Me: ErnieE
Deck:Soul Eatin' Beatin'
Store:The Gathering Place
Location: Casselberry, FL
Date:3/22/03
# of People:50

This was my first official sanctioned tournament I competed in and didn't do too bad considering the level of play going on. I usually go to this place where they have unoffical tournaments but usually get creamed in the first round. But since my deck's been slowly improving over the months I decided to give an offical tourney a try. Well onto my deck, something that takes away opponent's good cards from play and some of mine to power some good baboons on my side, hence the name Soul Eatin' Beatin'.

Monsters(22):
Summoned Skull(2)
Jinzo
7 Colored Fish(3)
Kycoo The Ghost Destroyer(3)
Harpie's Brother(2)
LaJinn The Mystical Genie
Bazoo The Soul Eater(2)
Magician of Faith(3)
Mask of Darkness
Man Eater Bug
Witch of the Black Forest
Tornado Bird
Cyber Jar
Morphing Jar #2

Magic(14):
Swords of Revealing Light
Monster Reborn
Raigeki
Heavy Storm
Premature Burial
Nobleman of Crossout
Mystical Space Typhoon(2)
Axe of Despair(2)
Pot of Greed
Change of Heart
Snatch Steal
Ekibiyo Drakmord

Traps(9):
Call of the Haunted
Magic Jammer
7 Tools of the Bandit(2)
Mirror Force
Imperial Order
Trap Hole
Magic Cylinder
Waboku

Side Deck:
Hayabusa Knight
Exchange
Prohibition(3)
Dark Hole
Solemn Judgement
Card Destruction
Trap Hole
Offerings to the Doomed
Return of the Doomed
Giant Trunade
Soul Release
Nobleman of Extermination
Nobleman of Crossout

Before the tournament actually started, I scouted out what players I could watch practice dueling before the whole place got crowded, and it sure did. I could see that the level of gameplay here was much higher than What I was used to seeing, so I knew I had a challenge on my hands. I played one guy, an older fellow and I'm not exactly young either. He had a beatdown deck similar to mine and basically wiped the floor with me. I was told later on that he's one of the top duelist's in the store. Next I played someone with a Destiny Board deck. Managed to take him down twice and he won once. Then it began.

First Round:
Me vs Beatdown-Type
This was my first duel and it turned out to be grueling, at least for me. The first match went by for a good fifteen minutes with me pulling it out. The second match was much longer, something like 30 min. Suffice it to say I managed to pull that one out too

Second Round:
What a stroke of luck, I got a bye! I used that break to replace Magic Drain and one Trap Hole for Imperial Order and Magic Jammer. Magic Drain was being countered too many times and decided on the stronger Jammer. And I've seen Imperial Order coming in handy for many a player and decided I needed that handiness!

Third Round:
Me vs Exodia
Man I hate Exodia. Too many times I've lost. I sidedeck-replaced Premature Burial, Call of the Haunted, Ekibiyo Drakmord and Snatch Steal for my 3 Prohibitions and Exchange.
1st match: He took out Exodia after I Rageki'ed a facedown Sangan
2nd match: Turned this game around after I pulled Exchange and got his Right Leg. I had to contend with a hated Gravity Bind while he beat me down with the Head. Pulled out the win by getting Jinzo out there.
3rd match: Another long duel with him pulling Exodia & the match and none of my side deck cards showing up.

Well overall a successful first official tournament considering the level of play. Since then, I got myself a Gemini Elf and Torrental Tribute that I've added to my deck replacing LaJinn and Waboku. Till next time, DUEL WITH HONOR!