NAME: Mike Kochancek

RANKING: # 11 (as of 10/25/1999)
CITY / STATE: Syracuse, NY
AGE: 13
LOCATION: Altered States, 689 N Clinton St, Syracuse, NY (315) 472-4263

[POJO] What do you like best about the PokeMon TCG?
[MK] How easy it is to learn, but difficult to master.

[POJO] What do you dislike about the PokeMon TCG?
[MK] Haymaker decks being so powerful.

[POJO] Do you find casual play or organized competition to be more fun? Why?
[MK] Well competitive play is fun in the respect that you get to play other people but casual play is fun because you don't have to use your best deck or be as tense

[POJO] Where do you usually play?
[MK] At friends' houses.

[POJO] How often do you participate in organized tournaments?
[MK] About every 1-3 weeks.

[POJO] What was you most thrilling victory?
[MK] Hmm …my most thrilling prize card would have to be when I killed a Scyther with a Nindoran Female and 4 PlusPowers.  My most thrilling game would be when I got my 6th prize against my friend when I had zero cards in my deck.

[POJO] What was your most crushing defeat?
[MK] When I decked myself against this weird stall deck that I didn't think was a stall deck in the beginning.

[POJO] Who is your toughest competition? Why?
[MK] The top people at the tournaments, because I don't know what kind of decks they could be playing.

[POJO] What is your favorite card? Why?
[MK] Wigglytuff, for the ability to do 60 damage on turn 2.

[POJO] What kind of deck to you dread having to play against?
[MK] Haymaker, because I have played them so much and they are boring to play against or with (in my opinion).

[POJO] What does it mean to you to be ranked as one of the best Pokemon TCG players in the world?
[MK] Well I guess I feel proud for all those tournament wins, but I also want to give some of the other kids a chance by helping them with their deck.

[POJO] Do you play the Pokemon video game?
[MK] Yes, I am anticipating gold/silver right now.

[POJO] Do you watch the Pokemon Animated Series?
[MK] Sometimes I do, but not all the time.

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

[POJO] Do you have a favorite card? Favorite video game character? Favorite animated series character?
[MK] My favorite video game character would have to be Kirby.

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