Del Amo Fashion Center
City of Torrance, CA
Super Trainer Showdown - Tournament
May 27, 2000 (Pokemon TCG Tour)
Exactly 32 participants - Single Elimination

Okay, I wanted to use an experimental and original deck, but I really
need to be confident that I can get that invitation to Hotel Queen Mary
in Long Beach.  The time limit for each round was 20 minutes (Go to
www.wizards.com to find out the rules of this tournament) and you only
get to play one game for each round.  So if you get a bad draw, you're
out.  I decided to use the old-fashioned Haymaker.  Here's my deck list:

Pokemon (12):
4x Hitmonchan
4x Electrabuzz
4x Scyther

Trainers (28):
4x Bill
3x Professor Oak
2x CPU Search
1x Item Finder
4x Energy Removal
2x SER
4x Pluspower
2x Energy Retreival
2x Switch
2x Scoop Up
2x Gust of Wind

Energies (20):
9x Fighting
8x Lightning
3x Double Colorless

Round 1: I vs. J. D.
His deck is an uncommon deck with decent concept.  He sends out Machop to
dish out early damage to my Hitmonchan and had a Krabby on his bench.  I
wanted a faster finish so I used Jab, Jab again with Pluspower for first
knockout.  Then I had Electrabuzz charged up and so I played Switch and
gave him a beating.  He had no choice but to Call for Family.  He evolved
the 2nd Krabby into Kingler but still lost because of its weakness to
Lightning.

Win 1-0-0, 6 prizes left for the opponent

Round 2: I vs. Water/Scyther beatdown
The problem with him is that he accidentally dropped his deck onto the
floor.  Well, I adjusted my strategy right away during my draw.  It's
unfortunate because his only Pokemon was his Scyther.  For me,
nevertheless, was even worse because my only basic Pokemon was
Hitmonchan.  I used CPU Search in the second turn right away for
Professor Oak hoping for quick win.  I drew Electrabuzz and a Scoop Up
with those seven new cards, with another Oak.  I used that Scoop Up and I
started dishing damage right away.  Then by the fourth turn he still got
no extra basics so I finished the match with Electrabuzz's Thunderpunch.

Win 2-0-0, 6 prizes remaining for opponent.

Round 3: I vs. T. Nguyen
I thought that quarterfinals will get more difficult, and it did.  I had
Chan, Buzz, and Scyther.  He won the coin toss, and had the Chan out as
well.  He used a Gust of Wind to knock out my Electrabuzz quickly in two
turns.  I figured that Thundershock wasn't worth it, so I attached my
Lightning Energy to my Scyther and then as soon he got rid of my first
Electrabuzz, I used a Double Colorless Energy to give serious pain.  On
my fourth turn, I used a Pluspower to go after his remaining weenies
(Rocket Porygons).  His Scyther was useless because I used Energy Removal
and Billed for another Pluspower.  Two turns later, his Scyther was gone.
 He was fortunate to have another Scyther on his Bench.  I send in
Hitmonchan to get another quick knockout.  Then, I played Switch to my
Scyther and finished off the match quickly within another two turns.

Win 3-0-0, 5 prizes remaining for my opponent, 32 cards left in my deck.

Semifinals: I vs. Rhodney
This was bad luck for Rhodney.  He drew only a Promo Mewtwo.  I sended in
my Hitmonchan after I retreated my Scyther.  I gave him a beating by my
fourth turn (because I won the coin toss) with 2 Pluspowers (Nice try
with the Colorless Potion Energy!).

Win 4-0-0, 6 prizes remaining for my opponent, 41 cards left in my deck.

Finals: I vs. Bo
We knew that we were the best in the tournament.  We both agreed that in
the Second Round that we wouldn't face each other until the finals.  By
the way, that paid off for me because I knew his deck was probably going
to beat my Haymaker.  Yes, he used Scyther/ Mr.Mime/ Wigglytuff Haymaker.
 He denied almost all my energies except my Hitmonchan.  He got out
Wigglytuff on the second turn.  I had no choice but to use 3 of my
Pluspower (I used Professor Oak for the third), because my Thundershock
from my Electrabuzz failed and he killed it with full bench and a
Pluspower.  Even though we were dead even at 4 prizes left after I
knocked out his Wigglytuff, I knew I already lost because I didn't draw a
whole lot of Energy Removals.  My Super Energy Removal against his Mr.
Mime was nearly useless because he countered with his Energy Retreival.
His plan was to Slash with his Scyther, then Meditate with Mr. Mime to
kill every one of my Pokemon in orderly fashion.  He got a great opening
hand to explode with Professor Oaks early.  Tough luck!

Loss 4-1-0, I had 4 Prizes left and the count was 12 cards left in my
deck, then 7 cards left in his deck.

This deck's weakness was the lack of energies.  I relied on my drawing
power and "digging power" to win all my matches.  However, this deck has
never lost in Pokemon TCG League.  Thus, I trusted this deck will perform
fairly well under intense pressure.  Nevertheless, I still felt great
that I received 4 Base Set 2 boosters and got a Chansey, Kangaskhan, Item
Finder, and a Snorlax, with that nice Pokemon TCG Tour Cap and my golden
"ticket" to Long Beach's actual Super Trainer Showdown on July 22, 2000.

Props:
To my friend Grant, because he traded me Pidgeotto and 1st Edition Dark
Arbok for two of my rare trainers.  He helped me out a lot with those
cards.

To the Wizards of the Coast for hosting FREE tournament with fabulous
prizes.

Sorry, no slops this time because I am overall a nice person.

Thanks for reading my deck report.

William Hung
dragonlord53@juno.com