Recaps

Xia You prepared for the tournament’s main battles while the Pokémon League debated whether to promote him heavily without interfering with match fairness. After handling promotional filming and reporters, he agreed to meet Viola for an exclusive interview.

• Xia You told Erika he intended to win the championship and would give his all against any opponent.
• John argued for making Xia You the tournament’s focus, while Charles Goodshow insisted the League keep the match schedule fair and give competitors equal attention.
• The League compromised by allowing extra promotional resources for Xia You but forbidding interference with matchups.
• League staff gave Xia You more prominent filming and publicity than other competitors, and he answered reporters’ questions before leaving with staff’s help.
• Viola called Xia You to request another exclusive interview, and he agreed to meet her at a nearby café.

Xia You completed a relaxed exclusive interview with Viola before returning to Silver Stadium for the Silver Conference opening ceremony. Ash was missing from the preparation room, and Misty only knew he had left with two staff members.

• Viola welcomed Xia You to a café she had booked for their interview, and her colleagues set up the recording equipment.
• Xia You told Viola he hoped to match his Indigo Conference result and answered her questions in a relaxed manner.
• Xia You posed for photos with Dragonite, Scizor, and Tyranitar before saying goodbye to Viola.
• Xia You arrived at Silver Stadium, where Misty and the others had been waiting for him.
• Misty told Xia You that Ash had left with two staff members, and Xia You joined the contestants preparing to enter the stadium.

The Silver Conference opening ceremony began as Xia You entered Silver Stadium to cheers and discovered Meisha, Masha, and their biker friends supporting him with a banner. The Sacred Fire torchbearer then emerged as Ash, leaving Xia You to suspect Team Rocket had caused trouble.

• Sabrina watched the opening ceremony, grew irritated, and left to face a challenger at her Gym.
• Friends and acquaintances of Xia You watched the ceremony as he joined the contestants' procession into Silver Stadium.
• Xia You spotted Meisha, Masha, and other bikers holding a banner declaring him number one, and the cameras broadcast their support.
• After the contestants took their places, Ash entered the stadium carrying the Sacred Fire with Pikachu beside him.
• Xia You guessed that Team Rocket had intervened to make Ash the torchbearer.

Ash carried Ho-Oh’s sacred flame to the cauldron, officially opening the Silver Conference, and Xia You celebrated with Ash, Erika, and the Biker Gang. After a late-night feast, the contestants returned to their dorms ahead of the competition, which began the next day.

• Ash replaced the injured torchbearer and carried Ho-Oh’s sacred flame to the stadium cauldron, igniting it and opening the Silver Conference.
• President Charles Goodshow welcomed the contestants and urged them to fight fairly and give their best.
• Xia You met up with Ash, Erika, and the Biker Gang, whose members had ridden from Vermilion City to support him.
• Xia You took the group to a restaurant, where Ash explained that Team Rocket had led to him becoming the substitute torchbearer.
• Xia You and Erika returned to their dorm after dinner, and Xia You eventually fell asleep after spending the night with her.

Xia You and Ash checked their preliminary groups and learned the tournament’s round-robin rules before heading to their separate venues. Xia You’s first match began with a draw to determine who would send out a Pokémon first, and he opened with Venusaur.

• Ash found that he was in Group H with Jackson and a little girl, while Xia You was placed in Group C with two unfamiliar contestants.
• Brock explained that each group would hold a three-person round robin, with the contestant earning the most points advancing to the finals tournament.
• Xia You went to Venue A with Erika, while Misty and Brock accompanied Ash to Venue H.
• At Venue A, the roulette selected Xia You to send out his Pokémon first.
• Xia You sent out Venusaur, who had not battled for him since being left at Cerise Park.

Xia You won his first Preliminary match with a decisive three-to-zero victory over Kimura. He and Erika then watched Ash recover from a desperate position to win his own battle against Xiao Meng.

• Kimura chose Ledian against Xia You's Venusaur, but Xia You went on to defeat Kimura's Ledian, Magmar, and Jumpluff with Venusaur, Scizor, and Tyranitar.
• Xia You left the arena with three points and met Erika outside the venue before they returned to the dormitory lobby to watch Ash's match.
• Ash fell behind one to two after losing Phanpy and Totodile to Xiao Meng's team.
• Ash sent out Squirtle instead of Pikachu, and Squirtle defeated Electabuzz and Cyndaquil to secure Ash's victory.

After the first day of the Silver Conference Preliminaries, Xia You learned how Ash had befriended Xiao Meng and watched their friends’ results unfold. On the second day, Ahui eliminated Kimura, and the remaining contestants prepared for the decisive matches tomorrow.

• Xia You learned that Ash had rescued Xiao Meng’s Vulpix from Team Rocket, winning her admiration even after he defeated her in battle.
• Ash and Xia You discussed their victories, while Gary, Kenta, and Marina returned from their matches looking successful; Nana and Koji awaited their scheduled battles.
• On the second day, Ahui defeated Kimura’s Magmar with her Feraligatr, eliminating Kimura and tying her score with Xia You’s at three points.
• Xia You learned that Xiao Meng had defeated Jackson, while Koji lost and Nana won her match.
• The second day’s battles ended, leaving Xia You and Ahui to face off tomorrow for a place in the top sixteen.

Xia You advanced to the top sixteen, then learned that the draw had paired him against Nana and put him in the same half as Ash, Gary, Kenta, and Marina. The chapter ended with Xia You and Erika retreating to their room, where he abandoned their plan to review Nana’s footage and kissed Erika instead.

• Xia You defeated Ahui three to zero with Blastoise, Dragonite, and Tyranitar, advancing to the top sixteen.
• Kenta, Marina, Gary, Koji, and Nana won their matches, while Ash drew with Jackson but advanced on points; Jackson left Silver Town after his elimination.
• The top-sixteen draw paired Ash against Gary and Kenta against Marina, while Xia You drew Nana and landed in their half of the bracket.
• Xia You noticed his friends’ disappointment and returned to his room with Erika, intending to review footage of Nana.
• Xia You embraced and kissed Erika instead of watching the footage.

Xia You prepared for his round-of-16 match against Nana and encouraged her to face the battle at her best. After watching Dushe defeat Koji, Xia You headed to the battlefield to face Nana.

• Xia You met a nervous Nana outside the competitors' entrance and urged her to be herself and give the match her all.
• Nana regained her confidence, promised to fight at her best, and ran off to prepare.
• Xia You reviewed Nana's previous battles in the competitors' lounge while Erika watched with him.
• Xia You and Erika watched Dushe dominate Koji, whose Pikachu fell to Dushe's Rapidash and whose tournament ended.
• Xia You left the lounge and headed to the battlefield for his match against Nana.

Xia You and Nana began their battle, and Jolteon quickly gained the advantage over Nana’s Meganium. Nana tried to use Poison Powder to keep Jolteon at bay, but Xia You exploited the powder’s explosive reaction with Thunder Shock, leaving Meganium defeated as Nana sent out Pidgey.

• Xia You won the draw and sent out Jolteon, while Nana chose her trusted partner Meganium.
• Jolteon’s speed let it dodge Meganium’s attacks and land Electric-type moves, gradually putting Meganium on the defensive.
• Nana spread Poison Powder across the battlefield to keep Jolteon away and give Meganium time to recover.
• Xia You ordered Jolteon to use Thunder Shock, which ignited the Poison Powder and badly injured Meganium.
• Jolteon finished Meganium with Tackle, and Nana recalled it before sending out Pidgey.

Xia You defeated Nana decisively, while Ash learned that he and Gary would face each other before the winner met Xia You. After Xia You greeted Professor Oak and Delia, he joked about Oak’s closeness to Ash’s mother, and Erika told him to stop.

• Xia You sent out Gardevoir against Nana’s Pidgey and won the round, giving him a two-to-zero lead.
• Xia You went on to defeat Nana’s remaining Pokémon, winning five rounds in a row.
• Brock pointed out that Xia You would face whoever won the upcoming Ash-versus-Gary match, and Ash checked the tournament bracket.
• Delia and Professor Oak arrived to cheer Ash on, and Professor Oak urged Ash and Gary to push their limits against Xia You.
• Xia You and Erika met Ash, Delia, and Professor Oak after the match, and Xia You joked to Erika that Professor Oak was pursuing Delia.
• Erika rebuked Xia You and told him to stop joking about Professor Oak and Delia.

Xia You and Erika watched Ash and Gary face off in the Championship Tournament’s Rock Field. Gary took an early lead by knocking out Ash’s Tauros, and the battle continued with Heracross facing Gary’s Magmar.

• Xia You and Erika watched the announcer introduce Ash and Gary as longtime friends and rivals from Pallet Town.
• The tournament selected the Rock Field, and Ash drew the second move, leaving Gary to send out his Pokémon first.
• Gary’s Nidoqueen defeated Ash’s Tauros with a Hyper Beam, drawing a shocked reaction from the audience.
• Ash sent out Heracross, and Gary switched Nidoqueen for Magmar, which had a type advantage over Heracross.

Xia You and Erika watched Ash and Gary’s battle, where Gary’s Blastoise built a strong lead before Ash’s Snorlax turned the match around. The chapter ended with Xia You explaining that Professor Oak had raised Ash’s Pokémon at his laboratory and treated them better than Gary’s.

• Heracross recovered from Magmar’s flames and defeated it with Megahorn, tying Ash and Gary’s score at one apiece.
• Gary’s Blastoise defeated Heracross, Muk, and Bayleef in succession, giving Gary a commanding lead.
• After the intermission, Ash’s Snorlax knocked out Gary’s Arcanine with Hyper Beam and defeated Nidoqueen with Ice Punch.
• Xia You told Erika that Professor Oak had cared for Ash’s Pokémon at his laboratory and favored them even more than Gary’s.

Ash overcame Gary’s early advantage by bringing out Charizard, which defeated Scizor and Golem before using Ash’s steam strategy to beat Blastoise. After Ash advanced to the quarterfinals, Xia You waited for him in the lobby and planned to study his lineup.

• Ash sent out Charizard, which quickly defeated Gary’s Scizor and then knocked out Golem with Dragon Rage.
• Gary sent out Blastoise as his final Pokémon, and it used Hydro Pump to keep Charizard at a distance.
• Ash had Charizard heat the battlefield, and Blastoise’s water created steam that let Charizard approach unseen and seize its claws.
• Charizard carried Blastoise into the air and slammed it to the ground with Seismic Toss, winning Ash the battle and sending him to the quarterfinals.
• Xia You criticized Gary’s failure to have Blastoise use Withdraw and waited in the lobby for Ash to return.

After Ash defeated Gary and advanced to the quarterfinals, Xia You prepared to face him while watching Kenta defeat Marina and advance as well. Xia You and Ash began their full six-on-six quarterfinal battle on the Rock Field, with Xia You taking the first turn.

• Ash returned to the dormitory after defeating Gary, and Xia You congratulated him before they agreed to give their upcoming match their all.
• Xia You treated Ash, Kenta, Marina, Professor Oak, and the others to a celebratory meal, then watched Ash leave to find Gary and reflected that Gary might turn to scientific research.
• Xia You and Erika studied Ash, Dushe, and other possible opponents while watching the next round of matches.
• Kenta overcame his hesitation, defeated Marina's Feraligatr with Typhlosion, and advanced; Tyson also won, setting up Kenta versus Tyson in the quarterfinals.
• Xia You and Ash met at Silver Stadium the next morning, drew the Rock Field, and Xia You won the first move as their quarterfinal began.

Xia You’s Gardevoir defeated Ash’s Donphan by pushing it out of bounds, giving Xia You the first battle. Ash sent out his Shiny Noctowl against Xia You’s Jolteon, but Jolteon’s agility and the rocky terrain kept Noctowl from landing an attack.

• Xia You sent out Gardevoir, while Ash chose Donphan to counter it.
• Gardevoir evaded Donphan’s attacks and used Psychic to knock it out of bounds, winning the first battle for Xia You.
• Ash sent out his Shiny Noctowl, and Xia You answered with Jolteon.
• Jolteon dodged Noctowl’s dives across the rocky field, leaving Delia worried and Professor Oak urging her to believe in Ash.

Ash’s Charizard defeated Xia You’s Dragonite after a fierce aerial and ground battle, ending Xia You’s undefeated run from the Indigo Conference through the Silver Conference. Ash’s Noctowl had been paralyzed earlier, leaving the match’s outcome to Charizard’s victory.

• Noctowl dodged Jolteon’s Electroweb and landed an Air Slash, but Jolteon used Agility and Thunder Fang to paralyze him.
• Ash recalled Noctowl and sent out Charizard, while Xia You replaced Jolteon with Dragonite.
• Charizard and Dragonite clashed with matching Dragon Tails before their Trainers directed them to use Flamethrower and Dragon Rage.
• The battle moved between the field and the sky as both Pokémon took heavy damage, but Dragonite began to tire.
• Charizard defeated Dragonite with Flamethrower, shattering Xia You’s undefeated record.

Xia You sent Jolteon against Ash’s exhausted Charizard, then chose Crystal Steelix to face Snorlax. The battle continued with Crystal Steelix burrowing underground, leaving Ash unsure how Snorlax could counter it.

• Xia You sent Jolteon out, and it quickly knocked out Ash’s weakened Charizard with Electroweb.
• Ash sent Snorlax into battle, and Xia You recalled Jolteon before choosing Crystal Steelix over Tyranitar.
• Crystal Steelix charged Snorlax and drove it through rocks toward the boundary, but Snorlax stopped just short of being pushed out.
• Snorlax dodged Crystal Steelix’s bite and struck with Mega Punch, but Crystal Steelix burrowed underground to avoid the attack.
• Ash recognized Crystal Steelix’s Dig from his earlier battle against Drake’s Onix and wondered whether he should switch Pokémon.

Xia You’s Crystal Steelix defeated Ash’s Snorlax, giving him a three-Pokémon lead at the halfway break. After the match resumed, Blastoise beat Ash’s Shiny Noctowl, and Ash sent out Bayleef to face Xia You’s final Pokémon, Scizor.

• Crystal Steelix trapped Snorlax in Bind and knocked it unconscious, giving Xia You the win in their battle.
• During the five-minute break, Brock and Misty encouraged Ash, who returned to the field more determined.
• Ash sent out his Shiny Noctowl, and Xia You surprised him by choosing Blastoise.
• Blastoise’s Hydro Pump brought Noctowl down, and its Tackle and Bite finished the battle.
• Ash sent out Bayleef, and Xia You answered with his final Pokémon, Scizor.

Ash’s Pikachu battled Xia You’s Scizor to a draw, but Xia You defeated Ash with Gardevoir and advanced to the semifinals. After Ash accepted his loss and promised to challenge Xia You again, Xia You watched Kenta face Tyson, who took an early advantage.

• Ash recalled Bayleef after Scizor overwhelmed it and sent out Pikachu as his final Pokémon.
• Pikachu and Scizor fought fiercely, then knocked each other out with simultaneous Quick Attacks, resulting in a draw.
• Ash sent his injured Bayleef back into battle, but Xia You defeated it with Gardevoir and advanced to the semifinals.
• Xia You congratulated Ash after their match, and Ash vowed to grow stronger and challenge him again in Hoenn.
• Xia You and Erika celebrated before Xia You treated his Pokémon and watched Delia and Professor Oak leave with Ash’s companions.
• Kenta battled Tyson, and Tyson gained an early advantage as Kenta struggled against his Blaziken.

Tyson defeated Kenta with his Hoenn Pokémon Blaziken, then advanced to face Xia You in the Silver Conference semifinals. On the Ice Field, Tyson sent out Kecleon, but Xia You recognized its invisibility and spotted the marking that gave away its position.

• Tyson's Blaziken defeated Kenta's Typhlosion, and Tyson went on to beat Kenta's remaining Pokémon.
• Kenta warned Xia You that Tyson and his Blaziken were strong before leaving with Marina.
• After the other Round of 16 matches, the League promoted Xia You and Dushe as likely semifinal rivals, while Xia You completed promotional appearances and prepared for his battle.
• Xia You and Tyson entered the Ice Field for their semifinal, and Tyson won the draw to send out the first Pokémon.
• Tyson sent out Kecleon, but Xia You identified it as a Normal-type from Hoenn and warned Tyranitar about its invisibility and tongue.
• Kecleon disappeared against the ice, but Xia You spotted the red marking on its belly that remained visible.

Xia You won all three battles in the first half against Tyson, defeating Kecleon, Houndoom, and Miltank. During the break, Gengar asked Xia You to let it battle in the second half, leaving Ash and the others surprised.

• Tyranitar used Earthquake to disrupt Kecleon's speed, then defeated it with Hyper Beam.
• Xia You sent Jolteon against Houndoom and used water on the field to conduct Discharge, letting Jolteon finish Houndoom with Double Kick.
• Crystal Steelix defeated Tyson's Miltank, giving Xia You a 3–0 lead at halftime.
• Tyson sat nervously during the break while Xia You rested calmly and considered Blaziken Tyson's main threat.
• Gengar emerged from Xia You's shadow and asked to battle in the second half, promising to go easy on Tyson's Pokémon.
• Ash and the others noticed Gengar whispering to Xia You and realized something was happening.

Tyson sent out Swellow to face Xia You's Gengar, who toyed with it before defeating it with Hypnosis. Tyson was left with only two Pokémon and feared elimination, while Gengar returned to Xia You's side with no intention of battling again.

• Tyson abandoned his plan to use Hypno and sent out Swellow against Xia You's Gengar.
• Gengar transformed into a net and caught Swellow, then released it after teasing it.
• Gengar vanished into his shadow, struck Swellow with a flyswatter, and provoked it into using Brave Bird.
• Gengar intensified Hypnosis, causing Swellow to lose consciousness and crash into the ice.
• Gengar returned to Xia You, leaving Tyson worried that his elimination was drawing near.

Xia You’s Crystal Steelix defeated Tyson’s fifth Pokémon, Linoone, leaving Tyson’s Blaziken to face Xia You’s Gardevoir in the decisive battle. Gardevoir gained the upper hand, but Blaziken’s Blaze ability activated, and Tyson called for a final Flare Blitz as the chapter ended.

• Xia You sent out Crystal Steelix, which defeated Tyson’s Linoone with little difficulty.
• Tyson sent out his ace Blaziken, and Xia You recalled Crystal Steelix and chose Gardevoir.
• Blaziken attacked with Flamethrower and Fire Punch, but Gardevoir blocked the flames and used Teleport to evade the close-range strike.
• Tyson anticipated Gardevoir’s Teleport and sent Blaziken in with Quick Attack, but Gardevoir hit it with Psybeam and lifted it with Confusion before slamming it into the ground.
• Blaziken got back up with its Blaze ability activated, and Tyson ordered it to use Flare Blitz.

Xia You defeated Tyson’s Blaziken and became the first finalist, then watched Dushe’s match against Yamashita. After Yamashita’s Magcargo caused two early losses, Dushe recovered and won the match, setting up the final against Xia You.

• Gardevoir defeated Tyson’s Blaziken with Dazzling Gleam and Psychic, giving Xia You an overwhelming victory and a place in the finals.
• Tyson congratulated Xia You after the match, and Xia You reunited with Ash, Misty, Brock, and Erika before they went to lunch.
• Xia You and his friends watched Dushe face Yamashita on the Grass Field, where Yamashita’s Magcargo defeated Dushe’s Exeggutor and took the first battle.
• Magcargo set the Grass Field ablaze and severely burned Dushe’s Ampharos, forcing the medical team to rush it to the aid station and giving Yamashita a 2-0 lead.
• Dushe stopped underestimating Yamashita, sent out his strongest lineup, and won the remaining battles to advance to the finals against Xia You.