ChaosJim
Member
This tournament report is going to be closer to a speedy re-cap of the last leg of the season. If you want to cut to the chase so to speak, use Ctrl + F and type in “decklist”
Frankie D (Prof Magma) and myself had been playing all season, doing well for ourselves. We took 1st and 2nd at NJ states. Delaware States wasn’t good for me, and at Regionals I didn’t do so well, but meanwhile Frankie came in 2nd with the exact same list. I know that I knew how to play the deck, and I’ll just chalk it up to being unlucky.
Moving forward to Nats, Team Dark Tower ended up playing Empoleon. So Frankie D, Michael D (Lil Magma), Steven N, and Michael N are all playing Empoleon/Bronzong. The same exact list. Frankie made Top 8, the rest of the team placed top 32, except for myself, going 4-5. I had more than one gracious poke-parent tell me that it was bad luck etc. I played against a few of them for fun after the fact and won those matches by a large margin. I had no idea what was wrong. Intellectually speaking, I knew how to play the deck, I could win in testing, I was frustrated.
At the 2008 Tropical Mega Battle, Frankie, Ness, and myself had a three way tie for first. Unfortunate since it wasn’t a premier event. Ness made fun of how I shuffled, and I took it to heart.
Going to worlds made me very nervous. I had been told I was going for the wrong reasons. I had done well at the STS events, but other than cities or NJ states I hadn’t done well since (this includes taking some time away from the game). I was going to try and grinder in. So was Michael N, Benny (Benlugia), and Kaylin (K-Bomb). I emphasized to everyone that the grinder was NEVER a guarantee. Yamato failed to grinder in. I had to have faith.
Three fellow members of Lafonte didn’t think I should be playing Empoleon, particularly my list. Michael P looked deep into my eyes and told me if I knew it worked, he believed it worked. Kaylin believed in the deck enough to switch from Torterra to play it. This was a huge confidence booster for me.
The list first appeared on the gym here:
http://pokegym.net/forums/showthread.php?t=80500&highlight=bronzoleon
Here is the decklist:
Pokemon:
4 Piplup (DP)
3 Prinplup (DP)
4 Empoleon (MD)
3 Bronzor (MD)
3 Bronzong (MD)
1 Baltoy (GE)
1 Claydol (GE)
1 Unown Q (MD)
Trainers
Supporters
4 Celio's Network
4 Roseanne's Research
3 Steven's Advice
3 Copycat
3 Rare Candy
3 Cessation Crystal
2 Warp Point
1 Night Maintenance
1 Moonlight Stadium
Energy
4 Scramble Energy
4 Call Energy
1 Double Rainbow Energy
6 Water Energy
1 Psychic Energy
The Grinder (aka the Ringer as Kaylin called it)
Round 1 vs. Gardy
I played against a charming parent from the Phillipines. I made a big comeback for the win after starting with a hand that I really couldn’t evolve from. He was a crystal clear example of how nice Pokemon players are compared to players from other games, particularly competitive ones. I’m always happy to meet people who help bolster my claims that Pokemon players in general are nicer people.
Round 2 vs. Gardy?
Things get funny here, I was pretty amped up, I remember how but not who or what I won against. It involved a comeback on my part, so it was probably Gardy.
Round 3 vs. Gardy
I was playing against Darrell (sp?). I know him from NJ states, where Frankie and I beat him and his teammate top 4. He has played an excellent season, and soundly beat me. I had no shot at a comeback. He had answers for everything I tried.
Round 4 vs. Gardy
It was a really good day. I knew I needed to win out at this point, and I was able to beat this Gardy. I’m only like 90% sure it was Gardy, because I was so incredibly nerved up.
Round 5 vs. Gardy
I’m playing against esteemd Lafonte member Matt A. He had trained his Absol Ex so well it decided to start for him. I always feel bad when I know my opponent, and I’m sure only one of us is going to have a chance at making top cut. Matt played an incredibly tight game, and knocking out Absol was never the correct choice for me, he forced me to apply pressure other places. Excellent game Matt. Thanks for not dropping to help my strength of schedule.
Round 6 vs. ?
I don’t even know. It is completely overshadowed by my final round match.
Round 7 vs. Mothim/Gyrados
Brazilian player using a Mothim Gyrados Unown P deck. I’m pretty sure I have the advantage, but I’m sure the deck is better than the one we had been testing against, because in testing it had absolutely zero chance against Empoleon, and I’m betting he played more than one before me. I’m also guessing since I don’t like the style of deck, he is probably playing flawlessly to make it this far.
He starts with Unown P. He sees my Piplup and the discomfort in his eyes tells me everything I need to know. I need to not make mistakes. I’m in control of the game via spread, choosing knockouts and forcing him to evolve benched Pokemon in order to stop me from getting easy KOs. He has out a Crystal Beach most of the game, but I was in the lead so whatever. I didn’t see the Cessation Crystal underneath his Mothim. I used Cosmic Power, counting 1-2 on the bottom, drawing 1-2. He waited until I did this to call a judge, trying to get a game loss against me. I don’t think he had drawn a single prize yet and I had the game in two turns. I kept calm. It was clear to some onlookers that he was trying to “angleshoot” me. He claimed I had drawn all 6 cards in my hand off of cosmic power. I calmly disagreed, and explained what happened. The judge and the translator made it clear that they would not reverse the error, but gave us both a talking to. After the fact, a judge told me I had been a really good sport, and my opponent was clearly grasping at straws. That was a good feeling, but I knew I couldn’t make errors like this in the main event. Disappointed as he was at the result of the game, I think he took it relatively well.
Meanwhile, Michael N also made it through the grinder in his division. Our deck was 14-2. All my doubts in the list were erased. I couldn’t justify changing anything, although Michael N suggested that we remove a Psychic for a DRE (see why this matters later). I refused to, the rest of the team had my back, and Michael N went with the flow.
Unchanged, entering the main event, Team Dark Tower had earned 5 invites, one league, one store in NJ, and 5 invites playing the same exact list. This had epic potential in my eyes.
Round 1 Luca Clavadetscher Switzerland
I lose due to a terrible hand against GG. I’m worried.
Round 2 Wataru Suzuki Japan
He played Blissey Magmortar, and he did it very well. I couldn’t evolve all game, but it didn’t go a single extra turn for him making errors.
I’m really upset at this point. I feel like there is no explaining my poor performance, and its frustrating. Michael N is also 0-2 at this point. I felt worse for him than for myself, because I pressured him to playing this deck, particularly this list. I told him we needed to both win out to make cut. Its easy to say we’re all winners for making to worlds, but we showed up to compete and were feeling bad about our ability to do so.
Round 3 – The Bye
Possibly the cousin of The Ace, my opponent didn’t show. I was relieved. Going into this round I was the worst player in the event. I demanded a good luck kiss from one of my female fans. I told her I would then go on to win the rest of my games.
Round 4 Eric Craig United States
Eric is a name player. Earlier this season, it was mentioned by Frankie that if someone was due for a big win, it was Eric Craig. This didn’t make me too nervous actually, I knew that if I could beat Eric, I could step forward confidently. If not, that meant he was going on to something he deserved, and this was the end of my journey. I told Eric that since only one of us could make it, the winner of our game would have to.
Then he gets the Castform start. I resolved myself to winning at that point. Eric played flawlessly, even threatening me by searching for an Absol Ex off of a Roseanne’s Research. I simply had a better draw, lists probably didn’t really matter. Beating Eric did as much for my confidence as my record. I needed another 3 wins.
Round 5 Kristel Helskens Belgium
I believe her username is Rainbowgym here on the ‘gym. I had a habit of getting nervous against fire, because I thought Magmortar leads to Leafeon. I was Bronzwrong. She mulliganed twice. She commented that she hoped I wasn’t playing Empoleon, to which I said “If only!” It wasn’t the bluff that won me the game, it was the weakness and her inability to keep tempo. A great sport and a pleasure to chat with, I look forward to seeing her at worlds next year.
Round 6 Jerry Taylor Canada
I saw a Fossil start to tell me I was playing against Empostar. He had a 1-1 Tech Scizor, which I imagine must have been GOLD. Really, I admired how much his deck hated on special energy between that and Omastar. Ultimately, bad prizes on his side and quality spreading on my part sealed the deal.
Round 7 Mauro Bianchi Italy
Mauro was one of the stylish people from Team Italia. He was playing Magmortar Togekiss. He was also running Pachirisu. He also grindered in, telling me his deck was good enough yesterday. I had a lot to be concerned about. To his right was another member of Team Italia. Mauro played a tight game, but my deck clearly had the advantage. Eventually, an Air Scroll flip went the wrong way for him and I was able to take advantage. Both Team Italia games ended at the same time roughly. It took a while for me to stand up at first, filling out the match slip and being friendly with Professor Hape. Team Italia was very excited for their friend who won, and to Kaylin and Frankie, it looked like I had lost. I didn’t mean to put them in such suspense, I was told I need to look happier when I win. Big hugs, a fun night, and some beauty rest before the top 32.
The Top Cut © Drew H.
Playing at worlds is playing wit the best. Making cut is playing the very best. Modog congratulated me, which was great because I’m used to him being so quiet. Benny told me not to get greedy, my exact words to him were “I want it. I want it all.” Matt C calls me the “Cinderella Story of the Century.” Kaylin tells me she knows I can do it, and I do my best to prove her right.
Top 32 – Karl Peters Germany
We both sit down very seriously. Shuffle up, and play begins. Leafeon Magmortar. Not the best situation. It gets worse when I see Crystal Beach and Cessation Crystal. Game 1 is incredibly close, but I think I have it. My only chance is to get one more turn. I forgot about Flame Blast however, it turns out I had no chance. Game 2, he has a lone Eevee start. He calls for family and gets nothing. I power up my Bronzor, third turn I drop my Bronzong, play Roseanne’s to search out my single psychic energy. I apologize before I use Coating. Game 3 is a good game, but very early I’m able to get the advantage. Karl was a complete gentleman, and his mother was very complimentary to me after the event. Playing with the best includes the best attitudes I was happy to see.
Top 16 – Kyle Sabelhaus United States
Seeing a US player that I didn’t recognize their name almost lulled me into a false sense of security. Kyle played game 1 very well, but I had 4 prizes left and began my final spread. It was clear that no matter what he did, Bronzong was going to draw three of my remaining prizes in one turn, with Empoleon sealing the deal thereafter. He scooped to ensure we had time for three games. Game 2 I didn’t manage to overcome his turn two Gallade and scooped. Seeing at least 3 Warp Points in his deck during game 1, I was attempting to play around them game 3. It never really became relevant, we had a good game, and I came out on top.
Top 8 – Esa Juntunen Finland
I knew Esa beat Alex in the top 32. This made me concerned. I was advised to make sure he lost as many coin flips as possible between Snow Cloak, Avalanche, and ER2. That makes for a lot of coin flips. Game 1 he made a play mistake that let me KO his Jirachi ex. He scooped. Game 2 was close, I tried to play around something when in fact he didn’t have it, but as a result I lose the game. I was annoyed at myself for overthinking things. Game 3 I got a swift Empoleon and was able to KO two eevees in one turn. When I KO’ed the first Glaceon he built, it was clearly over.
Top 4 – Khanh Le Norway
Khanh had just eliminated Frankie Top 8. I had a chance, but it was a slim one. I get hit with a quick Crystal Beach and Cessation. The game is clearly over when I realize my night maintenance, a Bronzor, and two Piplups are prized. I show Khanh and he just makes this noise like, “that is so bad for you” to put it in the nicest terms. Game two is a much better game, but I basically run out of steam as he gets one Blissey with a crazy-ton of energy. Khanh was a good sport, and having an idea of Jason’s deck and play style from the Tropical Mega Battle, I was pretty sure I knew who the World Champion was going to be. Jason (I think admittedly) went into the game with an advantage.
Playoff: 3rd/4th Gino Lombardi United States
People say what they will about Gino, but I had two really intense games with him. Near the end of game two, I asked him to scoop so we could have more time for game 3. He agreed, and game three still became sudden death where the first prize would win. No rocket science is needed to say a deck playing Gallade is at a clear advantage here. I have a Bronzong with two energy active, Roseanne in hand. I’m expecting to KO his Gardy during my third turn. His second turn, he attaches a DRE and a Strength Charm. Wagers me. I lose the wager. This is the biggest wager loss of my life. I top deck the psychic. Gino plays out most of his hand, uses cosmic power, telepasses my steven’s, and he hits the lone Lake Boundary in his deck. He apologizes, and wins the game.
That weekend was such a rush, it’s a weekend I will always remember fondly. I wrote this all out in part for the community, but in part for myself, just to be able to reflect on it.
Slops to Gino top decking, that being said, it could have been worse. Congrats Gino.
Props… I don’t even know where to begin.
Props to Frankie and Kaylin. You two were such amazing support, in terms of what I needed as both a player and a person. This has probably been the top season of my career even before my success at Worlds just because of how much fun I’ve had. I could just go on and on, but I won’t.
Props to Team Dark Tower, I couldn’t have done the playtesting without you guys.
Props to Benlugia, you were bound to get some street credit eventually, thanks for hosting the Tropical Mega Battle at your house.
Props to TheDarkTwins, again, its important for me to have someone to playtest against.
Props to Jason K, thanks for making fun of me shuffling.
Props to Sniper for supporting an Old Schooler like myself.
Props to the judges for being the best judging staff ever.
Props to everyone from Lafonte who supported me, it might not seem personal, but I don’t want anyone to feel left out.
Props to an extra 4 seats getting given out at the Grinder.
Props to the newer players in my life. Four of the people I tested with for Worlds started playing (or playing seriously) within the past year. Two of them earned invites, I’m so proud of your learning curve guys.
Props to reflective dinners after each day of the main event.
Props to everyone who brightened my time at worlds.
Props to the Earl of Sandwich, if you’re ever in Downtown Disney check it out.
Props in advance to anyone with good food recommendations for next year’s worlds, think walking distance. Take your time.
I am, and will be, excited about Worlds all year long. To those of you I see regularly at events, I hope it doesn’t get annoying.
Thanks for reading.
Frankie D (Prof Magma) and myself had been playing all season, doing well for ourselves. We took 1st and 2nd at NJ states. Delaware States wasn’t good for me, and at Regionals I didn’t do so well, but meanwhile Frankie came in 2nd with the exact same list. I know that I knew how to play the deck, and I’ll just chalk it up to being unlucky.
Moving forward to Nats, Team Dark Tower ended up playing Empoleon. So Frankie D, Michael D (Lil Magma), Steven N, and Michael N are all playing Empoleon/Bronzong. The same exact list. Frankie made Top 8, the rest of the team placed top 32, except for myself, going 4-5. I had more than one gracious poke-parent tell me that it was bad luck etc. I played against a few of them for fun after the fact and won those matches by a large margin. I had no idea what was wrong. Intellectually speaking, I knew how to play the deck, I could win in testing, I was frustrated.
At the 2008 Tropical Mega Battle, Frankie, Ness, and myself had a three way tie for first. Unfortunate since it wasn’t a premier event. Ness made fun of how I shuffled, and I took it to heart.
Going to worlds made me very nervous. I had been told I was going for the wrong reasons. I had done well at the STS events, but other than cities or NJ states I hadn’t done well since (this includes taking some time away from the game). I was going to try and grinder in. So was Michael N, Benny (Benlugia), and Kaylin (K-Bomb). I emphasized to everyone that the grinder was NEVER a guarantee. Yamato failed to grinder in. I had to have faith.
Three fellow members of Lafonte didn’t think I should be playing Empoleon, particularly my list. Michael P looked deep into my eyes and told me if I knew it worked, he believed it worked. Kaylin believed in the deck enough to switch from Torterra to play it. This was a huge confidence booster for me.
The list first appeared on the gym here:
http://pokegym.net/forums/showthread.php?t=80500&highlight=bronzoleon
Here is the decklist:
Pokemon:
4 Piplup (DP)
3 Prinplup (DP)
4 Empoleon (MD)
3 Bronzor (MD)
3 Bronzong (MD)
1 Baltoy (GE)
1 Claydol (GE)
1 Unown Q (MD)
Trainers
Supporters
4 Celio's Network
4 Roseanne's Research
3 Steven's Advice
3 Copycat
3 Rare Candy
3 Cessation Crystal
2 Warp Point
1 Night Maintenance
1 Moonlight Stadium
Energy
4 Scramble Energy
4 Call Energy
1 Double Rainbow Energy
6 Water Energy
1 Psychic Energy
The Grinder (aka the Ringer as Kaylin called it)
Round 1 vs. Gardy
I played against a charming parent from the Phillipines. I made a big comeback for the win after starting with a hand that I really couldn’t evolve from. He was a crystal clear example of how nice Pokemon players are compared to players from other games, particularly competitive ones. I’m always happy to meet people who help bolster my claims that Pokemon players in general are nicer people.
Round 2 vs. Gardy?
Things get funny here, I was pretty amped up, I remember how but not who or what I won against. It involved a comeback on my part, so it was probably Gardy.
Round 3 vs. Gardy
I was playing against Darrell (sp?). I know him from NJ states, where Frankie and I beat him and his teammate top 4. He has played an excellent season, and soundly beat me. I had no shot at a comeback. He had answers for everything I tried.
Round 4 vs. Gardy
It was a really good day. I knew I needed to win out at this point, and I was able to beat this Gardy. I’m only like 90% sure it was Gardy, because I was so incredibly nerved up.
Round 5 vs. Gardy
I’m playing against esteemd Lafonte member Matt A. He had trained his Absol Ex so well it decided to start for him. I always feel bad when I know my opponent, and I’m sure only one of us is going to have a chance at making top cut. Matt played an incredibly tight game, and knocking out Absol was never the correct choice for me, he forced me to apply pressure other places. Excellent game Matt. Thanks for not dropping to help my strength of schedule.
Round 6 vs. ?
I don’t even know. It is completely overshadowed by my final round match.
Round 7 vs. Mothim/Gyrados
Brazilian player using a Mothim Gyrados Unown P deck. I’m pretty sure I have the advantage, but I’m sure the deck is better than the one we had been testing against, because in testing it had absolutely zero chance against Empoleon, and I’m betting he played more than one before me. I’m also guessing since I don’t like the style of deck, he is probably playing flawlessly to make it this far.
He starts with Unown P. He sees my Piplup and the discomfort in his eyes tells me everything I need to know. I need to not make mistakes. I’m in control of the game via spread, choosing knockouts and forcing him to evolve benched Pokemon in order to stop me from getting easy KOs. He has out a Crystal Beach most of the game, but I was in the lead so whatever. I didn’t see the Cessation Crystal underneath his Mothim. I used Cosmic Power, counting 1-2 on the bottom, drawing 1-2. He waited until I did this to call a judge, trying to get a game loss against me. I don’t think he had drawn a single prize yet and I had the game in two turns. I kept calm. It was clear to some onlookers that he was trying to “angleshoot” me. He claimed I had drawn all 6 cards in my hand off of cosmic power. I calmly disagreed, and explained what happened. The judge and the translator made it clear that they would not reverse the error, but gave us both a talking to. After the fact, a judge told me I had been a really good sport, and my opponent was clearly grasping at straws. That was a good feeling, but I knew I couldn’t make errors like this in the main event. Disappointed as he was at the result of the game, I think he took it relatively well.
Meanwhile, Michael N also made it through the grinder in his division. Our deck was 14-2. All my doubts in the list were erased. I couldn’t justify changing anything, although Michael N suggested that we remove a Psychic for a DRE (see why this matters later). I refused to, the rest of the team had my back, and Michael N went with the flow.
Unchanged, entering the main event, Team Dark Tower had earned 5 invites, one league, one store in NJ, and 5 invites playing the same exact list. This had epic potential in my eyes.
Round 1 Luca Clavadetscher Switzerland
I lose due to a terrible hand against GG. I’m worried.
Round 2 Wataru Suzuki Japan
He played Blissey Magmortar, and he did it very well. I couldn’t evolve all game, but it didn’t go a single extra turn for him making errors.
I’m really upset at this point. I feel like there is no explaining my poor performance, and its frustrating. Michael N is also 0-2 at this point. I felt worse for him than for myself, because I pressured him to playing this deck, particularly this list. I told him we needed to both win out to make cut. Its easy to say we’re all winners for making to worlds, but we showed up to compete and were feeling bad about our ability to do so.
Round 3 – The Bye
Possibly the cousin of The Ace, my opponent didn’t show. I was relieved. Going into this round I was the worst player in the event. I demanded a good luck kiss from one of my female fans. I told her I would then go on to win the rest of my games.
Round 4 Eric Craig United States
Eric is a name player. Earlier this season, it was mentioned by Frankie that if someone was due for a big win, it was Eric Craig. This didn’t make me too nervous actually, I knew that if I could beat Eric, I could step forward confidently. If not, that meant he was going on to something he deserved, and this was the end of my journey. I told Eric that since only one of us could make it, the winner of our game would have to.
Then he gets the Castform start. I resolved myself to winning at that point. Eric played flawlessly, even threatening me by searching for an Absol Ex off of a Roseanne’s Research. I simply had a better draw, lists probably didn’t really matter. Beating Eric did as much for my confidence as my record. I needed another 3 wins.
Round 5 Kristel Helskens Belgium
I believe her username is Rainbowgym here on the ‘gym. I had a habit of getting nervous against fire, because I thought Magmortar leads to Leafeon. I was Bronzwrong. She mulliganed twice. She commented that she hoped I wasn’t playing Empoleon, to which I said “If only!” It wasn’t the bluff that won me the game, it was the weakness and her inability to keep tempo. A great sport and a pleasure to chat with, I look forward to seeing her at worlds next year.
Round 6 Jerry Taylor Canada
I saw a Fossil start to tell me I was playing against Empostar. He had a 1-1 Tech Scizor, which I imagine must have been GOLD. Really, I admired how much his deck hated on special energy between that and Omastar. Ultimately, bad prizes on his side and quality spreading on my part sealed the deal.
Round 7 Mauro Bianchi Italy
Mauro was one of the stylish people from Team Italia. He was playing Magmortar Togekiss. He was also running Pachirisu. He also grindered in, telling me his deck was good enough yesterday. I had a lot to be concerned about. To his right was another member of Team Italia. Mauro played a tight game, but my deck clearly had the advantage. Eventually, an Air Scroll flip went the wrong way for him and I was able to take advantage. Both Team Italia games ended at the same time roughly. It took a while for me to stand up at first, filling out the match slip and being friendly with Professor Hape. Team Italia was very excited for their friend who won, and to Kaylin and Frankie, it looked like I had lost. I didn’t mean to put them in such suspense, I was told I need to look happier when I win. Big hugs, a fun night, and some beauty rest before the top 32.
The Top Cut © Drew H.
Playing at worlds is playing wit the best. Making cut is playing the very best. Modog congratulated me, which was great because I’m used to him being so quiet. Benny told me not to get greedy, my exact words to him were “I want it. I want it all.” Matt C calls me the “Cinderella Story of the Century.” Kaylin tells me she knows I can do it, and I do my best to prove her right.
Top 32 – Karl Peters Germany
We both sit down very seriously. Shuffle up, and play begins. Leafeon Magmortar. Not the best situation. It gets worse when I see Crystal Beach and Cessation Crystal. Game 1 is incredibly close, but I think I have it. My only chance is to get one more turn. I forgot about Flame Blast however, it turns out I had no chance. Game 2, he has a lone Eevee start. He calls for family and gets nothing. I power up my Bronzor, third turn I drop my Bronzong, play Roseanne’s to search out my single psychic energy. I apologize before I use Coating. Game 3 is a good game, but very early I’m able to get the advantage. Karl was a complete gentleman, and his mother was very complimentary to me after the event. Playing with the best includes the best attitudes I was happy to see.
Top 16 – Kyle Sabelhaus United States
Seeing a US player that I didn’t recognize their name almost lulled me into a false sense of security. Kyle played game 1 very well, but I had 4 prizes left and began my final spread. It was clear that no matter what he did, Bronzong was going to draw three of my remaining prizes in one turn, with Empoleon sealing the deal thereafter. He scooped to ensure we had time for three games. Game 2 I didn’t manage to overcome his turn two Gallade and scooped. Seeing at least 3 Warp Points in his deck during game 1, I was attempting to play around them game 3. It never really became relevant, we had a good game, and I came out on top.
Top 8 – Esa Juntunen Finland
I knew Esa beat Alex in the top 32. This made me concerned. I was advised to make sure he lost as many coin flips as possible between Snow Cloak, Avalanche, and ER2. That makes for a lot of coin flips. Game 1 he made a play mistake that let me KO his Jirachi ex. He scooped. Game 2 was close, I tried to play around something when in fact he didn’t have it, but as a result I lose the game. I was annoyed at myself for overthinking things. Game 3 I got a swift Empoleon and was able to KO two eevees in one turn. When I KO’ed the first Glaceon he built, it was clearly over.
Top 4 – Khanh Le Norway
Khanh had just eliminated Frankie Top 8. I had a chance, but it was a slim one. I get hit with a quick Crystal Beach and Cessation. The game is clearly over when I realize my night maintenance, a Bronzor, and two Piplups are prized. I show Khanh and he just makes this noise like, “that is so bad for you” to put it in the nicest terms. Game two is a much better game, but I basically run out of steam as he gets one Blissey with a crazy-ton of energy. Khanh was a good sport, and having an idea of Jason’s deck and play style from the Tropical Mega Battle, I was pretty sure I knew who the World Champion was going to be. Jason (I think admittedly) went into the game with an advantage.
Playoff: 3rd/4th Gino Lombardi United States
People say what they will about Gino, but I had two really intense games with him. Near the end of game two, I asked him to scoop so we could have more time for game 3. He agreed, and game three still became sudden death where the first prize would win. No rocket science is needed to say a deck playing Gallade is at a clear advantage here. I have a Bronzong with two energy active, Roseanne in hand. I’m expecting to KO his Gardy during my third turn. His second turn, he attaches a DRE and a Strength Charm. Wagers me. I lose the wager. This is the biggest wager loss of my life. I top deck the psychic. Gino plays out most of his hand, uses cosmic power, telepasses my steven’s, and he hits the lone Lake Boundary in his deck. He apologizes, and wins the game.
That weekend was such a rush, it’s a weekend I will always remember fondly. I wrote this all out in part for the community, but in part for myself, just to be able to reflect on it.
Slops to Gino top decking, that being said, it could have been worse. Congrats Gino.
Props… I don’t even know where to begin.
Props to Frankie and Kaylin. You two were such amazing support, in terms of what I needed as both a player and a person. This has probably been the top season of my career even before my success at Worlds just because of how much fun I’ve had. I could just go on and on, but I won’t.
Props to Team Dark Tower, I couldn’t have done the playtesting without you guys.
Props to Benlugia, you were bound to get some street credit eventually, thanks for hosting the Tropical Mega Battle at your house.
Props to TheDarkTwins, again, its important for me to have someone to playtest against.
Props to Jason K, thanks for making fun of me shuffling.
Props to Sniper for supporting an Old Schooler like myself.
Props to the judges for being the best judging staff ever.
Props to everyone from Lafonte who supported me, it might not seem personal, but I don’t want anyone to feel left out.
Props to an extra 4 seats getting given out at the Grinder.
Props to the newer players in my life. Four of the people I tested with for Worlds started playing (or playing seriously) within the past year. Two of them earned invites, I’m so proud of your learning curve guys.
Props to reflective dinners after each day of the main event.
Props to everyone who brightened my time at worlds.
Props to the Earl of Sandwich, if you’re ever in Downtown Disney check it out.
Props in advance to anyone with good food recommendations for next year’s worlds, think walking distance. Take your time.
I am, and will be, excited about Worlds all year long. To those of you I see regularly at events, I hope it doesn’t get annoying.
Thanks for reading.
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