Top o' the World Player Profile

NAME: Andrew Rysdam
RANKING: 63 (as of 10/26/1999)
CITY / STATE: Glendale, Arizona
AGE: 12
LOCATION: Sports Cards 24242 W Dunlap AvePhoenix, AZ

[POJO] What do you like best about the PokeMon TCG?
[AR] I like the tough competition, it is more fun to play against harder decks than easier decks in my opinion.

[POJO] What do you dislike about the PokeMon TCG?
[AR] I dislike the unoriginality of decks now, people should create new decks. I hate to see every deck based on a Haymaker or Raindance or Potpourri.

[POJO] Do you find casual play or organized competition to be more fun? Why?
[AR] I find organized competition more fun because I am a very competitive person.

[POJO] Where do you usually play?
[AR] Well, I don't play on the internet, because for some reason I can't get Gooey to work, so I guess I play most of my games at Sports Cards 2.

[POJO] How often do you participate in organized tournaments?
[AR] I used to go every week, but then I took a little break, am I am going to start going in a week or two.

[POJO] What was you most thrilling victory?
[AR] My most thrilling victory was probably my biggest win ever, $44. I think, (not sure) it was against David O'Conner (yes, it was his most crushing defeat in his report). I guess it was just luck that he only drew one Pokemon, I wiped it out with a Hitmonchan of my own in the first few turns of the game.

[POJO] What was your most crushing defeat?
[AR] My most crushing defeat was when I drew one Scyther, (I had just put it in a day or two before). I had a Scyther out and this little 7-year-old wiped it out in two turns with a Charmandar.

[POJO] Who is your toughest competition? Why?
[AR] Well, I had a best friend who played a very good fire deck, 4 Growlithe, 4 Arcanine, 4 Clefairy, 4 Clefable, 4 Ponyta, 4 Rapidash, and he was incredibly hard to beat, but unfortunately for me, he quit Pokemon.

[POJO] What is your favorite card? Why?
[AR] My favorite card would have to be …actually, I have two favorites. Hitmonchan and Electabuzz, great cards.

[POJO] What kind of deck to you dread having to play against?
[AR] A Potpourri, Haymaker, or a totally original deck, you never know what is in store for you with those, that is why I love to play original decks.

[POJO] What does it mean to you to be ranked as one of the best Pokemon TCG players in the world?
[AR] It feels good, but it really doesn't do me any good just talking about it, to prove that I would actually have to play someone and show them.

[POJO] Do you play the Pokemon video game?
[AR] Yep

[POJO] Do you watch the Pokemon Animated Series?
[AR] Of course

[POJO] Do you have a collection of Pokemon toys?
[AR] Nope

[POJO] Do you have a favorite card? Favorite video game character? Favorite animated series character?
[AR] No, not really, just like to play the game

[POJO] Anything else you would like to add to this interview?
[AR] Well, there is one thing: people, people, people - make an original deck, don't use something that you know everyone else is going to be using. If you know for sure a deck that everyone will be playing, find it’s weaknesses and make a deck of them.