"Giving me an adrenaline rush that I’ve never experienced in my life": Ved Bamb, Indian participant at Pokemon GO World Championships 2024 [Exclusive]

Pokemon GO World Championships 2024 is right around the corner and Ved Bamb is set to prove his mettle on the global stage. He is the first Indian to have qualified for the annual event. Pokemon GO WCS 2024 will take place from August 16, 2024, to August 18, 2024, and our eyes will be glued to see how Bamb does.

I recently engaged Bamb in a conversation regarding his qualifier matches, preparing for the Pokemon World Championships 2024, and the current state of the Pokemon GO competitive scene.

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Ved Bamb, Pokemon World Championship finalist from India discusses his love for the franchise, Pokemon GO's competitive scene, and participating on the global stage

Q: To start off, we would love to hear about your journey into the Pokemon GO competitive scene, how it began, and a bit about yourself along with it.

Bamb: My name is Ved Bamb and I am a 23-year-old software engineer, born and brought up in Nagpur. Like many others, I grew up watching Pokemon during my childhood. When the game was launched in 2016, I never really thought that it would bring me to where I am today.

I used to keep playing the game as a Pokemon fan, and it made me feel connected to the Pokemon world. It has surely been a journey with the game as it started with finding, catching, and evolving the Pokemon.

Pokemon World Championships 2024 (Image via TPC)

Then, Niantic introduced competitive PvP (player vs player), which totally provided a different arena to get the feel of being a Pokemon trainer. I started doing battles with my fellow trainers. All this while, I never had a single clue that all these years of PvP battles would hone my skills to a level where I’ll be representing India in Hawaii at the Pokemon World Championships.

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Q: You had quite a dominant run in your qualification matches. How did you prepare for the same?

Bamb: I have been participating in the qualification rounds of Pokemon World Championships since 2022 trying to battle my way ahead through the championships. In the last few years, I did not get the desired results, however, competing with skilled trainers gradually helped me get better at the game.

I think enjoying the game, not giving up, not stressing about the results, and consistency prepared me the best for the qualification rounds. I always enjoyed playing Pokemon GO and competing for this tournament was also like just another normal day for me.

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Q: The 2024 Pokemon World Championships is set to be a gala affair with the best of the best in the Pokemon competitive world gathering. How does it feel to be one of them? How are you preparing for your charge there and what are your expectations from yourself at the tournament?

Bamb: It’s totally an unreal feeling. I am a bit nervous as this is the first time for me to be a part of such a big esports tournament. But I’m excited as well to be representing India on this platform.

I am surely aiming to win, but the experience of being among some of the best players from all over the world is making me more excited about it. All this attention from my fellow trainers and other gamers looking forward to my performance is giving me an adrenaline rush that I’ve never experienced in my life.

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Q: What do you think of the current Pokemon GO competitive scene in India? What would you say to someone who is seeking to join?

Bamb: The competitive scene around Pokemon GO is catching pace now as tournaments like Pokemon World Championships, monthly community days, and various seasons of the game are being featured by Niantic. The support that communities are getting to grow bigger is commendable and we have observed that more players are joining as well as coming back to the game.

Pokemon GO is a one-of-its-kind game and its PvP feature is getting better and again attracting more players to the game. I just want to say that anyone who is joining the game must be consistent and resilient as these two qualities will be very helpful in the long run. Just keep exploring, making friends, catch lots of Pokemon and you’ll get there.

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Q: Coming to the game, there have been many complaints from the community regarding glitches and freezes in PvP interactions. What changes would you like to see Niantic bring in the game near future, be it about these issues or new mechanics?

Bamb: As with any game, there are issues from time to time. These are generally minor. But given all of that, I really think that the game is great.

Pokemon World Championships 2024 festivities have begun (Image via TPC)

However, the held items and timer manipulation feature are something that is missing currently and if Niantic brings them to the game then it will add to the fun and thrill for all the players.

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Q: Dynamax Pokemon are set to arrive soon in Pokemon GO based on the 8th Anniversary teaser and recent leaks. Any thoughts about that?

Bamb: I read a few blogs about the news leak. I am not aware of when and how this is going to be introduced, but we all are excited for it when it finally arrives.