STS Swingers

                                                                STS Swingers (Potpourri)
                                                          By Shiraz Noor
                                                           STS Qualifiers
                                                         Towson, Maryland

In my 1 year of playing Pokemon, I haven't participated in too many tournaments. I was however, confident that I could win Maryland's Super Trainer Showdown. I had to get up by 7:30 to get there by 8:45 and wait in line for an hour. For signing up, we got Promo Jigglypuffs and some spoilers and stickers. Right before my friends and I got our decks checked, we played a few warm-up matches against some of the Master Trainers. I won't tell you whether or not I won but I'll put it this way: If they were Master Trainers, then I would not have a problem winning the tournament.

Now, as for my Deck, it was made (by Gerhardt) to have an edge over Wigglytuff, Raindance, and Haymaker. Here it is:

STS Swingers

2 Ditto
2 Hitmonchan
2 Electabuzz
2 (MP) Mewtwo

4 Bill
4 Professor Oak
4 Computer Search
4 Item Finder
4 Plus Power
4 Energy Removal
4 Rocket's Sneak Attack
3 Scoop Up
2 Narrow Gym
2 Gust of Wind
1 Lass
1 Nightly Garbage Run
1 Energy Retrieval
1 Switch

4 RainbowEnergy
3 Double Colorless Energy
2 Fighting Energy
2 Electric Energy
2 Psychic Energy

Nice huh?

Getting registered doesn't take too long. When I went over to get my deck checked, the Master Trainer said "You're really taking a risk playing this sort of Deck". Um... OK. I was player #16, and was about to take a journey though (a maximum of) five tough rounds.
Here we go!

Round 1- ?
Of all the nerve, I got a bye. My friends Chris and Steven were happily plowing through their opponents while I sat still for 20 minutes. That was depressing.

In between my matches, I realize that I really have to use the little boy's room. However, I don't want to take the chance of a prize loss. Patiently, I wait for my next match.

Round 2- Straight up Haymaker
My opponent told be that he was playing TuffStuff, but all that I saw were Scyther's, Buzz's, 'Chans, the usual. Early in the game, I drill his hand with Rocket's Sneak Attack. It takes him 4 turns to recover. I take advantage of weakness by using Mewtwo to KO two Hitmochans, 'Chan to KO two Electabuzz and a Chansey, and Ditto to KO a Scyther. I only let him take one prize the entire match.

A depressing truth fills my head after realizing that my friend Steven lost in the second round.

Round 3- Fire Deck
Throughout this entire match, all, I'm thinking is "Man I gotta go...". He uses a Dark Charmeleon to KO Ditto, but my 'Chan cleaned his act up via Plus Power. His Magmars also Smog me to death, but I recover with Mewtwo. When he finally gets a Dark Charizard, Electabuzz and three Energy Removals slow his game down. When the smoke (or Smog), had cleared, I had picked up my sixth prize with Ditto against a Magmar.

At this point, I just don't care about winning. I run up two escalators to reach the men's room. Thank you God... On the Bad side of things, Chris got eliminated also.

Round 4- Insane Wiggly (the one that Chad Mills used)
    I'm usually pretty calm about battling, but this match would have scared the pee out of me (hehe). He starts with a Scyther and Chansey. I have Mewtwo. He goes first and RSA's my Oak. Benches two Jigglypuffs, then prevents my damage with Scrunch. My turn. I Search for my Oak, RSA his Oak, and draw. I then Search for a 'Chan. After rummaging through my Deck, I realize that they are both in my prizes. Already I can see my opponent grinning. I have no choice but to take Electabuzz. I play Narrow Gym and hope for the best. I start attacking and finally put ninety damage on Chansey when he draws a Computer Search and pumps up a pair of Wigglytuff. I would have lost right away if he had played Stadium Cards.
    I never do see Hitmonchan in this match. My opponent could never seem to get 2 Plus Powers on his Wigglytuff so it was a matter of him doing 50 damage (thank you Narrow Gym), then me Scooping my active Up. Ditto, Electabuzz, and Mewtwo have each KO'd one opposing Pokemon, but his Chansey's were starting to Double Edge me. I use Ditto with Sword Dance and a Plus Power to take the lead 4-3. Late in the game, he draws a card before sending out a Pokemon for the second time. I get a judge but he didn't see it the first time so my opponent did not get penalized.
    We had seven minutes left. I RSA his Oak (again) and attack. He draws one. Chris taps me on the shoulder and tells me that he moved the Oak to the top! I call the Judge back over. Since this was the only match left he stayed with us. I had 11 cards left in my Deck, my opponent has 3. He continuously Item Finds for Nightly Garbage Run to keep himself alive. Do I have a gift for him: Lass! With two and a half minutes remaining, he decides what he wants to do. The Judge accuses him of Stalling. Time gets called and he yells "Do The Wave!" Shoot! Sudden Death.
    Luckily the Judge gives me the win because time was already called. I shook his hand and looked at his play area and his hand. He could have won.

Never had I been so scared in a match. I took a deep breath and told myself "Just one more match".

Round Five- Sponge
I was so relieved that my fourth round match was over. I go first. I have ''Chan. He has 'Buzz. My hand is near perfect. I RSA his Oak and his Plus Power. Computer Search for a Plus Power and Oak. I get two more Computer Searches and use a Triple Plus Power for a Turn One win!

WOW! I got 36 Boosters, a Golden Invitation, a Gameboy Color, TCG, clothes, a hat... the usual.

I'm going to New Jersey and give Scott Gerhardt's Potpourri a great reputation. If Wizards does not give a 15 Trainer rule, I'll play a Potpourri/Trapper. Wigglies Beware!

OK. I'll do Props to and Slops:

Props to Potpourri
Props to Gerhardt
Plops to Lauren (don't ask)

Slops to there being no Raindance (Electabuzz was a waste of space)
Slops to Propositions 15, 20, and 2T
Slops to Algebra 2

Hope you liked my Report! See ya' round!

Shiraz "Meta" Noor
noorsher@erols.com