NAME: Pete Zalizniak

RANKING: #19 (as of 10/29/1999)
CITY / STATE: Liverpool, NY
AGE: 19
LOCATION: Altered States
689 N Clinton St
Syracuse, NY
(315) 472-4263

[POJO] What do you like best about the PokeMon TCG?
[PZ] What I like most is that its fun and easy to play with a decent amount of strategy involved.

[POJO] What do you dislike about the PokeMon TCG?
[PZ] What I dislike most right now is that the colors don't seem to be very balanced, and often the game can seem mindless due to blatantly broken cards.

[POJO] Do you find casual play or organized competition to be more fun? Why?
[PZ] I like competitive play simply because I love competition. I was a decent Magic player for 5 years, qualified for Highlander Nationals, and play many other games. I'm addicted to competition. I also like casual play because I love the Japanese Gym Trainer decks (anyone got a Brock or Misty for me?)

[POJO] Where do you usually play?
[PZ] Altered States

[POJO] How often do you participate in organized tournaments?
[PZ] I compete every week that my booked college schedule will allow.

[POJO] What was you most thrilling victory?
[PZ] My most thrilling victories are the ones where I make good plays and good descisions (thank you magic!)

[POJO] What was your most crushing defeat?
[PZ] My most crushing defeat was against Tim Casion (#15). We both started Scythers and he went first. He played a Grass Energy and Swords Danced. I had one Grass Energy in my hand, the Double Colorless Energy and a PlusPower, as well as a Super Energy Removal. Instead of playing the SER, I danced and risked the next turn win. He had the same thing, and I lost on turn two (an ugly game for us both!)

[POJO] Who is your toughest competition? Why?
[PZ] My toughest competition comes from Tim Casion (#15) and Mike Demaio (#42). They're both good players and have a lot of potential. For some reason, I've never beaten Tim (we've drawn twice, and he has beaten me once). Tim sometimes loses concentration and makes mistakes. Mike will get nervous that he's playing me and make mistakes. I have the highest respect for them both however.

[POJO] What is your favorite card? Why?
[PZ] My favorite card is probably Computer Search, its my trademark. It allows for a whole new strategy. Just last week, I Comp Searched for a Gust, gusted out my opponents Ditto and Mud Slapped it with Diglett (yeah Diglett! [a.k.a Deeku-Daku])

[POJO] What kind of deck to you dread having to play against?
[PZ] Right now.......nothing. I guess I fear the Magmar decks the most ( I beat down with Scyther), but usually it boils down to who's playing the deck. For example, I play a mostly grass deck and I pummelled a straight Fire deck because the kid wasn't very good.

[POJO] What does it mean to you to be ranked as one of the best Pokemon TCG players in the world?
[PZ] Right now, nothing. It will mean something if we get a pro tour or something. It is cool when my mom gives me money for cards now that I told her (I usually trade them to the store for japanese animation movies though). And its neat when the kids at the store hear about it and they get all nervous and make mistakes, hey I'll take free wins!

[POJO] Do you play the Pokemon video game?
[PZ] I played the GameBoy game until my roommate actually erased it. I beat Snap in one night though.

[POJO] Do you watch the Pokemon Animated Series?
[PZ] Yes, I collect Japanese episodes (I'm taking Japanese right now. That's why I call Diglett Deeku-Daku, that's what he says in Japan)

[POJO] Do you have a collection of Pokemon toys?
[PZ] I have Jesse, James, a stuffed Pikachu, and a bunch of Japanese Pokemon posters, but I mostly collect Sailor Moon toys.

[POJO] Do you have a favorite card? Favorite video game character? Favorite animated series character?
[PZ] My favorite characters are Togepi, Myuu, Evee, and Ditto because they're all cute and cool. In the game I kinda liked Sandslash, he was pretty decent.

[POJO] Anything else you would like to add to this interview?
[PZ] I would like to say that Altered States is awesome. They're very supportive of the game. Prizes are good, judging is fair, and competition is tough. I guarantee that Syracuse is going to be a hot bed for some darn good pokemon players if we ever get a tour. I would venture to say the best. None of us will ever get to No. 1 because we have to play each other all the time and we balance out. Some Joe Random from Kalamazoo will probably get first because the only people that play at his store are like 6 and he wins every week (no offense to whoever is #1, I'd sure like to play him).