Pokémon's Ash Ketchum becomes the 'very best' after winning world championship
He finally did it, folks!
After 25 years and more than 1,200 episodes, the perpetual 10-year-old Ash Ketchum has finally achieved his lifelong dream of becoming the greatest Pokémon trainer in the world, emerging victorious in the show's Pokémon World Championship.
If you haven't been keeping up with the series, it is currently now on its 23rd season titled Pokemon Journeys: The Series. The season differs from the previous ones in that Ash and his new companion Goh travel around the world and revisit all of the past regions featured in the anime, from Kanto to Galar.
In the season's most exciting part, Ash is competing in another Pokémon tournament, but this time, the stakes are at their highest as his competitors are all elite trainers from across every region that have achieved the title of champion—the highest rank a trainer can achieve in the games.
After beating the Steel-type user Steven and the strategic and unpredictable Cynthia, Ash faced off against his last opponent Leon, who held the title of strongest Pokémon trainer in the world.
After a passionate showdown between Ash's Pikachu and Leon's Charizard in the season's 132nd episode, Ash put an end to the Galar champion's winning streak, thereby making him "the very best like no one ever was."
Fans of the series who have been following Ash's extensive journey since he first left his hometown with his partner Pikachu have expressed overwhelming delight at his victory.
A tweet from the official Pokémon Twitter account congratulating Ash has received more than 400,000 likes and more than 100,000 retweets as of writing.
"Not gonna lie, growing up as a Pokémon fan almost throughout my childhood years up until now, this news makes me tear up a bit! He finally became the very best like no one ever was!" tweeted one user.
"Twenty-five years! We have waited 25 years for this moment. Ash became the VERY BEST!" wrote another.
Japan even took celebrating Ash's victory up a notch by broadcasting his win in the country's famous Shibuya Crossing, as tweeted by the Pokémon anime’s PR account.
"In Shibuya, the [Pokémon] breaking news was flowing. The news that Ash became the world champion will be broadcast on a large screen in Shibuya, Tokyo. Now I can't see you anymore. It was a very precious moment. Is there anyone who happened to see it in Shibuya?" the account's translated tweet read.
実は…
— アニメ「ポケットモンスター」公式 (@anipoke_PR) November 11, 2022
渋谷で #アニポケ 速報が流れていました🎊
サトシが世界チャンピオンになったニュースを、東京・渋谷の大型ビジョンで放映👀
今はもう見られないのですが、
とっても貴重な瞬間でした✨
たまたま渋谷で見られたよっていう方…いますか❓#アニポケ #サトシ世界チャンピオンおめでとう pic.twitter.com/XIO7V5SrXc
It should be noted, however, that this isn't Ash's first remarkable achievement. He previously won in the Orange League from the Orange Islands season and became champion of the Alola League in the Pokémon: Sun and Moon series.
As with tradition, the Pokémon anime usually starts off a new season with the release of new Pokémon video games. The latest ones are Scarlet and Violet, which will be released on Nov. 18. However, it is unclear whether the anime will still continue with Ash and Pikachu as its leads.