They’re actually doing this in a bracket format where the winner of the 1st match faces the winner of the 3rd match, the 2nd vs the 4th, 5th vs 7th and 6th vs 8th. So, in a hypothetical situation, Jessie would’ve faced Lillie, or Mina would’ve faced Acerola. I’m honestly surprised more people haven’t realized that’s what’s happening. Because of this, the winner of Ash vs Hau will face the winner of Guzma vs Lana, and the winner of Kiawe vs Sophocles will face the winner of James vs Gladion.
This was my greatest fear. Second to Ilima, I don't want to see Ash lose to Gladion in the finals, even if it's the most tense billing. Maybe it would have been fine if Ash had won against Gladion once or twice, but for a guy whose
only focus on battles which is the
only thing he is good at in this region, versus an edgelord with other things on his mind who Ash has
never beaten, it would be utterly distasteful.
I can understand people being blindsided by Kalos where Ash always won and was expected to triumph, but here he's...clearly the best sport in the region and most deserving of a championship for the
years of hard work and effort he's put it.
For it to end on a 1x1 where Lycanroc chokes against a Bank Zoroark, this is a different but equally bad version of Ash's Kalos exit.