Nobody on the planet is as good at Pokemon as Ray Rizzo

Ray Rizzo is the greatest Pokémon player on the planet.

We have a number of reasons for thinking that -- the most obvious being that Ray Rizzo is the greatest name a human being has ever been given -- but Rizzo's accomplishments speak for themselves. He placed first in the Masters division of the 2011 Pokémon World Championships, bringing the gold home for the United States; as did Junior and Senior division winners Brian Hough and Kamran Jahadi. Take that, every other country!

These big, American heroes will take home portions of a $100,000 scholarship fund made available to competitors in the video game and trading card game tournaments. Still, we think being lifted on the shoulders of your peers and told that you're the greatest Pokémon player on the planet is probably reward enough.

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WORLD'S BEST POKÉMON PLAYERS CROWNED AT 2011 POKÉMON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Elite Players from More Than 27 Countries Battled in San Diego for the Ultimate Titles of Pokémon Trading Card Game and Video Game World Champions

San Diego, California - August 15th, 2011 - The dreams of competitive Pokémon™ Trading Card Game (TCG) and video game players around the world came true for a select few this weekend at the 2011 Pokémon World Championships in San Diego, CA.

Thousands of the world's top Pokémon Trading Card Game and video game players, family, friends, and fans attended the most anticipated event of The Pokémon Company International's Play! Pokémon season. The 2011 Pokémon World Championships featured the world's best Pokémon players competing for the title of World Champion after advancing through nearly a year of regional and national tournaments around the globe.

Once the dust settled after three days of intense Pokémon Trading Card Game and video game battles, six skilled individuals were crowned World Champions, proudly representing their family, supporters, and home countries. The Pokémon Company International announced today its 2011 Pokémon World Champions:

2011 Pokémon TCG Junior Division World Champion, Gustavo Wada from Brazil.

2011 Pokémon Video Game Junior Division World Champion, Brian Hough from the USA.

2011 Pokémon TCG Senior Division World Champion, Christopher Kan from Australia.

2011 Pokémon Video Game Senior Division World Champion, Kamran Jahadi from the USA.

2011 Pokémon TCG Masters Division World Champion, David Cohen from the USA.

2011 Pokémon Video Game Masters Division World Champion, Ray Rizzo from the USA.

More than 400 players from over 27 countries competed in the annual event. Winners of the invite-only tournament received medals, trips, Pokémon merchandise, and collectively more than $100,000 in scholarships. The event showcased the chief qualities of Pokémon Trading Card Game and video game players: skill, strategy, creativity, sportsmanship, and fun.

"The Pokémon World Championships is more than a tournament; it's a global event for our entire community to compete, have fun, and create lifelong friendships," said J.C. Smith, director of Consumer Marketing for The Pokémon Company International. "It's been an incredible weekend, and we couldn't be happier to congratulate this year's World Champions for their dedication, their unbelievable talent, and most importantly, their sportsmanship during the entire Play! Pokémon season."

Pokémon is celebrating a blockbuster year in 2011 with the launch of the best-selling Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version video games; a brand-new trading card game expansion, Pokémon TCG: Black & White; an all-new season of animation, Pokémon: Black and White; and the debut of the hit movie, Pokémon-Zoroark: Master of Illusions.

To view the results of the 2011 Pokémon World Championships, including official standings, photos, videos, and player interviews, visit www.pokemonworldchampionships.com.

2011 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Finalists - Junior Division(born in 2000 or later)
World Champion: Gustavo Wada (Brazil)
Second Place: Kohei Takenaka (Japan)

2011 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Finalists - Senior Division(born in 1996–1999)
World Champion: Christopher Kan (Australia)
Second Place: Marco Facchin (Italy)

2011 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Finalists - Masters Division (born in 1995 or earlier)
World Champion: David Cohen (USA)
Second Place: Ross Cawthon (USA)

2011 Pokémon Video Game World Finalists - Junior Division(born in 2000 or later)
World Champion: Brian Hough (USA)
Second Place: Ian McLaughlin (USA)

2011 Pokémon Video Game World Finalists - Senior Division (born in 1996–1999)
World Champion: Kamran Jahadi (USA)
Second Place: Sejun Park (South Korea)

2011 Pokémon Video Game World Finalists - Masters Division (born in 1995 or earlier)
World Champion: Ray Rizzo (USA)
Second Place: Matteo Gini (Italy)

Reader Comments (52)

God Bless America.

I'm surprised you didn't mention that he won Worlds last year as well, making him the first two-time World champion in the video game. (In the TCG this has happened once before. Jason Klazynski, which I probably butchered the spelling on, won Worlds in the TCG in 2006 and 2008.)

He's getting laid.

Nintendo should make him a pokemon!

"Rizzo I chose you!"

@SpecBlank

That would actually be a sick reward, if they named a Pokemon after you. That's like, live forever shit right there.

@Playace Yes because everyone remembers the name of the pokemon that came after the original 150..

@SpecBlank

And the name is totally workable for a pokemon! It should be a...umm....uuhh...a KOALA!

But *I* wanted to be the very best. Like no one ever was.

@Cavall
As a great poet once said "Life can be a challenge, life can seem impossible, but it's never easy when there's so much on the line".

@Cavall So, I guess I no longer have a reason to travel 'cross the land, searching far and wide...

Ray Rizzo...fo' shizzle.

In all seriousness, that's cool. I wish there were more competitions like this where I live.

So I'm to assume the Japanese don't play Pokemon.

R to the izz- AY
R to the Izz - O

for shizzle my nizzle used to dribble down in Kanto

@Acosta02 Made me want to chime in with misty may and dawn being his ho's

@ChainSmoker
Who the hell wants May and Dawn?
Misty however.....

USA USA USA USA USA

@lolmont USA USA USA USA USA USA

Except that about 70% of people that wanted to participate in the tournament couldn't because Nintendo is bad at hosting events.

This guy wanted to be the best that no one ever was.

@Bubbameister33
To Catch them was his real test, to train them was his goal, POKE A MON He Caught them, it's him and them in a world they must Defend POKE A MON~

Yeah i'm gonna shut up now :$

@iceytoa1

...to train them was his CAUSE.

You done goofed.

Am I the only person that hates Pikachu?

You could say he's bringing home the Heart Gold.

*Insert Pokemon pun*

@Irvine032188 *Sees "Irvine" in his name*

Ah, of course...

@Irvine032188
We don't take kindly to your types.

And then he got into drugs...

LOL..look at his arms.

@Slomoshun i kid you not.. I laughed SO hard I farted. Excellent.

Greatest pick up line ever "Hey baby, you ever been with THE REAL Poke'mon master?"

Ray Rizzo... Razzo....

razzo is italian for rocket

Giovanni is the leader of Team Rocket, the don if you will... of an Italian mafia?!?

Ray Rizzo is the best at Pokemon?

COINCIDENCE? I THINK NOT.

@rTwelve
Giovanni obvo had everyone else killed Duh :P

Dude, May > all

Yikes...those legs.

@The Only Girl
Oh, admit it: he's a pokemon master- you still want him.

Is he the kid wearing the stupid Spencer's Cookie Monster hat that only e-thugs wear?

That is the best photo is have seen all year!

NERD TRIUMPH!

That's great but what's the Asian kid from the movie "From Dusk Till Dawn" doing there?

Reminded me of this: http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll283/theguybelowmeisgay/1194107752302.jpg?t=1242059060

This article forgot to add the most important part: Rizzo's team!

Escavalier, Conkeldurr, Terrakion, Gothitelle, Thundurus, Hydreigon

Gothitelle? I didn't even know that was OU. Something tells me these champs still wouldn't match up well to the competitive youtube community.

@TouyaBlue Ten years ago I could have named all 251 Pokémon off the top of my head.

A decade later, I have no idea who the heck those are.

Pokémon in a nutshell! :D

It's a safe bet that the prize doesn't include a box of Trojans.

Not as good a name as Ratso Rizzo

Trait common to all Pokemon champions: preposterous hand-to-wrist size ratio. Obv.

EVERYONE STOP.
We have found our new God.

@Bubbameister33

bubba get the shotgun....we goin noob huntin'

$100,000 Scholarship??

That's a lot of dorm room beer...

I'm still waiting till they discover Pokémon for real, but congrats to the American Dream.

I couldn't tell he was being held up by the croud, so his leg didn't look like a leg to me at all. Plus that guy on the far right is looking very happy. ......I think Internet porn is getting to me.

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Pokemon Black / White

Nobody on the planet is as good at Pokemon as Ray Rizzo

Reader Comments (52)

Posted: Aug 17th 2011 1:55AM bullmunky4 said

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