Missed Day 1 coverage? Check out everything you need to know right here!
Most Used Pokemon
Surprisingly, Incineroar is only the 5th most used Pokemon in Day 2, appearing on 26.42% of teams. With Intimidate, Fake Out, and Parting Shot, Incineroar typically sits at the top spot, but for today, that spot is taken by Urshifu Rapid Strike, appearing on 61.32% of teams. Completing the classic Fire-Water-Grass defensive core, Rillaboom appears at the 2nd spot, appearing on 37.74% of teams, a significant drop from 1st place. Continuing, Raging Bolt sits at 33.02% thanks to its strong attacks and devastating priority in Thunderclap. Farigiraf sits at 30.19% thanks to its great utility as both a Trick Room Pokemon and a Pokemon that can generally block priority with Armor Tail and deal decent amounts of damage. Iron Hands appears on 24.53% of teams, gaining popularity with a new Low Kick set. Ogerpon-Hearthflame sits at 20.75% as the most popular Ogerpon form, beating the Wellspring form that typically took that spot in previous formats. Flutter Mane falls from consistently being one of the top 3 Pokemon, still holding on to a respectable 19.81%, followed by Chi-Yu's 17.92%, the 2nd Fire and Dark-type Pokemon in the Top 12. Three Grass-type Pokemon take up the final spots, with Ogerpon-Cornerstone and Whimsicott both sitting at 16.04%, and Amoonguss sitting at 14.15%.
106 players reached Day 2 of the World Championships, but who has reached the finals in Day 3? It's important to note that reaching the World Championships in any capacity is an incredible achievement within itself. These are some of the best players around!
First, the Top 16 featured Diego Ferreira, Oliver Eskolin, Michael Kelsch, Kylan Van Severen, Marco Silva, Yuxiang Wang, Justin Knox, Yuta Ishigaki, Hyuma Hara, Seong Jae Jeong, Antonio Sanchez, Navjit Joshi, Ruben Gianzani, Luca Ceribelli, Chenyue Zeng, and Diego Aguirre, with the players in bold managing to win their Top 16 games, making it into the Top 8!
The Semifinals were between 2023 Worlds Finalist Michael Kelsch versus Yuta Ishigaki, as well as Seong Jae Jeong versus 2024 EUIC Top 8 Luca Ceribelli. Details for those matches can be found below. To summarise, Luca Ceribelli came out on top in his match, winning both rounds to defeat Seong Jae Jeong and make his way towards tomorrow's finals.
Streamed VGC Matches
The first game is another high stakes match between 2016 World Champion Wolfe Glick and 2019 Worlds Finalist Hirofumi Kimura, both players having a 100% winstreak before this match. Glick's Restricted Legendary Pokemon in Calyrex Shadow Rider using the Covert Cloak held item, and Kimura's is Calyrex Ice Rider, notably holding a Never-Melt Ice to boost the damage of Glacial Lance. With Kimura's Restricted Pokemon not being brought to the battle, Glick's Pokemon managed to put on a great deal of pressure on the opposing team, allowing him to knock out 3 of the 4 opposing Pokemon before Kimura forfeits. The second round opens with the two Calyrex facing against each other. After some switches and heavy hits from both sides, Glick makes a bold choice by switching in Farigiraf and terastallizing Calyrex, using Astral Barrage and knocking out Raging Bolt. As Flutter Mane switches in to threaten damage towards Calyrex, Kimura terastallizes it into the Normal type to avoid damage from Astral Barrage. Luckily for Glick, his Calyrex Shadow Rider clicks Protect this round, being able to slow down and understand what's happening. Chi-Yu survives an Astral Barrage. Chi-Yu switches out for Calyrex Ice Rider. Calyrex Ice Rider barely survives an Astral Barrage, retaliates with Glacial Lance, and Calyrex Shadow Rider barely survives. Aqua Jet from Urshifu knocks out Calyrex Ice Rider. Aqua Jet knocks out Chi-Yu. With 1 Pokemon left, Kimura's team is defeated, and Wolfe Glick takes another win. As of this first round, Wolfe Glick was the only player to have a 100% winrate with 9 wins, additionally winning all 18 of the battles he's played.
Game 2 was between 2024 Liverpool Regional Champion Antonio Sanchez and Diego Ferreira, both players with 8 wins and 1 loss overall. Both players are running the Calyrex Ice Rider, although they decided to use two different sets. Sanchez used a Clear Amulet set whereas Ferreira championed a hard Trick Room team with Ursaluna, Indeedee-Female, and Torkoal. The classic Flame Orb Guts Ursaluna set proved its strengths in the first round, getting a one-hit knock-out on the opposing Rillaboom with Facade, but eventually gets knocked out by a super-effective Power Whip from Ogerpon-Cornerstone, with Antonio Sanchez winning the first round. Following some adjustments in the second round, Ursaluna once again got to show its might by knocking out the opposing Raging Bolt in one hit. Despite eventually falling, its teammate, Tera Dragon Calyrex Ice Rider, manages to secure a knock-out against Rillaboom and Urshifu, winning the second round. This continued in the final round, with Calyrex Ice Rider using its signature move Glacial Lance to knock-out Farigiraf, Rillaboom, and Urshifu, allowing Diego Ferreira to win the game.
Game 3 was another match between two trainers using soft Trick Room Clear Amulet Calyrex Ice Rider. These players are Victor Medina and 2023 Hartford Regional Champion Tang Shiliang. The first round was a close match, with Medina's Raging Bolt knocking out the opposing Calyrex Ice Rider, and being left on its own to take down a Tera Stellar Urshifu. Picking Thunderbolt over Thunderclap, an Aqua Jet from Urshifu defeats the Raging Bolt, and Tang wins the first round. The next round opens with a good start for Medina, knocking out the opposing Incineroar with a Surging Strikes from Urshifu. He manages to grab the opportunity, knocking out Tang's Pokemon and being left with two Grass-type Pokemon, Rillaboom and Ogerpon-Cornerstone, against Urshifu Rapid Strike. Shiliang Tang forfeits, and Victor Medina wins the second round. The third round features a key knock-out on Medina's Calyrex Ice Rider following a Surging Strikes from Urshifu, leaving Ogerpon-Cornerstone to deal with Incineroar and Urshifu. Ogerpon attacks into Urshifu's Protect, and Incineroar lands a Will-O-Wisp to ensure Ogerpon can't deal any meaningful damage. After Urshifu gets knocked out, Ogerpon eventually falls to a Knock Off, with Shiliang Tang winning the game.
The next match was between 2024 Japan National Champion Hyuma Hara and Seong Jae Jeong. Hara is using Terapagos, and Jeong is using Miraidon. The first game opens with both Restricted Pokemon on the field. A useful turn 1 knock-out on Hara's Ogerpon Hearthflame set Jeong on a good path, and an Encore from Whimsicott destroyed Terapagos' chances of dealing any damage in the first half of the battle. Some clever switches from Hara allows Terapagos to return to the field, but Light Screen dampens the damage output from Tera Starstorm, and eventually leaves Hara with 2 weakened Pokemon against the opponent's full team of 4, and he ultimately forfeits to give Seong Jae Jeong the first win. The second game opens in a very familiar manner, with a Draco Meteor from Miraidon knocking out Hara's Ogerpon Hearthflame. This is followed by two Ivy Cudgel attacks knocking out Terapagos, putting Hara in another bad place in the game. With Incineroar falling to an Electro Drift and Flutter Mane getting knocked out by an Ivy Cudgel, Seong Jae Jeong wins the second round, and the entire game.
Game 5 features a match-up against 2024 EUIC Top 8 Luca Ceribelli and Chenyue Zeng, with both trainers using Miraidon. Notably, Zeng is using a Tatsugiri and Dondozo team, additionally featuring Gholdengo and Choice Band Dragonite, all of these Pokemon being more popular in previous formats. The first round opens with both Miraidon facing each other down across the battlefield. Zeng goes for a strong first move, switching Miraidon out for Tatsugiri, getting the devastating boosts from Commander, and terastallizing into the Grass-type. A clever Tailwind from Ceribelli allows Ogerpon-Hearthflame to outspeed the Dondozo, and defeat it with a critical hit Ivy Cudgel. Despite fainting, Dondozo has dealt a decent amount of damage, allowing Extreme Speed from Dragonite to defeat both Whimsicott and Ogerpon. Dazzling Gleam from Miraidon takes down Tatsugiri, and both players are left with 2 Pokemon left including their Miraidon. Sensing his defeat, Zeng forfeits, and Luca Ceribelli wins the first round. The second round features the same opening with both Miraidon on the field. A turn 1 Draco Meteor from Ceribelli gets a one-hit knock-out on Zeng's Miraidon, immediately putting him at a disadvantage. With an Earthquake from a boosted Dondozo dealing a good amount of damage, Ceribelli retaliates by knocking it out with a Draco Meteor and Low Kick from Miraidon and Iron Hands. Tatsugiri gets a knock-out on Miraidon, and gets knocked out in return by a Wood Hammer from Ogerpon. In an incredibly close few final rounds, Chenyue Zeng manages to win the second round with Dragonite's Extreme Speed knocking out Iron Hands. A Bug-type terastallization for Iron Hands opens the third round, followed by a third and final Dondozo and Tatsugiri combination. Order Up almost knocks out Miraidon, but it barely hangs on, using Draco Meteor to defeat Dondozo in return. After a series of knock-outs against Zeng, Luca Ceribelli wins the final round, and entire game.
Game 6 yet again features Diego Ferreira, this time up against 2024 Stockholm Regional Champion and 2023 Worlds Finalist Michael Kelsch. As highlighted earlier, Ferreira is running a hard Trick Room team with Calyrex Ice Rider, and Kelsch using Zamazenta as his Restricted Legendary, notably running Wide Guard and Heavy Slam over Iron Defense. A turn 1 Dragon-type terastallisation from Ferreira's Calyrex Ice Rider allows it to survive two attacks and set up Trick Room. Ogerpon taunts Zamazenta, blocking it from using Wide Guard to counter Glacial Lance. Dragon Tera Type shows up on Kelsch's Zamazenta too, allowing it to resist Eruption from Torkoal. Despite this, it deals a significant amount of damage with two Eruptions, thanks to a Helping Hand from Indeedee, allowing it to knock out Entei and bring Zamazenta down to low health. Taking damage from Body Press, Torkoal can no longer deal large amounts of damage, and switches out for Calyrex Ice Rider, which gets taken down by Fake Out from Rillaboom. Zamazenta defeats Indeedee, but faints from recoil damage, and now both players are left with 2 Pokemon. Ferreira can't deal with the damage output from Rillaboom and Chien-Pao, and Michael Kelsch wins the first round. Chien-Pao opens the second round by immediately knocking out the opposing Indeedee. Calyrex Ice Rider takes a large amount of damage from Body Press, but is still able to set up Trick Room. Predicting a terastallization from the opposing Zamazenta, Calyrex opens with a Glacial Lance to deal super-effective damage. In retaliation, Zamazenta gets to use Body Press to knock it out. Torkoal defeats Entei with a Weather Ball, and Ursaluna gets burned from its Flame Orb. Ferreira's 2 remaining Pokemon now have to take down 3 opposing Pokemon outside of Trick Room. Ursaluna gets knocked out by Wood Hammer from Rillaboom, and Diego Ferreira forfeits to give Michael Kelsch the win.
The first semifinals game took place between 2024 EUIC Top 8 Luca Ceribelli and Seong Jae Jeong, an almost identical mirror match, with the most obvious difference being that Ceribelli is championing the Rapid Strike form of Urshifu, and Jeong champions the less common Dark-type Single Strike form. Ceribelli starts on the back foot, switching out his Whimsicott for Miraidon. The opposing Whimsicott sets up Light Screen, but Miraidon still does a fair amount of damage with Tera Fairy boosting Dazzling Gleam, knocking out Jeong's Ogerpon-Hearthflame after a 2nd attack. Jeong follows suit and terastallizes his Miraidon into the Fairy Type to avoid super-effective damage from Dazzling Gleam. This also allows it to use Electro Drift to defeat Ogerpon-Hearthflame. Another Dazzling Gleam from Ceribelli defeats the opposing Whimsicott. Jeong's Iron Hands uses Heavy Slam to defeat Whimsicott as Miraidon switches back in. Fake Out flinches Jeong's Miraidon, as his Iron Hands retaliates by knocking out the other Iron Hands. Being the only Pokemon left on Ceribelli's team, Miraidon goes for a Dazzling Gleam to defeat both of the remaining opponents to win the first round. The second round features a much different opening for Jeong, leading with Iron Hands and Farigiraf in front of Ceribelli's Whimsicott and Miraidon. Farigiraf sets up Trick Room as Whimsicott switches out for Iron Hands. Despite the twisted dimensions, Miraidon tanks a few hits and defeats the opposing Iron Hands. Jeong replaces the fallen Iron Hands with his own Miraidon. Ceribelli makes a hard read by predicting the opposing Tera Fairy Miraidon to switch, locking in a Draco Meteor which would typically do no damage. Luckily, Ogerpon switches in, and gets knocked out by the attack. This helps him to secure an upper hand, and win the round against Seong Jae Jeong. Luca Ceribelli is the first player to make his way into tomorrow's finals.
The final game of the day takes place between 2023 Worlds Finalist Michael Kelsch and Yuta Ishigaki, both players looking for their way into the finals of the 2024 World Championships. Ishigaki is running a Calyrex Ice Rider team with Iron Valiant and Landorus-Incarnate, and as a reminder, Kelsch is running a Zamazenta team with Chien-Pao and Entei. The first round opens with Flutter Mane and Chien-Pao on Kelsch's side standing against Ishigaki's Amoonguss and Calyrex Ice Rider. Flutter Mane switches out for Urshifu, and Amoonguss terastallizes into the Fire-type, potentially to avoid super-effective damage from Chien-Pao. This allows Ishigaki to select and activate Trick Room. Calyrex Ice Rider returns, swapping for Pelipper, setting up the rain as Urshifu terastallizes into the Water-type to maximise damage from Surging Strikes. Chien-Pao is put to sleep by a Spore from Amoonguss as Urshifu uses Aqua Jet to defeat Pelipper. Notably, Kelsch's Urshifu is holding Safety Goggles, allowing for immunity to Spore. Tera Fire Amoonguss is defeated by a Surging Strikes before Kelsch's Urshifu is defeated by a Close Combat from the opposing Urshifu. Ishigaki is left with Urshifu and Calyrex Ice Rider. Surging Strikes knocks out Kelsch's Flutter Mane as Zamazenta's Body Press brings the Urshifu down to its Focus Sash. Chien-Pao remains asleep, and is defeated by an Aqua Jet. Making a great comeback, Yuta Ishigaki wins the first round. The second game opens with Ishigaki's Amoonguss being knocked out by an Icicle Crash followed by a Surging Strikes. Since both of Kelsch's Pokemon attacked the Amoonguss, Calyrex Ice Rider gets a free turn to set up Trick Room. Entei joins the game, and terastallizes into the Normal-type to boost damage from Extreme Speed, which is also boosted by Choice Band. Boosted by Sword of Ruin, Extreme Speed almost knocks out Urshifu, but it manages to hold on and knock out Chien-Pao. Calyrex Ice Rider now gets a chance to use a neutral Glacial Lance against Entei to knock it out. Kelsch's team is now only Zamazenta and a low health Urshifu against 3 of Ishigaki's Pokemon. Zamazenta uses Wide Guard to block Glacial Lance, and Kelsch's Aqua Jet connects into the opposing Urshifu and knocks it out. High Horsepower comes out from Calyrex Ice Rider to knock out the opposing Urshifu. Calyrex Ice Rider now has 2 attack boosts from Chilling Neigh. Zamazenta misses a knock-out on Pelipper, and Calyrex Ice Rider defeats Zamazenta. Yuta Ishigaki wins the game, moving on to the finals taking place tomorrow.
Stick around for the finals of the 2024 Pokemon World Championships taking place at 1pm PDT on the 18th of August to find out whether Luca Ceribelli or Yuta Ishigaki will become your new World Champion!
