2024 Global Excellence Award Winner: Jordi Slujalkovsky
Published on September 5, 2025
Jordi Slujalkovsky, Spain
Nominated for: Outstanding contribution to the development of methodology, consistency, and high standards in the Pokémon UNITE Championship Series.
Several years ago, Jordi had a bad experience. As a player of a different gaming franchise, he received a ruling that did not appear to be in line with the rules of the game or in the best interests of tournament integrity. He resolved to contribute to the change he wanted to see, and luckily, it was in the Pokémon community where he chose to make that difference.
Jordi started as a casual Pokémon Trading Card Game player, and after a short time, he acquired a competitive edge and became a serious competitor. Traveling hours just to play, he immersed himself in the community and eventually began running his own local Pokémon League in Barcelona. Encouraged by peers like Jordi Olivera (the “other” Jordi who is also an active Pokémon TCG Judge), he explored the world of Professorship.
Among Jordi’s many contributions, his role in shaping the early competitive scene of Pokémon UNITE stands out. Unlike the established tournament structures of the Pokémon TCG and Pokémon video games, Pokémon UNITE presented an opportunity to build something meaningful from the ground up. “From day one, we’ve felt like we were building something alongside the Organizers, the Judge team, and TPCi,” Jordi reflects.
He worked hard to develop technical expertise, and in doing so, he encouraged the team around him to float ideas to solve new emerging problems. Hierarchies didn’t exist—what mattered was the collective aim to deliver memorable tournaments for players and Judges alike.
Sometimes the solutions don’t come easy. Just recently at the 2025 Latin America International Championships, he served as Tech Lead under intense and chaotic conditions. He and his team battled hours of technical difficulties and an internet blackout. Yet, what stayed with him was not the stress and the moments of doubt but the empathy and patience shown by the growing Pokémon UNITE community in attendance. Everyone was pulling in the same direction.
If he had to design a Supporter card to represent himself, it would be “Jordi, Master of Chaos Control,” almost certainly a reference to that impactful experience at LAIC! The effect would be:
Choose up to 2:
- Rearrange all Pokémon Tools in play.
- Move an Energy from 1 of your Pokémon to another of your Pokémon.
- Discard a Stadium in play.
(You can’t choose the same effect twice.)
One of Jordi’s most unforgettable experiences unfolded back in 2019 at the Sheffield Regional Championships. With a little help from a symbolic Komala plush, he proposed to his girlfriend, Marina, in front of his Professor family. Marina is also a passionate Professor who this year received a commendation from the Iberia RPC for her dedication through the 2024 season.
For those just stepping into the world of Pokémon judging, Jordi offers timeless advice: Be present, stay humble, and never stop learning. He emphasizes the importance of curiosity and community. “Try different roles,” he advises, “and you might find a place where your real skills shine.”
His fantasy Pokémon team reflects his love of both the Pokémon TCG and Pokémon UNITE, featuring a lineup based on his favorite Pokémon TCG decks and Pokémon UNITE playstyles: Umbreon, Cinderace, Gengar, Leafeon, Gardevoir, and Typhlosion.
Jordi has left a fantastic set of footsteps for new and aspiring Professors to follow in. The impact he’s made so far is undeniable—our program is better for having Professors like Jordi be a part of it.
Jordi’s motto: “[Judges] are not the police—we’re firefighters.”