Firestar73, a competitive Pokémon Go player, lost his first-place finish at the Orlando Regional Championship after judges ruled his post-match celebration unsportsmanlike. The decision came after he won a decisive fifth game against NiteTimeClasher following a loser's bracket run. Fans have rallied online in support of the player.
Firestar73 secured victory in game five against NiteTimeClasher at the 2026 Orlando Pokémon Regional Championships on April 5. After the win, he stood up, removed his headphones, and fist-pumped toward the crowd. Fellow player AXN shared footage on X, describing the celebration as tame but noting judges cited the force of the headphone removal as excessive, resulting in a game loss and awarding the title to NiteTimeClasher. AXN wrote, 'After a long loser's bracket run, @Firestar73_ wins a decisive game 5 to win the Orlando Regional Championship. Allegedly this celebration was unsportsmanlike, resulting in a game loss and giving NTC The win.'