Freddy K.
06/21/2005, 12:37 PM
I played RL.
Round 1 - Jay w/ Gardy/Sala/Cargo
Jay is a new player from one of the new leagues, I found out that both he and his wife played along with their son - pretty cool. Sally never hit play, I went first w/ a basic and had a Flaffy prized. He had a Ralts and a Pidgey in play which surprised me. I woke up from sleep and set up Pidgeot and TTar's basics. He brought up a Turn 2 Gardy-ex but I was reducing my hand nicely and anticipated Feedback in time, I in turn developed Pidgeot and set up Psy-resistant TTar. I searched for Ruins and he then Surprise Time Machine'd, trying to bring out Gardy R/S. I pointed out that it had to evolve from Ralts as he had Rare Candied the Ralts in his second turn. TTar then KO'ed the Kirlia w/ a Grind. He tried in vain to rush me w/ Pidgey but it went downhill for him as I killed Pidgey, Ralts and a Slugma for the game.
1-0
Round 2 - Mick Arnold w/ Dragtrode
Mick is a good player from Rainham, his grandson won the 10- last year and T32'ed Worlds. He starts with a lone Dratini after he loses the flip. I have Pidgey active and Rare Candy w/ Pidgeot in hand. It took me 15 seconds to FTKO the Dratini w/ a search for DRE. I haven't seen that in quite a while.
2-0
Round 3 - Kraig Liston w/ Gardy/Cargo/BF
I wondered what Kraig would play this year, this was the first match I knew I had to raise my game in. I was able to watch how this deck worked after the quick FTKO of Round 2. I always found Cargo combo's slow and prone to Admin but Ludi didn't figure at all today so these decks would do well. Only one BF hit play though and I countered it with Ruins. It was getting really hot in the room and his sleeves were starting to stick which slowed the game down - not good for a RockLock player. He was genuinely trying to play fast which was credit to him. I shrunk my hand down and set up after finding 2 Larvitar prized initially, Spinning Tail did its job and DRE surprised him when I did the massive anti-EX move against his GEX for 140 (GEX already had around 40 so it was beaten). He brought another GEX out but scooped up and conceded soon afterwards as I was too far ahead. GG Kraig, it's never easy playing against you. =)
3-0
Round 4 - ??? w/Drag/TTar/Trode
I don't want to embarrass this player so won't mention his name. We started to debate from the off which coin to use. I wanted to flip the Nintendo coin, him a 50p piece. A judge had to resolve this and two mins had already gone on the clock. I took this as timewasting and the game started to turn sour. He kept on discarding Supporters so I called a judge to pick up on this as I didn't like his play. He didn't receive anything and I didn't want the guy to receive anything above a caution but it's Nationals and you expect a certain level of play especially as we were both on 3-0 and he couldn't have been as new a player as he was making out to be. He set up really well and Grinded away a few Basics of mine, I started to go behind in prizes and think this is where the winning streak ends. He tries to shift a DRE onto a Basic but had to be corrected. I just aim to add damage to his Pokémon in play looking for an ATM rock to bring me back in. I get Pidgeot going and things are starting to turn when he starts to hyperventilate after I call him for another error which needed a judge. The guy looks in distress and the HJ pauses the game, I look at the watch and there's around 6 mins left to the round with him 4 prizes ahead still. I just wait until he's back (he's crounched on the floor for quite a while) and I ATM Rock for 2 prizes, then do the same again for 2 more (Sand Damage is active). Pidgeot KO'es an active Dragonair he sends out and Amphy w/ DD kills the last Dunsparce. He seemed okay and apologised for what happened in the game which was cool with me, I promised a rematch but never got around to doing so as he left early.
4-0
Round 5 - Chris McGivern w/ Legendary Birds/Ray*/Kangaskhan/Wobb
He started w/ a lone Ray*, I Rare'd a Sand Damage TTar and built it up but he lays BF. I was lucky as the Dark Flaffy line trickled from my deck. I 2HKO'ed the Ray* and he builds a Zappy but I CC and draw Amphy. I land 70 as I know Amphy will take Zap out regardless, he benches Wobb. I default the BF w/ Ruins, Dark and Heal and Rainbow KO Wobb for the game.
5-0
I make it into T16 5-0 but the scores remain w/ the players into the next three rounds of Swiss so it was better to have an unbeaten record at this stage.
T16 Round 1 Adam Gadir w/DragTrode
He went ahead and sac'ed Jirachi DX with Rk Sneasel, but didn't realise that I'd KO his Sneasel w/ Scramble on Sand TTar. I moved ahead in prizes and he never caught up.
6-0
T16 Round 2 Dom Jordan w/DragTrode/WobbTeCH/Pidgeot
I got set up fast and knocked out all in his DragTrode, DRE was the killer card.
7-0
T16 Round 3 Sami w/ Chuck's Lanturn **EDIT: see post 18 for clarification**
At this stage I was the clear leader on 7-0 and so my place in the Top 4 was guaranteed but who I'd be facing was not a certainty by far, as the software was starting to pair people up who had already faced each other. Everyone on the top tables was talking about who'd have a chance of getting through and who couldn't at all. Add to that the fact that as a lot of people were on 6-1 resistances would play a key part, and for many people with this record this was as important as the final could be.
Whether I beat Sami or not I'd have a good chance of not facing him again until the finals which was a relief as I wasn't so sure as to what was in his deck and whether I would be able to outlast the initial onslaught that I would inevitably face against a Stage 1 deck.
The game was played in good spirit and I didn't take it as seriously as I could have done, I didn't complain to the judges about anything except bad hands. It was an enjoyable match for me as I knew my place in T4 was guaranteed whatever the result. I actually did try to win this match early on but Sami got off to a terrific start and is winning outright so as it becomes clearer that he'll win regardless we start joking around about how Irwin looks like a Spoink and don't take things seriously at all. Sami gets told off for joking around too loud and I have to calm him down or we both risk being DQ'ed. I knew I would have been at a better advantage playing RockLock against his deck over an hour whereby I can claw back any early advantages he gained prize-wise to win by knocking muliple Pokémon out through Spinning Tail. As other results are coming in it's clear that Dom Jordan has a chance of playing me in the semi-finals if I comeback and win, as that would edge Sami out of the T4 and I didn't fancy my chances in T4 against Dom's deck again. In the time that's left I look at the number of prizes that I have left compared to the one prize Sami has to draw and decide to scoop as I don't wish to play in the Top 4 without a break in-between the rounds. I also don't wish to give away any more information about my deck and its contents to Sami who I hope to face off in the finals so I concede as I also don't want to watch Sami shuffle for 10 mins. The Top Four consist of Sami leading the swiss, me, John Hawkins who I faced in last year's T4 and Chris McGivern.
7-1
I make T4 in 2nd place behind Sami, who has to play Chris Mc. T4 is 1 hour Matchplay.
T4 John Hawkins w/ TTar/Pidgeot
John ran Brineys and extra draw/search in place of an Amphy line. First match I find that two Pidgeot are prized, I'm on the back foot and think about conceding at the 45 min mark to take the pressure off the slow play I'm seeing from John. I kinda come back and at 40 mins think about carrying on, but I lose control of the match and Pidgeot is too late. I scoop just gone past 30. The second match starts at 25 mins left on the clock, I go first and SAR, I can't find any Pidgey to put on the bench w/ Larvitar, so I go searching for Larvitar instead. No more Larvitar. So second match I have two Pidgey two Larvitar prized, I am thinking you have got to be joking. I'm having to take down his deck in 25 mins with only one TTar able to attack. I start to Grind, ST and Rock away with both Amphy's setting up. Pidgeot comes out but it's used to ATM Rock to protect my remaining attacker, Amphy. I shout at the organiser to shut up when they start doing the raffle and John has a winning ticket which he wants to claim for midmatch =| The game is really slipping away and 5 mins are left on the clock. I'm praying for a miracle and it happens, John isn't attacking anymore and has 50HP Basics remaining. Amphy has DD loaded and I have only drawn one prize while he has drawn 4. Turns are literally *draw card* KO (wait for his turn to pass) *draw card* KO (wait for his turn to pass) *draw card* KO (wait for his turn to pass) *draw card* KO and with 3 seconds of play remaining I KO his last Pokémon to bring it to Sudden Death.
We both get 10 mins time out and I shuffle properly. One prize now for the Trip so the pressure's on.
I start with a lone Pidgey, he has Larvitar. I bench Mareep and have ATM Rock and two Energy in hand as well as cards that aren't useful. I corner after he attaches and passes, he uses Rare Candy and Grinds for 20. I pray for another miracle from Allah. It happens. I draw a Celio and Rare up to Pidgeot, I anticipate Clutching and maybe ATM Rock'ing with Flaffy if need be. I search for Dark Flaffy as I don't want to be Warp'ed out of the game and Clutch for the first 40. He Grinds again for 20 and next turn I do a Hung and Search for Rocket's Admin, bringing his hand down to one. I Clutch for 40 again bringing it to 80 but he draws into nothing and I QS for ATM Rock but everyone points out I just need to Clutch him again after I do so, I shake his hand and have the trip.
The finals were a bit of a non-affair, they needed to close the venue so were rushed and I was still recovering from the tension of T4. I lost the first match to Chris Mc but remembered how to win against his deck and won the second. Third Match I needed one energy to take control but nothing came out for 4 turns that allowed me to do so (he played BF excessively). I conceded to him and took 2nd place which gets me to Worlds so Mission Accomplished.
I scream out 'I TRUKed IT TO WORLDS' and they take photos for the press releases.
PrOpS =
Allah for allowing me to TD a Celio in sudden death - victory is only from him ;x
TPFG - for giving a trip to second place, the really cool venue, barbe
Pokémon Judges and players on the day - really cool doing it all again here
Neo - for all the online games and help/support. Basically everyone on the NoScrubs section - Magnechu, TRUK, Scizor, Pooka, Martin, Chuck for extensive advice, Moss for the killer list, Fulop, Pwnda, AJ, Kettler, Map, Krayzie, Brooks, Pokey, Crim, Joner, Mustid, YJ, Kitten, Ice Cold, Dark Sneasel, Plaidlesspez, Drew, ArticJedi, Pablo, POOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKA, Unknown Watcher (Pidgeotto), SEENA and Levi of course I'LL SEE YOU AT WORLDS YOU .....
Marion and the kids - for keeping me fed and sane while I prep'ed up late at night for Nationals MANY evenings ^_^
All my opponents - for playing fast
Irwin's mum as she's really cool
SlOpS =
Hot weather nearly had me on a manslaughter charge in Round 4
Players who played slowly on the day
Sami for losing a trip outright to a deck w/ Kangaskhan. YOU n00B.
Irwin for daft avatars j/k
Tea and Crumpets? GFGNORE
~fK :)
Round 1 - Jay w/ Gardy/Sala/Cargo
Jay is a new player from one of the new leagues, I found out that both he and his wife played along with their son - pretty cool. Sally never hit play, I went first w/ a basic and had a Flaffy prized. He had a Ralts and a Pidgey in play which surprised me. I woke up from sleep and set up Pidgeot and TTar's basics. He brought up a Turn 2 Gardy-ex but I was reducing my hand nicely and anticipated Feedback in time, I in turn developed Pidgeot and set up Psy-resistant TTar. I searched for Ruins and he then Surprise Time Machine'd, trying to bring out Gardy R/S. I pointed out that it had to evolve from Ralts as he had Rare Candied the Ralts in his second turn. TTar then KO'ed the Kirlia w/ a Grind. He tried in vain to rush me w/ Pidgey but it went downhill for him as I killed Pidgey, Ralts and a Slugma for the game.
1-0
Round 2 - Mick Arnold w/ Dragtrode
Mick is a good player from Rainham, his grandson won the 10- last year and T32'ed Worlds. He starts with a lone Dratini after he loses the flip. I have Pidgey active and Rare Candy w/ Pidgeot in hand. It took me 15 seconds to FTKO the Dratini w/ a search for DRE. I haven't seen that in quite a while.
2-0
Round 3 - Kraig Liston w/ Gardy/Cargo/BF
I wondered what Kraig would play this year, this was the first match I knew I had to raise my game in. I was able to watch how this deck worked after the quick FTKO of Round 2. I always found Cargo combo's slow and prone to Admin but Ludi didn't figure at all today so these decks would do well. Only one BF hit play though and I countered it with Ruins. It was getting really hot in the room and his sleeves were starting to stick which slowed the game down - not good for a RockLock player. He was genuinely trying to play fast which was credit to him. I shrunk my hand down and set up after finding 2 Larvitar prized initially, Spinning Tail did its job and DRE surprised him when I did the massive anti-EX move against his GEX for 140 (GEX already had around 40 so it was beaten). He brought another GEX out but scooped up and conceded soon afterwards as I was too far ahead. GG Kraig, it's never easy playing against you. =)
3-0
Round 4 - ??? w/Drag/TTar/Trode
I don't want to embarrass this player so won't mention his name. We started to debate from the off which coin to use. I wanted to flip the Nintendo coin, him a 50p piece. A judge had to resolve this and two mins had already gone on the clock. I took this as timewasting and the game started to turn sour. He kept on discarding Supporters so I called a judge to pick up on this as I didn't like his play. He didn't receive anything and I didn't want the guy to receive anything above a caution but it's Nationals and you expect a certain level of play especially as we were both on 3-0 and he couldn't have been as new a player as he was making out to be. He set up really well and Grinded away a few Basics of mine, I started to go behind in prizes and think this is where the winning streak ends. He tries to shift a DRE onto a Basic but had to be corrected. I just aim to add damage to his Pokémon in play looking for an ATM rock to bring me back in. I get Pidgeot going and things are starting to turn when he starts to hyperventilate after I call him for another error which needed a judge. The guy looks in distress and the HJ pauses the game, I look at the watch and there's around 6 mins left to the round with him 4 prizes ahead still. I just wait until he's back (he's crounched on the floor for quite a while) and I ATM Rock for 2 prizes, then do the same again for 2 more (Sand Damage is active). Pidgeot KO'es an active Dragonair he sends out and Amphy w/ DD kills the last Dunsparce. He seemed okay and apologised for what happened in the game which was cool with me, I promised a rematch but never got around to doing so as he left early.
4-0
Round 5 - Chris McGivern w/ Legendary Birds/Ray*/Kangaskhan/Wobb
He started w/ a lone Ray*, I Rare'd a Sand Damage TTar and built it up but he lays BF. I was lucky as the Dark Flaffy line trickled from my deck. I 2HKO'ed the Ray* and he builds a Zappy but I CC and draw Amphy. I land 70 as I know Amphy will take Zap out regardless, he benches Wobb. I default the BF w/ Ruins, Dark and Heal and Rainbow KO Wobb for the game.
5-0
I make it into T16 5-0 but the scores remain w/ the players into the next three rounds of Swiss so it was better to have an unbeaten record at this stage.
T16 Round 1 Adam Gadir w/DragTrode
He went ahead and sac'ed Jirachi DX with Rk Sneasel, but didn't realise that I'd KO his Sneasel w/ Scramble on Sand TTar. I moved ahead in prizes and he never caught up.
6-0
T16 Round 2 Dom Jordan w/DragTrode/WobbTeCH/Pidgeot
I got set up fast and knocked out all in his DragTrode, DRE was the killer card.
7-0
T16 Round 3 Sami w/ Chuck's Lanturn **EDIT: see post 18 for clarification**
At this stage I was the clear leader on 7-0 and so my place in the Top 4 was guaranteed but who I'd be facing was not a certainty by far, as the software was starting to pair people up who had already faced each other. Everyone on the top tables was talking about who'd have a chance of getting through and who couldn't at all. Add to that the fact that as a lot of people were on 6-1 resistances would play a key part, and for many people with this record this was as important as the final could be.
Whether I beat Sami or not I'd have a good chance of not facing him again until the finals which was a relief as I wasn't so sure as to what was in his deck and whether I would be able to outlast the initial onslaught that I would inevitably face against a Stage 1 deck.
The game was played in good spirit and I didn't take it as seriously as I could have done, I didn't complain to the judges about anything except bad hands. It was an enjoyable match for me as I knew my place in T4 was guaranteed whatever the result. I actually did try to win this match early on but Sami got off to a terrific start and is winning outright so as it becomes clearer that he'll win regardless we start joking around about how Irwin looks like a Spoink and don't take things seriously at all. Sami gets told off for joking around too loud and I have to calm him down or we both risk being DQ'ed. I knew I would have been at a better advantage playing RockLock against his deck over an hour whereby I can claw back any early advantages he gained prize-wise to win by knocking muliple Pokémon out through Spinning Tail. As other results are coming in it's clear that Dom Jordan has a chance of playing me in the semi-finals if I comeback and win, as that would edge Sami out of the T4 and I didn't fancy my chances in T4 against Dom's deck again. In the time that's left I look at the number of prizes that I have left compared to the one prize Sami has to draw and decide to scoop as I don't wish to play in the Top 4 without a break in-between the rounds. I also don't wish to give away any more information about my deck and its contents to Sami who I hope to face off in the finals so I concede as I also don't want to watch Sami shuffle for 10 mins. The Top Four consist of Sami leading the swiss, me, John Hawkins who I faced in last year's T4 and Chris McGivern.
7-1
I make T4 in 2nd place behind Sami, who has to play Chris Mc. T4 is 1 hour Matchplay.
T4 John Hawkins w/ TTar/Pidgeot
John ran Brineys and extra draw/search in place of an Amphy line. First match I find that two Pidgeot are prized, I'm on the back foot and think about conceding at the 45 min mark to take the pressure off the slow play I'm seeing from John. I kinda come back and at 40 mins think about carrying on, but I lose control of the match and Pidgeot is too late. I scoop just gone past 30. The second match starts at 25 mins left on the clock, I go first and SAR, I can't find any Pidgey to put on the bench w/ Larvitar, so I go searching for Larvitar instead. No more Larvitar. So second match I have two Pidgey two Larvitar prized, I am thinking you have got to be joking. I'm having to take down his deck in 25 mins with only one TTar able to attack. I start to Grind, ST and Rock away with both Amphy's setting up. Pidgeot comes out but it's used to ATM Rock to protect my remaining attacker, Amphy. I shout at the organiser to shut up when they start doing the raffle and John has a winning ticket which he wants to claim for midmatch =| The game is really slipping away and 5 mins are left on the clock. I'm praying for a miracle and it happens, John isn't attacking anymore and has 50HP Basics remaining. Amphy has DD loaded and I have only drawn one prize while he has drawn 4. Turns are literally *draw card* KO (wait for his turn to pass) *draw card* KO (wait for his turn to pass) *draw card* KO (wait for his turn to pass) *draw card* KO and with 3 seconds of play remaining I KO his last Pokémon to bring it to Sudden Death.
We both get 10 mins time out and I shuffle properly. One prize now for the Trip so the pressure's on.
I start with a lone Pidgey, he has Larvitar. I bench Mareep and have ATM Rock and two Energy in hand as well as cards that aren't useful. I corner after he attaches and passes, he uses Rare Candy and Grinds for 20. I pray for another miracle from Allah. It happens. I draw a Celio and Rare up to Pidgeot, I anticipate Clutching and maybe ATM Rock'ing with Flaffy if need be. I search for Dark Flaffy as I don't want to be Warp'ed out of the game and Clutch for the first 40. He Grinds again for 20 and next turn I do a Hung and Search for Rocket's Admin, bringing his hand down to one. I Clutch for 40 again bringing it to 80 but he draws into nothing and I QS for ATM Rock but everyone points out I just need to Clutch him again after I do so, I shake his hand and have the trip.
The finals were a bit of a non-affair, they needed to close the venue so were rushed and I was still recovering from the tension of T4. I lost the first match to Chris Mc but remembered how to win against his deck and won the second. Third Match I needed one energy to take control but nothing came out for 4 turns that allowed me to do so (he played BF excessively). I conceded to him and took 2nd place which gets me to Worlds so Mission Accomplished.
I scream out 'I TRUKed IT TO WORLDS' and they take photos for the press releases.
PrOpS =
Allah for allowing me to TD a Celio in sudden death - victory is only from him ;x
TPFG - for giving a trip to second place, the really cool venue, barbe
Pokémon Judges and players on the day - really cool doing it all again here
Neo - for all the online games and help/support. Basically everyone on the NoScrubs section - Magnechu, TRUK, Scizor, Pooka, Martin, Chuck for extensive advice, Moss for the killer list, Fulop, Pwnda, AJ, Kettler, Map, Krayzie, Brooks, Pokey, Crim, Joner, Mustid, YJ, Kitten, Ice Cold, Dark Sneasel, Plaidlesspez, Drew, ArticJedi, Pablo, POOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKA, Unknown Watcher (Pidgeotto), SEENA and Levi of course I'LL SEE YOU AT WORLDS YOU .....
Marion and the kids - for keeping me fed and sane while I prep'ed up late at night for Nationals MANY evenings ^_^
All my opponents - for playing fast
Irwin's mum as she's really cool
SlOpS =
Hot weather nearly had me on a manslaughter charge in Round 4
Players who played slowly on the day
Sami for losing a trip outright to a deck w/ Kangaskhan. YOU n00B.
Irwin for daft avatars j/k
Tea and Crumpets? GFGNORE
~fK :)