2015 VGC English Championship
The season continues for competitive Pokémon players with the English Championship which took place from May 23 to 24 in Manchester. The big players distinguished themselves better than in Germany, like the Top Cut which presented almost only known faces.
425 players were registered in the Masters category, slightly more than in Stuttgart for the first national championship of the season. The European season will end on Sunday, June 14 with the Italian Championship in Milan before giving way to the United States Championship from July 3 to 5.
From left to right: Baris Ackos (semi-finalist), Markus Stadter (winner), Arash Ommati (finalist), Eugenio Discalzi (semi-finalist).
After his victory at home in Germany last year, Markus Stadter won another national title in Manchester against 2013 world champion Arash Ommati.
The Italian player was able to pick himself up after his poor performance in Stuttgart where he didn’t even reach the Top Cut. Arash Ommati once again proved that he had to be counted on this year in the big events. Markus Stadter also raised his level of play after Stuttgart where his journey ended in the Top 32.
The final quickly turned in favor of the German player since two rounds were enough for him to win. We can still wonder about Arash Ommati’s choices at the end of the second round since the outcome of the game seemed to be in his hands in a 2v1 Azumarill+Minotaupe against an Exagide who finally turned the tide.
Enzo Tigroudja, 2015 Junior English Champion
If the Masters category was not synonymous with success for the French players since none of them reached the Top Cut, it is very different for the Junior category (under 12s) since the young Enzo Tigroudja won the title of English champion at only 9 years old. This remarkable performance qualifies him directly for the World Championships in Boston from August 21 to 23, without forgetting that he exceeds 1,000 Championship Points which is extremely rare.
Several French players in the Masters category are still in the running for qualification since the first four French players will travel to Milan on June 13.
Unlike the German Championship, the big players were there in the final draw, including the 2014 German champion Markus Stadter (winner), the 2013 world champion Arash Ommati (finalist), the 2011 world championship finalist Matteo Gini (Top 16) and Baris Ackos (semi-finalist), always placed, but never winner.
Note the disqualification of Chris Wilson at the end of the seventh round because of a level 50 Hydreigon in-game, although this does not change anything in combat and does not make this Pokémon stronger it is impossible to obtain this Pokémon at this level without a cheat tool since Solochi only evolves into Diamat at level 50 and Diamat only evolves into Hydreigon at level 64. Sad end of the road for one of the only players with 7 wins and no losses at this point in the competition. Players who would like to compete with illegally generated Pokémon are warned: if you want to cheat, take the trouble to do it well!
Organizational problems were once again at the heart of the debates since the Swiss rounds did not start until 1 p.m. and ended at 10:30 p.m., enough to encroach on the sleep of the players qualified for the second day of competition.
