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Paul Chua etched his name deeper into Pokémon VGC history by clinching the 2026 Europe International Championships Masters division. The 6x regional champion and 2023 EUIC winner dominated with a staggering 15-2 record, securing $15,000 and a golden ticket to the World Championships in San Francisco.
This triumph at the largest EUIC everboasting record attendanceunderscores Chua's unmatched consistency. Facing off against 1,455 trainers from February 13-15, he navigated Swiss rounds and top cuts with surgical precision, proving why he's a perennial threat.
The Grueling Path to Glory
Chua's journey kicked off in a field packed with elite talent, including regional finalists and past international contenders. His early rounds saw him drop just two matches, showcasing flawless team synergy and adaptability against meta staples.
By top cut, Chua was unstoppable, powering through top 8 and top 4 en route to the grand finals. Streamed battles revealed his strategic depth, with clutch plays like breaking paralysis on key Pokémon to swing momentum.
Finals Showdown: Chua vs. Zachary Weed
The Masters finals pitted Chua against Las Vegas regional finalist Zachary Weed in a best-of-three thriller. Weed's team leaned on resilient picks like Urshifu, but Chua's pressure cookerflooding the field and exploiting weaknessesproved decisive.
Viewers watched Chua execute perfect pinsir movements and dragon pulse coverage, dismantling Weed's core. Commentators hailed it as inspirational battling, with Chua emerging one game away from title confirmation before sealing the deal.
Key Moments from the Stream
In game one, Chua's unrevealed Iron Crown loomed large, but Weed's focus sash Urshifu held firm initially. Chua flipped the script with a booming attack that echoed his top 8 heroics, knocking out threats and building insurmountable leads.
The finale saw Weed's dragon pulse evade expectations, yet Chua's all-in pressure overwhelmed. This wasn't luck; it was veteran mastery against a rising star.
Meta Breakdown: Top Pokémon and Teams
Urshifu Rapid Strike ruled phase 1 at 49.3% usage, climbing to 52.4% in phase 2, validating its S-tier status. Rillaboom followed at 25.5%, though dipping slightly, highlighting grass-type reliability.
Chua's winning squad leveraged these trends, blending high-usage anchors with surprise tech. The event's diversity365 NA, 216 EU playersmirrored global meta shifts toward agile strikers.
| Rank | Pokémon | Phase 1 Usage | Phase 2 Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Urshifu (Rapid Strike) | 49.3% | ▲ 52.4% |
| 7 | Rillaboom | 25.5% | ▼ 24.3% |
This table captures the meta's pulse, with Urshifu's surge powering top performers like Chua.
EUIC 2026 Full Results Snapshot
Masters crowned Chua first ($15,000, Worlds invite), Weed second ($10,000, invite). Other divisions shone too: Seniors finals featured Charlie Kim vs. Leland Smith; Juniors Zachary Thomas vs. Hideo Uezu.
TCG Masters went to Edwyn Mesman ($25,000) over Drew Stephenson's Gholdengo deck. Pokémon Go repeat champ Marín “P4T0M4N” Torres and Team Peps in Unite rounded out a stacked weekend.
| Division | 1st Place | Prize | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| VGC Masters | Paul Chua | $15,000 + Worlds | Zachary Weed |
| TCG Masters | Edwyn Mesman | $25,000 + Worlds | Drew Stephenson |
My Take
Chua's repeat prowess screams Worlds favoriteexpect Urshifu evolutions to dominate San Francisco. This EUIC cements VGC's explosive growth; casuals, dive in now before the meta flips.