Pokemon VGC Player Disqualified
Drama
07 May 2025 11:25
Competitive Pokémon player Lorenzo Arce was disqualified during the sixth round of the Pokémon Video Game Championships (VGC) at the Milwaukee Regional this past weekend, following allegations of cheating during a livestreamed match.
Tournament officials claimed that Arce was “receiving signals from someone in the crowd” while he competed on stage. Footage from the match shows Arce nodding toward the audience, which judges cited as evidence of suspicious behavior. As a result, Arce was immediately removed from the competition, ending his run with an impressive 5-0 record up to that point.
The disqualification came without warning or opportunity for appeal, prompting frustration from both Arce and parts of the Pokémon community. The player took to social media afterward, posting on X: “I have no words.”
While Arce’s nodding was visible during the livestream, many fans and commentators remain skeptical that it constitutes definitive proof of cheating. Critics of the ruling argue that for someone in the crowd to feed Arce actionable information, they would also have needed to see the opposing player, Tang Tang Shiliang’s, Nintendo Switch screen — a scenario some believe is highly unlikely given the event's setup.
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Drama
07 May 2025 11:25
Competitive Pokémon player Lorenzo Arce was disqualified during the sixth round of the Pokémon Video Game Championships (VGC) at the Milwaukee Regional this past weekend, following allegations of cheating during a livestreamed match.
Tournament officials claimed that Arce was “receiving signals from someone in the crowd” while he competed on stage. Footage from the match shows Arce nodding toward the audience, which judges cited as evidence of suspicious behavior. As a result, Arce was immediately removed from the competition, ending his run with an impressive 5-0 record up to that point.
The disqualification came without warning or opportunity for appeal, prompting frustration from both Arce and parts of the Pokémon community. The player took to social media afterward, posting on X: “I have no words.”
While Arce’s nodding was visible during the livestream, many fans and commentators remain skeptical that it constitutes definitive proof of cheating. Critics of the ruling argue that for someone in the crowd to feed Arce actionable information, they would also have needed to see the opposing player, Tang Tang Shiliang’s, Nintendo Switch screen — a scenario some believe is highly unlikely given the event's setup.
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View AllTL;DR * Pokémon Champions holds its first official tournament through Twitch Rivals on April 29 at 14:00 PDT / 17:00...
More
Apr 29, 2026
Images of a Popplio Pokémon card allegedly bearing the signature of Pope Leo have gone viral online, sparking both disbelief...
More
Jul 07, 2025
The Pokémon Company has secured a $15 million victory in a lawsuit against several Chinese companies over the game Pocket...
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Sep 18, 2024
TL;DR * Warhorse Studios addressed the controversy over firing a translator and replacing them with AI at a Reddit AMA,...
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May 01, 2026
TL;DR * Sony Interactive Entertainment has confirmed to GameSpot that PlayStation's new license check for digital purchases is a one-time...
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Apr 30, 2026