Batmylashes, Andrew F. (WA State Champion), and I get down to Salem, OR around 1:00 PM the day before the tournament, grab some food, and test, test, test. Ashley decides to play Gengar over LuxChomp because she feels more comfortable with it. I tech up my LuxChomp a bit, and Andrew goes with LuxChomp over Jumpluff. We play a few games in the lobby and make our decklists, but hit the sack fairly early, which is a welcomed change of pace for me, haha. Samwise and his ladyfriend also join us for the night, but hit the hay before us.
The next day Gage R. wakes us up to the news that I have a flat tire(~!). Knowing nothing about cars and having no manual labor skills in general, I think I must scoop and go to Les Schwab. However, I remember that I have my hidden spare tire tech, and enlist the help of a true man (Corey T) to change my tire, and we’re all good. We get some breakfast and head out.
Round 1: Kaori w/ Random stuff
Kaori was super nice and informed me that this was her first game. She opens with a Regigas and a Ponyta, but I quickly run through her. Super nice Pokemom, and I guess her son is pretty competitive, so that’s always good. 1-0
Round 2: Ash N. w/ CurseGar
This guy was nice as well. Starts with the Spiritomb and is able to continue the lock for many a turn, until each of us is completely set up but I’m afraid to knock out the Tomb and he’s afraid to break the lock, haha. We exchange prizes until I make a crucial misplay in not playing Trainers when I had the opportunity, and that allows him to take the rest of the game. Mad lame on my part, but what can ya do? 1-1
During lunch I decide to buy some stuff for my girlfriend, and probably hit up the food vendor too. I holler at the ATM only to find out that it won’t give me money because of an invalid transaction or something. I’m confused, but decide to check my balance just to be safe. Oh, what do you know. Balance? $0.00! Praying that this is an error, Batmylashes and I run to the nearest 7-11, where we find that we have several million dollars, as expected, and are not going to have to sell our bodies to get home. Phew. Then we get some 40oz slurpees WHAT.
Round 3: Ted B. w/ Cursegar
UGH, another Cursegar. What can you do. I manage to get set up before him and maintain a decent lead in prizes before he belts his Gengar, leaving me with no valid targets for the final Dragon Rush. After a few turns he’s forced to play down a Crobat G to get a KO, and then wiffs on the Poke Turn to pick him back up. I Bright Look the Crobat next turn to take the final prize. Very good game. 2-1
Round 4: Jim L. w/ LuxChomp
Jim is the father of Mindy L, first ever Juniors world champion, so that’s pretty neat. We set up the mirror and he gets the first Garchomp out and swings at my lone Garchomp for the first prize, and it’s all downhill from there. I think I take 1 or 2 prizes but his Chomps are able to keep a steady lead the whole game. 2-2
Round 5: Girl w/ Gengar
I open Baltoy, attach, pass. She opens Gastly, drops a Crobat for Flash Bite, Roseanne’s for an Azelf, Time Walks for a Crobat, and then proceeds to Flash Bite, Turn, Flash Bite, Turn, Flash Bite, Turn, Flash Bite, for the win. Mad lame, but it happens. 2-3
At this point I know I can’t make the cut so I’m a little bummed, excuse me if my memory fades a bit…
Round 6: Kid w/ HGSS
He appears to be playing just HGSS cards, and I’m able to 6-0 him in just as many turns. He seems a little upset, but he’s a cool kid so whatevs. 3-3
Round 7: ??? w/ LuxChomp
We set up pretty evenly, but he makes a major misplay in n0t dropping a Belt on his Ambipom G w/ DCE attached against my Garchomp (he showed me his hand to see how terrible it was) and I take off from there. I can’t remember all of the details but I end up maintaining a steady lead, IIRC. 4-3
So, I fail, Ash ends up going 3-4 and getting donked 3 times, and Andrew F. gets KO’d in top 16 by my round 3 opponent Ted B, who ends up T4ing. We go out to eat, holler at the hotel pool, and then get some sleep. All in all a stressful, fail-filled, yet pretty exciting day, what can you do?
My first season of playing competitively nets me a OR States 5-2 wiff, a WA States T16, and a Regionals fail. All in all, a pretty decent season, I suppose. Next season I’m taking it all!
Props:
Team B-Side
Andrew F.
Corey T.
BDS, PokeMathter, Psyducky, Mr. Raichu, and everyone else who took part in organizing Regionals. Best community ever.
Ian & Amelia for winning Jrs and Srs, respectively
Slops:
Misplays
Donks
Being a terrible player
Flat tires
Thanks for reading!
Kenny Wisdom is a Masters division player out of WA State, and a regular contributor to SixPrizes.com. Holler at his Facebook and Twitter for more info.
