Top o' the World Player Profile

NAME: Daniel Mayo
RANKING: 16 (as of 01/26/2000)
CITY / STATE: St. Louis, Missouri
AGE: 16
LOCATION: Gathering Ground

[POJO] What do you like best about the PokeMon TCG?

[TM] I like the setup of the game. I think Wizards did a good job of making a game that is fast-paced and easy to understand.

[POJO] What do you dislike about the PokeMon TCG?

[TM] As many have said, the game is almost too simple at times. Right now, the variety of decks isn't great. However, when new sets are released, I think the environment will be more interesting.

[POJO] Do you find casual play or organized competition to be more fun? Why?

[TM] I think organized competition is more fun mainly because your opponent and you are both trying to play your best, whereas when playing for fun, there tends to be more mistakes made. Competition usually brings the best play out of both players.

[POJO] Where do you usually play?

[TM] The Gathering Ground - amazing place and some insanely tough competition.

[POJO] How often do you participate in organized tournaments?

[TM] Well, after a three month leave from the game, I'm back and trying to play at least one tournament a week.

[POJO] What was you most thrilling victory?

[TM] My most thrilling victory was probably one of the times I beat Mike Jente (#1) in the finals at Gathering Ground. I was playing this freaky Slowpoke/Gastly stall deck and he was playing some sort of fast deck. Well, the idea of my deck was to use Energy Removal on the opponent a lot and get the removals and other trainers back with Slowpoke. For the first time in the tourney, the deck worked to perfection. I had him energy fried by turn three, and still had two supers in my hand. I started to get my regular removals back from the discard pile with Slowpoke, and he never got one more energy on his Pokemon for more than a turn. At one point, I had 4 Energy Removals and 3 Super Energy Removals in my hand! That was a great win.

[POJO] What was your most crushing defeat?

[TM] That was probably when I played against my younger brother in the first round of a tournament. We had played all week before the tourney, and I had creamed him every game. He was whining about having to play me, and I was pretty confident. Well, he beat me two games in a row, and I had lost the first round in like ten minutes. I couldn't believe it, because I had wrecked him EVERY time I had played him earlier. Well, I barely made the top 8, and eventually got my revenge when I beat him twice in a row to get 3rd place.

[POJO] Who is your toughest competition? Why?

[TM] My toughest competition is definitely Mike Jente (#1). We are always evenly matched, and we have just about split wins and losses between each other. He's a great player, and we always have a good time playing each other.

[POJO] What is your favorite card? Why?

[TM] My favorite card is probably either Scoop Up or Super Energy Removal. They are both great cards, and I don't think I could pick between them.

[POJO] What kind of deck to you dread having to play against?

[TM] For some reason, I dread playing against Alakazam Stall and Raindance. I don't think I have ever lost to either of these, but I just dislike playing against them. Against Raindance, it's usually a tough match, and with some luck, any Raindance has a good chance to win. Alakazam is sort of the same way, as with a good draw, Alakazam can be tough to beat.

[POJO] What does it mean to you to be ranked as one of the best Pokemon TCG players in the world?

[TM] I think it's pretty cool, especially since I didn't play in a tournament for 3 months and am still in the top 15. I'm just glad that some of my hard work paid off in a way.

[POJO] Do you play the Pokemon video game?

[TM] I used to, but don't anymore.

[POJO] Do you watch the Pokemon Animated Series?

[TM] I try not to :), but yes, I do sometimes.

[POJO] Do you have a collection of Pokemon toys?

[TM] Yeah, I have some little light up keychain Pokemon that I bring to tournaments for good luck, although it doesn't help.

[POJO] Do you have a favorite card? Favorite video game character? Favorite animated series character?

[TM] I guess I'd have to go with Professor Oak. Pikachu would probably be my favorite from the video game and the animated series.

[POJO] Anything else you would like to add to this interview?

[TM] I would just like everyone to know that the Gathering Ground is home to 5 players in the top 26 in the DCI rankings. That is not a coincidence, as I believe that Gathering Ground and Neutral Ground are the two toughest places to play in America. That is why almost half of the top 30 DCI ranked players play at these two places. Well, I've had my say, and good luck to all you guys out there. Keep it fun-it's just a game. Peace out.