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Ben S-A 3rd Place UK Masters Report
The only person I ever playtest with is my brother (baby mario). He built me a Sablelock deck for Nationals and every time we played he mullered me with his DialgaChomp. This means that the techs I eventually ran were based on what I needed to beat his deck (even though he decided to Judge Nats rather than play). It turned out, that I had lucked into the right techs in the end though.
The night before the tournament I watched Man Utd embarass themselves against Barca, then I hung around with people who were playtesting like mad, but after a half-hearted attempt to practice with a Dialga deck myself, I decided CBA. I went to bed at around 3 AM, sleeping on whether to play DialgaChomp, Luxchomp, or the Sablelock. In the morning, I decided to go with what I felt most comfortable with.
At the last minute, I threw a 1-1 Blaziken FB into the deck because I felt I needed some kind of late game firepower, plus Luring Flame is beast against Vilegar.
Round 1 vs Jamie Stafford (no idea, sorry)
Jamie is a two-time National YGO Champion and a really nice guy. However he was borrowing a friend’s deck which maybe wasn’t that competitive (being polite). All I saw was a Chikorita, a Larvitar, and a Teddiursa, so I don’t have much idea what was going on there.
1-0
Round 2 vs George Boon (Sablelock)
Another really nice opponent. Respect to him for playing the BDIF! He started well with Sableye, while I had a bad start. George went for the early disruption while I decided to set up. We got to a mid match stalemate where neither of us could draw what we needed. Then I pulled off two Judges which messed with his set up (he had run out of Uxies). George’s Judge was Prized, which allowed me to get going and take the win.
2-0
Round 3 vs ? sorry, I forgot the name (Vilegar)
I had a reasonable Sableye start and KO’d two Spiritombs. I knocked out a Haunter, but he eventually got set up with Gengar X, Vileplume, and Blissey. However I knew that if I took out the Gengar I would win as he had no Rescue Energy. I got the KO with Garchomp and Blaziken with the Fainting Spell irrelevant by then.
3-0
Round 4 vs Adam Hawkins (Luxchomp/ERL)
This is the guy that my brother beat in the Seniors final last year, so maybe he wanted revenge. I had a reasonable start but my turn 1 Initiative was pretty useless against his hand of Supporters. Next turn I set up and Impersonated Judge. I set up my Garchomps which meant that he couldn’t bench one for fear of the KO. By this point I was several Prizes up and knew I could revenge any KO he made.
4-0
Round 5 vs Nick Fotheringham (DialgaChomp)
We both had Unown Q starts. We both KNEW the other one had an Unown Q start. When I lost the coin flip, I thought that was it, but he whiffed on the Energy and passed. This is probably the only game where Unown Q + 5 Energy = a winning hand.
5-0
Round 6 vs Yacine Sekkoum (Vilegar/Blissey)
I start with Chatot G and Blaziken, he starts Tomb, Oddish, Gastly. Only cards in my hand were Comm and SP Radar. Basically this match was about as competitive as a donk . . . it just lasted longer.
5-1
Round 7 vs Tom Hall (LoxChomp)
Garchomp start for me, Sableye for Tom. Initiative got rid of my Collector. On my turn I got double tails on Initiative. Game continues with Tom setting up, but he had Energy drought so I Luring Flamed Azelf. He hid behind it, taking Burn damage while I Judged him on two consecutive turns. Tom then started taking a lot of Prizes and had only one left to my three. Tom saved his Spray to prevent a Bat drop KO on Azelf, which allowed me to use Chatot G to fix his draw, meaning that he couldn’t get any Energy or any way to shuffle his deck. A double heads on Initiative got rid of his Bebe’s and Spray. Knowing I had 4 turns where he wouldn’t be able to attack, I took two Prizes with Chomp and drew into the other PokeTurn I needed to KO the Azelf.
6-1
So, after Swiss, I find that I make the top cut in 4th place.
Top 16 vs Ryan Tur (Luxchomp)
Game 1: I have a decent Sableye start, a heads on Initiative was rubbish as he had a ton of Supporters. I waited for him to drop two Uxie, then I Judged (thanks Jak for giving me this tactical advice!). With his set up crushed, I won the Garchomp war and the game.
Game 2: I get donked by Ambipom +DCE
Game 3: Basically a repeat of Game 1
Top 8 vs Tamao Cameron (Vilegar/Blissey)
Game 1: Tamao has a poor start with Chansey and I just Luring Flamed his Oddishes. I set up Garchomps and he knew that anything he tried to set up would get sniped. Despite this, Tamao came back strongly and managed to take some Prizes, making it pretty close in the end.
Game 2: Best game of the day for me. We both start well and get a good set up. I got Krow up and running which got me a Prize lead. The Tamao started coming back really strongly, sniping my bench and taking Prizes with Poltergeist when I had a ridiculously large hand I couldn’t get rid of. On his last turn he Level Downed my benched Garchomp and Poltergeisted my active to make it 1-1 in Prizes. Luckily I was holding a Bebe to get the LV X back, and I got a DCE off of Uxie X’s Trade Off to snipe an Uxie for the last Prize.
Top 4 vs Yacine (Vilegar/Blissey)
Game 1: Truly awful game. By this time it was nearly 1 AM and we were both knackered after a full day of Pokémon and Pokémon-related drama. We both misplayed badly and both of our brothers were cringing at how terrible we were. A crucial Fainting Spell flip on Krow gifted Yacine the win.
Game 2: I donked a Gastly with Sableye. At least I managed not to misplay this game.
Game 3: Spiritomb Trainer Lock hurt me bad as couldn’t draw into a Supporter. I Luring Flamed VilePlume then Blissey, but because I had an early Prize lead by taking Kos on Tombs, Yacine was able to Twins for the Warp Energy when he needed it. Once Yacine was set up with multiple Gengars, I knew it was all over and scooped.
Yacine went on to rightfully win the final. I'm proud that the only guy I lost to all day is now our National Champ. Yacine is a good friend and even though we were tired and it was a big game it was played in the right way. Congratulations on your win Yacine, you deserved it.
Props
Ian Fotheringham and the staff (except Jak) – Running that tournament is such a stressful job
Nathaniel M for winning Juniors
All my friends who did well (and Nitish)
Jak (baby mario) for building my deck and giving me advice on how to play it
All my opponents – I had no trouble with anyone and all the games were friendly
Barcelona – the greatest team in the world made Man Utd look League 2.
Slops
Unwell on the morning of the tournament
Lengthy delays
The coleslaw on my jacket potato was minging
The Reason You are Reading this Report
4 Sableye
2-2 Garchomp C
1-1 Blaziken FB
1-1 Krow
2-1 Uxie
1 Dragonite FB
1 Promocroak
1 Crobat
1 Chatot G
1 Unown Q
3 Collector
4 Cyrus
2 Initiative
2 Judge
1 Aaron
2 Bebe
4 PokeTurn
3 E Gain
3 Spray
2 SP Radar
2 Communication
4 DCE
4 Special Dark
2 Dark
1 Psychic
1 Fire
That’s it. Hope I see some of you in San Diego.
Ben S-A
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........Im glad u secured ur invite for Worlds 
