Some pulls just hit differently, and this one was pure 🔥
Ripped live by @KetchemAllCollectibles on Fanatic Live, this Fusion Strike hit went straight from pack to PSA with zero hesitation.
The result?
✨ PSA MINT 9
A slightly fuzzy cut on the left edge may have held it back from a 10, but this ghost-type grail still came back looking clean and sharp.
📦 Pull Details
- Set: Pokémon TCG Sword & Shield – Fusion Strike
- Pulled by: @KetchemAllCollectibles
- Platform: Fanatic Live
- Graded by: PSA
- Final Grade: Mint 9
- Flaw: Minor fuzzy edge cut, common with Fusion Strike prints
🎬 Watch the full 7hour live moments unfold
📺 Full replay of the glorious pull
🎞️ Shortened version on our Instagram
🔍 PSA Pre-Grade Evaluation (with ChatGPT) Estimate: 8–9 (Mint Range)
🕵️ Front Surface
The art & foil pattern looks great, no major scratches or print lines visible in the image.
Edges/corners appear sharp with no whitening visible from this angle.
The centering (L to R) appears slightly off. The right border looks thinner than the left.
Centering (T to B) looks fairly balanced.
🔍 Back Surface
Whitening: Slight whitening is visible on the top left and bottom corners, especially the bottom right. These are common grade-droppers.
Centering: Again slightly off left to right (left border a bit thicker).
Edges: Clean cut overall, but slight fuzziness on the left border is visible, which aligns with your PSA 9 result.
🧾 PSA Summary
The front is visually strong, but the back centering and minor edge fuzziness + whitening hold it back from a PSA 10.
Most likely grade: PSA 9 (Mint)
Low chance of PSA 8, mainly if graders weigh the back flaws more heavily.
🧪 Estimated Beckett Sub-Grades
| Category | Estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Centering | 8.5–9.0 | Slightly off left to right (both front and back). Acceptable for PSA 9, but Beckett is stricter here. |
| Corners | 9.0–9.5 | Clean from front, slight whitening on rear corners; one bottom corner looks soft. |
| Edges | 8.5–9.0 | Slight fuzzing on the back left edge holds this back. Very typical for Fusion Strike. |
| Surface | 9.5 | Clean from the front, slight whitening on rear corners; one bottom corner looks soft. |
🏆 Likely Final Beckett Grade: 9.0 (Mint)
With no sub-grade dipping below 8.5, you’d avoid an 8.5 average. Beckett rounds down the average unless all four are at least 9.0, which means:
- A BGS 9 (Mint) is most likely
- Could technically reach BGS 9.5 if the grader is lenient on centering and edges
- Won’t reach a 10 due to centering and minor whitening
🧊 TL;DR: Beckett vs PSA
CGC would likely land between 8.5–9.0 with similar centering deductions
PSA 9 = most accurate reflection of this card’s condition
BGS 9 (Mint) = very likely
BGS 9.5 (Gem Mint) = possible, but unlikely without cleaner edges
💬 What’s Next?
This Gengar VMAX is staying in our personal collection (PC) for now as a reminder of the thrill.
But next time, we’re aiming for that Pristine 10 Gengar VMAX 💎
You’ll find it under our graded slabs when that day comes — and yes, it’ll be up for grabs!
🛍️ Collect International? So Do We!
Luna Hobby Store proudly stocks a curated lineup of Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese Pokémon cards, including
🧃 Raw singles (EXs, ARs, SARs, and full-art Trainers)
💎 Graded cards from PSA and Beckett
📦 Sealed packs for collectors who love the thrill of ripping.
Whether you’re building your binder, chasing foreign exclusives, or stacking your slab wall, we’ve got something for every collector.
👉 Shop International Pokémon Cards
We’re also working hard to secure English product distribution in the near future, so stay tuned!
💭 What Should We Do With This Mint 9?
Got grading experience or just strong collector instincts? We want your take!
Should we…
🔧 Crack the slab and resubmit to Beckett?
🧼 Try to gently clean the edges and regrade with PSA?
🗂️ Or stick with Plan A and keep it safe in our PC while we hunt for the next big Gengar pull?
Drop your suggestions in the comments or DM us on Instagram, we’d love to hear your thoughts!
