2025 Perth Regional Championships – My Experience

The Perth Regional Championships, held on December 6th-7th, brought together some of the fiercest battlers from Australia and beyond. With elite players such as RicFlareon, mikeymorgs, G0ne1001, YuseiFurou and more in the lineup, the stage was set for an unforgettable showdown.

FishOnAHeater, Zeetarb and Myself (The only 3 who looked at the camera)

A Rocky Start

As one of the higher seeded players based on my Championship Points, I had a bye in the first round. After this, my journey began with a match against a local competitor I’d faced before, Twizlyn. Unfortunately, with some bad alignment, I lost in a devastating 0-2 defeat, plunging me straight into the losers bracket.

The realization hit hard—one more loss and my day would end abruptly. With mental fortitude shaken, I had to regroup quickly. To my surprise, four World Championship competitors, including myself, also dropped to the losers bracket, showcasing the fierce level of competition.

Climbing Through the Losers Bracket

In Round 3, I faced BanditBeartic, a formidable opponent from Perth. Despite the pressure and some tricky matchups, careful energy management and a pivotal game-winning catch secured my victory, keeping my tournament run alive.

Advancing through the bracket, I faced Bamboss, a community ambassador and long-time PvPer from Sydney. With precise plays and steady focus, I managed to secure a solid 2-0 victory, building momentum as I moved forward.

This set up my next match against G0ne1001, a competitor I had been hoping to avoid. Our battles were incredibly close, tied at 1-1, with the deciding game determining who would advance and who would be eliminated. In the end, I emerged victorious, clutching the win with just a sliver of HP remaining.

I couldn’t celebrate too early, as I knew what was coming next. 

YuseiFurou, New Zealand’s top battler, was my next opponent. To add even more pressure, our battles would be live-streamed for hundreds to watch online.

The stakes couldn’t have been higher. With the score tied 1-1, the final game came down to a nail-biting moment. My Shadow Quagsire barely survived a Close Combat from Yusei’s Annihilape, hanging on with a fraction of HP to deliver the decisive Aqua Tail. The crowd erupted as I narrowly claimed victory, keeping my tournament hopes alive.

Next up was Fortwah, a well-known and highly skilled battler. Our games were tied 1-1 (seems to be a recurring theme at this point), and in the final match, I found myself in the worst possible lead scenario—my Azumarill against his Toxapex.

In this game, I ran an unconventional line of 3, swapping into my Shadow Quagsire despite Fortwah having a Serperior on his team. Fortunately, my gamble paid off as I was able to farm and flip switch against his Gastrodon. Despite being shields down, I now had a better matchup. The final showdown came down to my Mandibuzz versus his Shadow Drapion. As the matchup played out, I managed to save my 1HP Mandibuzz and had to take down his Toxapex with an Azumarill bubble for a simultaneous KO. If I hadn’t saved Mandibuzz, it would’ve been a tie game. Thankfully, I narrowly avoided defeat and advanced to the next round.

Next up was Jumathy, a skilled and highly respected battler known for his tough competition. Another streamed battle, this one showcased some of my best plays, with some out-of-the-box decisions, I found myself securing a 2-0 win and propelling me into the Top 4.

In the losers-bracket finals, I faced Pokemonemaker, a talented player who came all the way from Japan. Despite my best efforts, challenging matchups led to a 0-2 defeat, ending my run. I was immensely proud to finish in the Top 4, a significant accomplishment after such a rough start.

The finals between 89CGYFlamesFan and TheyLuvJy were nothing short of spectacular. Flamesfan reset the bracket in a stunning display of skill, forcing a final best-of-five series. With an impressive performance, 89CGYFlamesFun claimed the title, becoming the youngest Regional Champion in the world—a testament to his potential.

The Rewards

For my efforts, I earned $1200 USD, 300 Championship Points, a TCG booster box, and a 4th place medal. It was a proud moment for Perth, with three local competitors, including myself, making a strong showing.

Day 2 Showdowns

Day 2 featured two local Cups. One was held at the Convention Center, and the other, further down south at the Good Games store in Rockingham. These were tough as many of the top competitors from day 1 entered these Cups. In the first, I reached the finals against RicFlareon. After a tense 1-1 match, Ric capitalized on a favourable Toxapex vs. Azumarill matchup in the end to claim victory.


The second cup, held at Good Games Rockingham, was a different story. I secured the crown with a 6-0 performance, earning 40 and 50 Championship Points respectively across both cups.

 

Reflections

Overall, I was pleased with my performance. Despite the early setback, making it to the top 4 and securing strong finishes in the Cups afterwards was a result I was proud of. This weekend was about more than battles; it was about community. Australia’s Pokémon GO scene is fortunate to have such a passionate and talented group. Special thanks to debbiepebble, PvPSteve (now known as Josh), FishyLegs, DrTrotter, Miss Mystic the ESL crew, and all staff who made this event unforgettable.

Adam ‘avrip’

Author & tags

avrip
avrip
Writer/Editor for the Pokémon GO Hub. PvP enthusiast. 2023 Perth Regional Champion. 9th at Yokohama World Championship. Collector and enthusiast of rare Pokémon retro memorabilia. GBL Legend Multiple Seasons. Sold my soul to Niantic on 07/07/2016.

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