Electro Cleaner (Fire/Lightning)
By Andrew Daly
East Coast Super Trainer Showdown
Secaucus, New Jersey
About 338 kids in the 11-14 age group

This was my first DCI tourney so I was very excited to go.  I begged my
parents to take me so we stayed at the Meadowlands Plaza Hotel.  We got
there around 7:00 Friday night, checked in, then went to the Exposition
Center to check in for the tourney.  There wasn't a line =D so I checked in
quickly and after numerous times getting lost, found our way back to the
hotel.  There I might Viper_Strike_X and Lord Gothmog from Pojo's Apprentice
League.  They were making hats, one with quotes from one.. certain.. pojo.
person. anyway.  I also talked to some other kids, from Indiana, Kansas City
and Canada.  I tested my deck a couple times and it just sucked.  I switched
around many times and finally was set on it. 

The next morning I woke up extra early and got down to the Exposition Center
at about 9:30.  There was barely a line since most people were inside
already.  I got my STS T-shirt, got checked in again for my age group 11-14
and waited for awhile until the 1st round started.  Here's my deck list:

Pokemon: 18
3 Growlithe
3 Arcanine
3 Fossil Magmar
3 Electabuzz
2 Rockets Zapdos
2 Scyther
2 Machop

Trainers: 15
3 Oak
3 Comp. Search
3 GOW
2 NGR
2 Defender
2 Narrow Gym

Energy: 27
14 Fire
10 Lightning
3 DCE
The main Strategy is to get a prize or 2 early with F Magmar and Electabuzz.
Then load up Arcanine/R. Zapdos and clean house.  Machop is for support
against Wigglytuff/Electabuzz and Scyther is just kind of in there, hehe.

Match 1 vs. John Abbott w/ Dark Vileplume
This match was kind of short and the only one I wrote down.  I started with
Growlithe and no bench.  He started TR Oddish as active with Scyther,
Rockets Scyther and TR Oddish on bench.  I go first and attach a fire to
Growlithe.  He puts a grass on Oddish and poisons me.  I then attach a DCE
to Growlithe and Flare for 40; growlithe takes 10 from poison.  He evolves
his active into Dark Gloom, uses Potion and it's my turn.  I put Rockets
Zapdos on bench, attach a Fire to Growlithe and oak.  I got Arcanine and
evolved and did Flamethrower for my first KO.  He shows me that he was going
to evolve into Dark Plume that turn, whew.  He sends up R. Oddish and puts
me to sleep.  I awaken and flamethrower again for KO.  After that I just
kept Flamethrowering away until I won the match. 
Record: 1-0, 3 points

After that match I forgot to write down logs of my matches so rounds 2-4 I
don't remember at all, sorry guys.  But, after round 4 I was 4-0.

Round 5 vs. Eric Brooks? W/ Rockets Snorlax/others
Sorry, not sure if that name is right but oh well.  I started with Growly
against Snorlax.  He went first and put energy on Snorlax.  I attached a
fire to Growly.  He attached DCE and did 20 but stayed awake.  At this point
I forget what happened but I remember the last part.  It was 2-3 me in
prizes and I used my final oak.  He had badly damaged Mr. Mime and F Magmar
on his bench with my TR Machop as active.  In my Oak I got 2 GOW's!  I
gusted out Mime and Mag and won the game to go 5-0.
Record: 5-0, 15 points

By now they were starting to post standings after each round.  After round 5
I was ranked 9th.  I then faced Kevin Chen who had the same record as me but
a little higher resistance.  BTW, resistance is the total of points all of
your opponents have had. 

Round 6 vs. Kevin Chen w/ ???
This match went by too quickly.  He went first w/ his F Magmar against my
Growly.  He attaches a Fire and a plus power and smoke screens for 20.  I
attach a Fire energy and I say go.  He attaches Fire and 2 Plus Powers for
the win.  The second he did that I was stunned, speechless.  A few seconds
later it hit me.  I checked his deck, pleading something was illegal, but to
no avail. 
Record: 5-1, 15 points.

After that battle I was ranked 12th and knew that I pretty much had to win
these next ones if I wanted to make it to the Top 8.  Round 7 is fuzzy but I
was able to win and moved up to 10th.  When round 8 pairings went up I felt
I was going to lose.  I was going to play Rudy Rodriguez who was 7-0.  He
was also watching over my match with Eric Brooks so he knew my deck. 
Round 8 vs. Rudy Rodriguez w/ Wiggly/ R Zap/ Chansey
I can't remember the beginning (slaps himself for not writing down his
matches} but I was able to take a few early prizes before Arcanine took 3
prizes in 3 turns giving me a 2-5 edge.  We traded blows back and forth and
it was down to 1-2 when it was his jiggly vs. my TR Machop I was able to get
him in for 40 but he then KO'd me.  Fortunately, I had been partially
building a Growly and took my last prize from a Flare attack.
Record: 7-1, 21 points

After the match Rudy looked a little pissed, but for me, this was the win
that propelled me into the Top 8 moving from 10th to 6th.  They then gave us
boosters for being in the top 32 and we waited while they set up an area for
the finals.  A French broadcasting team had moved towards this area which
was pretty cool but no interview with me =(.  After they set up an area they
went through out decks to make sure it was legal then they gave us pairings,
here they were:

1 Carson White vs. 8 Alex Elkins
2 Kevin Chen vs. 7 Jason Imperiale
3 Rudy Rodriguez vs. 6 Andrew Daly
4 James O'Brien vs. 5 An-Lu Yi

AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!  Not Rudy again!!!  Well, I had reached my goal of making
the Top 8 and now it was all for fun.  Also, James O'Brien made the Top 8,
he goes to my Pokemon League, how coincidental! 

Top 8 Quarterfinals vs. Rudy Rodriguez
Well, not really much to say here.  Scyther vs. Scyther and I had TR Machop
on bench he was able to take out Scyther, TR Macho, and a Growly I put down.
I lost due to bench out but I was happy to make it to the Top 8.  I got a
binder, a hat, and more boosters (my whole family got about 40 =P).  I took
a picture with the other Quarterfinal losers then stayed and watched the
Semis and Finals.  Rudy won, he beat James in a tough match, congrats to
both of you guys. After that I left, it was a loooong day and I had eaten a
hot pretzel the whole day.  I had a blast and can't wait until Wizards has
another!

And now Props and Slops
Props to me for making the Top 8 and have played only 4 months!
Props to my family for taking me and staying the whole 10 hours with me.
Props to my deck for doing so well.
Props to everyone who made it to Top 8.
Props to me (I'm not conceited am I?) to being the only one to beat Rudy =P
Props to my friends from my Pokemon League who didn't make it to the Top 8
but did a good job anyway, and don't worry, I'll remember your names sooner
or later, lol.
Props to Pojo, you guys have done great work on your website, keep it up!

Slops to me for not writing down logs of my matches.

Well that's it hope you enjoyed me KDR.  Thanks!
Fan Mail, Hate Mail and any other type of Mail send it to me at
Beedrill_Master300@excite.com
By Andrew Daly proud member of Pojo's Apprentice League (Beedrill300)







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