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Pretty much the steps Ash has to take to become Pokemon Master
1.) Get 8 badges
2.) Win the Regional League
3.) Beat the E4
4.) Enter the Champion League and beat the Regional Champion earning you the titles of "Champion Master"
5.) Given that the Champion Master was said to only be a "step" to becoming Pokemon Master, whatever is after than goes here.
The writers won't even let Ash past Step 2, at which point his badges seems like worthless trinkets. What's the point in having all those badges if you don't have shit to show for them?
Let's compare it to May/Dawn, and Serena:
May/Dawn
1.) Get 5 Ribbons
2.) Enter Grand Festival, and if you win you are a Top Coordinator
Serena:
1.) Get 3 Keys
2.) Enter Master Class (and presumably beat the current Kalos Queen at the end), and if you win you are the new Kalos Queen.
Ash's life is literally suffering.
