After the unsavoury hotel incident at the Pokémon Video Game Championships this past weekend, it seems Masters champion Rubén Puig Lecegui has had his title taken off him.
Puig was allegedly involved in the incident that threatened to overshadow the tournament, and although he emerged victorious in his division the official Pokémon results now list Ben Kyriakou from England as the Masters Division champion.
Dave Schwimmer, Pokémon organised play manager, had this to say on the Smogon forums:
The Pokémon Company International expects its players to maintain high standards of behaviour conducive to the family-friendly environment that we foster. The Pokémon Company International conducts full investigations into any matters where we believe that a player has failed to maintain these standards, and take appropriate action when necessary. In this case, we have found that unacceptable behaviour did take place, and have taken the appropriate steps in response.
Update: Ruebén Puig Lecegui has posted a statement on the Smogon forums:
The Spanish team competing in Birmingham's Pokémon VGC which took place on March 3rd has been subject to harsh criticism by the press and other media, which leads to the following statement.
The events described by different media all over the Internet are in no way true. While one of us may have been involved in an isolated case of vandalism at the hotel where we stayed, this has nothing at all to do with Pokémon, the tournament or the facilities where the tournament took place. The only consequence of his acts was an economic sanction which was paid immediately. We can't tolerate these attempts at discrediting the Spanish players (some of the most skilled players in Europe) , as our behaviour during the tournament was not unacceptable in any way.
and, I have not had anything to do with what happened in the hotel, that I do it a friend of mine...
I went to Hawaii in 2010, and I went to San Diego in 2011, for my pokemon is like my life, I ask please do not make me this .. I won again in Uk and I deserve to go to Hawaii and represent Europe in the pokemon world...
we were in our room and we were speaking and talking a little bit loudly... one of my friends took a "poo" and left it at the corridor, wrapped in paper. I told my friend not to do that but he did it anyway... it was so embarrasing I couldn't say anything at the moment... I said it was the one who had done it because my friend was ashamed to admit he had done it..
I would really apreciate that The pokémon Company thought about the decision they have taken once again and refresh their website after taking my defence into account. Thank You.
[source smogon.com]
Comments 44
Good. What in the world were they thinking? @_@ He's going to have an awkward time explaining that one to his friends and family back home.
While i agree there actions were unacceptable,it seems ridiculous to take there title way for something that was completely unrelated to the actual tourney i mean i could see them being banned from future tourneys but this kind of punishment is just not fair to them,they did still win fair and square(as far as i know they didn't cheat)
I think this was the best response from the people in charge. Knowing that inappropriate behaviour could cost them the victory makes players more likely to conduct themselves in an acceptable manner in future.
I was wondering if he was involved or not. I've seen people have awards revoked for poor or unsportsmanlike behavior in other kinds of tournaments too, though, so I'm not surprised to see it happen here.
after reading about this crap i am afraid to see what other articles got the 'wtf' tag
They should make a "wtf" section at the top next to retro!
I am not surprised they have taken this action and wholly support it. The Pokemon Company is, as the name suggests, a company. They will not tolerate to see their brand tainted by the negative publicity from this incident. They sell most of their wares to chldren (read: parents) and anything controversial will directly affect their bottomline. Those Spanish morons are lucky they're not being sued for breach of contract.
The WTF tag is the best one, after Wowza.
I think this is hilarious.
He deserves it, he was stupid.
There was no poo fight involved then? Nice reporting NL.
Congrats Ben Kyriakou, you must feel like a winner now. Do Europe proud in the World Championships. Maybe fart during the ceremony in Ruben's memory.
This is a "poo-trastrophe"! Sorry couldn't help myself
their behaviour was disgusting and good thing that title was stripped.
@Gamesake His friend did.
@PALgamer I'm sure there was some exaggeration, but I'm not sure I believe his version of the story. I certainly don't believe the whole "it was my friend.. but I said it was me to take the blame!" part.
I had no idea Ross from Friends was a "Pokemon organised play manager!"
Joking aside, this is stupidly funny. I've been to many a hotel with friends ripped off my butt from alcohol before. Sure, we'd always get up to shenanigans and laugh through the night, but we always make sure we're sensible and responsible, tidy up after one another, look out for each other etc. It's not our place after all! Can't believe there wasn't a toilet nearby if he needed to "poo" so much. The tools.
Wait, this is an Onion article, right?
Fair enough, it's nothing to do with the game itself, but it serves him right for being a pillock. Should have seen it coming a mile off.
Good. This kind of attitude...
puts on glasses
... soils the Pokémon name.
/thread
Good work, AcidFox. Good work.
... This doesn't really match up with the other story though.
@Mk_II As far as I know, they didn't sign any contract.
This incident makes me feel the Pokémon Company more, let's say "real". As if a real-life Pokémon Tournament had taken place. I don't know if I make any sense with these word, I hope you understand.
Any tournament has rules, has heroes and villains, and any actions has consequences. This made me feel the Pokémon Tournament more "real" in someway
I'm glad I wasn't the only one who felt people were just mud-slinging. Still can't tell who's telling the truth, but since he lost his title over it, I can't help but think he may not be fully in the right. Still, if a leader can't control his team, he doesn't deserve the rank of "master".
@Order-Sol Good point, quite good! Where is the leadership???
They should've behaved properly.
let the champ be the champ
@AcidFox
After this he'll be
puts on glasses
down in the dumps
YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
Before saying that he did it it says that his friend did it.
I thought everyone who made it to the European championships was considered "...the most skilled players in Europe"...
I tend to agree with the Pokemon people on their actions. I sympathize with the guy if he really didn't do anything, but Nintendo can't necessarily take him at his word when he's desperate to get his title back.
What a bizarre episode in human history.
re: the update... wow. if he didn't do anything about the problem then, he doesn't deserve to keep his title now. 'embarrassment' is no reason for not stepping up and doing the right thing — as in not letting that happen in the first place!
as a side-note, i agree with the idea that this makes the Pokemon championships more of a 'real' competition. i hadn't really thought about it that way before, but it really does fit with the situation. congratulations to The Pokemon Company for taking these things seriously and working to legitimize this sort of thing in the eyes of the public :3
lol "we were talking quite loudly to each other and my friend took a poo and placed it gently in the hall inside a wrapper. then someone picked up the poo and tried to take it promptly to the trash, because where else would poo belong, but alas he tripped and it fell all over someone else! and while they were cleaning themselves off they tripped and fell into the wall and, whoa is me, poo was suddenly and unexpectedly everywhere!"
@Squiggle55: bahahaha, sounds plausible enough D:
having no idea what this was about (and very little idea what a pokemon is) i was guessing the violation would have been sexual in nature. like, they won a tournament and had a bunch of strippers over. when will people dangerously obsessed with children's toys and tv shows ever grow up?
Bet their favourite Pokemons are Trubbish and Garbodor.
USE MUDDY WATER! SUPER EFFECTIVE!
@xenomaster Ditto. Rimshot!
He thought he was the best in Europe, but then all of his hopes and dreams were flushed away ...
....I'll get my coat.
I'm curious to know how poo ended up on a "piece of paper"... And.. just why?
Good thing, childish behaviour at a proper event smears the reputation of everyone. Also: smells bad! I also think it's a bit rich that he gets to enter in several different countries. Don't get me wrong, people of any nationality should be able to enter the UK championships to ensure everyone gets a fair shot. However if what people said on ONM forums is true (takes an entire shot of salt!) and he and his friends enter in every country's event to get a better chance of reaching the final, that's not on. There are many people who won't get a shot at it since these guys take up places multiple times over.
@CanWizard "this kind of crap" O I see what you did there. That kinda stunk.
@ClaytonLuigi You mean scat-atstrophe. Heyooohhhh!
So it was poo?
Um yeah, his defense is "I didn't do it" with no alibis? Good luck trying to convince anyone that
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...