Wolfe Glick, the 2016 World Champion and a big name in the Pokémon scene, recently shared his tough time at the Pokémon North America International Championships (NAIC) through a video. He talked about how his unique Perish Trap team got leaked just before the tournament started. This leak let others prepare against his team. He named Brady Smith for using the same team of six Pokémon at the event after the leak.
Community’s Reaction
Glick called his team “leaked” and “stolen.” However, not everyone in the VGC community agreed. James Evans, the 2018 Senior World Champion, said stealing teams is common. He believes everyone does it and no one is trying to hide anything. Despite this, Evans and others felt Glick could have handled the situation differently, without calling people out publicly.
Behind the Drama
After Glick’s video came out, the community turned toxic. Smith got many hate messages, with people saying he stole Glick’s team on purpose. But the VGC community didn’t stand for the hate. They supported Smith and spoke against sending hate his way.
In response to the backlash, Glick asked his viewers to stop harassing anyone he mentioned in his video. He admitted the video was emotionally charged, but accepted the criticism he faced. Smith thanked the community for their support. He also shared his side of the story, saying he had practiced with the Perish Trap team before knowing Glick built it. He chose the team because he liked the strategy.
Advice and Moving Forward
Though Glick criticized how Smith played the team, Smith didn’t hold any grudges. He advised Glick to be mindful of how his passion for Pokémon might affect others.
Both Glick and Smith will compete in the Pokémon World Championships starting on August 11. It will be interesting to see if this NAIC drama affects the big event in Yokohama, Japan.
In the end, this incident shows the highs and lows of competitive gaming. While passion drives players, they must remember to respect each other and the community. As we look forward to the World Championships, let’s hope for fair play and sportsmanship.