Houston Super Trainer Showdown Tournament Qualifier, Woodlands Mall
June 14-26 2000
Airon Peralta
Surprisingly enough, this tournament was not as crowded as I expected. People had been telling me that they have gone up to Dallas, TX a week before for that STS Qualifier and saying that there were about triple(!) the number of people who showed up. Anyways, in case you don't know how this tournament works, here goes:
Age groups are 10 and under, 11-14, and 15 and up.
9 tournaments each day(so 3 tournaments for each age group).
5 rounds Single Elimination, Free of charge(plus free prizes! ^_^).
32 people in tournament, 20 minute time limit
Get past round 2 and you get some Base Set II packs(ONLY Base 2).
Past round 3, invitation, round 4, a "Master Trainer" cap, round 5, the t-shirt plus the shot to win the trip to L.A.
Now for the point system:
You get points for the number of prize cards your opponent has in the end of the game (I.E.: 6 prizes=6pts, etc.)
The person with the most points in each age group wins the trip.
I suggest getting to the STS a little over an hour early, but since the next one is at the Mall of America, you should get there as early as possible, since it will be most likely very, very crowded!! I didn't think there would be that much of a line and I was right. I arrived at the mall at 8:30 AM, and I think I was the tenth person in line (oh, btw, I saw Chipmunk several times at the qualifier!). I practiced a little bit, and I met a new friend in the process. At 10:00, the line began to move, after the line of waiting people were forced to count down from five, say I CHOOSE YOU! (insert Pokemon name here).
I get my appointment card for the first tournament for my age group, 11-14(Deck check at 10:45, compete at 11:30) and look around. Three areas are set up, area one for the first round, 2 for the next, and 3 for all the other rounds. There's a place where you can earn points that you can use for the Pokemon League by playing people and trading. Here is the deck that I will use for today:
"Omega Launcher"
Pokemon
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2x Movie Promo Mewtwo
3x Jigglypuff
2x Wigglytuff
2x Dratini (TR)
1x Dragonair
1x Dark Dragonair
2x Slowpoke (TR)
2x Dark Slowbro
2x Mr. Mime
1x Kangaskhan
2x Doduo
2x Dodrio
Trainers
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2x Professor Oak
2x Potion
1x Super Potion
3x Energy Removal
1x Challenge
2x Energy Retrieval
2x Nightly Garbage Run
2x Gust of Wind
2x Mr. Fuji
Energy
------
20x Psychic Energy
2x Double Colorless Energy
I call this deck the Omega Launcher because in case you don't know what Omega means, it means the end, the end for all decks that try to stop this one since it can strike back against almost any kind of deck. I added the Launcher part because I updated it for Team Rocket, trying to make it sound kinda cool. This deck focuses on the Wigglytuff most of the time, but sometimes I take out Hitmonchans with the Promo Mewtwo and Scythers with Mr. Mime. I don't have too much energy, which is why the Energy Retrievals are there. Sometimes, I take back energy with the Nightly Garbage Run, but most of the time, I use it for Pokemon. Challenge is obviously useful for filling the bench and Dark Dragonair's Pokemon Power "Evolutionary Light" which lets you take any evolution Pokemon from your deck and put it into your hand.
The tournaments
Day One, Tournament One
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Round 1 vs. P. Crews
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I went first, got only one basic Pokemon, a Doduo, which was quickly removed by Electabuzz. =(
Points 0
Opponent's Skill 0
I got another appointment card for tournament 2(Deck check at 11:45, compete at 12:30) and I killed some time at the League Zone. You can get lots of points over there for League, so milk it for all it's worth! BTW, the kid I met in line won the first tournament with 25 points!!
Day One, Tournament Two (I lost the Pink sheet for this tournament, so I don't know the names)
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Round 1 vs. ?
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I drew a Jigglypuff, Doduo, Mr. Mime, Wigglytuff, a DCE and 2 Psychic energy. I went first and sent out Jigglypuff vs. a Base Magmar (w/an empty bench), put on the DCE and did 20 damage. Opponent attached Fire energy, not expecting to be K.O'd this early and passed. Evolved into Wigglytuff and Did the Wave for the win!
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Points: 6
Opponent's Skill: 0
Opponents Left: 12(wasn't a full tournament)
Round 2 vs. ?
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I drew a similar hand as the last round, except more Pokemon instead. I Did the Wave for 4 turns, KO'ing 4 Pokemon. The attack was stopped short when my opponent sent out a Promo Mewtwo, and Gusted mine out for one KO. I KO'd two more with Wigglytuff for the win.
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Points: 5
Total Points 11
Opponent's Skill: 3
Opponents Left: 6
Prizes: 2 Base 2 Boosters
Round 3 vs. ?
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Arrgghh, this was a very, very tough game. We play around for a good long time, with a Pokemon getting KO'd every now and then, and time was running low. 5 minutes, 2 prizes for the both of us. I sent out my promo Mewtwo with 5 counters and KO'd his Hitmonlee. One prize. He countered with a Hitmonchan with 2 counters, and KO'd my Mewtwo. One prize for both of us. I sent out Dark Slowbro, botched 2 flips. I could've sent out Mr. Mime, but didn't and attempted the kill. Dark Slowbro was K.O'd next turn. After this game, I tried to get an appointment card for the next tournament, but they were all gone, so I went home, full of rage.
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Points: 1 (? cards remaining in own deck)
Total Points: 12
Opponent's Skill: ?
Total Prizes: 2 Base 2 Packs
I got to the mall about 30 mins. later than I did the day before, and I was in the same place in line, with the same people in front of me. I got appointment cards for the first two tournaments and I went to League and practiced a little bit.
Day Two, Tournament One
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Round One vs. L. Holte
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He was using a Fighting Haymaker deck and did not couldn't draw any energy. I was able to run him out of Pokemon about 5 turns into the game with Slowpoke and Mewtwo's teamwork.
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Points: 4
Opponent's Skill: 0
Opponents left: 10
Round Two vs. M. Salazar
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I didn't expect it, but this kid went on to win the next tournament. I was able to K.O. 3 out of the 4 Hitmonchans he had and 2 Scythers. I played 2 Oaks in a row and then played Nightly Garbage Run to be able to recycle Pokemon back in to prevent myself from getting decked. They called 30 seconds, but after trying to find a way out, he got decked.
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Points: 5
Total Points: 5
Opponent's Skill: 5
Opponents left: 5
Prizes: 2 Base 2 Boosters
Round Three vs. MASTER TRAINER Brenda
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I had the least amount of points so I had to play a Master Trainer. She used a Preconstructed Deck, so I did not have a very hard time. I went second leading off with Jiggly with Slowpoke benched. 10 damage to Jiggly, attached DCE to Jiggly, did 20 to her Bellsprout. 10 to Jiggly, Played Potion, and K.O'd Bellsprout. She then sent out a Clefairy with 2 energy attached, attempted to Sing me, but failed. I Pounded on her for 20 and she attached another energy and Metronomed Pound for another 20. I then Pounded her Clefairy for the K.O. She sent out a Machop and K.O.'d Jigglypuff. I sent out a fully charged up promo Mewtwo and K.O.'d Machop. She was down to her last Pokemon, a Sandshrew with no energy and passed and I K.O.'d it for the win.
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Points: 5 (33 cards remaining in own deck)
Total Points: 10
Opponents Skill: 6
Opponents left: 4
Prizes: 1 Base 2 Booster and an Invitation
Semifinal: Round Four vs. ? (blurry name on score sheet)
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He had a lot of guts to play a Raindance in a 20 minute tournament, but I guess it payed off. I went first and sent a Jigglypuff, with Doduo benched. I attached DCE and K.O.'d his Squirtle after 2 turns. He then sent out a Squirtle with one Water Energy, and used Pokemon Breeder to get Blastoise out and Raindanced 4 Water Energies onto Blastoise. He then K.O.'d Jigglypuff and I drew my card hoping for a Professor Oak, but to no avail.
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Points: 5
Total Points: 14 (42 cards remaining in own deck)
Opponent's Skill: 18
It turns out that the winner of that first tournament will most likely get the trip as he finished with 27 points and the other winners finished with less. My buddy, Sergio, told me to make some changes on my deck. I did and here they are:
"Omega Launcher" Mk. II
Pokemon
-------
2x Movie Promo Mewtwo
3x Jigglypuff
2x Wigglytuff
2x Dratini (TR)
1x Dark Dragonair
2x Slowpoke (TR)
2x Dark Slowbro
2x Mr. Mime
2x Gastly (FS)
1x Haunter (FS)
2x Doduo
2x Dodrio
Trainers
--------
2x Professor Oak
2x Potion
1x Super Potion
3x Energy Removal
1x Challenge
2x Energy Retrieval
2x Nightly Garbage Run
2x Gust of Wind
2x Mr. Fuji
Energy
------
19x Psychic Energy
2x Double Colorless Energy
I quickly ran to the 11:30 tournament, appointment card already stamped(thanks to my mom).
Day Two, Tournament Two
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Round One vs. D. Everett
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This kid considered me cheap just because of my second turn win(there's gonna be something cheaper coming up...) yesterday against his friend. He played a weird Raindance, but I got out Mewtwo quickly and K.O.'d all of his Pokemon, leaving him empty.
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Points: 6
Total Points: 6
Opponent's Skill: 0
Opponents left: 12
Prizes:
Round Two vs. R. L(last name starts with L...)
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You know how all these people admire the English-only card Dark Raichu? Well, this was the card that quickly finished me. He took out my active and my whole bench on the fifth turn. This tactic wasn't the cheapness I was talking about earlier, in case you were wondering
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Points: 3
Total Points: 9
Opponent's Skill: 1
In case you don't remember, M. Salazar won Tournament 2. Anyways, I had so much rage built up inside of me. I swore to myself that I would win this tournament.
Day Two, Tournament Three(the final tournament!!)
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Round One vs. L. Baeza
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My opponent had an older kid whom he know sitting behind him, cheering him on. The kid seemed like a beginner, he played with Fire, Grass, and Water all in one deck. I led off with a Slowpoke which left after K.O.'ing several of his Pokemon. I drew Dark Dragonair, evolved my benched Dratini and then used Evolutionary Light to pull out my Wigglytuff. My Jigglypuff with a DCE and a Psychic Energy evolved and I retreated Slowpoke. I Oaked and filled up my bench. After a few more turns, I took all six prizes.
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Points: 6
Opponent's Skill: 0
Opponents left: 12
Round Two vs. R. Ruseo
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NOW, comes the cheapness I was talking about, my buddy whom I waited with in line was playing right next to me, he won the coin toss and he had an active Hitmonchan vs. Clefairy with no bench!!! SINGLE TURN WIN!! Ouch!!! Anyways, on to my game....
He a similar deck to M. Salazar's. I got an early start with my Mewtwo and ran him out of benched Pokemon.
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Points: 6
Total Points: 12
Opponent's Skill: 5
Opponents Left: 6
Prizes: 2 Base 2 Boosters
Round Three vs. Sergio Silva Jr.
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I couldn't believe it. I had to play against my new friend. We promised that we would see each other in the finals, but it did not turn out quite like it. He played a very, very tough game. We were tied at one prize apiece, but he wound up decking himself after 18 long minutes.
--------------------------------
Points: 1
Total Points: 8 (5 cards in own deck)
Opponent's Skill: 13
Players Left: 3
Prizes: 1 Base 2 Booster and Invitiation
In between games: The three remaining semifinalists were all told to roll dice. The 2 who match(evens/odds) will play each other. The other 2 kids rolled evens, and I rolled an odd number!! Yay! I get to play the Master Trainer!!
Semifinal: Round 4 vs. MASTER TRAINER Jeff
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This game has got to be the most memorable match of Pokemon I play ever. First, he mulligans with a Precon deck, which is nearly impossible. I win the dice roll(he preferred dice, for MY sake..) and he proclaims to the world that he has sent out his deadly, cunning, powerful.... Drowzee with a mustache!!! I didn't call over a judge since all he did to the card was write "with a mustache" and draw a mustache onto the Drowzee drawing.. LOL!! I attach DCE to my active Jigglypuff and use pound for 20. Another stupid thing that happens, he does Pound to me for 0(Resistance) and I almost put a counter on Jiggly! I evolved into Wiggly and Waved for 20(one benched). He used a Potion and used Confuse Ray on me, success. Wiggly was confused and I hit myself 3 turns in a row, before I KO'd that special Drowzee. I Oaked, I got a full bench and took out whatever he had left with Wiggly.
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Points: 5
Total Points: 12(25 cards in own deck)
Opponent's Skill: 18
Players left: 2
Prizes: 1 Base 2 Booster and Cap
In between games: I was waiting for this kid named Joe to finish his game and when he did, we said a prayer before going into battle. I found out that if he beats me and I draw 2 or less prizes, he gets the trip. I don't quite think I'm gonna allow myself to be bribed, IE "I'll give you a Dark Raichu if you lose" or "I'll give you my T-shirt if you win!".
Finals!: Round 5 vs. Joe
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I got 3 Pokemon with Slowpoke as my active. I win the toss and he has a Ditto! I Headbutt it for 20(2x damage!) and he attaches an energy to a Scyther on the bench. I attach DCE to my benched Jigglypuff and I retreat Slowpoke, pounding for 20(that was my only mistake). He benched a Hitmonchan, sent it out, attached energy and after 2 turns, KO'd Jiggly. I played a Challenge! next turn and he accepted. I pulled out Mewtwo, Dratini, Doduo, and a Jiggly. I removed his Hitmonchan's energy and on my next turn, evolved Doduo into Dodrio and Dratini into Dark Dragonair. I play Evolutionary Light and evolve Jiggly into Wiggly. Dodrio was ready to rock so I sent him out and after taking 4 Special Punch hits, he was unstoppable. I used the 2 other Removals and no Pokemon had energy. I was then using Rage right and left and 4 out of his six Pokemon had 5 counters on it. I noticed that the Ditto I hit earlier wasn't KO'd, so I ko'd Ditto also. He sent out a Scyther without counters and I Raged it for 50. All of his Pokemon had counters, so I finished this game in the next 3 or 4 turns.
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Points: 5
Total Points: 23(29 cards in own deck)
Opponent's Skill: 23
Prizes: 6 Base 2 Boosters and Shirt
Total Prizes: 10 Base 2 Boosters, Invitation, Cap, and shirt
Overall, I think I got 16+ Base 2 Boosters over the weekend for free. I got a Charizard, Blastoise, Nidoking, Mewtwo, Nidoqueen, and Gyarados. Not bad, not bad at all.
My little brother had also played in a few tournaments, and on the last tournament of Day 2, he got to the third round! He got eliminated though, but he learned how to become a better player.
This tournament was great even though the last time I played in a tournament was about a year ago. I liked the fact that there was this man who would give you a survey, and you'd get a free pack for it! The event was very well organized, MT Jeff(and despite his cosmic powers, he could not change the past! ^_^) and the MT who found me the Gastlys were my favorites. The crowd was nice and there was good sportsmanship all around.
Props and Slops!
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Props:
To the Master Trainers who did a great job setting up this event and even though I beat them with Precon decks, they were still fun to talk to and great people.
All the people who participated, I could tell everybody had a great time!
My Special Ops squad: Wiggly, Mewtwo, and Dodrio!
My mom for being a good sport, having my deck checked for me, and taking me both days.
To all the free stuff we got!!
Slops:
Several decks disappeared over the weekend.
Having to play my new friend.
Thanks for reading and I hope to see all you guys on board the Queen Mary!
Airon Peralta - nekkyo@freewwweb.com