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Interview With Jeff Baumgartner
By Ryan Spicer
07.23.07
 

Today im interviewing Jeff Baumgartner, also known as Jbaum.  He is the innovator of the machine dup combo, and has really been on a hot streak lately.  Here is Lady and gents, JBAUM!   Jbaum = Jeff Blackluster777 = Ryan   blackluster777 (4:19:43 AM): ok lets get started JBaum1234 (4:19:47 AM): k blackluster777 (4:19:55 AM): What is your full name and where do you live? JBaum1234 (4:20:15 AM): Jeff Baumgartner Naperville Illinois (A suburb of Chicago) blackluster777 (4:20:36 AM): what team are you currently on? JBaum1234 (4:20:52 AM): Team Kamikaze Sponsored by ShopCCG.com blackluster777 (4:21:11 AM): can you name the members currently on the Kamikaze crew? JBaum1234 (4:22:01 AM): Jeff Baumgartner Louie Raimando Rob Pace Miguel Albarron Carlo Perez Agustin Herrera Ben Sirichotiratana Steve Kinate blackluster777 (4:22:21 AM): how long have you been playing Yu-Gi-Oh!? JBaum1234 (4:23:12 AM): Since Metal Raiders, I saw the T.V. show on and immediately checked on ebay to see if the cards actually existed. I found out they did and then almost instantly went to the mall and sold a bunch of N64 games to buy packs. blackluster777 (4:23:25 AM): lol blackluster777 (4:23:44 AM): did anyone introduce you to the game besides yugi? JBaum1234 (4:25:17 AM): My brother and my neighbors started the game with me so that gave me motivation to continue, but other than seeing the t.v. show no other introduction. blackluster777 (4:25:50 AM): could you give me a list of your accomplishments? JBaum1234 (4:28:06 AM): Well in 2004, I traded a TP2 Morphing Jar for a good players deck, and with that I won every local but about 3, and earned myself a 2004 Millenium Puzzle Trophey. I have also top8ed 20 Regionals, and won 2 of them. In this past year I have top8ed 3  SJC's in a row, St. Louis, Columbus, and Minnesota. All of which with the trooper duplication combo. I can also say I am the only one to ever top8 a SJC maindecking Ancient Gear Engineer blackluster777 (4:28:47 AM): thats pretty impressive blackluster777 (4:28:59 AM): would you consider yourself one of the greats> blackluster777 (4:29:00 AM): ? JBaum1234 (4:29:06 AM): Not at all blackluster777 (4:29:08 AM): lol blackluster777 (4:29:12 AM): and why is that? JBaum1234 (4:29:35 AM): There are many other players that are far more experienced then me and have a greater understanding of the game blackluster777 (4:30:20 AM): is there any advice you would give to yugioh players reading this interview? JBaum1234 (4:35:22 AM): To keep trying and have a role model, it took me till my 6th SJC to finnally make the top8. And having a role model in the game to look up to and watch play helped me get to where I am today. At locals I would watch the best player there and analyze his deck and I eventually learned the basics of the game. At regionals all the way back in Traditional I would look up to Miguel Albarron because he would top8 every regional. When I was finally able to top8 at regoinals consistently, I found another player in which to help me achieve more skill. For SJC's I would talk to Paul Levitan consitently and watch every match of his that I could. It was a great learning experience, and I hope that others can benefit in the same ways I did by using this process. Good Luck   blackluster777 (4:36:13 AM): Alright, moving along, what is the next event you plan on attending? JBaum1234 (4:37:46 AM): Well I am still deciding If I want to go to the upcomming Detroit SJC in a few days, with my brother visiting and it beeing my grandpa's birthday, it puts a tough decision on it. Of course I will have a lot more fun at Detroit, but I would hate to miss my grandpa's birthday. JBaum1234 (4:38:04 AM): If I don't go to Detroit I will certainly be at Gencon blackluster777 (4:38:34 AM): sounds good blackluster777 (4:38:55 AM): are there any shout outs you would like to make? JBaum1234 (4:46:32 AM): Id like to thank Paul Levitan and Kris Perovic for all the help they have given me in this game Shout outs to my buddies Adam Corn Jeff Jones Joe Crisara Jordan Nasser John Meyers Alex Bradshaw Grant Kelly Brian Bowser Nate Dooley and Billy Fulfer Rob Pace Louie Raimondo Josh Cohen for being such great guys and driving me places A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO JOSH COHEN for telling me to play MACHINE DUPLICATION at SJC St Louis, the first event that it top8ed. I would also like to say welcome back Ben Sirichotiratana And Obviously thank you ShopCCG.com for the support   blackluster777 (4:47:32 AM): ok, on another subject, how did you finish at nats? blackluster777 (4:47:49 AM): and what did you lose to? JBaum1234 (4:52:20 AM): I finished in 65th place Going 7-3 I lost round 1 to a buddy of mine who I have played at every event we have both entered, so 2 SJC's a regional and first round of nats. He played 3 hydrogeddon and 3 banisher so that hurt me quite a bit. I then lost round 6 To paul levitan who sided in banisher of the radience and wrecked me, but if i would want to lose to somebody, it would be him, well it would be if he dind't already have 2 losses to my one. Then I lost round 9 to a cyber phoneix machine deck, because game 1 He had a card trooper out with no back row, and I had 1 scapegoat token, with machineduplication, enemy controller and 2x gigantis in hand, which was plenty enough for 8000. Then game 2 I go cyber dragon exiled attack into spirit reaper enemy for game, he  says whats ur target, since he is at 100 I don't think I just say cyber dragon forgetting he had cyber phoenix on the field, and then i lost because of it. Everyone makes a mistake at one point, but I know I will never do target a machine again, nor take enemy controller lightly. blackluster777 (4:53:44 AM): ouch! blackluster777 (4:54:09 AM): What do you think of the current format? JBaum1234 (4:54:11 AM): Yea, I sure learned a lot from those 3 losses though, more so than others JBaum1234 (4:54:15 AM): I really like it blackluster777 (4:54:25 AM): can you explain further/ JBaum1234 (4:54:28 AM): Compared to other formats there is much variety JBaum1234 (4:59:35 AM): I never play cookie cutter decks which makes this format very successful for me because other decks actually have a chance, card trooper makes so many decks playable. The only thing I would like to see is all monarchs to 1 brain control to 1 card trooper to 2, destiny draw to 1 and metamorphisis back to 1. In a format where games can end easily in the first couple turns, brain control is just a rediculous card. This format along with goat format are the top2 formats ever in my opinion. Variety is good. blackluster777 (5:00:12 AM): i agree blackluster777 (5:00:28 AM): what cards do you think should be banned while on that topic blackluster777 (5:00:31 AM): ? JBaum1234 (5:04:21 AM): Ring of destruction, I would honestly rather have 2 torrentails or mirror forces than ring. Also if brain control does not get restricted to 1 then snatch steal. Since crush card will be released soon, I hope that that is banned, after Paul Levitan and Shane Scurry have beaten me in games single handed by that card it is just to powerful. I would also like to see giant trunade banned, making it harder for otk's to have a guarenteed win. JBaum1234 (5:04:53 AM): Oh I almost forgot, future fusion, that needs to go. JBaum1234 (5:05:32 AM): I would also like to see self cutting banned on the next list blackluster777 (5:05:37 AM): me to blackluster777 (5:05:38 AM): lol blackluster777 (5:06:02 AM): and WOW, your responses lead right into my questions blackluster777 (5:06:08 AM): my next question is blackluster777 (5:06:23 AM): What do you do to make sure you dont get cheated at events? JBaum1234 (5:09:48 AM): If my opponent isn't shuffling my deck parrallell I tell him to shuffle it parrallell and then If I did have to tell him that, that is the only time I self cut. I also cut my oponents deck everytime it is searched. If I am up against a known cheater I will just cut his deck. If my oponent self cuts I immediatly tell him to stop so I can quickly look for any markings in the top cards. I also make sure my oponnent keeps his hands above the table, and make sure his life is the same as mine the entire length of the game. blackluster777 (5:12:16 AM): iight blackluster777 (5:12:40 AM): well this is the end of the interview mr. Jbaum, is there anything you would like to add or say to the readers? JBaum1234 (5:14:48 AM): Thanks for taking the time to check it out, hope you had as much fun reading it as I had doing it. And to all the rising stars keep trying and keep a positive mind. blackluster777 (5:15:31 AM): alright, thanks for doing the interview with me, and good luck in detroit if you decide to go and in all future events! JBaum1234 (5:15:45 AM): Thanks Spice Dog blackluster777 (5:15:51 AM): Later     NOTE TO READERS:  I am trying a new format for interviewing.  If you like it plz give me feedback on it by sending me a messege on pojo.  Thanks for reading, hope you liked it!