The 2024 Pokemon VGC Masters Division champion, Luca Ceribelli, along with two other competitive players, report being barred from attending the 2026 Pokemon World Championships. The incident stemmed from a dispute that occurred at a Pokemon Center, though specific details about what triggered the conflict remain unclear from available reports. The three players characterize their exclusion as a "ban," marking an unexpected consequence for the reigning world champion just two years after his victory.
- The defending Masters Division champ faces removal from the sport's flagship annual event over an incident unrelated to competitive play itself.
- A Pokemon Center disagreement escalated to competitive consequences for three VGC players, raising questions about how infractions outside tournament grounds are handled.
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GameRant
· Aug 29, 16:07 UTC
2024 Pokemon World Champion Says They Have Been Banned from Worlds
The champion from the 2024 Pokemon VGC Masters Division reports being banned from the 2026 Pokemon World Championships in an unusual turn of events.
Dexerto
· Aug 28, 19:40 UTC
2024 Pokemon world champion among three “banned” from Worlds over Pokemon Center line dispute
Three VGC players, including 2024 Pokemon world champion Luca Ceribelli, say they were “banned” from Worlds after a Pokemon Center line dispute.