Pokemon judge says he was banned from Discord after criticizing Firestar73 Orlando ruling

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A Pokemon judge claims he was kicked off the Pokemon Professors Discord server after speaking out against Play Pokemon’s choice to take away Firestar73’s victory at the Orlando Regional Championships.

The controversy surrounding the Orlando Pokémon tournament continues after Play Pokémon stood by its decision not to overturn the disqualification of player Firestar73. They stated that the player had previously received a warning for hitting and shaking the table during an earlier match, and that continuing to disrupt the game in the fifth match led officials to issue a harsher penalty.

The initial explanation caused a strong negative reaction from players and fans, who, like Firestar73, felt Play Pokemon was changing the rules to justify a previous decision. The situation has worsened now that a Pokemon Professor has publicly supported the player, and claims they faced consequences for doing so.

Judges aren’t usually allowed to talk about their decisions in public. But I also believe it’s my job to make sure players have a fair competition. If someone can lose a lot of money in a big game just for a minor action like bumping the table, it shows we haven’t created a truly fair environment.

— Professor Rex🇨🇦 (@RexProfessor) April 21, 2026

Professor Rex started playing Pokemon competitively in 2023, hoping to help improve the competitive community. He shared in an interview with Hungrybox, a professional Super Smash Bros. player, that he was a key figure in introducing Open Team Sheets and also worked as a judge at two Regional Championships.

Rex explained he became a professor because he wants to ensure everyone participating in Pokémon GO tournaments has a positive experience. He felt the Orlando tournament didn’t live up to that standard, believing the judges didn’t do enough to create the best possible experience for competitors and the wider community.

Professor Rex says Pokemon GO is judged under rules not built for it

As a long-time Pokémon fan, I really agree with Rex’s point – it’s not just about one specific decision that’s bothering people. It feels like Pokémon GO is playing by a totally different set of rules than the rest of the official Pokémon world, and that’s the bigger problem.

As a longtime fan, it’s great to hear them acknowledge that the official Play! Pokémon rules were designed for the traditional card game and video games, and that Pokémon GO is just so different. It makes sense they’d need to consider that when it comes to how things work in GO!

He contrasted VGC battles, where players typically have about 30 seconds per turn, with the quicker, more fast-paced action of Pokemon GO.

Rex believes this creates a feeling of release after a hard-fought victory that’s more similar to what you’d experience in a fighting game than a typical Pokémon battle, making enthusiastic celebrations feel more genuine.

It seems they’re looking for all the excitement of winning and competition, but without any of the real pressure or stress that comes with it. Would we really exclude talented athletes from competing just because they have nervous habits like foot tapping or fidgeting?

— Professor Rex🇨🇦 (@RexProfessor) April 21, 2026

I was really struck by what Rex said recently. He pointed out that judges usually aren’t supposed to talk about their rulings publicly, but he feels strongly that his main job is to make sure everyone has a fair chance to compete. He specifically questioned the decision in Orlando, and it really hit home when he asked, “If someone can lose a ton of money just for a little disruption, what kind of environment are we creating for players?” It makes you think, doesn’t it?

I just saw something Rex posted that really struck me. Apparently, after what happened in Orlando, the professors received an internal memo. It basically warned them not to talk publicly about decisions made at events they didn’t even attend. Even worse, it said they could face disciplinary action for complaining about someone else’s behavior if those complaints were seen as going against the program’s values. It feels like they’re trying to control what everyone says!

Rex stated he’d been blocked on the Pokémon Professors Discord, explaining his posts about the situation were removed and he anticipated punishment from Play Pokémon. He also told Firestar73 directly that he believed he should have won.

Rex says head judges can be wrong and overturned

In an interview with Hungrybox, Rex challenged the notion that a head judge’s ruling is final and can’t be questioned.

Rex remembered a situation where a player was supposedly told the incorrect match time by a staff member, and then penalized with a game loss for being late. He spoke to the head judge about it, but was initially informed the decision was final and any appeals needed to be submitted through the official support system.

I’ve been banned from the Pokémon Professors Discord server. They’ve removed all my messages about what happened, but I’ll share details when I receive official communication from Play!Pokémon. And @Firestar73_, you rightfully won – they can’t change that.

— Professor Rex🇨🇦 (@RexProfessor) April 21, 2026

Rex said he immediately spoke with the event organizers, told them what occurred, and assisted in reversing the decision.

He pointed out that just because a head judge makes a final ruling doesn’t guarantee it’s accurate or can’t be overturned. Rex feels this is important in the Orlando situation, as some people see Firestar73’s Game Loss as unchallengeable simply because it originated with the head judge.

The fallout from the Orlando decision is growing, as criticism is now being voiced not only by fans and rivals, but also by a judge who participated in the program hoping to improve Pokémon GO.

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2026-04-22 18:20