A whole weekend of pokemon! yay! going to defend my title in Hull, then off to High Wycombe on the Sunday!
So all week i agonised over what decks to play. I have been testing and playing loads of stuff but felt most comfortable with Flygod (Flygon d ex) and Lati@s. After discussing with Pokeguru, Ian (Pokeblob), Rokman (about Flycatty) and anyone else that would listen on Friday, i was still undecided.
Saturday, i woke up at 5:30 to go to Hull and arrived there around 11:00. Loads of friendly faces that i met last yr, and a lot of ppl surprised to see me! (well, i had to try and defend the title!)
I flipped a coin- and went with Lati. Had tweaked the list over the week to include more tech so felt fairly confident.
Warning now i am rubbish with names, and some ppl i can never put a name to a face so massive apologies in advance....)
Round One- Andrew Kong- Shiftry ex/tyranitar ex
So i get a decent set up. He starts with spinda, me with a lati and mentoring second turn with a couple of energy in hand too. I decide to lay the Space center second turn to ensure an ice barrier. OMG, next turn he plays cursed stone (NOOOOO!) AND a shining horn absol. Well i wanted to cry. Break down. And cry. For some reason, he then fills his bench (?) with other stuff and im like PHEW- i can take 6 before he shining horns me. So from here im set. Only thing i lost was a damaged latias ex against shiftry.
1-0
Round Two- Joe Hamilton- Ray ex, Eeveelution holos, magneton
Joe is a great guy who really liks the eeveelutions and just being different deck wise in general! unfortunately he starts with ray ex and a benched magemite. I start with castform and DD for a few turns till my energy pool is sufficient that i cantake out everything that he throws at me. I don't think he even killed the casty- i went 6-0. Bad luck Joe!
2-0
Round Three- Really nice guy with Cacturne PK and Weezing.
Well on this i was worried. Liability+Lati ex's = no fun for andy. But luckily, he just drew a load of basics. I dont think he Ko'd anything, and never used his power against me. I won pretty quickly, using latias ex most of the time to KO unpowered weezings.
3-0
Round Four- Justin Kempley with Metanite
Top table, its two southerners! :smile: We had both pretty much made cut, so were both really pleased. Unfortunately in this game for justin, he just cudnt draw early candies. I think he hit one all game. Turn 2 or 3 his casty was gone, and i got 3 or 4 prizes ahead before he took one. Dual aura Lati@s came in useful here cos its not an ex so even if he did ko it, it means nothing to me oh vienna.....
I think he came back to 3-1 on prizes, and at end he had a dragonite d ex which i CUD ko in one hit with a bench space, but i didnt have it. I got it somehow tho and won. Lucky, cos Metagross dx was on the way, so i nicked victory!
4-0
So we start cut at about 4:00 or something. Considering we started at 12:30 this is awesome. Major props to Ben for organising!
Top4- Another really nice guy who i can't remember the name of who built Nick Lotes Top 4 Nationals deck this year!
He's running bandoom, so im not that worried. I shut off his Doom and CG Nette and he doesnt run 'Center i dont think. I start withan average set up. Not the best hand- load of pokemon with no energy, but am lucky and draw into some early. I get a latias ex to ko banette quickly, and he had to attach rainbow to banette cg so i can follow up with a latios ex ko. Im starting to think i can make the final....
5-0
Next game- he starts with houndour, and gets a houndoom t2. of course i shut it off, and know that even with paralysis, the handive got can win the game quick. Stefanie (Manicgiraffe) went to the loo and this point i think, and wen she came back, it was over. Latios ex kod it.
6-0
So im in the final. I watch the end of his close game against a ttar d ex deck, and set myself for the final.
Final-Kempley again with Metanite!
Ok i know i theoretically can do this again, but am still majorly worried. His lugia etc scares me, and he can ohko pretty eaily. I cant remember how this game went very well, but it was pretty much a replay of earlier. I got ahead on prizes, he couldnt come back. Im pretty sure i had to wait for him to KO something at the end so i cud have the bench space, then i mewtwod the energy onto something, and warp pointed away his dragonite's agility effect ftw.
7-0 And it starts to hit me that i cud do this....
I start, and get the T2 60 that as a lati player u dream about. I even warp pointed to KO the dratini on his bench with energy. I get the perfect start wen i needed it most. yay!
8-0
So i win! YAY! So pleased to retain the title, and so pleased that me and justin made it to te final. Maybe with different techs he cud have won, who knows! All i know is that i face 4hrs on the train home, just that little bit happier cos i won :biggrin:
So next day- wake up at 8:00 and off at 9:00 for HW! I decide wen i get there to go with flygod. Im confident with my build, but by the end of the day, im thinking it was really lucky i played it, so i KNOW its gotta change.
Loads of banter in our hour and a half wait! Ian knows what about lol :tongue:
Round 1- Irwin with metanite
We start, we both accumulate massive hands. He loads the lati *, im stuffed. What more to tell really. He even brineyed up the only thing i got to damage. Which made it hurt that little...bit....more.
0-1
Round 2- Flariados- Ollie K
After a bad set, AGAIN (no energy t1...) i get quite lucky in drawing into windstorms and warp points, and having enuff energy to retreat with. I think i won the game with him taking two prizes. i woke up 3 times i think so quite pleased with my luck there.
1-1
Round 3-Ian e with the Dark.dec that he and i have been working on
Well its tradition that i play ian, so had to be done really. This is a massively hard matchup for me, with lots of flygod stopping thingys. one windstorm was prized which didnt help early game, but at the end, i top decked jolteon ex which won me the game. Ian thought i cud only do 60 wen i cud do 70. I took my last two prizes
and sighed relief cos that game was as toight and a toiger!
2-1
Round 4- Alex (Magic Umbreon) with Raieggs
OMG, i know i shud have won here, but he got such a good set with an early eggs that i just cud not KO! I misplayed twice as well, forgetting cessation crystal, and thinking he cud only do a certain a mount of damage wen he cud do enuff to kill me. Boohoo! Pleasure to play against this young man, GG Alex, and hope you did well in the final mate!
2-2
Round 5- Russell (Russfierce) with Lati
Its also tradition that i lose to Russ with flygod... and i honoured this one too. We both DD'd for ages cos we cudnt get set properly. And when we did, it was blow for blow. I thought i had him at one point, but misplayed forgetting he had changed his * pokemon for another one. I let him take back a massive misplay, (yes, yes i did russ :tongue but it dont matter cos its shennanigans and his deck help virtually WON me yesterday! :biggrin:
2-3
Not a great day deckwise, but so tired anyway, and already have my win under my belt, so quite content! Next week is the serious one- London. Ive Top Cut twice now but gone out in t8. Want to make T4 this year, so looking ahead to next week!
Ok, so many props and a few slops to add so here goes!
Props-
-Russ for deck help! OMG man, you are a legend. I love Lati and would never have taken it up were it not for you! :biggrin:
-Ian, Kish, Pokeguru and so many more for being cool and helping me!
-The Hull/Manchester/Crewe guys- never been to a tournament with a more amicable atmosphere!!!
-Justin- Great to see you at both man! We must meet in more finals dude!
-Ben H for being a great TO! WOOP WOOP!
-Ian F for sorting out TPFG's TO'ing mess!
-Asda High Wycombe, and me ian and kishs trek.....
-Squished sandwiches!
-The guys on Hessle station (from the Crewe league) that were just so friendly and even shared their sandwiches with me! Guys i hope you got home ok and you are LEGENDS!!!! :biggrin:
-THE GODDESS!!!! (Ian, you KNOW it!!!!:tongue: )
Slops-
-The MISFITS that ride Britains train including the following- Man being sick on train seat, Loudly laughing people, Weezy cough dude, Man playing loud french music on half 10 train and singing along...
-People that drive into ians car
-Late start to HW tourney.
-Missing the start of MOTD on sat nite....
-Someone stealing mah bucket!!!
See you on saturday people!!! :biggrin:
So all week i agonised over what decks to play. I have been testing and playing loads of stuff but felt most comfortable with Flygod (Flygon d ex) and Lati@s. After discussing with Pokeguru, Ian (Pokeblob), Rokman (about Flycatty) and anyone else that would listen on Friday, i was still undecided.
Saturday, i woke up at 5:30 to go to Hull and arrived there around 11:00. Loads of friendly faces that i met last yr, and a lot of ppl surprised to see me! (well, i had to try and defend the title!)
I flipped a coin- and went with Lati. Had tweaked the list over the week to include more tech so felt fairly confident.
Warning now i am rubbish with names, and some ppl i can never put a name to a face so massive apologies in advance....)
Round One- Andrew Kong- Shiftry ex/tyranitar ex
So i get a decent set up. He starts with spinda, me with a lati and mentoring second turn with a couple of energy in hand too. I decide to lay the Space center second turn to ensure an ice barrier. OMG, next turn he plays cursed stone (NOOOOO!) AND a shining horn absol. Well i wanted to cry. Break down. And cry. For some reason, he then fills his bench (?) with other stuff and im like PHEW- i can take 6 before he shining horns me. So from here im set. Only thing i lost was a damaged latias ex against shiftry.
1-0
Round Two- Joe Hamilton- Ray ex, Eeveelution holos, magneton
Joe is a great guy who really liks the eeveelutions and just being different deck wise in general! unfortunately he starts with ray ex and a benched magemite. I start with castform and DD for a few turns till my energy pool is sufficient that i cantake out everything that he throws at me. I don't think he even killed the casty- i went 6-0. Bad luck Joe!
2-0
Round Three- Really nice guy with Cacturne PK and Weezing.
Well on this i was worried. Liability+Lati ex's = no fun for andy. But luckily, he just drew a load of basics. I dont think he Ko'd anything, and never used his power against me. I won pretty quickly, using latias ex most of the time to KO unpowered weezings.
3-0
Round Four- Justin Kempley with Metanite
Top table, its two southerners! :smile: We had both pretty much made cut, so were both really pleased. Unfortunately in this game for justin, he just cudnt draw early candies. I think he hit one all game. Turn 2 or 3 his casty was gone, and i got 3 or 4 prizes ahead before he took one. Dual aura Lati@s came in useful here cos its not an ex so even if he did ko it, it means nothing to me oh vienna.....
I think he came back to 3-1 on prizes, and at end he had a dragonite d ex which i CUD ko in one hit with a bench space, but i didnt have it. I got it somehow tho and won. Lucky, cos Metagross dx was on the way, so i nicked victory!
4-0
So we start cut at about 4:00 or something. Considering we started at 12:30 this is awesome. Major props to Ben for organising!
Top4- Another really nice guy who i can't remember the name of who built Nick Lotes Top 4 Nationals deck this year!
He's running bandoom, so im not that worried. I shut off his Doom and CG Nette and he doesnt run 'Center i dont think. I start withan average set up. Not the best hand- load of pokemon with no energy, but am lucky and draw into some early. I get a latias ex to ko banette quickly, and he had to attach rainbow to banette cg so i can follow up with a latios ex ko. Im starting to think i can make the final....
5-0
Next game- he starts with houndour, and gets a houndoom t2. of course i shut it off, and know that even with paralysis, the handive got can win the game quick. Stefanie (Manicgiraffe) went to the loo and this point i think, and wen she came back, it was over. Latios ex kod it.
6-0
So im in the final. I watch the end of his close game against a ttar d ex deck, and set myself for the final.
Final-Kempley again with Metanite!
Ok i know i theoretically can do this again, but am still majorly worried. His lugia etc scares me, and he can ohko pretty eaily. I cant remember how this game went very well, but it was pretty much a replay of earlier. I got ahead on prizes, he couldnt come back. Im pretty sure i had to wait for him to KO something at the end so i cud have the bench space, then i mewtwod the energy onto something, and warp pointed away his dragonite's agility effect ftw.
7-0 And it starts to hit me that i cud do this....
I start, and get the T2 60 that as a lati player u dream about. I even warp pointed to KO the dratini on his bench with energy. I get the perfect start wen i needed it most. yay!
8-0
So i win! YAY! So pleased to retain the title, and so pleased that me and justin made it to te final. Maybe with different techs he cud have won, who knows! All i know is that i face 4hrs on the train home, just that little bit happier cos i won :biggrin:
So next day- wake up at 8:00 and off at 9:00 for HW! I decide wen i get there to go with flygod. Im confident with my build, but by the end of the day, im thinking it was really lucky i played it, so i KNOW its gotta change.
Loads of banter in our hour and a half wait! Ian knows what about lol :tongue:
Round 1- Irwin with metanite
We start, we both accumulate massive hands. He loads the lati *, im stuffed. What more to tell really. He even brineyed up the only thing i got to damage. Which made it hurt that little...bit....more.
0-1
Round 2- Flariados- Ollie K
After a bad set, AGAIN (no energy t1...) i get quite lucky in drawing into windstorms and warp points, and having enuff energy to retreat with. I think i won the game with him taking two prizes. i woke up 3 times i think so quite pleased with my luck there.
1-1
Round 3-Ian e with the Dark.dec that he and i have been working on
Well its tradition that i play ian, so had to be done really. This is a massively hard matchup for me, with lots of flygod stopping thingys. one windstorm was prized which didnt help early game, but at the end, i top decked jolteon ex which won me the game. Ian thought i cud only do 60 wen i cud do 70. I took my last two prizes
and sighed relief cos that game was as toight and a toiger!2-1
Round 4- Alex (Magic Umbreon) with Raieggs
OMG, i know i shud have won here, but he got such a good set with an early eggs that i just cud not KO! I misplayed twice as well, forgetting cessation crystal, and thinking he cud only do a certain a mount of damage wen he cud do enuff to kill me. Boohoo!
Pleasure to play against this young man, GG Alex, and hope you did well in the final mate!2-2
Round 5- Russell (Russfierce) with Lati
Its also tradition that i lose to Russ with flygod... and i honoured this one too. We both DD'd for ages cos we cudnt get set properly. And when we did, it was blow for blow. I thought i had him at one point, but misplayed forgetting he had changed his * pokemon for another one. I let him take back a massive misplay, (yes, yes i did russ :tongue
but it dont matter cos its shennanigans and his deck help virtually WON me yesterday! :biggrin: 2-3
Not a great day deckwise, but so tired anyway, and already have my win under my belt, so quite content! Next week is the serious one- London. Ive Top Cut twice now but gone out in t8. Want to make T4 this year, so looking ahead to next week!
Ok, so many props and a few slops to add so here goes!
Props-
-Russ for deck help! OMG man, you are a legend. I love Lati and would never have taken it up were it not for you! :biggrin:
-Ian, Kish, Pokeguru and so many more for being cool and helping me!
-The Hull/Manchester/Crewe guys- never been to a tournament with a more amicable atmosphere!!!
-Justin- Great to see you at both man! We must meet in more finals dude!
-Ben H for being a great TO! WOOP WOOP!
-Ian F for sorting out TPFG's TO'ing mess!
-Asda High Wycombe, and me ian and kishs trek.....
-Squished sandwiches!
-The guys on Hessle station (from the Crewe league) that were just so friendly and even shared their sandwiches with me! Guys i hope you got home ok and you are LEGENDS!!!! :biggrin:
-THE GODDESS!!!! (Ian, you KNOW it!!!!:tongue: )
Slops-
-The MISFITS that ride Britains train including the following- Man being sick on train seat, Loudly laughing people, Weezy cough dude, Man playing loud french music on half 10 train and singing along...
-People that drive into ians car
-Late start to HW tourney.
-Missing the start of MOTD on sat nite....
-Someone stealing mah bucket!!!
See you on saturday people!!! :biggrin:
