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Top o’ the World Player Profile

JEREMY KASSEM
Tulsa, OKLAHOMA
15 years old
Currently Ranked 87th in DCI Globally
(disincluding #1, which I think no one will object to)

Ness: How did you get into this game?
Jeremy: At first i saw it at school 3 years ago.  I didnt like it but that was probably because i didnt know anything.  (Maybe reason now people my age won't let school mates know?)  Anyways i was at the mall watchin a movie with some friends and we went to KB-Toys.  (keep in mind we were 7th graders then)  I come across a blackout deck, borrow some money and buy it.  We head down to the "empty" food court, half the deck and start playing.  I continuously lose to a farfetched.

Ness: What do you like about it?
Jeremy: I like the competitveness.  The gameplay.  And the randoms.  I used to like the comptetion, but pokemon has almost become extinct around these parts with the exception of a few quality players.

Ness: What don’t you like about it?
Jeremy: COIN FLIPS SUCK d00d.  I cant stand them and i have HORRIBLE luck with them.  Maybe the reason i picked up magic?

Ness: What’s your favorite deck to play?
Jeremy: I like fun decks.  You can't always win with them but they are fun.  Like blastoise for a while was fun.  Then came around haymaker and totally changed pokemon forever.

Ness: What do you think is the strongest deck in the current environment?
Jeremy: Well there is no doubt in my mind that slowking is the best in an Unlimited format.  But with the recent dci format of "rocket-on" i would have to say FERALIGATR.  Again no doubt in my mind.

Ness:  What deck do you hate to play against?
Jeremy: I hate mirror matches.  They are probably the longest and most boring games.  Although there is one good thing about them, they take mondo skill yo.

Ness: What would your “Top 10 Best Pokémon” list look like?
Jeremy:
Sneasel
Cleffa
SLowking
Electabuzz
Rocket's Zapdos
Chansey
Clefable
Muk
Brock's Mankey
Steelix

Ness:  Top 5 trainers?  
Jeremy:
Professor Oak
Computer Search
Item Finder
Lass
Gold Berry

Ness:  Where do you usually play?
Jeremy: Wizards Asylum: Comics and Games
     
Ness: Who is your most difficult competition?
Jeremy: Tim Batow.  AKA TB86NO2 or PokeTim

Ness: What do you win at tournaments?
Jeremy: Usually store credit

Ness: What are some of your most thrilling victories?
Jeremy: I went to OKC a few times and when i got there i could here them talking about the other randoms.  Like saying stuff like, "yes more randoms."  Then i won the touranament.  

Ness: And your most devastating losses?
Jeremy: Even though they shouldnt be its when i lose to tim.  Ha i know its sounds funny because he is my toughest competition but he is almost my only competition.  But i have kept my eye on some rising stars.

Ness: Did you compete in the TMB, STS, or any other large-scale tournaments? If you did, how’d ya do?
Jeremy: I played in the dallas ecstsq tournament but lost in the finals to a bad draw.  I never question weather i made bad mistakes that tournament.  It was single elimination and i hadnt had a prize drawn against me all day until this one bad draw.  And i still lost 13 points.  

Ness: If you had to ban one card, what would you ban?
Jeremy: I would ban some multiple cards.  And i would change some rules.  but just the broken cards like Oak Search and Finder.  Maybe big ol kINg.

Ness: What deck do you think is the funnest to play?
Jeremy: Hmm... I fun deck.  Id have to say SMEARGLE.DEC  ok thats a lie but there are a ton of good decks.  I would have to say the funnest time is back in the good ol' days of base set ONLY.

Ness: What do you think of Wizard’s ideas of No 15+ qualifiers, Prop 15, modified, etc.?
Jeremy: Well that is gone. But it sucked.  Rocket on is SOOOO Much better.

Ness: What does it mean to be ranked as one of the best Pokémon players in the world?
Jeremy: Even though i think of myself as good.  I dont like to be cocky.  There are so many unranked awesome players.  But it does feel good to be ranked high.  Especially first in the state.

Ness: Do your friends/schoolmates know you play Pokémon? Does it give ya a good/bad reputation?
Jeremy: No they dont know.  It never comes up.  Its kinda like i have this whole other life that no one at school knows about.  

Ness: If you could have 100 Smeargles or 100 Japanese Woopers, which would you rather have? =/
Jeremy: WhAT????  thats the best question and easiest one yet.  Of course the smeargles... i mean look at him... he is the biggest POKEPIMP ever.  

Ness: Who do you believe is the best Pokémon TCG player in the world?
Jeremy: Two close friends Josh Goldstein and Tim Batow.  If Tim gets his chance... everyone will know him too.

Ness:  Any other hobbies?
Jeremy: I play magic and dbz.  Wowzers 3 tournaments on the weekends.
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Thanks for the interview, Jeremy.