people don't get a chance to see.
35:33So it's a very weird mixture of emotions
35:37when you're sitting there and enjoying the closing ceremonies.
35:43How do you feel about the tournament?
35:45I think I'm not at peace yet with what happened,
35:48but I'm starting to understand and accept.
35:53I think Luka played really well.
35:55Yeah, deserving win.
35:56Had a good team.
35:59Yeah, I think for me, next year will be a lot about
36:03taking a step back from the game
36:05and just thinking about where I want to be the upcoming years.
36:10So maybe next year will be a little bit
36:11of a transition year for me.
36:13Magdalena and I are planning a wedding.
36:16That's going to be exciting.
36:17I'm excited.
36:18I feel like it's also the beginning
36:21of a new era for some of us.
36:24Yuki potentially moving to the US.
36:26Yeah.
36:26Aaron starting a new job.
36:28Both Aarons, like they both finished higher education.
36:30Yep.
36:31Yeah, I think this is like,
36:32it feels like a lot of us are starting
36:33the next stage of our journeys, you know?
36:36Yeah, and I'm excited to see how everyone's doing
36:39and to always have their backs.
36:41Yes, me too.
36:42I think that becoming friends with Marcus
36:44definitely has made me a better player.
36:46I think that he is not only one of the best players
36:49in the world, but also one of the smartest people
36:51I've ever met in many capacities.
36:53But it's not really the important thing.
36:56The important thing to me is that Marcus
36:58has really helped me become a better person.
37:02Pokemon can definitely help provide a family for you.
37:05I mean, myself, when I first started,
37:07I just moved somewhere with my family.
37:08I was like, I'm going to be a dad.
37:10When I first started, I just moved somewhere
37:12with no friends.
37:12So I think if you are feeling a little bit lost
37:15in your life or maybe don't quite know
37:17what direction you want to go into,
37:19having a community around you or a group of friends
37:22that have that same passion that you do
37:24for something like Pokemon,
37:26then that's a really nice starting point
37:28to figure things out.
37:30I'm so grateful to have the people around me
37:33that I do have in the Pokemon community.
37:36It has given me more sense of purpose.
37:39It has given me a lot of support.
37:44And yeah, chosen family means way more
37:48in this environment,
37:49because since I don't have much family left,
37:52I get to choose who else is going to be
37:53a part of that family.
37:57What do you think your parents would think of you now?
38:03I think about that a lot.
38:09I always live my life
38:10wanting to make my parents proud.
38:14And I think they'd be really proud
38:15of not only the person that I've become today,
38:18but also what I've decided to do with my life.
38:25I really love Pokemon, obviously.
38:27Like, I really love it.
38:28It's really important to me,
38:28but people would always ask me, like,
38:30how much longer are you going to do this for, man?
38:31You know, like, aren't you a little old
38:33or aren't you getting tired of it?
38:35And the answer I always gave was
38:37I'll probably stop playing
38:38if my friends ever stop.
38:39Because as much as I love this game,
38:41as much as I love competing and playing,
38:44I think that the thing that would really tank
38:46my desire and my motivation
38:47is if I was doing it alone.
38:50There might be people out there thinking,
38:52like, oh, they're just there
38:53just, like, playing a video game.
38:55But it is truly special to me
38:58to be able to share Pokemon
39:01as a hobby with all of my friends.
39:03And it might not be Pokemon for you,
39:07but I can only tell anyone out there
39:10to try and find their passion in life.
39:38Do you think you'll be a caster one day,
39:40like Miss Chromie,
39:42or do you want to win a world championship?
39:44What is your goal in Pokemon?
39:46I want to win a world championship,
39:48and then I have to see.