After 25 arduous years, Ash Ketchum has finally achieved “the absolute best” status, surpassing everyone who has ever held the title. The iconic figure now has the Masters Eight Tournament of the Pokémon World Coronation Series to add to his list of accomplishments, which already includes his Pokémon League Championship from the Aloha area.
It has been 25 years since the original 10-year-old Pokémon trainer character and his reticent Pikachu left Pallet Town, where he captured the hearts of people across many generations.
The character has encountered many difficult challenges throughout the years, finishing 16th in the Kanto region, three times in the Top 8 (Johto/Hoenn/Unova) in 2002, 2005, and 2013, and even finishing second in the Kalos area in 2016.
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When Leon was finally vanquished, Ash’s team of Lucario, Gengar, Dragonite, Dracovish, Sirfetch’d, and Pikachu battled him. All were destroyed, but Pikachu managed a crucial headbutt on Charizard to secure victory.
After 25 years, Ash Ketchum is officially the World Champion 🏆 pic.twitter.com/na4ZEEVDZ2
— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) November 11, 2022
Ash Ketchum’s tenacity and persistence in realising his dream of overtaking all other Pokémon Trainers in the world throughout 25 seasons, according to Taito Okiura, vice president of marketing for The Pokémon Company International, “represents the very best of what it means to be a Trainer.”
Check out some of the reactions from franchise fans who grew up with it below.
Ash ketchum really became the world champion before luffy found the one piece 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/AlINSm8tIO
— Selim🇹🇷 (@MangakaSelim) November 11, 2022