Tournament Report 8.1.00
Pokémon - First Berlin Championship
Place: Gemeindesaal zum Guten Hirten
Organizer and Judge: Jonas Bodmann-Dukker
Supported by Modern Graphics
Entrance fee was DM 15.-, including 1 booster pack
Participants: ca. 40, of which 35 remained until round 8
There were 8 rounds played (Best of 1), followed by top 8 and Finals.
Here´s my deck "Maschendraht Puncher" (5-3):
4 Hitmonchan
4 Electabuzz
1 Zapdos
1 Chansey
2 Doduo

4 Energy Removal
2 Professor Oak
2 Computer Search
3 Bill
3 Gust of Wind
2 Energy Retrieval
4 Super Energy Removal
1 Item Finder
3 Scoop Up
1 Super Potion

12 Electric Energy
11 Fighting Energy

The Gemeindesaal (parish hall) offered more than enough room, as more
participants had been expected.
The players covered the whole spectrum - from people playing for fun to
tournament veterans with M:tG experience. Their play attitude varied
accordingly. Some enjoyed telling others about their decks and
remarkable plays, others (only few) made an effort at secrecy, refusing
onlookers and similarly tense behavior.

Round 1: Paul plays the only Venusaur deck I see at this tournament. He
draws well and gets energy quickly. I don´t draw enough Pokémon to gain
an advantage, and Paul recovers from my Energy Removals (some 8 enrgy)
seemingly with ease. For some time I hold out with Chansey, but game
time ends when Paul has but 2 cards left to draw. (0-1)
Round 2: Adrian´s Farfetch´d gets paralyzed by my Electabuzz
immediately. I knock it out after Adrian puts a Fire Energy on it.
(1-1)
Round 3: Edwin, one of the older players, uses a RainDance deck. I get
almost sufficient damage on Blastoise and Gyarados to k.o. them, but
can´t retreat or Scoop Up my Zapdos, which lies there with no Energy.
I lose when game time ends. (1-2)
Round 4: Chris´s Mewtwo gets paralyzed twice and Electabuzz wins. (2-2)
Round 5: My opponent Marc plays a deck resembling mine. After a short
exchange of blows, I win. (3-2)
Round 6: My Doduo comes up against Christian´s Electabuzz. Electabuzz
gets himself some fried bird for lunch. (3-3)
Round 7: Marcus plays RainDance with Chansey. I exploit their
Weaknesses. (4-3)
Round 8: Lino´s Psychic deck succumbs to my Energy Removal and fast
damage capability. (5-3)
I don´t qualify for the top 8, but my friend Jun does.
Round 1, Match 1: Shawn vs. Gonzo. Gonzo (Haymaker) draws only one
Pokémon, and Shawn (Electric) wins. Match 2: Florian (Electric/
Colorless) vs. Konstantin (RainDance). Same problem as in match 1, and
Florian is the winner. Match 3: Jun vs. Thomas. Jun´s Zapdos conquers
Dragonair and then sets up a block with the help of Energy Removal.
Thomas removes Zapdos´ Energy and gets a time advantage but loses his
Hitmonchan. Jun wins. Match 4: Azad vs. Jaro. Jaro´s Zapdos gets too
little Energy, so Azad´s RainDance (with two Blastoises I borrowed him)
wins.
Round 2 (Semi-Finals). Match 1: Jun vs. Florian. Florian´s early
Dragonair is blocked by Zapdos. Jun´s Electabuzz loses its Energy but
can conquer Dragonair without paralyzing it. The next Dragonair knocks
out Electabuzz and wins the game. Match 2: Azad vs. Shawn. Shawn
manages to paralyze Azad´s Gyarados for 5 turns and wins by removing
Energy.
Round 3 (Final and 3rd place). 3rd: Jun vs. Azad. Game 1: Azad wins
quickly. They get told that it´s best of 3 in this Round, and Jun´s
mood rises. Game 2: Azad can´t get a single Blastoise or Gyarados bred
- Squirtle stands alone. Azad holds out for some time with 2 Chanseys,
but Jun´s 4-Energy Electabuzz is too strong. Game 3: After a long
battle, Jun wins by enforcing an Energy embargo on Azad.
Final: Shawn vs. Florian. Game 1: Florian draws a lone Farfetch´d and
loses. Game 2: Shawn removes 60 billion Energy from Florian´s Pokémon
and wins, his bench full of massively powered electrics like Zapdos,
Raichu and Magnemite.

The prizes: One booster box of German Jungle (1st. ed. not yet
released) for the 1st Berlin Champion, and a generous amount of booster
packs for the runners up, plus several Pokémon Collectors´ Beckett
magazine subscriptions. Two holo-foil cards were also given to two
randomly determined non-top-8 players.
Overall, the tournament was a successful and fun event. Jonas did a
good job at handling disputes and organizing the Rounds. There was also
a nice supply of food and drink, both warm and cold, with friendly help
of the Modern Graphics team.

Felix Hoefert
questions, comments, suggestions: e-mail me at FHoefert@t-online.de