My name is Dan Mayo, and I went to Gathering Ground's pokemon tournament on 
Saturday (5/29).  It had 28 entrants.  It was DCI sanctioned and had 4 rounds 
of best 2 out of 3 to the top 8.  I was playing a modified haymaker 
(fighting/electric).

I would like to say that I have been to 6 of these tourneys, and have gotten 
only top 8 twice.  The competition is VERY tough on Saturdays.  Well, anyway, 
here goes the report.

In the first round I get paired up with, who else, but my younger brother, 
Ryan!  He's playing a very good mono electric deck.  However, I had beaten 
him 29 out of the last 30 games.  Needless to say, I was pretty confident.  
Game 1: I get the WORST draw:nothing but Farfetch'd against straight 
electric!  He cleans me up quickly with Electabuzz.
game 2: another horrid draw!!!!  He wipes me up with a Zapdos.  I couldn't 
believe I had lost to him.  The chances of making top 8 were now slim.
Match record (0-1) Game Record (0-2)

Second Round: I play a scrub with water-fighting.  He was trying to run 
seel/dewgong on 6 water energy.
game 1:Farfetch'd takes all of his pokemon out and sustains only 20 damage.
game 2:Farfetch'd kills 6 fighting pokemon without taking damage.  Man I love 
Farfetch'd!!!
Match record (1-1) Game Record (2-2)

Third round: I play Robby with a good Charizard deck.
Game 1: He starts with Clefairy.  I start with Hitmonchan.  After killing 
Clefairy, I kill charmander, and he's out of basics.
Game 2: He starts clefairy on the bench and charmander as active.  I start 
with Hitmonchan again and gust for clefairy, killing him.  He stalls for a 
while and pumps charizard on the bench.  I'm not too worried, because I have 
2 Super Removals in my hand.  He brings Charizard out and kills Hitmonchan.  
I Super him and kill his Charizard with Electabuzz.  (sorry Robby if any of 
this is wrong)
Match Record (2-1) Game Record (4-2)

Fourth Round:I play Jason Waters.  He's got a VERY good Alakazam/Chansey 
deck.  I was really scared going into the match.
Game 1: He can't get alakazam out, and I'm removing every energy he plays.  I 
eventually take out his Chanseys and Buzzes.
Game 2: He gets Alakazam out quickly and has Jynx as active with 2 Chanseys 
on the bench!!  That's his deck at its best.  I got REALLY scared.  
Surprisingly he was drawing a lot of cards, though.  He Oaks with 10 cards 
left in his deck!!  I couldn't believe it.  He ends up decking himself.
Match Record (3-1) Game Record (6-2)

I made it to the final 8 as the 7th seed.

1st round of the finals: I play Chase Mosman, the first seed.  He was 4-0.  
He's a great guy with a great deck.  I had already been beaten twice by Chase 
in a previous tourney which he had won.
Game 1: He was playing fighting/electric similar to me, except he played 
Zapdos instead of Farfetch'd.  We were playing lots of removals, and it was a 
pretty uneventful game.  However, I was 3 prizes up because I used my gusts 
quickly.  He couldn't really do much to me with his Zapdos, and I decked him.
Game 2: Same situation, really.  I was several prizes up, due to the fact 
that my deck was a little faster than his.  He couldn't kill enough of my 
pokemon in time.  He decked himself again.  Those were very tough games, and 
I was getting tired.
Match Record (4-1) Game Record (8-2)

2nd Round of the finals: I play my bro AGAIN.  This time I was back for 
revenge.
Game 1: He drew 3/4 of his deck in 4 turns!!  I didn't draw much of anything. 
 His Zapdos was beating my guys down.  He had 1 prize left, when I realized 
that he had 2 cards left in his deck!  I switched, then retreated next turn, 
and he decked himself.  
Game 2: Now it was time for the bad hand to go to my bro.  He drew only Buzz, 
and I drew Hitmonchan!!!  2 Turns, and it was all over.  My bro got 3rd 
place, and I moved on to the finals!
Match Record (5-1) Game Record (10-2)

Championship Match: I played against Chase's neighbor, Sammy Nansel.  He was 
playing fighting/psychic.  Sammy had won 2 tourneys already, and I was not 
jumping at the chance to play him.  He's an awesome player and I have a lot 
of respect for him and Chase.
Game 1:  I draw 4 energy removals and 3 Supers!  We stall the game for the 
first 12 or so turns, just drawing cards.  I have 3 farfetch'd, and he has 
Mewtwo, Hitmonchan, and Jynx as active.  My only prayer to win was 
Farfetch'd.  His pokemon just couldn't take out Farfetch'd, as I decked him 
for the win.
Game 2:  I draw 3 Farfetch'd again!  This is VERY good.  My Farfetch'd keep 
retreating, as he draws TONS of cards.  When he has about 10 cards left in 
his deck, he realizes he can't take out my Fars fast enough.  He ends up 
decking himself on purpose.
Match Record (6-1)  Game Record (12-2)

For getting 1st, I got a trophy and 1 pack of Jap fossil, jungle, gym 
leaders, team rocket, and base set.

Thanks to Gathering Ground for ANOTHER great tournament, and good prizes.

Dan Mayo (Haymaker18@aol.com) signing off...