Los Angeles GYM CHALLENGE Roll Call

[PTE_Karl]

Los Angeles Gym Challenge

Date: Saturday, 15 May 2004

Time: 10am

Play begins at: 11am

Cost for main tournament: $10

Tournament Location:
Atrium Hotel
Hibiscus Room
18700 Mac Arthur Blvd
Irvine, CA 92612
Ph: 800.854.3012

The winner of each of the 3 age groups will win an expenses paid trip (airfare/hotel) for themselves and a guardian to the World Championships in Orlando Florida!!

Need more info: www.ptegames.com

[Scizor]

I'm coming down for this GC at least, so i'll see all you guys again. I'm also bringing my 2 friends.

[GreatFox]

Of course, Team LA will be there!

[cool-dude32]

I Will try to go to the GC if I can just get myself out of bed. I didnt get to go to the State Champion cause of my Lazy A** out of bed, but team LA still win so it cool. I hope top8 is all team LA. :clap:

Team LA

[Water Pokemon Master]

Oh my gosh, why does there always have to be interference when I want to go to a Pokemon event?!?! My mom and dad are going to a wedding at 4 PM, but my dad can take me to the GC, though I have no way of getting home. UGH! Where is a teleporting Abra when you need one?....

[Scizor]

I think we should do a 2/3 matchplay in the top 8, i am proposing this at all the events i am going to attend and i hope i can get some support! A lot of places are doing it already and california needs to follow in their footsteps.

[Martin]

The king is back.

[lookinforwailordex]

im hopeing to go but i need money from the parents cough cough taxes cough they may not have enough which really bites

[bulbasnore]

I'm coming down for this GC at least, so i'll see all you guys again. I'm also bringing my 2 friends.

You come, bring friends. Good news, good idea. Me, too. The usual vanload, I hope and maybe a new 10- guy!

[Scizor]

Yah can someone contact Karl about 2/3? I really want it to happen and i see i am getting support. Anyway GJ at States Kim! I'll see you at the GC in a couple weeks.

[cool-dude32]

Yah can someone contact Karl about 2/3? I really want it to happen and i see i am getting support. Anyway GJ at States Kim! I'll see you at the GC in a couple weeks.

I support u on the idea. I think we should have best 2 out of 3 for top8.

[Warbuzz]

Sorry Scizor, I strongly disagree. I think 2/3 is a bad idea. Not only would it drag the finals for such a long time but the person that actually wins will easily end up playing 15-19 games to win the Gym Challenge. That's insane.

People need to start designing their decks better if their so worried about having a bad start. Bad starts happen to everyone but decks need to be designed so that they can recover from a bad start. Two out of Three matches should not be forced upon a big tournament because people want to thin down their decks so much that i can not recover from a bad start.

The solution is Better Deck Design, not 2/3 matches.

[ToysRUsKid]

So, your saying

Opening Quaza w/ no basics.

Blaze, Catty, Energy in your hand and drawing useless stuff means POOR DESIGN?

I don't think so.

[|PoKeY|]

I agree with truk, i had a lone quaza to start off my games about 5 times... 2/3 is good and needed i lost my states because of not having 2/3

[Pablo]

yeah, a bex player can always recover form the scenario mentioned by TRUK, but it is hard, and Bex decks are definately NOT badly deisgned

-MuD

[nikePK]

Decks with good design will win the 2/3, and it helps control the whole luck factor. When there are TRIPS and PAID HOTEL to WORLDS, I think that 2/3 would make the players very much happier. So what if people have play 15+ games in a tournament. Isn't that what everyone is there to do? To play pokemon? the more games, the better. Yeah, some parents might get a bit angry, but I think appeasing the players is more important than appeasing the adults.

But I'm not going to the CA Gym Challenges lol, though I'm glad that Memphis and St. Louis will be doing best 2/3 in t8.

[Scizor]

I suggested top 8 for 2/3 not the WHOLE tourney. So that is obviously only what maybe 11 games? Losing to a bad hand is worse than losing to a good player, and i can tell you i've lost to a bad hand twice as much as i have lost to a good player AT LEAST and i'm sure most people would agree with me.

[Chrisbo]

Okay people, there's already a topic about 2/3 matchplay over here:
http://pokegym.net/showthread.php?t=6247

If you want to try convincing the T.O. to run it as such, send him an e-mail at PokemonLV@hotmail.com.

Now, let's get back on topic; this is supposed to be a roll call as to who's going to be attending the event.

Thanks for understanding,
- CHRISBO Administrator (and HJ of the upcoming L.A. Gym Challenge event too)

[lookinforwailordex]

if we play best 2 out of 3 we should start the tourny at 10 regiser at 9 becuase that might take longer then usual in the top 8

[SD PokeMom]

As Chrisbo said a couple posts above this one, the 2/3 match play discussion is going on elsewhere. This thread is supposed to be a roll call for the LA Gym Challenge; please keep it on topic or we'll have to start deleting posts and/or lock the thread. Thank you for your cooperation...

'mom

[bulbasnore]

OK, Arcanine/Arbok Master got the word last nite and we're working on our new 10- player (first we gotta shape up his deck).

This roll call is looking weak; come on SoCal, you can do better than this!

[lookinforwailordex]

im comin with bulbasnore i think

[lookinforwailordex]

wat are the prizes?

[rody1202]

I would LOVE to attend your Gym Challenge... I'm in SF on a business trip and I see that I can get a flight into Orange County arriving at 8:20am (which seems fine)... but the return I'd like to take back to SF is 7:50pm... when do you expect all to end after single elimination?? Could I catch the 7:50pm flight??? I'd prefer to go back to SF... Let me know your thoughts.. Thanks! Denise Barlock (from Raleigh, NC)

[cattdreams]

fortunatly, the gym challenge is spitting distance from sna (orange county airport), I'd like to think it will be done by 7:50, but things happen..... it's really dependant on how many snafu's we run into.
in an ideal world...

10 00 am reg
11 00 am start
11 30 am round 1
12 00 pm round 2
12 30 pm break for lunch
01 00 pm round 3
01 30 pm round 4
02 00 pm round 5
02 30 pm round 6
03 00 pm round 7
cut to top 8
04 00 pm top 8 round 1
04 30 pm top 8 round 2
05 00 pm top 8 round 3
05 30 pm finish

but in the real world, you need to throw in 1 or more hours more for registration and set up. and another hour for program crashes. and yet another hour for misc. snafu which gives us 08 30 as a more realistic finishing time.

now with that said, I've always been the master of messing up my flight times, (to the point where I stopped buying tickets in advance), and I'm sure that you can get away with just buying your ticket with a 7:50 return time, but if it carries over, show up whenever and just catch whatever's next.

-CattDreams

[rody1202]

I will be there!!! I have changed my flights to leave on Sunday morning since the 7:50pm on Saturday is the LAST American flight going back to San Francisco...

HELP?? I brought my deck... but I wanted to add an extra Blaziken EX :fire: to my deck and I left it at home... Anyone have one for "loan" for the day?? I also need to borrow some dice???

[cattdreams]

HELP?? I brought my deck... but I wanted to add an extra Blaziken EX :fire: to my deck and I left it at home... Anyone have one for "loan" for the day?? I also need to borrow some dice???
I think we can accommodate you with loaners. just ask one of the locals to point me out. and I'll set you up.

-CattDreams

[Rainman]

It's been awhile since my son and have been active in Pokemon. Are sets limited to Ruby and Sapphire and on only? Which promo's? Chrisbo, Bulbasnore? We might make a cameo there.

[PokePop]

It's been awhile since my son and have been active in Pokemon. Are sets limited to Ruby and Sapphire and on only? Which promo's? Chrisbo, Bulbasnore? We might make a cameo there.

Nintendo sets and also Expedition, Skyridge, and Aquapolis from WotC.
Nintendo promos, only. Those are numbered 001 and up.

[PTE_Karl]

Hi everyone,

We are going to have a blast this weekend in LA. Hope all of you can make it.

There has been some discussion of 1 game versus 2of3. Here is the skinny for the Gym in LA. All of the Swiss rounds will be run as 1 game, the finals for each age catagory will be best 2of3. This is direct from POP!

Prizes are the same as States were, which are the same as Prereleases...they don't much change:

1st = Box of TVA, Invite to Worlds, Travel award for 2 to Worlds, & VIP package
2nd = 18 packs of TVA
3rd-4th = 9 packs of TVA
5th-8th = 4 packs of TVA

Hope this clears up some of the bandwidth. Just a reminder that this is final.

Have a good day and see you'all Saturday.

[Scizor]

Awesome! 2/3. I'm getting pretty pumped for this weekend, see you all there.

[bulbasnore]

It's been awhile since my son and have been active in Pokemon. Are sets limited to Ruby and Sapphire and on only? Which promo's? Chrisbo, Bulbasnore? We might make a cameo there.

Yes, guys you come on! Expedition, Aquapolis, Skyridget, Ruby/Sapphire, Sandstorm, Dragon, Team Magma/Aqua.

PM me if you need help.

[Chrisbo]

It's been awhile since my son and have been active in Pokemon. Are sets limited to Ruby and Sapphire and on only? Which promo's? Chrisbo, Bulbasnore? We might make a cameo there. Duuuuude!! It would be so cool to see you again; we've missed ya!! Like Pop said, it's Expedition & up with Nintendo promos only.

Karl, one question for clarification: Is the "best 2 out of 3" for the actual Top-2 Final match only, or does match play begin with the Top-8 (or Top-X, depending on turnout) after Swiss play?

Also, since there are some very significant prizes on the line we are going to be implementing a much stricter enforcement on procedure than in past tourneys. For example, when you play a Supporter you will be *required* to leave your supporter next to the active pokemon until the end of your turn; no casually putting it straight into the discard pile and such. A listing of these guidelines will be clearly posted at the event, and I will post them in a separate reply later on in this topic.

Thanks,
- CHRISBO

[Chrisbo]

Los Angeles Gym Challenge Tournament Guidelines:

Here is a list of guidelines that will be enforced at the Los Angeles area Gym Challenge on May 15, 2004. These have been submitted and approved by PUI for use during this tournament. Any questions may be directed to the Tournament Organizer and/or Head Judge on the day of the event.

xxxxxxxxx1xxxxxxxxx2xxxxxxxxx3xxxxxxxxx4xxxxxxxxx5 xxxxxxxxx6xxxxxxxxx7xxxxxxxxx8
1.> The deck and prize pile must be on opposite sides of the playing field. So
if your deck is on the right side, your prizes must be on the left side.
This is intended to avoid accidentally drawing a prize rather than drawing
from your deck, and vice versa. It is preferable that the deck be on the
right side and prizes be on the left whenever possible.

2.> The number of prize cards remaining must be clearly shown at all times.
You are not allowed to stack your prize cards in a single pile. This is so
that both players and judges are aware of current game status at any given
time. And as long as there is sufficient room in the playing space, prize
cards are not to be stacked on top of one another at all.

3.> The discard pile must be a single stack of cards; you may not separate the
discard pile into multiple stacks (i.e. energies apart from the rest of the
pile). You are allowed to sort your discard pile if you wish, but it must
remain in an orderly stack as much as possible.

4.> Energy cards and trainer cards must be clearly visible when attached to a
Pokemon. You may not stack attached cards into a single stack, except for
the actual monster cards. Again, this is so that both players and judges
can be easily aware of the current game status at any given time.

5.> Poison markers, burn markers, etc. must be distinctively different than
any damage markers residing on a Pokemon. If using different colored
stones or dice as damage markers, then you must use a completely different
type of marker for Special Conditions (i.e. borrow a penny from your Mom
or something).

6.> When your Pokemon is affected by a Special Condition, you must clearly
indicate it as such. Whether it be putting a marker on it, or turning it
sideways or upside-down, you must be able to clearly signify when your
Pokemon is afffected by a Special Condition.

7.> When Supporter cards are used they must be placed next to the active slot
until the end of the turn, just like it says on the card. You may NOT
place them immediately into the discard pile upon usage.

8.> If you perform an attack that requires searching and/or shuffling the deck,
the opponent must wait to begin their turn until the searching or shuffling
is completed. Many players tend to begin their turn with the attacking
player's consent, but for this tournament all actions of attacks MUST be
completed before the opponent may begin their turn.

xxxxxxxxx1xxxxxxxxx2xxxxxxxxx3xxxxxxxxx4xxxxxxxxx5 xxxxxxxxx6xxxxxxxxx7xxxxxxxxx8

[Martin]

Good luck to everyone going. I'm going to be doing a featured Pojo Article on this event, so I'm going to be bringing my digital camera and stuff. Hope to see some familiar faces.

[PTE_Karl]

The best 2 of 3 is for the entire Top 4-8, not just the finals. If you make the cutoff, you will be playing best 2 of 3.

Karl

Karl, one question for clarification: Is the "best 2 out of 3" for the actual Top-2 Final match only, or does match play begin with the Top-8 (or Top-X, depending on turnout) after Swiss play?
Thanks,
- CHRISBO

[Charizard_Breeder]

Alrightie LA...ding ding ding, LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!!! I will most certainly be there, maybe my cousin (if he doesn't flake on me), but n e how...see you all there!!!

[lookinforwailordex]

ok well i was hopeing that 1st and 2nd was gettin the invite and package then becuase at the berkley one that is how they are doin it

[lookinforwailordex]

goin to be so much fun cant wait

[Martin]

My stepbrother needs a Rayquaza. If anyone has one for trade, I can trade a-lot for it. I even have blazikens for trade. Anyone going to event have one?

[Charizard_Breeder]

My stepbrother needs a Rayquaza. If anyone has one for trade, I can trade a-lot for it. I even have blazikens for trade. Anyone going to event have one?I can be of assisstance...definitely have ONE "EX-TRA" QUAZA...I'm looking for a SWAMPY "EX" (if you have it???)...or I'm looking for extra boost nrg's or trainers, Oak's research - Oracle - Desert Shamen??? Mainly the SWAMPY (EX) or even the Blazikens...could definitely use the boost's and the researches!!! I'm Jesse by the way...you'll know me, cause I'll be SPORT'N MY KOBE JERSEY...woo hoo!!! :)

I'll either be wearing my blue one or yellow one (JERSEY)???

[Martin]

I got boosts and blazes. Hollar at me on aim. My name is in my signature. Oh, and if you wanna find me at the event, look for the guy with white shades.

[Water Pokemon Master]

Yay! My parents said I can go for sure. However, I may have to drop out if I do not meet the time they set for me to leave, since I have to go to an engagement afterwards for one of my cousins.

Also, to make the tourny more spoilery for Pokemon, I was thinking that I could bring my laptop with the newest Jirachi trailer that just came out a two nights ago, the newest Deoxys movie trailer, and a picture of the brand new non-r/s Pokemon, as well as other Pokemon stuffies. We did that at the last City Championship and people loved the Deoxys trailer and were asking a lot of questions about it. Would that be okay to do? Is there like a TV to play the stuff on if I can? I don't want to be intrusive or anything on the tourny if I do that, so is it okay to do that?

Just 13 more hours until the tourny! I can't wait to play my deck!

[Warbuzz]

Those are great ideas! When WPM did that at the last CC, everyone loved watching the trailers, though we only got to do it before the tournament began and for the beginning a little. I am also anxious to see the new Jirachi and Deoxys trailers, and want to see that new Pokemon!

[lookinforwailordex]

well guys today is the day i cant wait, yesterday i was playen my gba for a long time trying to get my guys at a decent lvl for the side event

[BLiZzArD]

who won?

[Martin]

Today wasn't a good day for Martin. Ask anyone who went to the GC. They Know...

[ToysRUsKid]

Results Anyone? =/. It's been 4-5 hours, now. Someone type up results please.

[rody1202]

:clap: Thank you everyone for such a GREAT TIME!!!! I had such a wonderful time joining your "group"... I felt VERY welcome by everyone!!! I hope to see everyone again at Nationals, WORLDS... or ANY future Pokemon event!!!! :cool:

But... next time... I plan to WIN!!!! HAHAHAHAHA... :lol: I will go BEYOND top 8 (eventually)!!! :eek:

Thanks AGAIN for such a wonderful time!!! Denise

[WeileMom]

Results Anyone? =/. It's been 4-5 hours, now. Someone type up results please.

When you were posting this message, most of us were just getting home!
The tournament began at 12 noon and went to just before 11pm.
A very long but fun, and frustrating, day!
Congrats to Abraham, Kevin N., and the sweet little 10 and under who felt absolutely terrible for winning his age group!
I believe the final count was 67, 8- 10&U; 20- 11-14; and the rest were 15 & U.
See most of you in San Diego!!
---Nicole
WeileMom

PS, I just wanted to say sorry to Kevin N. for giving you such a hard time! You're an awesome player and a very good sport! He went undefeated the entire day EXCEPT for one minor inconvenience of a WailordEx deck ;)

[lookinforwailordex]

When you were posting this message, most of us were just getting home!
The tournament began at 12 noon and went to just before 11pm.
A very long but fun, and frustrating, day!
Congrats to Abraham, Kevin N., and the sweet little 10 and under who felt absolutely terrible for winning his age group!
I believe the final count was 67, 8- 10&U; 20- 11-14; and the rest were 15 & U.
See most of you in San Diego!!
---Nicole
WeileMom

PS, I just wanted to say sorry to Kevin N. for giving you such a hard time! You're an awesome player and a very good sport! He went undefeated the entire day EXCEPT for one minor inconvenience of a WailordEx deck ;)



lol nicole it was fun just a little down but still have my head high becuase of that hole 2-3 thing thx nicole for doin the scores and thx karl for running it and the kevins wow they are some players so hard yet can be beat

[bulbasnore]

Today wasn't a good day for Martin. Ask anyone who went to the GC. They Know...

Well, you _looked_ like you were having a good time, even if things didn't turn up well in the game play! Hope you're coming to SD GC & g/l.

[bulbasnore]

Bulbasnore’s rambling, gappy tournament report, season farewell & thank you on the occasion of the Los Angeles stadium challenge.

5 of us headed out to Irvine around 9am. Thanks to Mrs. Bulbasnore for the loan of the van; you look cute driving my truck! We got there in time for me to hear Karl the PTO say, 10 minutes left to registration! Yikes! Our printer is broken, I just made some changes to the deck and had to jam to get my deck list in! I kept messing up and finally they let me reister and turn in the decklist after I fixed it. Aargh!

Round 1 vs Lee

Versus an interesting rougish Cacturne/Mewtwo EX deck. I think Rayquaza & Blaziken did most of the work for me in this match. A well-timed Desert Shaman got rid of my Oracle payload (going for Delcatty) Ray had to retire after a while, as I was expecting the Crystal Shard for the OHKO and Cacturne went after him on this bench. This might have turned out ill despite the fine work being done by the Blaziken, except my opponents 2nd-4th Boost energies were eluding him.

1-0

Round 2 vs Brian

Garde decks are tough for my team of PKMN as Ray & Blaze EX have to work around Wob’s anti EX poke-body & Blaze EX’ psychic weakness. Accordingly I think this is the game where I went 4 Torchic on the bench after Dunsparce’ strike & run. I think Blaze EX came out and made a contribution once Blaze made the area safe from Wobs.

2-0

Round 3 vs Denise

Denise was visiting from the East Coast. Her son won the Columbia SC 11-14 challenge & her daughter had just lost in the finals of the VA one that morning. She was out in CA on a business trip. A very cheerful opponent; nice to meet someone from the other coast and a fellow playing-Poképarent. This was sort of a mirror match, I think I saw the Electrike=>Manectric. I don’t recall exactly how this went.!

3-0

Round 4 vs ??

Oh gosh, help me out here please.

4-0

Round 5 vs Jerry

Well, Jerry is our State Champ, a great deck maker/tuner, a cool and well, uncanny good player. So, it has always been my pleasure to lose to him. Having accepted my fate, this made me very relaxed for the match. Jerry’s Garde just didn’t get the traction he was looking for … and surprise.

5-0

Round 6 vs. Kevin N.

So, here I am playing an 11-14 because we are both undefeated. The match was very pleasant, with many of our pals looking on, but I lost. I really like playing my deck, but it has so many options that when I get fatigued I often biff it and choose the wrong one – kind of like the old cars that would get vaporlock and run out of gas with plenty in the tank. As a measure of my confusion, I can’t remember his deck right now. I should train harder to avoid this kind of flop. Not that I would have one, but it could have been a better game. Kcvin was a gracious winner. [Kevin wanted to play out the next round rather than ID; his motivation was to give a friend more of a chance to T8. Well, he ended up losing (the only time that day) to a certain WEX player. That’s why we play the matches rather than just vote ‘em on the boards, eh?].

5-1

Round 7 vs. Chad

Chad is a traveler (he has to be, since he lives on the Central Coast area) and we’ve seen each other at tourneys from Las Vegas to SoCal for a couple years. We have the best records (he was 5-0-1). So intentional draw is the way to go. I’m sorry I didn’t get to play him, but since there was a chance we’d meeting in T8 I didn’t want to press to discover his blaze variant deck.

5-1-1

Finals

Top seed was Chad followed by Denise. I was the 3rd seed and would play the 6th seed. Finals were going to be 2 of 3 which was OK to me but made everyone else happy. I caused a bit of a rucus (not my intent) when Chrisbo announced that incomplete 2nd games would be thrown out on time; I felt this would invite slow play by the winner of the first game & be difficult to judge. Eventually, the match limit was adjusted from 50-60 minutes & everyone was happy. SoCal group is usually pretty mellow, but this did cause a stir. Karl, our PTO, later explained to me that in Magic TG, 2 of 3 is always judged where the first game (completing on its own) gets precedence. So, for matches were the second game is won on time by the player who lost the first game, the match still goes to the winner of the complete game. Karl and the Judges timed every game of every match and logged the completion times to prepare for a discussion of 2 of 3 with POP. See my proposal, here: http://www.pokegym.net/showthread.php?t=6011

Quarter vs. Miguel

Miguel likes to play originals and was in T8 with a TM Aggron. TM Zangoose was able to give Rayquaza a trip to the Pokemon center in the first game, but Blaze EX was dominant when he got rolling. I think I took both games.

Semi-finals vs. Paul

This was a Flygon/Magneton/Latios powerplant deck. Paul is a strong player and knows the deck well. I really don’t remember anything about the games, but I think I scooped the second game (concede) which was key to getting the 3rd game launched quick enough to win on prizes. Paul set me straight here, if I mis-remembered.

Final vs. Abraham

Abraham is from San Diego and one of the few that came up for the L.A. challenge. It was pretty much a mirror match – except he did have one very cool non-supporter trainer that if you thought of it, you’d say “Why don’t ALL decks carry a couple of those?” It really kills against the big decks if you’re running one of those. I won the first game. There was a procedural error of Abraham’s that led to a prize swap. Judge Mark was there to give his classic advice after that – take a breath – and we all did just that. In the second & third games, my brain just vapor-locked on my options, I got no traction, while Abraham played great. Congrats!

I felt bad to have to jet out right after the match with the Judges and PTE staff having to clear up, but none of us had had dinner and we had an hour drive to get home. With a stop at In n' Out on Beach Blvd we made it home about 12:30am!

Props

SoCal players; I put our champions up against any for game play, but I think you all could stand the world for sheer fun and friendliness. Always a pleasure; you are a class act. Everyone I beat was still friendly and cheerful after a defeat and I tried to live up to their example. You could look around the room during or after any match and everyone was having a good time from start to last. Sure a trip was on the line, but no one was tense.

Our judges are studs. 9am to 10pm is a long day. We have excellent judging technically & interpersonally. Thanks Chris, Mark & Marsh!

The PTO & staff are great. Karl really cares about the players, knows what he is doing and is always seeking to improve the experience. Nicole is ever cheerful and unflagging at the scorers table.

Team Slack: 3 guys in the finals! Sad we had to KO each other in round 1 of 11-14 final. I couldn’t even say anything when Arcanine/Arbok Master came up with that Shedinja deck; all my “that will never work” statements have come to nothing, so I kept my mouth shut! Good job & keep it up – next event your in with the 15 up crowd. lookinforwailordex, #1 in Swiss rounds, good job!

Welcome to our two new 10- players who came out just to look around and ended up doing a draft; they were stoked.

POP for providing the trips to all ages and also 3 round of drafts at $7.50; good way to market your product!

Slops

You could talk about the long day, but you’d be too happily tired to complain.


This ends my tourney season as a player. Its been a GREAT year to play & I plan to be back in the fall. I doubt I’ll be able to play in the pre-releases or go to ComicCon; no nationals or worlds. I’m judging in an event in July and I hope to see many of you as HJ in two weeks at SD GC!

[lookinforwailordex]

well bulbasnore it has been great times traveling around with you for my first season of tournys i think i did well and thx to the straff for runnin the tourny. congrats to abrahem and kevin

[B] TEAM Slack (TEAM GUNDO)

[Water Pokemon Master]

Well, I know I had lots of fun because I got to face so many good players. I had to drop out because I had to go to an engagement, but I did lose all three of the rounds I was in. However, I came very close to winning in each round, literally meaning in EVERY round that I would had won if I would had had one more turn. Oh well. At least I know what I can do now to make my deck run way faster.

Anyways, the tourny ran smoothly from when I was there thanks to Weilemom, Chrisbo, PT&E1, Cattdreams, Skywolf, and bulbasnore. Thank you all for making this tourny enjoyable and on time!

[bulbasnore]

and bulbasnore

Just for the record, I was strictly playing this time; was good to see you though we didn't get to talk. Hopefully you can make it to SD in two weeks.

Karl & co. keep sharpening up the events; each has been better than the last, if that is possible.
Chrisbo, Cattdreams & Skywolf1 did an incredible job again. Cattdreams seemed to be heading up the setup for the drafts as well -- which were very popular. Again, lots of cred to the players, as THEY are the ones who make it incredibly challenging and incredibly nice to play against. That combo of challenging and nice is so unreal its just sick. Keep it going!

Hey if anyone played in the unlimited tourney, tell us how it went!

[Rainman]

It was great to see everyone that I haven't seen in a while. Thanks to Chrisbo for the cards we needed to borrow. Robben had a ball using them and placed a great 3rd in 10 and under, especially for not playing pokemon in a year and half.

I gotta thank "lookinforwailordex" for the borrowed Roselia and Mark for the other borrowed cards. Bummer that I couldn't have done better but when you are out for a while, the game changes without you. I still love to play rogue decks and hopefully I will come up with a good one that will be competitive again - or maybe I will join the crowd - "not".

We may go to the prerelease next month in Costa Mesa and San Diego in July. :cool:

[GreatFox]

Quarter vs. Miguel

Miguel likes to play originals and was in T8 with a TM Aggron. TM Zangoose was able to give Rayquaza a trip to the Pokemon center in the first game, but Blaze EX was dominant when he got rolling. I think I took both games.
Yup... and I was pleasently surprised at how well it did this time around. It was the same deck I used at States with the exception of one card difference.

I've test played it against Gardy and Blaze decks and have done exceptionally well against Blaze (Gardys are trickier but if lucky I can take them down, just ask Warbuzz about the lucky 5 heads Crush I pulled off against him) but this time around all my decks speed was gone and I couldn't draw an energy card to save my life.

It was a good two matches against you, but if my deck had its usual speed as it did durring the swiss rounds I would have given you a lot more of a challenge.

At last... that is the nature of the game. It just felt good to finally make it to top 8 every since Comic-Con.

Hope to see all you guys at the Prelease next month and at the Stadium Challenge the following month!

[Water Pokemon Master]

Did the winners of each age group get a trip to Worlds?

[kevin-]

lets see... i wont talk about my swiss round other then i went 6-0-0, then lost to wailordex cause i made a little mistake... i forgot to do fisherman which would of gotten my lightning energy back and killed his normal wailord then blah blah blah... but i didnt so yea i went 6-1-0... i still got 2nd in swiss but thats not important.... i dont keep records of my swiss matches =P

Finals....

Quater vs ????

Fist Round - I was able to get everything out before he did although he did, I won.

Second Round - He had the upper hand... i had a slow start... and he got everything fully pumped before i did... i lost.

Third Round - I took the first prize and time was almost over. I thought i had it but then he had strength charm and killed one of my Pokemon. Tie

Sudden Death - He was only able to get Xatu out, I was able to get Blex out 2nd turn thanks to Oracle. It came down to a flip for Blaze Kick. In my mind, it was, "heads it dies" "tails it'll proally die". I rolled the dice, and it came out tails, then he rolled and got tails. I advanced the Semi Finals.

Semi vs Kevin Tran

I won.

Finals vs ???? (sorry I dont keep track of names :( )

Both matches went really smoothly for me. I was able to get everything out before he got everything out. Won both matches.

Ill see everyone at worlds.

representing: San Diego's Team Empire

[lookinforwailordex]

. It was fun playin you and kevin t you guys are good players and hope to see you both at sd.