IWrestleSmoochums's LCQ/Worlds/HeyTrainer Open Report
By Kevin "Alex2k" K.
Hey guys. In case you don't know me, my name is Kevin Kobayashi. I am in the masters division and this was my first full year playing the game (which means more than 6 tournaments, including 1 states, 1 regionals, and 1 worlds). My last accomplishment was 6th place at FL regionals, and since then, I had been testing the HGSS format for some time.
The flights were incredibly full and we had a slim chance of making it. We missed the first four flights from FLL to ATL, and we were there for 5 hours. The last flight was 2 minutes away and very full, so Jon and I packed our stuff, disappointed, and began to walk out of the airport until they called Jon's name on the intercom. The problem is we were standby and I was always first priority on the list, while Jon was not (and we had to fly together). We ran up and somehow made it on the plane. We were incredibly excited, and didn't even know if we would make it through ATL to San Diego. The ATL to San Diego flight had 1 spot on it, so we had to bend the rules and I let Jon go on the plane, risking it all: he made it, but I may not. So I waited 5 hours at the airport. There is 1 seat open, and I am number 3. Somehow, miraculously, both people whiff the flight and I make it to San Diego. It was destiny.
Going into worlds, I had tested what I considered the "best" decks. I played a lot of Reshiram/Typhlosion, trying various techs (including Lost Remover, Potion, and 1-0-1 Samurott). I decided that if I was going to try and grind in, I would have to play a deck that had a distinct advantage going into sudden death. I found a japanese Donphan/Yanmega list and started toying around with it, making changes and what not. The deck grew on me, and I loved it. It was incredibly consistent and beat Stage 1's, Yanmega/Magnezone, and the other top decks. It had a weaker Rehsiram/Typhlosion and RDL matchup, but other than that, it was a good choice. I knew I would be going into worlds with Donphan/Yanmega, so I sleeved it up and brought it along.
When I arrived in San Diego on Thursday, I met up with Larry, Danny, Jon, Thoy, and Harrison. We went out to eat and then went to the open play room at the Hilton. I played about 10 games with Bianchi, which really helped me out. I knew that my Reshiram/Typhlosion matchup was bad, but he murdered me. After playing Pooka and supporter droughting, my deck had officially crapped out on me. I knew that it needed a change, but what? Things were missing, and needed to be changed.
The morning before the grinder, I saw Justin Masotti playing around with stage 1's. I was wondering if that's what I was looking for. I changed the lines around and threw in 2-2 Zoroark, 2 Rescue energy, and 3 Double Colorless energy. I played it a little more and I knew that it was gonna be solid. As we went off to get in line for the grinder, it was 500 people long. So we waited for quite awhile. While in line, I talked to a canadian player named Murray. He was raving about Pokegear 3.0 and how a single copy would make my deck much better. I liked the sound of it so I removed a Pokemon Reversal, and added it. When Jon passed me his binder, about 3 minutes before we registered, I opened his binder and right in the middle was a Manaphy. I had never liked the idea of Manaphy, but it wasn't going to give up a prize like Cleffa, and it had free retreat as well. I removed a Pluspower and added it in.
Without testing my new deck, I walked into the second largest tournament of the year, the LCQ Grinder, 2011.
Pokemon 18
3 Phanpy
3 Donphan
3 Yanma
3 Yanmega
2 Zorua
2 Zoroark
1 Tyrogue
1 Manaphy
Trainers 31
4 Pokemon Collector
4 Junk Arm
4 Pokemon Communication
4 Prof. Oak's New Theory
3 Prof. Juniper
3 Judge
3 Pokemon Reversal
2 Pluspower
1 Switch
1 Copycat
1 Pokegear 3.0
1 Potion
Energy 11
6 Fighting
3 Double Colorless
2 Rescue
I wasn't so sure of the list, I hadn't tested it, but I didn't expect to do much at the grinder anyways. The questionable cards are all the 1 of's, but they ended up helping me quite a bit. I was so close to dropping Tyrogue as well.
Round 1 vs Bye
1-0
(Good, maybe I can win my next round if I try hard enough!)
Round 2 vs ?? (Stage 1's)
Game 1: I start with a solid hand, and go second. He misses the first attachment, and whiffs on his Dual Ball. I collector for 2 Yanma and a Phanpy, attach a fighting energy to Phanpy, and pass. He attaches to a Phanpy after getting a heads on Dual Ball, attaches, and passes. I get out 2 Yanmega, a Donphan, Judge, and KO his active Phanpy. He can't keep up, and scoops to game 2.
Game 2: he goes first and gets a double heads on Dual Ball. I start Manaphy and Deep Sea Swirl to set up. He gets out a Yanmega and KO's my Manaphy. I promote Donphan with no bench and start Earthquaking. The reason why I decided to bench nothing was because since I run Potion, I can just heal all the damage off and he cannot take any easy prizes. I had 2 Junk Arm in hand as well. I tanked all the damage off, finally dropped a Yanma (once I had 3 energy on my Donphan), attacked. Next turn I evolved into Yanmega, switched into it, and started setting up KOs for my Donphan. 2 turns later, I picked everything off for the win.
2-0
(Ok, but that's not that great. There's still a lot of rounds to go)
Round 3 vs Anthony Q (Mew/Crobat/Cinccino)
Game 1: He gets a godstart going first, and after a 5 minute turn of drawing cards he sees off a Crobat Prime. I think up a startegy on the fly and can't do much. My hand is terrible with no support and I have an active Phanpy, dang! I am forced to scoop this one after 2 more turns of dead draw.
Game 2: I get an incredible start to his Mew. T2 Donphan, Yanmega, Yanmega, with potion, Junk Arm, and great hand support. I roll him in 7 turns.
Game 3: He starts Zubat going first to my Yanma/Phanpy. He swings for 10 and I am trying to keep my composure with a dead hand. If I lose this game, i'm finished! I topdeck a Manaphy, bench it, retreat Yanma, attach a Rescue to Manaphy, and Deep Sea Swirl into pure gold. Yanmega, Donphan, Fighting, Juniper, Switch. Now I am looking good! He evolved into Golbat, and locked my active Manaphy. I switch out, evolve, and Juniper. From there, I drop a pluspower, match his hand, and take the KO on Golbat. The game comes down to a very complicated turn. I have an active Manaphy with a benched Zoroark with no energy, and he has a Tyrogue on his bench. I have to drag up the Tyrogue, rip a DCE off of a 10 card deck with Juniper, and then hit the reversal heads. Juniper for 7….DCE. Junk Arm for Pokemon Reversal…heads, attach DCE, and take the final prize. Incredible game, Anthony!
3-0
(Close game and I played well, but misplays almost cost me the game. Regardless, i'm not making it in so it doesn't matter)
Round 4 vs Lutz W (Reshiphlosion)
Game 1: The nightmare comes true as I face my first Reshiphlosion of the tournament. I g first but can't do anything but watch my active Yanma shudder. Lutz starts with a Pokemon Collector, and attaches to Reshiram. I am forced to topdeck and use Juniper, discarding a Donphan, Zoroark, DCE, and other goodies, I then bench a Yanma and a Zorua. He uses a Sage's and rips 2 Typhlosion. From here, he decimates my little dragonfly. I am struggling but look ok. Evolve into Zoroark, attach DCE, can't find a pluspower but send up Yanma to stall. He plays down a Reversal, hits heads, and I scoop to game 2.
Game 2: I get a T2 Donphan, Judge away his god hand, and he dead draws as I set up 2 Zoroark, 3 Donphan, and roll him. I hit 3 reversals in a row to kill 3/4 of his Cyndaquils, and then I reversal up a Reshiram with 3 energy, drop a pluspower, and KO it with Zoroark. He scoops for time.
Game 3: It goes into sudden death and Lutz goes first. He starts Cleffa and 2 Reshiram to myactive Phanpy and benched Phanpy. His cleffa retreats into Reshiram and I get the T2 Donphan, play a Pokemon Reversal, and hit heads to take the prize. He needs to return the KO to stay in the game, but fails to do so after a Juniper for 7 only gets him 1 Pluspower. Great games.
4-0
(Wow, I play ZPS next which should be easy, but he could donk me twice or I could draw dead, eh regardless i'm not making worlds so…)
Round 5 vs ?? (ZPS)
Game 1: 2 Donphan turn 2 with 2 benched Zorua. He starts Shaymin and sponges my Donphan for awhile. He can't really do too much to Donphan with Zekrom though, due to potion and I am running super hot. I reversal KO 2 Zekrom and he hits 1/4 Reversals.
Game 2: I start Yanma and get FTKO'd by Zekrom, DCE, Pluspower.
Game 3: He once again starts Shaymin to my Zorua. He drops Ruins of Alph (which hurts him just as much as it hurts me), and stalls with Shaymin. Phanpy –> Donphan –> Pluspower –> fighting –> KO. He hits me with Tyrogue and I potion it off to prevent the Zekrom KO. He continually wakes up on his turn, and falls asleep on mine . He finally KOs my Donphan with Zekrom and I return the KO with Zoroark. Eventually he loses steam and is about to deck. He scoops to my active Donphan. Great build, nice guy.
5-0
(Wow…could it be? 1 more round or 2 more rounds? How did I just win my top 64 match?) 😮
Round 6 vs Aaron W (Stage 1's/Absol)
Game 1: I start Tyrogue and go first, with Junk Arm and Pluspower. He flips Yanma and I get my first donk in this format.
Game 2: He goes first and starts Absol. He spreads as I have to Collector. He gets out a Zoroark and KOs my Tyrogue active, and stays awake. He has a 3 card hand and 2 benched Yanma with a smile on his face, so I can assume he has something along the lines of 2 Yanmega and a Juniper or something of the sort. I bring up my Donphan with an energy attached, Judge, and watch his mouth drop 50 feet, lol. I keep board control as he draws dead and he scoops.
6-0
(I walk out of the play area and take a bunch of deep breaths. All my friends are telling me that they're letting in a top 16, I can believe it to an extent but don't want to, because if I get my hopes up and lose i'll be crushed. I sit and pray for awhile, get a cup of water, and just focus. I know whoever wins between Elton and Jimmy O Brien plays me, and they're both playing Typhlosion/Reshiram, my worst matchup :nonono:)
Round 7 vs Elton J (Reshiphlosion)
As I sit across from my opponent, my heart is beating a mile a minute. My palms are sweating, and I can't hear anything but my heart beating out of my chest. As we begin to set up I draw my 7…Zorua, DCE, Communication, Pluspower, Junk Arm, PONT, Fighting. I win the flip and as we are about to flip over our cards, the head judge makes an announcement. (BTW, he started Cleffa, lol)
"Attention top 16, we have an announcement to make. It has been a long day for you, players, and it has also been a very long day for the staff. Half of you will not make it tonight through this tournament, which is unfortunate because you all will be playing TOMORROW IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. I can't even understand what he had just said, so I sink in my chair preparring for a game until I see people jumping up and the crowd cheering. I hear my friends screaming "IWS!" I stand up and am almost in tears I am so happy. I walk in line to recieve my swag bag and remember what it felt like to beat the elite four as a child in Pokemon Blue. This was that feeling multiplied by a cheering crowd.
Day 2
My deck choice for worlds stayed the same. ALthough I did expect Reshiphlosion, I also expected Magneboar, Reshiboar, Stage 1's, and Yanmega/Magnezne varients. I had a great advantage vs all the decks besides Reshiphlosion.
Round 1 vs Mexican National Champion (?) (Reshiboar)
This game is quite ridiculous. Before it starts, I flip heads and go first. He grabs my coin and flips it 4 times. The first 3 times he got heads, and he was close to calling a judge to call me for a bad randomizer. I'm already a bit nervous since it is my first worlds as well. He starts Pignite to my Tyrogue and we both begin to set up. He singes turn 1 and it's a tails. I collector for Zorua, Phanpy, Yanma and attach a DCE to Zorua. He fails 2 Reversal flips and benches 2 Reshiram. I can't seem to hit a Reversal either and we both just set up. Eventually I Reversal up the Emboar and snipe around it for a good 5 turns.I set up KOs and then Donphan comes in. I take out his Emboar and he was forced to Juniper his other Emboar the first turn of the game, so no more Emboar for him! The game is tied at 1-1 prizes and I reversal KO his Bouffalant, but it's too bad my Manaphy has 50 and there's nothing else I can do or else I lose the game the next turn. I remember using potion 2 times and him sighing each time :thumb:
Sudden Death: We both draw pass for 5 turns straight and use Cleffa and Manaphy. I can't flip a Reversal heads for my life but finally hit one to drag up his Cleffa and KO it with Donphan. Close game, good sport.
1-0
(Just saying, winning your first match at worlds is really awesome)
Round 2 vs Glenn V (Yanmega/Magnezone)
He had grinded in as well and we both were just happy to be there. I see what he starts with an have the game in hand T2, but he judges it away! I still get a PONT off the judge and set up. HAt a huge point in the game he has an active Yanma to my active Donphan. I play a Pluspower, and flip 4 Pokemon Reversal (with 2 Junk Arm), trying to drag up his Magnezone with 1 energy on it. Glenn has a 1 card hand and a grimace on his face. Well, I hit 4 tails in a row. Next turn he magnetic draws for 2 more Yanma, a horsea, and Junipers away the rest. The next turn after he drops 2 Yanmega and blows up my Donphan. It gets down to 1-1 prizes but I have no way to win :(. I scoop.
1-1
(I honestly feel that if I was to win that game, I would have done much better at worlds, just my thoughts. 4 Reversal tails…*sigh*)
Round 3 vs Lia (Rainbowgym) (Reshiphlosion)
Another Reshiram variant. She starts T1 with a Pokemon Collector and attaches to Reshiram, and my hand is just depressing. 2 Yanma, phanpy, no energy, no supporter, 2 pokemon comm, 1 junk arm. I can't hit a supporter until T3 , and it's a Pokemon Collector, She gets up 3 Typhlosion and I finally am hitting Zoroark but her set up just overpowers mine. There was no way I could win this match if my life was at stake. I hit no reversals anyways.
1-2
(Not my fault)
Round 4 vs ?? (Reshiphlosion)
Right when the game starts she calls a judge because some of my prizes are bent (when they're played for awhile it happens). She said that they are "foils" and my deck is marked. The judge tells her that they are not after viewing them and she feels bad after that and I am kinda annoyed. I once again go second and am in the same situation that I was in the previous round. I just don't set up until late game and she already has 2 prizes. I reversal up Emboar but can't KO it before she switches and KOs my Yanmega. After that she calls me on saying Linear attack when I am talking to myself, and gets the call. I scoop up my cards, say have a nice day, and walk away from the table. She feels super bad and after the whole ordeal i'm a bit tilted but i'm still glad that i'm playing. BTW, I hit 1 reversal out of 4 once again. 25%. To make matters worse, my Manaphy that I desperately needed T2 was prized.
1-3
(My deck didn't set up again, it doesn't want to play anymore)
Round 5 vs ?? (Reshiphlosion)
This game I decide that if I lose, i'm dropping. I wanted to get to 4-3 so that I could at least have a decent record. I get a rockin start T1 and reversal up 2 Cyndaquil for KOs. I keep the eraly game pressure like the deck is supposed to do and I win in style with a Zoroark KO.
2-3
(Little late to wanna play, huh Zoroark?)
Round 6 vs Alessandro C (Yanmega/Magnezone/Kingdra/Jirachi)
As I look down my table, I see Yuta, Jayson Harry, Pooka, and Alssandro. How are all these top players at the lower tables? (Food for thought). Anyway, this was probably the greatest game I had played all day. I was playing up. I wouldn't make top 32, but I wanted to beat a guy who did last year. We both get solid starts and I take the first prize with Donphan. He keeps my Donphan switching to Yanmega to attack due to him setting up a Kingdra. He then has a baby coma with Cleffa for about 8 turns. When he wakes up, I ask him if I fall asleep if I attack with Zoroark on Cleffa. The judge isn't legally allowed to tell me, but Alessandro is cool with it and he tells me I do. Thanks! So I attack, and get a new hand. 2 turns later I retreat, only to notice that I only have a fighting energy on my Cleffa..which means I attacked without the proper energy and shuffled my hand back into my deck. Alessandro says we can work things out but I snag the match slip, circle loss, aologize for what I had done to him for ruining the game, and lift the slip into the air :frown:. I feel bad for ruining the game for both of us, but he grabs the slip from my hand. It's too late and the judge takes it, but Alessandro says "WAIT". Is it possible for us to continue playing?
My heart lights up. That's one of the nicest things and after all the rules lawyering I got hit with, it really made me feel good about the whole tournament. We play it out and share some laughs. He actually ends up winning with Jirachi the last turn of the game, I try to get a Junk Arm to heal potion off of my Pokemon but I whiff and he gets the game. Classy, classy player. Thanks for that. :biggrin:
2-4
(I feel great)
So I drop because my deck is just tired, i'm tired, wiped out completely. I am so glad that I got to experience this whole tournament, but even though it hurts to go 2-4 at the main event, Matt Souerby (son_of_apollo) got 20th with the same deck, so I don't feel to bad. I got incredible luck to make it through the grinder, and I got bad luck at worlds via matchups and reversal flips. No regrets. I had the most fun I have ever had through any summer and I am so glad that I got to experience it with all of my good friends. I will remember my first worlds experience forever and it will always be a happy memory no matter what, but I do plan to come to worlds 2012 with a fire inside, i'm coming for it all!
The HT Highlander tournament was at 9 PM that night and I decided to play.
Pokemon 12
1 Tepig
1 Tepig
1 Pignite
1 Pignite
1 Emboar "bad boar"
1 Emboar
1 Pansear
1 Simisear
1 Zekrom
1 Reshiram
1 Vulpix
1 Ninetails
Trainers 16
1 Cheerleader's Cheer
1 Emcee's Chatter
1 Sage's Training
1 Dual Ball
1 Pokegear 3.0
1 Prof. Oaks New Theory
1 Judge
1 Copycat
1 Twins
1 Juniper
1 Pluspower
1 Pokemon Communication
1 Junk Arm
1 Potion
1 Switch
1 Pokemon Collector
Energy 12
11 Fire
1 DCE
Round 1 vs ?? (Fast basics)
She starts sawk to my Cleffa and I start to set up. T2 I have a ninetails, Emboar, and reshiram online and just sweep her away. She brings up Throh but I just bring up Zekrom, take the damage, switch to cleffa, then outrage for the win. There was nothing she could really do.
1-0
Round 2 vs REW (Reshiboar/RDL)
This game was pretty fast. I got my stuff out and so did he. He drops RDL and i'm worried that I can't take it out. I save all my components for the bad boar for 150 in my hand but he judges me to crap. I snag a Juniper todeck, drop it all and KO RDL which gives me the game. He is shocked lol, but I love REW.
2-0
Round 3 vs Jon
He is playing Samurott and gets it out T2. I'm like darn it but I keep the Zekrom online and ready to go with a DCE. The game comes down to him using Pokemon Circulator to knockout my benched junk because they are all puny. Great game.
2-1
Round 4 vs Bye
3-1
Round 5 vs Champ
He just sets up super fast with Pachi drop for 2, Zekrom and Shaymin and i'm like…wow, how'd you fit all of that? He wins pretty easily and i'm like Q.Q.
I took 4th place with Reshiboar/Simisear and Jon also got top 4 with Samurott. It was a lot of fun and I pulled 2 shinies from my packs, and got 2 "best" base set Hitmonchan and a Slowking prime just for getting top 4! Jon pulled a Pachirisu. To fit into the car afterwards, we have a 4 seater with 7 people. Jon goes in the trunk and Mitch gets lost for almost an hour, it was really, really fun. We went out to eat as well and it was awesome, sushi at Nobu was expensive but definately worth it.
Sunday, Justin, Mitch and I went out to the Brazilian steak house and sat for 2 hours stuffing our faces. I mustve gained 10 lbs and I felt amazing. Watching the VGC tournament was pretty cool as well, congrats to Ray for the great performance and entertainment, and the top 2 matches for the TCG were stellar as well. I was full the whole day and at night I hung out with the whole Team R/Top cut crew. It was a lot of fun and overall an awesome experience. I hope that I will be able to make it to Hawaii for next year's championships.
Props:
Jon Viveros. Without you, I wouldn't be here bro.
Choking out Thoy
Philly Cheese Steaks
Brazilian Steak houses <3
Nobu sushi
Meeting tons of cool people (Magnechu, Jay Harry, Brit, Igor, Pram, Crim, Robby, Pooka, Kenny, Cetra, Sami, Yacine, Tom Hall, Bolt, Curran, Frank Diaz, Andrew Murray, Snowglobes, Adrian, and so many more)
Justin Masotti
Team Takahashi
Murray for the random help with adding a Pokegear, you helped me make it through with that single card.
Manaphy, I believe.
Catching the "snitch" (Frankie diaz where you at?)
Potion, you are so evil >:)
Signed Sandiles
Top 4 HT Highlander
Swag bag
In N out
Grafton, gratz buddy, top 4 is awesome!
J Wittz, an incredible performance!
Eeveelover, I would never have gotten a picture with minccino without you!
CALI LIFE
Slops:
Rules lawyers
Matchups
Pokemon Reversal
Emerging Powers, why are you so bad?
17 years old = no bueno
Standby flights