Today I
have an interview with a rising star from
Texas. He is on team Hpnotiq, and his name
is Russell "The Boss" Jensen!
Ryan: I
would like to start off by saying thank you
for taking the time to do this interview.
Russell:
No prob, thank you for interviewing me.
Ryan:
What is your full name and what state do
you live in?
Russell:
Russel Christian Jenson III, and I live in
Austin, Tx
Ryan:
What team are you currently on, and what
accomplishments have you had so far?
Russell:
Im currently on Team Hpnotiq. My personal
accomplishments are 5 regional top 8's and
going 7-2 at sjc austin aswell as houston.
I also went 7-2 at sjc Atlanta.
Ryan:
Did you go to nationals and how did you end
up?
Russell:
I went 1-3 drop. It was the worst
performance of my Yu-Gi-Oh! career.
Ryan:
More about this team your on, how did you
come to be on Team Hpnotiq, and who is all
on it?
Russell:
Well most people might not now me, but alot
of people know my friend Ryan Cerda. Him
and I decided to create a team with our
close friends in the Austin area. We had
trouble picking a name so we drew straws and
Hpnotiq was the best choice.
Russell:
The roster has changed since we've been
established but the current roster is Russel
Jenson, James Naughton, Harry Anderson,
Chris Sorelle, Mike Stavinoah, Brad Poth,
Evan Vargas, Freddie Ramires, and Alex
Chevurelli.
Russell:
Although, Ryan Cerda, Roger Brunson, and
Kyle Fisher are a part of the original 5.
Ryan:
Sounds like a solid team
Russell:
Yessir
Ryan:
What would you say are Hpnotiqs greatest
strengths?
Russell:
hmm, I think a good strength of us is that
we are all close friends and that we all
hang out and do other things than play
yugioh. Of course we love to playtest too
since its the thing we all have in common
with eachother.
Ryan:
How long have you been playing yu-gi-oh?
Russell:
I have been playing since the end of 2005.
Russell:
Around the time your teamate Fili Luna won
SJC san mateo I might add.
Ryan:
Has there really been anyone that has helped
you along to get to where you are today?
Russell:
Yes. Ryan Cerda is probrably the sole
reason I am where I am today. Alot of
online players still have respect for him to
this day.
Ryan:
What is the next event your team plans on
attending?
Russell:
Indy is up in the air right now. As of
right now, financially we aren't sure what
events we are going to attend.
Ryan:
Are there any shout outs you would like to
make at this time?
Russell:
Sure. I would like to shout out to my
teamates Harry, James, Mike, Chris, and
Evan. Hpnotiq is a family.
Ryan: Is
there any advice you would give to new
players in this game?
Russell:
Practice makes perfect. If you plan on
joining a team, make sure they are people
you can trust anything with.
Ryan: I
know what you mean, I could leave anything
with anybody on my team and not worry about
it being lost.
Russell:
Same here
Ryan:
ok, moving along, what cards would you like
to see hit the ban/restricted list this time
around?
Russell:
Snatch steal man. It's too big of a swing
in the game. Limiter removal is kickin butt
right now too.
Ryan:
How do you feel about ring of destruction?
Russell:
It's a great topdeck late game, but if I had
to choose between snatch or ring, I would
choose snatch. I mean, we already have
brain control.
Ryan:
There has been alot of talk on the forums
lately, and how card trooper deserves to be
limited. How do you feel about this?
Russell:
It should. The combo with machine
duplication is a deadly combo, some people
are calling it the new stein. So i think
card trooper could be limited to 2 so it
would just be a 1 for 1 if the combo went
off.
Ryan: If
you had a chance to talk with ude/konami,
what suggestions would you make?
Russell:
I think they're doing a good job with alot
of things, especially the prize support.
Although it would be nice if they could fund
trips to say, Shonen Jump winners or
something like that so it would be easier to
travel around to the events and such.
Ryan:
That would be a great way to travel more.
Russell:
Yeah, it would be a great 1st prize,
although it's great now too.
Ryan: Do
you think cheating is a major problem in
yugioh? What form is the most prevalent in
your oppinion?
Russell:
It's always going to be a problem, its just
whether you get caught or not is the
problem. The form that is most common is
stacking your deck. Drawing extra cards is
alot easier now with the recent success of
cyber phoenix, card trooper, and gadgets.
With those cards it makes it difficult to
keep up with card count.
Ryan:
What do you think is the number one way to
prevent cheating?
Russell:
Other than having a judge sit there next to
you, probrably paying constant attention.
Asking how many cards in hand once per turn
is a good way to do it, it may seem
annoying, but if it saves from losing the
wrong way then so be it.
Ryan:
Ok, changing subject, what is your current
rank in texas.
Russell:
I haven't checked that in a long time, but I
know i've always been in the top 25 players.
Ryan: When you first started playing the
game, was there anyone you really looked up
to?
Russell:
Ryan Cerda and Ryan Hayakawa. Hayakawa
because he is the same age as me and because
he is ASAIN!
Ryan:
Who do you think the best team in north
america is?
Russell:
Hpnotiq of course!
Ryan:
Who is your favorite superhero?
Russell:
Batman sir.
Ryan:
Any reason behind that?
Ryan: I
like the human torch and spiderman.
Russell:
Batman because he doesn't need super powers
to be hardcore.
Ryan: Do
you play any sports? If so, what position?
Russell:
I play Defensive back in football as well
as Tailback. I also run track as well.
Ryan:
Does being athletic help in yugioh at all?
Russell:
Haha, yeah in a way, you get to walk around
events for long periods of time and you can
carry your bag for a while without getting
tired.
Ryan: Do
you have a pojo account?
Russell:
Yes I do.
Ryan:
Would you mind sharing it?
Russell:
Sure. It's Russelltheboss28
Ryan: If
you got to choose the 4 players to represent
us at worlds, who would they be?
Russel:
I would have to say, T, Fili Luna, Shane
Scurry, and Me.
Ryan:
You would pick yourself? Any particular
reason?
Russel:
Who would'nt want to go to worlds?!
Ryan:
True
Ryan:
Well this is the end of the interview, is
there anything else you would like to add?
Russel:
I forgot Brad Poth when I mentioned the
roster!
Ryan: I
already fixed that.
Russel:
niice, nothin else man.
Note to
readers: Russel Jensen is a rising star in
the Texas area. Watch out at major events
that he attends, he is going to be one of
the greats. Thanks for the interview Russ,
and good luck to Hpnotiq in their future
events!
~Ryan
Spicer
If anyone
has any questions feel free to ask them. My
pojo name is ryan spicer and my aim is
blackluster777. See yall laters,
YEEEEEEHAAAAAAAA
