Competitive Pokémon Go player Firestar73 has released a lengthy statement after being penalized for an unsportsmanlike celebration at the Orlando Regional Championship. He urges The Pokémon Company to reverse the decision without directing blame at the judges. Firestar73 highlights inconsistencies in past rulings and references the official tournament handbook.
Firestar73 advanced through the loser's bracket and secured a game 5 victory at the Orlando event. Judges ruled his post-match celebration—described as throwing his headphones down too hard—as unsportsmanlike, resulting in a game loss that awarded the win to NTC instead, as shown in footage shared by spectator AXN on April 5, 2026. The community rallied with demands for reversal from fans and gaming figures alike. Firestar73 shared his four-page statement via Google Drive on Twitter, expressing gratitude to supporters while asking them to avoid harassment toward those involved. 'I don’t want to focus on who’s responsible for the past. I want to focus on the future […]—on why the result should rightly be changed,' he wrote. He described the judges' call as a good-faith error acknowledged by many in the Pokémon Go community. To bolster his argument, Firestar73 pointed to clips of players Wdage and Arceus Aruelius celebrating with more intensity without penalties, some even featured in promotional materials. He quoted the Go Tournament Handbook, stating that unsportsmanlike conduct warrants a game loss only if used to taunt competitors. The Pokémon Company has not yet commented on the matter.
