The 2024 World Championships, which will be held on 16–18 August 2024, are hosted in Honolulu, HI, United States. This is the third time the World Championships are held in Hawaii, after the 2010 and 2012 editions; and the first time they are held in the United States since 2019. In these articles, we will take a look at the best players that are qualified to compete in the biggest event of the year.
Here we have Latin America! Let’s meet the 8 players with a Round 1 bye at Worlds, and take a look at the other 221 invitees this region brings.
Table of Contents
Latin America at Worlds
The World Championships is the stage in which Latin American players have surprised everyone time after time, and this may be the case again as they are still considered underdogs.
The best ambassador for Latin America VGC scene has been Ecuadorian Paul Ruiz, that won the 2018 World Championships not only for himself or his country, but for all of Latin America.
The second best result at Worlds for a Latin American player is also Paul‘s top 4 at 2017. Other big results of players from this region are the top 8 finishes achieved by Argentinian Sebastián Escalante (2017), Salvadorian René Alvarenga (2017), Peruvian Dorian Quiñonez (2017) and fellow Argentinian Federico Turano (2018).
The last two World Championships were poor for Latin American players, as none of its representatives reached the top cut. Last year, Brazilian Gabriel Agati was the closest, losing his win-and-in match in the last round. Will they be able to get back up now that they had so much more representation?
Requirements for a Worlds invite
As per the Latin American system, all players that have achieved at least 300 CP (or Championship Points), won a Regional Championship or made finals of an International Championships in the 2024 season receive a Tier 3 invite. Additionally, the players ranked 9th to 12th get a Tier 2 invite, which includes a Travel Stipend, and the top 8 players achieve a Tier 1 invite, which corresponds to a Round 1 bye at the tournament as well as a Travel Award.
The final result is a huge increase in spots from the 2023 World Championships: from 36 invitees last year to a total of 229 this season!
Players with Round 1 bye
1. 
Juan Salerno
At 1535 CP, Juan will play Worlds for the sixth time, having played as a Senior in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and as a Master in 2022 and 2023. An International Champion in the Senior Division, he made it to the top cut in 2018, and played in Day 2 in both his Masters Division appearances.
Juan started the season with a 5-2 in Curitiba, not enough for top cut due to tiebreakers. He filled the locals BFL and obtained strong results later in the season, with a top 32 at EUIC and a top 8 in São Paulo before his first Masters Division victory at home in Buenos Aires, the first major tournament worldwide in Regulation Set G. He kept getting results with a top 8 in Santiago, a 4-2 out of cut in Lima and a very powerful top 16 at NAIC, again out of cut due to tiebreakers. Overall, he has earned this during this season:
- 1,000 CP in major events
- 480 CP in local events (full BFL)
- 55 CP in Global Challenges
- $7,000 in prize money
Juan has been a manager of Team Argentina in the World Cup since 2021. Last year, the team reached the finals for a silver medal, a record best for the country!
He has been favouring Ice Rider Calyrex in Regulation Set G: he used this team at NAIC, a variation from his Buenos Aires winning team!
At 1295 CP, Sebastián has qualified to Worlds for the fourth time, after a long break. He played for the first time in 2015 as a Senior, reaching top 8, and then aged up to Masters for two further top cuts: top 16 in 2016 and top 8 in 2017. Sebastián, who also is a 2-time Regional Champion, will surely try to keep the trend of making top cut at every Worlds he competes in!
Having missed good results in the earlier part of the season, Sebastián took his experience for a top 4 in Goiânia, another top 4 in Buenos Aires, a top 16 out of cut due to tiebreakers in Santiago, and a further top 4 in Lima, where he was seed #1 after a perfect Swiss record. Furthermore, he filled the BFL of locals. Overall, he has earned during this season:
- 750 CP in major events
- 480 CP in local events (full BFL)
- 65 CP in Global Challenges
- $2,750 in prize money
Sebastián has been a part of Team Argentina in the World Cup since the 2021 edition. Last year, they reached the finals for a 2nd place finish!
He has been favouring Terapagos in Regulation Set G: the latest version of his team, which he used at NAIC, was this one!
At 1245 CP, Dorian has qualified to Worlds for the seventh time. He had qualified with Day 1 invites in 2016, 2017 and 2022 (although he didn’t attend the latter), and with direct Day 2 invites in 2018, 2019 and 2023. However, his best result came in 2017, when he went all the way through Day 1 into Day 2 and into top cut for a top 8 finish!
The Peruvian player, a 6-time Special Event Champion, had a rough start of the season with poor results in major events but filling out the locals BFL. That changed in the later stretch, as he reached top 4 in Santiago after a perfect Swiss record, and got the victory home in Lima. Overall, he has earned during this season:
- 730 CP in major events
- 480 CP in local events (full BFL)
- 35 CP in Global Challenges
- $2,000 in prize money
Dorian has been a part of Team Peru in the World Cup since the 2021 edition.
He has been favouring Terapagos in Regulation Set G: he has used a variation of Sebastián Rodríguez‘s team, which you can read all about here!
At 1226 CP, Renzo has qualified to Worlds for the seventh time. He had qualified with Day 1 invites in 2016, 2019 and 2022 (although he didn’t attend the latter), and with direct Day 2 invites in 2017, 2018 and 2023. He gets one of the Round 1 bye spots this year!
The 2021 Players Cup IV Champion, who also is a 3-time Regional and 5-time Special Event Champion, had a pretty balanced season. He started it with a top 8 in Curitiba and a top 32 at LAIC; followed it with a 5-2 record out of cut in Goiânia due to the tiebreakers, a top 128 in EUIC and another 6-2 out of cut in São Paulo; and, already in Regulation Set G, a top 4 in Santiago and a top 8 in Lima. Overall, he has earned during this season:
- 730 CP in major events
- 456 CP in local events
- 40 CP in Global Challenges
- $5,750 in prize money
Renzo has been a part of Team Peru in the World Cup since the 2021 edition.
He has been favouring Koraidon in Regulation Set G: although he had successfully played Zamazenta earlier in the metagame, he later used this team for the top 8 in Lima!
At 1190 CP, Gabriel has qualified to Worlds for the fifth time. He previously played in Day 1 in 2018 and in Day 2 in 2019, 2022 and 2023. His best result came in 2019, when he reached the top cut for to finish in top 16.
The Brazilian, who is a 2-time International finalist and former Regional Champion, mainly played in his home country this season. He finished top 16 in Curitiba (out of cut on tiebreakers), top 4 in Goiânia and top 8 in São Paulo, just a couple of weeks after getting top 64 at EUIC. Overall, he has earned during this season:
- 620 CP in major events
- 470 CP in local events
- 100 CP in Global Challenges
- $3,750 in prize money
Gabriel has been a player of Team Brazil in the World Cup since the 2021 edition.
He has been favouring Shadow Rider Calyrex in Regulation Set G: he used this team at NAIC!
6. 
Paul Ruiz
At 1165 CP, Paul has qualified to Worlds for the sixth time. He has made Day 2 at each of his previous appearances since 2017, when he reached the semifinals, before, just one year later, improve that feat to be crowned as the 2018 World Champion.
The Ecuadorian, who also is a former Regional Champion, is certainly a force to be reckoned, even though six years have passed since his peak achievement. This season, he made it to the top 8 in Curitiba and the top 32 at LAIC; he was out of cut in Goiânia due to tiebreakers; and then proceeded to get top 32 in Orlando, his season’s best top 4 in São Paulo, and another top 8 in Santiago; all while filling out his BFL of locals. Overall, he has earned during this season:
- 650 CP in major events
- 480 CP in local events (full BFL)
- 35 CP in Global Challenges
- $6,000 in prize money
He has been favouring Shadow Rider Calyrex in Regulation Set G: he used this team for his top 8 in Santiago!
At 1157 CP, Thiago has qualified to Worlds for the second time, but it will be his first Worlds as he didn’t attend last year.
The Brazilian rising star had his breakout at the start of this season: he made top 8 in Curitiba and then used one of the most original teams in the format to make it to the finals of LAIC, getting second place. He has been resting ever since, saving his energies for Worlds. Overall, he has earned during this season:
- 640 CP in major events
- 437 CP in local events
- 80 CP in Global Challenges
- $11,000 in prize money
Thiago has been a player of Team Brazil in the World Cup since the 2022 edition. He also likes to play grassroots tournaments, making it to top 8 at the VR Winter Challenge.
At 1140 CP, David has qualified to Worlds for the sixth time! He qualified for Day 1 in 2016, but didn’t attend; his first Worlds was 2017, and then got invites every year until 2022. After an off season, he’s back and with a Round 1 bye, looking forward to making it to Day 2 for the first time!
Costa Rican players have had a really impressive season this year, and the 4-time Special Event Champion David is no exception. This was his best season since he started competing: he made it to the semifinals of LAIC and then he went on to get his fourth Special title with a victory in Mexico City, an event also won by his son Isaac in the Senior Division. Overall, he has earned during this season:
- 630 CP in major events
- 450 CP in local events
- 60 CP in Global Challenges
- $7,000 in prize money
Thiago has been a player of Team Costa Rica in the World Cup since the 2021 edition and a manager since 2022.
Watch David’s win in Mexico City!
Other players
Latin America has 221 other representatives in Worlds, some of which are big names in the scene. Watch out for 2017 NAIC semifinalist César Reyes, 2017 Worlds top 16 Sebastián Bisbal, 2018 Worlds top 32 & 2020 LAIC finalist Javier Valdés, or 2024 NAIC semifinalist Yan Sym!
The following list comprises all other players with an invite, be it through an International finals appearance, a Regional win or with 300 or more CP in the Latin America rating zone, and is based on the official Play! Pokémon leaderboard.
Nader El Bacha (Curitiba Regional Champion)- Pedro Fialdini (Goiânia Regional Champion)
- Cristhian Andrade (São Paulo Regional Champion)
Hanns Pizarro (Santiago Regional Champion)
Javier Nain (1095 CP)- Guilherme Queiroz (1082 CP)
Alexander Canseco (1040 CP)- Yan Sym (1020 CP)
Leonardo Chinchilla (1001 CP)- Nicolás del Campo (1000 CP)
- Esteban Molina (979 CP)
- Jean López (894 CP)
- Diego Ortiz (886 CP)
- Galo Orbea (845 CP)
- Arath Vera (835 CP)
- Javier Parada (780 CP)
- Diego Gutiérrez (762 CP)
- Kenneth Gamboa (700 CP)
- Victor Vieira (674 CP)
- Eduardo Abrego (667 CP)
- Daniel Núñez (640 CP)
- Camilo Liberona (628 CP)
- Gonzalo Barrera (626 CP)
- Luciano Muñoz (624 CP)
- Joaquín Salerno (617 CP)
- Reynord González (614 CP)
- Omar Acuña (600 CP)
- Esteban Hernández (584 CP)
- Hugo Nascimento (572 CP)
- Gustavo Kengo (569 CP)
Martín Riquelme (569 CP)- Max Morales (555 CP)
- Sebastián Rodríguez (554 CP)
Agustín Marinucci (530 CP)- Alejandro Terrazas (528 CP)
- Gilberto Espejel (522 CP)
- Breno Ishiba (513 CP)
- Victor Rachik (496 CP)
- Daniel Pradenas (489 CP)
- Juan Mejía (485 CP)
- Rodrigo Tapia (484 CP)
- Christopher Guggiana (480 CP)
- Rainer Arana (474 CP)
- Leonardo Ritter (470 CP)
- Jetrick Gelacio (466 CP)
- Daniel Bezerra (465 CP)
- Gonzalo Sintas (463 CP)
Arthur Mosca (462 CP)- David Assato (454 CP)
- Israel Suaste (454 CP)
- Sebastián Bisbal (453 CP)
Geovanni Polanco (450 CP)- Alban Badin (446 CP)
- Francisco Alca (442 CP)
- Caio Lattanzi (440 CP)
Jimmy Suárez (437 CP)- Bruno Pionte (433 CP)
- Juan C. Ortiz (431 CP)
- Estephan Valdebenito (428 CP)
- César Reyes (424 CP)
Juan Manuel Santizo (424 CP)- Andrés Quintero (423 CP)
- Nicolás Miniero (422 CP)
- Jesús Caldera (419 CP)
- Nicolás Nieto (419 CP)
- Daniel Vieira (418 CP)
- Felipe Fredes (415 CP)
- Emiliano Monteagudo (414 CP)
- Johann Duarte (414 CP)
- Carlos González (412 CP)
- Luiz Lima (406 CP)
- Pierre Castro (406 CP)
- Javier Ponce (402 CP)
- Júlio Eller (400 CP)
- Orlando Gomes (399 CP)
- Jesús Utrilla (396 CP)
- Randy Vigil (396 CP)
- Kohei Ariki (394 CP)
- Fausto Gómez (393 CP)
- Camilo Valdés (392 CP)
- Erick Hernández (391 CP)
- Joaquín Reyes (389 CP)
- Pablo Verástegui (389 CP)
- Fran Gribaudo (388 CP)
- Juan Treviño (386 CP)
- Tomás da Cruz (385 CP)
- Manuel Juárez (384 CP)
- Daniela Hernández (383 CP)
- Estéfano Hernández (382 CP)
- Tomás Segovia (380 CP)
- Azaael Ortiz (379 CP)
- Alberto Renero (378 CP)
- Francisco Herrera (378 CP)
- Jefferson Camelo (378 CP)
- Rafael González (376 CP)
- Sebastián Huenuvil (375 CP)
- Beybi Huimán (374 CP)
- Juan Farias (371 CP)
- Esteban Ojeda (369 CP)
- Maximiliano Aspeé (369 CP)
- Diego Trejo (368 CP)
- Renzo-Lukas Hernández (368 CP)
- Gian Pierre Rodríguez (367 CP)
- Ignacio Sepúlveda (367 CP)
- Kyara Zepeda (366 CP)
- Luis Araos (366 CP)
- Rafael Cassemiro (366 CP)
- Felipe Casas (362 CP)
- Germán Ortiz (362 CP)
- José Mena (361 CP)
- Enrique González (360 CP)
- Carlos García (359 CP)
- Gianfranco de Vettori (359 CP)
- Mauro Leiva (359 CP)
- Christian Rangel (357 CP)
Lucas de la Guardia (356 CP)- Miguel Franco (356 CP)
- Salvador Torres (356 CP)
- Vinícius Junqueira (353 CP)
- Fernando Castillo (352 CP)
- Israel Torres (352 CP)
- Nicolás Villagra (352 CP)
- Javier Ramírez (351 CP)
- Jonathan Villalta (351 CP)
- Rodrigo Avendaño (351 CP)
- Charly Pastrana (350 CP)
- Emiliano Reyes (350 CP)
- Luciano Begot (349 CP)
- Oliver Esparza (349 CP)
- Alejandro Tejada (348 CP)
- Esteban Vásquez (348 CP)
- Sebastián Reyes (348 CP)
- Fábio Lima (347 CP)
- José Audia (346 CP)
- Caio Romanini (345 CP)
- Said García (343 CP)
- Alberto Ríos (340 CP)
- Bruno Quiroga (340 CP)
- Carlos Castillo (340 CP)
- Daniel Rocha (340 CP)
- Rin Leiba (340 CP)
- Manuel Ruiz (339 CP)
- Adrián Granados (338 CP)
- Enrique Contreras (338 CP)
- Maicon de Moraes (338 CP)
- Juan Vildósola (337 CP)
- Carlos Colombo (334 CP)
- Leandro Pezán (334 CP)
- Daniel Sáenz (333 CP)
- Aldo Loyola (332 CP)
- Pablo Aldana (332 CP)
- Alejandro Pérez (331 CP)
- Hiram Espinosa (331 CP)
- Juan Silva (331 CP)
- Rogério Catel (331 CP)
- Diego Natividad (329 CP)
- Luciano Laroze (329 CP)
- Gustavo Gomes (328 CP)
- Arthur Katz (326 CP)
- Gabriel Abib (326 CP)
- Iván Peña (326 CP)
- Silvio Vindel (326 CP)
- Paulo Miranda (325 CP)
- José Saguer (324 CP)
- Yasser Morales (324 CP)
- Felipe Méndez (322 CP)
- Camilo Neiva (320 CP)
- David Yau (320 CP)
- Gabriel Maldonado (320 CP)
- Joaquín Crespo (320 CP)
- Raúl Ramírez (320 CP)
- Walter Ezequiel Pandiani (320 CP)
- Javier Poblete (319 CP)
- Javier Villouta (319 CP)
- Matías Díaz (318 CP)
- Pablo Torres (318 CP)
- Gabriel Mancilla (317 CP)
- Iván Casanova (317 CP)
- Francisca Tapia (316 CP)
- Gonzalo Padilla (316 CP)
- Pedro Cini (315 CP)
- Hugo Mercado (314 CP)
- Maximiliano Acuña (314 CP)
- Patricio Ferreira (313 CP)
- Alejandro Valdés (312 CP)
- Dylan Torres (312 CP)
- Joaquín Ramos (312 CP)
- Jorge Peraza (312 CP)
- Sebastián Parra (312 CP)
- Alejandro Montelongo (311 CP)
- Philip Puertas (310 CP)
- Víctor Martínez (308 CP)
- Israel Ramírez (307 CP)
- Christian Ramírez (306 CP)
- Diego Mancilla (306 CP)
- Eros Braune (306 CP)
- Luciano Arias (306 CP)
- Javier Valdés (305 CP)
- Juan Camilo Restrepo (305 CP)
- Martín Muñoz (305 CP)
- Sérgio Igarashi (305 CP)
- Camilo Díaz (304 CP)
- Felipe Molino (304 CP)
- Francisco Trigo (304 CP)
- Javier Figueroa (304 CP)
- Raul Gioielli (304 CP)
- Cláudio Kamoda (303 CP)
- Diego Cepeda (303 CP)
- Erick Ortiz (303 CP)
- Nitchia Palma (303 CP)
- Alber Cerna (302 CP)
- Alina Moraes (302 CP)
- Fernando Ferreira (302 CP)
- Italo Massuco (302 CP)
- Omar Cruz (302 CP)
- Rennatto Carcheri (302 CP)
- Erick León (301 CP)
- Igor Fagundes (300 CP)
- Jonathan Rogel (300 CP)
- Jorge Coria (300 CP)
- Yago Vaz (300 CP)
