The 2025 Brisbane Regional Championships kicked off on March 29th, and as always, my journey began from Perth. Swapping out the dry, scorching heat of Western Australia for Brisbane’s wet and rainy vibes was a shift in itself. I landed on Thursday, giving myself a bit of breathing room before the chaos began. It also gave us time to settle in, explore the city, and adjust to the sudden change in climate. The rain was a welcome difference in some ways, cooler air and a calming atmosphere, but definitely the opposite of what I’m used to.
Friday was badge pickup day, which always has a nice vibe to it. It’s the perfect chance to catch up with friends in the community, meet new battlers, and just soak in the energy before the big day. A few of us headed out for dinner that night at the Pig ‘N’ Whistle. Good food, good laughs, and for a brief moment, the calm before the storm.
Saturday arrived faster than expected. Game day. That familiar tournament tension started creeping in as players eagerly checked their brackets and made final preparations. The competition was fierce. Not only were some of Australia’s top battlers there, but we also had big names fly in from Japan and Korea, including ISHIKAWABOY and Yeteruna to name a few. That alone elevated the stakes to another level.
As battles got underway, things escalated quickly. The bracket was full of tough matchups, big upsets, and intense mental games. That’s the nature of Pokémon GO PvP, you can be the best player in the world, but if you end up in a bad scenario, there’s only so much you can do. But what separates the good from the great is the ability to find win conditions in places others don’t even look. Recognising when to undercharge, when to soft lose, when to save shields, and how to build a win path through clever backline setups, that’s the heart of high-level play.
Even in what looks like an RPS (Rock, Paper, Scissors) matchup, there’s always room for outplay if you stay composed and focused. This game tests your mental strength. It pushes you to keep fighting even when the odds are against you. You’ve got to read the small windows your opponent gives you and take advantage of them in real time.
Unfortunately, my own run came to an end earlier than I hoped. I made it to Winners round 3 before being knocked down by chooooooooose, a strong Japanese battler who ended up going deep in the bracket. In the losers bracket, I was matched up against SammyP, and after a nail-biting game three, I fell just short. I ended in the top 20s, but just missed out on championship points. It stung, especially knowing how close I came, but that’s the nature of competition. You win some, you learn from others.
As the day progressed, more and more competitors were eliminated until only a few remained. The final four featured RicFlareon, ValiantVish, chooooooooose, and Godzilama. Each one showcasing top-tier strategy, team building, and decision making. Thanks to the community stream run by debbiepebble, PvPSteve, FishOnAHeater, and Stumpy, the rest of the world got to witness just how stacked this tournament really was. Massive props to them for their efforts in putting Australian talent on full display.
Eventually, it all came down to chooooooooose vs. Godzilama in the Grand Finals. It was a tense series, but Godzilama came out on top, claiming the title of the 2025 Brisbane Regional Champion and securing his ticket to the World Championships later this year. A well-earned win.
After the tournament, a bunch of us headed out to dinner and drinks—a final celebration of everything the day had been. Win or lose, this is what it’s all about. The community, the stories, the memories.
But the weekend wasn’t over just yet.
The next day featured a Cup tournament at the convention center. A lot of top battlers showed up again, making it just as tough as Regionals. This time, I was able to redeem myself. I made it all the way to the Grand Finals, taking out some incredibly strong battlers along the way, AgentMagikarp, G0nE1001, Fortwah, TheyLuvJy, and even Yeteruna. I felt in rhythm, confident in my plays, and the team I brought felt like it clicked with my style far more than my Regionals squad.
Every player has teams that either suit or don’t suit their playstyle. I tend to perform best with mechanically focused teams that require strong energy management, well-timed catches, and smart use of the switch timer. Previously, I tried a more alignment-based team that didn’t quite fit my strengths, which is why I felt more confident going into the Cup this time.
In the finals, I faced FreezingSun, who brought an unexpected spice pick: Melmetal. It turned out to be a corebreaker against many of the common lines in the tournament, especially against the Guzzlord + Swallot core, and even Cradily. I managed to take game one, but game two and three didn’t go my way. The matchups were tough, and he played them clean. I ended up finishing second—but it was the redemption I needed.
This result gave me clarity. I now know what I need to work on as I prepare for my next big challenge—the North American International Championships in June.
It’ll be the longest distance I’ve ever travelled, and easily the largest event I’ve ever competed in. But I’ll be ready for it.
Stay tuned for that recap. It’s going to be one for the books.
Until next time,
–Adam ‘avrip’
Shoutout to debbiepebble & ESL Australia for the images in this article.
