Pokemon Go champion stripped of title for celebrating his win

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The champion of the 2026 Pokémon Orlando Regional Championships has lost their title due to inappropriate behavior after winning. Officials deemed the behavior unsportsmanlike.

Winning, whether in a game, sport, or online competition, usually leads to celebration. It’s a natural way to acknowledge all the hard work and dedication you’ve put in, and to feel good about your accomplishment.

It’s not always a good idea to go overboard with celebrations, as one Pokémon player, Firestar73, recently learned. He won the 2026 Orlando Regional Championships, but his title was taken away due to what officials considered inappropriate behavior, and fans are upset about the decision.

Pokemon Regional Champion stripped of title after celebrating

On X (formerly Twitter), 2023 Pokémon Go World Champion AXN announced that Firestar73_ had won the Orlando Regional Championship after a tough climb through the loser’s bracket, securing the victory in the final, decisive game.

The celebration was reportedly inappropriate, and officials penalized the team, causing them to lose the game and awarding the win to NTC.

Man, I was so hyped watching @Firestar73_ battle through the loser’s bracket and then finally take game 5 to win the Orlando Regional Championship! But then I heard they got penalized for celebrating – apparently it was considered unsportsmanlike, and they actually lost the game, handing the win to NTC. Seriously, I’m gutted for Firestar. That’s just brutal.

— AXN (@ItsAXN) April 5, 2026

Firestar73_ showed his excitement by removing his headphones, jumping to his feet, and raising his fist in the air. Afterwards, he walked over to his opponent, shook their hand, and complimented them on a well-played match.

The judges considered Firestar73’s actions unfair, so they took away his victory and awarded it to NiteTimeClasher. Although both players had won one game each, Firestar73’s final win was canceled, ultimately giving NiteTimeClasher the overall tournament win.

The community reacted with outrage, with many people questioning what had happened. AXN guessed, based on what they’d been told, that the person had thrown the headphones with excessive force.

Many fans are upset and are urging others to file complaints. One fan stated that the judges’ harsh decision is ruining the fairness of the competition and believes the judges should be removed.

Many people defended the player, arguing that his actions weren’t at all unfair. They explained he was simply celebrating his win with enthusiastic energy, and was understandably overwhelmed with emotion after a tough competition.

So far, neither Pokémon Go, Niantic, nor the event organizers have made a statement about what’s happening.

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2026-04-06 15:49