I Play Pokémon TCG

…and I do it as a pro-circuit player and coach

What is the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG)?

Pokémon TCG is a strategy card game where players assemble 60-card decks from their own collection and battle them against each other. It’s comparable to chess or poker in terms of strategic complexity.

I’m a five-time World Championships invitee, a regional champion, and the second-place finisher from the 2022 World Championships (held in London, UK). Suffice it to say, I quite enjoy this game.

I just finished Top 4 out of1,936 players at the Regional Championships in Louisville, Kentucky. The following videos give a sense of how big this is.

After I finished Top 4 at the Regional Championships in Louisville, Kentucky, I was honored to be interviewed.

Here is the full live stream of the match that got me into the Top 4.

Here is a replay with commentary of the match that got me into the Top 4.

I was also honored to be invited to the Beach Court Podcast

My journey started at a comic book store in Croton-on-Hudson, NY.

I started playing competitively in fifth grade, at weekly local tournaments held in hobby shops. During my freshman year (after COVID lockdowns), I started travelling the world to play in major tournaments.

Now, I’m a professional-level Pokémon TCG competitor who’s played in four different countries on three different continents. I sign brand deals, collaborate with other top players, and run a coaching business on the side.

Teaching at a learn-to-play event (2023)

Hartford, CT regionals (2019)

World Championships 2022

Modern day (2024)

The Joy and Success of Coaching

Using my vast experience in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, I host online one-on-one coaching sessions with junior division players living from New York to as far as Colorado. My students are highly successful--often coming to me with no major achievements, they proceed to win state (regional) championships with my guidance. Lessons are structured as to improve a student's all-around skills in the game; this way, their newfound analytical skills carry them to future success, both in and outside of the game.

Online Course

My friend, Nathan, and I launched an online teaching course. Check it out!

Travel

Traveling to tournaments has given my family and me great opportunities to travel the world. Enjoy the slide show and you can check some in on some of my results here.