Well, this will probably be a long report, and I hope anyone who reads it will enjoy it. I'm putting this here because I believe this section is no longer *only* for US Nationals? If not please move it to International, thanks!
Pre-Nationals
I'm currently majoring in Chemical Engineering here in Mexico. It is a very demanding major, and it really takes away alot of my time. I'm also now playing in three different soccer teams, and the two teams on Saturday and Sunday usually conflict with the tournaments. This, and the DPPt videogames which I was more dedicated to, only allowed me to participate in 2 BR's, 1 CC and 1 State before attending Nationals. I did quite well in the 4 Tournaments I attended, but I arrived late at two, due to my soccer matches, and so I only managed a 1695 rating before Nats. This meant it was all or nothing for me, and I was very close on not attending Nats to go play my soccer games that weekend, as I felt I stood no chance after not playing since States and not knowing what any cards from Platinum and RR did.
In the end my inner geek won, and I decided to attend Nats to see my friends and because it is a one time thing in the year. I honestly thought this might be my last tourney, as no money for new cards, not much interest and not much time seemed like the combination to make me retire from the Pokemon TCG, at least temporarily...
So the week before Nationals, I'm still in summer school, but 2 classes means the workload is alot less than with 7, so I had that week to get up to date on new cards and old forums and sought out AIM once more to discuss possible decks for Nationals, where I expected a Gengar/Machamp and Dialga/Palkia filled metagame of the people I should be worried about.
After about 5 games and alot of theorymon, I ended up with Beedrill. I'd like to give MAJOR props to Alex Brosseau because I made changes to Beedrill based on his amazing Kingdra list, and to Gordon Coates, whom I based the whole deck on.
June 13th - Nationals Swiss Rounds
I arrive uber early to the place, we are allowed in and the place starts to crowd quickly. Many people are scrambling to complete their lists, and I just hand in mine and wait for pairings to go up whilst chatting with my friends.
Alot of you may have read my 'live' updates thread, so you know what happened and what I faced, but I'll try and give more details on the games I remember here.
Round 1 vs Sergio M. - Gengar/Machamp
When I see the pairings I immediately know the matchup. He has been playing Gengar all season, so I didn't think he would change that for Nationals. I win the flip to go first, and have an amazing hand, except for my lone Unown G start. I know if I can survive the first turn I probably have this. I attach and pass to his Gastly start. I'm sitting there hoping I don't get Turn 1'd, and he whiffs on the Candy, so he uses the no Trainers attack and passes. I Roseanne and do my stuff and know the second he breaks the Trainer lock I'll get out 3 or 4 Beedrills into play.
That happens, and I play my Unown G's perfectly and win pretty easily as he runs out of attackers. Sergio only lost to me the whole tournament, and ended up winning the whole thing 12-1.
1-0
Round 2 vs ??? - Gengar/Gliscor
He had a pretty mediocre start to my explosive one, and I just ran through 3 or 4 basics before he scooped. Not much I remember worth mentioning about this match.
2-0
Round 3 vs Dimas - Dialga/Palkia/other SP's
IF this deck doesn't get a Turn 1/2 Deafen lock I win. He didn't open with Dialga, and I once again got a nice start, and had all 4 beedrills in play by turn 4. He used Palkia's power hoping for me to discard some Bee's, but instead I discarded both Claydols as I didn't need them anymore and just OHKO'd 6 Pokes for the game.
3-0
Round 4 vs Roberto S. - Flygon/Weavile/Nidoqueen
It sucked I had to face him so early in the tournament. We both had mediocre starts, and I completely misplayed my Stadiums, as apparently I forgot to read what Flygon did the week prior and didn't realize it's amazing first attack until too late. There was a key point in the game where I Cosmic Powered FOUR times on the same turn searching for a 2nd PlusPower to OHKO Flygon Lv.X but I never got it, and that was a very decisive turn.
3-1
Round 5 vs Kalimba - Eeveelutions
I had no idea what the new Eeveelutions did, but other than some annoying Sleep flips from Glaceon or Leafeon? it was an easy match. I got running on Turn 2 and I was way too far ahead for him to catch up when he was able to get some stuff set up.
4-1
Round 6 vs Miguel A. - Flygon/Kingdra
I went first and since he flipped a Horsea, I played down an Unown G to make sure I didn't lose Turn 1. Instead during his turn he attached a Call Energy to his Horsea and looked for Trapinch and Baltoy, so I was confident that as long as I didn't misplay anymore against Flygon's 1st attack, I'd be fine. In the end neither he nor I noticed he was attacking me with a Call Energy Seadra, and discarding from his hand for Searas first attack and searching his deck with a Luxury from a Claydol amongst other stuff, made the gamestate irreversible by the time I noticed the Call Energy, and so we called a judge and I got a Warning for not correcting the gamestate before and he got a game loss.
5-1
Round 7 vs ??? - ???
I was nervous to flop and go 5-3 like last years Nationals. I got the best start of the day, and went second, but unfortunately he started with an Absol. I figured he'd get lucky and discard everything I needed, but he didn't manage to get an energy and passed. I procceeded to get 2 Beedrills into play, and used cosmic Power twice, looking for a PlusPower, but instead got a 3rd Beedrill into play and KO'd on the first turn.
6-1
Round 8 vs Ulises S. - Gengar/Nidoqueen
He was the only undefeated person left. We were both secured with a Top 32 spot for the next day, but I still wanted to win to get a nice chunk of his rating and face the lowest people in the Top Cut as most SP decks were on the high tables. He started out with a Sableye and a Special Dark, luckily I got 2 basics, but by the time I got set up he was four prizes ahead, and so I was never able to come back form that. There was 1 point where I could've, as the game was 1-2 in prizes in his favour, but I didn't figure out a very obscure play which could've given me a better chance. Maybe if I hadn't been so out of shape I would have been able to figure it out, but I was happy with it happenning now instead of the day after.
6-2
So I'm 5th place, the highest 6-2 record of the tournament (which comes into play later) and feeling very confident about my chances for tomorrow.
June 14th - Nationals Top 32
Top 32 vs ??? - Dusknoir/Electivire
This guy was from out of town, and he was very happy he got this far. I knew his DP Dusknoir if he played it would be troublesome, but aside form that I wasn't worried. I got a good start on game 1 vs his really bad one, and I took all 6 prizes in about 40 minutes as he kept dragging the game on for some reason. Game 2 was the same, except he took a prize this time. I finished with like 5 minutes to spare.
7-2
Top 16 vs Sergio - GGWPN (lol)
This is Mexico's 2008 National Champion. He was playing pretty much the same deck as last year lol, Gardevoir/Gallade with alot of techs. Game 1 started out pretty bad for me. I went first and passed. He then got out a BTS, a Claydol, a Kirlia, attached an enegry to Kirlia and played a WAGER which I lost of course. I got back in shape with a topdeck Cynthia's, but he was far too set up for me to ever hope to catch up so I scooped to save time for the next game.
Game 2 went completely the other way, and his decks inconsistency showed, as he got a Gardevoir up decently late, so he was not able to get his whole 'combo' going until it was too late. I was up 1-4 in prizes, but he kept stalling with Palkia's Poke-Power and I ran out of energy to retreat. I knew the second he KO'd something, I would fetch my last prize. He did this intentionally to kill time and when time was called, he seemed surprised to know that if I had taken more than 4 prizes during Game 2 and lost Game 1, it would still count, even after it was announced best of 3 works this way before Top 32 even began. Then karma payed off and I KO'd him Turn 1 in sudden death
.
8-2
I sit down and realize only 4/8 people have VISA permits to enter the US so I figure I have the invite secured. I ask the PTO and he informs me POP has decided to not allow passdowns this year, and thus I needed to win my match.
Top 8 vs Josue P. - Dialga/Palkia/other SP's
This is Mexico's 2007 National Champion (faced 2007, 2008 and 2009 during this tourney). He had an outdated D/P list without SP Radars and NO Unown G, so I was surprised he made it this far with Machamps in the Top Cut. I knew if only he didn't start with a Turn 1 Deafen I had the advantage, but sadly both Games 1 and 2 I cut into Dialga G and Special Metals and so he pulled off the Turn 1 Deafen, I really gave him the best hands possible. I was never able to really make any sort of fight in these games, and when he used his last Power Spray on my Claydol in my very last attempt at a comeback, I congratulated him on making Worlds and scooped.
8-3
I was quite sad at this point and I didn't stay to cheer for my friends. I was 2 games away from Worlds but I couldn't even put up a fight against Josue. He then went on to face Sergio M. with Gengar Machamp, which I was a favourite and him an underdog (no Unown G's ).
Post-Nationals
I thought about this alot and decided to appeal POP's decision and my case on them not allowing invites to pass down.
After a few nervewrecking days, I got a response saying they took another look at the situation and decided to change their minds and allow both me and 6th place Miguel Angel Lopez to recieve an invite.
I am very grateful to POP, specially Pete DeShaw about this, and anyone else who supported my plead and was involved in the decision.
So see you guys in San Diego! Hope you enjoyed reading my awfully long report.
Pre-Nationals
I'm currently majoring in Chemical Engineering here in Mexico. It is a very demanding major, and it really takes away alot of my time. I'm also now playing in three different soccer teams, and the two teams on Saturday and Sunday usually conflict with the tournaments. This, and the DPPt videogames which I was more dedicated to, only allowed me to participate in 2 BR's, 1 CC and 1 State before attending Nationals. I did quite well in the 4 Tournaments I attended, but I arrived late at two, due to my soccer matches, and so I only managed a 1695 rating before Nats. This meant it was all or nothing for me, and I was very close on not attending Nats to go play my soccer games that weekend, as I felt I stood no chance after not playing since States and not knowing what any cards from Platinum and RR did.
In the end my inner geek won, and I decided to attend Nats to see my friends and because it is a one time thing in the year. I honestly thought this might be my last tourney, as no money for new cards, not much interest and not much time seemed like the combination to make me retire from the Pokemon TCG, at least temporarily...
So the week before Nationals, I'm still in summer school, but 2 classes means the workload is alot less than with 7, so I had that week to get up to date on new cards and old forums and sought out AIM once more to discuss possible decks for Nationals, where I expected a Gengar/Machamp and Dialga/Palkia filled metagame of the people I should be worried about.
After about 5 games and alot of theorymon, I ended up with Beedrill. I'd like to give MAJOR props to Alex Brosseau because I made changes to Beedrill based on his amazing Kingdra list, and to Gordon Coates, whom I based the whole deck on.
June 13th - Nationals Swiss Rounds
I arrive uber early to the place, we are allowed in and the place starts to crowd quickly. Many people are scrambling to complete their lists, and I just hand in mine and wait for pairings to go up whilst chatting with my friends.
Alot of you may have read my 'live' updates thread, so you know what happened and what I faced, but I'll try and give more details on the games I remember here.
Round 1 vs Sergio M. - Gengar/Machamp
When I see the pairings I immediately know the matchup. He has been playing Gengar all season, so I didn't think he would change that for Nationals. I win the flip to go first, and have an amazing hand, except for my lone Unown G start. I know if I can survive the first turn I probably have this. I attach and pass to his Gastly start. I'm sitting there hoping I don't get Turn 1'd, and he whiffs on the Candy, so he uses the no Trainers attack and passes. I Roseanne and do my stuff and know the second he breaks the Trainer lock I'll get out 3 or 4 Beedrills into play.
That happens, and I play my Unown G's perfectly and win pretty easily as he runs out of attackers. Sergio only lost to me the whole tournament, and ended up winning the whole thing 12-1.
1-0
Round 2 vs ??? - Gengar/Gliscor
He had a pretty mediocre start to my explosive one, and I just ran through 3 or 4 basics before he scooped. Not much I remember worth mentioning about this match.
2-0
Round 3 vs Dimas - Dialga/Palkia/other SP's
IF this deck doesn't get a Turn 1/2 Deafen lock I win. He didn't open with Dialga, and I once again got a nice start, and had all 4 beedrills in play by turn 4. He used Palkia's power hoping for me to discard some Bee's, but instead I discarded both Claydols as I didn't need them anymore and just OHKO'd 6 Pokes for the game.
3-0
Round 4 vs Roberto S. - Flygon/Weavile/Nidoqueen
It sucked I had to face him so early in the tournament. We both had mediocre starts, and I completely misplayed my Stadiums, as apparently I forgot to read what Flygon did the week prior and didn't realize it's amazing first attack until too late. There was a key point in the game where I Cosmic Powered FOUR times on the same turn searching for a 2nd PlusPower to OHKO Flygon Lv.X but I never got it, and that was a very decisive turn.
3-1
Round 5 vs Kalimba - Eeveelutions
I had no idea what the new Eeveelutions did, but other than some annoying Sleep flips from Glaceon or Leafeon? it was an easy match. I got running on Turn 2 and I was way too far ahead for him to catch up when he was able to get some stuff set up.
4-1
Round 6 vs Miguel A. - Flygon/Kingdra
I went first and since he flipped a Horsea, I played down an Unown G to make sure I didn't lose Turn 1. Instead during his turn he attached a Call Energy to his Horsea and looked for Trapinch and Baltoy, so I was confident that as long as I didn't misplay anymore against Flygon's 1st attack, I'd be fine. In the end neither he nor I noticed he was attacking me with a Call Energy Seadra, and discarding from his hand for Searas first attack and searching his deck with a Luxury from a Claydol amongst other stuff, made the gamestate irreversible by the time I noticed the Call Energy, and so we called a judge and I got a Warning for not correcting the gamestate before and he got a game loss.
5-1
Round 7 vs ??? - ???
I was nervous to flop and go 5-3 like last years Nationals. I got the best start of the day, and went second, but unfortunately he started with an Absol. I figured he'd get lucky and discard everything I needed, but he didn't manage to get an energy and passed. I procceeded to get 2 Beedrills into play, and used cosmic Power twice, looking for a PlusPower, but instead got a 3rd Beedrill into play and KO'd on the first turn.
6-1
Round 8 vs Ulises S. - Gengar/Nidoqueen
He was the only undefeated person left. We were both secured with a Top 32 spot for the next day, but I still wanted to win to get a nice chunk of his rating and face the lowest people in the Top Cut as most SP decks were on the high tables. He started out with a Sableye and a Special Dark, luckily I got 2 basics, but by the time I got set up he was four prizes ahead, and so I was never able to come back form that. There was 1 point where I could've, as the game was 1-2 in prizes in his favour, but I didn't figure out a very obscure play which could've given me a better chance. Maybe if I hadn't been so out of shape I would have been able to figure it out, but I was happy with it happenning now instead of the day after.
6-2
So I'm 5th place, the highest 6-2 record of the tournament (which comes into play later) and feeling very confident about my chances for tomorrow.
June 14th - Nationals Top 32
Top 32 vs ??? - Dusknoir/Electivire
This guy was from out of town, and he was very happy he got this far. I knew his DP Dusknoir if he played it would be troublesome, but aside form that I wasn't worried. I got a good start on game 1 vs his really bad one, and I took all 6 prizes in about 40 minutes as he kept dragging the game on for some reason. Game 2 was the same, except he took a prize this time. I finished with like 5 minutes to spare.
7-2
Top 16 vs Sergio - GGWPN (lol)
This is Mexico's 2008 National Champion. He was playing pretty much the same deck as last year lol, Gardevoir/Gallade with alot of techs. Game 1 started out pretty bad for me. I went first and passed. He then got out a BTS, a Claydol, a Kirlia, attached an enegry to Kirlia and played a WAGER which I lost of course. I got back in shape with a topdeck Cynthia's, but he was far too set up for me to ever hope to catch up so I scooped to save time for the next game.
Game 2 went completely the other way, and his decks inconsistency showed, as he got a Gardevoir up decently late, so he was not able to get his whole 'combo' going until it was too late. I was up 1-4 in prizes, but he kept stalling with Palkia's Poke-Power and I ran out of energy to retreat. I knew the second he KO'd something, I would fetch my last prize. He did this intentionally to kill time and when time was called, he seemed surprised to know that if I had taken more than 4 prizes during Game 2 and lost Game 1, it would still count, even after it was announced best of 3 works this way before Top 32 even began. Then karma payed off and I KO'd him Turn 1 in sudden death
.8-2
I sit down and realize only 4/8 people have VISA permits to enter the US so I figure I have the invite secured. I ask the PTO and he informs me POP has decided to not allow passdowns this year, and thus I needed to win my match.
Top 8 vs Josue P. - Dialga/Palkia/other SP's
This is Mexico's 2007 National Champion (faced 2007, 2008 and 2009 during this tourney
). He had an outdated D/P list without SP Radars and NO Unown G, so I was surprised he made it this far with Machamps in the Top Cut. I knew if only he didn't start with a Turn 1 Deafen I had the advantage, but sadly both Games 1 and 2 I cut into Dialga G and Special Metals and so he pulled off the Turn 1 Deafen, I really gave him the best hands possible. I was never able to really make any sort of fight in these games, and when he used his last Power Spray on my Claydol in my very last attempt at a comeback, I congratulated him on making Worlds and scooped.8-3
I was quite sad at this point and I didn't stay to cheer for my friends. I was 2 games away from Worlds but I couldn't even put up a fight against Josue. He then went on to face Sergio M. with Gengar Machamp, which I was a favourite and him an underdog (no Unown G's
).Post-Nationals
I thought about this alot and decided to appeal POP's decision and my case on them not allowing invites to pass down.
After a few nervewrecking days, I got a response saying they took another look at the situation and decided to change their minds and allow both me and 6th place Miguel Angel Lopez to recieve an invite.
I am very grateful to POP, specially Pete DeShaw about this, and anyone else who supported my plead and was involved in the decision.
So see you guys in San Diego! Hope you enjoyed reading my awfully long report.
