The Oceania Worldwide Championships has come and gone the opposite week (Seventeenth-Nineteenth Feb) and marked one in every of Australia’s greatest Pokémon occasions so far. The VGC, TCG and naturally Pokémon GO have been all performed concurrently on the Melbourne Conference and Exhibition Centre. With 1000’s of {dollars} on the road, gamers far and extensive gathered to show their abilities in an exhibit of pure expertise.
This was an adrenalin-filled occasion from begin to end which showcased a aggressive aspect of Pokémon GO that many gamers didn’t even know existed. I used to be lucky sufficient to have the ability to take part on this momentous event and I’ll be going by way of my private expertise.
Arriving in Melbourne from Perth on Thursday the sixteenth, I managed to have an early catch-up with a handful of the opponents to verify in and obtain our registration packs which have been full of varied OCIC-themed merch which included card sleeves, a deck field, pins, a hat, a Pokémon card, a competitor lanyard and a mouse mat! Not too shabby, Krabby.
After receiving our welcome pack and attending to know each other, a couple of of the opponents then made our dinner on the Merrywell which was an ideal expertise to correctly have the ability to chat with associates that I’ve recognized on-line for years and to provide us the chance to have the ability to calm down earlier than the large occasion.
The next day was the start of the VGC and TCG competitors, which gave us GO gamers an opportunity to do our closing preparations earlier than the GO part of the occasion began for us. We have been in a position to take in the surroundings and look at the fundamental stage, seating areas, prize wall and all of the Pokémon-themed décor.
After we had soaked up the ambiance, we determined that it was time to eat. Melbourne is understood for its beautiful delicacies, so what higher technique to have a good time being collectively than with Dim sum. High quality meals mixed with pleasant banter made this present day one to recollect.
Simply as I assumed I might lastly calm down after a protracted day trip, I used to be requested if I might personally do an interview for the principle dwell stream again on the conference centre which I used to be very happy and honoured to take action. I used to be requested questions reminiscent of “What received me into Pokémon GO?” and “What my favorite Pokémon is“, “What my favorite transfer is?” For those who’re thinking about viewing this interview, a hyperlink will be discovered here.
After this, it was time to get an excellent evening’s relaxation for the large day. The Pokémon GO portion of the occasion began at 9 am, nevertheless, gamers all gathered earlier to see the bracket and a planner of how the day would play out. Stress was excessive and after the official introduction concluded, gamers made their technique to their designated seats to start spherical 1 of the event.
This event was performed in a double-elimination structure, which signifies that if a participant was to lose a recreation, they aren’t out of the event but as they get positioned into what’s known as the ‘losers bracket’. Gamers within the loser’s bracket can nonetheless combat their means again into the winner’s bracket and have an opportunity at successful the event totally.
As you may think about, every recreation was filled with depth. Power administration, transfer counting, defend baits, sacrificial swaps and recreation data have been important to being victorious on this event because the gamers have been all extraordinarily proficient.
Because the day went on, victorious gamers made their means up the bracket till there have been solely 3 remaining. FishOnAHeater, ValliantVish and YACOBERVITCH all needed to come again the next day to combat it out on the grand closing to see who would develop into the OCIC champion.
After shaking fingers with opponents and taking numerous footage with one another, a big majority of us made our technique to the Munich Brauhaus to have a good time a profitable day and to speak about our performances, it was time to lastly calm down and socialize with the crew. We loved a numerous array of meals and drinks whereas we chatted amongst each other. To complete the evening off, we additionally received to take pleasure in a enjoyable auto-wrecked tournament which was a good way to have some stress-free battles.
It was a pure instance of what Pokémon GO is all about, gathering along with each other, making new associates and stepping out of your consolation stage.
After the hangovers subsided, Grand closing day was right here. The three finalists made their technique to the principle stage to start battling. As the gang gathered, each in-person and on the PlayPokémon dwell stream, gamers have been chanting and hyping up the opponents. The ambiance felt much like a sports activities recreation, the dwell crowd was reacting to every play and applauding every victory.
With every spectacular play, the roar of the gang might be heard all through the entire enviornment, actually an unforgettable expertise to see how far aggressive Pokémon GO has come.
After a number of intense battles, there emerged a winner…
YACOBERVITCH managed to be topped OCIC champion with a fully dominating efficiency!
What this meant now was that the highest 3 gamers have been in a position to qualify for the 2023 Pokémon GO World Championships in Yokohama together with a hefty money prize too. Since ValiantVish had already secured his ticket to the World Championship for putting 1st on the 2023 Brisbane Regional Championships, his award mechanically handed all the way down to the 4th place participant, AgentMagikarp.
And with that, the 2023 Oceania Worldwide Championship was concluded. A very profitable occasion with minor points all through the day. An enormous due to all of the employees that have been concerned all through this occasion. With out them, none of this might have been attainable. I’d additionally prefer to thank The Pokémon Firm, Niantic, ESL Australia and naturally, each competitor that confirmed up and gave it their greatest shot.
With every profitable occasion like this, it’s necessary to see how far Pokémon GO as an Esports has come. For those who’re thinking about seeing my private imaginative and prescient of the sport years again, you should definitely take a look at my article ‘The Potential of Pokémon GO Changing into an Esport‘. It’s unbelievable how a lot has come true and unfolded in entrance of us all.
For those who’re trying to become involved with one in every of these occasions, you should definitely keep updated with bulletins to see if there’s a Regional Championship arising in your space. I might extremely advocate taking part in one in every of these should you can, even should you don’t really feel that assured in your battling talents, it may nonetheless be a great deal of enjoyable and the expertise you get shall be unforgettable. The most effective half in regards to the Pokémon GO PvP group is that we’re all the time down to assist each other.
We hope to see you on the market for the following Regional Championship. 
Till subsequent time, Trainers.
–Adam ‘Avrip’
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