2009 Indigo Plateau Conference Pre-Tournament Write-up

By Hideaki Suzumura

3 December 2009

The winter has come early this year, and the Indigo Plateau which can be seen from my hotel window, is covered in a blanket of snow. After the morning ceremony, I spent the afternoon interviewing the competitors with my partners from the Morning Sun and EPNN, and I think we can all agree: this year's Conference will be one for the history books.

Of course, the Donphan in the room must be addressed. The tragedy at the Viridian City Gym and the revelation of the true identity of the Viridian City Gym Leader has shocked and outraged the Pokemon community. As a former Trainer myself, I understand the feeling of betrayal many are going through at this moment. Gyms are meant to be places where Trainers can learn and build relationships with their peers and challenge themselves to push harder and reach new heights, all of which is meant to be guided by a Gym Leader. The fact that a criminal masqueraded as a Gym Leader and physically attacked a young Trainer, no older than 13, is a grim sign that some of the violence and corruption of the world has leaked into the competitive space of Pokemon. Undoubtedly, more disturbing details will come to light from the police investigation which is currently ongoing.

With all that being said, I am happy to write that the Trainer who was attacked made a quick recovery and insisted on continuing his journey. He was present at the opening ceremony, with his arm in a cast and a sling, undaunted and eager to have his first battle. The extra security and muted theatrics of the Indigo Plateau can be outshone by the insistence of every Trainer present that they will not be intimidated, and they will not allow their love of Pokemon to be poisoned by criminals.

I for one, am happy to join them in that demonstration; and provide to you, dear reader, the following profiles of our fierce competitors this year:

Ryan Oak

Age: 13

Hometown: Pallet Town

The winner of the most recent Blitz Tournament hosted on the S.S. Anne and the Karate Exhibition Tournament in Saffron City, Ryan's meteoric rise to the top of the Kanto Region has astounded the competitive Pokemon community. Ryan received his first Pokemon in January and has won all eight Gym Badges in less than a year, earning him a spot as the top seed in this year's tournament. It may come as no surprise to some observers that Ryan Oak is, in fact, the grandson of a previous Indigo Plateau finalist, Samuel Oak.

Ryan's journey has been marred by a serious arm injury that left him hospitalized just weeks before the tournament, following the incident at Viridian City. However, he has managed to return to competition and traversed Victory Road in record time, a testament to his resilience and determination to win. Known for his fiery, aggressive tactics; as outspoken as he is talented, Ryan Oak is one to watch in this year's Indigo Plateau Conference.

Josh Dale

Age: 13

Hometown: Pallet Town

Josh Dale certainly made a splash at the opening ceremony, and I greatly enjoyed my interview with him. Another Pallet Town native and personal friend of Ryan Oak, as well as the younger brother of Jake Dale. Make no mistake, Josh's journey is just as impressive as his contemporaries: a finalist of both the S.S. Anne Blitz Tournament and the Saffron City Karate Exhibition, Josh Dale won all eight Gym Badges even faster than Ryan Oak did, and is the first Trainer to do so in history.

Like his friends, Ryan and Ash, Josh has reached the Indigo Plateau at the age of 13, the same age as his older brother when he had started his journey. By his own admission, Josh feels the most unprepared for the tournament tomorrow, but told me that he would be happy facing either of his friends or his brother in Grand Finals. Though he is a carefree and unassuming boy, Josh's balanced and innovative battling style shows the experience of a Trainer twice his age, and he is sure to make a fearsome competitor this year.

Ash Delaney

Age: 13

Hometown: Cerulean City

The last-minute wild card entry, Ash Delaney's inclusion has puzzled many commentators. While she is a charming and precocious girl, her battle record is nearly nonexistent; not a single Gym Challenge attempted, and only a handful of casual battles which were reported by other Trainers. What little I was able to glean about Ash's experience as a Trainer is this: she caught her first Pokemon at the age of eight, while on vacation; she defeated two upperclassmen of the Saffron City Trainer Academy in a Tag Battle; and she received a glowing endorsement from Elite Four Member, Agatha.

It is also worth noting that Ash Delaney is a personal friend of Ryan Oak and Josh Dale, having grown up with them in Pallet Town. Even so, Ash Delaney's placement in the bracket is questionable, especially for a Conference already racked by controversy. Only her performance in the Quarter Finals will show us what her battling style is truly like, and if her detractors are justified.

Jake Dale

Age: 16

Hometown: Pallet Town

Many analysts had predicted Jake Dale would be the first Trainer from Pallet Town to make an appearance at the Indigo Plateau since Samuel Oak in 1973. Alas, Jake Dale now shares this distinction with not only Samuel's grandson, but Jake's own younger brother. Regardless, Jake's battle record is nothing to scoff at; and he remains one of the youngest, most talented young Trainers the Kanto Region has ever seen.

Since starting his journey three years ago, Jake has developed a well-worn, but solid battling style that will be put to the test tomorrow in the Quarter Finals. The nervous energy I saw in him during our interview does match his brother quite a bit. The possibility of a sibling showdown in Grand Finals is not lost on Jake, as he jokingly remarked of his brother, "I'm always player one back home."

Sayaka Miura

Age: 16

Hometown: Saffron City

Known for her tenacity, battle knowledge, and ability to stay cool under pressure, which earned her high honors from Saffron City Trainer Academy. Sayaka began training at the age of five, as an apprentice of Sabrina in the Saffron City Gym. She left her apprenticeship after seven years and won all eight Gym Badges in four years. Sayaka has spent her time outside of competitive battling as a guest instructor for her alma mater and has advocated for the inclusion of more female Trainers in competitive battling.

As a star graduate from one of the most prestigious Trainer Schools in the world and the pupil of one of the most skilled Gym Leaders working in the Kanto Region, Sayaka's long-awaited debut at the Indigo Plateau is sure to inspire many Trainers for years to come.

Kotomi Shiba

Age: 25

Hometown: Violet City

A veteran Trainer who has appeared at the Indigo Plateau three times already, Kotomi's continued dedication and constantly expanding roster of Pokemon have proven to be her greatest assets. Kotomi's journey began when she was just six years old, when she achieved a stunning upset victory against the Violet City Trainer Academy's top student, earning her a spot in the Academy and personal mentorship under Earl Dervish.

Kotomi is also known in the classical music world as one of the finest concert pianists under the age of 30 and has performed with some of the world's leading orchestras, including the Wyndon Symphony Orchestra and the Saffron Philharmonic. Many enthusiasts are excited about Kotomi's run in this year's Conference, with the hope that this may finally be Kotomi's year.

Kazuma Gamou

Age: 21

Hometown: Celadon City

A finalist of the previous Indigo Plateau makes his return this year with a revamped team and rumors of possible mentoring from a former Champion. Kazuma Gamou's journey has been one of extreme highs and lows: he held the media spotlight more tightly than any Trainer his age, but also failed most of the Gym Challenges that he attempted. His disqualification last year is also worth noting, though he insists it was a scheduling issue and has cleared his name of any misconduct with the tournament officials involved. Most recently, he has been known for his so-called "Sightless Exhibition Matches" in which he battles challengers while blindfolded, though his critics dismiss them as being mostly staged.

Kazuma's antics aside, he is a gifted Trainer with a knack for catching his opponents off guard. He was widely considered one of the favorites to win in last year's Conference, and this year is no different.

Asao Sueno

Age: 38

Hometown: Fuchsia City

A self-taught and reclusive Trainer, Asao had been sidelined from competition for health issues, though he is still remembered as one of the most formidable competitors the Indigo Plateau has seen in recent memory. He makes his return after what was described by those close to him as "meditation and rigorous training" on Mt. Mitoku. During his semi-retirement, Asao has dedicated himself to advocating for Pokemon rights and supporting historical conservation efforts in his hometown.

As he has in previous tournaments, Asao declined to be interviewed this year, though he has always been courteous during my brief interactions with him. I look forward to seeing what Asao has learned during his hiatus, and how he adapts to the new, younger generation of Trainers in this Indigo Plateau Conference.

Bracket Seeding:

1. Ryan Oak

2. Josh Dale

3. Ash Delaney

4. Kazuma Gamou

5. Jake Dale

6. Sayaka Miura

7. Kotomi Shiba

8. Asao Sueno

Quarter Finals Matchups (match times are tentative):

Ryan Oak vs Asao Sueno (10:00)

Josh Dale vs Kotomi Shiba (12:00)

Ash Delaney vs Sayaka Miura (14:00)

Kazuma Gamou vs Jake Dale (16:00)