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Welcome back to “A View from the
Top”. This week’s interview will feature AMeen Bahar.
Some of you may know Ameen from his Deck Profile and
Match Features written by Jason Grabher-Meyer on
Metagame.com at SJC events.
SJC Columbus (2/13/05):
http://metagame.com/yugioh.aspx?tabid=33&ArticleId=1195
SJC Durham (2/25/06):
http://metagame.com/yugioh.aspx?tabid=33&ArticleId=4760
He’s been a friend of mine for quite
a while and he was generous enough to share a little
bit of information about his play style, game-play
philosophy, and a few of the details behind his
success in Yu-Gi-Oh.
Quick Bio
Ameen Bahar is a 19-year-old
Egyptian/American. He’s been playing the game for a
little more than 3 years and is currently listed
among the Top 5 players in Maryland. He is most well
known for his affinity for the Gravekeeper deck
archetype. This deck archetype is his
“bread-and-butter”, so to speak. He has probably
tested nearly every version of the Gravekeeper deck
since their release in PGD. He is also known for his
membership in Team Hunger Force. Team Hunger Force
consisted of world-class players like Roy St. Clair
and Chris Evans. Ameen received the majority of his
game-play training from the aforementioned duelists.
Roy is often regarded as one of the top players in
the world (though he currently banned from
tournament play).
Some of Ameen’s Credentials
23 Local Tournament Wins
7 Regional Top 8's
3 Regional Wins
2 Time National Qualifier
2 Time City Champion
Self-Proclaimed best Gravekeeper
player in the world.
Has officially beaten both Kevin
Tewart and Dan Schiedagger 4-0 (Best of 7)
The Interview
Me: I was
intrigued by your philosophy on deck-building: “If
it plays right, feels right, and the people around
you like it; run it.” Could you elaborate a little
on that?
Ameen:
Alright, like I run a Gravekeeper deck; have been
for like 3 years. When I first built it I won a few
locals, I loved the deck, and the people started
giving compliments. It looked, felt, and tasted like
a winner. Plus, I hate non-progressive decks.
Me: Do you
feel that the player is the major factor in a
winning deck? Or is it the deck that makes the
player?
Ameen: A little of both. If you give
Anthony Alvarado an Ojama deck he’ll probably win,
but if you give and Ojama an Anthony Alvarado deck
then GG my friend…GG. LOL. It’s the player…It’s the
player…
Me: Now you
said, in your introductory email prior to this
interview, that you outlook on the game is such: “I
believe that you are only as good as you think you
are. If you don’t talk about it, it won’t happen.”
Could you explain that statement to our readers?
Ameen: If you believe you’re good,
and actually REALLY believe it, you are. If you talk
about winning, you will win, plain and simple.
Unless you’re mad cocky, then you fail.
Me: I
definitely agree. I think what most reader will find
very interesting is that you trained under Roy St.
Clair, who I believe to be one of the greatest
players in the world; hands down. Did training under
him help you shape this outlook on the game? What
did he teach you?
Ameen:
He taught me everything. I mean everything. The main
thing that sticks is that he taught me “Freestyle”.
Me: What is
“Freestyle?”
Ameen: Freestyle is two things; one
of which is keeping our play style free enough, so
you are skilled with every deck type and every play
style. The other is actually being able to draft
because drafting helps with deck building. Knowing
how to make “this and that”, from a pile of cards in
a draft, work takes skill.
Me: So
basically, Freestyle is a style of deck playing that
is essentially based on mastering all deck types by
becoming proficient at building decks.
Ameen: You got it. Most people will
try to call you a “noob” or think that you are
playing “janky” decks. However, if you look at Roy’s
decks and what he has done with them (Top 8s) it’s
hard to say anything to that. It’s such a science
behind it all! The cards, the deck, the play
style…it all flows like water.
Me: I know
what you mean. I’ve sat across the table from Roy at
Nationals and play-tested with him. That’s how I
found out about his “incident” with UDE. Now, you
also mentioned that you were also coached by Chris
Evans? What concepts did he teach you that differ
from Roy’s instruction?
Ameen: Chris gave me the mind-games
and logic. Roy gave me the fundamentals and the
reason.
Me:
Excellent. Judging from your credentials as a
player, give us the run-down on your testing
regimen. What do you do that’s helped you achieve
competitive success in your dueling career?
Ameen:
I test draw a lot. I’ve never had problems with bad
top-decks in a GK deck where bad tops are known to
happen…often. I also play at locals. You’ve gotta
play local. It humbles me. I can beat SJC champs,
but still get toasted at my locals.
Me: That’s
so true. Do you feel that every player should play
at their local tournaments?
Ameen: Yes I do. Most players have a
Terrell Owens complex. They think they are too good
to play at locals.
Me: Terrell
Owens complex. Nice. *laughs* I’ve also noted that
you are listed among the Top 5 player sin Maryland
in Yu-Gi-Oh Constructed. Do the points from local
tournaments help you significantly with your
ranking? Or is it all Regionals?
Ameen: Locals help the most with
points and overall play-testing that is needed.
Me: I know
the format is still developing, but what decks do
you think will emerge at the top of the metagame?
Ameen:
Zombies, Toolbox, Zombie-Toolbox and any deck
Anthony Alvarado and Jae Kim make; or the obvious
choice…my GK deck. *Laughs* And of course…the
Wonderbox; can’t forget about the Wonderbox.
Me: What
makes the Zombie-Toolbox deck so appealing to you?
Rather…what difference does it make, that you feel,
whether or not Anthony Alvarado or Jae Kim build the
decks?
Ameen: Kim builds and plays sweet
decks. Alvarado is a monster. I say that because
net-decking comes into play. They do well; people
copy. Zombie-Toolbox is a great hybrid. Search for
big guys and counter with Warrior all in one deck;
kind of like GK for people who can’t run it.
*Laughs*
Me:
*Laughs* Gk isn’t that hard to run. We should play
again sometime. GK vs. GK.
Ameen:
Uh, don’t your remember SJC ATL last year? You were
afraid to finish. *Laughs* We will play…this time
for $100.
Me:
*Laughs* C’mon give me a break. You can admit that
the deck that I brought to that challenge was
terrible (That’s my excuse and I’m sticking with
it).
Ameen: You heard it here first
people!
Me: Is
there anything you would like to add before we go?
Ameen: I am, and will always be a
FORCE. Collateral Damages and shout out to Bobby
Bandura of Hunger Force.
Me: Thank
you Ameen, good luck to you in the upcoming season.
Ameen:
Thanks to you DJ Cammy.
Final Word
Thank you again Ameen for the
interview. You should look out for Ameen in the
upcoming season. He is a FORCE to be reckoned with
and I know from personal experience.
Just like Ameen, you can get your
shot at an interview here by sending me an email at:
deathjester86@gmail.com. Please include your UDE
Number, Tournament Credentials, some basic
information about yourself and I will review these
emails for possible interview appointments. The main
qualification for an appointment is that you must
have at least FOUR Regional Top 8 finished or
one SJC Top 8 and two Regional Top 8s.
Until next time…remember to play
hard, think about your moves, and most
importantly…have fun!
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