In a new six-page Google Doc, competitive Pokémon player Firestar73 has shared his firsthand perspective on the Orlando Regional Championships disqualification that sparked controversy. Following the Pokémon Company's upholding of the penalty for unsportsmanlike table shaking, he describes the incidents as minor emotional reactions, details staff support, and calls for rule reforms.
Firestar73's account builds on the ongoing controversy, where he was stripped of a final-round victory earlier this month. He received his first warning on day two for lightly hitting the play table twice in disappointment, noting similar actions by others went unpunished and emphasizing no malicious intent. The head judge then oversaw his matches, limiting appeal options and heightening his stress.
In the final match, despite nerves, Firestar73 prevailed. His spontaneous fist-pump caused minimal table shaking, followed by tossing headphones onto the table. After signing a win slip, judges contested the result for unsportsmanlike conduct. Waiting over an hour, he was approached by sympathetic staff deeming the ruling unjust; he cooperated by signing a loss slip and accepted a second-place medal, with one staffer affirming, 'You are still the Orlando Champion to me.'
Firestar73 disputes the Pokémon Company's claim that the second shake disrupted games, arguing no actual impact occurred. He proposes handbook amendments to protect against penalties for accidental disruptions and reforms to appeals, allowing direct head judge appeals in later matches. Thanking the community for support, he aims to prevent future incidents amid the backlash-covered penalty.