A professional Pokémon player has raised awareness about personal hygiene during competitive events after claiming he vomited during the 2026 Baltimore Regional Championships due to the overwhelming smell of an opponent. Donghun Youm, a regional VGC Pokémon champion from Texas, shared his experience on Twitter/X, stating that he and his friends were unable to focus during a round of the competition because of the strong odor. Youm mentioned that he and his friends informed a judge about the situation and urged other players to "kindly pay attention to [their] personal hygiene." The incident has sparked discussions about the importance of cleanliness at in-person gaming events. Youm's post received a range of reactions, with some users suggesting that maintaining good hygiene should be a mandatory requirement for participating in events. Others argued that individuals who emit strong odors should be excluded from competitions to ensure a more comfortable environment for all participants. This is not the first time the issue of hygiene has been raised in the context of gaming events. In June, an Oregon card shop suspended its Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments after complaints about smelly customers. The shop cited Konami's tournament guidelines, which require all attendees to be "clean and wear clean clothes," or they may be "sanctioned" from participating. Similar rules apply to Pokémon tournaments as well. According to the official Play! Pokémon Tournament Rules Guide, participants are required to maintain a socially acceptable level of hygiene during the event. Tournament organizers may ask participants to change or improve their personal hygiene and attire if necessary. Refusal to comply could result in exclusion from the tournament and the site, with the participant required to return their badge to the tournament staff. It is unknown whether the player responsible for the odor at the Baltimore Regional Championships was sanctioned. Regardless, the incident has reignited calls within the community for players to maintain cleanliness during competitions to prevent similar situations and ensure a more pleasant experience for everyone involved.