Intro
So you’ve played your heart out over the course of the season, and may have even won some events; however, for one reason or another, you just didn’t get make a high enough place at your National Championship, and/or whiffed that all-important rating invite. What’s a player to do now?
But wait – you haven’t given up just yet! You want one last chance at that glorious main event, and as a result, you’ve dished out the airfare/gas money to make the trip out to San Diego for the Last Chance Qualifier (“LCQ” for short, or just “the Grinder”). Your dedication may have some expenses tied to it, but you’ve got a goal in mind, and you’re every bit motivated in achieving it.
If any of that is going through your mind right now, then you sound an awful lot like I did back in 2008 and 2009, when I was struggling to earn invites at the last second during both seasons. Without a doubt, these events were great exercises of skill and stamina, and 2011 will be very much the same song and dance. However, we’re not interested in exercises…WE WANT INVITES!
And If that’s what you want, then I’m your man: I’ve gone two-for-two at making it through the Grinder, and feel like I’ve built up some solid preparation habits for what could easily be considered the third toughest event of the year (behind Nationals and Worlds, naturally).
In this article, I’ll explain how I prepared for my first grinder; how I revised my old plans to conform to the new season’s “single elimination” structure; and finally, the most recent results of my testing. With this plan, you too can have a solid starting point to work off of for the next few weeks, and ultimately increase your odds to earn that coveted invite.
This article may appear to apply only to those actually attending Worlds, but I am convinced that advice found within can prepare anyone for any event. You may need to use your common sense when it comes to the amount of games you play, but this discussion could very well help condition you for any large event. Just keep these principles in mind, and long-term preparation should come much more easily.
With that said, let’s get on with it!
2008: My First LCQ, and the Start of a Plan
[Article Note 1: The 2008 LCQ operated on 30 minute rounds with a straight Swiss and no top cut.]
[Article Note 2: The 2011 LCQ will operate on best 2/3 match play with an undetermined time limit, and no Swiss.]
It was my freshman year of college, and juggling Pokémon was just too difficult: I had A’s to earn after all, so Pokémon was the least of my concerns. In spite of this challenge, I went on to win a City Championship, a State Championship, and – when I finally had the time to sit down and test – five Battle Roads.
Unfortunately, my Nationals performance was less than stellar: I made a gutsy metagame call that backfired, and so my rating plummeted. As a result, I was stuck competing in the Last Chance Qualifier.
By good fortune, I never had to play in the Grinder prior to 2008, so over the years I took advantage of my opportunities to observe the event. It’s gone through many renovations, but I’ve heard many of the same thoughts and feelings consistently conveyed every season.
Of those thoughts and feelings, I’d like to now discuss – and dispel – the greatest mistruths and misconceptions that persist to this very day:
1. “There are just too many people – there’s no way I can make it in…”
WRONG!!!
This is by FAR the number one killer of LCQ-hopefuls, as it is a resignation to failure before the first die is even cast. I think it’s important to realize that there is never a guarantee you will win in a tournament, or even do well, but failure only becomes absolute when you let it be.
And when you think about it logically, it becomes all too sensible: when the event is comprised of approximately 450 people, and only such-and-such invites are given out, you have such-and-such probability of making it! And then when you have such-and-such probability of making it, the expected utility of your trip is…
*Ends sarcasm*
Ignore that little devil on your shoulder; ignore all that over-thinking that will only lead to a false conclusion. From the outset of testing for the 2008 LCQ, I was quick to get these negative thoughts out of my mind, and as a result, I feel like things moved forward so much more smoothly: not once did I think that the task ahead of me was daunting, and because of that, I honestly feel like I played razor-sharp the whole time because of that focus.
As a final word on this topic: I know it can be tough (and cliché) to tell yourself that you can do something; however, even if you find yourself unable to be positive, then at the very least avoid being negative. You play this game because you enjoy it, and while it’s a joy to win, the last thing you want to do is to crush yourself over a game – it makes for sloppy play later on.
2. This tournament/format is a crapshoot, so I don’t need to test.
WRONG!!!
