I just got back from my first major organized tournament at
Area 51 in Shelton, Wa. and wanted to submit a report. The
turnout was small, only 5 people, so the store owner entered
as a 6th. We played a 2-part tourney, with the first half
being a Swiss-scored round robin, each person playing each
other once in a 20-minute single round game. My deck
follows:

Forest of Misery:

4 Weedle
3 Kakuna
2 Beedrill
4 Bulbasaur
3 Ivysaur
2 Venusaur
1 Koffing
1 Doduo
4 Bill
3 Energy Removal
3 Computer Search
1 Pokemon Breeder
2 Gust of Wind
1 Potion
1 Super Potion
1 Switch
2 Pokemon Center
21 Grass Energy

Tourney Results:

Match 1: I played Ron, who was running a Fire/Psy deck. I
was worried at first, but I got out a Kakuna, and built up
to a Venusaur on my bench. He killed Kakuna, and Venusaur
ripped him apart with Solarbeam.
Score: 3    Record: 1-0

Match 2: I played Brian Sims, who had a straight Electric
deck. He kept the Electabuzzes out and pumped, but Venusaur
and a well-timed Pokemon Center saved the day.
Score: 6    Record: 2-0

Match 3: I played Chris Schenck and his Grass/Water deck. I
knew he had a nasty Nidoking set in there, but Computer
Searches and lucky draws got a Venusaur out 4th round, and I
fried his Poliwhirl, leaving him with a Nidoran and nothing
to save it. Needless to say, it was quickly toasted.
Score: 9    Record: 3-0

Match 4: I played Dave, the store owner, who had made a
Psychic deck. The deck looked pretty good, especially when
he got a Mewtwo out against a pumped Venusaur, but he
couldn't get the energy to use it, and Venusaur tore it
apart again.
Score: 12  Record: 4-0

Match 5: I played John Garza, who was borrowing a
Grass/Water deck from someone. Beedrill vs. a bench full of
Poliwags.. well, it was a gruesome scene.
Score: 15  Record: 5-0

The second half of the tournament pitted the top 4 players
from the first half in single-elimination hour-long 2 out of
3 round matches to determine the winners. Me, John Garza,
Chris, and Brian were left.

Semifinal: John Garza again.

Round 1: Went about the same as the first time I played him.
Poliwags fall quickly before Beedrill.
Round 2: He got a couple of Weedles out and Poisoned my
Venusaur. I left it out as large fodder while I built up 2
Beedrills on my bench. Venusaur dies, Beedrills came out and
pounded his 40HP basics.

Well, I'd made it to the final match, and felt I was doing
pretty good so far. The winds soon changed though...

Final: Brian Sims's Electric deck.

Round 1: Erk. Bad draw, I had a Weedle against 2
Electabuzzes, and not another basic in sight.. quick loss.
Round 2: Nearly the same thing, only I got it up to a Kakuna
before it died, plus a one turn fried Doduo. The indignity
of a bad draw...

All in all, I got 2nd and $6 in store credit. Not too bad
for my first tourney.

jajjmm@uswest.net - J. Davis