After placing in the top 8 at the Pokémon Pittsburgh Regional Championships, Destynn Hatcher is preparing to compete in three more tournaments.
White noise hummed from Destynn Hatcher's headphones, punctuated only by his own voice and the voices of his opponent across from him and two judges. Hatcher focused, set on defeating his opponent with his Gholdengo deck.
Hatcher, 23, was playing at the 2026 Pokémon Pittsburgh Regional Championships in Pennsylvania, his fourth regional championship, and was attempting to keep his stress low as he battled his opponent.
"The white noise and playing against a high-level opponent combined generates more stress," Hatcher said inside Cotten's Collectibles off Weber Road and Saratoga Boulevard. "It's important to hold on to your bearings, because if not, the stress will overtake you. It's very intense."
Hatcher ended up with a record of 8-1 his first day, and 5-1 his second. He said he knew was doing well but still had doubt in the back of his head on how his opponents would attempt to battle him.
Hatcher was able to secure a top 8 placement by placing sixth out of 2,691 players, earning $3,000, Pokémon cards and a playing card mat.
"It was a surreal experience," Hatcher said. "Every player that was around me at those top tables was someone who has been a regional champion, a world finalist or a world champion. But it wasn't about the player in front of me — it was about the cards I was holding."
For nearly 30 years, Pokémon has been a staple in the world.
What started off as a sleeper video game in Japan in 1996 soon swept the world with television series, films, more video games, collectible cards, books and more.
Hatcher said he's enjoyed Pokémon his whole life and got into playing the trading card game after constantly opening packs of cards. He said he played for a few years early on but was not that skilled at it. About three years ago, he walked into Cotten's Collectibles and thought he would dip his toes back in the water with a game or two.
At his first local tournament, he "absolutely got destroyed" but was able to meet players and find a support system. Katie Cotten, co-owner of the business, is one of those people in his system.
"Destynn's the most competitive player I've met here," Cotten said. "He goes to all of the regionals because he's chasing his (World Championships) invite. He's very driven, focused and serious."
When it comes to competing at regional championships, there are several financial requirements to attend. Competitors have to pay a registration fee, book a flight and secure a hotel. Cotten's Collectibles has sponsored Hatcher to ensure his lucky journey.
"They help take a lot of the stress off me," Hatcher said. "The boulders that were on my shoulders turned into pebbles. They made it to where I only had to focus on the game instead of other problems."
Hatcher plans to compete in three more tournaments by the end of the year: Milwaukee Pokémon Regional Championships in October, and Las Vegas Pokémon Regional Championships and the Latin American International Championships in Brazil in November. His goal is to earn his World Championships invitation for 2026, and he said he's confident he will this year.
As for people wanting to get into the trading card game and compete with others, Hatcher said the easiest thing to do is visit a local card store and let them know you're interested in playing.
"I guarantee you there's going to be, like, seven people that come up to you to give some advice or offer cards to help set up a deck," Hatcher said. "The Pokémon community is so nice and caring. You just have to break your own socially anxious barrier to go out there.
"It's really important that if you want to get into this game at the top level, you have to not only connect with people but you have to find a support system. I'm very fortunate to say that I found mine."
To watch Hatcher compete at the 2026 Pokémon Pittsburgh Regional Championships, visit bit.ly/Destynn.
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John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Have a story idea? Contact him at [email protected].
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Meet Destynn Hatcher, man who placed in Pokémon Regional Championship
Category: General Sports
