WEBVTT

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I

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presented here at this amazing world in San Francisco.

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I'm Evan Hashimoto joined by, with VGC, Sierra Dawn,

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with the full deal names, and of course,

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he's G. Emily Horson, and then of course,

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Caleb Bang, who's gonna be doing all of my Unite stuff

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because he knows the game better than me.

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But, well, we've got so much action going on here.

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Actually, a lot of you have done Unite,

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I made that joke earlier, but we've got so much action

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that's happened over the past few days.

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I mean, of course, players and teams coming

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from all across the world,

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and it's been so exciting to watch,

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But we're only, I mean, I guess, half-ish through the entire tournament.

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Already we've seen so many upsets and some great wins.

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So I'm going to go, I'm going to want to kind of ask you all, first of all,

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what is your big takeaway so far now being partly through this event

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and seeing what's going to come into the future.

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So, Sierra, what do you see?

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I mean, first off for the Pokemon video game, the biggest takeaway from the get-go

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is this is a really tough tournament.

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We have had so many of our previous world champions get knocked out

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in phase one of the competition, which I mean, you come to world is the best of the best.

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Some people have to drop along the way, but I think you're really high in up this repeat

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champion. And we do have a couple of them still in the field, but it's looking tricky.

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The other one too, with our current regulation and slash B, it's all been about this mega

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Charizard, right? But we have seen that even though it's really at the top percentages,

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It's not necessarily all of the top teams.

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We've gotten to see Mega Dragonite by Yuya,

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which has been incredible.

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Justin Tang with his Mega Delphox and Mega Blast toys.

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NJ and Harry Deer Kona with Mega Star Raptor

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and Thrychu, just showing that there is a lot

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of innovation in different Mega's

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that really could rise to the top.

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Yeah, of course, it's so exciting seeing

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of course a new game and all the new formats

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and there's just so many things being changed.

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But Emily, how about TCG, what's it take away?

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Well, you can't talk about the Pokemon trading card game

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without talking about the big bad Dragonfall DX,

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which of course is here in full force,

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but honestly, not as much as people would expect

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at the World Championship,

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only sitting at 43.2%.

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A lot of players actually thought

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that this deck would actually be above 50%

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for this tournament,

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but all the way at the top of our Swiss phase one

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is going to be Brent Tonneson from Australia,

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who is currently undefeated, 8-0,

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with Dragonfall crushing hammers.

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So there's a couple of variants of Dragonfall

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that can be played, but it seems like Bretton

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is actually really locked down.

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Just the most consistent list,

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and where you really just don't wanna take risks

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here in the World Championship.

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I don't wanna take no risks

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or take every risk right, it's the chance here.

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But of course, with Pokemon Go, how's it feelin'?

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Definitely, so a big takeaway here

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is our two Grand Finals,

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and Bealsboy are still in the running to make another grand finals of the year.

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They were top two for a reason and Bealsboy, the reigning world champion, we've never, speaking of VP world champions,

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we've never had a world champion VP ever as well in our fifth year.

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So, it's not early on but it really might happen this year.

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Meanwhile, the finalist that finished second last year has gone on five trade championships on days in international worlds.

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which is absolutely insane, it's that line of hands.

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He's looking to try to make it back to Fairfax to find the win,

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that world championship that he's been going for.

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So, I think it's a super exciting one,

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especially if you get that win,

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I should have had a rematch at NAIC that was super close,

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and I'm sure it's on the back of both of the lines

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that they might, based off the end of the number two,

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and maybe in the championship something.

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And well, that actually is a great segment to unite,

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because we've got a lot of players

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that are former champions, old champions,

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but a lot of them have been eliminated.

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teams. We've got some of our previous rainbow champion as well. It's having a

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little bit of a tough time, but the real takeaway here that nobody expected is

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people who have never been the world champion, which is Europe, right? We've

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had Japanese champions, we've had American champions, we've had a Latin

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champion most recently, but Europe has qualified with one extra spot through

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like kind of a big qualifier at EYC and all four of their teams have made it

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to day number two, which I believe is the first time that's ever happened,

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and they're looking extremely good. So they've made it up like second place

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and made it to the Grand Finals before,

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but they've never quite been there.

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It's just been one of those regions.

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This might be their years.

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Everybody's really looking towards Europe,

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but we still have basically every region

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present in day number two,

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so anything can really happen with Pokemon United.

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It's gonna be very exciting.

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But, of course, there have been some amazing moments

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that have happened already,

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and I think we want to each kind of highlight

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one of them that's happened so far.

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So, of course, the Pokemon video game,

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any big moment?

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Oh, I highlighted team.

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Oh, okay.

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I'm glad to highlight to you, but starting off talking about the fact that we can have a repeat world champion.

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I wanted to highlight for Shogi Kumura's match for 2023 Pokemon World Champion.

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Looking back at this match too, he was going up against our, okay we got the, we got the cliff switch,

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but we'll start with this one first. So we're switching the points. We're talking about the unique Pokemon.

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We'll come back to Joey in a second. I wanted to highlight Kerry's team and Kerry as a player.

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His Kerry has been someone who has really stepped up throughout this year.

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He is reigning regional champion.

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And when we're looking at a couple of these unique megas,

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he has two of them with the Star After and the Raiju.

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But it was really, this is Yui and Arcanine

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that stole the show.

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This has been a Pokemon that hasn't necessarily picked up

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on so many teams, but it really made so much impact.

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But this is what I was talking about.

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Shohei Kimura going up against a Japan national champion

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in Hiroshima Nishi.

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And this was such a great match.

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Shohei now sitting at a 7-on-1 record.

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They had very similar teams with mega Charizard being one of the dominant teams going into

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this tournament.

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And how Shohei piloted it was such a, we know that he's so skilled, but to see it again

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in such confidence display was really like, wow, if this is just a preview of his matches,

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he's going to go all the way.

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It was incredible.

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It's such a big stage to be able to show something like that on.

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Yeah, now since, of course, Pokemon video game had two clips and now that means you're not getting zero clips, unfortunately.

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They took it away from us.

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I'm sorry, that's just how it goes.

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That's just how it goes.

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No, we'll have one later.

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But for the trading card game, of course, it's a gigantic tournament, any moment that you wanted to kind of show us.

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Well, there's plenty, right?

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And I think for a lot of players that may be tuning into the Pokemon trading card game for the first time,

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They may not know this, but we've had a whole expansion set that has been released in between NAIC and the world championship.

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But of course, it is going to be Brett Thomason on the right piloting that very straightforward, very consistent Dragapult.

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He even ran out of ways to get Dragapult in the end, and then Dragapult's best friend, Monkey Dory, coming in with the mind bend.

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been with that ability a dread of rain being able to move three damage counters

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over and then taking the win from here but honestly this is my favorite moment

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of yesterday but Tayish who actually got top eight laugh at worlds last year with

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Dragonbolt I believe is piloting Alakazam now the most popular stadium that

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we actually have in the trading card game these days is Team Rocket's

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Watchtower it shuts off the Dunsparce but he actually paired it with

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So it's a definitely a very tricky way to make the deck but he knows exactly how to trip up the rest of the field

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That's another two clips. I think you're actually out of clips now. Yeah, yeah

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They're actually gonna finish this segment. They're just gonna take me off stage immediately

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No, I love the fact too that when we talk about all these games together, which is not you know

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I'm an opportunity to it just sounds so ridiculous to hear two Pokemon paired together that it's class if you're like

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And JackaPult's best friend, Monkey Dory,

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looking at that from other games for a second,

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it's like, what?

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That's wild.

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And then you think,

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maybe I should play a training card game, you know?

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Crime Round was good for a while.

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I want to play that.

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But of course, we can't ignore Go.

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I think they might have taken away your clip, too,

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because they're so greedy.

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They're too big a clip.

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They're too big a clip.

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You know, we'll see if there's a clip or not.

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We don't have Monkey Dory in the game yet

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from a long ago.

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We do have Dragon Bolt,

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which someone actually tried to bring

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the last of the World Championships

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and quite worked decently well.

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But we are in our fifth year

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And I feel like the skill level for this game

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has gone to an all-time high.

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It's going higher and higher as this is Emmy Weedow,

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one of our former world champions

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against the two-time Thailand champion.

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In their first matchup on the winners finals,

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winner goes to day number two on the winners side.

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Loser might even get knocked out tournament.

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But look at how close this is down to the wire.

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Both players having like two or three points left

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with red HG bars, only a fraction

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of percentages of health.

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And you can see in the very end,

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It comes out to the final second, simultaneous knockout,

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just really highlights the skill level game too.

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That's a half seconds that they had to, you know,

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tie on that very moment, and that's exactly what happened.

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But we've seen that in so many of our matches

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through and throughout, and these players,

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like, they're so tuned into the game

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that they kind of are anticipating each other's

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anticipations, and that's kind of how it has been

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this year, and so I say every world champion

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every year is just better, better than the previous.

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It's so cool, especially with games like, you know, of course, I love video game, but you know, I feel like our games are a little bit newer, right?

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As far as things go competitively, so it's really cool to see the players level up more and more as time has gone on.

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And that's actually what my clip is, which is if anybody out there is not familiar with Pokemon Unite,

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I think this is such a great clip to kind of show how amazing the game is, how strong the movement is.

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This is Aruto, one of the best players in the world coming out of Japan.

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Going off one of the best jukes that we have ever seen.

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They're going to be on the Lucario and they're going to be chased around.

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So you should be able to see them kind of in the top right there,

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juking an entire team, 1v4.

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They managed to go, escape into the Kyobor pit.

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They're escaping the entire team.

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They managed to teleport backwards using bone rush right here.

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A huge juked, and they waste the entire time of Groot Dignitas,

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which was considered one of the best teams in the world

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looking to win this entire tournament,

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but they actually got eliminated on day number one

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in a big upset.

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A part of it wasn't because of this,

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but there are just too many good teams, so.

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Right, there's Ingoz over there.

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Yes, yes, oh, that was such an amazing truth.

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This is, that's gonna be an amazing clip for all time.

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So, if you check that Pokemon Unite,

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that's kind of the move that you can expect from it.

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So, I mean, amazing moments already

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from all of these games.

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It's been such an amazing half of the event so far,

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or I guess maybe one third of it

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for considering Sunday as well.

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And of course, there's so many amazing things out here in this actual venue.

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I cannot believe how huge it is.

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There's so many things to do.

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I feel like I've, I don't know, caught like 10% of it.

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I feel like everyone's...

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Yeah, I tried to go for a wanderer and I'm like,

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all right, I'm off for a couple rounds.

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Surely I can see everything, right?

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You start getting out to the convention floor

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and it just goes as far as the eye can see.

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And there's still so much more.

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I looked at a map and I'm like,

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this doesn't even scratch the surface.

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It is just incredible how much love there is for Pokemon.

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how much love has been poured into the event

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and so many things going on.

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So hopefully we have the opportunity today,

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but it's a competition ramps up, I don't know.

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Yeah, yep, you're cute.

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Honestly, to build on Sierra's point,

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I really feel like there's something here

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for a Pokemon fan of any level.

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Even if it's your first day,

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if you've been with the series for years,

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you really can just find something for you.

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I know there's musical performances outside.

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There's a whole outside stage,

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Pokemon XP happening for the first time.

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For me, my favorite thing that I've seen so far

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is that life-size Venusaur Blastoise and Charizard

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made out of Lego.

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The Lego. It's so cool.

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Ridiculous, yeah.

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I'm just trying to get a picture with that.

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I've not been able to yet.

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Do you have a favorite thing real quick

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before we move on to the next thing?

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I mean, yeah, I don't think I have a similar to Emilia.

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Probably everyone else here.

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Maybe I haven't had the full time to experience all of it.

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It's one of all my friends and competitors

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have been on some of these events.

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You can accept the whole stage.

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You're like, yeah, I didn't know what to expect

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from the whole to my XP side things,

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But all of them, for everyone that said, it's blue,

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blowing their expectations, right?

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And it's just, if you're a Hulk player,

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or a fan of Pokemon, Pokemon is the perfect place for you.

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If you're on the fence about Pokemon,

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you'll probably fall in love with Pokemon after this weekend.

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So, so many great reasons to come out

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to these World Championships,

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and no better way to celebrate it on the 10th of December.

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Oh, absolutely.

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But of course, I want to make sure

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that everybody at home doesn't feel bad as well.

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So of course, there are things that every game

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is giving out for just for watching,

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which unfortunately I've been missing

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because I've been here,

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so I actually haven't had the streams open,

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but we'll sort of talk about what our games are kind of giving away.

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So let's start with the Pokemon video games there.

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If you have anything knowledgeable about what's actually being distributed for Pokemon games.

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We're giving away so much.

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I don't know which order the graphics are going to fly,

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but we're giving away a swag in-game

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if you want a World Championship shirt.

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As well, we got to make sure that your style is matching your Pokemon.

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You have the opportunity to pick up the 2026 Worlds in Cinnabar.

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It's in order to everywhere now for VGC, it's kind of taken over whether you love or hate

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it or not.

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It is taken over, it is here, it is one of these strongest Pokemon opportunity to grow out

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back there.

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And this is the shirt I was talking about.

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Enjoy World 26.

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Again, enjoy World 26.

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Write it down, take a picture.

24:42.900 --> 24:45.700
Don't ask 10 million times into Twitch chat.

24:45.700 --> 24:48.420
Enjoy World 26 and you can get that hat and shirt.

24:48.420 --> 24:49.420
Alright, I need a pen.

24:49.420 --> 24:52.860
you bring a pen so I can write that code down please or otherwise I'll just ask a challenge

24:54.140 --> 24:58.820
And of course we have so many different things for so many games. I agree. I'm so I don't know what's gonna come up first

24:58.820 --> 25:02.500
But but the trading card game will see what they bring a very good

25:03.060 --> 25:05.060
Honestly, you talk about swag

25:05.660 --> 25:09.820
Champions you can also get your swag the Pokemon trading card game live as well

25:09.820 --> 25:15.220
I personally love the jacket looks like a half leather jacket half letter bin, which is really sick

25:15.220 --> 25:18.860
But of course players love customized their deck boxes as well

25:18.900 --> 25:22.800
So you can find all of your world swag right on your screen, but

25:23.180 --> 25:28.120
The longer you watch the Pokemon trading for a game the more things you actually get a lot

25:28.120 --> 25:31.340
So in order to get all all of this swag that you see right here

25:31.340 --> 25:33.340
You have to actually watch for 60 minutes

25:33.340 --> 25:39.260
But if you only have time for 30 minutes today can actually get six packs of pitch black

25:39.260 --> 25:43.540
So once again, that is our newest set that we have in the Pokemon trading part game

25:43.540 --> 25:50.580
I personally love watching a regional stream on the side to make sure I'm always opening packs either in person or online

25:50.940 --> 25:54.960
There's so much stuff here that I genuinely cannot read that text from here. I'm gonna be honest

25:54.960 --> 26:00.480
So this is a nice giveaway Pokemon go. Let's let's see what you're giving away. We've got we got so much stuff

26:00.480 --> 26:03.360
We gotta do through this. Yeah, definitely. I mean, I'll just quick highlight

26:03.360 --> 26:08.000
Yeah, we charge him super exclusive resource. They can get to watch it up to 60 minutes

26:08.000 --> 26:18.500
Also, more importantly, you get the World Champion from Listerfield's voice, Tinkitun, that he used, his stats on the Tinkitun, and more importantly, he even gets an exclusive background just on the Tinkitun.

26:18.500 --> 26:25.200
Really cool to have. And of course, we got the Pokemon Pikachu XP, you see, and the Space Outfit as well as the Champion.

26:25.200 --> 26:28.700
Pikachu is falling in the game right now, so you can get it if you're opening the game.

26:28.700 --> 26:34.300
So, open the game, play it, and you also get a fresh avatar shirt as well as you can do.

26:34.300 --> 26:37.820
and you know no big deal but I might have gotten the shiny Pikachu with this

26:37.820 --> 26:41.980
face you know costume yesterday so you know but hey it could be like me if you

26:41.980 --> 26:44.780
just open up a game and play it. Everybody up here is greedy there you're getting

26:44.780 --> 26:48.900
the dragon with the shiny, getting multiple clips. We got so much good stuff what

26:48.900 --> 26:51.940
does your knight got? I know I know yeah you knight of course has some really

26:51.940 --> 26:54.860
actually amazing things depending on how you walk on you watch more you can

26:54.860 --> 26:58.140
see the blog with sticker for the event or at 30 minutes you get to an

26:58.140 --> 27:01.660
exclusive license of Pikachu which is very very cool and then you can actually

27:01.660 --> 27:06.300
a license for one of the Pokemon from the world champion team Peru last year, what they won with

27:06.300 --> 27:11.900
if you do watch for 45 minutes. So some really nice stuff and of course just be sure to watch all

27:11.900 --> 27:17.900
of the streams for each of these if you want to be able to get some rewards at home and I mean just

27:17.900 --> 27:23.340
watch all your favorite players play because we are getting so close now to starting day number

27:23.340 --> 27:27.580
two. I know it's been an amazing day one so far and of course it's a reminder to everybody

27:27.580 --> 27:33.500
This is all leading up to a huge championship Sunday in the Chase Center the arena

27:33.500 --> 27:36.620
I mean we got a little sneak peek of it. It is incredible

27:36.620 --> 27:42.220
It is going to be a show like I think no Pokemon fans have ever ever watched

27:42.220 --> 27:46.660
So of course we've got four amazing games be sure to watch all the broadcasts

27:46.660 --> 27:49.540
We're gonna have a really tough time today

27:49.540 --> 27:53.100
I think deciding who will be moving on towards that special

27:53.100 --> 27:59.580
championship Sunday so thank you from all of us we're going to be moving on very soon as we get

27:59.580 --> 28:06.940
sending it over to our start for day number two here at the Pokemon World Championships 2026.

28:06.940 --> 28:08.940
We'll see you all playing soon.

31:23.100 --> 31:27.100
Take us, ready, set, cuz now it's time to go

31:27.100 --> 31:32.100
Maybe we can finally see who we're meant to be

31:32.100 --> 31:35.100
Let's just start the whole way, don't you know me?

31:35.100 --> 31:37.100
Every time you show us who we are

31:37.100 --> 31:40.100
You know we've got a side to glory

31:40.100 --> 31:43.100
Together you and I will touch the stars

31:43.100 --> 31:47.100
Let me be with you and I'll over again

31:47.100 --> 31:50.100
Cuz even if we leave the way

31:50.100 --> 31:55.100
And you always say, here we go

31:57.100 --> 32:00.100
Here we go again

32:01.100 --> 32:04.100
And even better than last time

32:04.100 --> 32:06.100
Here we go

32:08.100 --> 32:11.100
Here we go again

32:12.100 --> 32:15.100
There is life that I like

32:15.100 --> 32:18.660
We're gonna win today, we're gonna win

32:18.660 --> 32:20.980
We're gonna win today, we're gonna win

32:20.980 --> 32:24.260
Here we go again

32:24.260 --> 32:26.540
We're gonna win today, we're gonna win

32:26.540 --> 32:29.420
We're gonna go around some major places

32:29.420 --> 32:32.140
Follow us on a path to the unknown

32:32.140 --> 32:34.380
Staying tall in the edge of the rain

32:34.380 --> 32:38.060
Let's see when we're walking victory road

32:38.060 --> 32:41.900
And then we'll see when our lover begins

32:41.900 --> 32:45.100
Cause even if we win the day

32:45.100 --> 32:47.800
We will always stay

32:48.900 --> 32:50.400
Here we go

32:52.900 --> 32:55.900
We go again

32:57.400 --> 32:59.900
Let's laugh and laugh

33:00.900 --> 33:01.900
Thank you

33:03.900 --> 33:05.900
We go again

33:06.400 --> 33:10.900
We go again

33:11.900 --> 33:13.900
Here we go!

33:29.900 --> 33:31.900
Here we go!

33:32.900 --> 33:36.900
Here we go again!

34:06.900 --> 34:11.900
Hey, everybody.

34:11.900 --> 34:18.900
Welcome to day two of the Pokemon World Championships and Pokemon XP.

34:18.900 --> 34:22.900
Yeah.

34:22.900 --> 34:26.900
We are absolutely delighted you decided to spend your days in the bay

34:26.900 --> 34:30.900
and join oh so sunny San Francisco, California.

34:30.900 --> 34:35.900
What a day that we have in store.

34:35.900 --> 34:41.220
I'm Gabby Durden and after a strong start to yesterday, I'm back to keep us on track

34:41.220 --> 34:48.820
towards Championship Sunday and the culmination of all the fun surrounding Pokemon XP.

34:48.820 --> 34:50.320
Have you seen the skate park?

34:50.320 --> 34:51.820
You get a chance to?

34:51.820 --> 34:52.820
Yeah?

34:52.820 --> 34:53.820
It's cool, right?

34:53.820 --> 34:55.700
Okay, I'm gonna have to go check that out.

34:55.700 --> 34:56.700
It's wild.

34:56.700 --> 34:58.100
You know what else is wild?

34:58.100 --> 35:02.580
The fact that we are going to know our finalists across all of the divisions by

35:02.580 --> 35:05.180
the end of the day.

35:05.180 --> 35:11.020
Some of which will be crowned world champions when we take over even more of the city by

35:11.020 --> 35:18.420
unleashing the power of Pokemon in the Chase Center.

35:18.420 --> 35:20.380
Today is about our trainers.

35:20.380 --> 35:26.700
Across Pokemon Champions, the trading card game, Pokemon Go and Pokemon Unite, our incredible

35:26.700 --> 35:29.460
competitors are ready to battle for glory.

35:29.460 --> 35:33.060
And I'm curious, who are you cheering for?

35:33.060 --> 35:39.500
Let's see who did I write down in my notes yesterday? Oh, yeah. And Pokemon VGC trainers

35:39.500 --> 35:44.900
Yuya Wakasugi, Justin Tang, and Stefano Grepi. They look like they have the best shot at

35:44.900 --> 35:50.140
Championship Sunday, but we'll see how things shake out once we get into top cut. The Pokemon

35:50.140 --> 35:58.020
TCG competition has been unmistakably fierce, but Brent Tonneson, Henry Chow, and Rune Hairmans,

35:58.020 --> 36:02.020
they really hope to hold on to yesterday's momentum. And I know a lot of people agree

36:02.020 --> 36:05.980
that they can and Pokemon go, they're not going to lie.

36:05.980 --> 36:09.420
I'm keeping my own Beals of Boy, as well as Potomac and M.E.

36:09.420 --> 36:12.260
Weedle as they tap their way through the brackets.

36:12.260 --> 36:16.180
And finally, for Pokemon Unite, we've got Peru Unite,

36:16.180 --> 36:19.780
Reject, and KOMI ready to put up a fight.

36:19.780 --> 36:21.420
Am I right?

36:21.420 --> 36:24.860
Who's going to shine bright in the championship Sunday

36:24.860 --> 36:25.860
arena?

36:25.860 --> 36:27.060
Well, I'm stoked to find out.

36:27.060 --> 36:27.780
How about you?

36:27.780 --> 36:36.580
As we've mentioned, the Pokemon World Championships are only half of the fun we have this weekend.

36:36.580 --> 36:38.700
Pokemon XP is in full swing.

36:38.700 --> 36:43.100
And whether you're tuning in from home or you're here with us in person, there is something

36:43.100 --> 36:44.660
for everyone.

36:44.660 --> 36:49.700
Later on, make sure you check out the Pokemon XP panels featuring Pokemon Go, Lego, and

36:49.700 --> 36:50.700
Jimmy Paul.

36:50.700 --> 36:55.060
Those will be live on the Pokemon XP channel, you don't want to miss it.

36:55.060 --> 36:58.380
So this would be the time to add that to your schedule.

36:58.380 --> 37:03.180
And while I have your attention, can we take a moment to recognize all of the people that

37:03.180 --> 37:08.380
make an event like this possible?

37:08.380 --> 37:15.820
Join me in thanking the phenomenal staff, judges, production crew, and everyone working behind

37:15.820 --> 37:22.780
the scenes to bring the Pokemon World Championships and Pokemon XP to life in San Francisco,

37:22.780 --> 37:29.780
the Pokemon community truly is

37:29.780 --> 37:31.780
something special and it's

37:31.780 --> 37:33.780
because each and every one of

37:33.780 --> 37:36.780
you is part of it.

37:36.780 --> 37:37.780
Okay, that's enough from me

37:37.780 --> 37:39.780
right now.

37:39.780 --> 37:40.780
We have a day two of the

37:40.780 --> 37:41.780
Pokemon World Championships to

37:41.780 --> 37:42.780
get started.

37:42.780 --> 37:44.780
Let's get into it.

37:44.780 --> 37:46.780
Castors, take it away.

37:46.780 --> 37:48.780
I'm going to be missing those

37:48.780 --> 37:50.780
panels because we have a full

37:50.780 --> 37:52.780
day of Pokemon TV the action. We

37:52.780 --> 37:54.780
are not leaving the most

37:54.780 --> 37:56.780
contended today until we have

37:56.780 --> 37:58.780
our finalist that joining you

37:58.780 --> 38:00.780
for the first cover out today.

38:00.780 --> 38:02.780
It's going to be myself for

38:02.780 --> 38:04.780
the first time in my life.

38:04.780 --> 38:06.780
I'm going to be missing those

38:06.780 --> 38:08.780
panels because we have a full

38:08.780 --> 38:10.780
day of Pokemon TV the action.

38:10.780 --> 38:12.780
We are not leaving the most

38:12.780 --> 38:14.780
contended today until we have

38:14.780 --> 38:18.700
you for the first cover after that it's going to be my South Cross Gilbert and the lovely Joe

38:18.700 --> 38:24.300
Bernard. I mean yes it was good Joe. Look really high-hoping for that. Oh my goodness yeah I mean

38:24.300 --> 38:27.900
we've already had heartbreak and heroics that's what phase one of the competition is all about

38:27.900 --> 38:33.500
but that tension dials up even more today no mistakes allowed we've got to have flawless runs

38:33.500 --> 38:37.820
for a lot of these players if they want to book themselves into the asymmetrical top cuts

38:37.820 --> 38:42.540
after our last of four Swiss rounds of the day today so you can't have a misstep players

38:42.540 --> 38:47.860
are already feeling pretty good. They've already achieved their 16 match points or better from that phase one of competition.

38:47.860 --> 38:49.780
So they're already feeling confident in their deck choice.

38:49.780 --> 38:52.980
They're feeling like they're in the groove and they have to start making a push now.

38:53.700 --> 38:56.860
Absolutely by my calculations and this is not official, I can't stress that at all.

38:56.860 --> 39:01.420
We've got like a hundred and forty three players here in day two, but they're not all either.

39:01.420 --> 39:04.540
Brett Tonneson comes in with an 8-0 record, 24 match points.

39:05.020 --> 39:11.180
Whereas your lower ranked players, players who kind of scraped in with a minimum record, 5-2-1, 16 match points.

39:11.180 --> 39:18.280
That gives Brent base at the three extra wins over the players and there's only four rounds to be played so players like Brent at the top

39:18.280 --> 39:23.220
They don't have that much to do win or two and they will be in whereas the players at the bottom

39:23.220 --> 39:27.180
They're gonna have to go for an O and maybe even hope for a little bit of luck

39:27.180 --> 39:30.940
It is not even records carry over and it is a top eight

39:31.140 --> 39:37.220
But you mentioned a symmetrical pair the way that works is we look at how many match points the eighth place player has

39:37.220 --> 39:41.260
will be able to get the

39:41.260 --> 39:44.300
prize. As anyone that's tied

39:44.300 --> 39:47.300
with them up to be total will

39:47.300 --> 39:49.300
go into an asymmetrical top

39:49.300 --> 39:51.300
cup to earn their way into top

39:51.300 --> 39:53.300
eight and then from there full

39:53.300 --> 39:55.300
knockout elimination. There's

39:55.300 --> 39:57.300
the knockout. Elimination is

39:57.300 --> 39:58.300
going on today, but also players

39:58.300 --> 40:00.300
who are going to try and

40:00.300 --> 40:01.300
achieve other prizes on the

40:01.300 --> 40:02.300
line because there's a lot of

40:02.300 --> 40:03.300
cash you can earn as well as

40:03.300 --> 40:04.300
other great prizes this

40:04.300 --> 40:05.300
weekend, Ross. Oh yeah, you

40:05.300 --> 40:07.840
I ended up, you know, losing the A-Spectacle top cut.

40:07.940 --> 40:10.340
Oh, wait, I still go home with $10,000.

40:10.440 --> 40:12.140
That is not too shabby.

40:12.240 --> 40:14.680
But of course, if you end up in the chase center tomorrow

40:14.780 --> 40:17.620
on that stage with victory in your hand,

40:17.720 --> 40:21.120
you will also have $50,000 in your hands as well.

40:21.220 --> 40:23.820
That is a pretty sweet try spot.

40:23.920 --> 40:25.860
So let's see who's closest to the top right now.

40:25.960 --> 40:28.320
As we have our player standings,

40:28.420 --> 40:30.200
as we go into this phase two of competition,

40:30.300 --> 40:32.360
as you mentioned, Ross Brent Collison.

40:32.460 --> 40:34.660
He's a player that got top of the leaderboards,

40:34.660 --> 40:38.660
the last couple of years didn't

40:38.660 --> 40:40.660
get it this year. He's taking

40:40.660 --> 40:42.660
that personally. He's on the

40:42.660 --> 40:44.660
rampage right now with drag

40:44.660 --> 40:46.660
apart on that eight and oh

40:46.660 --> 40:48.660
record. We've also checked in

40:48.660 --> 40:50.660
with Henry Chow on the stream

40:50.660 --> 40:52.660
yesterday. He's on a 701 record.

40:52.660 --> 40:54.660
He's no longer playing with

40:54.660 --> 40:56.660
God of all he's tossed out

40:56.660 --> 40:58.660
away. His new best friend is

40:58.660 --> 41:00.660
Dragapult and you can see why

41:00.660 --> 41:02.660
he's on a great run again. It

41:02.660 --> 41:05.500
You have a very literal leg up in the tournament.

41:05.500 --> 41:07.380
They just got born that point.

41:07.380 --> 41:10.340
We'll look at names like Alex Shomansky, Nina Eisenblatt,

41:10.340 --> 41:13.740
Natalie Miller, Matej Vaskojev.

41:13.740 --> 41:17.900
There's so many. Diego Casaraga, 17 world champions.

41:17.900 --> 41:19.380
I'm naming all these amazing players,

41:19.380 --> 41:20.900
and I'm still missing people, Joe.

41:20.900 --> 41:22.500
Yeah, Diego, not only a world champion,

41:22.500 --> 41:23.780
multiple top eights as well.

41:23.780 --> 41:26.700
The fact that he should be once again looking at a top cut

41:26.700 --> 41:28.340
would be absolutely exceptional.

41:28.340 --> 41:29.700
And Rune Hermanns, as he mentioned,

41:29.700 --> 41:31.140
is a bit of a bookie man in the room.

41:31.140 --> 41:36.020
He's on that crustal. Not many players have made it far into the tournament with that archetype,

41:36.020 --> 41:40.340
but now when he's up there, he's surrounded by a lot of interesting matchups.

41:40.340 --> 41:44.900
Someone like Brent would be quite a free win for him because he doesn't have any good attackers to

41:44.900 --> 41:49.940
deal with that crustal itself. And there's also a lot of the Alakazam archetype. That's been an

41:49.940 --> 41:54.580
undercurrent story from our phase one of competition. There's players like Diego,

41:54.580 --> 41:59.620
there's Mateusz, there's Alec Szimanski. A lot of these top players are rocking on these

41:59.620 --> 42:04.020
strong records, these Alakazam decks. Some of them will have very easy answers to the

42:04.020 --> 42:09.860
crossword matchup by having Dedenne and the recycle of that enhanced hammer. However, a

42:09.860 --> 42:14.260
number of these Alakazam players have cut that card, meaning that Rune could potentially

42:14.260 --> 42:19.460
have a free run into our top cut. Absolutely. It's a very matchup-dependent deck. A couple

42:19.460 --> 42:23.140
of other players will have us here, Brennan Kaverman, Austin going out to Toa, and

42:23.140 --> 42:27.940
his twin brother Owen on the European leaderboard, and Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi, who of course

42:27.940 --> 42:32.020
One of our players to watch for the weekend sitting now over six and two record

42:32.020 --> 42:36.660
And she got a chance to chat with him and a few other people before we even started on Thursday

42:36.660 --> 42:38.740
So hopefully we'll get to see that at some point

42:38.740 --> 42:44.620
There's certainly a player to watch Arnikar Jala as well just so many yeah the nominal

42:44.620 --> 42:48.020
But every one of those players on the screen right now John looking at going

42:48.020 --> 42:49.740
I wouldn't be surprised if they won worlds

42:49.740 --> 42:53.880
No, I mean we've seen their faces up there before because they've been champions are in top cuts

42:53.880 --> 42:57.580
And I also want to take a look at the meta for phase two

42:57.580 --> 43:06.580
We know that in phase one Dragapult was 43%. How did it convert? Well, look at that. It seems like other archetypes has Dragapult's number os.

43:06.580 --> 43:14.580
It does, but let's not sleep on the fact Dragapult is still doubling up any other decks. Dragapult is still number one by a huge margin, but you're right.

43:14.580 --> 43:21.580
And you look at some of these other decks coming through, things like that Tiamasca Ogroporn with Lilith the Fairy, things like Enthorua, things like Crustle.

43:21.580 --> 43:25.700
these are decks which traditionally you would play if you wanted to play not

43:25.700 --> 43:30.300
Dragonbolt, but you wanted to cover your Dragonbolt match up. So the format is,

43:30.300 --> 43:35.740
I was kind of expecting coming into Dragonbolt by far the best deck, but then

43:35.740 --> 43:39.300
after that it's what's good against Dragonbolt. And this is what's

43:39.300 --> 43:42.420
interesting to me, it's the ingress of the NAIC. Dragonbolt was the most

43:42.420 --> 43:45.900
played deck, but then it absolutely dwarfed everything else coming into phase 2.

43:45.900 --> 43:50.420
It feels like our top players have found archetypes that aren't Dragonpults,

43:50.420 --> 43:52.820
They don't have to contend with those mirror matches.

43:52.820 --> 43:55.220
They don't have to worry about flipping coins or crushing ammo.

43:55.220 --> 43:57.620
Sure, a number of our players are still going for that approach,

43:57.620 --> 44:00.260
but it's great to see all of these other archetypes in the field

44:00.260 --> 44:02.740
still having a good shot even to the Dragaport matchup

44:02.740 --> 44:04.740
and also being able to compete against the rest.

44:04.740 --> 44:06.660
It feels like from that phase one,

44:06.660 --> 44:08.820
the Mega X Cabral has kind of fallen off that little bit.

44:08.820 --> 44:10.900
It was already less popular than many expected.

44:10.900 --> 44:12.740
It was 4% of the field in phase one.

44:12.740 --> 44:16.100
It seems like Quastal has sort of crept its way into this meta here

44:16.100 --> 44:18.660
and it will make things a little bit more spicy for phase two.

44:18.660 --> 44:33.660
It will indeed, Crustle of course. It's a very underwhelming Pokemon in terms of attacking, but it blocks a lot of these decks with its ability, so the deal essentially is, you play the right deck, you have a lot of quite easy wins, you play the wrong deck, you have actually quite a lot of crushing losses.

44:33.660 --> 44:34.660
Yeah.

44:34.660 --> 44:41.660
It is not a deck that goes toe to toe in a traditional sense. It's not going to win a back and forth prize race against many decks at all.

44:41.660 --> 44:59.660
A lot of players, you know, you pick Frostal, you hope you get the good matchups, and apparently, we have a bunch of people here that have, and generally speaking, with these kind of decks, the longer you go in the tournament, the more of the decks you're expecting to see, you see, that could end up shaking out as we get further on there.

44:59.660 --> 45:07.660
Yeah, Rift Camons is the player on the best record for Frostal right now, but it won't take much for some of these other Frostal pilots to have that sort of destiny run.

45:07.660 --> 45:09.900
If they have two or three matches go their way,

45:09.900 --> 45:12.420
they'll fight instantly knowing that they're in a really strong position.

45:12.420 --> 45:14.580
That if their deck flows as it should do,

45:14.580 --> 45:16.780
it should breeze through some of the other competitors.

45:16.780 --> 45:19.780
So it wouldn't surprise me if more of those starts to rise to the top,

45:19.780 --> 45:21.660
just based on what's out there in the field right now.

45:21.660 --> 45:25.420
Get ready for the possibility of cross or mirror matches, ladies and gentlemen.

45:25.420 --> 45:26.980
We'll see you then when we come to them.

45:26.980 --> 45:28.740
God also give them a lot of the sloking now.

45:28.740 --> 45:31.540
I know there's a bunch of you watching at home who love sloking,

45:31.540 --> 45:34.060
who love music on the ladder on PTCG Live.

45:34.060 --> 45:36.500
It is in some ways a bit of a fan-favorite deck,

45:36.500 --> 45:43.180
Special edition of Metagross recently, which has given it that really strong damage in a 300 damage from one attack

45:43.340 --> 45:49.060
So slow king another one to look out for 11 people playing in the room. It's got some decent matchup

45:49.060 --> 45:53.420
So I don't know if there's certainly the favorite going into today, but there's some of them hanging around

45:53.420 --> 45:56.100
Yeah, there are some strong players that I think Brett and Camelman no surprise

45:56.100 --> 45:59.260
He's already won a tournament with this archetype over the last few months

45:59.260 --> 46:01.500
I think he's on the best record of smoking right now

46:01.740 --> 46:06.020
Let's see how the phase 2 meta shapes up compared to our cast predictions

46:06.020 --> 46:10.920
I think I'm going to be hiding for this one Ross because mine have not gone to plan so far.

46:10.920 --> 46:13.320
I tried to back the pitch black expansion.

46:13.320 --> 46:18.260
I said that both of these new cards can target Dragapult in a couple of different ways.

46:18.260 --> 46:22.500
Mega Ezreal drill, really high damage output, a lot of hit points, the potential to heal

46:22.500 --> 46:24.740
your way out of a two hit KO.

46:24.740 --> 46:27.540
I thought that would be really problematic for Dragapult.

46:27.540 --> 46:30.540
Now I will admit that it has a bit more of an awkward time against some of the other

46:30.540 --> 46:33.580
single prize strategies that could sometimes be a wrench in the works.

46:33.580 --> 46:37.920
But I did think the mega extra drill had a good chance against at least our top back in the room

46:38.080 --> 46:41.900
Although it's not had a great phase one to phase two conversion then hide and sneak

46:42.020 --> 46:46.920
It's it's been hiding so well, but it's almost invisible. It's imperceptible to the human eye

46:46.920 --> 46:52.160
It is really not done much this tournament at all. He is hiding very well for my picks

46:52.160 --> 46:56.260
Now when Lillies with fairy X basically my picks were kind of I wanted to show the meta game

46:56.260 --> 46:59.980
Lillies with fairy is the anti meta game pick the anti dragon pulp pick

46:59.980 --> 47:05.420
And I do believe whether it's in its own kind of box of mega Kanga scum or whether it's popped into things like

47:05.460 --> 47:09.300
Sloking or hide and sneak I really thought it was going to be pivotal Crispin

47:09.300 --> 47:14.940
I picked Crispin because I think in the format right now fully in context

47:14.940 --> 47:18.660
It serves to be up there with with cars like bosses orders and lilies determination

47:18.660 --> 47:25.260
I think it is that impactful or they support a card dragapult plays it to make sure they can get the energy when they need it

47:25.260 --> 47:29.060
anti-dragapult decks play it. There are so many Pokemon in the format like

47:29.060 --> 47:32.700
Wellspring Mask, Ogre Pond for instance, you know, even though these could vary

47:32.700 --> 47:37.740
itself, but don't really work unless you can accelerate that energy with Crispin

47:37.740 --> 47:41.300
while searching out another one, get that double attachment during your turn

47:41.300 --> 47:44.780
with the energy guaranteed. And this is my way of facing these sayings, the

47:44.780 --> 47:48.340
community as a whole. Can we start recognizing, everyone knows Crispin is

47:48.340 --> 47:52.080
good. No one's saying Crispin's bad, but can we start talking about it as the

47:52.080 --> 47:54.760
We met against a binding card that it is.

47:54.760 --> 47:57.240
I am so bullish on that card.

47:57.240 --> 47:59.120
You're going to hear throughout the weekend

47:59.120 --> 48:01.800
that we're going to be saying they need to Crispin this turn.

48:01.800 --> 48:02.840
If they can't Crispin this turn,

48:02.840 --> 48:04.080
they're going to have a useless turn.

48:04.080 --> 48:04.920
They're going to have a turn off.

48:04.920 --> 48:05.760
It's all this.

48:05.760 --> 48:07.360
Right, exactly.

48:07.360 --> 48:10.440
And I mean, Ethan is winning the cast of predictions.

48:10.440 --> 48:13.160
I'm going to let you guys at home decide

48:13.160 --> 48:15.720
how much credit he gets for picking the probably best

48:15.720 --> 48:17.120
two decks in the format.

48:17.120 --> 48:19.080
But we could have done that too, to be fair.

48:19.080 --> 48:21.600
I was in the talk before Ethan to get my predictions in.

48:21.600 --> 48:26.500
I could have had those predictions, so Ethan has absolutely nailed the predictions here.

48:26.500 --> 48:31.060
Jib doing pretty well, Tiamat's going upon the Sloking, that's the good picks.

48:31.060 --> 48:33.060
Or the only person Sloking?

48:33.060 --> 48:36.760
No, Sloking was popular between all of our casters, Emily there and Pablo.

48:36.760 --> 48:43.100
Pablo admitted in the Analyst Desk yesterday that he was much happier with his choice after seeing how well Matershield is well,

48:43.100 --> 48:45.600
because he's also back to Alakazam deck in there.

48:45.600 --> 48:49.600
Sloking, I think, definitely has the power level, you know, it can joint some of the best attacks in the game

48:49.600 --> 48:56.520
for a fairly cheap discounted cost with its seek inspiration effect of an attack so I do think that one is a nice puzzle piece

48:56.520 --> 48:59.080
You know we showed it off with Ross Hawthorne at the NAIC

48:59.360 --> 49:03.160
Turned plenty of heads with that deck. I think slow king definitely popular

49:03.440 --> 49:07.280
Sam in there. Yeah, I think Pablo's quite happy that there's Mateusz backing it right now

49:07.400 --> 49:12.200
Amy took the bold choice the festival grounds hoping that we could see some festival lead action

49:12.200 --> 49:17.520
We know that this gained so much from the new gladiants final battle addition coming into this expansion

49:17.520 --> 49:21.920
But it does still have to dodge and we've those dragon thoughts there are still some of them still out in the competition

49:21.920 --> 49:27.400
But they still have to try and avoid what is the most popular deck in the room and about one 30 or games today

49:27.400 --> 49:32.800
You should expect to be drag a poll, but we've got some we've got some goodies for you this weekend

49:32.800 --> 49:36.160
We've got some distributions over there on Pokemon trading card game live

49:36.360 --> 49:42.320
So go and watch for 30 minutes six booster packs that is a booster pack every five minutes. That is good

49:42.320 --> 49:48.680
man, I will do that. 45 minutes, maybe you get your Mega Zera or EX playset. A couple

49:48.680 --> 49:53.060
of special illustration reirs, a couple of double reirs, and that is a card I am eye

49:53.060 --> 49:57.080
on Joe. And then if you keep watching it just keeps getting better.

49:57.080 --> 50:00.960
Yeah, the world's greatest there for you. You can get all your swag. Look at that Pikachu

50:00.960 --> 50:02.960
jacket. You've got to be wearing it. You've got to be wearing it.

50:02.960 --> 50:03.960
You've got to be wearing it.

50:03.960 --> 50:04.960
You've got to be wearing it.

50:04.960 --> 50:07.400
Yeah, exactly. I know. There's so much here. And if you're a follower of Pokemon

50:07.400 --> 50:10.920
Pocket as well, you can get 24 pack hour glasses. That's going to save you

50:10.920 --> 50:35.920
a lot of time. You just got to watch for 30 minutes to earn those hourglasses. You can get a ton of boosters in, restart your collection if you dropped off at Pocket any time. It's so easy to jump back in. And I saw out yesterday on the stage on Rayquater Road. There's lots of gameplay of Pocket going on as well. So if you're enjoying the TCG, not quite knowing how to follow along at times, get yourself onto Pocket. That's going to be a perfect jump start for you into the training class game.

50:35.920 --> 50:38.460
They revealed a play Cocoa EX for Pocket yesterday.

50:38.460 --> 50:40.320
I am very excited about that.

50:40.320 --> 50:42.400
Dual type card, we're gonna make a new two-thirds

50:42.400 --> 50:44.640
of a dual type card, 24 hour glass,

50:44.640 --> 50:47.840
and if anyone needs to know that is two booster packs.

50:47.840 --> 50:49.880
So what we got, we wanna hear from you guys.

50:49.880 --> 50:51.160
You're gonna hear from us all weekend,

50:51.160 --> 50:52.700
that's kind of what we do, that's why we're here.

50:52.700 --> 50:54.400
But we wanna hear from you!

50:54.400 --> 50:57.160
Hashtag Pokemon XP, hashtag Pokemon World

50:57.160 --> 50:59.920
in all the usual places on X, on Instagram,

50:59.920 --> 51:02.320
YouTube, four slash play Pokemon.

51:02.320 --> 51:03.440
Tell us where you're watching,

51:03.440 --> 51:04.440
with whom you're watching.

51:04.440 --> 51:06.520
show us pictures of your pets

51:06.520 --> 51:07.480
with whom you're watching.

51:07.480 --> 51:09.240
Because we know a lot of you are watching

51:09.240 --> 51:10.560
with your pets, who are they?

51:10.560 --> 51:11.400
They have to be.

51:11.400 --> 51:13.280
But also, tell us who you're rooting for.

51:13.280 --> 51:14.360
We're seeing so many,

51:14.360 --> 51:16.680
a star-studded cast of players have made it through.

51:16.680 --> 51:18.840
Yes, we did see some players dropping out

51:18.840 --> 51:20.280
of the tournament from phase one.

51:20.280 --> 51:21.560
Heartbreak for Todd Reckler,

51:21.560 --> 51:23.000
players, you know, one of the players

51:23.000 --> 51:24.000
that everyone wants to watch.

51:24.000 --> 51:26.080
It was one of five zero star ended up at five three.

51:26.080 --> 51:28.320
So Titans have already fallen here.

51:28.320 --> 51:30.880
There's still so many great talented players

51:30.880 --> 51:32.120
out on display today.

51:32.120 --> 51:33.640
Let us know who you're backing.

51:33.640 --> 51:35.240
Yeah, let us know who you're back in.

51:35.240 --> 51:36.600
Let us know where you're watching.

51:36.600 --> 51:37.600
Let us see your setup.

51:37.600 --> 51:39.280
Tell us anything you want to tell us.

51:39.280 --> 51:41.560
We are going to be checking all of those social posts

51:41.560 --> 51:43.040
all weekend right now.

51:43.040 --> 51:45.000
However, we are going to be checking in

51:45.000 --> 51:46.640
with our first game of the day.

51:46.640 --> 51:48.560
We can't go straight there, though,

51:48.560 --> 51:50.680
because it would be frankly irresponsible

51:50.680 --> 51:54.280
if we didn't tell you about the format first.

51:54.280 --> 51:56.440
Let's dive into the format for the Pokemon Trading Car

51:56.440 --> 52:00.760
game at the 2026 Pokemon World Championships.

52:00.760 --> 52:02.800
The best trainers from around the globe

52:02.800 --> 52:08.320
here to compete for their share of a $2 million prize pool and the coveted title of Pokemon

52:08.320 --> 52:11.080
Trading Car Game World Champion.

52:11.080 --> 52:15.600
The competition takes place over three days, battling head-to-head in a best-of-three Swiss

52:15.600 --> 52:17.440
round format.

52:17.440 --> 52:22.760
Trainers advance to Swissface 2 if they gain more match points than their division threshold.

52:22.760 --> 52:26.520
When Swiss completes, the top eight trainers end up to eight additional trainers tied

52:26.520 --> 52:31.120
in eighth place, advance into an asymmetrical single elimination bracket until only two

52:31.120 --> 52:32.680
finalists remain.

52:32.680 --> 52:37.720
final two trainers and each age division will compete on Championship Sunday. The trainers are

52:37.720 --> 52:43.000
bringing their all to the playtables this weekend and we will soon see who will claim the trophy

52:43.000 --> 52:48.600
and title of Pokemon Trading Card Game World Champion. Let's get this tournament started.

52:51.960 --> 52:56.600
Let's get this tournament started. Let's get day two started here in San Francisco in the Bay

52:56.600 --> 52:58.600
We've got a fantastic matchup.

52:58.600 --> 52:59.600
We've got Natalie White.

52:59.600 --> 53:01.600
We've got Natalie Miller.

53:01.600 --> 53:04.600
We have got ourselves a big basic box deck.

53:04.600 --> 53:07.600
We have got ourselves a dragapult deck.

53:07.600 --> 53:12.600
And we have got an absolute treat for you to start off the stream.

53:12.600 --> 53:13.600
Good players, good decks.

53:13.600 --> 53:15.600
And I think a pretty good matchup, Jack.

53:15.600 --> 53:16.600
An awesome matchup to see.

53:16.600 --> 53:18.600
As we know, this basic style box archetype

53:18.600 --> 53:21.600
was the winner at the NAIC in the hands of James Kowalski.

53:21.600 --> 53:23.600
His clone bro was the winner.

53:23.600 --> 53:27.520
at the NAIC in the hands of James Kowalski, his clone brew archetype.

53:27.520 --> 53:31.200
Kani's got a new build that she's backing right now with a little bit more of the

53:31.200 --> 53:34.240
Teal Mask Ogre Pond shoved in there, but is still

53:34.240 --> 53:37.360
leaving quite heavily towards that Lili's Kaferi EX, which as we know

53:37.360 --> 53:39.440
will be so impactful against that Dragapult.

53:39.440 --> 53:42.640
Well, here's the question, Joe. You play Lili's Kaferi EX, it's a great

53:42.640 --> 53:46.320
character, the Dragapult. Is that enough to swing the match on its own?

53:46.320 --> 53:48.960
Well, it's a huge threat. It's a great start for you.

53:48.960 --> 53:52.240
But what's interesting about Natalie, she's playing the Duster War package,

53:52.240 --> 53:59.340
So that could be a great way for you to curse blast your way around Lily's pearl for example because there's only a hundred and ninety hit points on the lilies per fairy

53:59.340 --> 54:02.980
Ex you can try and use your dust noir to take

54:03.420 --> 54:07.600
130 damage then place six counters on the lilies per fairy itself must also

54:07.720 --> 54:13.420
Using your highest damage output the 200 damage output swing from phantom dive on to other Pokemon at the same time

54:13.420 --> 54:17.620
So Natty's going to have to time her actions very cleanly there

54:17.620 --> 54:21.620
She has some great gusting potential with the Vultures into Teal Mask Ogapon.

54:21.620 --> 54:23.620
She has hand disruption at her disposal.

54:23.620 --> 54:27.620
She's not rocking any of the Team Rocket's watch house to shut down the tankers' calm.

54:27.620 --> 54:29.620
So it looks like we're seeing lift up here.

54:29.620 --> 54:31.620
The fifth spot from both players.

54:31.620 --> 54:34.620
I think we're getting into our first turn of the game pretty soon.

54:34.620 --> 54:36.620
We are suspiciously close.

54:36.620 --> 54:37.620
West round nine. Here we go.

54:37.620 --> 54:39.620
Day two, round one.

54:39.620 --> 54:40.620
Round nine overall.

54:40.620 --> 54:41.620
Natalie Miller.

54:41.620 --> 54:42.620
Callie White.

54:42.620 --> 54:44.620
Let's get rolling with Teal Mask Ogapon.

54:44.620 --> 54:45.620
Attaching an energy.

54:45.620 --> 54:52.740
using that teal dance that draws the card while also allowing it to touch an extra energy and we're going to be looking for energy attachments

54:52.740 --> 54:55.760
and we're going to be looking for big basic Pokemon.

54:55.760 --> 55:01.520
Yeah, finding knockouts in any means necessary is really what Kali's list is all trying to perform here.

55:01.520 --> 55:10.640
Ideally, she can look to weave in the wellspring mask Ogre Pond EX as we know Tarantula Pump is so effective at taking out multiple lower hit point Pokemon

55:10.640 --> 55:13.240
And that's really what Nackely's deck is filled with,

55:13.240 --> 55:16.640
because she will be trying to evolve up into multiple Stage 2 Pokémon.

55:16.640 --> 55:19.840
And starting off with this Teal Mask Ogopony X, not too shabby at all.

55:19.840 --> 55:21.840
This is not only a great attacker,

55:21.840 --> 55:24.440
because it is a very solid grass-type Pokémon

55:24.440 --> 55:26.640
for some certain type coverage in the field,

55:26.640 --> 55:29.040
but it's a key acceleration option for you,

55:29.040 --> 55:31.840
because there are four copies of energy switch within the deck.

55:31.840 --> 55:35.040
Peaking at those prize cards, the A-Spec Prime Catcher,

55:35.040 --> 55:39.040
not ideal for Kali having it in the top right of her prize cards.

55:39.040 --> 55:43.440
She's also got one of those two lilies caffari in the prizes, but fortunately she is doubled up

55:43.600 --> 55:50.760
So she will still have access to that card and she also has the well-rounded damage output of one raging bolt EX in her list as well

55:50.760 --> 55:58.060
So she should have a few opportunities to still reach KO's as this first ultra ball resolves finding that mega Kangas Khan EX a

55:58.120 --> 56:00.000
Key draw engine piece of this deck

56:00.000 --> 56:05.240
That's what you're gonna be looking for get it in the active it lets you draw two cards a very few Pokemon that are based

56:05.240 --> 56:10.360
it'll let you draw two. This is one of them. We've doubled up on the Meowth as well. That's in the prizes.

56:10.360 --> 56:14.040
But there is a second one in the deck as well. So we've attached an energy.

56:14.040 --> 56:18.480
We're now going to bench that Latias. That gives free retreat to all of your basic Pokemon.

56:18.480 --> 56:24.600
That lets you put your mega kengis guard EX in the active and you can draw two cards with run errands.

56:24.600 --> 56:30.960
And it looks like we're going to be immediately getting a rescue stretcher back using it to attach a grass energy.

56:30.960 --> 56:36.560
And then just passing over to Natalie the order of the day here get them basic Pokemon down

56:37.240 --> 56:43.380
Absolutely the case. I really like the early night stretch from tally there getting the energy stashed on mega Kangaskhan

56:43.380 --> 56:50.380
Sets yourself up for a crisp into at least launched some pressure next turn even without much else help from the draws

56:50.380 --> 56:55.200
That you can acquire here, but Natalie kicks things off with a buddy buddy puff and it's exactly what you want to see

56:55.360 --> 57:00.240
With this archetype because she's playing a ton of low hit point basic Pokemon

57:00.240 --> 57:04.000
The more creepy, the better is normally the policy for this Dragapult deck,

57:04.000 --> 57:07.920
because it really gets rolling when you are able to use multiple Recon Directive.

57:07.920 --> 57:10.080
And the fact that she prized a couple Buddy Buddy Poffin

57:10.080 --> 57:13.840
makes it even more fortuitous that she was able to find one in that opening hand.

57:13.840 --> 57:17.680
Also, a little warning shot there for one of those Crispin in the prize cards.

57:17.680 --> 57:20.960
Very often, when you're facing up against this big basic style archetype

57:20.960 --> 57:24.720
that has easy means of KOing Dragapult EX cleanly,

57:24.720 --> 57:27.840
it's so important to keep track of your energy acceleration options

57:27.840 --> 57:31.680
so that you can continually phantom dive, because that's what you're going to need in this matchup.

57:31.680 --> 57:36.320
Yeah, there are two in the deck, so you're right, one being away means you've got to find that one.

57:36.320 --> 57:40.800
No meow for the deck, you wouldn't generally play that in dragapult, so that is going to potentially

57:40.800 --> 57:45.120
make things a little more awkward. We're filling out the bench, we've got a Dripie and we've got

57:45.120 --> 57:49.360
a Duskull. That's an indication of a really strong hand, right? If you're grabbing only one

57:49.360 --> 57:55.280
Dripie from this first search, usually a good sign. Of course, you're going to get a Dripie,

57:55.280 --> 57:59.060
You can evolve up into the cloak next time and that's got that recon directive

57:59.060 --> 58:03.400
Let's look at the top two cards to your deck and you get to draw one and bottom deck the other

58:03.760 --> 58:09.400
Building up into that drag a pot with two energy does 200 to the active and allowed you to drop six damage counters

58:09.400 --> 58:12.960
Wherever you like speaking of good hand Joe. Yeah, I'll share a couple pad

58:12.960 --> 58:14.880
Yeah, she had a couple more drip in hand as well

58:14.880 --> 58:21.240
So we're seeing even more basics coming into play and the early Maltres. This is such an interesting choice from Natalie

58:21.240 --> 58:25.400
It's so common in the hammer-based builds of Dragon Pulse,

58:25.400 --> 58:29.640
but seeing it in the Dostanowar build shows that Natalie was respecting the Mega X

58:29.640 --> 58:34.920
Goodrill matchup, but in turn really helps out against tackling that Teal Mask Ogrepony X

58:34.920 --> 58:39.560
to change her prize race up, so that she can maintain a single prize board during this game.

58:39.560 --> 58:43.080
Absolutely. For just a single fire energy, it does 110,

58:43.080 --> 58:47.400
two in the X, 20 to a non-EX, double weakness, that is going to go up to 220.

58:47.400 --> 58:51.400
That's pretty good mass when you hit the one last go-up on this week.

58:51.400 --> 58:54.400
Absolutely the case, as action passes back over to Kali.

58:54.400 --> 58:57.400
Natalie not prioritising Buju in this instance.

58:57.400 --> 59:00.400
She may not have had a means of retreating this dustgull either,

59:00.400 --> 59:04.400
so instead is going to prioritise just setting up the board with as many Drepia as possible,

59:04.400 --> 59:07.400
as we see the run Aaron coming in from Kali to see a couple additional guards.

59:07.400 --> 59:10.400
There was already Crispin in hand from the previous turn,

59:10.400 --> 59:13.400
so she can begin to launch some rapid-fire combos here.

59:13.400 --> 59:17.240
The good news is you're not going to have to flip for rapid-fire combo 200.

59:17.240 --> 59:18.840
We'll just get that dust goal.

59:18.840 --> 59:21.240
Here is that Crispin. You promised us, Joe.

59:21.240 --> 59:24.760
You get to search your deck for two different types of basic energy.

59:24.760 --> 59:27.400
One gets attached and the other one goes into your hand.

59:27.400 --> 59:29.960
But of course, you're allowed to attach one energy per turn.

59:29.960 --> 59:33.320
So a lot of the time, you really just search both, attach both,

59:33.320 --> 59:35.800
and then you've got your double attachment rolling.

59:35.800 --> 59:38.760
Worth noting, however, that you could instead put it to hand

59:38.760 --> 59:42.440
and then just manually attach it with the ability, I should say,

59:42.440 --> 59:44.840
to peel Mask Ogre upon to draw an extra card,

59:44.840 --> 59:48.400
but you will need an extra energy or an energy switch in a moment

59:48.400 --> 59:50.960
so that that mega Kangaskarn can be attacking.

59:50.960 --> 59:53.680
And because Kali is using that raging bolt in her list,

59:53.680 --> 59:55.640
she has five different types of energy in the deck

59:55.640 --> 59:58.560
to try and make that Crispin work as best as possible.

59:58.560 --> 01:00:01.160
And early area 0 coming into the hand

01:00:01.160 --> 01:00:02.160
is a pretty good option actually

01:00:02.160 --> 01:00:03.920
when you have a 300 hit point Kangaskarn

01:00:03.920 --> 01:00:05.880
as your early game attacking threat.

01:00:05.880 --> 01:00:08.280
If you can take a hit from this Kangaskarn,

01:00:08.280 --> 01:00:12.160
then use area 0 and Chen Pao to remove this Pokemon from play.

01:00:12.160 --> 01:00:15.240
That can be a means of gaining three turns during the game.

01:00:15.240 --> 01:00:17.880
So this rapid fire combo, it's only a single prize KO.

01:00:17.880 --> 01:00:19.640
It's not the full pressure you would have liked

01:00:19.640 --> 01:00:21.120
from a Wellspring Mask Ogre Pond,

01:00:21.120 --> 01:00:23.960
but it's still putting a lot of questions over to Natalie here

01:00:23.960 --> 01:00:26.120
as it does turn over to her turn.

01:00:26.120 --> 01:00:28.040
I like that very much indeed.

01:00:28.040 --> 01:00:30.000
Yes, of course, your areas are on the depths

01:00:30.000 --> 01:00:31.920
with an 8-bent Pokemon.

01:00:31.920 --> 01:00:34.000
You can then play Genpowl to remove it,

01:00:34.000 --> 01:00:36.200
at which point you're only allowed 5-bent Pokemon.

01:00:36.200 --> 01:00:37.840
Any extra needs to be removed.

01:00:37.840 --> 01:00:39.840
And if they just happen to be heavily damaged

01:00:39.840 --> 01:00:41.760
three points giving up mega re-exes.

01:00:41.760 --> 01:00:44.200
Well then, all the better for it.

01:00:44.200 --> 01:00:47.280
Looks like we've got our first drag look of the game here.

01:00:47.280 --> 01:00:49.680
That is going to give Natalie access to recon directive

01:00:49.680 --> 01:00:51.160
to draw more cards.

01:00:51.160 --> 01:00:52.600
And I don't want to be greedy, Joe,

01:00:52.600 --> 01:00:55.800
but I think Natalie probably wants two more drag looks

01:00:55.800 --> 01:00:56.280
this time.

01:00:56.280 --> 01:00:58.280
And it's an interesting promote of the Maltreza.

01:00:58.280 --> 01:00:59.920
I wonder if that's an indication of what's

01:00:59.920 --> 01:01:01.760
already available in hand.

01:01:01.760 --> 01:01:04.400
She's going to try and less bosses orders as an option

01:01:04.400 --> 01:01:05.080
now.

01:01:05.080 --> 01:01:06.600
That just came out of the recon directive.

01:01:06.600 --> 01:01:08.280
You could boss up that Teal Mask Ogre

01:01:08.280 --> 01:01:13.000
If you're feeling a little bit cheeky, she may just need fodder for ultra ball in this hand though

01:01:13.560 --> 01:01:16.280
Looks like she does take the energy in that will indeed be fodder

01:01:16.280 --> 01:01:19.080
Gonna have to remove one of those crushing hammer and a psychic energy

01:01:19.080 --> 01:01:22.700
I think we are going to need a meow to fix this hand

01:01:23.200 --> 01:01:26.360
I believe the Fezzendiptex was in her prize cards

01:01:26.360 --> 01:01:32.700
So it is going to be a last ditch catch into the lilies determination to get a fresh eight cards here Natalie

01:01:32.700 --> 01:01:37.420
continuing to prioritize that set up as best as possible but in the same

01:01:37.420 --> 01:01:41.220
instance even just getting a prod in early with Moltres could be really useful

01:01:41.220 --> 01:01:46.020
here fighting wings not just good for being a type coverage threat could easily

01:01:46.020 --> 01:01:49.340
put pressure onto this Pankas Khan setting it up for a Phantom Dive so

01:01:49.340 --> 01:01:52.680
these eight cards if we're able to access Fire Energy could really put

01:01:52.680 --> 01:01:55.660
Natalie in a good spot. Now I think you make an excellent point there Joe

01:01:55.660 --> 01:01:59.420
yeah 110 might get a one hit counter to Tiel Mask Ogre bomb but it's still

01:01:59.420 --> 01:02:03.200
decent chunk of damage against many X and when you're playing a deck like this

01:02:03.200 --> 01:02:06.560
where you've got damage coming down with your dust bar and you've got Dragonport

01:02:06.560 --> 01:02:09.200
hitting the active and the bent you know there's a lot of damage flying around

01:02:09.200 --> 01:02:13.800
getting damage on the board is good do we see a fire energy

01:02:13.800 --> 01:02:16.680
I don't see a fire energy. You just...

01:02:16.680 --> 01:02:20.320
No, not quite. Well Natalie is there even... well there's one Ultra Ball so we can

01:02:20.320 --> 01:02:24.000
access one more triple oak here. You definitely want to evolve up a second one.

01:02:24.000 --> 01:02:29.040
It's built without any copies of Rare Candy instead Natalie has those four

01:02:29.040 --> 01:02:34.560
crushing hammer in addition to the dustmar line so she's really shoved a lot into this list similar

01:02:34.560 --> 01:02:39.840
to the just in new golf build that we saw over the last few tournaments. I can see the discard of the

01:02:39.840 --> 01:02:45.520
jamming tower that is Natalie's only stadium card that's being removed now to grab a second

01:02:45.520 --> 01:02:51.200
Drakloak it would be far too vulnerable for a zero wreck handy list to sit with just one Drakloak

01:02:51.200 --> 01:02:56.160
in play too vulnerable for a torrential pump to really ruin your day here so the second one

01:02:56.160 --> 01:02:59.200
was mandatory. It's the bare minimum from that eight card, Lily.

01:02:59.200 --> 01:03:03.280
No, absolutely right. You want to make sure you've got an option for Dragapult next turn.

01:03:03.280 --> 01:03:08.320
So, if you, you know, if it badly wants to attack with a Moltres this turn, she has to

01:03:08.320 --> 01:03:13.760
hit a fire energy off this recon directive. Do we see one? We don't. It's a dust noir,

01:03:13.760 --> 01:03:17.760
I believe, that is the choice offer there. So that means we're not going to be seeing the

01:03:17.760 --> 01:03:22.480
Moltres attack. There will be no fighting wings. It's an attachment to a drag look on the

01:03:22.480 --> 01:03:28.160
the bench and then a pass probably not the turn she was hoping for. A little bit awkward for her.

01:03:28.160 --> 01:03:31.280
As she only plays two copies of Night Stretcher in the deck, you have to try and

01:03:31.280 --> 01:03:34.720
weave that in later on in the game if you want to have the nice up trade,

01:03:34.720 --> 01:03:39.520
two for one into the Teal Mask go-kupon. But as things go, it's still a reasonable enough

01:03:39.520 --> 01:03:43.040
sponge. You still want to protect your 3-pin track look, that little bit more.

01:03:43.040 --> 01:03:45.840
I really like the arch ball from her at the beginning of that last turn as well,

01:03:45.840 --> 01:03:50.000
so that she could stash and prepare herself for a potential brosers encouragement supporter,

01:03:50.000 --> 01:03:51.540
which is already in hand.

01:03:51.540 --> 01:03:55.460
Action back over to Callie, though, who's got her run errant in.

01:03:55.460 --> 01:03:57.760
Does have access to boss's orders.

01:03:57.760 --> 01:04:00.760
Could be an easy way just to take out either the Meowth

01:04:00.760 --> 01:04:03.900
for an easy two prize cards and just try and race as quickly as possible.

01:04:03.900 --> 01:04:06.460
Whenever you're facing down cursed blast Pokemon,

01:04:06.460 --> 01:04:09.600
it may feel unintuitive to go onto an odd prize map,

01:04:09.600 --> 01:04:12.960
but then you're essentially just defusing the cursed blast itself.

01:04:12.960 --> 01:04:13.460
Absolutely.

01:04:13.460 --> 01:04:15.040
We'll see if Callie wants to go more aggressive here

01:04:15.040 --> 01:04:17.040
or wants to prioritise more board setup.

01:04:17.040 --> 01:04:19.540
I think if you knew that the Crispin was priced for Natalie,

01:04:19.540 --> 01:04:22.060
You'd be very tempted to go and take that only energy off the board

01:04:22.060 --> 01:04:26.140
Right, but of course you are expecting Natalie to have access to at least two Crispin here

01:04:26.180 --> 01:04:28.840
You're right. There's options with bosses orders right now

01:04:28.840 --> 01:04:35.260
We have got enough energy on both the mega Kangaskarni X and the Tio mask overporn for large attacks if we wish

01:04:35.520 --> 01:04:41.160
We're just iron up all of these options. We've got an ultra ball. Yeah, Gempower. We got a boss

01:04:41.380 --> 01:04:46.820
It really comes down to how much prep can we do before taking our next prize because now Natalie has seen a decent

01:04:46.820 --> 01:04:51.300
with her last lily. She has a couple recon directive already on the board. You have to

01:04:51.300 --> 01:04:56.120
start expecting that Natalie will have reached towards her A-spec, that unfair stamp. So

01:04:56.120 --> 01:05:00.440
Callie really wants to build a board that has some safeguard against hand disruption.

01:05:00.440 --> 01:05:04.660
So getting the early raging bolt down and even stashing an energy onto it this turn

01:05:04.660 --> 01:05:08.580
really will allow Callie to have a much easier time of taking out a Dragapult next turn.

01:05:08.580 --> 01:05:11.940
I think this is a very solid choice because she currently has access to that fighting

01:05:11.940 --> 01:05:13.900
energy. So that's a really nice play for her.

01:05:13.900 --> 01:05:15.540
This is your big bad of the deck.

01:05:15.540 --> 01:05:17.740
This is the one that can stretch up and take big one,

01:05:17.740 --> 01:05:19.420
hit K.O.'s on that dragapult.

01:05:19.420 --> 01:05:20.900
Here comes the boss' orders.

01:05:20.900 --> 01:05:22.340
Where's it going, Joe? You've got to be quick.

01:05:22.340 --> 01:05:23.300
I feel like it's Meowth.

01:05:23.300 --> 01:05:24.540
It could easily be Dust Glocks

01:05:24.540 --> 01:05:26.460
or the Drag Cloak with energy, though.

01:05:26.460 --> 01:05:29.620
I think it's like a ton of great options here.

01:05:29.620 --> 01:05:30.940
Oh, yeah. It is going to be the Meowth.

01:05:30.940 --> 01:05:32.860
Yeah, I feel like when there's Cursed Blast in the mix,

01:05:32.860 --> 01:05:35.300
you want to make it punishing for the opponent.

01:05:35.300 --> 01:05:37.060
You want to make it very difficult for Natalie

01:05:37.060 --> 01:05:38.700
to leave it in, if ever.

01:05:38.700 --> 01:05:40.100
So it is going to be a two prize K.O.

01:05:40.100 --> 01:05:43.260
Callie goes down, just three prize cards remaining,

01:05:43.260 --> 01:05:46.260
and she's even able to pick up a Liska Fairy from those prize cards,

01:05:46.260 --> 01:05:47.900
which could be quite handy.

01:05:47.900 --> 01:05:51.660
And now we have to start seeing some action from Natalie.

01:05:51.660 --> 01:05:52.780
Her hand is not great.

01:05:52.780 --> 01:05:55.780
She's really reliant on the next couple of recon directives

01:05:55.780 --> 01:05:57.420
to get her anywhere.

01:05:57.420 --> 01:05:59.500
At least you do have two of those to use,

01:05:59.500 --> 01:06:01.540
but you talk about the prize map essentially now.

01:06:01.540 --> 01:06:03.660
A single Cursed Blast means the Dragapod KO

01:06:03.660 --> 01:06:04.620
will win the game.

01:06:04.620 --> 01:06:05.620
Oh, the next...

01:06:05.620 --> 01:06:06.460
Oh, yeah.

01:06:06.460 --> 01:06:07.820
Was Ace Guard.

01:06:07.820 --> 01:06:10.940
The fire energy that she needed so badly.

01:06:10.940 --> 01:06:12.980
It's a jamming tower and a darkness energy.

01:06:12.980 --> 01:06:18.340
jamming tower gets taken. Second recon directive does give Lily's determination and with zero

01:06:18.340 --> 01:06:23.700
prize cards taken, I will give Natalie eight new cards as she evolves up into a dust noir,

01:06:23.700 --> 01:06:28.780
then to the 3P and attaches a fire energy to the active. Lily's determination for eight,

01:06:28.780 --> 01:06:33.380
we're looking for a dragapult so we can start actually throwing some damage around.

01:06:33.380 --> 01:06:37.180
Dragapult at the very least, if we can also find crushing hammer in combination with

01:06:37.180 --> 01:06:41.300
unfair stamp, suddenly you can be getting yourself back into a good position. Natalie

01:06:41.300 --> 01:06:46.840
may also try and hold on to the unfair stamp that little bit longer and basically say that I've evolved into dust law

01:06:46.840 --> 01:06:50.360
But I'm not actually gonna use this car. I can't really do it. It's been risky for me

01:06:50.360 --> 01:06:55.800
And instead we'll just try and force Cali through to drag a pot EX for a man of these prizes

01:06:57.000 --> 01:07:03.000
Your decision, but you're right. Essentially. You either use a dust law or you make your opponent care with second drag a poll

01:07:03.000 --> 01:07:05.000
We'll see where Natalie come down

01:07:05.520 --> 01:07:09.480
There is not much in this hand Ross. We've got a bidu. We got of course is all

01:07:09.480 --> 01:07:12.120
They've got to be completely with Dragapults.

01:07:12.120 --> 01:07:13.440
There's no way towards it.

01:07:13.440 --> 01:07:16.080
We both have a weakensie the hand better than you can at home right now.

01:07:16.080 --> 01:07:17.840
There's Naren, there's a concession.

01:07:17.840 --> 01:07:20.120
Kali White is going to take game one.

01:07:20.120 --> 01:07:22.480
One nil up with this mega Kangas gun.

01:07:22.480 --> 01:07:24.320
Lily's the fairy box deck.

01:07:24.320 --> 01:07:27.320
Natalie cannot get a Dragapult, cannot recover.

01:07:27.320 --> 01:07:29.040
And Kali takes game one.

01:07:29.040 --> 01:07:33.360
A very calm collected win there for Kali.

01:07:33.360 --> 01:07:36.000
The Blitz obviously didn't do anything super impressive.

01:07:36.000 --> 01:07:38.240
It just kind of went through the motions

01:07:38.240 --> 01:07:41.080
and just started swinging with rapid-fire combo.

01:07:41.080 --> 01:07:44.800
There's much more scary cards that could have come out in the list for Callie.

01:07:44.800 --> 01:07:47.760
So to get a nice win under the belt early has to feel good,

01:07:47.760 --> 01:07:50.560
knowing that they didn't even have to resort to any Clefairy

01:07:50.560 --> 01:07:52.880
or Wellspring open-up on tactics.

01:07:52.880 --> 01:07:56.480
There's even more threat for Natalie in this next couple of games

01:07:56.480 --> 01:08:00.480
where the game down right now with that well-disappointed concession,

01:08:00.480 --> 01:08:03.680
she's given herself a good amount of time to try and bring this back though, Ross.

01:08:03.680 --> 01:08:06.240
She has indeed, but you're right, that whole game,

01:08:06.240 --> 01:08:12.960
it was just attaching and you know attaching the mega kangaskar and building up your bench. Here we have a quick look at the replay.

01:08:12.960 --> 01:08:16.400
Here's the first KO on the dust skull and it's just, you know, you see on the mask.

01:08:16.400 --> 01:08:20.000
Coco Poms been sitting on the bench drawing half mega kangaskar and attacking.

01:08:20.000 --> 01:08:24.960
We see the boss's orders on to the meet out to go and get a KO there for two more prices.

01:08:24.960 --> 01:08:30.640
But can he never really swung with anything else? It was just setting up other attackers just in case drawing cars.

01:08:30.640 --> 01:08:35.440
to see your mask on the palm and swinging with mega Kangaskarn and when Natalie with the dragon

01:08:35.440 --> 01:08:39.920
fall off of that release termination to eight, that was the point where she said, yeah, I'm

01:08:39.920 --> 01:08:44.000
not winning this game. That's going to come to the big basic step. Definitely keeps you honest

01:08:44.000 --> 01:08:48.320
because if it has anything, it has more power at its side. It's always got those early game

01:08:48.320 --> 01:08:51.680
run errands that has the field mask on the bottom, chipping in at times as well.

01:08:51.680 --> 01:08:55.360
So you constantly getting a lot of card advantage from the very beginning of the game.

01:08:55.360 --> 01:09:00.800
You can see the fist bump getting into this game number two then in our Swiss round nine

01:09:00.800 --> 01:09:04.080
Natalie kicks things off with the Maltres in the active

01:09:04.080 --> 01:09:08.840
Which is actually pretty solid and I like the adjustment to choose to go first in this instance

01:09:09.480 --> 01:09:15.920
Pretty clear that you don't want the big basic deck to get free run errand draws or free energy attachments

01:09:15.920 --> 01:09:17.440
Both of those things are pretty scary for you

01:09:17.440 --> 01:09:22.120
And in this instance already on the first turn of the game Natalie has found fire energy to Maltres

01:09:22.120 --> 01:09:26.560
So, immediately, she's asking more questions than she did in that first game.

01:09:26.560 --> 01:09:28.720
It already seems like it's going better than last time.

01:09:28.720 --> 01:09:32.120
You've got the energy on the Moltres, you've got a Dribby and a Duskull on the bench.

01:09:32.120 --> 01:09:33.920
We've got a Poker Pad coming down here.

01:09:33.920 --> 01:09:37.920
It's going to allow you to go and grab something else if you so wish.

01:09:37.920 --> 01:09:41.120
We didn't even think she probably does at this point.

01:09:41.120 --> 01:09:43.360
And then in the hand, we've got a Dragapult there,

01:09:43.360 --> 01:09:46.120
a Snatch for a future turn, if you need it.

01:09:46.120 --> 01:09:48.120
I mean, is it second Dribby? Oh, no.

01:09:48.120 --> 01:09:50.320
I believe that was... We've used the search now.

01:09:50.320 --> 01:10:01.320
So, it's for one of each of these basics and action over to Kali now, having the perfect start with that Kanyas card already in the active spot, meaning we can run Aaron for two additional cards.

01:10:01.320 --> 01:10:05.320
Also, already spotted an Ultra Ball in that hand for Kali.

01:10:05.320 --> 01:10:10.320
Two energy off the run, Aaron. One of it's a Grass energy. Nice for you, Teal Mask Ogre Pond.

01:10:10.320 --> 01:10:15.320
So, we've got an Ultra Ball. We need some more Pokemon coming down. I'm guessing it doesn't dipty in the hand.

01:10:15.320 --> 01:10:19.980
That's not too much yet. So we're just going to be an October ball straight away and that's going to go and search for

01:10:20.420 --> 01:10:25.360
presumably you to your mouse go upon that is often the first one you go for here because that gives you a draw

01:10:25.360 --> 01:10:29.020
Ranging to work with well, I'm thinking Meowth Cyrano get the gang

01:10:29.020 --> 01:10:31.840
I think you get a squad going this turn that could be pretty good

01:10:31.840 --> 01:10:38.620
Don't want me half south kind of fun. You're right Cyrano search you for free Pokemon. Yes, the prize cards. Oh, no, I think again

01:10:40.620 --> 01:10:42.620
I'm afraid

01:10:45.320 --> 01:10:49.560
So it's going to be a second copy of Kangaskarn searched.

01:10:49.560 --> 01:10:52.820
Not ideally what you're looking for here, but, like you say,

01:10:52.820 --> 01:10:57.320
sometimes your prizes unfortunately do not do you any favours for what it's worth.

01:10:57.320 --> 01:11:00.660
Both rescue stretchers as well hiding in the prizes for Callie.

01:11:00.660 --> 01:11:02.260
Let's tell her something to keep an eye on.

01:11:02.260 --> 01:11:04.860
It is a well-spring mask Ogopon in the end.

01:11:04.860 --> 01:11:06.360
All right, OK.

01:11:06.360 --> 01:11:09.920
It means that Callie indicates that she also has a fairly strong hand.

01:11:09.920 --> 01:11:12.420
Basically saying that she will attach to it this turn,

01:11:12.420 --> 01:11:18.500
find a way towards Latias EX in addition to Crispin next turn. Start firing off some torrential pumps.

01:11:20.900 --> 01:11:25.140
Well that seems to be the plan with Lily's determinate. Crispin is actually already in

01:11:25.140 --> 01:11:30.980
hand and Latias is in hand. Although you've actually got everything you need already ready to go.

01:11:30.980 --> 01:11:36.180
There is an energy and looks like we're actually going Crispin this turn. So we've got a water

01:11:36.180 --> 01:11:41.220
to hand. We've got a sidekick being attached. So this is pretty nice turn. One can call

01:11:41.220 --> 01:11:48.960
Yeah telegraphing the play but ultimately Natalie does not play shaman so she can't really do much about the line of play that Kelly's already setting up here

01:11:48.960 --> 01:11:53.480
That's the beauty of it. No, and there's no hand disruption outside of an unfair stamp

01:11:53.480 --> 01:11:56.820
Which can be used unless a prize was taken so you know it's coming

01:11:56.820 --> 01:12:01.220
But you can't do much about it. There's your attachment for turn. We have the attachment from Crispin

01:12:01.260 --> 01:12:06.440
We bench the Latias so Natalie knows it's just an energy attachment next turn and the place coming

01:12:06.440 --> 01:12:12.540
But what can she do about it? Not much. So we pass back to Natalie here

01:12:12.540 --> 01:12:17.600
It's gonna be a crushing hammer. This could really help her for a heads. I've no idea. I can't see it's still spinning

01:12:18.840 --> 01:12:21.080
Everyone just stares at the door. Oh, it's a tails

01:12:21.960 --> 01:12:27.560
So it's a Lily's determination here gonna get a new eight come that could have forced another Crispin next time

01:12:27.560 --> 01:12:30.740
Absolutely could have said that's a big whiff already for Natalie

01:12:30.740 --> 01:12:36.280
And if you're wondering why Kelly did not attach water at a G for turn, that's exactly why she's respecting the four

01:12:36.280 --> 01:12:40.000
crushing hammers that Natalie has, so she was stashing that one copy of water.

01:12:40.000 --> 01:12:44.640
That's the only attack costing energy that you require,

01:12:44.640 --> 01:12:47.080
otherwise it's colorless energy on that wellspring mask,

01:12:47.080 --> 01:12:48.440
so you have to have a water attached.

01:12:48.440 --> 01:12:51.760
So, Callie, with a strong adjustment early on in this game, number two.

01:12:51.760 --> 01:12:52.960
And there's only one in the deck,

01:12:52.960 --> 01:12:55.200
and both your rescue stretcher in the prize is going into...

01:12:55.200 --> 01:12:55.800
Oh, no.

01:12:55.800 --> 01:12:56.480
...Vina would have gone.

01:12:56.480 --> 01:12:58.800
There is a draklo, second crushing hammer.

01:12:58.800 --> 01:12:59.640
Here we go.

01:12:59.640 --> 01:13:01.200
It is ahead this time.

01:13:01.200 --> 01:13:04.240
So one of those energy is gone and is a psychic energy.

01:13:04.240 --> 01:13:06.240
That makes things a lot more difficult.

01:13:06.240 --> 01:13:09.400
relief Ross because there's only one drag cloak right now and even the

01:13:09.400 --> 01:13:14.040
recondirective no access to buddy-buddy pop in even poker pad or even just a

01:13:14.040 --> 01:13:18.120
regular drippy again this leads determination has not been great for

01:13:18.120 --> 01:13:22.840
Natalie. We're seeing a fire engine now attached to the Duskull at the very

01:13:22.840 --> 01:13:26.240
least we can use fighting wings here but Natalie has to be terrified of the

01:13:26.240 --> 01:13:29.800
actual pump that could come down. Oh we saw the top there now there's no

01:13:29.800 --> 01:13:32.660
access to Crispin right now have a look at the two cars it's an

01:13:32.660 --> 01:13:40.660
You can ult, you can ult for Meowth, use Meowth to go and get Crispin, and then retreat and absolutely decimate this board. That is an option if you want it.

01:13:40.660 --> 01:13:45.660
You've got to go for it. Leaving Natalie with only a Duskull here would be huge.

01:13:45.660 --> 01:13:48.660
You don't think about this dude, you just go for it.

01:13:48.660 --> 01:13:49.660
You have to go for this.

01:13:49.660 --> 01:13:54.660
This is the end of the game, right? If this goes well enough, that is going to give you such a huge advantage.

01:13:54.660 --> 01:14:00.660
Let's grab Crispin. We already know that the water energy is in hand for Callie.

01:14:00.660 --> 01:14:05.660
So she will grab a grass energy to the hand whilst accelerating a lightning energy.

01:14:05.660 --> 01:14:09.660
We can then manually attach for the turn, water onto that wellspring last go-upon.

01:14:09.660 --> 01:14:13.660
That is going to give a KO on both the Moltres and the Benchtre Cloak.

01:14:13.660 --> 01:14:18.660
Lily's for fair. He goes and hits the board. Free retreat using Latias' Skyliner.

01:14:18.660 --> 01:14:22.660
And here we go. KO on the Moltres and a KO on the Drag Cloak.

01:14:22.660 --> 01:14:26.100
leaving Natalie with just a duskull and a fire energy.

01:14:26.100 --> 01:14:27.940
That is a bad board right now.

01:14:27.940 --> 01:14:29.460
Release determination for eight.

01:14:29.460 --> 01:14:35.100
We need to see from Natalie here just a big, big board rebuild

01:14:35.100 --> 01:14:38.140
because Callie is still pressuring a lot.

01:14:38.140 --> 01:14:41.580
The good news for Natalie here is that if we can weave in BUDDOO,

01:14:41.580 --> 01:14:45.260
there shouldn't be a way for Callie to actually get another torrential pump in.

01:14:45.260 --> 01:14:47.820
So trying to have that little bit of breathing room all comes down

01:14:47.820 --> 01:14:49.940
to reestablishing some item lock here,

01:14:49.940 --> 01:14:54.440
in addition to some 3P, Matthew yet to see any of her buddy-buddy poffins.

01:14:54.440 --> 01:14:57.740
So she has good odds of finding multiple basics here from these eight cards,

01:14:57.740 --> 01:15:01.340
although we've said that a few times so far in the set and none have come.

01:15:01.340 --> 01:15:04.540
As it works, yeah. 3P? What is happening?

01:15:04.540 --> 01:15:08.040
As you know, buddy-buddy poffin in hand, there is a 3P, which is nice,

01:15:08.040 --> 01:15:10.740
but I don't think any buddy poffin, I'm not saying any ultra ball,

01:15:10.740 --> 01:15:13.740
we see a monkey Dory come down with darkness energy attached,

01:15:13.740 --> 01:15:17.140
and I think, yeah, you just retreat into that just because it's got more HP.

01:15:17.140 --> 01:15:18.040
That's it.

01:15:18.040 --> 01:15:22.680
Exactly because now you have to play around energy switch plus Crispin that could reload

01:15:22.880 --> 01:15:27.240
It would also require a tail mask go up on but you could get a second to ventral pump out of nowhere here

01:15:28.720 --> 01:15:31.800
Good awareness from Natalie to defend against that

01:15:31.800 --> 01:15:35.440
I don't think Kelly's hand is that strong to get her into a position like that though

01:15:35.560 --> 01:15:39.800
No, and you you need to draw cards that would be retreating into Kangas guard

01:15:39.800 --> 01:15:41.800
But then you wouldn't be able to second retreat to get there

01:15:41.800 --> 01:15:46.960
So I think it is asking a lot this turn so Cyrano comes down. We know there's gonna be no Crispin

01:15:46.960 --> 01:15:52.520
We're just going to go and search for free Pokemon EX one of which is going to be your teal mask ogre bomb

01:15:52.600 --> 01:15:54.440
Which of course will then give you more draw

01:15:54.440 --> 01:15:59.360
We've got a second meowth if we want it in a moment to go and get ourselves another supporter

01:15:59.760 --> 01:16:02.000
And is there a third one we want?

01:16:02.440 --> 01:16:05.760
She's going to definitely thin something even if it's just an additional Kangaskhan

01:16:05.840 --> 01:16:10.680
That's why they see values having the extra option of this raging bolts potentially to the hand

01:16:10.680 --> 01:16:14.840
Or if she just wants maybe fodder for future ultra ball. It's going to be another Kangaskhan

01:16:14.840 --> 01:16:16.680
Yeah, I think this is a building turn

01:16:16.680 --> 01:16:21.940
You don't even need to launch an attack here at all even to stashing one energy onto Clefairy seems so intimidating

01:16:22.480 --> 01:16:25.460
When Natalie once again, we have to stress no rare candy in the list

01:16:25.780 --> 01:16:31.640
So it has to slowly build up drag-a-pot over multiple turns even slowly building up the dust bowl in multiple turns

01:16:31.640 --> 01:16:36.580
We see one additional draw here from teal dance. That is going to be a crisp in so next turn

01:16:36.860 --> 01:16:41.620
We could be seeing a pretty big one next turn. We are gonna retreat into the Kangaskans

01:16:41.620 --> 01:16:46.240
you can run Aaron to draw two more cars. Can we start an energy on the whilst we

01:16:46.240 --> 01:16:49.540
have to go up on this turn? We could. There have been two crushing hammer

01:16:49.540 --> 01:16:53.920
played, but if another is used and gets heads, then it feels like you're again

01:16:53.920 --> 01:16:57.400
sort of without a strong play. I think I prefer a little bit more on to

01:16:57.400 --> 01:17:01.120
Clefairy in this instance. Well, it is. Well, it looks like Khali agrees with you.

01:17:01.120 --> 01:17:04.800
There's the energy on the Clefairy and it's a little bit of a threat at this

01:17:04.800 --> 01:17:06.900
point. A lot of the time, of course, you don't really want to bet the

01:17:06.900 --> 01:17:11.940
very too early. He's only got 190 hit points, but the game's going really well.

01:17:11.940 --> 01:17:17.140
There is your evolution into your dust globs there as we go back over to Natalie here.

01:17:17.140 --> 01:17:20.660
We're going to see a rescue stretcher to grab a second Dreepee onto the bench,

01:17:20.660 --> 01:17:24.340
and it is going to be another Lily's determination still for eight,

01:17:24.340 --> 01:17:28.340
because Natalie is sitting there still with zero prize cards taken.

01:17:28.340 --> 01:17:31.700
But she's got to be thinking at this point like, what are these going to hit in a minute?

01:17:31.700 --> 01:17:33.060
I'm going to finally start drawing what I want.

01:17:33.060 --> 01:17:35.140
Surely. Surely. What happened?

01:17:35.140 --> 01:17:36.660
She has had such a tough time.

01:17:36.660 --> 01:17:38.900
Eight cards sounds like a huge amount,

01:17:38.900 --> 01:17:42.420
but every time Natalie is falling short with these draws,

01:17:42.420 --> 01:17:45.460
she did spend a Night Stretcher there for an additional Dreepee as well,

01:17:45.460 --> 01:17:48.980
but that's already with two Fire Energy and one of her Maltres,

01:17:48.980 --> 01:17:51.060
well, her only Maltres in the discard pass,

01:17:51.060 --> 01:17:54.180
so that's also sort of a window shutting for her.

01:17:54.180 --> 01:17:56.180
Just have the safety net of additional Dreepee.

01:17:56.180 --> 01:17:58.900
She has finally found Buddy Buddy Poffin at the very least here.

01:17:58.900 --> 01:18:00.420
And two Ultra Ball as well.

01:18:00.420 --> 01:18:03.940
So we're finally starting to see that Pokemon search coming out of the deck

01:18:03.940 --> 01:18:08.820
and hopefully she can start building that board like she wants to because right

01:18:08.820 --> 01:18:13.480
now we are still in a situation where we could see some really awkward plays if

01:18:13.480 --> 01:18:17.740
Kali keeps going. Natalie it's a board building turn here we go there with a

01:18:17.740 --> 01:18:23.740
buddy buddy Poffin. At least one more Dripi. Is there a fourth? Is that greedy?

01:18:23.740 --> 01:18:30.220
Well, I would if I could. I don't think there is one there towards the back of the deck if I saw it properly.

01:18:30.220 --> 01:18:34.460
Unless she has access to Fezantipity EX this turn, perhaps, might be something on her mind.

01:18:34.460 --> 01:18:34.960
Absolutely.

01:18:34.960 --> 01:18:36.360
We're going to grab one Drippy right now.

01:18:36.360 --> 01:18:38.360
Fezantipity actually in the prize cards right now.

01:18:38.360 --> 01:18:39.960
Oh, probably not coming out.

01:18:39.960 --> 01:18:40.860
Probably not.

01:18:40.860 --> 01:18:42.560
Hehehehe.

01:18:42.560 --> 01:18:44.360
Nonetheless, she's trying to...

01:18:44.360 --> 01:18:51.560
She has to try and build a board position where she has just a few of these Pokémon towards the end game.

01:18:51.560 --> 01:18:53.460
She doesn't want to just fall prey to a torrential pump.

01:18:53.460 --> 01:18:56.760
She wants to force Bosses' orders or Crispin' combinations,

01:18:56.760 --> 01:19:00.000
force a supporter combo out of Kali late game,

01:19:00.000 --> 01:19:02.720
rather than having somebody's vulnerable hit point Pokemon later,

01:19:02.720 --> 01:19:04.440
as we do see the one Recon Directive.

01:19:04.440 --> 01:19:06.080
There's a Meowth, and I think it's a Lily's...

01:19:06.080 --> 01:19:07.840
No, it's not. It's a Poker Pad, sorry.

01:19:07.840 --> 01:19:10.880
The Poker Pad is going to go back to the bottom of the deck,

01:19:10.880 --> 01:19:12.360
and he's always two Poker Pads,

01:19:12.360 --> 01:19:15.320
so there was no decision to be made, it turns out.

01:19:15.320 --> 01:19:17.040
We do see a Dust Goal coming down.

01:19:17.040 --> 01:19:20.320
That explains why there wasn't another Dreepe searched out.

01:19:20.320 --> 01:19:23.400
Natalie really wants access to those Dust Goals.

01:19:23.400 --> 01:19:25.440
I mean, the clock is ticking, though.

01:19:25.440 --> 01:19:27.120
Callie already taking two prize cards.

01:19:27.120 --> 01:19:29.400
You assume she'll take one this turn as well.

01:19:29.400 --> 01:19:31.800
At the very least, she could even take two this turn.

01:19:31.960 --> 01:19:33.560
Things line up in her hand.

01:19:33.720 --> 01:19:36.040
The window is shutting very quickly for Curse Blast.

01:19:36.200 --> 01:19:39.320
Here's Run-Aaron to go and draw two cards.

01:19:39.480 --> 01:19:42.400
Always nice to start with that. See your options for the game.

01:19:42.560 --> 01:19:44.800
Does look like we've got a mega Kangaskarn.

01:19:44.960 --> 01:19:47.640
Is that a raging bolt? Yeah, raging bolt and mega Kangaskarn

01:19:47.800 --> 01:19:50.320
come out on the deck here from the Run-Aaron.

01:19:50.480 --> 01:19:52.720
We are going to play that area zero under that.

01:19:52.880 --> 01:19:54.720
So for the first time in this game,

01:19:54.880 --> 01:19:58.280
eight bent spaces have been opened up.

01:19:58.280 --> 01:20:02.840
I think a very simple turn here for Cali would be finding bosses orders on Drakloak

01:20:02.920 --> 01:20:08.040
If you can attach to her Clefairy again this turn just take out the only other stage one Pokemon

01:20:08.040 --> 01:20:11.960
Here it is night stretch of a second psych energy that you can safeguard you around a hammer

01:20:11.960 --> 01:20:17.800
And there is bosses orders in the hand you have to assume Cali will continue to target down these engine pieces for Natalie

01:20:18.800 --> 01:20:23.440
Well, it is going to be a bosses orders onto that Drakloak on the bench quite obviously

01:20:23.440 --> 01:20:35.440
we retreat with Skyliner to go and get your Liddice Fairy any active and then we can just swing for, I'm not counting it, it doubles up, it's easily enough to go and get AKO.

01:20:35.440 --> 01:20:49.440
So let's take that one out and now with three prizes down, your opponent kind of wants to give you prizes with Dustbox and Dustball but they can't really do that very much and this is becoming very, very awkward for Natalie.

01:20:49.440 --> 01:20:54.440
At this point, does Kali know Natalie's not playing Rare Candy at this point?

01:20:54.440 --> 01:20:59.440
Oh, for certain. She's been playing around crushing Hammer, and no list can fit all the crushing Hammers and Rare Candy's and Dusterbar.

01:20:59.440 --> 01:21:03.440
It's just impossible, Ross. There's no space. There's no space.

01:21:03.440 --> 01:21:09.440
Kali playing around the Hammers beautifully, targeting down and punishing the fact that there aren't no Rare Candy.

01:21:09.440 --> 01:21:10.440
And that means that...

01:21:10.440 --> 01:21:15.440
Now, three prize cards up, and Natalie yet to launch much of an attack outside of the Moltres.

01:21:15.440 --> 01:21:20.440
She can at least come back with a Crispin now, and Mindbend is set up.

01:21:20.440 --> 01:21:24.440
Perhaps some confusion flips will be her only means of getting back into this game.

01:21:24.440 --> 01:21:26.440
She'll have to buy turns somehow here.

01:21:26.440 --> 01:21:33.440
That does last. I mean, we've seen this as far back as the North American internationals back in, I think it was 23 when we commentated it, Joe.

01:21:33.440 --> 01:21:38.440
That was when Monkey Dory burst onto the scene, and hey, Mindbend can buy you turns.

01:21:38.440 --> 01:21:40.440
Absolutely, 60 damage plus confusion.

01:21:40.440 --> 01:21:43.440
Make your opponent flip in order to get an attack rolling.

01:21:43.440 --> 01:21:46.440
Can we get another Cloak here? Oh, hello!

01:21:46.440 --> 01:21:51.440
How's this for a play? 60 damage from Mind Bend, plus 130 from Cursed Blast.

01:21:51.440 --> 01:21:56.440
It does put Kali down to two prize cards, but your board is all single prize Pokemon.

01:21:56.440 --> 01:21:59.440
This would be a way to clear the Lily's Laferi off the board,

01:21:59.440 --> 01:22:05.440
whilst also limiting the hand size for Kali, who now has to find more Crispin,

01:22:05.440 --> 01:22:09.440
more energy switch to even have any sort of attacker lined up for the next turn.

01:22:09.440 --> 01:22:12.440
You're taking two of the free energy off the board as well.

01:22:12.440 --> 01:22:17.560
like you're thinking here Joe unfair stamp as I like to say unfair by name unfair by nature

01:22:17.560 --> 01:22:22.760
but that is the very point of a card it's an aspect for a reason so five cards draw for Natalie

01:22:22.760 --> 01:22:28.120
only two it's a boss and an ultra ball that is energy that's going to be most needed here comes

01:22:28.120 --> 01:22:33.400
the recon directive it's an ultra ball was it a cloak because that's what I really love.

01:22:33.400 --> 01:22:38.680
I'll be doing an ultra ball yeah you could also just mind bend this turn and hold on your curse

01:22:38.680 --> 01:22:42.580
blast because you don't want to give your opponent both flip the script and run errand

01:22:42.580 --> 01:22:45.280
You're giving them so many cards. So yeah, I like just the 60 prod here

01:22:45.280 --> 01:22:49.560
It still sets up the same line of play, but you're also limiting the draw in this instance

01:22:50.080 --> 01:22:53.000
Well back over the Cali you draw one card for turn

01:22:53.000 --> 01:22:56.800
It is a meow so that's going to go and get you towards the supporter card if you want one

01:22:56.920 --> 01:23:01.760
But you can of course free retreat with your Latias here into a mega Kangas card

01:23:01.960 --> 01:23:07.640
Does look like that's what's being eyed up here, and then you can run errand to draw two extra cars

01:23:07.640 --> 01:23:09.640
I know, but we're not doing it yet

01:23:09.980 --> 01:23:12.740
He has what in hand right now just a mean alpha ex

01:23:14.060 --> 01:23:16.060
Hunting for a key supporter cards

01:23:16.440 --> 01:23:18.440
Is it gonna be another Crispin here perhaps?

01:23:19.160 --> 01:23:20.600
Yes, it is

01:23:20.600 --> 01:23:23.720
We've been counting the Crispin is that number three feel like that's three

01:23:27.000 --> 01:23:33.280
Either way there is obviously a fool for this deck rumble Crispin so much. I have access to energy switch here. Oh

01:23:33.280 --> 01:23:39.920
What's going on, Joe? We see Crispin on to fast. Why is there a Crispin on to fast, Joe?

01:23:39.920 --> 01:23:43.360
Because we are trying to knock out that bench-Drakloak once again. There it is.

01:23:43.360 --> 01:23:47.600
Energy switch in hand for Kali. We saw this play so effectively at the NAIC and

01:23:47.600 --> 01:23:51.480
history is repeating itself. Cruel arrow getting back into the equation,

01:23:51.480 --> 01:23:55.600
taking out Drakloak. Continuing to limit Natalie's options here. Kali White

01:23:55.600 --> 01:23:58.440
goes down to just two prize cards remaining. And there's not going to be a

01:23:58.440 --> 01:24:02.640
dragapult next turn. It is impossible with no rare candy in the list and I

01:24:02.640 --> 01:24:04.980
I think what we've seen here is Kali just going,

01:24:04.980 --> 01:24:07.340
I'm gonna do everything in my power

01:24:07.340 --> 01:24:10.120
to make sure that I'm taking out all of these to a cloak.

01:24:10.120 --> 01:24:11.840
That is all that's really important.

01:24:11.840 --> 01:24:13.900
It's not about how many prizes I take,

01:24:13.900 --> 01:24:16.520
it is about cutting off your access to Dragapult,

01:24:16.520 --> 01:24:18.880
another Lily's determination for Natalie,

01:24:18.880 --> 01:24:22.520
which is still drawing eight cars.

01:24:22.520 --> 01:24:25.640
That's not where you wanna be if you're Natalie.

01:24:25.640 --> 01:24:28.760
She has no more hand disruption left in the deck either.

01:24:28.760 --> 01:24:30.560
The only means of disrupting this board

01:24:30.560 --> 01:24:35.680
either by a confusion or crushing hammer coin flips at this stage Ross so she's

01:24:35.680 --> 01:24:38.280
gonna have to really hope that these crushing hammers can pull through in

01:24:38.280 --> 01:24:41.080
this instance because there's a number of threatening attackers in play right

01:24:41.080 --> 01:24:45.280
now for Cali. Well there's one crushing hammer in hand or is it two no one in

01:24:45.280 --> 01:24:49.480
hand but then it problem is you just reattach because Crawlero is fairly

01:24:49.480 --> 01:24:52.800
underwhelming free energy hundred to the bench but there's no downside there's

01:24:52.800 --> 01:24:56.440
no discard energy there's no you can't do it next turn it is just

01:24:56.440 --> 01:25:01.100
100 to the bent with get a draw cloak and there's only one on the board for Natalie

01:25:01.300 --> 01:25:06.380
So I mean unless you can stop the cool arrow in some way. It's just gonna happen again

01:25:07.420 --> 01:25:11.340
Natalie hoping for help from prize cards here takes out the Lewis Clefairy

01:25:11.340 --> 01:25:16.660
And I think now she's saying that the 50 50 of confusion is her best chance to survive the next turn here

01:25:17.100 --> 01:25:21.500
She will just rely she's taken two energy out of play with that Lewis Clefairy KO

01:25:21.500 --> 01:25:26.660
But now Kali with one prize card remaining can take out essentially any of these Pokemon to close the game

01:25:27.260 --> 01:25:34.060
Natalie is banking on a coin flip at this stage in our Swiss round nine. We might see coin flip for game next turn Joe

01:25:34.060 --> 01:25:38.540
I'm sorry. That sounds pretty exciting to me. I kind of want to see a coin flip the game right now

01:25:38.700 --> 01:25:42.580
It's gonna be a buddy buddy poffin for Natalie gonna be searching out

01:25:43.620 --> 01:25:48.940
Nothing more just hand thinning you get to the point where there aren't enough basics in you next you play it to get it out

01:25:48.940 --> 01:25:50.440
of your hand

01:25:50.440 --> 01:25:54.080
That is going to be my friend the last defense for Natalie Miller

01:25:54.080 --> 01:25:59.600
Will it be enough Cali does now have access to fit the script so we'll be able to see a few more cards here

01:25:59.800 --> 01:26:06.240
Has access to the glass trumpets. It could be some key energy acceleration as well. Let's see the three cards

01:26:07.200 --> 01:26:12.920
Looking for energy switch. We're looking for cyber maniac should be access to the game here as we will be able to retreat

01:26:12.920 --> 01:26:18.320
Into a Kangaskarn. Oh, there we go. We retreat. We gust we KO we win

01:26:18.320 --> 01:26:24.320
to win. Calli white takes the

01:26:24.360 --> 01:26:26.360
game to games to zero. Latte

01:26:26.360 --> 01:26:28.360
out and able free retreat, at

01:26:28.360 --> 01:26:30.360
which point you can use your

01:26:30.360 --> 01:26:32.360
prime catch of the gust of

01:26:32.360 --> 01:26:34.360
Pokemon from the bed while

01:26:34.360 --> 01:26:36.360
switching the best to keep back

01:26:36.360 --> 01:26:38.360
to the active, and that means

01:26:38.360 --> 01:26:40.360
we are good. Wow. What a

01:26:40.360 --> 01:26:42.360
commanding victory for Calli

01:26:42.360 --> 01:26:44.360
White. She's had a fairly

01:26:44.360 --> 01:26:46.360
understated season. Let's not

01:26:46.360 --> 01:26:49.760
a little bit less so this season, but enough to make it to the World Championships.

01:26:49.760 --> 01:26:52.760
And once again on the main stage of the World Championships,

01:26:52.760 --> 01:26:56.460
she's making it count with this big, basic toolbox.

01:26:56.460 --> 01:26:58.660
She made it look so easy there, Ross.

01:26:58.660 --> 01:27:02.060
How often do you see these players who are good players,

01:27:02.060 --> 01:27:05.260
and they've not had these biggest results for a spin a couple of years,

01:27:05.260 --> 01:27:06.860
but they're good enough to get to Worlds,

01:27:06.860 --> 01:27:10.260
and if you're good enough to get to Worlds, you can have these runs.

01:27:10.260 --> 01:27:12.960
Let's see how it all played out here.

01:27:12.960 --> 01:27:15.760
Right back to the beginning of Game 1 with that energy acceleration.

01:27:15.760 --> 01:27:21.040
game one was very straightforward get energy on Kangaskar and just swing and take these prizes

01:27:21.040 --> 01:27:26.320
we saw a boss's orders to carry the Meowth for two prizes but it was just get some energy on the

01:27:26.320 --> 01:27:30.880
Pokemon on the bench while swinging with Kangaskar and Natalie never drew a dragapult and that was

01:27:30.880 --> 01:27:35.440
the end of the game. A huge whiff from Lily's determination and that actually kind of continued

01:27:35.440 --> 01:27:39.520
as we see this massive torrential pump. Natalie whiffing from Lily's determination

01:27:39.520 --> 01:27:44.240
anybody pop body pop in any access to additional 3p so in the mid game here

01:27:44.240 --> 01:27:51.920
Kali continues to charge through prizes, Natalie has the most valiant defence possible using a really smart means of mind bend to force

01:27:51.920 --> 01:27:59.600
specificity Kali with another great answer here and then Natalie the best case narrow for her was denying a cruel arrow that was all it took to

01:27:59.600 --> 01:28:07.280
close out this final prize. Absolutely it was and really with the Prime catcher it was actually the switch that was the most important because

01:28:07.280 --> 01:28:14.060
He can attack the bench, but you need it to retreat and then switch it back into the active to essentially remove the confusion

01:28:14.080 --> 01:28:21.440
That is what the prime catcher did and that is how Cali went to a 2-0 victory going to an 8 and 1

01:28:21.900 --> 01:28:26.440
Record not that gun. Yep grinning it in. You can see why that was that was like work

01:28:26.440 --> 01:28:30.900
There was no stress there about the entire set really she put the pressure on she never let up

01:28:30.900 --> 01:28:36.880
But that was a really smooth way to make it to an 8-1 record putting herself in great stead for the rest of these Swiss rounds

01:28:36.880 --> 01:28:42.540
It's always fun when you can play a dragapole and your opponent never gets a dragapole in the entire match.

01:28:42.540 --> 01:28:45.540
It does make your life a lot easier as you get through the game.

01:28:45.540 --> 01:28:47.540
Your whole deck is built to target dragapoles.

01:28:47.540 --> 01:28:52.540
You're expecting them to come in to play at some point, but in this case, Kali was able to just get around with the entire set.

01:28:52.540 --> 01:28:55.540
Absolutely what it looks like.

01:28:55.540 --> 01:28:57.040
We're going to have a bit of a chat with Kali.

01:28:57.040 --> 01:28:58.540
And again, we've just seen her win.

01:28:58.540 --> 01:29:00.540
Why don't we now hear about her talking about her win?

01:29:00.540 --> 01:29:03.040
And don't worry, we've got Amy on the case.

01:29:03.040 --> 01:29:11.480
you. Thank you so much, guys.

01:29:11.580 --> 01:29:13.120
Of course we're here with Kelly,

01:29:13.220 --> 01:29:15.120
who just want to feature match

01:29:15.220 --> 01:29:18.120
with a wonderfully constructed

01:29:18.220 --> 01:29:20.120
deck with plenty of attackers.

01:29:20.220 --> 01:29:21.620
Now, Kelly, can you explain to

01:29:21.720 --> 01:29:23.120
me why you chose this deck

01:29:23.220 --> 01:29:25.120
specifically for the tournament?

01:29:25.220 --> 01:29:26.640
Well, I played like hundreds of

01:29:26.740 --> 01:29:27.840
games with Dragonfall. I just

01:29:27.940 --> 01:29:29.040
like don't vibe with the deck

01:29:29.140 --> 01:29:30.540
very much. I played a lot last

01:29:30.640 --> 01:29:32.140
season, so I was like, I'm

01:29:32.140 --> 01:29:36.580
that one of your favorite mega Pokemon? No, I just like the card. Like, I like having consistency

01:29:36.580 --> 01:29:41.380
on a basic is the main thing. Honestly, it's a deck builder's dream, right? Having that

01:29:41.380 --> 01:29:46.300
on the basic. So honestly, I don't blame you. How many dragon vaults have you faced so far?

01:29:46.300 --> 01:29:51.060
I've got to ask. I played against five and I beat them all. My only loss is Alakazam.

01:29:51.060 --> 01:29:59.220
Oh man, did you come up against any of the Alakazam with those dusk lines in? No,

01:29:59.220 --> 01:30:02.220
I think it's safe to say you've

01:30:02.220 --> 01:30:04.220
gone through every trial and

01:30:04.220 --> 01:30:05.220
tribulation. You've jumped

01:30:05.220 --> 01:30:07.220
through every hoop. Dragapult

01:30:07.220 --> 01:30:09.220
has to show for this event, and

01:30:09.220 --> 01:30:11.220
you've done an amazing job thus

01:30:11.220 --> 01:30:13.220
far. Can you tell the audience

01:30:13.220 --> 01:30:15.220
at home just a little bit about

01:30:15.220 --> 01:30:17.220
your preparation for the world

01:30:17.220 --> 01:30:19.220
championships and how you got

01:30:19.220 --> 01:30:21.220
here to this amazing record on

01:30:21.220 --> 01:30:23.220
the stage? I mainly just

01:30:23.220 --> 01:30:24.220
played a bunch of games alive.

01:30:24.220 --> 01:30:26.220
I'm so sure about that.

01:30:26.220 --> 01:30:30.060
Well, I mainly just played a bunch of games online, but I switched to Raging Bull last week

01:30:30.060 --> 01:30:35.900
so it was all a drag-a-fault, but I mean I played Raging Bull to NAIC so I have some experience

01:30:35.900 --> 01:30:37.700
on it, so yeah.

01:30:37.700 --> 01:30:42.060
Honestly, that's sometimes the best way, just going in with something you're super prepared

01:30:42.060 --> 01:30:45.260
with and something you vibe with, I think that's really important.

01:30:45.260 --> 01:30:48.580
Do you have anyone who helped you prepare for the event?

01:30:48.580 --> 01:30:49.580
Oh, yeah.

01:30:49.580 --> 01:30:59.580
I'd like to show my friends Gwen, Rosie, Annie, Catherine, Liv, Brayden, and yeah.

01:30:59.580 --> 01:31:02.580
Amazing! Thank you so much you guys!

01:31:02.580 --> 01:31:07.580
I'm absolutely astounded and you made it look so easy!

01:31:07.580 --> 01:31:11.580
Have you had that kind of calm composure through the whole of the event?

01:31:11.580 --> 01:31:14.580
Or is there any moment where you were like, I don't know if I can do this?

01:31:14.580 --> 01:31:16.580
Well, I mean I've been calm all of that.

01:31:46.580 --> 01:32:06.580
I want to be on stream. I want to get on stage. I want to have that experience. Yeah, some people really embrace that experience. And that's what our top players do. They've probably been on the state one, one or two times before, but still you just get to let your shoulders down say, yeah, I deserve to be here. I'm beating the best. I can do it. I can make it through the rest of the tournament. That's always a great feeling to have when you're coming off that victory.

01:32:06.580 --> 01:32:10.900
that victory. And for Natalie, losing that set, she has to look back at that and say she missed a

01:32:10.900 --> 01:32:14.900
lot of pieces along the way there. She's not going to let that shake her. Sometimes, as we know,

01:32:14.900 --> 01:32:19.540
Pokemon can be a cruel game. You just with pieces along the way and you felt like you never really

01:32:19.540 --> 01:32:23.620
got rolling. So she's hoping to wipe that one off and hope to come back stronger the next few

01:32:23.620 --> 01:32:28.500
rounds. No, agree entirely. You know, there are very few games I find where you can actually

01:32:28.500 --> 01:32:31.780
say, well, you know, it wasn't my fault. I think that might have been one where it

01:32:31.780 --> 01:32:35.620
wasn't Natalie's fault. You know, even things like missing that dragon pole in game one,

01:32:35.620 --> 01:32:38.540
where you were finally getting ready to start launching some attacks,

01:32:38.540 --> 01:32:41.420
you know, missing those buddy-buddy poppins in game two,

01:32:41.420 --> 01:32:44.140
you know, using Liddy's determination to eight multiple times

01:32:44.140 --> 01:32:47.460
and skill never hitting, though, I mean, it was one of those games,

01:32:47.460 --> 01:32:50.140
but Kali took advantage of it beautifully.

01:32:50.140 --> 01:32:53.460
Yep, she never let up. Great pressure from that big basic archetype.

01:32:53.460 --> 01:32:56.780
It's such a strange deck, Ross, because the fact that you can just throw in

01:32:56.780 --> 01:32:58.940
so many basic points, when you have all this energy acceleration,

01:32:58.940 --> 01:33:02.180
you have all the energy switch, you can justify so many strange cards

01:33:02.180 --> 01:33:04.020
that it's never really been truly defined,

01:33:04.020 --> 01:33:09.860
especially at the NAICC in Kowalski's list with the four dusk ball and just crazy counts of all of these Pokemon,

01:33:09.860 --> 01:33:13.420
he sort of redefined what it meant to be this sort of big basic style box.

01:33:13.420 --> 01:33:19.700
I think a lot of our players this weekend have pivoted back towards Teal Mask O'Kopon in part because of the respect for N'Zorowak,

01:33:19.700 --> 01:33:24.100
but having that E-switch combination around the board just gives you so much flexibility.

01:33:24.100 --> 01:33:29.420
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you've got to play Mega Kangaskar. It's Pokemon drawn on a pace, like, too good.

01:33:29.420 --> 01:33:33.980
And you've got to play Crispin because you're playing weird and wonderful attackers, a ridiculous energy line.

01:33:33.980 --> 01:33:35.820
Crispin is the way it makes it work.

01:33:35.820 --> 01:33:40.180
After that, I would say probably Lily Scafairy because of how big Dragonbolt is.

01:33:40.180 --> 01:33:42.780
And then it really is just dealer's choice at that point.

01:33:42.780 --> 01:33:47.140
After those three cards, it is, what do you want to try and beat?

01:33:47.140 --> 01:33:50.780
Well, we've got two other players who are thinking about what they want to try and beat.

01:33:50.780 --> 01:33:54.860
That's right. We've got a feature match to bring you from this round as well.

01:33:54.860 --> 01:33:57.860
So let's go and join in with some more Pokemon action.

01:33:57.860 --> 01:34:01.460
Because frankly, one game around is not enough for us.

01:34:02.060 --> 01:34:04.860
It looks like there's been more big, basic action as well.

01:34:04.960 --> 01:34:08.560
Nathan Sprye is going to be on big basics, but a slightly different build.

01:34:08.660 --> 01:34:13.060
He's coming up against Henry Thompson, who is on a sort of controlling Alakazam

01:34:13.460 --> 01:34:18.460
with the Flutter Main Start, which is actually a pretty nice option for Henry here.

01:34:18.560 --> 01:34:22.560
He'll try and shut down the draw power of active Pokémon.

01:34:22.660 --> 01:34:25.260
So we're already shutting down the Teal Dance, and as we know,

01:34:25.260 --> 01:34:28.600
Mega Kang's card has to be in the active position to use that run, Eren.

01:34:28.600 --> 01:34:32.260
So a really good lead for Henry just by circumstance.

01:34:32.260 --> 01:34:35.160
This is mostly a tech card to help out against the Festival lead matchup.

01:34:35.160 --> 01:34:38.840
So it has to be happy to see that one and has an early game dawn after

01:34:38.840 --> 01:34:41.400
Nathan really just had an attached pass to kick the game off.

01:34:41.400 --> 01:34:47.080
But that's actually a low key still fairly scary attached pass because Nathan is playing

01:34:47.080 --> 01:34:52.360
one crucial tech card in his big basic build, that Iron Crown EX is in his deck.

01:34:52.360 --> 01:34:56.440
That's a Pokémon that can use Twin Shuttles to deal 50 to 2 Pokémon,

01:34:56.440 --> 01:34:58.520
and that's enough to deal with multiple Abra.

01:34:58.520 --> 01:35:00.680
So even though there wasn't much on Nathan's side of the board,

01:35:00.680 --> 01:35:03.960
he's still actually threatening a potential monster turn next turn.

01:35:03.960 --> 01:35:07.880
All we would need would be the Iron Crown, the Energy Switch, and a Crispin.

01:35:07.880 --> 01:35:12.200
Here comes Dawn grabbing a basic, and a Stage 1 and a Stage 2.

01:35:12.200 --> 01:35:16.680
That flutters the main turns off all abilities of active Pokémon only.

01:35:16.680 --> 01:35:21.000
So here we do get the Dunspars coming down, we get the Abra coming down.

01:35:21.000 --> 01:35:25.000
We've got ourselves a poker pad to go and search another Abra, it looks like,

01:35:25.000 --> 01:35:29.000
so building up our bench full of A6, very nicely indeed.

01:35:29.000 --> 01:35:31.000
Can we get a little bit more working?

01:35:31.000 --> 01:35:36.000
It's an energy on the Abra, pass to Nathan, and it was not that likely, Joe.

01:35:36.000 --> 01:35:39.000
If an eye count did come out here, devastating.

01:35:39.000 --> 01:35:41.000
It would be absolutely devastating. Let's see.

01:35:41.000 --> 01:35:45.000
Right now I think our only draw power is by this Crispin,

01:35:45.000 --> 01:35:47.000
because we can grab a grass energy to the hand

01:35:47.000 --> 01:35:52.440
the acceleration on the bench to draw plus one card. So it's far from where we

01:35:52.440 --> 01:35:56.040
want to be. There's also still torrential pump on the table for Nathan.

01:35:56.040 --> 01:35:59.400
It doesn't have to be twin shuffles in this instance because there is

01:35:59.400 --> 01:36:03.320
currently no shaman on the board protecting those basic Pokemon. The key

01:36:03.320 --> 01:36:06.680
reason why the iron crown is looked towards is because it ignores the

01:36:06.680 --> 01:36:10.760
effects of Pokemon so it gets through even shaming. In this instance any

01:36:10.760 --> 01:36:14.760
attacker will do for Nathan. It is pretty good. Yeah. So here we get it.

01:36:14.760 --> 01:36:20.000
Now this is the attachment from Crispin, and this is the attachment from your tealducks.

01:36:20.000 --> 01:36:23.480
So the attachment for turn is actually still available here.

01:36:23.480 --> 01:36:25.560
That was just to draw an extra card.

01:36:25.560 --> 01:36:31.160
So from that extra card that we get something we can use, attachment for turn, still live.

01:36:31.160 --> 01:36:33.080
It was just a Kangas card. It would have been beautiful,

01:36:33.080 --> 01:36:36.480
but for the midnight fluttering, shutting down the key engine.

01:36:36.480 --> 01:36:39.040
So action is back over to Henry.

01:36:39.040 --> 01:36:42.920
He can use a buddy-buddy poffin to fill out the remainder of his bench.

01:36:42.920 --> 01:36:47.920
Looks like it's going to be another Abra in addition to a Dunsparse.

01:36:47.920 --> 01:36:49.200
No muckin' about here.

01:36:49.200 --> 01:36:50.800
Three Abra, two Dunsparse.

01:36:50.800 --> 01:36:53.200
That is pretty much what you would want.

01:36:53.200 --> 01:36:56.360
Abra evolves into your attacker, Dunsparse evolves into your draw range,

01:36:56.360 --> 01:36:57.400
and what more do you need?

01:36:57.400 --> 01:36:58.920
Well, rare candy into it.

01:36:58.920 --> 01:37:00.920
Look at that. Might be what you need.

01:37:00.920 --> 01:37:05.400
And that is going to draw three cards because of the ability psychic draw.

01:37:05.400 --> 01:37:07.520
We evolve into the Dunsparse,

01:37:07.520 --> 01:37:10.880
and that means you can use that ability to get a runaway draw,

01:37:10.880 --> 01:37:12.640
to get another three cards.

01:37:12.640 --> 01:37:20.160
just for good measure. This is very nice. We've just won six cards drawn. We've got an ability there

01:37:20.160 --> 01:37:27.520
and we've now got the attack from Alakazam which is potentially on board. Can we access an energy

01:37:27.520 --> 01:37:31.040
card here? That might be one of the missing pieces. Possibly a Hilda would be a good option this

01:37:31.040 --> 01:37:37.200
turn. No access to energy, so no attacks being launched with powerful hand. But Henry is quite

01:37:37.200 --> 01:37:41.360
content leaving midnight fluttering where it is. It's like Nathan is forced into a boss's

01:37:41.360 --> 01:37:45.440
order's line of play just to access more draw power pushing the

01:37:45.440 --> 01:37:49.920
Flutermane to the bench so we can see two cards here.

01:37:49.920 --> 01:37:54.160
Far from ideal just to pass again for Nathan. So you got the two draws but after

01:37:54.160 --> 01:37:57.360
those two draws you just passed right back now we've got an

01:37:57.360 --> 01:38:00.640
Aberriny active rather than a Flutermane we're going to draw three more cards

01:38:00.640 --> 01:38:03.440
with the dunce pass with that runaway draw and

01:38:03.440 --> 01:38:08.400
we're counting. We're counting the hand. Oh we counted. How many cards Joe?

01:38:08.400 --> 01:38:10.400
Not enough just yet, there's a few...

01:38:10.400 --> 01:38:14.240
Well, we need 15 in the hands to be able to reach that KO.

01:38:14.240 --> 01:38:19.280
Well, Hilda's gonna help, that's gonna go and get yourself an energy and a Pokemon.

01:38:19.280 --> 01:38:21.600
And it's the Enriching Energy.

01:38:21.600 --> 01:38:23.040
This is a combo we've seen a lot.

01:38:23.040 --> 01:38:26.160
What you do is you attach Enriching Energy, you draw four cards.

01:38:26.160 --> 01:38:27.760
You evolve up into the Dunspass.

01:38:27.760 --> 01:38:29.920
You then put it all back into your deck.

01:38:29.920 --> 01:38:32.160
You draw three more cards with the Dunspass,

01:38:32.160 --> 01:38:36.080
but you protect the Enriching Energy by putting it back into your deck.

01:38:36.080 --> 01:38:40.240
You draw seven and you don't leave your A-Spec energy in harm's way.

01:38:40.240 --> 01:38:42.040
Here we go. Draw in four.

01:38:42.040 --> 01:38:44.720
It's a big draw. We can still draw towards Air Balloon.

01:38:44.720 --> 01:38:48.560
So we cancel attack this turn either via Rare Candy into Alakazam

01:38:48.560 --> 01:38:51.040
or by finding an Air Balloon for this Abra.

01:38:51.040 --> 01:38:54.480
We've just drawn seven cards. Let's hope there is an Air Balloon.

01:38:54.480 --> 01:38:55.360
That would be fun.

01:38:55.360 --> 01:38:57.400
Yeah, more Kadabra potentially to evolve as well.

01:38:57.400 --> 01:38:59.080
We have a lot of reach here.

01:38:59.080 --> 01:39:00.800
But he wants our outs.

01:39:00.800 --> 01:39:03.040
Reaching into this tank's harm would be a crazy turn.

01:39:03.040 --> 01:39:04.520
Ah, two more dunce bars.

01:39:04.520 --> 01:39:11.120
Before the enriching I think I counted 12 cards in hand. We have just played a couple down though after going up with the enriching

01:39:13.640 --> 01:39:17.000
I've not been counting I think that's 15

01:39:17.000 --> 01:39:19.000
But I think we might need to play cards out of hand

01:39:19.400 --> 01:39:24.000
Don't currently have a lot of might need to evolve into Kadabra to plus one and then use air balloon

01:39:24.440 --> 01:39:28.280
It was a rare candy. That's minus one plus three

01:39:28.280 --> 01:39:32.000
That's plus two in total so now we should just need now

01:39:32.000 --> 01:39:37.000
Now we've all been to Gadabra, play one from hand, but you draw two, so there's a plus one in hand.

01:39:37.000 --> 01:39:40.500
Surely by now you've drawn a way to get Gadabra out of the active.

01:39:40.500 --> 01:39:43.500
It is even the night time mine as well.

01:39:43.500 --> 01:39:48.500
And it is a KO-free prizes on the mega-kangaskarm.

01:39:48.500 --> 01:39:51.500
How many cards in hand? I don't know, enough.

01:39:51.500 --> 01:39:55.500
It wasn't exactly because we were able to play down the night time mine.

01:39:55.500 --> 01:39:57.500
Can we see those prizes again quick now?

01:39:57.500 --> 01:39:59.500
No, it wasn't.

01:39:59.500 --> 01:40:02.460
For the minute now I was very, very confused.

01:40:02.460 --> 01:40:05.620
OK, I'd be confused if there was seven basic energy in Alakazam.

01:40:05.620 --> 01:40:07.260
That was part of my confusion, honestly.

01:40:07.260 --> 01:40:09.900
Either way, it looks like Nathan has his back against the wall.

01:40:09.900 --> 01:40:12.460
This Alakazam is running away with the game.

01:40:12.460 --> 01:40:15.780
Last trumpet can accelerate to our mega-Kangaskarn EX.

01:40:15.780 --> 01:40:17.460
We have a Crispin as well,

01:40:17.460 --> 01:40:19.460
but we need to have some sort of hand disruption

01:40:19.460 --> 01:40:20.460
alongside all of this.

01:40:20.460 --> 01:40:22.940
You can't just send another Kangaskarn into the line of fire.

01:40:22.940 --> 01:40:24.900
No, because if it gets KOed, that's the game over.

01:40:24.900 --> 01:40:27.380
They give up free prizes each when they are KOed.

01:40:27.380 --> 01:40:32.980
So not something that you really want to risk unless you can combine it with some kind of hand disrupt

01:40:32.980 --> 01:40:37.980
There is special red card. Yeah, one actually exactly. So it's now or never for Nathan

01:40:38.340 --> 01:40:44.100
He's to not only put himself out of harm's way with this Kangas Khan. There's actually the red card already in hand for him

01:40:44.100 --> 01:40:49.140
Okay, he'll dance comes in. There's a draw. That was not attachment for turn. Remember

01:40:49.140 --> 01:40:55.140
We've got an energy switch so the energy isn't going to be a problem. There is the energy switch and now we've got enough energy

01:40:55.140 --> 01:40:59.580
We're going to retreat into the mega Kangus. Can't you not forget to play special red card?

01:41:00.260 --> 01:41:06.220
Good to see the run errand first a couple of pieces as he comes in three more cards

01:41:07.740 --> 01:41:09.900
Really, this is the last stand already for Nathan

01:41:09.900 --> 01:41:11.300
It's only been a couple turns of the game

01:41:11.300 --> 01:41:18.580
But we're already in panic territory when you leave your three prize Pokemon in the active and you know that Alakazam has the capacity to reach

01:41:19.540 --> 01:41:22.200
You're really just hoping that this one destruct can be big

01:41:22.200 --> 01:41:24.200
one saving grace here is we got

01:41:24.200 --> 01:41:26.200
two Alakazam and one Kadabra on the

01:41:26.200 --> 01:41:28.200
board which means less draw from

01:41:28.200 --> 01:41:30.200
your Alakazam line. Here comes that

01:41:30.200 --> 01:41:32.200
special red card. That is going to

01:41:32.200 --> 01:41:34.200
put Henry down to a free card hand.

01:41:34.200 --> 01:41:36.200
Bearing in mind it was a 15 card

01:41:36.200 --> 01:41:38.200
hand. It was going to be 16 when he

01:41:38.200 --> 01:41:40.200
drew for the term. The game was

01:41:40.200 --> 01:41:42.200
already on the board.

01:41:42.200 --> 01:41:44.200
No, sorry, he would have needed a

01:41:44.200 --> 01:41:46.200
psychic energy. That would have been

01:41:46.200 --> 01:41:48.200
it. Here is the KO onto the Alakazam.

01:41:48.200 --> 01:41:50.200
We put a dunce pass in the active

01:41:50.200 --> 01:41:57.900
Henry's job is very simple build up your hand Dawn is gonna go and get a stage one a stage two and a basic stage

01:41:57.900 --> 01:41:59.420
Two should be Alakazam

01:41:59.420 --> 01:42:06.500
Basically stage one should be done sparse basic pheasant dipty that is actually between those free Pokemon drawing

01:42:06.640 --> 01:42:11.840
Nine cards that's a draw nine at least this turn and we could still wow

01:42:11.840 --> 01:42:14.880
No, we can't be much energy. He could use another to done sparse though

01:42:14.880 --> 01:42:17.720
So it would just be just the nine cards right now

01:42:17.720 --> 01:42:25.720
Let's see what else we can do from this hand. There's no wondrous patch, so there's not going to be a way to attack to enriching energy this turn yet.

01:42:25.720 --> 01:42:34.720
And that's why we're seeing the promoter of Flutterbane, Henry, very aware that doesn't want to waste Alakazam in the active position if it's not taking a KO.

01:42:34.720 --> 01:42:39.720
Instead, we'll defend it on the bench here. We'll continue to evolve up and use fit the script.

01:42:39.720 --> 01:42:40.640
and use fit the script.

01:42:40.640 --> 01:42:42.640
So he's building that hand quite nicely.

01:42:43.920 --> 01:42:45.420
Could use enriching energy this turn

01:42:45.420 --> 01:42:47.680
just to grow that hand size a little bit more

01:42:47.680 --> 01:42:50.640
if you're content to not attack here.

01:42:50.640 --> 01:42:52.040
Even attaching to the active at this point

01:42:52.040 --> 01:42:53.360
could be reasonable.

01:42:53.360 --> 01:42:55.240
I really like playing enriching energy now

01:42:55.240 --> 01:42:56.760
because if you play a psychic energy

01:42:56.760 --> 01:42:58.320
it is kind of same to your opponent

01:42:58.320 --> 01:43:00.400
that they can then go and hunt that energy down.

01:43:00.400 --> 01:43:02.400
Whereas enriching energy, even if they hunt it down

01:43:02.400 --> 01:43:03.880
it's still drawn the four.

01:43:03.880 --> 01:43:05.360
And that's if you can't get it off the board

01:43:05.360 --> 01:43:06.200
when you play it.

01:43:06.200 --> 01:43:08.600
So we got a bunch of cards in hand.

01:43:08.600 --> 01:43:10.520
We're working towards 15.

01:43:10.520 --> 01:43:12.600
That seems to be the game plan here.

01:43:12.600 --> 01:43:14.160
We do have an Enriching Energy,

01:43:14.160 --> 01:43:16.960
but there's also a Telepathic Energy in hand.

01:43:16.960 --> 01:43:18.520
Looks like we're gonna play the Telepathic

01:43:18.520 --> 01:43:20.400
onto Alakazam on the bench.

01:43:20.400 --> 01:43:22.080
Save the Enriching Energy for next turn.

01:43:22.080 --> 01:43:24.120
We pass back to Nathan,

01:43:24.120 --> 01:43:27.840
but does feel like Henry might have this next turn.

01:43:27.840 --> 01:43:30.280
Well, the hand size has grown to such an amount,

01:43:30.280 --> 01:43:32.480
and Nathan has no way to slow it down.

01:43:32.480 --> 01:43:35.560
But can he pivot into a two prize Pokemon at this stage

01:43:35.560 --> 01:43:42.080
and make life awkward. Possibly even Cru Arrow could be useful here if we have any switches,

01:43:42.080 --> 01:43:46.080
but with the midnight fluttering also shutting down the run error, Nathan has no access to

01:43:46.080 --> 01:43:51.320
additional cards and picks up the options. Oh, here we go, and it seems like that's

01:43:51.320 --> 01:43:56.680
already over. There's no way around it, no way to disrupt the hand. And unfortunately,

01:43:56.680 --> 01:44:03.680
if you can't disrupt Alakazam's hand when it does that, you don't win the game then,

01:44:03.680 --> 01:44:20.680
Yeah, Alakazam is such a threat in this field, it seems like such an interesting approach to take to this tournament where in theory on paper, it had that awful dragapult, but so many players are going back towards that controlling package with multiple nighttime mines and hammers and the denna and L gym and these sorts of pieces.

01:44:20.680 --> 01:44:27.680
If you make the dragapult turn into a fairly favored matchup, whilst also farming the lights of these big basic matchups, these are the bread and butter matchups.

01:44:27.680 --> 01:44:33.820
I love seeing these low hit point multiplies Pokemon that have one or two disrupts at most during the game

01:44:33.820 --> 01:44:38.460
That's where Alec-Azam is going to have a field day so you can see why it's the top of our table this weekend

01:44:39.060 --> 01:44:46.600
Absolutely yesterday we saw Matthias having that game where he was playing around the hand disruption so well never giving his opponent a chance to use it

01:44:46.600 --> 01:44:51.460
Well here we saw the other side of the coin we saw even when my opponent hand disrupts

01:44:51.460 --> 01:44:53.260
How can we build my hand?

01:44:53.260 --> 01:44:56.260
Yeah, already have so many ways to draw into cards.

01:44:56.260 --> 01:44:59.660
One thing gets you into another, and you cascade back into a huge hand.

01:44:59.660 --> 01:45:03.360
We're actually going to go into that game too, as we can see that early concession from Nathan.

01:45:03.360 --> 01:45:06.660
So we will get to see another one and see how things can go.

01:45:06.660 --> 01:45:09.560
He did have a pretty slow start in that game, number one.

01:45:09.560 --> 01:45:15.560
And most of the time, his best case scenario is going to be put on pressure early with the spread Pokemon.

01:45:15.560 --> 01:45:17.260
That is always a fun plan.

01:45:17.260 --> 01:45:20.060
Omega Kankos can't see the Genesect in the act of this game,

01:45:20.060 --> 01:45:22.260
which means you're not turned off by Flutter Main,

01:45:22.260 --> 01:45:25.660
so you can already start building in a way you just couldn't back in Game 1.

01:45:25.660 --> 01:45:27.460
We've got an Ultrable coming down,

01:45:27.460 --> 01:45:32.160
and that is going to go and search out a big, basic Pokemon of your choice,

01:45:32.160 --> 01:45:34.660
which a lot of times that Teal Mask, Ogre Pond,

01:45:34.660 --> 01:45:37.060
so you can attach energy, draw extra cards,

01:45:37.060 --> 01:45:39.260
works as a nice little engine.

01:45:39.260 --> 01:45:42.360
I mean, we just saw big basics win the previous game,

01:45:42.360 --> 01:45:44.660
and now we're seeing the real weaknesses of the deck.

01:45:44.660 --> 01:45:46.760
Yeah, and that is certainly the case,

01:45:46.760 --> 01:45:52.360
but let's admit that that random start of the phatomane just really hinted this engine entirely.

01:45:52.360 --> 01:45:53.160
That was huge.

01:45:53.160 --> 01:45:58.920
Yes, so now we get to see it on a little bit faster of a tempo as we have the run errand into the

01:45:58.920 --> 01:46:03.720
teal dance. We do have manual attachments that can be stashed somewhere. In this case,

01:46:03.720 --> 01:46:09.000
it will be the mega kangaskarn, but as we know, energy switch analgons are all over this deck,

01:46:09.640 --> 01:46:13.240
so trying to maybe pivot into a different attacker could be very handy,

01:46:13.240 --> 01:46:18.920
but it is the early buddy buddy Poffin from Henry, so we'll get to work on finding some early Abra,

01:46:19.640 --> 01:46:24.200
possibly Dunsparse as well, if he also has access to that telepathic psychic energy

01:46:24.200 --> 01:46:27.400
on this turn, he could end up with a really wide board of basics.

01:46:27.400 --> 01:46:31.080
Yeah, that telepathic psychic energy is so good, you're attached to a psychic Pokemon,

01:46:31.080 --> 01:46:35.800
it gets you two more psychic basics, so buddy buddy Poffin combined with that can get you

01:46:35.800 --> 01:46:41.160
free Abra plus something else that you want that is non-psychic. It is a Dunsparse coming

01:46:41.160 --> 01:46:46.620
down as well, so there's probably access to more Abra in that hand somewhere.

01:46:46.620 --> 01:46:50.540
Yeah, you'd have to think so. That's why Hilda is such a strong supporter in this deck, because

01:46:50.540 --> 01:46:54.660
not only is it good for grabbing your evolution pieces throughout the entire game, it also

01:46:54.660 --> 01:47:00.040
turns into a turn one consistency supporter via access to telepathic. In this case though,

01:47:00.040 --> 01:47:03.480
Henry is shuffling up the hand, doesn't he have any more means of going back into

01:47:03.480 --> 01:47:07.200
the deck? Just does he have more Abra as at least one available? There you go.

01:47:07.200 --> 01:47:08.760
Okay, so we have to do it in hand.

01:47:08.760 --> 01:47:10.760
That will help to explain why the outcome

01:47:10.760 --> 01:47:12.600
is going to get done sparse.

01:47:12.600 --> 01:47:15.560
Now we pass back to Nathan with free Abra

01:47:15.560 --> 01:47:17.480
and a done sparse down on the bench.

01:47:17.480 --> 01:47:21.360
We immediately see the run errand coming down

01:47:21.360 --> 01:47:23.520
and that means that we are drawing two cards

01:47:23.520 --> 01:47:25.240
or Nathan is drawing two cards

01:47:25.240 --> 01:47:28.200
and that is going to help out me outfits the bench

01:47:28.200 --> 01:47:30.980
and that goes and searches a supporter card.

01:47:30.980 --> 01:47:32.280
Is it Crispin?

01:47:32.280 --> 01:47:33.200
Do we have a better play?

01:47:33.200 --> 01:47:34.160
Oh, it's Serrano.

01:47:34.160 --> 01:47:35.800
Peter Serrano, yeah, if we are instead

01:47:35.800 --> 01:47:38.640
going to grab multiple EX Pokemon.

01:47:38.640 --> 01:47:41.240
Should even be a sob this turn wouldn't be too bad.

01:47:41.240 --> 01:47:44.080
Try and track this Genesect as a lot of the time

01:47:44.080 --> 01:47:47.520
Alakazam only uses Air Balloon to retreat their Pokemon.

01:47:47.520 --> 01:47:49.900
So even just getting that little prod of 20

01:47:49.900 --> 01:47:52.880
could set you up for a torrential pump on the next turn

01:47:52.880 --> 01:47:55.680
whilst helping you grab that Skyliner from Latias EX

01:47:55.680 --> 01:47:58.240
so you can at least move your mega Kangas Khan.

01:47:58.240 --> 01:48:00.760
Well, it looks like we're going for a Meowth

01:48:00.760 --> 01:48:02.760
to go and get a supporter in the future

01:48:02.760 --> 01:48:04.560
and it is going to be that Latias

01:48:04.560 --> 01:48:07.840
and it's going to be that well spring mask Ogre Pond.

01:48:07.840 --> 01:48:10.920
So might well be Torentia Pump coming next turn.

01:48:10.920 --> 01:48:12.520
Could it be so coming this turn?

01:48:12.520 --> 01:48:13.680
Are you using thought at that play?

01:48:13.680 --> 01:48:14.520
I like it.

01:48:14.520 --> 01:48:16.000
It sets up the Genesect to then be knocked out

01:48:16.000 --> 01:48:19.600
on the next turn as well, because it has 110 hit points.

01:48:19.600 --> 01:48:20.880
That 20 would be pretty valuable.

01:48:20.880 --> 01:48:23.280
I'm pretty sure there's only one energy switch

01:48:23.280 --> 01:48:24.120
in the hand right now.

01:48:24.120 --> 01:48:25.720
So I don't think we can make

01:48:25.720 --> 01:48:27.680
a big Torentia Pump play straight away.

01:48:28.760 --> 01:48:29.600
Is there anything to go?

01:48:29.600 --> 01:48:31.120
Instead of going to Kangaskarn,

01:48:31.120 --> 01:48:32.280
we do have one E-switch.

01:48:32.280 --> 01:48:37.200
we could just the pass. So if you pass over the switch in hand,

01:48:37.200 --> 01:48:40.000
you could have energy switched on the Kangus card and attack is up.

01:48:40.000 --> 01:48:42.200
Wait, it's just a pass back from Henry.

01:48:42.200 --> 01:48:44.200
Henry's going to say that was a whole turn.

01:48:44.200 --> 01:48:46.800
You pass and then you drew a card and pass back.

01:48:46.800 --> 01:48:48.920
Now, this is where we start team some combo.

01:48:48.920 --> 01:48:50.600
Siphon Maniac's code breaking

01:48:50.600 --> 01:48:52.520
lets you search your deck for any two cards,

01:48:52.520 --> 01:48:54.440
stash them on top of your deck.

01:48:54.440 --> 01:48:55.880
But you got to make a Kangus card in the active.

01:48:55.880 --> 01:48:57.360
It draws two cards.

01:48:57.360 --> 01:48:59.800
So because Kangus card is in the active,

01:48:59.800 --> 01:49:03.800
Cybermenia's code-breaking is just search any two cards.

01:49:03.800 --> 01:49:06.320
And in that instance, you instantly grab them,

01:49:06.320 --> 01:49:09.280
and that's going to mean a great turn for Nathan here.

01:49:09.280 --> 01:49:11.160
Picks up a second energy switch,

01:49:11.160 --> 01:49:13.680
and it looks like it might be Fezendipity

01:49:13.680 --> 01:49:14.600
getting into the equation.

01:49:14.600 --> 01:49:18.320
Cruel Arrow could be getting right into this mix.

01:49:18.320 --> 01:49:21.240
Double energy switch off the Mega Kangaskarn

01:49:21.240 --> 01:49:23.320
to power up this Pokemon.

01:49:23.320 --> 01:49:24.520
And we're going to get aggressive.

01:49:24.520 --> 01:49:26.400
So it's not the Wellspring Mask go-gopon,

01:49:26.400 --> 01:49:28.800
it is the Fezendipty second game in a row for us,

01:49:28.800 --> 01:49:36.080
Joe, we're seeing cruel arrow coming out. We've got jamming tower and it is the only dunce bus that you go and after

01:49:36.080 --> 01:49:40.800
Wow, and it seems like that's actually already game two Henley goes if I can't have done sparse

01:49:40.800 --> 01:49:42.400
I don't want to play this game

01:49:42.400 --> 01:49:45.680
I think it's a really disciplined scoop and you see that from the best players when you know

01:49:45.680 --> 01:49:48.120
You're in a favored matchup and you've got that weekend

01:49:48.120 --> 01:49:51.760
You think why don't I let the clock run down here and get myself into a tying position

01:49:51.920 --> 01:49:56.440
And I pick it up knowing that I have lots of time to conclude that game number three

01:49:56.440 --> 01:50:00.000
So I think that's a really good choice there now. I agree entirely and again

01:50:00.000 --> 01:50:02.520
I think what you said was really important there favored matchup

01:50:02.520 --> 01:50:06.840
Yeah, if you're in an unfavorable matchup sometimes a tie is going to be your best result

01:50:06.840 --> 01:50:11.280
So just lose slowly after winning a game. You know what why not?

01:50:11.280 --> 01:50:13.080
But if you're in a favored matchup, yeah

01:50:13.080 --> 01:50:18.440
Give up on game two if it starts looking bad because you're so sure that game three is gonna go in your way

01:50:18.440 --> 01:50:22.240
And the thing is although you had your alakazam where your one dunce passed down

01:50:22.240 --> 01:50:26.200
It's like how I was gonna go so slowly from there. Yeah, it would just be really awkward

01:50:26.200 --> 01:50:31.140
Especially lacking those early attachments as well trying to move the genocide would be a bit of an issue Nathan there

01:50:31.140 --> 01:50:35.040
He wasn't going all out with like fresh. He wasn't going crazy with credential pump

01:50:35.040 --> 01:50:37.740
He said, you know what if my phone is just drawing nothing for a couple turns

01:50:37.740 --> 01:50:41.300
I can just continue to crawl our room apart the board really nice discipline option

01:50:41.300 --> 01:50:46.800
I mean hey if it works it works and I really like the fact that he left the genocide

01:50:46.800 --> 01:50:49.800
rather than going after it with something like a Trenchal Plup just when...

01:50:49.800 --> 01:50:53.800
I don't think you can move that right now, and if you can't move that,

01:50:53.800 --> 01:50:55.800
like, you know, we've seen this for years in the Pokemon TCG,

01:50:55.800 --> 01:50:57.800
if there's an immovable Pokemon in the active,

01:50:57.800 --> 01:50:59.800
and you can sit there going after the bench,

01:50:59.800 --> 01:51:02.800
it creates insurmountable pressure on your opponent.

01:51:02.800 --> 01:51:06.800
Yeah, it's one of those things where oftentimes you throw that Pokemon as the sacrificial lamb,

01:51:06.800 --> 01:51:08.800
and if you find it goes, I've got a way around this,

01:51:08.800 --> 01:51:10.800
if it's even more awkward for you,

01:51:10.800 --> 01:51:13.800
so that's always a strong element to try and identify during the game,

01:51:13.800 --> 01:51:17.560
Identify during the game in the big basic deck it can spring attackers out of nowhere all the time

01:51:17.560 --> 01:51:19.560
So you always have to keep those odd lines open

01:51:20.280 --> 01:51:24.240
Absolutely, and I really like decks like this big basics deck. I like having options

01:51:24.240 --> 01:51:26.760
I like being able to go well in this particular circumstance

01:51:26.760 --> 01:51:32.180
This is gonna work hang on a second this happened that opens up this line of play and it feels like for a long time

01:51:32.180 --> 01:51:36.920
Ferdinand if she's called error was under you right and it feels like in the past kind of six months

01:51:36.920 --> 01:51:38.840
Maybe you know certainly at some very big events

01:51:38.840 --> 01:51:42.720
We've seen players go, this is a really underrated attack.

01:51:42.720 --> 01:51:48.100
And in the right circumstance, I can just leave Fessin' Difty there taking prize after prize to win the game.

01:51:48.100 --> 01:51:52.640
Yeah, we do have a number of like set up style decks that takes a number of turns to get into the game.

01:51:52.640 --> 01:51:59.120
Even if they play Rare Candy, they need to have so many pieces full their way to actually capitalize on their stage to attacking Pokemon.

01:51:59.120 --> 01:52:04.760
And if your opponent knows it's two or three turns to get something done, you can buy a turn back with the cool arrow.

01:52:04.760 --> 01:52:08.300
It's a prize and a turn with no pressure back to you. That's why it's so strong right now.

01:52:08.300 --> 01:52:11.940
And you know, we saw in the previous game where Kali was using it against Mastly going,

01:52:11.940 --> 01:52:16.380
you need to get through your drake cloak to get into your drake cloak.

01:52:16.380 --> 01:52:18.100
You're not playing anywhere candy.

01:52:18.100 --> 01:52:21.140
And if you're only going to have one drake cloak on the field at a time,

01:52:21.140 --> 01:52:22.620
well, yeah, cruel arrow.

01:52:22.620 --> 01:52:25.660
And I'm going to force you to evolve two,

01:52:25.660 --> 01:52:28.180
knowing that only one of them is going to survive,

01:52:28.180 --> 01:52:30.740
just to get towards your stage 2 attacker.

01:52:30.740 --> 01:52:32.540
And I always feel free to that.

01:52:32.540 --> 01:52:35.260
Yeah, the big basic stuff is having a good tournament run right now.

01:52:35.260 --> 01:52:37.580
A lot of top players at the top tables with it.

01:52:37.580 --> 01:52:43.140
There are some alakazam to dodge and we will find a way like we saw there to get through awkward matchups

01:52:43.140 --> 01:52:46.580
But I do think it's got a decent chance of making it into our asymmetrical top cut

01:52:46.580 --> 01:52:52.480
But Ross it's time for your favorite time of the day. Oh, this is my thinking excited for all boarding

01:52:52.480 --> 01:52:56.600
I've been excited. I'm gonna I'm gonna say this I'm gonna sound hyperbolic and I believe this to be true

01:52:56.600 --> 01:53:04.140
I don't think there is a single person in the Pokemon community that likes card reveals as much as I like card reveals

01:53:04.140 --> 01:53:08.480
And if you if you're familiar with my work, you will know that is not a hyperbolic statement

01:53:08.480 --> 01:53:16.200
And we have on September the 16th a very exciting set releasing 30th celebration is set to celebrate the 30th anniversary of

01:53:16.760 --> 01:53:18.260
Pokemon and

01:53:18.260 --> 01:53:24.340
It turns out what we're gonna do have a world stream and not reveal some cards from 30 of celebration. No

01:53:24.860 --> 01:53:27.260
So let's show you some cards for 30 of celebration

01:53:27.260 --> 01:53:37.260
Hello everyone, I'm Kyle Pukasukovic, I'm on the product development team for the TCG

01:53:37.260 --> 01:53:43.340
at TPCI, joined here by Chip and Azul, and today we're going to take a look at some

01:53:43.340 --> 01:53:49.100
of the cards from the classic collection from the 30th Celebration expansion.

01:53:49.100 --> 01:53:51.500
One of the first ones we can take a look at is this Magikarp.

01:53:51.500 --> 01:53:55.940
It has a very cool card, I remember when this card initially got revealed during

01:53:55.940 --> 01:54:01.460
the Scarlet and Violet era of the game. Just the general excitement around it. It's beautiful

01:54:01.460 --> 01:54:08.500
and seeing it now in this new 30th anniversary style with this golden border makes it pop

01:54:09.220 --> 01:54:13.940
so nicely and I mean an iconic weapon as well in Magikarp, one of the original

01:54:13.940 --> 01:54:19.060
Pokémon so I always love to see that getting some love. And very emblematic of one of the

01:54:19.060 --> 01:54:23.220
innovations of the Scarlet and Violet era. The introduction of those illustration rare

01:54:23.220 --> 01:54:29.500
This is very much an embodiment of what that new art style kind of represents in that new kind of card rarity

01:54:29.820 --> 01:54:30.520
as well

01:54:30.520 --> 01:54:35.020
We also have maybe a throwback of it more to the past made the mid

01:54:35.460 --> 01:54:41.620
2000s or so with this dark tarantula. Yeah. Yeah, the dark tarantula are looking super good in its new gold

01:54:41.620 --> 01:54:47.040
Order, of course and I think for competitive players a big throwback had a lot of success back in the day

01:54:47.180 --> 01:54:52.160
Those commonly comes to mind is Ross coffins second place at the world championships in 2005, right?

01:54:52.160 --> 01:54:56.160
So a lot of history in the competitive scene with this one.

01:54:56.160 --> 01:55:01.160
Yeah, Ross Coffin, only player to qualify for every world championships to date,

01:55:01.160 --> 01:55:05.160
and that's kind of where his legacy began, was with this card right here.

01:55:05.160 --> 01:55:09.160
And we'll also bring it to this Lugia that's from the Aquapolis expansion,

01:55:09.160 --> 01:55:11.160
going even further into the past.

01:55:11.160 --> 01:55:14.160
You can really see the gold border on this one,

01:55:14.160 --> 01:55:19.160
and it's affectionately referred to as, like, crystal Lugia due to its crystal-type poke body.

01:55:19.160 --> 01:55:25.160
One of the first moments, if you attach different types of energy to it, can change types.

01:55:25.160 --> 01:55:30.160
It's attack costs represent the different types it can turn into as well.

01:55:30.160 --> 01:55:34.160
And I think just a very iconic card as well, very striking artwork.

01:55:34.160 --> 01:55:38.160
And that brings us to one more, and we haven't revealed yet.

01:55:38.160 --> 01:55:44.160
And so for the first time, we will officially reveal drum roll please.

01:55:44.160 --> 01:55:48.160
I don't know.

01:55:48.160 --> 01:55:54.840
They set Pikachu brought back here for the 30th anniversary classic collection.

01:55:54.840 --> 01:55:56.440
I mean what a callback, right?

01:55:56.440 --> 01:56:02.160
To the very first expansion for the Pokemon TCG artwork done by Arita-san of course.

01:56:02.160 --> 01:56:03.160
Just totally iconic.

01:56:03.160 --> 01:56:04.160
Love to see it included.

01:56:04.160 --> 01:56:10.160
Yeah, as well do you get any memories seeing the original Pikachu artwork for the TCG?

01:56:10.160 --> 01:56:14.160
Yeah, I mean, I remember having the actual original card back way back in the day.

01:56:14.160 --> 01:56:20.160
I don't remember how long ago it was now, but it is really cool to see it represent once again here in the 30th anniversary set.

01:56:20.160 --> 01:56:28.160
Yeah, and once again, these are just a few of the 30 cards you'll see in the classic collection in the 30th celebration Pokemon TCG expansion.

01:56:28.160 --> 01:56:31.160
And we also have some more cards to look at as well.

01:56:31.160 --> 01:56:38.680
We'll get a glimpse into what the future of the Pokemon TCG might be like with some of these futuristic rare cards

01:56:38.680 --> 01:56:43.000
illustrated by Yoshiroptin, and we have a couple different ones here.

01:56:43.000 --> 01:56:49.480
Some you'll find in the 30th Celebration expansion, such as this Mew EX and Mew 2 EX.

01:56:49.480 --> 01:56:54.920
And some you'll find in an ultra premium collection product, such as these Pikachu EX.

01:56:54.920 --> 01:56:57.800
Yeah, I mean, I think there might be infinite possibilities for the Mew because, of course,

01:56:57.800 --> 01:57:02.040
its ability allows it to utilize the attacks of any of your benched Pokemon

01:57:02.040 --> 01:57:04.880
as long as you have the necessary energy required so this is gonna be a card I'm

01:57:04.880 --> 01:57:07.360
very excited to see what the community can come up with when they get their

01:57:07.360 --> 01:57:11.360
hands on it and also a card that like as new cards come out in years to come

01:57:11.360 --> 01:57:15.520
yeah it'll be a card that you'll always come back to as a potential option it

01:57:15.520 --> 01:57:19.520
is so versatile and the ways you could potentially use it yeah very

01:57:19.520 --> 01:57:22.160
fitting for you of course over the years we've seen lots of different

01:57:22.160 --> 01:57:26.120
new cards in the TCG be able to use all sorts of different attacks and

01:57:26.120 --> 01:57:30.320
It always feels like there's some way to use this kind of card.

01:57:30.320 --> 01:57:34.120
It is on the low end of HP for a Pokemon EX of just 160,

01:57:34.120 --> 01:57:38.120
but being able to use pretty much any of the attacks of any of your Pokemon,

01:57:38.120 --> 01:57:41.120
hey, there's probably a use for that somewhere, right?

01:57:41.120 --> 01:57:42.120
Yeah, we'll find it out.

01:57:42.120 --> 01:57:45.120
Yep, and then we can also shift our attention to the Mewtwo EX.

01:57:45.120 --> 01:57:47.120
You know, we have a shift here.

01:57:47.120 --> 01:57:49.120
We kind of have a split of day and night.

01:57:49.120 --> 01:57:55.120
Mew representing the day theme and Mewtwo representing the night theme.

01:57:55.120 --> 01:58:03.820
Mewtwo EX has this Photon bullets attack chip. What do you see in here? Yeah, I mean Mewtwo of course another iconic Pokemon

01:58:04.660 --> 01:58:08.780
Spread potential always very good, you know targeting down

01:58:10.140 --> 01:58:13.380
Multiple Pokemon with just one single attack has a lot of potential

01:58:14.020 --> 01:58:18.360
softening things up to be easier KO'd by a different Pokemon perhaps or

01:58:18.360 --> 01:58:21.920
or using Photon Bullet's turn after turn after turn

01:58:21.920 --> 01:58:24.200
can really build up a lot of damage in play.

01:58:24.200 --> 01:58:27.640
Potential board wipe scenarios, multi prize turns,

01:58:27.640 --> 01:58:29.080
I love cards like this.

01:58:29.080 --> 01:58:33.640
Yeah, and you can see much higher HP than the new EX as well.

01:58:33.640 --> 01:58:38.080
230 HP, Azul, can you see any potential here for a new EX?

01:58:38.080 --> 01:58:39.880
Yeah, yeah, I think...

01:58:39.880 --> 01:58:43.840
I might be missing a little bit of energy acceleration for the Psychic type right now, but...

01:58:43.840 --> 01:58:47.400
But the spread attack, you never know

01:58:47.400 --> 01:58:52.400
what you're going to be able to combo that with to be able to make things awkward for your opponent for sure.

01:58:52.400 --> 01:58:54.400
Absolutely.

01:58:54.400 --> 01:58:58.400
We can shift our attention over to these Pikachu EX cards as well.

01:58:58.400 --> 01:59:05.400
Pikachu is one of those Pokemon that is frequently featured as a Pokemon EX even though it's not a fully evolved Pokemon.

01:59:05.400 --> 01:59:12.400
We'll start off with the Day Pikachu EX with the Pika Pika Parade attack. Chip, what do you see in here?

01:59:12.400 --> 01:59:17.640
Yeah, so a very powerful effect being able to throw a ton of Pokemon into play.

01:59:17.640 --> 01:59:25.040
Normally these call for family style attacks bring out one, two, very rarely three Pokemon.

01:59:25.040 --> 01:59:28.680
This one allowing you to just fill your board with basic Pokemon.

01:59:28.680 --> 01:59:33.500
We see players utilizing that A-Spec precious trolley currently in the meta game from time

01:59:33.500 --> 01:59:34.800
to time when they want to do that.

01:59:34.800 --> 01:59:39.600
Now if players want to use a different A-Spec in their deck, they have an option to

01:59:39.600 --> 01:59:41.480
still pull a bunch of powerful Pokemon out.

01:59:41.480 --> 01:59:45.620
And there are so many powerful basic Pokémon in the game right now, throwing a Mega King

01:59:45.620 --> 01:59:50.560
Gisconde, perhaps a Latias EX, into play right away doesn't seem too bad.

01:59:50.560 --> 01:59:56.720
Yeah, and as always we'll take a look at the Knight Pikachu EX with the Zip Zap Frenzy Attack.

01:59:56.720 --> 02:00:00.560
You see any fun combos you can pull off with this one?

02:00:00.560 --> 02:00:04.820
Yeah, I mean this is once again, I feel like similar to the Mu EX, almost limitless

02:00:04.820 --> 02:00:08.240
potential, allowing you to accelerate any number of basic energy into play from

02:00:08.240 --> 02:00:09.240
your hand.

02:00:09.240 --> 02:00:11.920
of the Energy Search Pro, A-Spec in the format still,

02:00:11.920 --> 02:00:13.560
so that'll be a very cool combination.

02:00:13.560 --> 02:00:15.720
Similar to the Mew, lots of potential,

02:00:15.720 --> 02:00:16.800
lots of future potential, I think,

02:00:16.800 --> 02:00:18.280
is like the big ones for these two.

02:00:18.280 --> 02:00:21.400
It's got an amazing look at these futuristic rare cards,

02:00:21.400 --> 02:00:23.960
and, you know, we have 30 years of Pokemon.

02:00:23.960 --> 02:00:26.840
We're celebrating how far we've come,

02:00:26.840 --> 02:00:28.760
especially with the Pokemon TCG,

02:00:28.760 --> 02:00:31.920
and taking a look towards what the future might hold as

02:00:31.920 --> 02:00:33.440
well, getting a little glimpse

02:00:33.440 --> 02:00:35.320
with these futuristic rare cards.

02:00:35.320 --> 02:00:38.280
And it's exciting to see what we have here,

02:00:38.280 --> 02:00:41.280
and we'll continue to see what the future holds for the Pokemon TCG.

02:00:43.280 --> 02:00:47.280
Oh, thank you very much, Chaps. I have a lot of reactions to that.

02:00:47.280 --> 02:00:50.280
One thing that comes to mind, that Dark Tarana time, never won Worlds,

02:00:50.280 --> 02:00:53.280
but in 2005, D'Gurionator came second with it,

02:00:53.280 --> 02:00:57.280
and that was the year that our analyst friend Pablo actually got third at the World Championships,

02:00:57.280 --> 02:01:01.280
with the Lina Queen deck with which, um, it won.

02:01:01.280 --> 02:01:02.280
It did win.

02:01:02.280 --> 02:01:03.280
It won.

02:01:03.280 --> 02:01:06.280
I'll figure that one out in a second.

02:01:06.280 --> 02:01:09.480
I also want to point out that new.

02:01:09.480 --> 02:01:12.760
Oh, that new copying attacks, things like the golec that they revealed,

02:01:12.760 --> 02:01:16.520
which is going to be coming around in del terrain to energy 300.

02:01:16.600 --> 02:01:20.000
Oh, but it's got an ability that says you've got to have 10 cards in hand to attack.

02:01:20.200 --> 02:01:21.560
New doesn't have that ability.

02:01:21.560 --> 02:01:23.880
Joe, you can't copy.

02:01:23.880 --> 02:01:26.760
Yeah. And I just think the new and YouTube, both of those

02:01:26.760 --> 02:01:30.600
EX Pokemon being basic psychic types, we've seen the combined

02:01:30.600 --> 02:01:33.960
with Lily's could vary and Lattee as EX, the fact that these Pokemon

02:01:33.960 --> 02:01:38.360
You can take advantage of telepathic psychic energy or you can take advantage of wondrous patch

02:01:38.440 --> 02:01:43.460
They can you know take advantage of the fairies own from Billy's for fairy instantly these cards could be a hit

02:01:43.460 --> 02:01:46.120
If we can build either a sort of basic toolbox that is

02:01:46.480 --> 02:01:52.240
Predominantly psychic type, but we know what we get against dragonfall or if they just splash into these decks of 10 cards seems good

02:01:52.240 --> 02:01:56.800
Jeremy Moroll of course 2005 world champion with that nitty queen deck my apologies

02:01:56.880 --> 02:01:59.280
That took me a moment. We saw the magic heart

02:01:59.280 --> 02:02:05.480
Yeah, it's catapulted Shinji Kanda into super stardom as a Pokemon trading card game artist

02:02:05.480 --> 02:02:07.480
Who doesn't want that?

02:02:07.980 --> 02:02:12.340
Oh my goodness. I love those crystal type Pokemon. You know we called them crystal sites

02:02:12.340 --> 02:02:16.900
They're not actually officially crystal Pokemon. They're like colloquially known, but you can see why they had just such

02:02:17.760 --> 02:02:24.720
artwork Pokemon and getting a loop here. It was out in a pop this originally is so awesome to see as someone who loves to play

02:02:24.720 --> 02:02:28.220
I'm so happy that we get lots of playable cards through the years as well.

02:02:28.220 --> 02:02:31.220
It definitely saves us a bit of a headache of acquiring these cards for ourselves

02:02:31.220 --> 02:02:32.720
and enjoying those older formats.

02:02:32.720 --> 02:02:37.720
When I was much younger, I opened Base-Sep Pikachu for many packs.

02:02:37.720 --> 02:02:40.720
When the Base-Sep burst came out with the local game still near me,

02:02:40.720 --> 02:02:44.220
I opened many Pikachu. I hope to repeat that in September.

02:02:44.220 --> 02:02:49.220
Right now, however, let's turn our attention to the World Championships in 2026.

02:02:49.220 --> 02:02:51.220
Let's see some notable pairings.

02:02:51.220 --> 02:02:59.220
We're going to be looking at Henry Chow against Jackson Ford, but Omar will Diego Cazaraga against Anika Jala.

02:02:59.220 --> 02:03:04.220
That really jumps out to there. There's some good matchups, Joe.

02:03:04.220 --> 02:03:07.220
Yeah, and there's a couple of those Crustle out there as well.

02:03:07.220 --> 02:03:10.220
It's not only Roon here, man. Now it's also Satoshi.

02:03:10.220 --> 02:03:12.220
So Crustle is also rising to the top.

02:03:12.220 --> 02:03:16.220
Brent Tonneson still on that flawless record, 9-0 right now.

02:03:16.220 --> 02:03:20.220
Coming up against Kali in the next round who we just saw on the forecast.

02:03:20.220 --> 02:03:22.220
to be trying to fight through

02:03:22.220 --> 02:03:24.220
another dragon pulse in Brent.

02:03:24.220 --> 02:03:26.220
Let's see if you can keep on

02:03:26.220 --> 02:03:28.220
her winning ways. Nuxi Diego

02:03:28.220 --> 02:03:30.220
Casaraga up there as well. But

02:03:30.220 --> 02:03:32.220
we have our notable match. So

02:03:32.220 --> 02:03:34.220
let's head over to the stage as

02:03:34.220 --> 02:03:36.220
our players are already getting

02:03:36.220 --> 02:03:38.220
set up. Let's get rolling here

02:03:38.220 --> 02:03:40.220
round two of day two around

02:03:40.220 --> 02:03:42.220
10. Overall, these players are

02:03:42.220 --> 02:03:44.220
fighting for that space of the

02:03:44.220 --> 02:03:46.220
asymmetrical top cut. You need

02:03:46.220 --> 02:03:48.220
to be in eighth place or have a

02:03:48.220 --> 02:03:56.220
top cut and that will still be played today. By the time we leave this venue, we will have our finalist set for the Chase Center tomorrow.

02:03:56.220 --> 02:04:04.220
Right now, three rounds remain in this Phase 2 of the tournament and Henry and Jackson is going to be a Dragapult mirror match

02:04:04.220 --> 02:04:09.220
of sorts, because this is not the same deck, Jackson sort of made a name for himself.

02:04:09.220 --> 02:04:14.220
He's already a regional champion and has had lots of great results over the years, but most recently at the NAIC,

02:04:14.220 --> 02:04:19.340
I see he was innovating this Dragapult Blaziken EX build because he had secret box within his list

02:04:19.340 --> 02:04:21.340
But it was quite unconventional

02:04:21.340 --> 02:04:24.460
Interestingly enough, he's picked it back towards unfestamp this weekend

02:04:24.460 --> 02:04:28.460
But nonetheless, he is still so happy piloting this archetype

02:04:28.700 --> 02:04:31.740
Blaziken EX has recently gained lots of popularity

02:04:32.300 --> 02:04:34.780
Hacks the fact that it is a fly type in its own right

02:04:34.780 --> 02:04:38.780
So I think he'll feel with a mega EX profile deck that has come out in pitch black

02:04:38.780 --> 02:04:42.540
But at the same time any time you can weave in energy acceleration

02:04:42.540 --> 02:04:48.020
gives the Dragapop deck so many more opportunities to not only chain attacks with Phantom Dive,

02:04:48.020 --> 02:04:52.460
not being so reliant on Crispin, but at the same time weaving in Monkey Dory for his

02:04:52.460 --> 02:04:56.460
Renafrine on top of the fact that you have Phantom Dive to give you even more control

02:04:56.460 --> 02:04:57.460
over the doors.

02:04:57.460 --> 02:05:00.300
Here come the prizes, let's see where we're going.

02:05:00.300 --> 02:05:05.620
One Dragapop for one side, one's your close for either side, nothing, oh no, one of

02:05:05.620 --> 02:05:07.620
each for Jack, there's a little bit sad.

02:05:07.620 --> 02:05:12.420
But there are a few for Henry as well, as you normally rely on Crispin to accelerate

02:05:12.420 --> 02:05:16.100
That could be a little bit troublesome as we get through the stages of the game.

02:05:16.740 --> 02:05:18.220
Not ideal for either player, really.

02:05:18.220 --> 02:05:20.500
Not perfect, nothing dreadful there.

02:05:20.500 --> 02:05:23.540
There are still two fire energy in the deck for Henry, but you're right.

02:05:23.540 --> 02:05:25.140
It is not ideal.

02:05:25.140 --> 02:05:29.260
We have players, we have a stage, we have judges, we have prize cards.

02:05:29.260 --> 02:05:35.260
All we need now is a nice friendly fist bump to get us rolling here in round 10.

02:05:35.260 --> 02:05:36.740
Everyone seems ready.

02:05:36.740 --> 02:05:38.060
Players of chocolate.

02:05:38.060 --> 02:05:39.020
They're cracking up right now.

02:05:39.020 --> 02:05:44.420
Now they're very relaxed, and it wouldn't be an unbeaten run so far at the World Championship.

02:05:44.420 --> 02:05:46.780
702 records for both of these players.

02:05:46.780 --> 02:05:53.300
We did get to catch Henry on screen yesterday with a very unique build of the Dragapult with Duster War,

02:05:53.300 --> 02:05:55.780
because he is of course playing for Trat in his list.

02:05:55.780 --> 02:05:59.100
I think this might be a matchup where that tech card can shine.

02:05:59.100 --> 02:06:01.780
Didn't do anything yesterday. Here are our opening Pokemon.

02:06:01.780 --> 02:06:05.980
Here is our opening fist bump, and we are rolling here with Swiss Round 10

02:06:05.980 --> 02:06:09.300
from San Francisco and the Pokemon World Championships,

02:06:09.300 --> 02:06:14.540
but do start for Henry Chow and a Drepi start for Jackson Ford.

02:06:14.540 --> 02:06:16.620
Both these players rocking that Dragapult EX,

02:06:16.620 --> 02:06:18.140
so they have a very similar goal

02:06:18.140 --> 02:06:20.660
in that they will be trying to get as many Drepi

02:06:20.660 --> 02:06:24.220
and Drakloak established in those opening stages as possible.

02:06:24.220 --> 02:06:26.940
Not only is that helping you work towards your key attacker,

02:06:26.940 --> 02:06:28.140
but it's also giving you access

02:06:28.140 --> 02:06:31.260
to more card advantage via the recon directive.

02:06:31.260 --> 02:06:32.860
But both players also have that side quest

02:06:32.860 --> 02:06:35.620
of the other stage two Pokemon within their deck list.

02:06:35.620 --> 02:06:37.960
Henry going to be relying on the Dust Noir,

02:06:37.960 --> 02:06:41.280
Cursed Blast giving him even more damage counters to play with,

02:06:41.280 --> 02:06:43.960
whether it's going all in on the active with Cursed Blast

02:06:43.960 --> 02:06:46.460
so you can KO a Dragapult in one hit,

02:06:46.460 --> 02:06:49.760
whilst sacrificing one of your prize cards in the process,

02:06:49.760 --> 02:06:52.320
or whether you want to target down key bench Pokemon,

02:06:52.320 --> 02:06:54.560
either with Dust Noir or with Dust Globs

02:06:54.560 --> 02:06:57.000
in combination with Phantom Dive Counter Placement,

02:06:57.000 --> 02:06:59.520
that means you can take out multiple threats at once.

02:06:59.520 --> 02:07:01.440
Well, we are seeing Henry setting up here.

02:07:01.440 --> 02:07:02.880
We've got a D.P. with an energy.

02:07:02.880 --> 02:07:04.640
We pass back over to Jackson,

02:07:04.640 --> 02:07:06.280
And I have a question for you, Joe.

02:07:06.280 --> 02:07:08.400
We've got free rare candy in Jackson's list,

02:07:08.400 --> 02:07:10.720
zero rare candy in Henry's list.

02:07:10.720 --> 02:07:13.880
Do we think that could be relevant as the game goes along

02:07:13.880 --> 02:07:16.680
in terms of big splash turns?

02:07:16.680 --> 02:07:17.520
It certainly does.

02:07:17.520 --> 02:07:20.280
In the opening stages, both players will look to use Budu.

02:07:20.280 --> 02:07:22.720
So it's unlikely it's gonna allow Jackson to have,

02:07:22.720 --> 02:07:25.400
like, turn two big springboard attacks or whatnot.

02:07:25.400 --> 02:07:26.680
But during the game,

02:07:26.680 --> 02:07:29.800
as we get into a Phantom Dive versus Phantom Dive off,

02:07:29.800 --> 02:07:32.360
if you can find a position where Torchik is safe,

02:07:32.360 --> 02:07:34.320
can evolve instantly into a Blazerkin,

02:07:34.320 --> 02:07:36.160
That could allow you to have a lot of burst acceleration.

02:07:36.160 --> 02:07:37.760
So as the game progresses,

02:07:37.760 --> 02:07:39.880
those red candies could still be influential.

02:07:39.880 --> 02:07:43.240
Absolutely. As a reminder, Blaziken's main function here

02:07:43.240 --> 02:07:45.240
is the ability Seaving Spirit,

02:07:45.240 --> 02:07:47.680
which lets you attach a basic energy from your discard

02:07:47.680 --> 02:07:49.880
to one of your Pokemon once per turn.

02:07:49.880 --> 02:07:53.640
It solves the two-energy awkwardness of Dragapult.

02:07:53.640 --> 02:07:56.280
It's not going to be a phenomenal attacker in this matchup,

02:07:56.280 --> 02:08:00.480
but it is going to work great in terms of energy acceleration.

02:08:00.480 --> 02:08:01.960
It's basically Dragapult's attack

02:08:01.960 --> 02:08:06.680
you don't get to put six damage counters on the bench and you can't use it next turn.

02:08:06.680 --> 02:08:09.480
Fairly significant down swing.

02:08:09.480 --> 02:08:14.200
Pretty nice hand for Jackson with three of those poker pad in the opening hand.

02:08:14.200 --> 02:08:17.800
It's not quite as useful as just having access to Buddy Buddy Poffin.

02:08:17.800 --> 02:08:21.640
You're having to grab these pieces one at a time and it means you have less poker pad

02:08:21.640 --> 02:08:23.400
as you progress through the game.

02:08:23.400 --> 02:08:25.800
But it's pretty nice to proactively play all of these,

02:08:25.800 --> 02:08:30.200
seeing as though Henry is already showing that budge in the active position on his side of the board.

02:08:30.200 --> 02:08:36.340
So getting that early to coat cloak stashed for next turn is already really handy and you just saw a little bit of a grimace

02:08:36.340 --> 02:08:37.640
There from Henry going oh man

02:08:37.640 --> 02:08:44.740
You've already searched out your cloak my whole point of the deal was to stop you here comes Chris spin my cast of pick

02:08:44.740 --> 02:08:50.040
I'm feeling really good about that one frankly. I'm gonna be easy cast of pick and I just be clear no regrets

02:08:50.040 --> 02:08:55.100
I do it again in a heartbeat, but we are getting a fire and a psychic energy

02:08:55.100 --> 02:08:59.760
What else would we get in a dragapult matchup one of them is gonna go to the hand one of them

02:08:59.760 --> 02:09:05.680
It's going to be attached to a Pokemon and that is going to give Jackson a couple energy to get rolling with nice and early

02:09:05.680 --> 02:09:08.980
Yeah, I really like this play from Jackson hold that trackloak for next time

02:09:08.980 --> 02:09:11.140
I think he's also holding on to Lily's determination

02:09:11.140 --> 02:09:19.040
So he knows that he can shove one energy onto the active 3p just to get a retreat in into his own buddhu and start this itchy pollen

02:09:19.040 --> 02:09:23.600
War as we know Jackson does have a couple monkey Dory in his list

02:09:23.600 --> 02:09:28.480
They can be really influential cards when you're trying to itchy pollen versus itchy pollen one leather

02:09:28.480 --> 02:09:37.480
Absolutely. Can we see a protract coming down? Well, here we go. The Purdue War. Well, they've got 30 HP and they're doing 10 HP.

02:09:37.480 --> 02:09:48.480
But for them, this is as real as it gets, Joe. And we now have no item cards. It's going to be an itemless card game for a little while, as Henry plays a judge.

02:09:48.480 --> 02:09:55.480
Yeah, both players often have one copy of Judge within their deck. So, Henry saying that, hey, I already have access to one recon directive.

02:09:55.480 --> 02:09:57.640
I'm effectively seeing six cards here.

02:09:57.640 --> 02:09:59.760
If I can limit Jackson just down to four

02:09:59.760 --> 02:10:01.720
and use itchy pollen this turn,

02:10:01.720 --> 02:10:03.800
maybe I can gain an advantage that way.

02:10:03.800 --> 02:10:06.360
Because as we know, Jackson was already holding on

02:10:06.360 --> 02:10:07.360
to a track cloak.

02:10:07.360 --> 02:10:09.240
Henry's trying to disrupt that straight away.

02:10:09.240 --> 02:10:10.280
And I really like this.

02:10:10.280 --> 02:10:14.760
Your opponent proactively went and got a track cloak

02:10:14.760 --> 02:10:16.520
with the poker pad.

02:10:16.520 --> 02:10:18.000
And then we go, well, you know,

02:10:18.000 --> 02:10:20.000
how fun it's now backing your deck.

02:10:20.000 --> 02:10:21.840
One off judge, great time to use it.

02:10:21.840 --> 02:10:23.640
Here comes the recon directive.

02:10:23.640 --> 02:10:25.720
It's unfair stamp goes back to the bottom.

02:10:25.720 --> 02:10:27.800
That's not going to be useful for a couple of turns.

02:10:27.800 --> 02:10:29.640
Lily's determination goes to Han.

02:10:29.640 --> 02:10:31.280
Duskull evolved into Dusklock.

02:10:31.280 --> 02:10:32.120
Wow, look at this.

02:10:32.120 --> 02:10:36.560
Who immediately goes and gets a KO on poor old Badoo.

02:10:36.560 --> 02:10:38.080
And that is first prize to...

02:10:38.080 --> 02:10:40.320
Well, both players actually accept one for one trade.

02:10:40.320 --> 02:10:42.440
They're trading one for one.

02:10:42.440 --> 02:10:45.080
Just having confirmation here of what's going on.

02:10:45.080 --> 02:10:48.040
There's a both stop play for a little while.

02:10:48.040 --> 02:10:50.920
But it is a fire energy now coming into prizes for Henry

02:10:50.920 --> 02:10:55.480
a darkness energy coming into a hand for Jackson. Jackson's got to promote himself for

02:10:55.480 --> 02:10:59.560
the most. Yeah. 3P with an energy on. Ooh, Henry.

02:10:59.560 --> 02:11:02.760
He just took fire from the price cut. So he could get in with a headbutt now.

02:11:02.760 --> 02:11:05.560
That's what I was thinking and now you're giving up the energy on the 3P because that

02:11:05.560 --> 02:11:09.960
headbutt is going to be enough to go and get a KO if you want to dragon headbutt

02:11:09.960 --> 02:11:15.400
to energy 70 and that 3P only has 70 HP. The math works out perfectly.

02:11:15.400 --> 02:11:19.280
It's so tempting. But the three red candy and Jackson's list I think Henry just wants

02:11:19.280 --> 02:11:23.340
to sit back. It's a big sigh of relief for Jackson though.

02:11:23.340 --> 02:11:26.960
He can evolve into Combustion and will now get the chance for eight fresh cards from the

02:11:26.960 --> 02:11:31.320
least determination. Things could have got really out of control if Henry went super

02:11:31.320 --> 02:11:36.400
aggressive, but also he could have fallen prey to a high roll hand from Jackson. So

02:11:36.400 --> 02:11:39.920
Henry going to slow things down that little bit, accepting the fact that he's made

02:11:39.920 --> 02:11:44.680
it difficult for Jackson to get his own item lock re-established. Jackson does

02:11:44.680 --> 02:11:48.440
have eight cards here who will now start looking for Sumptre Cloak.

02:11:48.440 --> 02:11:52.840
Maybe it is just a case of well, I'm gonna have items. You're not gonna have items at one price

02:11:53.080 --> 02:11:55.040
It's not going to be worth it

02:11:55.040 --> 02:12:00.560
The pheasant if tea is gonna go and grab free with flip the script gonna be an octable and energy and a rescue

02:12:01.160 --> 02:12:07.720
Items here Ross. There's a lot of items. It's just gonna be a knockout with petty grudge. Well, that does enough

02:12:08.240 --> 02:12:12.760
It doesn't do much sorry the bite attack fight for 40 even the first time

02:12:12.760 --> 02:12:14.640
I think might have done it doesn't matter doesn't matter

02:12:14.640 --> 02:12:17.900
We've got the KO and now we've got a ducloak in the active

02:12:18.300 --> 02:12:21.360
Henry's had the bosses orders and a basic energy Joe. I

02:12:22.280 --> 02:12:24.280
Think there's a Linnies poking out there as well

02:12:24.960 --> 02:12:28.080
That's the this is the recon directive those two cars. Oh, thank goodness for that

02:12:28.080 --> 02:12:34.240
Okay, this hand was off to the side for a second. I'm a little bit terrified. Okay, then I'm slightly less terrified

02:12:34.240 --> 02:12:39.940
Yeah, I think we're gonna be in a slightly better position than that. Henry just really debating that recon directive

02:12:39.940 --> 02:12:41.260
I think oh

02:12:41.260 --> 02:12:47.100
I think he was debating the boss's orders because he could push this creepy to the bench

02:12:47.100 --> 02:12:50.500
and then take out multiple threats all in one turn, but he would leave him with the Dragapult

02:12:50.500 --> 02:12:54.860
and nothing else and you would fall prey to an unfair stamp pretty quickly if that was

02:12:54.860 --> 02:12:55.860
the case for Jackson.

02:12:55.860 --> 02:13:00.980
So again, Henry going for a safer route, gonna ult, we'll find another Drakloak and

02:13:00.980 --> 02:13:05.340
then we'll see a fresh hand after attaching an additional energy to the bench.

02:13:05.340 --> 02:13:10.300
Henry is really nicely up on energy attachments right now as if he can find a Dragapult

02:13:10.300 --> 02:13:17.080
He will be removing Jackson's only energy from play and continuing to go well even back on this prize race

02:13:17.080 --> 02:13:24.140
That was a perfectly played hand you alterable for the cloak attaching energy Lily's determination for six with an empty hand

02:13:24.500 --> 02:13:26.780
Can we get stuff through? Oh, okay?

02:13:27.980 --> 02:13:29.980
stamp

02:13:30.020 --> 02:13:35.820
Unfair stuff. Oh, it's suffer a KO last turn your body was knocked out. Let's be also flip the scripts in the sea

02:13:37.820 --> 02:13:39.820
We've in the dust go while we can

02:13:40.300 --> 02:13:44.860
and it is going to be the Unfestam launched straight away here from Henry Chow.

02:13:44.860 --> 02:13:48.860
He's hoping to see from these five cards that Dragapult's EX are out to it.

02:13:48.860 --> 02:13:52.460
And I think it really helps getting the Fezzendipity down before playing the Unfestam,

02:13:52.460 --> 02:13:55.340
because now essentially instead of drawing five, you're drawing eight,

02:13:55.340 --> 02:13:59.180
while your opponent only draws two. And worth noting that that board,

02:13:59.180 --> 02:14:02.380
yes, you've got the Fezzendipity down if you jack, and that's fantastic,

02:14:02.380 --> 02:14:05.500
but outside of that it's a combustion, a dripie, and a dripie, like that.

02:14:05.500 --> 02:14:10.960
That is not a great board, depending on the draws from this unfair stamp.

02:14:10.960 --> 02:14:14.120
So there's five for Henry, but bear in mind there's three more coming.

02:14:14.120 --> 02:14:14.840
Oh, there you go.

02:14:14.840 --> 02:14:15.600
You flip the script.

02:14:15.600 --> 02:14:17.160
Dragapult EX already found.

02:14:17.160 --> 02:14:18.000
That's nice.

02:14:18.000 --> 02:14:21.920
Anna Buddy boffing to go and get some extra basics.

02:14:21.920 --> 02:14:25.560
I really like the choice from Henry to reestablish Duskell this turn as well.

02:14:25.560 --> 02:14:29.000
You know that you've just unfair stamped your opponent down to a low hand size.

02:14:29.000 --> 02:14:33.500
You're really not in much threat of a follow-up Phantom Dive from Jackson.

02:14:33.500 --> 02:14:39.300
So, seeing two Duskull now, Henry's really just trying to make the board as dangerous as possible for Jackson.

02:14:39.300 --> 02:14:43.900
He wants to lock out the opportunity for any additional basics to evolve up into Trecloak.

02:14:43.900 --> 02:14:46.900
Here comes Flipped, let's get for free in a very important note.

02:14:46.900 --> 02:14:53.700
Duskull is a rare Pokemon you're playing here, which will just be KO'd by the residual damage counters from a Phantom Dive.

02:14:53.700 --> 02:14:58.300
No other damage needed. Right now, you think they're safe? I agree with you.

02:14:58.300 --> 02:15:00.700
Let's see them get evolved before it becomes too bad.

02:15:00.700 --> 02:15:04.300
Speaking of being evolved, here comes the Dragapult into the active.

02:15:04.300 --> 02:15:07.700
Seems like we're going to have a rescue stretcher coming down.

02:15:07.700 --> 02:15:08.700
What are we going for?

02:15:08.700 --> 02:15:15.200
I think we're just going to re-establish a dust globs, just in case Jackson goes back into a pivots towards Budu.

02:15:15.200 --> 02:15:19.200
Because Henry is really not expecting much from an attack at all coming back from Jackson.

02:15:19.200 --> 02:15:23.900
Pretty much the best case attacker Jackson is likely to perform would be getting a basic NEX.

02:15:23.900 --> 02:15:26.200
Seems that it can half power itself up.

02:15:26.200 --> 02:15:27.200
Yep.

02:15:27.200 --> 02:15:28.500
But not much beyond that.

02:15:28.500 --> 02:15:31.940
So Henry thinking maybe Jackson's going to pivot back to Budu for a turn

02:15:31.940 --> 02:15:36.620
Let me use these item cards quickly as we have to see the first phantom dive of this set

02:15:37.060 --> 02:15:40.820
Taking out the active now. Where does Henry want to place these other damage counters?

02:15:40.820 --> 02:15:46.340
I like not putting six all in one place here, especially when you have access to multiple dust globs

02:15:46.540 --> 02:15:53.980
So it is just me five onto the 3p whilst floating 10 damage onto a pheasant deputy ex so you can set that up for a phantom dive later

02:15:53.980 --> 02:15:59.820
Yeah, ten on the first. It's absolutely standard brings it out to 200 HP, which is phantom dive territory

02:15:59.840 --> 02:16:05.640
We saw Henry actually searching out a second or cloak as well last turn really protecting from that potential

02:16:05.640 --> 02:16:09.040
But do we see a 3p being searched out by Jackson?

02:16:09.040 --> 02:16:15.720
That is going to be hitting the board and from here on this is where those potential rare candy splash turns could

02:16:16.040 --> 02:16:21.000
With the right draws come in handy. There's free for the first and dipty. It's an energy

02:16:21.000 --> 02:16:23.480
I didn't see the other two cards.

02:16:23.480 --> 02:16:24.680
Well, there's basic in EX.

02:16:24.680 --> 02:16:27.200
I think there's energy in Boss' orders in the hand.

02:16:27.200 --> 02:16:29.360
I think Jackson might be forced into this.

02:16:29.360 --> 02:16:33.120
Try and slow down Henry in any way you can.

02:16:33.120 --> 02:16:37.300
You can get one seeding spirit in here from basic in EX.

02:16:38.280 --> 02:16:41.400
That's gonna be a psychic energy attached to the bench

02:16:41.400 --> 02:16:43.000
and just action over to Henry.

02:16:43.000 --> 02:16:45.000
This could be a turning point turn, Ross.

02:16:45.000 --> 02:16:47.040
There's the potential for multiple dust globs

02:16:47.040 --> 02:16:48.720
coming out onto this board.

02:16:48.720 --> 02:16:50.840
We could see a lot of prize cards coming down here

02:16:50.840 --> 02:16:54.440
And we could wipe potentially all of those 3P off the board.

02:16:54.440 --> 02:16:56.340
That could be absolutely huge.

02:16:56.340 --> 02:16:58.640
Blaziken is not as good an attacker.

02:16:58.640 --> 02:17:01.340
So, Henry, show us what you've got with certain-

02:17:01.340 --> 02:17:02.240
It could dust globs.

02:17:02.240 --> 02:17:03.840
It could straight up be game here, Ross.

02:17:03.840 --> 02:17:06.340
If we have access to two dust globs,

02:17:06.340 --> 02:17:08.640
we can retreat our Fesendipity,

02:17:08.640 --> 02:17:11.640
curse blast the active, curse blast the benched 3P.

02:17:11.640 --> 02:17:13.040
Bosses orders up the Fesendipity.

02:17:13.040 --> 02:17:14.040
That's four prize cards.

02:17:14.040 --> 02:17:16.540
That is four prizes. Very well put there, Joe.

02:17:16.540 --> 02:17:18.840
This could be the final turn of the game.

02:17:18.840 --> 02:17:22.840
If Henry gets the car team needs to get, we've already got some of the pieces.

02:17:22.840 --> 02:17:28.280
There is Dust Glocks, we will need one more of those and a Boss's orders and a Pivot.

02:17:28.280 --> 02:17:34.440
There is 50 damage onto the bench, Drippy from the Cursed Blast. We're not there yet.

02:17:34.440 --> 02:17:38.360
We need Boss's orders and we need a Pivot. I think that's about what we need.

02:17:38.360 --> 02:17:44.200
Yeah, Meowth. And that is it. Boss from the Meowth and that is a four-price turn for Henry Chow.

02:17:44.200 --> 02:17:48.700
3P goes down, 3P goes down, Pheasant gets he goes down, Henry goes up!

02:17:48.700 --> 02:17:50.200
One game from 0.

02:17:50.200 --> 02:17:53.200
Really nicely performed there from Henry.

02:17:53.200 --> 02:17:56.700
I love to see the acknowledgement of when to weave in Lee's Duskull.

02:17:56.700 --> 02:17:59.700
That's a harder skill than it looks to be honest with you, Dross,

02:17:59.700 --> 02:18:01.700
because it has that wonderful 60 hit points.

02:18:01.700 --> 02:18:04.700
There are situations where it's going to be a massive liability for you.

02:18:04.700 --> 02:18:09.200
Henry weaving in two Duskull on the turn where he duped the unfair stamp

02:18:09.200 --> 02:18:11.200
and took out all the energy from play.

02:18:11.200 --> 02:18:14.920
Remember, he could create a crazy forward state on that next turn of the game.

02:18:14.920 --> 02:18:17.800
Henry knows how to cash in on these ghosts.

02:18:17.800 --> 02:18:20.680
Absolutely, he does, and that was massively played.

02:18:20.680 --> 02:18:24.480
And that's what you see when the best Dragonfall players, they set these up.

02:18:24.480 --> 02:18:28.440
One damage counter on a Fesadip 2, so you can try to dive it in easy.

02:18:28.440 --> 02:18:30.080
Everything else is not.

02:18:30.080 --> 02:18:32.160
Let's go take a look back at that game.

02:18:32.160 --> 02:18:35.840
So, Henry here, there was the early curse last onto the Badoo.

02:18:35.840 --> 02:18:38.600
That was when Henry really turned into the aggressor,

02:18:38.600 --> 02:18:43.080
giving up a prize to take out the Badoe to get his items back while locking his opponent.

02:18:43.080 --> 02:18:49.000
Yes, Jackson got the return KO with a bite onto that Badoe, but this put Henry really in the

02:18:49.000 --> 02:18:55.080
driver's seat. We had that early judge which made a big deal. We had the unfair scamp, which

02:18:55.080 --> 02:19:00.680
helped Henry was really playing a lot with hand disruption here. And then we saw this four

02:19:00.680 --> 02:19:07.480
prize KO. It was a Gus Globs onto a 3T. And then you Gus, the, you know, you boss

02:19:07.480 --> 02:19:14.480
He's got some orders with pheasant dipped into the active, 200 to that, 20 damage on to each of the 3p, where does the extra 20 damage go?

02:19:14.480 --> 02:19:19.480
I mean, it has some blazing in it, but no one really cares, because at that point the game is already over.

02:19:19.480 --> 02:19:23.480
That was such an intriguing opening couple of turns from both players.

02:19:23.480 --> 02:19:28.480
It's rare that you see Duskloft skin to Budu, and then it's even rare to see a bite KO on Budu.

02:19:28.480 --> 02:19:33.480
In some ways, that actually came back to bite Jackson, honestly, because then he got hit with an unfair snap the following turn.

02:19:33.480 --> 02:19:40.440
We're already into game two here Joe while that replay was finishing the players were started the game and once again

02:19:40.440 --> 02:19:42.400
I'm seeing a little bit of page our move

02:19:42.400 --> 02:19:48.320
We got a bit do from Henry and we got a dream B from Jackson and actually it looks like Jackson

02:19:48.320 --> 02:19:52.880
He's telling Henry to go first and he's starting off with a buddy buddy puff in for a couple of basic

02:19:52.880 --> 02:19:53.960
Why would he do this Joe?

02:19:53.960 --> 02:19:57.640
It's very common for the Blaziken. Oh, sorry the drag-up whole players to choose second

02:19:57.800 --> 02:20:03.240
Simply so that you give yourself those additional outs with Lily's determination to see more cards because really it's

02:20:03.480 --> 02:20:09.720
the more the merrier, the more 3p you can find, turn 1 is great, and having extra access to those

02:20:09.720 --> 02:20:14.120
other basic Pokemon is still really important. So you're basically saying to your opponent,

02:20:14.120 --> 02:20:18.040
if they're forced first, can they find as many buddy-buddy-puffin as possible in the first

02:20:18.040 --> 02:20:21.320
instance? And even if they do use a puffin, hopefully they're only getting one or two

02:20:21.320 --> 02:20:25.000
3p down. Now in this case, it's not working out great for Jackson because there's already a

02:20:25.000 --> 02:20:30.520
lot of basics that Henry has access to, but Jackson can at least be content that he has

02:20:30.520 --> 02:20:35.080
access to potentially eight more cards on his first turn of the game, just because this

02:20:35.080 --> 02:20:40.120
supporter card gets access to so many cards in those open stages, it almost guarantees

02:20:40.120 --> 02:20:41.460
you a decent setup.

02:20:41.460 --> 02:20:45.120
So basically it's just trying to make sure you have the better turn one, because you

02:20:45.120 --> 02:20:48.160
have access to a supporter and your opponent doesn't.

02:20:48.160 --> 02:20:53.080
Well unfortunately for Jackson, Henry did get two DREP, two Dust goal, but doing

02:20:53.080 --> 02:20:56.200
the active and an energy attachment, that's pretty much all you want.

02:20:56.200 --> 02:21:01.880
said that, Jax has got a 3P, energy attachment is not the right energy unfortunately, but

02:21:01.880 --> 02:21:07.200
we have a Badoo, we have a Torchic and now we have a fresh eight cards, there we go, from

02:21:07.200 --> 02:21:10.600
Lily's determination, he needs to try and really get rolling.

02:21:10.600 --> 02:21:14.080
I'm already super excited about this game number two because it looks like both players

02:21:14.080 --> 02:21:17.640
are going to have really strong board setups here. If this Lily's determination

02:21:17.640 --> 02:21:22.960
grants access to more basic Pokemon, I think we're going to be in for a thrilling

02:21:22.960 --> 02:21:27.280
game two here and there is a buddy buddy Poffin coming out for Jackson Ford so he

02:21:27.280 --> 02:21:31.720
will be able to grab even more Dreepee in this instance and yes he will be able

02:21:31.720 --> 02:21:35.440
to retreat to this active Pokemon to initiate that itchy pollen and at least

02:21:35.440 --> 02:21:39.040
try and limit the outs for Henry but I know he's also sound a monster right now

02:21:39.040 --> 02:21:41.960
he's already got track cloak and his only least determination in hand so

02:21:41.960 --> 02:21:46.640
Jackson doing the right thing and choosing to go second to give himself

02:21:46.640 --> 02:21:50.880
the best outs into this game but Henry happens to have had a crazy opening

02:21:50.880 --> 02:21:55.000
hand himself. Yeah, both players absolutely rocking their first couple of

02:21:55.000 --> 02:21:58.840
the other first turn. Jackson here is just about to get Dreepey number two and

02:21:58.840 --> 02:22:03.720
Dreepey number three to go with the Torchic and the Badou. So both players

02:22:03.720 --> 02:22:07.960
like you say setting up to have potentially very very strong turns and

02:22:07.960 --> 02:22:12.200
we saw back in game one these Dragapult versus Dragapult matchups there

02:22:12.200 --> 02:22:16.960
is real opportunity to outplay your opponent and pull off well what they're

02:22:16.960 --> 02:22:22.200
not looking for. Energy Attachment therefore gives the retreat to Drepi. It's a Badoo in

02:22:22.200 --> 02:22:26.160
the active and it's going to be an itchy pollen, but first we're actually going to rescue

02:22:26.160 --> 02:22:32.280
stretch of that energy back. Itchy pollen, no item for Henry, but he does have a Drakloak

02:22:32.280 --> 02:22:37.840
and a Lily's Determination to 8. Yeah, that's not bad. So even under 2, this item lock

02:22:37.840 --> 02:22:41.840
you're going to see 10 cards. And Henry now looking for those Stage 1 Pokemon,

02:22:41.840 --> 02:22:45.880
no doubts. I wonder if in this instance he will continue to do what he did in

02:22:45.880 --> 02:22:50.440
that game number one. As soon as he found his first dust clots, he immediately wanted to

02:22:50.440 --> 02:22:55.800
blast through the budge, and he has the opportunity again. I wonder if it was context dependent

02:22:55.800 --> 02:23:01.040
or if he thinks this is a strategy to employ against every Dragapult player. No drag cloak

02:23:01.040 --> 02:23:06.120
or dust clots so far, and no help from the recon directive either, so it's a moot

02:23:06.120 --> 02:23:09.280
point in this instance. Henry's going to have to take things slower.

02:23:09.280 --> 02:23:14.160
Unfortunately, there is no out to a dust clots. We do have a fire energy for the

02:23:14.160 --> 02:23:17.160
You could KO the Badoo here.

02:23:17.160 --> 02:23:21.160
I don't think you're going to, but technically you could if you wanted to.

02:23:21.160 --> 02:23:24.160
We're probably just going to see an itchy pollen slow the game right down.

02:23:24.160 --> 02:23:28.160
Remember, Henry is the player who is not playing any rare candy,

02:23:28.160 --> 02:23:32.160
so evolution up through track loak becomes absolutely vital,

02:23:32.160 --> 02:23:34.160
and it is just an itchy pollen.

02:23:34.160 --> 02:23:36.160
Ten damage on the Badoo, but far more importantly,

02:23:36.160 --> 02:23:39.160
there will be no items from Jackson this turn.

02:23:39.160 --> 02:23:43.160
Which is pretty unfortunate because he has a lot of strong items in his hand right now.

02:23:43.160 --> 02:23:49.720
was relying on just this one recon directive, but it did find Monkey Dory and thanks to the night stretcher last turn

02:23:50.220 --> 02:23:55.180
Now Jackson might have an opportunity to heal his Badoo and actually take a knockout with itchy pollen here

02:23:55.180 --> 02:23:58.580
This is a great choice from Jackson because you get to take that early prize

02:23:58.580 --> 02:24:01.900
And you're not concerned about the unfair stamp coming back to you

02:24:01.900 --> 02:24:06.220
I absolutely adore this move one damage counter from your Badoo to theirs

02:24:06.220 --> 02:24:10.220
And then they've got 20 damage. You got no damage itchy pollen for ten actually

02:24:10.220 --> 02:24:16.700
the four takes the KO, but Henry does get the drag-a-pot rolling now, so we can start using

02:24:16.700 --> 02:24:21.940
Phantom Dive. You kind of want to get the Purdue out the active though. 200 does seem a little

02:24:21.940 --> 02:24:22.940
bit too much.

02:24:22.940 --> 02:24:25.780
Yeah, that's why it's a big decision for Henry. He has a couple of ways of doing it.

02:24:25.780 --> 02:24:26.780
Oh, here's the boss.

02:24:26.780 --> 02:24:30.220
Yeah, he could have used Dawn and once again Cursed Blast of the Budgie to KO it, but

02:24:30.220 --> 02:24:33.580
instead he says, I want exactly this to a cloak. That's the thing that I'm concerned

02:24:33.580 --> 02:24:38.140
about. I want to try and force Jackson into having multiple Rare Candy and Crispin

02:24:38.140 --> 02:24:40.300
or whatever else to get any Phantom Dive back to me.

02:24:40.300 --> 02:24:42.640
So let's take out that Stage 1 Pokemon

02:24:42.640 --> 02:24:45.140
and initiate this prize race.

02:24:45.140 --> 02:24:46.600
I like this very much.

02:24:46.600 --> 02:24:49.540
Got the Bidu as well with that residual damage.

02:24:49.540 --> 02:24:51.820
Very important to not leave any damage

02:24:51.820 --> 02:24:53.340
for all six on the Bidu,

02:24:53.340 --> 02:24:55.220
because with that Monkey Dory sitting on the bench,

02:24:55.220 --> 02:24:57.940
that damage can come back to you if you leave it floating,

02:24:57.940 --> 02:25:01.100
not as position you want to put yourself in.

02:25:01.100 --> 02:25:03.580
Here comes an Ultramul getting rid of a boss's orders

02:25:03.580 --> 02:25:06.460
and this is an ugly discard, honestly, Ross.

02:25:06.460 --> 02:25:11.240
can get very far into you right now, but I think we're going to have a rare candy

02:25:11.960 --> 02:25:16.920
Plus dragon for and now we're going to go meow for Crispin so we can come straight back

02:25:17.800 --> 02:25:23.440
Jackson with a well identified line of play. This is what can happen when you don't lock out the items

02:25:23.440 --> 02:25:28.880
We have rare candy drag a pot and we have the unfair stamp. Oh, this is a big comeback turn for Jackson

02:25:28.880 --> 02:25:31.840
This is great. I was just about to start talking about the fact that yeah

02:25:31.840 --> 02:25:34.760
He got the dragon for but you needed to use the meow

02:25:34.760 --> 02:25:39.040
But it was all a little bit awkward and then he dropped on first half of it. Now he good. That's a lot better

02:25:39.040 --> 02:25:46.080
Yeah, you've got to feel good about that and often times the drag-a-pot mirror match can be defined by which drag-a-pot player hits into the

02:25:46.080 --> 02:25:47.440
Opposing drag-a-pot first

02:25:47.440 --> 02:25:51.320
I feel like that can be a huge swing in games because then you can

02:25:51.640 --> 02:25:58.840
Dictate your phantom dice throughout the game that little bit more easily while the opponent is scrambling for more Crispin and more attachments

02:25:58.840 --> 02:26:03.140
Jacksons should have a good way of making life difficult for Henry here.

02:26:03.140 --> 02:26:07.140
And it is worth noting there's no drake cloak on Henry's side of the board.

02:26:07.140 --> 02:26:11.340
There is no draw power to save him after these two cards.

02:26:11.340 --> 02:26:15.340
So there's no ferns, and even if there was, there's no KO coming this turn.

02:26:15.340 --> 02:26:17.340
I just probably will be on a dustcult to be fair.

02:26:17.340 --> 02:26:20.540
But there's no ferns and dipty to draw, there's no drake cloak to draw.

02:26:20.540 --> 02:26:23.640
Henry's going to need something off of these two cards from the unfair stamp

02:26:23.640 --> 02:26:28.740
and the one card drawn for turn because it's looking a little bit rough right now for Henry.

02:26:28.740 --> 02:26:32.300
It's quite tempting to take out a Duskull because of the threat of Cursed Blast,

02:26:32.300 --> 02:26:35.860
but I actually do quite like trying to put a lot of damage onto this 3P.

02:26:35.860 --> 02:26:38.660
If you put at least three damage counters onto a 3P,

02:26:38.660 --> 02:26:41.260
that's a nice threat that you can represent here

02:26:41.260 --> 02:26:43.900
so that you can try and take it out over a couple of turns.

02:26:43.900 --> 02:26:48.460
There's no way for Henry to knock out Jackson's Dragapult in one hit

02:26:48.460 --> 02:26:50.820
because he doesn't play Rare Candy for Cursed Blast,

02:26:50.820 --> 02:26:54.940
so you could go for a line where you just say that you can attack twice,

02:26:54.940 --> 02:26:58.540
punching this Dragapult two times, and also targeting down that 3P.

02:26:58.540 --> 02:27:02.960
If that's free on the tree, even if it evolves up to a Drakloak, it is going to be in range.

02:27:02.960 --> 02:27:06.300
Now, I like your thought process, Erjo. Very well explained.

02:27:06.300 --> 02:27:10.900
Even if it evolves, it's not being rare candy, so the only Drakloak is getting evolved up.

02:27:10.900 --> 02:27:14.560
But Henry knows it's not going to last any more than one turn.

02:27:14.560 --> 02:27:18.800
200 goes onto the Drakapot from Phantom Dive as well.

02:27:18.800 --> 02:27:22.740
But if you're Henry here, I mean, you've got to get some Drakloak down.

02:27:22.740 --> 02:27:28.080
Surely you've got to start preparing for life after this Drakapot and this Drakloak.

02:27:28.080 --> 02:27:30.080
It may be a difficult life

02:27:31.080 --> 02:27:36.760
The Maltres might be one of the few Pokemon he considers here as he can use phantom dive in there

02:27:36.760 --> 02:27:39.160
Maybe like cursed blast and Maltres his way through

02:27:39.800 --> 02:27:41.800
the active Dragapult

02:27:42.840 --> 02:27:44.840
Could be an option just to get rid of it

02:27:45.160 --> 02:27:51.720
Not you coming down and Jackson's choice of not taking out a dusk all here has paid dividends as the recon directive did access

02:27:51.720 --> 02:27:57.560
that Fesantipiti, which is not online right now, Jackson playing amazingly in the second

02:27:57.560 --> 02:27:58.560
set.

02:27:58.560 --> 02:28:03.060
From a tough position, a lot of pressure from Henry early on, Henry's adapting, he's going

02:28:03.060 --> 02:28:06.880
to retreat, he doesn't want to just swing into this for obvious reasons, he's just

02:28:06.880 --> 02:28:08.560
going to initiate an itchy pollen.

02:28:08.560 --> 02:28:13.200
And if you're Jackson, you know, you just want a bosses' order, he's got a bosses'

02:28:13.200 --> 02:28:16.120
orders and it's a concession already from Henry.

02:28:16.120 --> 02:28:19.680
If I don't have Dragapult and I don't have Dragloc, I'm not winning this game,

02:28:19.680 --> 02:28:22.840
By one game one, I get the choice of going first or second.

02:28:22.840 --> 02:28:27.160
So let's go to game three with one game each.

02:28:27.160 --> 02:28:29.360
You probably played there for Jackson.

02:28:29.360 --> 02:28:31.800
Yeah, that was awesome to see, because that's in that game number two,

02:28:31.800 --> 02:28:34.840
especially because it felt like Henry Starr was the stronger one.

02:28:34.840 --> 02:28:37.680
He had a lot of basics on the opening turn.

02:28:37.680 --> 02:28:39.480
He got into the Phantom Dive first,

02:28:39.480 --> 02:28:42.560
even with the bosses on his TKC, Jackson's only draft cloak.

02:28:42.560 --> 02:28:45.080
But this is where the deck building comes in from Jackson.

02:28:45.080 --> 02:28:47.440
Those three copies of Rare Candy were huge.

02:28:47.440 --> 02:28:53.240
He's playing two copies of Crispin in addition to the acceleration of basic in EX so as soon as there was a fan to the dive

02:28:54.040 --> 02:28:58.080
Unlocking the items for Jackson. He was able to immediately pop off his stage chemo pop

02:28:58.080 --> 02:29:03.360
And it took a little bit with that Meowth for a Crispin after the rare candy into drag-and-poll

02:29:03.360 --> 02:29:08.760
It wasn't just that it was that combined with the unfair stamp when Henry had no Draklo down

02:29:08.760 --> 02:29:14.840
No feather dipped he no way of drawing extra cards and it bought just enough time to put so much pressure in

02:29:14.840 --> 02:29:22.840
Let me say that, the damage count is on 3p, to say even when it evolves into Draclo, it's not going to be enough.

02:29:22.840 --> 02:29:29.840
Taking out both of them in one go, giving Henry no attackers to work with, and that's how we end up, even at one apiece.

02:29:29.840 --> 02:29:32.840
But I do like watching the players here, Joe. They seem like they're having a really good time.

02:29:32.840 --> 02:29:37.840
They're quite relaxed right now, despite being in Swiss round number 10 of the World Championships.

02:29:37.840 --> 02:29:39.840
Both players undefeated to this point.

02:29:39.840 --> 02:29:44.140
One of them could be walking away with their first loss of the tournament

02:29:44.140 --> 02:29:48.840
and we can't really have too many of those if you want to make our way into the asymmetrical top cuts.

02:29:48.840 --> 02:29:52.840
But to learn happier though, one player is going to remain undefeated.

02:29:52.840 --> 02:29:56.840
Because I think we've got enough time left here that we probably aren't heading towards the tie

02:29:56.840 --> 02:29:58.840
unless something unusual happens.

02:29:58.840 --> 02:30:00.840
There is enough time. We could still get a tie obviously.

02:30:00.840 --> 02:30:01.840
Yeah.

02:30:01.840 --> 02:30:04.840
But I do think there's enough time here for one of these players to go finish this up.

02:30:04.840 --> 02:30:07.840
And you've got to think that's probably part of Henry's thinking there.

02:30:07.840 --> 02:30:12.480
When the Draklo and the Dragapult went down, he could have played a couple more turns.

02:30:12.480 --> 02:30:15.280
Yeah, with a board of two muskull, I don't like it.

02:30:15.280 --> 02:30:18.280
It wasn't going to be very many more turns, though.

02:30:18.280 --> 02:30:22.840
But I think here both players know, yes, 702 is a great record,

02:30:22.840 --> 02:30:28.280
but the cutoff for that asymmetrical top cut is going to be so harsh and so difficult to hit.

02:30:28.280 --> 02:30:30.400
You just need to get those points.

02:30:30.400 --> 02:30:33.720
Well, here we go, 25 minutes left, into game three.

02:30:33.720 --> 02:30:35.400
Henry makes Jackson go first,

02:30:35.400 --> 02:30:40.140
but Jackson starts off with a buddy-buddy puff in to get a pair of 3P.

02:30:40.140 --> 02:30:43.000
How's that started without a thousand-pivity in the active, though,

02:30:43.000 --> 02:30:45.500
which is not really what you want to see on turn one?

02:30:46.240 --> 02:30:48.140
Yeah, at least has some energy in the hand,

02:30:48.140 --> 02:30:51.240
so we'll be able to pivot out of this fairly quickly.

02:30:51.240 --> 02:30:55.140
There's also the outside chance that Cool Arrow can even be useful in this mirror match,

02:30:55.140 --> 02:30:58.440
because Henry is opting to not play any crushing hammer within his list.

02:30:58.440 --> 02:31:00.740
Jackson, pretty aware of that at this stage.

02:31:00.740 --> 02:31:04.640
So Jackson could even think towards attaching early to that Pokemon

02:31:04.640 --> 02:31:08.080
and have Crispin as a line to him later on, so in some instances this

02:31:08.080 --> 02:31:12.400
festivity start could be really handy. Jackson has also prized his one copy of

02:31:12.400 --> 02:31:16.880
Badoo in addition to three of his energy cards. Including both darkness energy

02:31:16.880 --> 02:31:20.400
to value two in the deck. They are both unavailable for now, so there will be no

02:31:20.400 --> 02:31:25.200
monkey business. Right, but that's also the early game strategy. Typically you're

02:31:25.200 --> 02:31:27.680
going to try and itchy-polling each other back and forth as we've seen in

02:31:27.680 --> 02:31:31.280
the other games, but in this instance Jackson might be eyeing up cruel

02:31:31.280 --> 02:31:36.000
Arrow in this game three. I kind of like that plan. We've seen Crawl Arrow in two

02:31:36.000 --> 02:31:39.800
different matchups. In fact, we see them in both the matches we've commented this

02:31:39.800 --> 02:31:43.920
morning, Joe. Let's go free for free, but now Henry is going to start off his

02:31:43.920 --> 02:31:47.960
first turn going using a buddy-buddy poffin, searching out a couple of those

02:31:47.960 --> 02:31:52.280
basic Pokemon, but on them, you know, on the way having a quick look at a deck

02:31:52.280 --> 02:31:56.120
search. And as we talk about quite a bit, if you're new to the game, this

02:31:56.120 --> 02:32:00.440
is where the good players, they're prize-checking. There are six cards in

02:32:00.440 --> 02:32:04.220
Pokemon Trading Card game that get taken out of your deck and put down as prize

02:32:04.220 --> 02:32:09.020
cards. They are unavailable until you draw them from your prizes. So what Henry's

02:32:09.020 --> 02:32:13.220
doing here is looking through the deck, trying to figure out which of the six

02:32:13.220 --> 02:32:17.900
cards are actually in the prizes. What don't I have access to? So we see there

02:32:17.900 --> 02:32:23.020
there's two 3P. Henry knows there's only two 3P in the deck to play with,

02:32:23.020 --> 02:32:29.300
but I've also got my only protract in prizes. So if I wanted to try and use

02:32:29.300 --> 02:32:36.980
that as an anti-monkey-dory plan, it's not available. Yeah, this could get pretty ugly if Henry is not

02:32:36.980 --> 02:32:42.980
on full cylinders getting into his Dragapult EX early. He's unlikely to have as much of a draw engine

02:32:42.980 --> 02:32:47.060
as he would like during the game, but also might be forced into evolving up into Dragapult quickly,

02:32:47.060 --> 02:32:52.180
just so they're not wiped off all in one turn. So instantly those two prize 3P changes exactly

02:32:52.180 --> 02:32:56.900
how Henry has to approach this set. Absolutely, and this is why it's so important to do that

02:32:56.900 --> 02:33:01.860
that prize, Jack, you have to know if you've got these things like two dreamy prize.

02:33:01.860 --> 02:33:05.460
We do see a poker pad searching out a drag cloak for next turn.

02:33:05.460 --> 02:33:10.100
Of course, you are expecting to be item locked anytime you're against a dragapult,

02:33:10.100 --> 02:33:13.180
although Henry is very aware of the pheasant dipty.

02:33:13.180 --> 02:33:16.460
And actually, if Jackson knew there were two dreamy prize,

02:33:16.460 --> 02:33:17.340
oh, you go first.

02:33:17.340 --> 02:33:21.580
Oh, pheasant dipty would be an amazing strategy in that position.

02:33:21.580 --> 02:33:23.780
Obviously, the second dreamy coming down, at least for Henry,

02:33:23.780 --> 02:33:26.620
that was naturally in the hand.

02:33:26.620 --> 02:33:28.120
at least you've got two of those.

02:33:28.120 --> 02:33:30.240
And you know, there is a way to hide it from your opponent

02:33:30.240 --> 02:33:31.800
if you bench other Pokemon.

02:33:31.800 --> 02:33:34.080
So it's just, I know I only want to treat you right now.

02:33:34.080 --> 02:33:35.560
I'll get the others later.

02:33:35.560 --> 02:33:37.400
There is a way to play and build your board

02:33:37.400 --> 02:33:39.280
to try and hide it from your opponents.

02:33:39.280 --> 02:33:41.160
Henry's thinking about Moltres right now.

02:33:41.160 --> 02:33:43.200
He has Moltres energy in hand.

02:33:43.200 --> 02:33:44.040
Oh, I kind of like that.

02:33:44.040 --> 02:33:44.880
We're getting aggressive, Ross.

02:33:44.880 --> 02:33:46.200
Oh, we are getting aggressive.

02:33:46.200 --> 02:33:48.600
110 to that pheasant dip through of Moltres'

02:33:48.600 --> 02:33:52.680
fighting wings, choosing not to item lock here.

02:33:52.680 --> 02:33:53.640
And I kind of love this,

02:33:53.640 --> 02:33:57.080
because now if Jackson chooses to use Crawl Arrow,

02:33:57.080 --> 02:34:00.360
he'll take a prize, and then Henry will take two.

02:34:00.360 --> 02:34:02.800
This game is already so insane.

02:34:02.800 --> 02:34:07.720
The top deck of Meowth EX opens up the Crawl Arrow line of play,

02:34:07.720 --> 02:34:09.760
but Henry, going aggressive with Maltres

02:34:09.760 --> 02:34:12.380
isn't just to try and deny Crawl Arrow,

02:34:12.380 --> 02:34:13.960
but it's also to access those prize cards

02:34:13.960 --> 02:34:16.160
as quickly as possible to grab more drippy.

02:34:16.160 --> 02:34:18.200
So instantly going for this Maltres play

02:34:18.200 --> 02:34:20.440
is so big brain.

02:34:20.440 --> 02:34:23.400
This is actually keeping him in this set here.

02:34:23.400 --> 02:34:26.280
Jackson looks like he has a great line of play,

02:34:26.280 --> 02:34:28.480
but he may have to forgo it now for setup instead,

02:34:28.480 --> 02:34:30.360
and that's why we're going to see the lily.

02:34:30.360 --> 02:34:34.560
This 110 damage from Moltres has completely changed the complexion of this turn.

02:34:34.560 --> 02:34:35.760
And this is something you need to do.

02:34:35.760 --> 02:34:37.840
If you've got horrible prizes,

02:34:37.840 --> 02:34:42.320
part of your strategy is take prizes very quickly any way that you can,

02:34:42.320 --> 02:34:44.840
especially when it's something like 2-3-3 prize.

02:34:44.840 --> 02:34:46.440
Sometimes your prizes are so bad,

02:34:46.440 --> 02:34:48.840
you'll just concede the game and go to game 3.

02:34:48.840 --> 02:34:51.000
You can't do that in game 3.

02:34:51.000 --> 02:34:54.000
So here we go with Jackson getting a new eight-cast,

02:34:54.000 --> 02:34:56.080
forced to reevaluate his strategy

02:34:56.080 --> 02:34:58.640
at the aggressive Moltres from Henry Chow.

02:34:58.640 --> 02:34:59.480
Really does.

02:34:59.480 --> 02:35:01.360
It has to move this, this turn.

02:35:02.440 --> 02:35:05.640
Have to stress that budding in the prize cards

02:35:05.640 --> 02:35:07.200
means he won't be able to shut down

02:35:07.200 --> 02:35:10.000
icon cards as he would typically like to do.

02:35:10.000 --> 02:35:12.000
But Jackson may be forced into a strange position

02:35:12.000 --> 02:35:14.840
of bringing up even one of these draft bloke

02:35:14.840 --> 02:35:17.040
if he's able to find some from the lily

02:35:17.040 --> 02:35:19.320
as a better option for him.

02:35:19.320 --> 02:35:21.320
Yeah, things get really awkward here.

02:35:21.320 --> 02:35:22.720
That's before we've seen these eight cards though.

02:35:22.720 --> 02:35:24.880
Maybe these will help out.

02:35:24.880 --> 02:35:27.400
The very least needs to find some Stage 1 Pokemon.

02:35:27.400 --> 02:35:29.600
Absolutely, he does.

02:35:29.600 --> 02:35:31.080
There's at least one Drakloak.

02:35:31.080 --> 02:35:31.900
Okay.

02:35:31.900 --> 02:35:34.200
Also has a buddy Poffin, so he can get to work

02:35:34.200 --> 02:35:36.200
on a Torchic as well here.

02:35:36.200 --> 02:35:37.520
Yeah, there is one Drakloak in hand.

02:35:37.520 --> 02:35:39.160
He's in a lovely alternate art from Jerky,

02:35:39.160 --> 02:35:41.240
who is in the building this weekend,

02:35:41.240 --> 02:35:42.400
doing some signings.

02:35:42.400 --> 02:35:43.720
Had you missed a signing with Jerky

02:35:43.720 --> 02:35:45.320
to come and take this game?

02:35:45.320 --> 02:35:46.160
Worth it.

02:35:46.160 --> 02:35:49.080
Yeah, I would rather see that artwork

02:35:49.080 --> 02:35:50.600
while we're commenting again here, Jair.

02:35:50.600 --> 02:35:53.520
That's way more important than that.

02:35:53.520 --> 02:35:55.680
But we are going to see the 3P with the energy.

02:35:55.680 --> 02:35:57.080
We've got a Torchic on the bench.

02:35:57.080 --> 02:35:59.000
We've got the Alph coming down.

02:35:59.000 --> 02:36:02.800
And we've got those two 3P, one with an energy.

02:36:02.800 --> 02:36:03.640
But we know the do.

02:36:03.640 --> 02:36:05.200
Like, when you retreat, the pheasant dipty,

02:36:05.200 --> 02:36:06.600
what do you retreat into?

02:36:06.600 --> 02:36:08.200
Yeah, I think if you could evolve up

02:36:08.200 --> 02:36:12.120
into a trochloak this turn, perhaps you can actually

02:36:12.120 --> 02:36:16.240
hit with it and promote it and just get 70 damage

02:36:16.240 --> 02:36:17.840
prodded into this Moltres to set you up

02:36:17.840 --> 02:36:18.960
for future Phantom Dive.

02:36:18.960 --> 02:36:22.040
The Maltres does great damage output, but only into EX Pokemon.

02:36:22.040 --> 02:36:23.040
It's terrible. It's a non-EX.

02:36:23.040 --> 02:36:23.640
Exactly.

02:36:23.640 --> 02:36:24.360
It's damage.

02:36:24.360 --> 02:36:25.240
Yeah, you don't want to...

02:36:25.240 --> 02:36:27.200
And that's doing not much, realistically.

02:36:27.200 --> 02:36:27.600
So...

02:36:27.600 --> 02:36:28.880
I could do, I suppose.

02:36:28.880 --> 02:36:31.200
Yeah, it's looking enough.

02:36:31.200 --> 02:36:33.680
But that is about all you're getting.

02:36:33.680 --> 02:36:35.680
But it is really into EXes, and it's shiny.

02:36:35.680 --> 02:36:37.840
And we get the evolution into that Dracloak.

02:36:37.840 --> 02:36:40.360
We are now going to see the first recon directive.

02:36:40.360 --> 02:36:41.440
Look at the top two cards.

02:36:41.440 --> 02:36:42.360
One goes to your hand.

02:36:42.360 --> 02:36:43.680
One goes to the bottom of the deck.

02:36:43.680 --> 02:36:47.240
It's a rare candy that was taken from the recon directive.

02:36:47.240 --> 02:36:49.680
That opens up some plays potentially.

02:36:49.680 --> 02:36:52.480
Yeah, there is Rare Candy Dragapult in the hand,

02:36:52.480 --> 02:36:54.200
but he just evolved to the Pokemon

02:36:54.200 --> 02:36:55.720
that already has one energy attached to it.

02:36:55.720 --> 02:36:56.920
So he may just hold off on this

02:36:56.920 --> 02:37:00.480
for potential Rare Candy Blaziken on another turn.

02:37:00.480 --> 02:37:03.560
That's sort of the more impactful stage two evolution here,

02:37:03.560 --> 02:37:04.960
seeing as though you can just naturally evolve

02:37:04.960 --> 02:37:06.680
into Dragapult anyway next turn.

02:37:06.680 --> 02:37:09.280
And Jackson is forced into a retreat option,

02:37:09.280 --> 02:37:10.960
but there's no easy targets.

02:37:12.880 --> 02:37:14.640
We don't have enough energy or anything

02:37:14.640 --> 02:37:16.480
to actually get some attacking going on

02:37:16.480 --> 02:37:22.240
with a little bit of a pain. This is tough. If there was a Rare Candy Blazerkin, potentially,

02:37:22.240 --> 02:37:26.380
but even then he'd have to be this guard to be awkward. So it's going to be just that

02:37:26.380 --> 02:37:31.760
Dracula, but not to attack just to chill in the active. It's so scary to be like, this

02:37:31.760 --> 02:37:35.680
is my only stage one, this is my only real draw on board. I have to do this play, but

02:37:35.680 --> 02:37:40.240
it feels like the right line, Henry now instantly into his own recondirective, picks

02:37:40.240 --> 02:37:45.240
What's up potential for judge and dustclops both interesting choices here.

02:37:45.240 --> 02:37:51.240
I like dustclops. I like that. They're both fun. Dustclops is going to be the choice for now.

02:37:51.240 --> 02:37:55.240
That's access to another Cloak now as well with the poker pad.

02:37:55.240 --> 02:37:56.240
Nice.

02:37:56.240 --> 02:38:01.240
And I think what's important about the dustclops is you have to get this dustclop out of 60 hit point range

02:38:01.240 --> 02:38:04.240
and grow it up into a big dustclops instead.

02:38:04.240 --> 02:38:05.240
100%.

02:38:05.240 --> 02:38:07.360
You don't have to give away an easy prize on the bench.

02:38:07.360 --> 02:38:11.240
You do not want it sitting there just to let your opponent manipulate the prize race like that.

02:38:11.240 --> 02:38:16.680
It is a dragapult and a fire energy that we see from the recon directive.

02:38:16.680 --> 02:38:20.360
Dragapult taken for when we're ready to use that note.

02:38:20.360 --> 02:38:22.760
Changing minds, fire energy is taken.

02:38:22.760 --> 02:38:24.960
Going to get an attachment down of a psychic.

02:38:24.960 --> 02:38:26.680
We are going to get the dust blocks.

02:38:26.680 --> 02:38:31.520
We're going to retreat into Madu and it is just going to be back to Ichi Pollen.

02:38:31.520 --> 02:38:34.160
Your board is not well established enough really to do anything else.

02:38:34.160 --> 02:38:39.720
Exactly and you don't want that but you sat on the bench for easy phantom dive counters for the free prize card

02:38:39.720 --> 02:38:44.620
So let's pivot out of there and build up our board in the back and Henry is also holding on to his a spec

02:38:44.620 --> 02:38:49.960
So what's better than a budu to get knocked out to unleash that? No, absolutely, right?

02:38:49.960 --> 02:38:55.080
And that's that's one of the things I love about but do any set up Pokemon that if they get KO'd you can just go

02:38:55.160 --> 02:39:00.240
Unfair stamp and if your opponent knows you're playing it is this awkward thing of whatever you don't like your but do and I want to

02:39:00.240 --> 02:39:01.640
Get rid of it, but if I do get rid of it

02:39:01.640 --> 02:39:06.920
I'm going to get unfair stamp so they have to try and time the KO for when it doesn't hurt them so much and

02:39:07.200 --> 02:39:08.860
Such an advantage for now

02:39:08.860 --> 02:39:15.040
It's a dawn for a stage one a stage two and a basic Pokemon which when you play in two stage two lines

02:39:15.120 --> 02:39:18.520
That's pretty cool. This is a great response to itchy pollen in particular

02:39:18.720 --> 02:39:22.600
So you can still piece together lots of your evolution Pokemon facts

02:39:22.600 --> 02:39:28.040
And may have had a really tough time to find any of these with all of those ball search cards locked away

02:39:28.040 --> 02:39:33.320
I love this thought support are coming into these debt lists both pairs utilizing it in their list

02:39:33.560 --> 02:39:39.320
It's so vital in these Miramac situations to continue to build your board

02:39:39.520 --> 02:39:45.160
So it's a perfect time to see the supporter card Jackson will now have the opportunity to use another recon directive and

02:39:45.720 --> 02:39:52.320
Could still be launching a very impactful phantom dive here out there is the evolution and the recon directive look at two cards

02:39:52.320 --> 02:39:57.920
keep one. Did not spy what it was. It was a special red card that went and got kept.

02:39:57.920 --> 02:40:03.280
We have an attachment to the active Trogloak and an evolution into Dragapult. Keep that wreck,

02:40:03.280 --> 02:40:09.280
Handy Jackson, that'll come in handy in a future term. You don't really want to phantom dive into

02:40:09.280 --> 02:40:13.520
the Bidu. You want that on the bench, but without any other options, you can still get a bunch

02:40:13.520 --> 02:40:18.800
of damage on the board. It is 200 to the Bidu, but more importantly, we're spreading damage

02:40:18.800 --> 02:40:22.240
on those stage 1 saying, I can take them out later.

02:40:22.240 --> 02:40:23.600
An interesting choice from Jackson.

02:40:23.600 --> 02:40:26.720
We know that Henry can evolve up into Dust Noir

02:40:26.720 --> 02:40:29.600
and make that three damage counters essentially irrelevant.

02:40:29.600 --> 02:40:32.560
But Jackson also knows that Henry isn't playing his own Monkey Dory.

02:40:32.560 --> 02:40:35.040
So putting the three on Druckloch is normally quite poor.

02:40:35.040 --> 02:40:36.320
You want it to be six,

02:40:36.320 --> 02:40:39.440
so you play around potential Monkey Dory, flinging it back to you.

02:40:39.440 --> 02:40:41.120
In this case, he doesn't have to worry about that.

02:40:41.120 --> 02:40:44.320
So he can try and float those damage and force Henry

02:40:44.320 --> 02:40:45.840
into evolving up into this Dust Noir.

02:40:46.480 --> 02:40:47.520
I really like it.

02:40:47.520 --> 02:40:53.320
Sometimes it's just nice to force your opponent to have to prioritize resources to do something they might not have bothered doing.

02:40:53.320 --> 02:41:00.320
They have to get Dustmars to go and get Dustmars. Here's an energy onto the cloak, but now we see the unchecked nodding.

02:41:00.320 --> 02:41:05.820
That doesn't really just do it like, yeah, sure. You got it like that, Henry, huh?

02:41:05.820 --> 02:41:12.820
I mean, the good news is you do at least have Wonder Cloak down and a Pheasant Dipty, so you do have some options here.

02:41:12.820 --> 02:41:20.460
But the bad news is, I don't think we've seen a supporter from Henry yet this turn, so we could see some boss shenanigans.

02:41:20.460 --> 02:41:23.260
A lot could be happening this turn, Ross, to be honest with you.

02:41:23.260 --> 02:41:27.340
Especially that cursed barst open up, you can knock out the Dragapult this turn.

02:41:27.340 --> 02:41:30.740
I mean, you can just flat out knock out Fessendipty to a 2-for-1 on the bench if you want.

02:41:30.740 --> 02:41:37.180
You can also do that as well, but I feel like taking out that Dragapult is just so vital when there's just one Drakloak for there on the bench right now.

02:41:37.180 --> 02:41:38.100
Oh, agreed.

02:41:38.100 --> 02:41:39.900
There are several options.

02:41:39.900 --> 02:41:43.220
I really like a lot of them honestly

02:41:44.120 --> 02:41:45.540
Henry will find the best one of the bunch

02:41:45.540 --> 02:41:48.960
She's got five cards to deal with right now and a couple recon directive on top of that

02:41:48.960 --> 02:41:53.880
I didn't see access to any drag-a-pole ex just yet. So it does need some help here

02:41:53.880 --> 02:41:58.880
Well there we go. Recon directive. Oh drag-a-pole and a lily. They're very nice cards

02:41:59.080 --> 02:42:02.720
So you're just having a look at the discard pile going. Can I really afford to give back the lily?

02:42:02.880 --> 02:42:08.760
Yes, because you really need drag-a-pole. He kept lily I think. He kept li- oh yeah. No, okay

02:42:08.760 --> 02:42:16.000
So we're lily for eight cards. No prizes taken. It is the full eight slight risk here. There's no other other as a drag

02:42:16.000 --> 02:42:18.120
Okay, so you've got this plus three come directive

02:42:18.120 --> 02:42:24.680
You expect to hit it off the top 10 again ten cards and that's a really interesting spot so often and I would have done the same

02:42:24.680 --> 02:42:26.720
Thing Ross think let's deal with the guarantees here

02:42:26.720 --> 02:42:30.320
Let's not risk being in a position where I miss but ten cutters so many

02:42:30.320 --> 02:42:33.240
You're so likely to get that and other things on top

02:42:33.240 --> 02:42:37.080
So Henry's not content with just a dragapult here. He's looking for more

02:42:37.080 --> 02:42:43.760
If you hit the Dragapult undoubtedly the right option if you don't there might be some regrets. No, no, no, no

02:42:43.920 --> 02:42:49.440
One recon directive. There is a rescue stretcher, but it's not there. We're gonna get the dragapult

02:42:49.440 --> 02:42:52.760
There we go didn't take it from the first did take it for the second

02:42:52.760 --> 02:42:57.540
There's your dragapult into the active and now Henry is feeling great about that decision

02:42:57.540 --> 02:43:06.160
Who's you got so many other cars and so many other options in addition to that dragapult love that result for Henry

02:43:06.160 --> 02:43:10.980
I have to feel like we're gonna curse past the active here. It's it's the play that makes the most sense

02:43:11.720 --> 02:43:15.100
You could try and take out that drawing in and try and limit Jackson to just

02:43:15.660 --> 02:43:20.000
One recon directive, but even just announcing Phantom Dive is still really powerful on this board

02:43:20.000 --> 02:43:26.560
I think if you haven't played unfair stamp, you definitely no question go for go for the Dragonpole

02:43:26.560 --> 02:43:31.320
And I still think I agree with you. I love the play. It's just because you unfair stamped

02:43:31.320 --> 02:43:36.080
It's taking out that pheasant dipty in addition to that just seems very tempting

02:43:36.200 --> 02:43:41.320
But like you say you are then just giving your opponent an attack and that's your cloak on the bed will go down

02:43:41.320 --> 02:43:46.160
Yeah, no question. I mean you can hit this dragaport and then also put as much damage on to the

02:43:47.320 --> 02:43:49.840
Bench track float for Jackson as possible as well

02:43:50.280 --> 02:43:54.560
The board is full so there's no monkey Dory business going back to you that might also be playing on

02:43:55.120 --> 02:44:00.560
Henry's mind a little bit. I think we're not cursed blasting anything here. No, we're just announcing an attack with Phantom Dive

02:44:01.320 --> 02:44:04.440
trying to make the unfair stamp as unfair as possible.

02:44:04.440 --> 02:44:09.560
I kind of like this as well, honestly, because now you're still setting up for 10...

02:44:09.560 --> 02:44:11.240
Oh, okay, I really like this.

02:44:11.240 --> 02:44:14.440
So what you're actually doing here is now Fesendipty is in range

02:44:14.440 --> 02:44:17.240
from the residual damage from the Phantom Dive.

02:44:17.240 --> 02:44:21.960
So now you can basically curse Blaster Dragapult, take the KO,

02:44:21.960 --> 02:44:23.720
and then you KO something like a MIA.

02:44:23.720 --> 02:44:25.000
You can have a six-pronged turn.

02:44:25.000 --> 02:44:26.360
Yeah, he said a win next turn.

02:44:26.360 --> 02:44:27.640
He said a game next turn this way.

02:44:27.640 --> 02:44:28.760
Oh, this is beautiful.

02:44:28.760 --> 02:44:33.500
and Jackson just has to deal with the hand in front of him. This is why you

02:44:33.500 --> 02:44:38.900
don't curse last last time. Henry's good at this. Oh Henry is giving us an

02:44:38.900 --> 02:44:44.700
absolute masterclass. I love this and if you're Jackson, what do you do it? Like

02:44:44.700 --> 02:44:48.900
your opponent basically needs boss to guarantee game next turn. Haven't you

02:44:48.900 --> 02:44:52.220
go after the plus one? Well we've just seen the linear determination. Dustin

02:44:52.220 --> 02:44:56.540
would have been the safest way to do so. Take that off the board then you

02:44:56.540 --> 02:45:00.380
We deny the 6 prize turn, but Jackson only had the two cards from Nuff, first stamp and

02:45:00.380 --> 02:45:03.980
the one Recon Directive. No access to the bosses order, so he has to go for the fresh

02:45:03.980 --> 02:45:09.860
hand. But really, he's at the mercy of Henry at this stage. He could simply end it all

02:45:09.860 --> 02:45:14.340
with the bosses orders next turn. Absolutely he could. Here's your six cards from Lily's

02:45:14.340 --> 02:45:18.820
determination. What have we got to play with as an evolution into a drakloak? So that's

02:45:18.820 --> 02:45:22.660
going to give you a second Recon Directive. Can we, there's not even a way to mind

02:45:22.660 --> 02:45:26.660
here because the board is full, could we get an area zero? No, there's not even

02:45:26.660 --> 02:45:29.660
area zero in Jackson's list. He's playing Watchtower and Risky Ruins.

02:45:29.660 --> 02:45:34.660
I think he's announcing an attack, Joe. The Cloak goes down and it is as simple as that.

02:45:34.660 --> 02:45:40.660
If Henry draws a boss's orders, this game is going to be over. Does he have one in

02:45:40.660 --> 02:45:41.660
the hands?

02:45:41.660 --> 02:45:44.660
Such a large hand size, but no copies of boss's orders.

02:45:44.660 --> 02:45:46.660
He does have one. I don't think he's used Recon Directive yet.

02:45:46.660 --> 02:45:49.660
He's looking at his notes for the prize cards. Can he fish for it with

02:45:49.660 --> 02:45:55.340
Curse Blast here. He can take two prize cards. If he has Ultra Balls in there, if he has Meowth

02:45:55.340 --> 02:45:59.540
in there, he's going to have one more look. Doesn't look like anything helps him from

02:45:59.540 --> 02:46:07.780
the prizes to instantly win the game. So taking out the active Dragapult EX with Curse Blast

02:46:07.780 --> 02:46:10.740
wouldn't give him even a chance to find Bosses' orders.

02:46:10.740 --> 02:46:15.500
No, there's no Boss in the prizes, so I think you have to search for it with

02:46:15.500 --> 02:46:19.960
Wait, our recall direct that was no that was in the discard my apology

02:46:19.960 --> 02:46:25.280
So we haven't even got a way to fish for it. This is just a body buff in affirming the situation

02:46:25.800 --> 02:46:31.960
And what looked like from such a large hand from Henry it looked so clear that game could have been over but just lacking

02:46:32.920 --> 02:46:34.920
Bosses orders at the crucial moments

02:46:36.080 --> 02:46:38.600
How often have we said that this card is the defining

02:46:39.160 --> 02:46:43.800
One in games or the good news is Jackson's got four prizes remaining

02:46:43.800 --> 02:46:46.200
So he shouldn't be able to win the game next turn.

02:46:46.200 --> 02:46:48.440
The problem is, you're gonna not have an attacker.

02:46:48.440 --> 02:46:49.520
Yeah, your board is gone.

02:46:49.520 --> 02:46:51.280
Your board is gone next turn.

02:46:51.280 --> 02:46:53.160
And you don't have any rare candy,

02:46:53.160 --> 02:46:55.640
so you're not gonna be able to just get that big explosive

02:46:55.640 --> 02:46:58.160
Dragonbolt coming up out of nowhere.

02:46:58.160 --> 02:47:01.560
And Henry, after searching up for this six prize turn,

02:47:01.560 --> 02:47:05.320
feels like it might be running away from him here.

02:47:06.440 --> 02:47:08.720
What a tense game three.

02:47:08.720 --> 02:47:11.280
As you see Henry Chow shuffling up

02:47:11.280 --> 02:47:14.320
from the buddy-buddy-puff-in. No draw on the board.

02:47:14.320 --> 02:47:17.360
There's no way that we can access Boss here at all.

02:47:17.360 --> 02:47:18.480
There's none in the prizes.

02:47:18.480 --> 02:47:19.360
He cannot fish out that way.

02:47:19.360 --> 02:47:20.360
A jamming tower.

02:47:22.640 --> 02:47:23.480
There's no Boss here.

02:47:23.480 --> 02:47:25.840
There's nothing we can get from the Nite stretcher

02:47:25.840 --> 02:47:27.160
that's helpful.

02:47:27.160 --> 02:47:29.120
We're just retreating into Moltres here

02:47:29.120 --> 02:47:30.440
and trying to get to hit-in.

02:47:32.320 --> 02:47:33.960
I think I'll actually get the KO.

02:47:33.960 --> 02:47:35.360
Yeah, there's 110 left.

02:47:35.360 --> 02:47:38.120
So Moltres will get a KO, and at least,

02:47:38.120 --> 02:47:39.200
I think that's probably the play.

02:47:39.200 --> 02:47:42.880
You do that, you give your opponent more cards to flip the script.

02:47:42.880 --> 02:47:47.800
No, I think you have to dust the wall, the pheasant dip needs to take out flip, flip the script.

02:47:47.800 --> 02:47:55.000
And then you're Moltres into the active, and then it's going to be the cursed blast trade 2 for 1.

02:47:55.000 --> 02:47:58.440
Yeah, see this is what I like, and then you take out the active with your Moltres.

02:47:58.440 --> 02:48:03.280
No, it's... yeah, okay. It's going to be then a Phantom Dive, so it's still going for it here.

02:48:03.280 --> 02:48:07.840
Okay, so this is where it gets scary. A Phantom Dive here could potentially...

02:48:07.840 --> 02:48:12.120
It could put the game almost out of reach if Jackson's able to get it going here.

02:48:12.120 --> 02:48:16.960
I don't know how you take the last two prizes if his Dragapult goes down.

02:48:16.960 --> 02:48:18.960
Like, stop me, Jo, am I missing anything?

02:48:18.960 --> 02:48:21.760
How do these last two prizes come if this Dragapult goes down?

02:48:21.760 --> 02:48:25.760
Well, you can still Curse Blast and Bosses' Orders with Moltres to carry the Meowth.

02:48:25.760 --> 02:48:30.000
That would be your final way, because Jackson can only take two prize cards this turn.

02:48:30.000 --> 02:48:36.480
So that would still be the line that Henry now is living on essentially top decks to try and find Bosses' Orders.

02:48:36.480 --> 02:48:40.240
So we can still boss and curse Blast to take out the Meowth.

02:48:40.240 --> 02:48:41.440
I think it's a line.

02:48:41.440 --> 02:48:42.640
It's certainly a line.

02:48:42.640 --> 02:48:45.400
Jackson has just recon directed and instantly head in hands.

02:48:45.400 --> 02:48:46.640
What's better odds here?

02:48:46.640 --> 02:48:49.320
Special red card, but you know Henry doesn't have it in hand,

02:48:49.320 --> 02:48:53.240
or Team Rocket's Watchtower to limit the ultra ball outs for Meowth.

02:48:53.240 --> 02:48:54.520
He opts for Watchtower.

02:48:54.520 --> 02:48:58.080
This could be hugely impactful to the end of this game.

02:48:58.080 --> 02:49:00.920
If Henry puts down Team Rocket's Watchtower this turn,

02:49:00.920 --> 02:49:04.520
he has drastically limited the outs from Henry to win the game next turn.

02:49:04.520 --> 02:49:09.900
He's living on top decks right now Ross. He is absolutely living on top decks is a great way to put it

02:49:09.900 --> 02:49:13.660
I think the watchtower is definitely to play here because special red cards

02:49:13.660 --> 02:49:15.240
You just give it to your opponent

02:49:15.240 --> 02:49:18.420
You definitely don't want to do that this at least means they've got to get it

02:49:18.580 --> 02:49:23.720
Rather than a Meowth or an octable somewhere to get Meowth. So yeah, I love the watchtower

02:49:24.240 --> 02:49:28.240
But I think that is literally the only play you still need your own dragapult, of course

02:49:28.400 --> 02:49:32.960
You need to get a dragapult and a fire energy to get the attack going on that's pretty important

02:49:32.960 --> 02:49:36.860
I feel like with Jackson's hands, I almost wrote that off as saying that's gonna be there somewhere

02:49:36.860 --> 02:49:41.480
We're gonna find a way to that. Yeah, I can see he probably has it, but I still want to see it

02:49:41.920 --> 02:49:45.700
See what else can well there's a night stretcher that should secure the attack

02:49:46.640 --> 02:49:52.420
As we have a night stretcher one of those words can be festin tippity ex come into the equation

02:49:53.720 --> 02:49:57.720
If we got the energy we'd need to be specific to have more night stretcher in here

02:49:57.720 --> 02:49:59.960
We have a fire energy in the discard. Yeah, we do

02:49:59.960 --> 02:50:03.960
We still have our supporter for the turn as well.

02:50:03.960 --> 02:50:06.960
Okay, so it looks like we're going to be good to go.

02:50:06.960 --> 02:50:07.960
Oh, there's a Dragapop.

02:50:07.960 --> 02:50:08.960
Yeah.

02:50:08.960 --> 02:50:10.960
So, okay, so the attack is now definitely on board.

02:50:10.960 --> 02:50:11.960
There's no issue there.

02:50:11.960 --> 02:50:12.960
Here comes the Poker Pad.

02:50:12.960 --> 02:50:15.960
That's going to go and search out a non-Ruobots Pokémon.

02:50:15.960 --> 02:50:17.960
It is going to be that Monkey Dory.

02:50:17.960 --> 02:50:18.960
Yep.

02:50:18.960 --> 02:50:19.960
Tech fitting here.

02:50:19.960 --> 02:50:20.960
Yeah, absolutely.

02:50:20.960 --> 02:50:25.960
Jackson's putting himself in a position where he knows that Henry has the capacity to win next turn.

02:50:25.960 --> 02:50:30.320
But he also knows that he didn't have the exact card he required on the previous turn.

02:50:31.200 --> 02:50:35.080
So Jackson knows that all he can do here is get himself one turn away

02:50:35.920 --> 02:50:37.320
and hope that that's going to be enough.

02:50:37.320 --> 02:50:40.640
As we see that second copy of Nightstretcher for fire energy for the turn.

02:50:40.640 --> 02:50:43.440
There's the attacker. That's all up and rolling now.

02:50:43.440 --> 02:50:45.320
That Team Rocket's Watchtower has to come down.

02:50:45.320 --> 02:50:47.160
You drastically limit the outs here.

02:50:47.160 --> 02:50:48.160
Oh, absolutely.

02:50:48.160 --> 02:50:51.480
Combustion is fairly safe to put into play, but it does have a two-retreat cost.

02:50:51.480 --> 02:50:53.200
So Jackson may think twice about this.

02:50:54.080 --> 02:50:55.800
But if there's a boss's orders, it's game over anyway.

02:50:55.800 --> 02:50:57.160
so he may as well bench it.

02:50:57.160 --> 02:50:58.840
Yeah, but they're not going to boss school.

02:50:58.840 --> 02:50:59.840
They're going to boss win.

02:50:59.840 --> 02:51:00.840
Right.

02:51:00.840 --> 02:51:04.000
It's going to be a crispiness as the supporter for turn.

02:51:04.000 --> 02:51:06.800
That's going to get a couple of energy out of the deck.

02:51:06.800 --> 02:51:09.600
Just try and make sure that, again, Jackson knows it.

02:51:09.600 --> 02:51:11.360
Henry has got the initiative here.

02:51:11.360 --> 02:51:14.240
Henry, if he has what he needs, Henry will win this game.

02:51:14.240 --> 02:51:16.080
And there's nothing Jackson could do about it.

02:51:16.080 --> 02:51:18.040
What he's doing here is just setting up.

02:51:18.040 --> 02:51:20.120
If Henry doesn't win, I'm going

02:51:20.120 --> 02:51:21.600
to give myself the best chance of winning

02:51:21.600 --> 02:51:24.080
because next turn is a turn where I can potentially

02:51:24.080 --> 02:51:25.000
go and win this game.

02:51:25.000 --> 02:51:26.200
and Boskin gets evolved.

02:51:26.200 --> 02:51:27.040
We have an energy.

02:51:27.040 --> 02:51:28.040
There's your watchtower.

02:51:28.040 --> 02:51:29.480
It's huge here, Ross.

02:51:29.480 --> 02:51:30.960
I mean, it turns off Meowth.

02:51:30.960 --> 02:51:32.120
Meowth is a great out.

02:51:32.120 --> 02:51:33.400
Here is the KO.

02:51:33.400 --> 02:51:34.800
And it really comes down to this.

02:51:34.800 --> 02:51:36.280
I have a Henry wins this turn,

02:51:36.280 --> 02:51:38.160
or Jackson is going to take the boss.

02:51:38.160 --> 02:51:39.480
Top Dex is the boss!

02:51:39.480 --> 02:51:41.120
He's going to bring the Meowth into the active.

02:51:41.120 --> 02:51:42.240
He's going to cast blast.

02:51:42.240 --> 02:51:44.040
He's going to KO with Moltres.

02:51:44.040 --> 02:51:46.920
And Henry tells Top Dex the perfect card

02:51:46.920 --> 02:51:50.520
at the perfect time for a 2-1 win.

02:51:50.520 --> 02:51:51.360
He's stunned.

02:51:51.360 --> 02:51:52.200
He's stunned.

02:51:52.200 --> 02:51:53.040
I'm stunned.

02:51:53.040 --> 02:52:01.000
And Jackson did everything right, couldn't have watched tower down, so it had to be boss,

02:52:01.000 --> 02:52:05.320
it couldn't be ultiable, it couldn't be me out, it had to be boss, and Henry Ripsett

02:52:05.320 --> 02:52:10.560
off the top, he had no door on board, he had to top deck it.

02:52:10.560 --> 02:52:11.960
My head is spinning Ross.

02:52:11.960 --> 02:52:15.360
What a bash, the free we just watched Joe.

02:52:15.360 --> 02:52:18.360
That's insanity.

02:52:18.360 --> 02:52:25.580
Dreams are made of Henry Chow with the 10 plus card hand miraculously didn't have bosses orders a turn earlier

02:52:26.040 --> 02:52:32.060
Giving Jackson the opportunity to put himself in a crazy position that one copy of team Rockets watch tower limited the out

02:52:32.560 --> 02:52:34.320
substantially

02:52:34.320 --> 02:52:37.160
Removing the Alpiex for the guaranteed bosses orders at that stage

02:52:37.560 --> 02:52:41.240
Oughtry would have been only for festivity to draw three cards and really pumped for the boss

02:52:41.240 --> 02:52:43.520
But finding one copy of bosses orders

02:52:43.520 --> 02:52:48.620
closed out the game beautifully let's go and remind ourselves about this best of

02:52:48.620 --> 02:52:53.120
free might have been the best we've seen on stream all weekend so far we see

02:52:53.120 --> 02:52:57.920
here in game one where we had Jackson taking the KO on the Purdue after the

02:52:57.920 --> 02:53:02.480
cursed blast from Henry to take out a Purdue and then we saw Henry go on the

02:53:02.480 --> 02:53:06.840
aggressor as the aggressor with that dragapult taking out that dreamy

02:53:06.840 --> 02:53:10.440
popping some damage down but it was a huge four-price turn at the end of the

02:53:10.440 --> 02:53:16.440
game using those last blocks and then bosses orders taking four prizes in one turn for a

02:53:16.440 --> 02:53:23.080
really definitive turn one win. What an awesome game one setters. The opening stages was just

02:53:23.080 --> 02:53:28.440
so bizarre from both players. They went super aggressive in both cases and in this game

02:53:28.440 --> 02:53:32.280
number two Henry was forced first but had such a good opener that he was able to

02:53:32.280 --> 02:53:37.080
launch early bosses orders plus phantom dive but Jackson bounced back with Crispin

02:53:37.080 --> 02:53:41.720
rare candy was punching into Henry's Dragapult and suddenly we have to take out all of the

02:53:41.720 --> 02:53:47.560
Dragons at once. Yeah and that was enough going over into game three and both players

02:53:47.560 --> 02:53:52.640
set up quite nicely again. Jackson gets that early Dragapult but he has to punch into the

02:53:52.640 --> 02:53:57.200
Bidoo and then spread some damage on the bench. Both players come back and forth and

02:53:57.200 --> 02:54:01.560
Henry sets up so much damage on the board he's setting up for a sixth prize term but

02:54:01.560 --> 02:54:05.900
he's not able to pull off the sixth prize term. He takes four prizes, go into Dragapult

02:54:05.900 --> 02:54:08.140
and the pheasant dipty, and it goes back to Jackson.

02:54:08.140 --> 02:54:11.780
He can't win the game, but he can put himself in a good position.

02:54:11.780 --> 02:54:14.780
Henry then needs exactly boss off the top,

02:54:14.780 --> 02:54:18.020
and actually somehow draws it, pulls up the Meowth,

02:54:18.020 --> 02:54:20.620
gets the KO with a combination of curse blast

02:54:20.620 --> 02:54:24.780
and fighting wings, and Henry takes an unlikely game-free

02:54:24.780 --> 02:54:26.620
victory.

02:54:26.620 --> 02:54:29.620
And you see the reaction there.

02:54:29.620 --> 02:54:32.140
I mean, we've all top decked the game.

02:54:32.140 --> 02:54:34.660
We've all done that, but top decked the game.

02:54:34.660 --> 02:54:38.160
Let's go to the interview.

02:54:38.160 --> 02:54:42.180
And I'm with Boss's order's favorite competitor of the day

02:54:42.180 --> 02:54:42.980
thus far.

02:54:42.980 --> 02:54:47.580
Henry, how does it feel to get that top-deck moment?

02:54:47.580 --> 02:54:49.740
That was one of the most unbelievable games

02:54:49.740 --> 02:54:50.660
I've been a part of.

02:54:50.660 --> 02:54:52.020
I mean, honestly, the set itself

02:54:52.020 --> 02:54:53.100
was nothing that crazy.

02:54:53.100 --> 02:54:56.500
Just a ton of insane swing turns both ways in games two

02:54:56.500 --> 02:54:57.260
and three.

02:54:57.260 --> 02:54:59.380
I, of course, got pretty lucky to kind of scam him

02:54:59.380 --> 02:55:00.500
in game one.

02:55:00.500 --> 02:55:03.220
And I mean, just that last sequence was insane.

02:55:03.220 --> 02:55:05.620
I mean, when I lilyed, I thought I had it in the bag

02:55:05.620 --> 02:55:08.060
because all I needed was a mouth, ult, or boss

02:55:08.060 --> 02:55:09.860
to just win on that previous turn.

02:55:09.860 --> 02:55:10.700
And I drew none of it.

02:55:10.700 --> 02:55:12.380
And then I put my jamming tower down

02:55:12.380 --> 02:55:14.380
because I didn't consider that he might play Watchtower.

02:55:14.380 --> 02:55:17.500
And I got massively punished and then just unbelievably

02:55:17.500 --> 02:55:18.700
bailed out by the boss's orders.

02:55:18.700 --> 02:55:20.380
That was, wow, yeah.

02:55:20.380 --> 02:55:21.980
I mean, that was insane.

02:55:21.980 --> 02:55:24.260
Absolutely unbelievable.

02:55:24.260 --> 02:55:26.020
Did you really kind of feel your heart sink

02:55:26.020 --> 02:55:27.540
before that boss had come around thinking,

02:55:27.540 --> 02:55:28.420
I have no draw?

02:55:28.420 --> 02:55:29.460
What am I going to do?

02:55:29.460 --> 02:55:31.300
Yeah, I mean, I spent that whole turn hoping

02:55:31.300 --> 02:55:32.540
that he would red card me.

02:55:32.540 --> 02:55:36.060
Because even though I did nothing on the previous turn, I took four prizes.

02:55:36.060 --> 02:55:38.060
I mean, a four is already greater than three, right?

02:55:38.060 --> 02:55:41.060
But he told me that he had a recon between Watchtower and Redcard.

02:55:41.060 --> 02:55:43.560
And I think he made a really smart decision by getting the Watchtower,

02:55:43.560 --> 02:55:45.560
because I could have had the Meowth out in hand.

02:55:45.560 --> 02:55:47.560
But of course I may have played the Meowth last year.

02:55:47.560 --> 02:55:50.060
Well, I don't know. Yeah, it was really interesting mind games.

02:55:51.260 --> 02:55:53.260
But at the end of the day, you know,

02:55:53.260 --> 02:55:56.560
I wouldn't probably went like this, to this, to this, so, you know.

02:55:57.060 --> 02:56:00.560
It was a rollercoaster to watch that alone be in the moment.

02:56:00.560 --> 02:56:05.040
You must be exhausted emotionally, so I can't imagine how you've got to go on and play some

02:56:05.040 --> 02:56:06.040
more games now.

02:56:06.040 --> 02:56:10.840
Can you give me and the viewers at home just a brief overview of how your run has gone throughout

02:56:10.840 --> 02:56:11.840
this tournament?

02:56:11.840 --> 02:56:13.840
You're clearly being successful, but what's the key?

02:56:13.840 --> 02:56:15.480
Yeah, my run's been really interesting.

02:56:15.480 --> 02:56:19.400
This was actually my very first Dragon Bolt mirror, which to anyone who saw the graphic,

02:56:19.400 --> 02:56:21.640
that is a completely unbelievable statistic.

02:56:21.640 --> 02:56:26.840
I've hit some Slow King, some Zora arcs, some of the Raging Bolt decks.

02:56:26.840 --> 02:56:28.040
I've got pretty good matchmaking.

02:56:28.040 --> 02:56:30.720
The slurking deck was difficult, but we managed to get there.

02:56:30.720 --> 02:56:33.200
Came to the day at 7-0-1, tied my first round against Krusl,

02:56:33.200 --> 02:56:36.080
which was a good matchup, but things didn't go my way there.

02:56:36.080 --> 02:56:39.280
But I can't complain because I managed to get this one down,

02:56:39.280 --> 02:56:41.840
and I think I have to win one of my last two.

02:56:41.840 --> 02:56:44.680
You're here, and that's the most important part.

02:56:44.680 --> 02:56:47.680
And even through that rollercoaster, you came up Trump's.

02:56:47.680 --> 02:56:50.400
You absolutely nailed it.

02:56:50.400 --> 02:56:52.880
It was a nail-biter of a match.

02:56:52.880 --> 02:56:55.920
Are there any opponents you might be afraid of going

02:56:55.920 --> 02:56:57.920
that you know are on similar records.

02:56:57.920 --> 02:56:59.920
I think there's a chance I may hit Brent Tonneson.

02:56:59.920 --> 02:57:02.920
I know at X1 there's Callie White playing Raging Bull.

02:57:02.920 --> 02:57:05.920
I think that's an OK matchup for me, so I wouldn't mind that.

02:57:05.920 --> 02:57:09.920
But obviously, our world to every single competitor is just incredible.

02:57:09.920 --> 02:57:11.920
And I also really want to give a shout out to Jackson.

02:57:11.920 --> 02:57:13.920
I don't know if they mentioned this on broadcast,

02:57:13.920 --> 02:57:15.920
but Jackson and I have had a very long rivalry

02:57:15.920 --> 02:57:17.920
of hitting each other that very, very high stakes games.

02:57:17.920 --> 02:57:19.920
And he's always a pleasure to play against.

02:57:19.920 --> 02:57:22.920
And I'm happy to have got this one as crazy as it may have been.

02:57:22.920 --> 02:57:33.920
I absolutely love that and like hearing you guys talking at the table afterwards kind of explaining that back and forth of that last few turns was really lovely to see the sportsmanship that is coming from both of you.

02:57:33.920 --> 02:57:36.920
Any final shout outs before I let you get on with your event.

02:57:36.920 --> 02:57:44.920
Shout out to Boogie Color for supporting me for this tournament and shout out to all my friends and family who are watching and helping me test and really hope I can get this one done.

02:57:44.920 --> 02:57:49.920
Absolutely rooting for you my friend. Thank you so much for such a superstar set there.

02:57:49.920 --> 02:57:53.720
to get there. But it's time

02:57:53.720 --> 02:57:54.920
for us to curse blast our way

02:57:54.920 --> 02:57:56.920
back into the action with the

02:57:56.920 --> 02:57:57.920
cast is. Yes, it is indeed,

02:57:57.920 --> 02:57:59.920
although we will not be

02:57:59.920 --> 02:58:00.920
cursed blasting quite as well

02:58:00.920 --> 02:58:02.920
timed as Henry. I'm not sure

02:58:02.920 --> 02:58:04.920
anybody will at this tournament.

02:58:04.920 --> 02:58:05.920
It's lovely to hear about that

02:58:05.920 --> 02:58:06.920
little rivalry with Jackson

02:58:06.920 --> 02:58:07.920
explains why they're so

02:58:07.920 --> 02:58:09.920
comfortable and so chatty at

02:58:09.920 --> 02:58:10.920
the table. We've all got

02:58:10.920 --> 02:58:11.920
those players that we just

02:58:11.920 --> 02:58:13.920
always seem to play in these

02:58:13.920 --> 02:58:14.920
tournaments and going to get

02:58:14.920 --> 02:58:15.920
a little bit of a friendly

02:58:15.920 --> 02:58:16.920
rivalry going. It's fun.

02:58:16.920 --> 02:58:17.920
Yeah, they got plenty of

02:58:17.920 --> 02:58:18.920
respect for one another and

02:58:18.920 --> 02:58:22.920
and I love the humbleness of Henry there to say that he may have made some mistakes along the way,

02:58:22.920 --> 02:58:27.880
but it was such a cat and mouse series. He was saying it was swing turn after swing turn. It felt

02:58:27.880 --> 02:58:31.960
like just from the one panic recon directive, it suddenly became an unfair stamp that became a

02:58:31.960 --> 02:58:36.280
lily that became this, that and the other. Both players were springboarded into such insane

02:58:36.280 --> 02:58:42.040
board states that it was a real struggle to keep up. It absolutely was for helping us keep up.

02:58:42.600 --> 02:58:47.000
We got a friend here in the studio. We got our friend Pablo over on the analyst desk

02:58:47.000 --> 02:58:50.540
who is going to help us keep up with all the action this weekend.

02:58:50.540 --> 02:58:53.720
Pablo, that last game, back and forth,

02:58:53.720 --> 02:58:55.880
maybe the best game we've seen on stream this weekend.

02:58:55.880 --> 02:58:58.960
I said it, just give us your thoughts, Black Canvas.

02:58:58.960 --> 02:59:01.960
I mean, honestly, the whole series was pretty good.

02:59:01.960 --> 02:59:04.860
And as you guys mentioned, Henry being very humble

02:59:04.860 --> 02:59:09.800
in terms of like, I think he said he scammed Jackson out of a game.

02:59:09.800 --> 02:59:11.600
I would call it a scam, right?

02:59:11.600 --> 02:59:14.140
I feel like this is always what I tell players

02:59:14.140 --> 02:59:16.040
when you're at the World Championship,

02:59:16.040 --> 02:59:21.780
Jackson's edge against Henry or Henry's edge against Jackson is definitely not in the decision-making, right?

02:59:21.780 --> 02:59:28.600
Because both players, you'd expect them to be at their maximum level here at Worlds after a whole summer of practicing.

02:59:28.600 --> 02:59:33.640
So what determines the outcome of such of two Titans who go up against each other?

02:59:33.640 --> 02:59:37.340
It's going to be either a deck building edge or a little bit of luck.

02:59:37.340 --> 02:59:42.080
And you chance into a lily, you chance into the unfair stamp, all of a sudden walk away the winner.

02:59:42.080 --> 02:59:48.160
I mean, it's not something you expect but you'll definitely take advantage of such a situation.

02:59:48.160 --> 02:59:55.960
So I think one very key thing though that happened is the very first decision that Henry took in terms of

02:59:56.200 --> 03:00:00.920
using the Duff's Clubs in order to take out his opponent's body.

03:00:00.920 --> 03:00:04.160
I think that was a major decision after a judge as well.

03:00:04.160 --> 03:00:09.160
It's not something you'll commonly see you want to use Duff's Clubs or Duff's Clubs to perhaps take down a bench

03:00:09.160 --> 03:00:17.360
or something perhaps more significant, however, let's show the clip, we had the possibility

03:00:17.360 --> 03:00:23.280
to take out your opponent's body, so you get to keep the body pressure, but you free yourself

03:00:23.280 --> 03:00:27.880
and you give yourself poke pad and you give yourself body body puff in, so I generally

03:00:27.880 --> 03:00:33.080
think that was a major decision, that was very important, and we saw Jackson follow

03:00:33.080 --> 03:00:41.000
that up with a bite kill, I believe, and the only punish for that was the unfirst time right,

03:00:41.000 --> 03:00:47.080
which of a judge, a turn two judge, it's so unlikely right, so I don't think that was like any sort of

03:00:47.080 --> 03:00:52.920
bait it would just happen to Henry, Locke, shine on him just as we saw towards the end.

03:00:53.800 --> 03:00:58.120
Yeah, the value that you can get from that duster while you really have the time

03:00:58.120 --> 03:01:01.480
really well, and I was not expecting the buddhu knockout, but like you said,

03:01:01.480 --> 03:01:06.040
Judges one of those supporter cards that you kind of you look at your hand and you're like do I trust you today or not?

03:01:06.680 --> 03:01:09.880
When you go for the dust blocks it said that you could at least have those additional outs

03:01:09.880 --> 03:01:15.440
I can see why the cogs were worrying for Henry in that regard where normally you try and build all the way up to a

03:01:15.440 --> 03:01:19.280
Duster while to get more bang for your buck from your one prize card, but I really liked that choice

03:01:19.280 --> 03:01:26.120
I also think in game number three the pivotal choice to go Maltres punching into that festivity my favorite player for sure

03:01:26.120 --> 03:01:28.400
Yeah, that's something else that I would love to show

03:01:28.400 --> 03:01:33.760
how like you're gonna threaten me with as a deputy I need the immediate response to

03:01:33.760 --> 03:01:37.960
that right so then now your physically plays getting punished by my MULTRA sure

03:01:37.960 --> 03:01:43.280
knock on a drippy I get two prizes in return I get three extra drippies perhaps

03:01:43.280 --> 03:01:48.000
from my price card your three energy investment which is huge in dragable

03:01:48.000 --> 03:01:51.600
right they don't play a high energy count they play one Crispin run Rosa

03:01:51.600 --> 03:01:56.240
it seems to be the 10 towards this day two list so getting a little greedy

03:01:56.240 --> 03:02:02.640
in terms of the energy department and then you just invest so much for a single knockout,

03:02:02.640 --> 03:02:07.040
a single dripping, not a drag cloak, no energy removal, that definitely would have been,

03:02:08.640 --> 03:02:12.160
that was the perfect response rather. That was the perfect response from Henry, had to

03:02:12.720 --> 03:02:17.360
make Jackson default back to the body plan and then he defaulted, but he wasn't available

03:02:17.360 --> 03:02:22.160
and then Henry did have access to the body. So everything, the way it played out, all

03:02:22.160 --> 03:02:28.120
decisions. Every turn felt like a huge turn. Huge things were happening, even though on the

03:02:28.120 --> 03:02:32.200
field it was like basic Pokemon against basic Pokemon. The decisions behind that were so

03:02:32.200 --> 03:02:33.200
amazing.

03:02:33.200 --> 03:02:36.520
There were a lot of big swings in that game and yes, Henry got very lucky at the end with

03:02:36.520 --> 03:02:40.160
our boss's orders, but let's not forget all the amazing plays he made along the

03:02:40.160 --> 03:02:43.840
way. Pablo, thank you very much as always for coming and giving us your analyst brain.

03:02:43.840 --> 03:02:47.920
We love to hear it, but unfortunately we have no more time with Pablo because we've

03:02:47.920 --> 03:02:52.460
got to get to our other game, our broadcast match, that we have been having a look at.

03:02:52.460 --> 03:02:57.460
Trying to bring in some extra, some extra action from the Pogba and World Championships in addition

03:02:57.460 --> 03:03:02.460
to our one match per round. Hopefully we can get down to that in a matter of moments.

03:03:02.460 --> 03:03:06.900
Here we go, right here, Strand's hand. We've got Diego against Arnie, and it looks

03:03:06.900 --> 03:03:10.580
like we have got, well, actually that could be almost any deck at this point, but

03:03:10.580 --> 03:03:14.140
I know that Diego was playing Alec as I actually ran into him in the hall. We

03:03:14.140 --> 03:03:16.880
We had a lovely chat yesterday while I was interviewing,

03:03:16.880 --> 03:03:19.140
and I actually got to grab Diego for a little spot.

03:03:19.140 --> 03:03:19.980
It was lovely.

03:03:19.980 --> 03:03:23.140
The world champion trying to make it two times.

03:03:23.140 --> 03:03:24.020
He's playing Alakazam.

03:03:24.020 --> 03:03:25.460
He just had a draw pass, though,

03:03:25.460 --> 03:03:27.180
with just the Geneset in the active.

03:03:27.180 --> 03:03:30.300
And Arnie is going to be rocking the sloking deck.

03:03:30.300 --> 03:03:32.580
Not too many of those players left at the top tables,

03:03:32.580 --> 03:03:35.140
but Arnie is such a fierce competitor.

03:03:35.140 --> 03:03:38.780
And he's had an early-term one attachment to Latias EX.

03:03:38.780 --> 03:03:39.900
Not always the ideal option.

03:03:39.900 --> 03:03:41.740
It's more of a supporting Pokemon,

03:03:41.740 --> 03:03:42.580
but at the very least,

03:03:42.580 --> 03:03:47.940
We'll be able to access a couple of these psychic basic Pokemon and get some slow poking to play most notably

03:03:48.180 --> 03:03:52.820
Because as we know Ross the sloking deck is all about trying to copy some devastating attackers

03:03:52.820 --> 03:03:55.800
Yes, the way the sloking that works the very unusual debt

03:03:55.800 --> 03:03:57.800
We've got the attack seek inspiration

03:03:57.800 --> 03:04:01.860
You look at the top card of your deck just exactly one card and as long as it's not a

03:04:02.220 --> 03:04:08.500
Rulebox Pokemon like in Pokemon EX you can copy the attack and you don't have to have the correct energy

03:04:08.500 --> 03:04:09.360
You can break the rules

03:04:09.360 --> 03:04:13.200
It's wonderful and you might be thinking well, that's very unlikely you'll hit what you want

03:04:13.200 --> 03:04:16.880
Yes, it is but we have the stadium card Academy at night

03:04:16.880 --> 03:04:20.360
Which allows you to put a card from your hand on top of your deck

03:04:20.360 --> 03:04:26.600
So you use that to guarantee the right card on top of your deck and you use slow king to copy these wild attacks

03:04:26.600 --> 03:04:30.440
I've Pokemon that actually aren't good on their own because they're stage twos or whatever

03:04:30.600 --> 03:04:35.280
But slow king makes them work. That is the very basics of how this slow king deck works

03:04:35.280 --> 03:04:38.720
First, we need smoking, we need energy.

03:04:38.720 --> 03:04:41.720
Is there going to be any mega-cangors coming on to this board?

03:04:41.720 --> 03:04:46.220
No draw power for Arnie, so both players having a bit of a stumble in the opener,

03:04:46.220 --> 03:04:49.220
but Diego gets the buddy-buddy-puff-in off the top,

03:04:49.220 --> 03:04:52.720
and it looks like it also has access to at least the dawn supporter for the next turn.

03:04:52.720 --> 03:04:55.720
So now, a little turn behind, but at the very least,

03:04:55.720 --> 03:04:58.220
we'll start to establish this board quite nicely,

03:04:58.220 --> 03:05:00.220
because that's immediately followed up,

03:05:00.220 --> 03:05:04.220
so we will be able to find a Kadabra for the next turn.

03:05:04.220 --> 03:05:10.780
So now you're going to be in Alakazam and it's either going to be an additional Abra or Dunsparce here.

03:05:10.780 --> 03:05:19.580
Both big engine pieces. Well, perhaps the Shaman as well. This is a key tech inclusion for Diego trying to respect the option of Trifrost, Ross.

03:05:19.580 --> 03:05:29.060
Yeah, there's a Kyurim that you play in Slow King. I said I've ordered these cards that's way too expensive to play normally, but it deals 110 to 3 Pokemon.

03:05:29.060 --> 03:05:31.820
And that's free Abra taken off the board in one go.

03:05:31.820 --> 03:05:34.580
You absolutely have to respect the Kyurim

03:05:34.580 --> 03:05:36.620
any time you play against low king

03:05:36.620 --> 03:05:38.140
because it's not five energy,

03:05:38.140 --> 03:05:40.060
it's just two on a low king,

03:05:40.060 --> 03:05:42.300
but Shea Min stops the bench being targeted.

03:05:42.300 --> 03:05:45.620
So absolutely vital with the threat of that Kyurim.

03:05:45.620 --> 03:05:47.660
We went over, aren't he here then?

03:05:47.660 --> 03:05:49.260
Kyurim not such a good option,

03:05:49.260 --> 03:05:50.980
but we do need to get some evolution.

03:05:50.980 --> 03:05:52.500
We need to get some energy.

03:05:52.500 --> 03:05:55.420
And hey, some more slope hope wouldn't go amiss either.

03:05:55.420 --> 03:05:58.060
It's actually a second Latias Joe.

03:05:58.060 --> 03:06:01.260
Yeah, there's some funky stuff going on in Arnie's hand,

03:06:01.260 --> 03:06:04.180
that's for sure, because we are mainly attaching to Latias

03:06:04.180 --> 03:06:06.660
for a second turn in a row here.

03:06:06.660 --> 03:06:07.740
Is there much else going on?

03:06:07.740 --> 03:06:09.740
Well, there's the lucky helmet.

03:06:09.740 --> 03:06:11.460
I think he's opting to have two copies of this

03:06:11.460 --> 03:06:14.060
within his deck list to give him some additional draw,

03:06:14.060 --> 03:06:16.380
and it's the surfer supporter card

03:06:16.380 --> 03:06:18.860
to help him draw up to five cards here.

03:06:19.660 --> 03:06:23.900
Okay, so we basically surfered to get that Latias

03:06:23.900 --> 03:06:25.500
onto the bench and protect it a little bit,

03:06:25.500 --> 03:06:27.980
but you will still, of course, have free retreat

03:06:27.980 --> 03:06:31.860
from the Latias here, there is an outside chance

03:06:31.860 --> 03:06:34.540
of a wondrous patch which would allow you

03:06:34.540 --> 03:06:38.220
to then retreat and attack with Latias this turn.

03:06:38.220 --> 03:06:41.140
I'm not sure it's happening, but it is on the table.

03:06:41.140 --> 03:06:43.700
It's on the table, and Sloky does try and weave that in

03:06:43.700 --> 03:06:44.860
when it can, when it can.

03:06:44.860 --> 03:06:47.140
The wondrous patch is actually a vital item

03:06:47.140 --> 03:06:49.220
within the deck because your Slokin

03:06:49.220 --> 03:06:50.300
get knocked out so easily,

03:06:50.300 --> 03:06:52.900
so you have to constantly rebuild these Pokemon.

03:06:52.900 --> 03:06:55.300
But of course, Trifrost also discards those energy.

03:06:55.300 --> 03:06:56.820
We're not gonna see any Trifrost right now

03:06:56.820 --> 03:07:03.020
Thanks to that shaman, but it's still something to keep in mind as to why you see so many of those wondrous patch within the list

03:07:03.180 --> 03:07:06.700
Right now though. No basics like currently in the discard pile

03:07:07.260 --> 03:07:09.380
So it could be a bit of a combo if that's gonna come together

03:07:10.100 --> 03:07:14.540
Absolutely, I just see two energy on a Latias. I can't remember last time I saw two energy on a Latias

03:07:14.540 --> 03:07:17.820
And a tool which revolves around being attacked when it's attached

03:07:17.820 --> 03:07:22.100
You know, it's all the makings of I might actually attack with this Latias

03:07:22.100 --> 03:07:29.020
for now retreat into a slow poachers to have a single prize Pokemon in the active so if an attack does come through

03:07:29.020 --> 03:07:30.740
It's got a little bit of

03:07:30.740 --> 03:07:35.740
Protection we see the first evolution up to a cadabra and then a rare candy into an alakazam

03:07:35.740 --> 03:07:42.780
That's going to be five cards total drawn to the evolution into cadabra free from alakazam and a telepathic energy for two

03:07:42.780 --> 03:07:45.260
More basics things are turning around for Diego Joe

03:07:45.260 --> 03:07:48.420
Yeah, it doesn't take much for this alakazam deck to start

03:07:48.420 --> 03:07:53.580
flurrying through the deck and seeing so many cards and dawn supporter is a big

03:07:53.580 --> 03:07:56.820
reason why that is the case I'm gonna see another one coming down for Diego now

03:07:56.820 --> 03:08:00.980
who may look to get the knockout that's that rare candy as long as you can find

03:08:00.980 --> 03:08:06.420
access to a air balloon should be able to pivot this Pokemon and start

03:08:06.420 --> 03:08:09.220
launching some attacks even single prize knockouts are really valuable

03:08:09.220 --> 03:08:14.820
here for Diego as you can easily knock out three prize Pokemon and with your

03:08:14.820 --> 03:08:18.700
damage output getting absolutely atrocious later on in the game it can be

03:08:18.700 --> 03:08:22.180
absolutely terrifying to come up against this. Well let's make sure we have at least four

03:08:22.180 --> 03:08:27.380
cards in hand to KO the slow poke. Right we need to have at least four cards in hand. He's got a lot more than that but he has

03:08:27.380 --> 03:08:31.380
passed action over he didn't it look like he lacked a air balloon right now.

03:08:31.380 --> 03:08:35.260
That is a little bit sad because even taking out the slow poke here forces

03:08:35.260 --> 03:08:38.660
your opponent to really have to rush to establish the board which something

03:08:38.660 --> 03:08:43.260
Arnie hasn't really been doing very well in this game at all. Wow evolving

03:08:43.260 --> 03:08:45.540
into sloking in the active, yeah.

03:08:45.540 --> 03:08:46.380
That's so rare.

03:08:46.380 --> 03:08:49.140
You now no longer have Skyliner available to you,

03:08:49.140 --> 03:08:50.580
and you don't have an energy on there,

03:08:50.580 --> 03:08:52.660
so you can't just attach and attack.

03:08:52.660 --> 03:08:54.820
We can attack, but we can't attack right now.

03:08:54.820 --> 03:08:57.260
We would need more energy and wondrous patch.

03:08:57.260 --> 03:08:58.740
Only accelerates onto bench,

03:08:58.740 --> 03:09:01.180
both on it will not accelerate to the active.

03:09:01.180 --> 03:09:03.380
So it is just an attached pass,

03:09:03.380 --> 03:09:05.620
kind of relying on Diego not having a way

03:09:05.620 --> 03:09:08.420
to pivot that Genesect out of the active, I suppose.

03:09:09.300 --> 03:09:12.700
I mean, we know he's working with not a lot,

03:09:12.700 --> 03:09:20.440
Even in this position choosing to evolve and attach to the active rather than on to the bench slope is such an interesting choice

03:09:21.280 --> 03:09:26.760
Because you're limiting your own options and you're making Diego's knockout better in a lot of situations here

03:09:26.840 --> 03:09:28.720
Well, here's an evolution into Alakazam

03:09:28.720 --> 03:09:32.080
We're gonna draw three cards give more options to get towards that air balloon

03:09:32.080 --> 03:09:35.540
We're gonna draw two from cadaver evolution as well

03:09:35.540 --> 03:09:42.000
So that's five extra cards five extra choices need Genesect. What's a retreat cost of Genesect?

03:09:42.700 --> 03:09:45.000
It's the two retreat cost, I think.

03:09:45.000 --> 03:09:46.300
It's a one retreat cost,

03:09:46.300 --> 03:09:50.800
so even just a manual attachment would allow a pivot here onto that Genesect.

03:09:50.800 --> 03:09:53.400
And there we go. Just an attach and retreat.

03:09:53.400 --> 03:09:56.100
So, yeah, that was never going to hold,

03:09:56.100 --> 03:09:58.300
and it was already in energy on the Alec as I'm here.

03:09:58.300 --> 03:10:02.400
The buddy Poffin to go and get a dunce pass for next turn.

03:10:02.400 --> 03:10:05.100
Bit low on bench space to dunce pass, which is sad,

03:10:05.100 --> 03:10:06.400
but it's not sad.

03:10:06.400 --> 03:10:07.800
Kale on the slow king.

03:10:07.800 --> 03:10:09.600
Yeah, Diego was running away with this game.

03:10:09.600 --> 03:10:14.400
like shaming immediately turns this match up from pretty awful to really quite strong.

03:10:14.400 --> 03:10:14.800
Yeah.

03:10:14.800 --> 03:10:20.000
When Arnie has a start like this, you have to think that his back is against the wall right now.

03:10:20.000 --> 03:10:22.200
And just have a quick look at the top.

03:10:22.200 --> 03:10:23.400
There we are on game three.

03:10:23.400 --> 03:10:24.800
We are one game each here.

03:10:24.800 --> 03:10:30.000
This is our third and final game winner of this will go on to an 8-1-1 record.

03:10:30.000 --> 03:10:32.600
Trying to stay alive for that asymmetrical top cut.

03:10:32.600 --> 03:10:35.000
You cannot take many losses.

03:10:35.000 --> 03:10:37.800
Your record carries all the way through from the start of yesterday

03:10:37.800 --> 03:10:41.040
and it's very hard to get enough match points.

03:10:41.040 --> 03:10:43.960
You need everyone you can get your hands on.

03:10:43.960 --> 03:10:46.280
Arnie trying to valiantly fight through

03:10:46.280 --> 03:10:49.120
what has been a really tough opener.

03:10:49.120 --> 03:10:51.760
Diego's board is looking terrifying right now

03:10:51.760 --> 03:10:53.920
and it looks like Arnie just has to come in

03:10:53.920 --> 03:10:55.240
with an Eon Blade here.

03:10:55.240 --> 03:10:58.000
He's used another telepathic psychic energy

03:10:58.000 --> 03:11:01.360
to get a Slowpoke and a Lily's Clefairy into the mix

03:11:01.360 --> 03:11:03.040
and can easily retreat into this Pokemon

03:11:03.040 --> 03:11:05.360
but it's a vulnerable two prize Pokemon.

03:11:05.360 --> 03:11:08.000
This is not a trade that you love to initiate,

03:11:08.000 --> 03:11:10.640
but it's what you have to do with such a weak hand.

03:11:10.640 --> 03:11:12.480
That is the issue of sloking sometimes.

03:11:12.480 --> 03:11:14.080
It's a big combination deck.

03:11:14.080 --> 03:11:16.760
You rely on a lot of cards to come together to do

03:11:16.760 --> 03:11:18.520
the most impressive stuff in the game.

03:11:18.520 --> 03:11:20.760
But when that combo doesn't come to light,

03:11:20.760 --> 03:11:22.160
you see stuff like this.

03:11:22.160 --> 03:11:24.920
Oh, there's an energy to go and get another Abra.

03:11:24.920 --> 03:11:26.280
The Alakazam already there.

03:11:26.280 --> 03:11:29.560
We need 11 cards in hand to get the KO on the Latias.

03:11:29.560 --> 03:11:31.600
I think we might already be there.

03:11:31.600 --> 03:11:33.600
There's a Poker Pad being searched out.

03:11:33.600 --> 03:11:39.800
That is presumably going to go and get a the Duns pass to evolve what we benched last turn or what Diego benched last term.

03:11:39.800 --> 03:11:45.800
And that means that we are going to be able to see a the Duns pass going back into the deck.

03:11:45.800 --> 03:11:50.500
That is going to draw three cards, but not before Alec Kazam evolves up and draws three cards.

03:11:50.500 --> 03:11:54.200
We have definitely got enough to KO here.

03:11:54.200 --> 03:12:00.800
Diego goes down to three prize cards remaining and crucially there are two two prize Pokemon on the board.

03:12:00.800 --> 03:12:03.300
The Diego's prize map is not difficult.

03:12:03.300 --> 03:12:06.000
Yeah, but if you're wondering why we didn't see any lucky helmet activation,

03:12:06.000 --> 03:12:07.300
it's only damage from an attack.

03:12:07.300 --> 03:12:08.800
And Alexander don't deal damage.

03:12:08.800 --> 03:12:11.300
So we don't even get those panic draws.

03:12:11.300 --> 03:12:15.000
And he's still working with basically whatever he's got access to,

03:12:15.000 --> 03:12:17.000
which hasn't been a lot so far.

03:12:17.000 --> 03:12:18.800
Is able to power up this Sloking though?

03:12:18.800 --> 03:12:21.600
Will he have access to a Cadabre at night?

03:12:21.600 --> 03:12:23.400
Yes, we do.

03:12:23.400 --> 03:12:26.900
And our best attack here would probably just be a Metagross attack

03:12:26.900 --> 03:12:28.600
to take out the active.

03:12:28.600 --> 03:12:30.880
Well, let's see what we've got to put on top of the deck.

03:12:30.880 --> 03:12:33.440
It does look like that was a Metagross.

03:12:33.440 --> 03:12:36.880
So now we're going to see the Seek Inspiration.

03:12:36.880 --> 03:12:39.040
And it is the Metagross, as predicted.

03:12:39.040 --> 03:12:40.320
It's going to KO.

03:12:40.320 --> 03:12:43.520
And the fun thing is, you do get to do the extra 150

03:12:43.520 --> 03:12:45.840
without having to discard,

03:12:45.840 --> 03:12:47.800
because you can't discard Metal Energy

03:12:47.800 --> 03:12:49.640
if you don't have Metal Energy,

03:12:49.640 --> 03:12:50.960
but you do the extra damage,

03:12:50.960 --> 03:12:54.000
and then you check to see if you've got the Metal Energy

03:12:54.000 --> 03:12:56.240
by which point you've already done the extra.

03:12:56.240 --> 03:13:07.240
Lana's aid comes down for a bit of a recovery, grabbing an Alakazam and a psychic energy and an Abra, not too shabby, and a rare candy Alakazam to draw three more.

03:13:07.240 --> 03:13:10.240
Yeah, Diego knows he's in an amazing position at this stage.

03:13:10.240 --> 03:13:17.240
Slo-King is not known for playing much hand destruction whatsoever, so having one Alakazam in play, the next one lined up already.

03:13:17.240 --> 03:13:21.240
His hand is monstrous right now, and it's not going to go anywhere.

03:13:21.240 --> 03:13:26.240
One more prize taken for Diego, and he just requires one boss's order to close out this game three.

03:13:26.240 --> 03:13:32.240
And one might not even need a boss's orders at this, right? Not if that Latya stays in the active, which, you know, it won't.

03:13:32.240 --> 03:13:34.240
Imagine, dream. Imagine.

03:13:34.240 --> 03:13:41.240
Diego here is in such a good position, even played the battle cage to get rid of the Academy at night just to make Arnie's job even more difficult.

03:13:41.240 --> 03:13:47.240
But you really need Academy at night, and the attacking you want, and slow king, and energy, and Wanderer's patch.

03:13:47.240 --> 03:13:52.680
Just to get an attack roll in this turn and it is going to be alterable for me Alphalilie's determination.

03:13:52.680 --> 03:13:55.720
Yeah, Arnie doing everything he can to at least make it difficult.

03:13:55.720 --> 03:13:58.360
Maybe there's a stumbling point for Diego at some point.

03:13:58.360 --> 03:14:01.400
Yes, his hand size is massive, but at this point there's no take-backs.

03:14:01.400 --> 03:14:04.520
We're in game three, so Arnie has to play towards what he can get.

03:14:04.520 --> 03:14:05.960
If you can find that wondrous patch,

03:14:05.960 --> 03:14:09.800
sloking, and a means of attacking, he can at least force Diego to have

03:14:09.800 --> 03:14:12.120
an energy and a bot as orders.

03:14:12.120 --> 03:14:14.200
That's all Arnie is hoping for at this stage.

03:14:14.200 --> 03:14:20.800
to get through to Alakazam somehow, maybe there could be a window of opportunity, but it's

03:14:20.800 --> 03:14:25.200
really just hoping that Diego doesn't have the cards in his incredibly large hand size.

03:14:25.200 --> 03:14:26.200
There it is.

03:14:26.200 --> 03:14:30.000
Oh, it doesn't. There we go. Fist bump into a handshake and Diego Casaraga takes this

03:14:30.000 --> 03:14:36.320
two games to one. Alakazam a real contender this weekend, Joe, and Diego Casaraga tried

03:14:36.320 --> 03:14:41.920
to become only the second player ever to repeat as the Masters Division World Champion,

03:14:41.920 --> 03:14:43.920
of course being a free time

03:14:43.920 --> 03:14:45.920
world champion most recently in

03:14:45.920 --> 03:14:47.920
2013 Diego is a veteran not

03:14:47.920 --> 03:14:49.920
only getting that win which

03:14:49.920 --> 03:14:51.920
everyone acclaimed him for he's

03:14:51.920 --> 03:14:53.920
also got multiple top 8s at

03:14:53.920 --> 03:14:55.920
World Championships before I

03:14:55.920 --> 03:14:57.920
feel like it's hard to say for

03:14:57.920 --> 03:14:59.920
a world champion but he's a

03:14:59.920 --> 03:15:01.920
super underrated player for

03:15:01.920 --> 03:15:03.920
how incredible he is Diego has

03:15:03.920 --> 03:15:05.920
been around the block and has

03:15:05.920 --> 03:15:07.920
had amazing performances this

03:15:07.920 --> 03:15:09.920
weekend it's no surprise he's

03:15:09.920 --> 03:15:17.560
into Diego. He told us the hat that he wears, same hat as 2017 when he won the World Championships,

03:15:17.560 --> 03:15:22.000
has been wearing the hat for 20 years, but wanted to stress, it's no longer a day-to-day

03:15:22.000 --> 03:15:25.120
wear hat. This is just for big events.

03:15:25.120 --> 03:15:26.120
It's impossible.

03:15:26.120 --> 03:15:28.120
It has been washed.

03:15:28.120 --> 03:15:29.120
Excellent.

03:15:29.120 --> 03:15:33.360
But it is not day-to-day for 20 years. It was day-to-day. It is now the event

03:15:33.360 --> 03:15:37.480
hat. And look, if I won the World Championships, whatever hat I was wearing, that would

03:15:37.480 --> 03:15:42.200
my world's hat until the end of my days. Yeah, we just saw Lucky Helmet. Well, Diego's got a lucky hat.

03:15:42.200 --> 03:15:46.840
And it's certainly an excellent hat. It's working, Joe. It's absolutely working. I love to see Diego

03:15:46.840 --> 03:15:51.320
on those top tables. He's getting himself in a good position in these Swiss rounds. A couple more

03:15:51.320 --> 03:15:56.040
Swiss rounds to go today before we get into our asymmetrical top cut. And don't forget that on

03:15:56.040 --> 03:16:00.760
Sunday, we will be at the Chase Center. But all of those finals were already so high for us.

03:16:00.760 --> 03:16:04.600
I'm so excited, Joe. But we have so much more action to show today as well. We absolutely

03:16:04.600 --> 03:16:10.560
We've got two more rounds here and then we're going to have our asymmetrical top cut as a reminder the top eight players are in

03:16:10.880 --> 03:16:14.960
Anyone that is tied on the number of match points with the player in eighth place

03:16:15.080 --> 03:16:19.600
Will then go into the asymmetrical top cut up to a maximum of 16

03:16:19.600 --> 03:16:25.120
But it's actually really important you're seeding because let's say there's 10 players who have a good enough record

03:16:25.280 --> 03:16:28.840
Six players are in seeds one to six are in top eight

03:16:28.840 --> 03:16:34.840
they get a round off. But then seed 7, 8, 9 and 10 they will play. So the lower seed

03:16:34.840 --> 03:16:39.960
if not everybody plays in the asymmetrical top cut, it is only the lower seed to do. So

03:16:39.960 --> 03:16:44.760
the higher you finish, you might legitimately get a round off. Having a break is nice.

03:16:44.760 --> 03:16:48.640
But more importantly, can't get knocked down the asymmetrical top cut round if you

03:16:48.640 --> 03:16:54.840
don't play the asymmetrical top cut round. So it's not an I'm in a sim. It really

03:16:54.840 --> 03:16:59.320
is super important to get as many points as possible. That extra win could be the reason

03:16:59.320 --> 03:17:04.120
you get to skip that round. Well, that last feature match, well, the last match we had

03:17:04.120 --> 03:17:09.080
on the stage was Henry and Jackson Ford. We ended up speechless during that one, but

03:17:09.080 --> 03:17:12.280
we can listen in to what Dave was thinking and saying during that set.

03:17:12.280 --> 03:17:21.280
You're in bad shit because I've also upped my poke pad count from 3 to 4.

03:17:21.280 --> 03:17:25.280
You've never probably been focused against me, have you?

03:17:25.280 --> 03:17:27.280
You're setting up just 5.

03:17:27.280 --> 03:17:29.280
I hope you're an ultra ball count.

03:17:29.280 --> 03:17:33.280
I'm also gonna upped a little bit.

03:17:33.280 --> 03:17:35.280
I gotta listen to Azul this game, man.

03:17:35.280 --> 03:17:36.280
When is Azul's day?

03:17:36.280 --> 03:17:39.280
Azul said you can never forget the cruel arrow strategy.

03:17:39.280 --> 03:17:43.920
I'm getting attached to the original Crullero game.

03:17:43.920 --> 03:17:46.480
I don't know what I'm reminded of that kid.

03:17:46.480 --> 03:17:49.280
That was like a little light in my entire folks' life career.

03:17:52.080 --> 03:17:54.720
Okay, welcome back to Faster Than A Caster,

03:17:54.720 --> 03:17:56.760
where we find out if our new friends are faster

03:17:56.760 --> 03:17:58.280
than a caster, and if they are,

03:17:58.280 --> 03:18:02.520
they get a booster pack of mega revolutions.

03:18:02.520 --> 03:18:03.880
So guys, are you ready?

03:18:03.880 --> 03:18:05.320
I'm ready, sure.

03:18:05.320 --> 03:18:07.400
Amazing, okay, your question is,

03:18:07.400 --> 03:18:11.800
Can you name me 10 Pokemon that have a stage 2 evolution line?

03:18:11.800 --> 03:18:16.300
Uh, Ralts? Like, like 2 stages, like, only name the second stage?

03:18:16.300 --> 03:18:33.800
Okay, Ralts, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Turtwig, Torchic, Chimchar, Dracapult, or Trepe, Dratini, Gasly.

03:18:33.800 --> 03:18:37.420
And that's 10, congratulations!

03:18:37.420 --> 03:18:41.800
You won Faster than a Caster!

03:18:41.800 --> 03:18:46.800
It was 17 seconds and you won 20!

03:18:46.800 --> 03:18:49.520
Aw, yeah, you just go.

03:18:49.520 --> 03:18:51.600
Thank you so much for joining us.

03:18:51.600 --> 03:18:52.920
Thank you so much.

03:18:52.920 --> 03:18:53.920
Thank you so much.

03:18:53.920 --> 03:18:55.040
Have a great day.

03:18:55.040 --> 03:18:56.760
Thank you, he is.

03:18:56.760 --> 03:18:58.920
Thank you so much for joining us on Faster than a Caster.

03:18:58.920 --> 03:19:00.840
We'll catch you guys next time.

03:19:00.840 --> 03:19:03.760
Hello, everybody, and welcome to the Pokemon Center.

03:19:03.760 --> 03:19:06.960
here at Worlds 2026 in San Francisco.

03:19:06.960 --> 03:19:09.680
As you can see, we've got the World Championship side.

03:19:09.680 --> 03:19:11.560
We've got the Pokemon XP side.

03:19:11.560 --> 03:19:13.920
I hear it's absolutely insane in there.

03:19:13.920 --> 03:19:14.920
Let's go take a look.

03:19:16.880 --> 03:19:19.920
We gotta get me popping out behind everything that we can.

03:19:19.920 --> 03:19:21.160
Let's take a shot of it.

03:19:30.480 --> 03:19:31.480
Hey, how's it going?

03:19:33.760 --> 03:19:55.760
Beautiful pieces breathing close here. I want you to take a look at this for everyone at home. This is a fantastic piece. This is the beautiful Sableye we have right here. Without question, one of the finest we have. Beautiful, sparkly. We have the EV right next to it. And finally, the jiggly pup. Very nice collection.

03:19:55.760 --> 03:20:05.840
collection. The official mat limit one per customer but I count as two customers so I will take two.

03:20:05.840 --> 03:20:09.440
No. King Pagan ship.

03:20:09.440 --> 03:20:29.560
We have now transitioned from the world championships to the XP area.

03:20:29.560 --> 03:20:34.200
Space themed, extremely cool, in my opinion, cooler than the world championship area.

03:20:34.200 --> 03:20:35.880
I'm probably not supposed to say that.

03:20:35.880 --> 03:20:37.880
Let's do some pop outs.

03:20:37.880 --> 03:20:42.880
OK, OK, get a picture of me with the Umbreon.

03:20:42.880 --> 03:20:45.880
There you get it.

03:20:45.880 --> 03:20:48.880
The World Championship playing that in bag also limit one.

03:20:48.880 --> 03:20:50.880
These are different, though, so I can take them.

03:20:50.880 --> 03:20:52.880
Yes, yes, I got a yes.

03:20:52.880 --> 03:20:55.880
Place is popping.

03:20:55.880 --> 03:20:58.880
Beautiful, special, elegant.

03:20:58.880 --> 03:20:59.880
One of them's going on a trip.

03:20:59.880 --> 03:21:00.880
One of them's blasting off.

03:21:00.880 --> 03:21:03.880
Another one would be in a spaceship.

03:21:03.880 --> 03:21:05.880
I think I like Kimberley.

03:21:05.880 --> 03:21:07.880
I think I like Curely the best.

03:21:07.880 --> 03:21:09.880
I have been excited to see this the entire time.

03:21:09.880 --> 03:21:12.880
This is the item I've had my eye on more than anything else.

03:21:12.880 --> 03:21:15.880
This jacket right here.

03:21:15.880 --> 03:21:18.880
It's beautiful. It's special.

03:21:18.880 --> 03:21:22.880
I'm not exactly sure where I can wear it, except everywhere,

03:21:22.880 --> 03:21:24.880
and I want it very bad.

03:21:24.880 --> 03:21:25.880
I will be back for it,

03:21:25.880 --> 03:21:28.880
because technically I'm not allowed to shop for this right now.

03:22:35.880 --> 03:22:44.760
As we close out our second phase of Swiss welcome back to the Pokemon

03:22:44.760 --> 03:22:57.760
the

03:22:57.760 --> 03:23:06.760
top cut on the horizon as we close out our second phase of Swiss welcome back to the Pokemon TCG World

03:23:06.760 --> 03:23:11.640
world championships will be crowned our champion tomorrow and working our way

03:23:11.640 --> 03:23:17.480
today down to just two players. There is so much on the line especially within

03:23:17.480 --> 03:23:22.440
these last two rounds as well of course making it into the asymmetrical

03:23:22.440 --> 03:23:27.680
top cut is everyone's goal but even if you cannot there are still things that

03:23:27.680 --> 03:23:32.120
you can receive like some cool promo cards but I mean you could still get

03:23:32.120 --> 03:23:35.360
some money too and of course that's what players are still fighting for

03:23:35.360 --> 03:23:41.160
here within Swiss rounds 11 and $5,000 never heard nobody allegedly but you know

03:23:41.160 --> 03:23:45.240
there's plenty on the line those cool backpacks for top 32 know a lot of

03:23:45.240 --> 03:23:50.120
players like to sport some Pokemon swag throughout the future events to come up

03:23:50.120 --> 03:23:54.620
a lot of cool memorabilia and for those players making the top eight special

03:23:54.620 --> 03:23:59.360
play mats and the big thing these players are looking for a Pikachu trophy

03:23:59.360 --> 03:24:03.520
and card for those top four placing players and not just that but of course

03:24:03.520 --> 03:24:06.760
You have the world champion bag, the world champion bag.

03:24:06.760 --> 03:24:09.800
You get a ton of stuff for being the world champion here

03:24:09.800 --> 03:24:11.840
in the Pokemon trading part game.

03:24:11.840 --> 03:24:14.840
I am so excited to see how the rest of the day

03:24:14.840 --> 03:24:16.000
is going to filter out.

03:24:16.000 --> 03:24:17.960
I think our main storyline of, okay,

03:24:17.960 --> 03:24:19.440
Dragonfall's going to be at the top

03:24:19.440 --> 03:24:22.080
is was kind of coming to fruition.

03:24:22.080 --> 03:24:24.400
But I don't think anybody saw Alakazam coming,

03:24:24.400 --> 03:24:27.040
especially teched out in different ways as well.

03:24:27.040 --> 03:24:30.000
I think the one prize Pokemon definitely had kind of this,

03:24:30.000 --> 03:24:32.720
okay, we should really start respecting slow king.

03:24:32.720 --> 03:24:34.760
really starts respecting Alakazam.

03:24:34.760 --> 03:24:38.200
But to have Alakazam be more than half of the top spots

03:24:38.200 --> 03:24:40.840
yesterday in Swiss phase one,

03:24:40.840 --> 03:24:42.800
very interested to see how the rest of the day

03:24:42.800 --> 03:24:44.440
is going to go for that.

03:24:44.440 --> 03:24:45.960
Well, hopefully we put it into perspective

03:24:45.960 --> 03:24:48.760
how massive the scale of this event is.

03:24:48.760 --> 03:24:51.640
There is so much going on inside the hall

03:24:51.640 --> 03:24:53.840
over on the XP side of things,

03:24:53.840 --> 03:24:56.000
outside the whole street is closed

03:24:56.000 --> 03:24:57.600
and people are sharing their thoughts

03:24:57.600 --> 03:25:01.240
and experiences over on social media.

03:25:01.240 --> 03:25:05.240
This drone show, super cool happened after the Giants game.

03:25:05.240 --> 03:25:09.000
It's also running last night and tonight as well.

03:25:09.000 --> 03:25:12.080
Super cool for any of the spectators or competitors

03:25:12.080 --> 03:25:14.200
to have a great end to their night.

03:25:14.200 --> 03:25:16.280
This was definitely a treat to get to see.

03:25:16.280 --> 03:25:18.840
I mean, it's the first Pokemon XP

03:25:18.840 --> 03:25:20.920
and Pokemon has been doing collaborations

03:25:20.920 --> 03:25:24.040
with so many groups this year.

03:25:24.040 --> 03:25:28.200
But to be able to go to a Pokemon baseball game

03:25:28.200 --> 03:25:29.560
and then sit through the game

03:25:29.560 --> 03:25:31.600
And then at the end of this drone show

03:25:31.600 --> 03:25:32.880
it's kind of a key staple.

03:25:32.880 --> 03:25:35.640
It feels like a world's at this point.

03:25:35.640 --> 03:25:37.880
And it's very emotional for a lot of people,

03:25:37.880 --> 03:25:39.080
for a lot of players.

03:25:39.080 --> 03:25:42.840
They've worked this entire year to go see these drones

03:25:42.840 --> 03:25:44.760
show either their favorite Pokemon

03:25:44.760 --> 03:25:47.160
or even just logos in of itself.

03:25:47.160 --> 03:25:49.760
I mean, even the Charizard, that is so cool.

03:25:49.760 --> 03:25:52.120
Yeah, definitely one of my top two favorites.

03:25:52.120 --> 03:25:53.240
Love the Charizard.

03:25:53.240 --> 03:25:56.800
Love the Umbreon as well on its little planet.

03:25:56.800 --> 03:25:58.540
That one was definitely cool.

03:25:58.540 --> 03:26:01.040
I wish they had done this feel planet to be honest.

03:26:01.040 --> 03:26:03.820
I know a lot of people online have been fiving with that one.

03:26:03.820 --> 03:26:05.100
That's gotta be one of my favorites.

03:26:05.100 --> 03:26:07.500
Definitely took by surprise, but in a good way.

03:26:07.500 --> 03:26:08.940
Absolutely.

03:26:08.940 --> 03:26:10.700
And still, like we're showing,

03:26:10.700 --> 03:26:13.780
if you want to get your tweets featured,

03:26:13.780 --> 03:26:16.540
make sure you use the hashtag Pokemon Worlds

03:26:16.540 --> 03:26:18.580
to have your posts featured.

03:26:18.580 --> 03:26:20.580
And still, what's also really important,

03:26:20.580 --> 03:26:23.460
and I like how we're showing this post in particular,

03:26:23.460 --> 03:26:26.620
World celebrations should still be happening

03:26:26.620 --> 03:26:32.260
add to this point and you can actually go on and win a cool deck box of some

03:26:32.260 --> 03:26:36.900
sleeves and even a little winner promo card as well as getting the promo from

03:26:36.900 --> 03:26:41.840
last year's World's featuring Gardevoir. And with the deck here from

03:26:41.840 --> 03:26:48.100
Metaeus it looks like a little bit of a bachurian name. Apologies there but winning

03:26:48.100 --> 03:26:51.700
a celebration tournament with Emily one of your favorite decks Raging Bold. Yeah.

03:26:51.700 --> 03:26:54.820
Alive and well and still kicking it here at this tournament it's not the

03:26:54.820 --> 03:27:09.460
top table. Yeah, definitely for sure. Maybe not exactly the raging bolt that I know and love anymore. I think mega kengis on is really just going to kind of take over the archetype. And then raging bolt is the one that kind of finishes off dragon bolt in the end. But speaking of raging

03:27:09.460 --> 03:27:15.780
I feel like a lot of players really came to this tournament and anticipating raging bolt to be the one that kind of takes

03:27:16.980 --> 03:27:23.140
Crown off the head, especially because raging bolt can hit those high numbers very easily even under item lock

03:27:23.420 --> 03:27:25.900
Using field dance using Crispin as well

03:27:25.980 --> 03:27:31.540
So the thing is the the field came teched for it with Alakazam and Lily's go fairy

03:27:31.820 --> 03:27:36.940
So I'm a little bit sad, but still I mean the amount of surprises we've had at this tournament

03:27:36.940 --> 03:27:38.940
Definitely overshadowed my love for raging bolt

03:27:39.460 --> 03:27:43.080
Well, we're through 10 Swiss rounds thus far.

03:27:43.080 --> 03:27:44.620
We've got two more rounds to go.

03:27:44.620 --> 03:27:48.920
We can take a look at how things have shaped up at the top of the tournament.

03:27:48.920 --> 03:27:53.000
Grant Tonneson undefeated a perfect 10 and 0 record.

03:27:53.000 --> 03:27:55.760
He has already secured himself a spot in top cut,

03:27:55.760 --> 03:27:58.880
potentially dodging the asymmetric portion.

03:27:58.880 --> 03:28:00.400
Let's see how the rest plays out.

03:28:00.400 --> 03:28:03.680
Mateus in a great spot to advance.

03:28:03.680 --> 03:28:07.480
Honestly, looks potentially locked up if he so chooses to could.

03:28:07.480 --> 03:28:12.640
potentially draw twice or try and win one of the next two matches to also

03:28:12.640 --> 03:28:16.480
potentially avoid that asymmetric top cut. I think Europe has really come out

03:28:16.480 --> 03:28:21.240
strong here within the final phases and the final rounds of Swiss here just

03:28:21.240 --> 03:28:26.360
looking at it right you have Mataesh you have Rune you still have Jose over on

03:28:26.360 --> 03:28:31.560
the right side as well so you really do have the best the best of each

03:28:31.560 --> 03:28:36.280
region still represented here I love when it gets to be these stages

03:28:36.280 --> 03:28:40.520
because you get to see, for example, Brent, number one in Oceania,

03:28:40.520 --> 03:28:43.240
going up against someone like Henry Chow.

03:28:43.240 --> 03:28:45.120
All of these matches are star studded.

03:28:45.120 --> 03:28:47.440
It's really hard to just pick one.

03:28:48.600 --> 03:28:50.640
And while there are a lot of top players here,

03:28:50.640 --> 03:28:52.960
it seems that the decks are pretty condensed

03:28:52.960 --> 03:28:53.920
at the top of the field.

03:28:53.920 --> 03:28:56.320
There's Dragapult EX, I know, Shocker, ladies and gentlemen.

03:28:56.320 --> 03:28:57.160
What?

03:28:57.160 --> 03:29:00.040
Alakazam and some of those big basic decks.

03:29:00.040 --> 03:29:03.120
Those are really what encapsulate the top of the format

03:29:03.120 --> 03:29:05.240
and those kind of present the question,

03:29:05.240 --> 03:29:07.360
What is that final bracket going to look like?

03:29:07.360 --> 03:29:09.920
Will there be a heavy amount of mirror matches?

03:29:09.920 --> 03:29:12.880
What players have decided to tech for said mirrors?

03:29:12.880 --> 03:29:14.760
And what are those key card differences

03:29:14.760 --> 03:29:17.080
that will really come into play in that open list format?

03:29:17.080 --> 03:29:18.940
I feel like we're gonna just have to talk about it

03:29:18.940 --> 03:29:19.780
at some point.

03:29:19.780 --> 03:29:21.940
I know it has been moving around,

03:29:21.940 --> 03:29:25.160
but it is ruined on that crustal event.

03:29:25.160 --> 03:29:27.240
It's about time that we do talk about it

03:29:27.240 --> 03:29:28.940
because I think a lot of players

03:29:28.940 --> 03:29:31.240
before this tournament were really kind of looking away

03:29:31.240 --> 03:29:32.720
from crustal saying, you know what,

03:29:32.720 --> 03:29:36.400
There's going to be way too many single prize Pokemon that can take out

03:29:36.400 --> 03:29:40.600
Frostal, for example, Festival Lead was getting a ton of hype going into this

03:29:40.600 --> 03:29:43.900
tournament thanks to Gladion's final battle, plus that brave bangle.

03:29:44.100 --> 03:29:46.580
So a lot of players were really kind of just saying, you know what, I don't

03:29:46.580 --> 03:29:48.140
need to worry about Frostal anymore.

03:29:48.240 --> 03:29:51.500
But the problem is when it goes unchecked, that seems to be when it

03:29:51.500 --> 03:29:52.120
does the best.

03:29:54.120 --> 03:29:56.880
And that's another question to ask at the top of the field.

03:29:56.880 --> 03:30:02.080
How prepared are those Alakazam variants for a deck like Frostal?

03:30:02.080 --> 03:30:04.320
We saw in the past, you know, Karris Jones,

03:30:04.320 --> 03:30:06.120
when she took down that regional championship,

03:30:06.120 --> 03:30:08.920
had Tex for said deck.

03:30:08.920 --> 03:30:11.460
So a lot of those card inclusions will come into play.

03:30:11.460 --> 03:30:13.600
You see all of the top level talent

03:30:13.600 --> 03:30:16.300
and the various matches going on these players,

03:30:16.300 --> 03:30:20.040
two wins away potentially from locking up a spot in top cut.

03:30:20.040 --> 03:30:22.100
Henry Chow versus Brent, as you mentioned.

03:30:22.100 --> 03:30:24.340
Rune versus Bataeus, he's got, you know,

03:30:24.340 --> 03:30:26.080
all of those dusk nor in his deck

03:30:26.080 --> 03:30:28.080
to potentially deal with the crustal.

03:30:28.080 --> 03:30:30.580
A little bit of an unconventional lag

03:30:30.580 --> 03:30:32.280
in our featured match that we will be showing.

03:30:32.280 --> 03:30:35.680
It's going to be Joji Koyama up against Andrew Hedrick,

03:30:35.680 --> 03:30:37.480
and it feels like a crime almost

03:30:37.480 --> 03:30:39.120
that we have not featured Andrew

03:30:39.120 --> 03:30:41.080
until this late in the tournament,

03:30:41.080 --> 03:30:43.220
but he's had a bit of a silent journey

03:30:43.220 --> 03:30:46.260
throughout this event, it feels like you just can't feature

03:30:46.260 --> 03:30:48.660
every single person at the World Championship

03:30:48.660 --> 03:30:50.760
because it is the World Championship.

03:30:50.760 --> 03:30:52.620
You got to feature the best players

03:30:52.620 --> 03:30:54.000
from all over the world.

03:30:54.000 --> 03:30:55.560
But if you are from North America

03:30:55.560 --> 03:30:57.740
and honestly, let's even go wider than that.

03:30:57.740 --> 03:30:59.560
If you know the Pokemon TCG,

03:30:59.560 --> 03:31:05.400
you know Andrew Hedrick consistent always and he has all of these great wins and

03:31:05.400 --> 03:31:09.080
like you said kind of a silent run going through but the thing is sometimes you

03:31:09.080 --> 03:31:13.640
actually prefer that Ethan right part of the Pokemon TCG until you get to that

03:31:13.640 --> 03:31:17.000
asymmetrical top cut technically your opponents don't know what you're playing

03:31:17.000 --> 03:31:21.680
so for Andrew Hedrick who has had some really great runs on this Dragon

03:31:21.680 --> 03:31:25.720
Bolt I'm excited to see how exactly he wants to either tech his current

03:31:25.720 --> 03:31:28.640
list to fill the rest of the room here.

03:31:28.640 --> 03:31:30.600
Or if he's just saying, you know what consistency

03:31:30.600 --> 03:31:32.200
is King like friend?

03:31:32.200 --> 03:31:33.880
And this is a common thing for Andrew.

03:31:33.880 --> 03:31:35.840
Started the day off at 6-2.

03:31:35.840 --> 03:31:37.520
If you look back to when he took down

03:31:37.520 --> 03:31:39.640
the North American International Championships,

03:31:39.640 --> 03:31:44.040
he started at 6-2-1, won all of his rounds in day two,

03:31:44.040 --> 03:31:47.040
and then went undefeated throughout all of his rounds

03:31:47.040 --> 03:31:48.760
to taking down the championship.

03:31:48.760 --> 03:31:51.280
Will we see a similar storyline this weekend?

03:31:51.280 --> 03:31:52.760
Time will tell.

03:31:52.760 --> 03:31:55.080
And honestly, the more you look at this page,

03:31:55.080 --> 03:32:01.320
There are tons of storylines I know Chip and Kyle in the back are really rooting for Diego

03:32:01.320 --> 03:32:07.540
Casiraga on the Alakazam and that is a storyline that is brewing and brewing and brewing but

03:32:07.540 --> 03:32:12.900
still Natalie Miller still technically of course in the running as well as Callie White.

03:32:12.900 --> 03:32:16.620
We've seen some great play from everybody on this list.

03:32:16.620 --> 03:32:21.700
I think all eyes are going towards Brent obviously but who's going to follow behind

03:32:21.700 --> 03:32:22.700
him.

03:32:22.700 --> 03:32:26.900
What Brent decides to do in these next couple of matches is strategic.

03:32:26.900 --> 03:32:29.540
Yes, he's locked up for a spot in top cut.

03:32:29.540 --> 03:32:33.380
He has some control over who he wants to keep in said top cut.

03:32:33.380 --> 03:32:37.140
There's a bit of metagaming when it comes to letting your opponents in,

03:32:37.140 --> 03:32:39.500
giving some people sometimes the win.

03:32:39.500 --> 03:32:44.100
I know in this specific match, though, he does not want a player as talented

03:32:44.100 --> 03:32:46.500
as Henry Chow to be in this bracket.

03:32:46.500 --> 03:32:48.100
If he could do something about it,

03:32:48.100 --> 03:32:51.860
force Henry to have a winnin' to get into cut and potentially miss.

03:32:51.860 --> 03:32:55.460
That could be the difference between him becoming a world champion and him falling just short.

03:32:55.460 --> 03:33:02.860
And I think the big change that we've had over the past couple of months is that the higher C you are heading into a symmetrical top cut,

03:33:02.860 --> 03:33:06.060
you get to choose whether you'd like to go first or second.

03:33:06.060 --> 03:33:14.660
And in a deck like Dragapult that really has that straightforward turn one, do you have some drippies, do you have the do in the active, and do you have an energy attached?

03:33:14.660 --> 03:33:19.860
You know that Brent wants to go second every single time to play a little bit more defense.

03:33:19.860 --> 03:33:24.420
I'm excited to see how Brent, I mean he's once again the only player that is 10-0.

03:33:24.420 --> 03:33:28.340
It really feels like he is now the puppeteer of the bracket like you had mentioned to really

03:33:28.340 --> 03:33:34.420
go in and choose the way he wants his cup to go because we know Brent Tonneson, he's hungry for

03:33:34.420 --> 03:33:39.460
that crowd. Yeah, important that you mentioned the higher-seated player in going first.

03:33:40.100 --> 03:33:44.260
That's actually something to think about. We'll touch more on that a bit later but for now

03:33:44.260 --> 03:33:48.900
you all are ready to see what two decks are facing up against each other.

03:33:48.900 --> 03:33:55.060
Let's throw it down to the stage and waste no time introducing our two players on the left.

03:33:55.060 --> 03:34:01.620
Joji Koyama from Japan having strong start to day one worked his way through a bit of missteps in

03:34:01.620 --> 03:34:07.060
day two. Often against Andrew Hedrick it's going to be a battle between Japan and North America.

03:34:07.060 --> 03:34:12.660
Well the headsets are on so even I know we made everybody at home sit through Dragapult last

03:34:12.660 --> 03:34:17.620
round. Now granted there were two archetypes of Dragapult. We've decided to give you a treat

03:34:17.620 --> 03:34:23.300
going into this one and this is going to be what we'd like to call some of our unclassified decks.

03:34:23.300 --> 03:34:30.260
Actually, that still have a chance, specifically a deck even, that was actually getting a lot of talk

03:34:31.220 --> 03:34:38.420
quite literally one week before the world championship and so many players said no way is

03:34:38.420 --> 03:34:44.980
this real, sure it does well into one or two matchups. It can't be reliable, but here Joji

03:34:44.980 --> 03:34:49.860
is on the verge of still being able to make asymmetrical top cut shall we say it you think

03:34:49.860 --> 03:34:57.540
yeah I'll leave it to you. Lopony, Bronzog still very much in the running. Granted there are a couple

03:34:57.540 --> 03:35:02.580
of other tech cards like that dust nor in there but Andrew Hedrick I think if you have to pair

03:35:02.580 --> 03:35:07.940
this deck actually playing the correct arc type into it. Crushing Hammer definitely the

03:35:07.940 --> 03:35:13.700
important card for sure. Bronzog really here to provide disruption and of course cannot forget

03:35:13.700 --> 03:35:16.660
how impactful that first blast ability is,

03:35:16.660 --> 03:35:19.300
preventing your opponent for a single psychic energy

03:35:19.300 --> 03:35:23.300
from evolving any of their Pokemon on the following turn.

03:35:23.300 --> 03:35:27.060
And it's no surprise that Dragonfall, for as powerful as it is,

03:35:27.060 --> 03:35:29.140
is a stage two Pokemon.

03:35:29.140 --> 03:35:32.660
There is no way for Andrew to directly play around this attack.

03:35:32.660 --> 03:35:35.300
That's because such as the deck for evolution cards,

03:35:35.300 --> 03:35:38.180
something that can cheat Pokemon out into play,

03:35:38.180 --> 03:35:40.580
and this is what separates the good from great players.

03:35:40.580 --> 03:35:44.900
family finding alternate ways to approach rather than the typical okay I'm

03:35:44.900 --> 03:35:49.300
gonna evolve energy's phantom dive he's gonna have to get a big creative in

03:35:49.300 --> 03:35:53.860
this match and if it's one player that will be able to it is Andrew budget he

03:35:53.860 --> 03:35:57.620
knows the deck extremely well and of course it's going to be some of

03:35:57.620 --> 03:36:01.020
Dragon pull's best friends that are going to come into the fray and having

03:36:01.020 --> 03:36:05.900
to start to do some damage those basic Pokemon like monkey Dory like even

03:36:05.900 --> 03:36:14.900
with a cruel arrow so we'll see if Andrew Hedrick is going to be able to figure out the lines here but I mean even I know we have access to

03:36:14.900 --> 03:36:26.900
Jogi's list. Jogi is playing a kind of box of chocolate for this matchup of course playing the bronze on playing the dust mormon as I alluded to a little bit earlier is playing a copy of that

03:36:26.900 --> 03:36:28.700
that make a lot of money as well.

03:36:28.700 --> 03:36:31.300
But there are certain other tech cards in here.

03:36:31.300 --> 03:36:34.080
Joji is truly ready for any type of matchup.

03:36:34.080 --> 03:36:35.580
I wouldn't want to call this control

03:36:35.580 --> 03:36:37.580
because I actually feel like Joji is going

03:36:37.580 --> 03:36:39.980
to be a little bit more aggressive rather than just

03:36:39.980 --> 03:36:42.580
hanging back and playing a little bit more defense.

03:36:42.580 --> 03:36:44.660
Yeah, I would even call this a dust door

03:36:44.660 --> 03:36:46.540
bronze on deck before hot money.

03:36:46.540 --> 03:36:50.220
It's just the thickest line I think I've ever seen

03:36:50.220 --> 03:36:51.460
in a deck with dust door.

03:36:51.460 --> 03:36:54.380
It's four copies of dust gold, two dust cups,

03:36:54.380 --> 03:36:58.060
and four Dustdoor with four rare candy.

03:36:58.060 --> 03:37:00.460
Honestly, in this matchup,

03:37:00.460 --> 03:37:02.620
Joji might give more prize cards to Andrew

03:37:02.620 --> 03:37:04.980
than he naturally would take by knocking out Pokemon.

03:37:04.980 --> 03:37:07.300
And that says something to the strength of Cursed Blast

03:37:07.300 --> 03:37:08.260
paired with Destruction.

03:37:08.260 --> 03:37:10.020
Absolutely, I agree with you there.

03:37:10.020 --> 03:37:12.940
And once again, we are still waiting to get

03:37:12.940 --> 03:37:14.780
directly into the match here,

03:37:14.780 --> 03:37:17.260
but going back to this archetype in general,

03:37:17.260 --> 03:37:20.100
I know it picked up a win at the very big international

03:37:20.100 --> 03:37:23.100
literally one week before the World Championships,

03:37:23.100 --> 03:37:27.900
But so many players decided to write this arc type off saying it's a one off move

03:37:27.900 --> 03:37:32.540
But look at Joji so very much in the running they hit a symmetrical top cut

03:37:32.540 --> 03:37:38.420
Why do you think Joji is sending something like this rather than something that could be a little bit more popular?

03:37:39.380 --> 03:37:43.220
Surprise is definitely a big factor after world championships. You gotta ask

03:37:43.580 --> 03:37:49.220
How many of my opponents have played against this style of deck? How many players know the correct line?

03:37:49.220 --> 03:37:54.020
If they don't, they are not going to have enough time to adjust on the fly.

03:37:54.020 --> 03:37:56.180
Let's see exactly how things play off.

03:37:56.180 --> 03:37:59.300
Opening, coin flip, already in place.

03:37:59.300 --> 03:38:01.780
Let's see who decides to go first.

03:38:01.780 --> 03:38:04.260
That is a huge advantage in this match.

03:38:04.260 --> 03:38:09.420
If Andrew can start the game off and there is no direct way to get into

03:38:09.420 --> 03:38:13.980
Guangzong on turn when we see cards like Salvatore sometimes in this deck

03:38:13.980 --> 03:38:16.460
to evolve and accelerate right away.

03:38:16.460 --> 03:38:27.100
That's not an option, meaning that even getting something like Dracloak into play, giving a huge advantage since you kind of out-trained the bronzer and 70 with that dragon headbutt to 30 from that.

03:38:27.100 --> 03:38:33.900
And speaking of Dracloak, oh my goodness, double Dracloak in the prize cards as long as one of those crushing hammer as well.

03:38:33.900 --> 03:38:42.220
That's a huge thing for Andrew here, wanting to take away as many resources from Joji as possible, including that energy.

03:38:42.220 --> 03:38:46.060
All, all Joji needs is one energy to really get going here.

03:38:46.060 --> 03:38:49.060
Always looking at the Duskmore line as well.

03:38:49.060 --> 03:38:52.860
So one Duskclops and one Duskgold being in the prizes.

03:38:52.860 --> 03:38:55.900
Chris felt tragedy for a little bit later.

03:38:55.900 --> 03:38:58.900
The question is, what does Joji technically want to open up here?

03:38:58.900 --> 03:39:01.300
Of course, Mega Kang is gone, feels pretty good.

03:39:01.300 --> 03:39:04.820
But I can't imagine if Joji is sitting across from Andrew Hedrick,

03:39:04.820 --> 03:39:07.540
he can't possibly think that it

03:39:07.540 --> 03:39:10.060
won't be directly in front of them.

03:39:10.060 --> 03:39:11.480
We are ready to get underway.

03:39:11.480 --> 03:39:14.100
Swiss round 11, the final few rounds

03:39:14.100 --> 03:39:16.060
before we determine our top cut.

03:39:16.060 --> 03:39:19.220
And immediately more questions to be asked.

03:39:19.220 --> 03:39:21.700
We talked about the Badoo start early on,

03:39:21.700 --> 03:39:25.100
but Duskul is another card that typically signals

03:39:25.100 --> 03:39:26.940
you're playing against Dragapult EX.

03:39:26.940 --> 03:39:30.300
And I do wonder for Andrew how that could affect

03:39:30.300 --> 03:39:33.660
his setup on which Pokemon he choose to provide.

03:39:33.660 --> 03:39:35.260
You immediately see Monkey Dory

03:39:35.260 --> 03:39:37.300
potentially go to the top of the deck.

03:39:37.300 --> 03:39:39.220
That card's not gonna do enough in this matchup.

03:39:39.220 --> 03:39:46.140
Andrew's doing the opening prize checks, but I can't help but to imagine that this late into the tournament Ethan 11 Swiss rounds

03:39:46.140 --> 03:39:49.100
These players have probably been sitting around each other at this point

03:39:49.100 --> 03:39:53.820
So you have to wonder if Andrew Andrew has seen Joji at any point here

03:39:53.820 --> 03:40:00.620
But I liked the concept of throwing monkey Dory immediately to the front of the hand because as we mentioned a little bit earlier

03:40:00.740 --> 03:40:06.500
If Bronzang does get into play and evolution jammer starts hitting this board

03:40:06.500 --> 03:40:12.380
The only attackers that Andrew is really going to have available to him at this point are going to be those basic Pokemon

03:40:12.380 --> 03:40:19.020
Monkey Dory, Pheasant Dippity here. Didn't get to see the rest of Andrew's hand as he is going to write down his prize cards here

03:40:19.020 --> 03:40:23.480
But all I can imagine is another energy attachment feels pretty good at this point.

03:40:23.480 --> 03:40:30.240
Have the darkness energy in hand. Meowth for the following turn as there is the pass over to Joji

03:40:30.240 --> 03:40:37.240
What is he sitting on? Does play Mechagangus gone, as well as something like Latias EX to pivot in and out?

03:40:37.240 --> 03:40:42.240
We'll immediately see that energy placed onto Duskull telepathic psychic energy.

03:40:42.240 --> 03:40:47.240
That means two psychic basic Pokemon can be put into play immediately checking for the deck.

03:40:47.240 --> 03:40:51.240
We see a bit of an uncommon aspect in that enriching energy being played for Joji.

03:40:51.240 --> 03:40:56.240
I think the biggest part of this opening deck search and why Joji is not looking specifically for Pokemon,

03:40:56.240 --> 03:40:59.960
for energy, Ethan, is because he knows that Andrew is playing these crushing

03:40:59.960 --> 03:41:05.060
hammers, right? So energy, especially when it's a special energy, is much more of a

03:41:05.060 --> 03:41:09.260
limited resource than something like a basic psychic energy is. It can't be

03:41:09.260 --> 03:41:12.660
recovered from a night stretcher here, so Joji's going to have to be very

03:41:12.660 --> 03:41:17.140
careful with his attachments. But from the rest of his prize cards, I didn't

03:41:17.140 --> 03:41:22.380
see anything too detrimental there. The one copy of Bronzor, I believe, is

03:41:22.380 --> 03:41:27.100
in there. He's going to bench the other one. But at this point for Joji, I think it's time for him

03:41:27.100 --> 03:41:32.060
to really step it up. Just get all of these Dust Ghouls out or as many as possible this turn.

03:41:32.060 --> 03:41:37.420
Smeowth is now going to hit the bench. So curious how Joji has decided to build this deck.

03:41:37.420 --> 03:41:41.420
Typically with Dust Noir List, you can really see the power of Night Stretcher to bring cards

03:41:41.420 --> 03:41:48.540
back. He is not playing any copies of that card. No way to recover energy or Pokemon from

03:41:48.540 --> 03:41:53.340
the deck. That is going to really change how he wants to play and very curious to see what the

03:41:53.340 --> 03:41:57.500
setup looks like. A couple Pokemon coming down, as you mentioned, Meowthie X, grabbing Lily's

03:41:57.500 --> 03:42:03.100
determination to filter through the deck a bit and immediately B'nari coming down as well as

03:42:03.100 --> 03:42:07.500
a potential aggressive attacker in this mid-stage of the game. I think one of the best things

03:42:07.500 --> 03:42:12.220
that Joji is doing here is just at least setting up multiple routes at this point.

03:42:12.220 --> 03:42:17.980
Putting a mega Pokemon in play versus Dragapult is never the most fun thing you want to do,

03:42:17.980 --> 03:42:23.980
But still, if this Bronzong doesn't come out on next turn, at least having the pivoting option to

03:42:23.980 --> 03:42:28.620
Megalopony is going to be at least a play. The eight cards here coming out,

03:42:28.620 --> 03:42:33.340
and just maybe one more Duskull at this point would actually set him up for success here.

03:42:33.340 --> 03:42:38.060
These are a ton of cards for next turn, Ethan, but there's that Duskull if each so chooses to.

03:42:38.060 --> 03:42:41.980
Does find it. The Badoo can present some problems down the line, of course,

03:42:41.980 --> 03:42:46.620
shutting off item cards, things like Rare Candy. We do have one of those Duskulls

03:42:46.620 --> 03:42:51.460
in the prizes so it could be a bit more annoying to establish that the site did

03:42:51.460 --> 03:42:55.260
not bench that dust goal what might Joe GB thinking about by not putting that

03:42:55.260 --> 03:43:00.220
book mod into play definitely wants the flexibility slot at this point if he so

03:43:00.220 --> 03:43:03.900
chooses to Andrew could absolutely bench this me out this turn especially

03:43:03.900 --> 03:43:07.740
because the hand wasn't looking too good so playing a little bit more defense on

03:43:07.740 --> 03:43:12.420
that side have to see the rest of the hand here but still I mean there's

03:43:12.420 --> 03:43:15.260
plenty of energy in the hand and also does have a hilda for next turn

03:43:15.260 --> 03:43:18.820
but Andrew's going to go for the more consistent route here.

03:43:18.820 --> 03:43:20.980
Get another drippy up and running.

03:43:20.980 --> 03:43:21.860
But there's that meowth.

03:43:21.860 --> 03:43:23.820
You can only assume for a Lilly's determination

03:43:23.820 --> 03:43:25.060
to go a little bit further.

03:43:25.060 --> 03:43:27.900
But the problem is now, if Andrew doesn't find a direct

03:43:27.900 --> 03:43:29.940
local of this Lilly's determination,

03:43:29.940 --> 03:43:31.380
and just as a reminder, Ethan, there

03:43:31.380 --> 03:43:33.180
are two in the prizes, it's not

03:43:33.180 --> 03:43:36.140
going to be too much of a fun time.

03:43:36.140 --> 03:43:38.500
I'd really be curious to see what takes place this trend.

03:43:38.500 --> 03:43:41.300
Thinking about playing the crushing hammer decides to.

03:43:41.300 --> 03:43:43.020
It is a heads, and that does discard

03:43:43.020 --> 03:43:44.620
the telepathic psychic energy.

03:43:44.620 --> 03:43:47.540
We talked a bit about that empty bench space now,

03:43:47.540 --> 03:43:50.580
would require Latias EX to come down into play,

03:43:50.580 --> 03:43:53.220
if that Evolution Jammer is to be used this turn.

03:43:53.220 --> 03:43:54.220
Not exactly also.

03:43:54.220 --> 03:43:56.580
Once again, benching me out is one thing,

03:43:56.580 --> 03:43:59.180
but benching Latias, who loves to soak damage counters,

03:43:59.180 --> 03:44:02.100
turn over turn, not exactly what you want to see here.

03:44:02.100 --> 03:44:03.460
Big eight cards here for Andrew.

03:44:03.460 --> 03:44:05.540
And that's because there are four Switch

03:44:05.540 --> 03:44:07.500
in the deck for Joji Ichipallen,

03:44:07.500 --> 03:44:09.700
almost guaranteed to be used as the attack

03:44:09.700 --> 03:44:12.420
for this turn would shut those item cards off.

03:44:12.420 --> 03:44:15.860
So interesting to see how Joji has constructed this list.

03:44:15.860 --> 03:44:18.220
As you mentioned, Dracloak on the menu,

03:44:18.220 --> 03:44:21.340
on the to-do list, immediately Pokey Pad found,

03:44:21.340 --> 03:44:22.980
as well as an Ultra Ball,

03:44:22.980 --> 03:44:25.180
can now start to use those recon directive,

03:44:25.180 --> 03:44:26.180
funnel through the deck,

03:44:26.180 --> 03:44:28.580
and figure out how he wants to approach these next few turns.

03:44:28.580 --> 03:44:29.620
Yeah, but the question is,

03:44:29.620 --> 03:44:33.740
does Andrew want to pitch away resources already with that Ultra Ball?

03:44:33.740 --> 03:44:37.940
There's no guaranteed way of finding another Dracloak after this one here.

03:44:37.940 --> 03:44:41.860
Would have to use the rest of the hand to see here,

03:44:41.860 --> 03:44:44.500
But at least one Recon Directive is better than none.

03:44:44.500 --> 03:44:48.140
But the problem is that is going to be a Dracula who would be attacking

03:44:48.140 --> 03:44:52.780
with Dragon Headbutt next turn, not going to be a Phantom Dive over the two cards.

03:44:52.780 --> 03:44:57.420
Ethan, I missed it. Andrew is a good concealer of those cards.

03:44:57.420 --> 03:44:58.720
Thinking about what to grab.

03:44:58.720 --> 03:45:00.860
Psychic energy.

03:45:00.860 --> 03:45:02.820
Looks like Rosa's encouragement.

03:45:02.820 --> 03:45:05.860
Not a card that can be used as both players are tied on prizes.

03:45:06.260 --> 03:45:09.340
She's all being played now has to decide which cards to discard.

03:45:09.340 --> 03:45:19.340
special red card. Great disruptive effect. It may not be as impactful as it feels like these early turns are really going to determine who jumps ahead and potentially wins this game.

03:45:19.340 --> 03:45:27.340
Part of the reason why this ultra ball discard is really important here, Ethan, is because of the archetype that Andrew has decided to play to this tournament.

03:45:27.340 --> 03:45:37.340
Last round we did see Jackson Ford play Dragonpole Blaziken. We're pitching energy off an ultra ball. Isn't exactly too tough of a decision, but actually benching the Fezendipity here,

03:45:37.340 --> 03:45:42.200
As we had mentioned in the beginning of this game once Bronzong comes into play

03:45:42.200 --> 03:45:47.040
It is going to be that Fezendipity who's going to be the one getting the attachment and

03:45:47.540 --> 03:45:51.540
Getting to be the one that's actually going to start attacking here, believe it or not

03:45:51.640 --> 03:45:58.100
Cruel arrow 100 damage to a Pokemon of choosing notably hitting the Bronzong for weakness

03:45:58.660 --> 03:46:02.780
110 HP not enough being hit for 200 thanks to that

03:46:02.780 --> 03:46:09.780
See HitchiPalon used 10 damage and immediately there's Hilda to grab an evolution Pokemon and an energy card.

03:46:09.780 --> 03:46:17.780
Now for Andrew on the opposite side, pretty much telegraphing the possibility of a knockout thanks to Cruel Arrow on the following turn.

03:46:17.780 --> 03:46:23.780
I've got to be thinking a little bit beyond what happens if Evolution Jammer is not an attack after this turn.

03:46:23.780 --> 03:46:30.780
The problem is Hilda only takes one evolution Pokemon out of the deck and there are plenty of basic Pokemon here

03:46:30.780 --> 03:46:33.260
I would love to get evolved up into the next turn.

03:46:33.260 --> 03:46:35.540
And unfortunately for Joji's hand,

03:46:35.540 --> 03:46:38.820
not going to be able to find any sort of way

03:46:38.820 --> 03:46:41.580
of getting around item lock here.

03:46:41.580 --> 03:46:44.820
So that Hilda is just only going to grab one Pokemon.

03:46:44.820 --> 03:46:46.840
Now granted, it's definitely going to be the Bronzon.

03:46:46.840 --> 03:46:48.700
That will at least slow things down.

03:46:48.700 --> 03:46:50.380
But I'm wondering if Joji's going to want

03:46:50.380 --> 03:46:53.340
to bunch the second Bunmiri at this point,

03:46:53.340 --> 03:46:55.900
saying, okay, Megalopony definitely has to come

03:46:55.900 --> 03:46:57.740
into play at some point here.

03:46:57.740 --> 03:46:59.580
The problem is, the rest of the hand,

03:46:59.580 --> 03:47:06.880
One of these Dust Calls could go down, but still, I mean, it's the fact that the Beniri is just sitting there. I'm very concerned.

03:47:07.580 --> 03:47:14.580
Needs this last spot to be for Latias, so it is unfortunately not an option to put that second Pokemon into play.

03:47:15.880 --> 03:47:21.280
However, Andrew now has to kind of make another decision. Am I okay not being able to evolve my Pokemon next turn?

03:47:21.380 --> 03:47:27.180
What is my opponent really doing with 30 damage? And that may be the question for Andrew on this turn.

03:47:27.180 --> 03:47:33.020
Do I go after this Bronzong, or do I start to target the things like the Duskull on the bench?

03:47:33.020 --> 03:47:39.580
If my opponent ever attacks and doesn't, KO my Dracloak, then I can evolve the following turn into Dragapult EX.

03:47:39.580 --> 03:47:46.180
The fact that none of the Duskulls, like you had mentioned, have been unlocked at this point to go up into Dusklobs

03:47:46.180 --> 03:47:51.580
gives Andrew some time to really think about where he wants to place this damage.

03:47:51.580 --> 03:47:55.180
The problem is, like I mentioned, that Panieri is ready to go,

03:47:55.180 --> 03:48:02.840
But Ladias using Skyliner switch into the active and now it's up to Bronzong here to try and tank some of this damage

03:48:03.740 --> 03:48:06.880
There is a dustclops there. Okay. That's dustclops

03:48:07.800 --> 03:48:13.620
So hard to tell the difference with some of these illustration rare stage lights are very shiny blinging out these cards

03:48:13.620 --> 03:48:18.400
I see you in the moonlight dust school and dustclops dust nor maybe come into your door in a few business days

03:48:18.400 --> 03:48:28.400
Fezzendipity is promoted immediately. Andrew having the Crispin can put these energy onto Fezzendipity draw some cards with recon directive and that flip the script ability.

03:48:28.400 --> 03:48:33.400
Now the big decision Emily. What Pokemon does he want to target from this cool era?

03:48:33.400 --> 03:48:39.400
Well, it's really hard to say right? I mean the desklops is ready to go right then and there and that could do some damage.

03:48:39.400 --> 03:48:49.200
but then Fez and Dipity is already in the active, so Mega Lopunny EX could come into the active and use Gale Thrust for two more prize cards here.

03:48:49.200 --> 03:48:55.700
Does that now change his decision from playing this unfair stamp? It's going to make Joji down to just two cards in hand.

03:48:55.700 --> 03:49:00.800
Might have to actually use the Curse Blast to try and draw a card off of the prizes.

03:49:00.800 --> 03:49:08.500
If he's able to find the Dusk Noir here, it could very well be stuck with these two cards in hand. Let's see.

03:49:09.400 --> 03:49:13.620
If there's a bunch of advantages to KOing different Pokemon, like you mentioned,

03:49:13.620 --> 03:49:17.860
KOing the Baneary plays around that Gale for us to take a KO.

03:49:17.860 --> 03:49:24.500
But if you take out the Bronzong, you're not going to be threatened from that evolution jammer on the following turn.

03:49:24.500 --> 03:49:27.260
We'll see Andrew play as many cards as he can, crushing Hammer,

03:49:27.260 --> 03:49:30.420
and this signals he won't be going after the Bronzong this turn.

03:49:30.420 --> 03:49:33.740
I'm feeling not, and that is going to be Drakklok as well.

03:49:33.740 --> 03:49:35.420
Now starting to draw some cards.

03:49:35.420 --> 03:49:40.460
the spoiler alert. What's the dust north that was drawn for Joji? And now this

03:49:40.460 --> 03:49:44.460
Fezendipity feels actually pretty safe, at least for the next couple turns. We'll

03:49:44.460 --> 03:49:49.180
see what Joji's Lily's determination in hand actually gives him here, but the

03:49:49.180 --> 03:49:54.300
cruel arrow is going to go on to the dust globs there because now it's going

03:49:54.300 --> 03:49:58.860
to be an extra piece. But wow, Megalopony into the Lily's determination!

03:49:58.860 --> 03:50:03.020
Stamp is a lie, ladies and gentlemen. It does nothing. So you may as well

03:50:03.020 --> 03:50:04.740
play a different A-spec in your deck.

03:50:04.740 --> 03:50:06.060
I'm just kidding, of course.

03:50:06.060 --> 03:50:08.980
Ryoji more than happy to find that lily's determination,

03:50:08.980 --> 03:50:10.860
evolve into the Lopini,

03:50:10.860 --> 03:50:15.140
and you may not be expecting those copies of Switch in the deck.

03:50:15.140 --> 03:50:17.660
Bronzong, of course, can't use that Skyliner ability

03:50:17.660 --> 03:50:19.380
from Latias EX.

03:50:19.380 --> 03:50:21.220
It does have a three-retreat cost,

03:50:21.220 --> 03:50:23.620
so it's a bit bulky to move.

03:50:23.620 --> 03:50:24.940
Let's see what he was able to find.

03:50:24.940 --> 03:50:27.380
Of course, a Pokemon was knocked out.

03:50:27.380 --> 03:50:29.260
Is playing something like Fezendipity?

03:50:29.260 --> 03:50:32.900
No, no copies of Fezendipity EX in this deck.

03:50:32.900 --> 03:50:37.380
So if he wants to draw cards, it looks like he may just have to work with what he has in hand.

03:50:37.380 --> 03:50:44.200
But the bigger question, as you alluded to, Ethan, is that there are no ways to get this bronzang out of play.

03:50:44.200 --> 03:50:47.300
Now granted, I believe that's ultra-ball rare candy here.

03:50:47.300 --> 03:50:53.600
So could find the dust nor into taking out the track look each onto the bench here,

03:50:53.600 --> 03:50:59.900
but could also use Curse Blast onto the active and start damaging this Fezendipity more and more.

03:50:59.900 --> 03:51:05.700
So that when Mega Loppani comes into play, that could be a way to get it out of play here.

03:51:05.700 --> 03:51:10.400
But the question is, how afraid are you of Dragapult coming into the fray here?

03:51:10.400 --> 03:51:14.940
It's interesting. If you take out your Cloak and then use Cursed Blast this turn,

03:51:14.940 --> 03:51:20.060
Andrew will not be able to get the Dragapult EX into play for three turns at minimum.

03:51:20.060 --> 03:51:22.860
He won't be able to evolve thanks to Evolution Jarrah. That's one.

03:51:22.860 --> 03:51:26.300
Dragapult potentially, if that's KO'd on the next turn, that's two.

03:51:26.300 --> 03:51:29.140
And Dragapult EX, the final stage of Evolution.

03:51:29.140 --> 03:51:31.260
and that now becomes the question for Joji.

03:51:31.260 --> 03:51:34.500
What can he do to capitalize off three turns

03:51:34.500 --> 03:51:37.660
without Andrew putting Dracloker Dragapult Yex into play?

03:51:37.660 --> 03:51:40.020
Let's see what the Rare Candy Bronzong is going to give

03:51:40.020 --> 03:51:40.980
as the attachment.

03:51:40.980 --> 03:51:43.100
I mean, I don't see why the attachment for a turn

03:51:43.100 --> 03:51:44.740
just can't go onto the Lopini,

03:51:44.740 --> 03:51:48.020
but I understand the hesitation, essentially,

03:51:48.020 --> 03:51:49.980
because this Bronzong is technically stuck,

03:51:49.980 --> 03:51:52.100
as you said, with Skyliner here.

03:51:52.100 --> 03:51:53.780
So Rare Candy Dusk Noir,

03:51:53.780 --> 03:51:55.940
then you can only imagine that Curse Blast

03:51:55.940 --> 03:52:00.420
onto the Drag Cloak on the bench with the energy onto it here.

03:52:00.420 --> 03:52:02.020
Haven't seen an attachment for a turn.

03:52:02.020 --> 03:52:04.660
Believe Joji is holding onto a psychic energy.

03:52:04.660 --> 03:52:06.260
Big decision for him.

03:52:06.260 --> 03:52:08.100
Does he want to use this Cursed Blast?

03:52:08.100 --> 03:52:08.900
Does use it.

03:52:08.900 --> 03:52:10.980
Takes the K-O onto Drag Cloak.

03:52:10.980 --> 03:52:14.340
And does draw into a decent prize card in that dust goal.

03:52:14.980 --> 03:52:19.700
Have to wonder though, if Andrew will continue to target that Pokemon down,

03:52:19.700 --> 03:52:20.820
there's the Evolution Jammer.

03:52:20.820 --> 03:52:22.740
30 damage onto Pheasant Dippity.

03:52:22.740 --> 03:52:25.220
No, Pokemon can evolve this turn.

03:52:25.220 --> 03:52:30.980
Andrew though still able to draw so many cards each turn by using that flip the script ability over and over again

03:52:30.980 --> 03:52:34.580
It's not just that but now Joji is really stuck with the two cards in his hand

03:52:34.580 --> 03:52:37.540
And that bronzong is going to be staying there for quite some time

03:52:37.540 --> 03:52:42.500
So while yes, it seems like Andrew has a really clear path of taking out this dust gold

03:52:42.500 --> 03:52:46.300
It's gonna be then Joji up to him to respond because then

03:52:46.460 --> 03:52:53.440
Fezendipity is going to start stacking up damage on things like Meowth and Lodios for example Pokemon that we consider bench sitters here

03:52:53.440 --> 03:52:55.440
But here comes Monkey Dory into the fray.

03:52:55.440 --> 03:52:57.520
That's going to be the secondary attacker here.

03:52:57.520 --> 03:52:59.640
And look at this already, Crispin.

03:52:59.640 --> 03:53:03.360
So now Monkey Dory's mind then is going to be up and running already.

03:53:03.360 --> 03:53:06.720
This is just a tough spot for Andrew.

03:53:06.720 --> 03:53:09.360
Yoshi has a switch on the following turn.

03:53:09.360 --> 03:53:11.560
He set up for a two turn prize map.

03:53:11.560 --> 03:53:15.840
KO, Pheasant Dippity, and then boss to KO, Meowth EX.

03:53:15.840 --> 03:53:18.200
All while Andrew will not be able to respond

03:53:18.200 --> 03:53:20.760
with Dragapult EX on the following turn.

03:53:20.760 --> 03:53:24.680
It's looking a little bit rough for Andrew as well here.

03:53:24.680 --> 03:53:28.240
So the question is, does he want to just avoid everything

03:53:28.240 --> 03:53:30.760
by retreating Fez and Dipity at this point

03:53:30.760 --> 03:53:33.680
and starting to go in with Monkey Dory at least to slow down?

03:53:33.680 --> 03:53:39.000
Maybe Joji won't be able to flip himself out of mind-bent here.

03:53:39.000 --> 03:53:42.360
It would protect those two prize cards from the Fez and Dipity

03:53:42.360 --> 03:53:44.760
if a switch is played.

03:53:44.760 --> 03:53:48.120
He still put pressure as well on Joji to find a switch

03:53:48.120 --> 03:53:51.080
because if the Bronzong flips tails from Confusion,

03:53:51.080 --> 03:53:52.240
you get to buy an extra turn

03:53:52.240 --> 03:53:54.400
and put Double Dracloak into play.

03:53:54.400 --> 03:53:55.920
You do have to, of course, note there are two

03:53:55.920 --> 03:53:58.920
in the prize cards, one in the discard pile.

03:53:58.920 --> 03:54:02.440
So, and you're also relying off of needing to find a rest,

03:54:02.440 --> 03:54:03.640
or excuse me, a knight's structure.

03:54:03.640 --> 03:54:05.280
So, it is gonna be that exact play.

03:54:05.280 --> 03:54:08.280
Monkey Dory comes up, mind bent to deal 60 damage,

03:54:08.280 --> 03:54:10.600
plus Confusion, as well as putting

03:54:10.600 --> 03:54:13.000
three damage counters onto Duskull,

03:54:13.000 --> 03:54:14.800
threatening another Adrenal Brain

03:54:14.800 --> 03:54:16.360
to KO it on the following turn.

03:54:16.360 --> 03:54:20.660
That's Hilda and that is going to be an evolution Pokemon and an energy here

03:54:20.660 --> 03:54:25.000
But look at what look at what Andrew is now setting up here, right?

03:54:25.000 --> 03:54:27.200
If this Bronzong were to attack now

03:54:27.400 --> 03:54:31.320
Monkey Dory is in play ready to play kind of this secondary game, right?

03:54:31.320 --> 03:54:35.400
Sending these damage counters back on over into Duskull's range

03:54:35.560 --> 03:54:41.480
There's the enriching energy big four cards Ethan needs to find switch already played a supporter card this burn their four

03:54:41.480 --> 03:54:49.080
and finds the switch a huge grab that's gonna allow this bronze on to either attack yet again thanks to skyliner or

03:54:49.580 --> 03:54:55.560
A ko onto this one prize Pokemon with Andrew not being able to respond with anything besides that

03:54:55.760 --> 03:55:02.080
Fezzantipides cruel arrow attack might as well draw some cards though and here comes mega kang has gone to jump into the fray as well

03:55:02.120 --> 03:55:05.320
but like you had mentioned Ethan, I'm just a little bit worried if

03:55:05.320 --> 03:55:09.820
If Joji were to swing with the Mega Lop on the EX,

03:55:09.820 --> 03:55:13.420
that means the evolutions are up and running once more for Andrew.

03:55:13.420 --> 03:55:17.120
That would at least mean that Draplo can jump back into the play

03:55:17.120 --> 03:55:19.620
and start sifting through the deck for Andrew.

03:55:19.620 --> 03:55:22.920
So I want to see what Joji's going to prioritize here.

03:55:22.920 --> 03:55:26.020
It's tough because if you use that Evolution Jammer attack,

03:55:26.020 --> 03:55:27.920
you're not putting on pressure

03:55:27.920 --> 03:55:31.320
and you're letting Monkey Dory KO the dust goal for free.

03:55:31.320 --> 03:55:34.920
So it seems that nothing changes in the immediate factor.

03:55:34.920 --> 03:55:39.400
Yes, you would KO the Bronzong. That is an impact as well.

03:55:39.400 --> 03:55:42.000
But it feels like being under no pressure,

03:55:42.000 --> 03:55:44.360
you could go back to that attack on the following turn.

03:55:44.360 --> 03:55:45.920
So I like this aggression from Joji.

03:55:45.920 --> 03:55:49.280
Take this prize card, understand the level of threats on board

03:55:49.280 --> 03:55:51.680
are just the Fezendipity EX.

03:55:51.680 --> 03:55:55.200
Go down to three prize cards and see if a Cursed Blast

03:55:55.200 --> 03:55:58.760
plus a Boss's orders can close out the game on the following turn.

03:55:58.760 --> 03:56:01.480
Looking over at Joji's side of the board,

03:56:01.480 --> 03:56:08.480
At this point, it could be Andrew starting to think about damaging the active Megalopony EX.

03:56:08.480 --> 03:56:14.280
It would line it up perfectly if he were to get into Dragapult for the following turn

03:56:14.280 --> 03:56:20.280
and start using a boss's orders to get three prize cards there while leaving the Bronzong as well.

03:56:20.280 --> 03:56:26.780
So now that there's damage counters on Joji's side and now evolutions are back online for Andrew,

03:56:26.780 --> 03:56:30.280
he has a ton of ways that he can specifically handle this,

03:56:30.280 --> 03:56:33.680
But I'm wondering if Cruel Arrow onto the Bronzong at this point,

03:56:33.680 --> 03:56:38.080
to guarantee that he can get into Dragopol TX next turn is the way he wants to go.

03:56:38.580 --> 03:56:41.880
Definitely an interesting spot. We'll see a lot of cards this turn.

03:56:41.880 --> 03:56:44.580
Three off-flip descripts, it's already a Dracloak in play,

03:56:44.580 --> 03:56:46.580
and a Night Stretcher to grab back.

03:56:46.580 --> 03:56:50.580
The other Dracloak that is available, Crushing Hammer on top.

03:56:51.080 --> 03:56:55.280
There's a lot of cool things surrounding Bosses' orders for Andrew.

03:56:55.280 --> 03:56:58.380
Of course, Cruel Arrow can attack any Pokemon in play.

03:56:58.380 --> 03:57:00.380
There's no bench barrier or protection.

03:57:00.380 --> 03:57:06.380
There is maybe a world where you can capitalize off Bronze on being unable to move thanks to Skyliner.

03:57:06.380 --> 03:57:08.380
A lot of options at its disposal.

03:57:08.380 --> 03:57:11.380
We'll start things off with that recon directive ability.

03:57:11.380 --> 03:57:16.380
Finds the risky ruins, meaning if Monkey Dory ever comes back online,

03:57:16.380 --> 03:57:19.380
you can damage your own Pokemon to move damage counters over.

03:57:21.380 --> 03:57:22.380
A bunch of options to go.

03:57:22.380 --> 03:57:23.380
Ultra ball next.

03:57:23.380 --> 03:57:25.380
What else is Andrew looking for on this turn?

03:57:25.380 --> 03:57:29.500
this turn. It could be another drag cloak. That would be the most obvious thing off of

03:57:29.500 --> 03:57:34.260
this ultra ball here, but I like the concept of bringing Monkey Dory back into the fray

03:57:34.260 --> 03:57:39.500
and starting to bench down some of these Pokemon that would get risky ruins damage

03:57:39.500 --> 03:57:44.420
up and running here. The best part about Joji's deck for Andrew, there's only one

03:57:44.420 --> 03:57:49.620
dust goal as of right now, one looming threat. So if he is able to establish another

03:57:49.620 --> 03:57:55.100
drag look and like we talked about, if Joji so chooses to go back into Bronzong and use

03:57:55.100 --> 03:58:00.660
that evolution jammer again, it is going to be up to Andrew to find a way to get back

03:58:00.660 --> 03:58:04.820
into Dragapult, but there's a night stretcher, so another drag look has been established

03:58:04.820 --> 03:58:07.620
and the Ultra Ball for Monkey Dory has been played.

03:58:07.620 --> 03:58:13.060
It really comes down to the prize map, like who can close the game out faster?

03:58:13.060 --> 03:58:17.060
If you accept that you want your evolution Pokemon to go online, then there's also

03:58:17.060 --> 03:58:20.320
of the expectation that by bringing up another Pokemon

03:58:20.320 --> 03:58:24.100
into the active spot, Megalopony can just take a KO

03:58:24.100 --> 03:58:26.740
on whatever Pokemon is in the active spot.

03:58:26.740 --> 03:58:28.220
And from there, there's no way for Andrew

03:58:28.220 --> 03:58:30.820
in a single turn to take three prize cards,

03:58:30.820 --> 03:58:33.900
even with these mega evolution Pokemon in play.

03:58:33.900 --> 03:58:35.620
So may have to get a big creative.

03:58:35.620 --> 03:58:37.420
It's still going to be the cruel error.

03:58:37.420 --> 03:58:39.140
The question now becomes, what does he

03:58:39.140 --> 03:58:42.860
want to do with his bosses orders in hand, if anything?

03:58:42.860 --> 03:58:46.100
Might have to be just going on to either the Meowth

03:58:46.100 --> 03:58:51.460
to try and get some four prize action going potentially down the line.

03:58:51.460 --> 03:58:54.660
But it is going to be the cruel arrow on to the dust goal.

03:58:54.900 --> 03:58:58.820
Dust goal always feels like that missing piece to get things up and running for

03:58:58.820 --> 03:59:01.620
these combo decks to really start shining here.

03:59:01.860 --> 03:59:05.940
And from what I can see, this mega lot bunny is still in the active and granted.

03:59:05.940 --> 03:59:09.860
Well, Ethan, yes, this would be a great target to switch out and to switch

03:59:09.860 --> 03:59:11.620
into for a gale thrust.

03:59:11.620 --> 03:59:13.900
And that would bring Joji down to one prize.

03:59:13.900 --> 03:59:17.900
The problem is Andrew is lining up to have Dragapult EX next turn.

03:59:19.900 --> 03:59:21.900
It looks like A-Spec found.

03:59:23.900 --> 03:59:27.900
Already in play, excuse me, there's a card with a little bit of red.

03:59:27.900 --> 03:59:29.900
It looks like the Blood Moon Ursuluna.

03:59:29.900 --> 03:59:32.900
That's my goat right there. Blood Moon Ursuluna.

03:59:32.900 --> 03:59:34.900
You can't quite get into the fray just yet,

03:59:34.900 --> 03:59:36.900
but it can always be a great option to close the game out.

03:59:36.900 --> 03:59:40.900
So Lily's determination played, as we mentioned, no Fezendipity EX.

03:59:40.900 --> 03:59:42.860
So it'll just be these six cards drawn.

03:59:42.860 --> 03:59:44.360
If there's a switch, of course,

03:59:44.360 --> 03:59:47.120
make a Kangaskhan can draw some cards with Ron Aaron.

03:59:47.120 --> 03:59:48.800
That does feel like the big card

03:59:48.800 --> 03:59:52.540
that is going to be on Joji's agenda to find this turn.

03:59:52.540 --> 03:59:56.000
Switch to reset the Gale Thrust, KO Fezendipity,

03:59:56.000 --> 03:59:57.240
and then try and figure out

03:59:57.240 --> 03:59:58.880
how to take that last prize card

03:59:58.880 --> 04:00:01.080
since he cannot lose the game on the next turn.

04:00:01.080 --> 04:00:02.620
What I'm looking at, Ethan, though,

04:00:02.620 --> 04:00:04.980
is the fact that Andrew benched down

04:00:04.980 --> 04:00:07.960
the risky ruins here instead of

04:00:07.960 --> 04:00:10.420
and not putting Monkey Dory into play.

04:00:10.420 --> 04:00:17.600
The problem is if Joji were to re-establish this dust gold that would be two damage counters already onto the dust gold there

04:00:17.600 --> 04:00:23.660
Thus making the monkey Dory math and even the phantom dive math look even easier down the line here

04:00:23.660 --> 04:00:27.260
So the question is you don't have a dark type Pokemon to really bench

04:00:27.260 --> 04:00:33.060
So you're just going to have to accept that that dust gold is going to have already some damage counters onto it

04:00:33.140 --> 04:00:38.540
It changes a bit it would still require phantom dives bench damage for the most part to KO

04:00:38.540 --> 04:00:45.100
There wouldn't be the ability to take two knockouts onto the bench and Adrenaline not an option since you'd need to use something like

04:00:45.380 --> 04:00:49.020
Crispin there is the Rosa of course that could get both things accomplished

04:00:49.260 --> 04:00:52.340
Would just be a little bit short of taking the KO

04:00:52.980 --> 04:00:57.140
Notably Joji did find that switch now has to debate whether it is

04:00:57.820 --> 04:01:00.140
advantageous for him to put that duskle into play

04:01:02.580 --> 04:01:05.700
Leaving things out there for decision

04:01:05.700 --> 04:01:11.060
like you had mentioned this me out or this Ladeos excuse me coming into play

04:01:11.060 --> 04:01:15.440
forcefully off of the opening turns has really kind of messed up Joji's bench

04:01:15.440 --> 04:01:20.180
for the rest of at least this game what Joji really wanted to have was multiple

04:01:20.180 --> 04:01:25.760
dust globs we talked about a very heavy cursed blast line I believe 424 going

04:01:25.760 --> 04:01:29.940
all the way up here so it's really up to Joji to figure out how he would

04:01:29.940 --> 04:01:34.140
like to get back into it what's that final bench spot going to be going

04:01:34.140 --> 04:01:38.600
into the mega kengis gone could we see a switch in hand and just going straight

04:01:38.600 --> 04:01:42.900
already again for the gale for us it's an interesting choice to retreat and then

04:01:42.900 --> 04:01:47.940
play the switch would of course remove an energy off of your Pokemon when you

04:01:47.940 --> 04:01:51.140
could have just played the switch gone into mega kengis gone and retreat so

04:01:51.140 --> 04:01:56.820
so what joji is cooking with this line we'll of course see the risky ruins

04:01:56.820 --> 04:02:00.340
come down those two damage counters do need to be placed on dusk will make

04:02:00.340 --> 04:02:05.760
sure our judges are aware and get that settled. Here we go. Loppeny comes into the active

04:02:05.760 --> 04:02:12.580
spot KO with Gale Thrust. And now one prize card away from closing this game out. Trecloak

04:02:12.580 --> 04:02:18.540
gets promoted. And with Phantom Dive online plus some potential disruption, Andrew is

04:02:18.540 --> 04:02:24.220
playing that one copy of Special Red card. I believe it was discarded earlier on with

04:02:24.220 --> 04:02:28.340
an Ultra Ball. I'd have to double check and see if that resource is still available.

04:02:28.340 --> 04:02:33.060
be clutch in terms of leaving this Lopony active, hitting with Phantom Dive, and closing

04:02:33.060 --> 04:02:34.540
the game out on the following term.

04:02:34.540 --> 04:02:39.340
And speaking of resources, I think what Andrew is looking for right now, Andrew, his discard

04:02:39.340 --> 04:02:41.220
piles, how many Switch have been used?

04:02:41.220 --> 04:02:48.100
You look at the rest of the bench here for Andrew, and it's not, or, yeah, for Andrew,

04:02:48.100 --> 04:02:52.660
and not a lot of Pokemon can be knocked out with just 70 as of right now, unless it

04:02:52.660 --> 04:02:55.060
to be paired with a boss's orders,

04:02:55.060 --> 04:02:59.560
assuming that that Dunsparse is going to jump back into deck here.

04:02:59.560 --> 04:03:02.000
But as you mentioned, the Rose's encouragement is definitely

04:03:02.000 --> 04:03:04.780
a line he could take here, but there's the Pokepads,

04:03:04.780 --> 04:03:07.320
so Dunsparse, Dunsparse, excuse me,

04:03:07.320 --> 04:03:08.560
is going to have to be the pull,

04:03:08.560 --> 04:03:11.400
but look how many cards are left in Andrew's deck.

04:03:11.400 --> 04:03:14.560
Compared to the hand, is Rose's encouragement available?

04:03:14.560 --> 04:03:16.760
It is, it's already in the hand for Andrew,

04:03:16.760 --> 04:03:19.280
so he has all of the pieces necessary.

04:03:19.280 --> 04:03:20.840
Rose's encouragement can be played

04:03:20.840 --> 04:03:25.400
since he has more prize cards left, accelerating two energy from the discard

04:03:25.400 --> 04:03:29.780
pile onto the stage to drag a poll while retaining the ability to attach an

04:03:29.780 --> 04:03:34.560
energy card for the turn to this bench. Monkey Dory is now threatening to win

04:03:34.560 --> 04:03:38.200
the game on the following turn and more importantly puts the pressure on

04:03:38.200 --> 04:03:41.280
Joji to close things out right now. I love what Andrew is doing right

04:03:41.280 --> 04:03:46.560
here and getting quite literally as big as possible on the bench. You

04:03:46.560 --> 04:03:49.120
know what they say when you're up against a bear in real life, you

04:03:49.120 --> 04:03:52.840
get as big as possible and the thing is that Blood Moon Ursulina, well yes, we

04:03:52.840 --> 04:03:57.080
haven't seen in a long time, could be very much a threat with that Blood Moon

04:03:57.080 --> 04:04:01.600
attack as well. So evolving all the way up feels like you kind of have to at this

04:04:01.600 --> 04:04:06.800
point and granted, leaving Meowth right there. So for Choji, the win condition

04:04:06.800 --> 04:04:09.880
for next turn is going to have to be getting this Megalopony out of the

04:04:09.880 --> 04:04:14.120
active, finding boss's orders, and then finding a way to get Megalopony

04:04:14.120 --> 04:04:16.120
back into the active.

04:04:16.120 --> 04:04:22.420
This is a tough decision for Andrew on what to do with this benched damage counters from Phantom Dive.

04:04:22.420 --> 04:04:27.220
If he keeps this bench lock, he plays around something like Blood Moon Ursuluna to come into play.

04:04:27.220 --> 04:04:31.620
But on the contrary, Duskul can evolve into Dusk Lops or Dusk Noor

04:04:31.620 --> 04:04:34.820
and use that Cursed Blast since Andrew is still at three prize cards.

04:04:34.820 --> 04:04:37.220
So he's going to decide to KO the Duskul,

04:04:37.220 --> 04:04:39.620
we'll see where he places these last two damage counters.

04:04:39.620 --> 04:04:43.980
Something potentially like on the bronze on puts it in range of a trend of brain,

04:04:43.980 --> 04:04:49.620
but instead wants to make sure something like Ladiasi X can also be KO comes down to the final cards here.

04:04:50.060 --> 04:04:51.460
What is in Joji's hand?

04:04:51.460 --> 04:04:53.300
You know the boss's orders has to be the way.

04:04:55.100 --> 04:04:56.180
Is a pokey pad.

04:04:56.180 --> 04:04:58.540
That's not going to change much searching through the deck.

04:04:59.060 --> 04:05:00.780
See the boss's orders.

04:05:00.780 --> 04:05:04.380
Copy of switch at the top, going to thin out to start.

04:05:04.700 --> 04:05:06.100
And there is an ultra ball.

04:05:06.100 --> 04:05:12.340
Also, going through the deck, filling out as many unneeded cards as possible, I'm not

04:05:12.340 --> 04:05:17.460
sure if there's any other way to move this Mega Pokemon.

04:05:17.460 --> 04:05:20.380
No pheasant dipping in the deck, no switch in the hand.

04:05:20.380 --> 04:05:24.900
The question now becomes, what do you do with this active Pokemon?

04:05:24.900 --> 04:05:27.900
Is a Mega Evolution Pokemon with one retreat cost?

04:05:27.900 --> 04:05:32.260
So you can, of course, retreat into Mega Kangaskhan if you have an energy in hand

04:05:32.260 --> 04:05:35.580
and try and find a perfect two cards from Run errand.

04:05:35.580 --> 04:05:40.060
Oh, boy. Yeah. So it has to just be the two cards.

04:05:40.100 --> 04:05:43.260
It feels like you actually need more than just two cards, right?

04:05:43.260 --> 04:05:46.140
You have to manually retrieve the mega lot bunny there.

04:05:46.140 --> 04:05:47.640
So we would lose the energy.

04:05:47.640 --> 04:05:50.340
Then you would need switch and bosses orders onto the me out.

04:05:50.340 --> 04:05:53.440
But that's only two cards that you can get off on air and that's not three.

04:05:53.440 --> 04:05:55.140
So is there an energy in hand to do this?

04:05:55.140 --> 04:05:58.240
No, if there's an energy, if not, it's just an impossible task.

04:05:58.240 --> 04:06:00.240
Two cards, bosses orders.

04:06:00.240 --> 04:06:02.580
I'm not sure there's a switch in the hand.

04:06:02.580 --> 04:06:12.020
And looking through, there is an energy, so one card off, finding the combination is gonna

04:06:12.020 --> 04:06:15.820
play this last ditch boss's orders to bring up Meowth.

04:06:15.820 --> 04:06:20.980
But if Andrew Hedrick has an energy card and a boss's orders of his own, Megaloppenny

04:06:20.980 --> 04:06:21.980
will fall.

04:06:21.980 --> 04:06:22.980
He's playing quickly.

04:06:22.980 --> 04:06:23.980
We'll see the hand.

04:06:23.980 --> 04:06:27.500
Just double checking the notes to make sure what's in deck.

04:06:27.500 --> 04:06:32.200
There's a darkness energy and a boss's orders in the hand, Megaloppenny goes down,

04:06:32.200 --> 04:06:35.880
after a back and forth game one, Andrew Hedrick emerges victorious.

04:06:35.880 --> 04:06:40.520
I think it's really important to note, Ethan, that Andrew did go first in this

04:06:40.520 --> 04:06:45.120
matchup. Stereotypically, Dragon Balls love to go second, but you see what happens

04:06:45.120 --> 04:06:49.840
when you at least get to go first. You buy yourself just a little bit of time.

04:06:49.840 --> 04:06:55.720
And while Joji, yes, had to commit those bench spots to Lanias and Meowth there.

04:06:55.720 --> 04:06:59.280
Ideally, those two spots on the bench could have been dust-able.

04:06:59.280 --> 04:07:01.000
they could have been another Bronson.

04:07:01.000 --> 04:07:03.920
But now we start to see kind of where Bronson falls

04:07:03.920 --> 04:07:05.720
a little bit short, and especially this deck.

04:07:05.720 --> 04:07:08.520
As you mentioned, there's no real draw supporter

04:07:08.520 --> 04:07:11.680
within this deck other than a mega Kangascon.

04:07:11.680 --> 04:07:14.000
But still, I'm wondering if it is going to be

04:07:14.000 --> 04:07:16.360
Joji who's going to be able to find a way to get

04:07:16.360 --> 04:07:18.520
Bronson out just a little bit faster.

04:07:18.520 --> 04:07:20.600
Saw the power of that Evolution Jammer

04:07:20.600 --> 04:07:23.120
in combination with the first blast

04:07:23.120 --> 04:07:27.200
to a pair of Dracloak, the MVP 100%

04:07:27.200 --> 04:07:39.040
matchup plus Fezendivity EX of course known for that flip the script ability we've seen over time the cruel arrow line emerges super powerful in these off meta decks matchups like this one.

04:07:39.840 --> 04:07:55.840
So close here within this game one but the problem is while Bronzong is really good it unfortunately stayed in the active for a little bit too long here and Andrew really kind of having to maneuver every piece around here having to get a little bit

04:07:55.840 --> 04:07:57.840
right attacking with the monkey

04:07:57.840 --> 04:07:59.840
door. But the moment that those

04:07:59.840 --> 04:08:01.840
three damage counters came back

04:08:01.840 --> 04:08:03.840
from Joji just instantly moving

04:08:03.840 --> 04:08:05.840
them to the dust goal. And that's

04:08:05.840 --> 04:08:07.840
what happens when you're just a

04:08:07.840 --> 04:08:09.840
little bit too far behind. Well

04:08:09.840 --> 04:08:11.840
yes dust goal and dust nor and

04:08:11.840 --> 04:08:13.840
the spots are a big part of this

04:08:13.840 --> 04:08:15.840
puzzle. The problem is they soak

04:08:15.840 --> 04:08:17.840
up this adrenaline damage for easy

04:08:17.840 --> 04:08:19.840
easy prize cards. Here we go

04:08:19.840 --> 04:08:21.840
getting into game number two.

04:08:21.840 --> 04:08:23.840
Joji picking things off with an

04:08:23.840 --> 04:08:27.840
and a telepathic psychic energy set up guaranteed on this first turn.

04:08:27.840 --> 04:08:29.840
Yeah, this is exactly what you want to see.

04:08:29.840 --> 04:08:34.840
Joji is going to finally have another Duskull if he so chooses to,

04:08:34.840 --> 04:08:38.840
but has to check the rest of the hand and of course the rest of the deck.

04:08:38.840 --> 04:08:43.840
As we mentioned a little bit earlier, this is a very high count of the cursed blast line,

04:08:43.840 --> 04:08:46.840
so you can only imagine how many things are available to him.

04:08:46.840 --> 04:08:50.840
And speaking of things that are available, there are the prize cards.

04:08:50.840 --> 04:08:56.140
Unfortunately, missing that copy of Enriching Energy, which you always love to see for a couple of more cards,

04:08:56.140 --> 04:09:00.340
but still one copy of that Baneeri when there's two in the deck, not too bad.

04:09:00.340 --> 04:09:06.640
Whole squad is here. Speaking of the squad, double buddy, buddy puffing for Andrew to kick the turn off.

04:09:06.640 --> 04:09:10.740
We, of course, do see one of those Bidou in the prize cards for him.

04:09:10.740 --> 04:09:16.140
Has opted to play two copies of that card this weekend, and that was a big change going into this new format.

04:09:16.140 --> 04:09:19.340
We saw two Bidou as a staple in this Dragon-Pult deck,

04:09:19.340 --> 04:09:20.500
and for a few tournaments,

04:09:20.500 --> 04:09:22.700
a lot of players were opting to play just one.

04:09:22.700 --> 04:09:24.260
Unfortunately for both players,

04:09:24.260 --> 04:09:27.700
both A-specs are offline for this game,

04:09:27.700 --> 04:09:30.460
but we did see how important Monkey Dory was

04:09:30.460 --> 04:09:33.300
to Andrew's deck just a little bit earlier

04:09:33.300 --> 04:09:35.860
and a copy of Dark Energy here.

04:09:35.860 --> 04:09:37.660
So I'm curious what the rest of the hand for

04:09:37.660 --> 04:09:40.340
Andrew looks like at this point here,

04:09:40.340 --> 04:09:42.860
but still, I mean, aside from the A-spec,

04:09:42.860 --> 04:09:44.460
which did actually pretty much help him

04:09:44.460 --> 04:09:47.140
just because Jochi doesn't have too much help

04:09:47.140 --> 04:09:51.620
in terms of that draw, supported without mega-kang has gone in the fray.

04:09:52.020 --> 04:09:54.420
I think that will be sorely missed for Andrew down the line.

04:09:55.380 --> 04:09:58.580
Taking a look for the deck, identifying the prize cards may be reliant,

04:09:58.580 --> 04:10:04.420
yet again, on an early use of that Medialph EX's last-ditch catch ability.

04:10:05.700 --> 04:10:08.540
Cloak number, excuse me, 3-B number 3 coming down to play.

04:10:09.100 --> 04:10:12.460
And now the question becomes, where do you commit energy attachments?

04:10:12.460 --> 04:10:14.660
Do you go in early with itchy pollen?

04:10:14.660 --> 04:10:16.820
It would require the Monkey Dory to retreat.

04:10:16.820 --> 04:10:21.640
It seems like Fezzendipity EX, yet again a crucial strategy in this match-up.

04:10:21.640 --> 04:10:25.960
Benching it early before knockouts have been taken and playing this Lily's determination

04:10:25.960 --> 04:10:28.880
to try and find some key pieces for this and the following term.

04:10:28.880 --> 04:10:32.340
I mentioned the Badoom, but that is not coming into play at all.

04:10:32.340 --> 04:10:38.300
Rather Andrew just deciding to get his trusty old Fezzendipity up and running already here.

04:10:38.300 --> 04:10:44.920
But it's very interesting to see how Andrew is really prioritizing finding the energy so quickly.

04:10:44.920 --> 04:10:51.320
a lot of players this Meowth becomes a sitting duck on the bench and then it ends up taking a lot of damage.

04:10:51.320 --> 04:10:56.920
So I think Andrew just has to be okay with the board seat at the point that he has to understand

04:10:56.920 --> 04:11:01.560
that Bronzong is going to come into play next turn. And it's all about finding those crispens to

04:11:01.560 --> 04:11:05.880
get Fisindipity up and running or even sending the energy back with Monkey Dory.

04:11:05.880 --> 04:11:11.880
Usually would love to find your cloak, but Andrew understanding that most likely a 90% chance or so

04:11:11.880 --> 04:11:15.540
that these three people will be unable to evolve and look at that off the top.

04:11:15.540 --> 04:11:22.640
Hilda will guarantee the Bronzong plus another energy card with the way Andrew's hand is looking.

04:11:22.640 --> 04:11:25.800
He's not going to have a solid of a response as he did in the first game.

04:11:25.800 --> 04:11:28.500
Absolutely not. And I always like to point it out, Ethan.

04:11:28.500 --> 04:11:33.340
Not much time left in this round, either. Only 17 minutes to go here.

04:11:33.340 --> 04:11:38.440
And that's why you see Joji going so quickly because he does need to at least win this game

04:11:38.440 --> 04:11:42.280
to bring him to a game three or even just a tide.

04:11:42.280 --> 04:11:48.040
And the last thing you want to do when you are this close to asymmetrical top cut is take a tie.

04:11:49.240 --> 04:11:52.520
Let's grab the telepathic psychic energy and is shuffling the deck.

04:11:52.520 --> 04:11:56.520
So I wonder if he is deciding to keep that card.

04:11:57.240 --> 04:12:02.040
We're just going to see no Pokemon grab now putting some more energy onto the bronze

04:12:02.040 --> 04:12:05.000
on allowing it to retreat potentially down the line.

04:12:05.000 --> 04:12:11.120
And what does Andrew do has a boss's orders in hand and that was the question for why we didn't see

04:12:11.520 --> 04:12:13.280
Latias come into play

04:12:13.280 --> 04:12:14.760
He does not bite him in the back

04:12:14.760 --> 04:12:21.440
No is sitting on a lyos of his own attachment to the monkey Dory already have been passed and there's the la deos and here

04:12:21.440 --> 04:12:27.820
We go slow riveting gameplay does take the energy though, and that's a big card

04:12:28.320 --> 04:12:30.240
Potentially allowing him to get himself back in this game

04:12:30.240 --> 04:12:32.680
That's actually pretty massive when you really think about it, right?

04:12:32.680 --> 04:12:35.080
just because we talked about it a little bit earlier.

04:12:35.080 --> 04:12:39.120
Those dust goals are really sponges for a ton of damage,

04:12:39.120 --> 04:12:40.960
for a ton of damage counters here,

04:12:40.960 --> 04:12:42.280
but it's going to be the mind bed.

04:12:42.280 --> 04:12:43.200
And what's very interesting,

04:12:43.200 --> 04:12:45.720
actually setting it back to the Bronzong instead,

04:12:45.720 --> 04:12:48.000
Andrew wanting to go a little bit more aggressive here.

04:12:48.000 --> 04:12:49.760
Bosses orders the Treepee.

04:12:49.760 --> 04:12:51.760
Andrew hasn't shown that he has too much energy

04:12:51.760 --> 04:12:52.880
to play with.

04:12:52.880 --> 04:12:55.080
If he flips Tails, it's a huge game changer.

04:12:55.080 --> 04:12:57.040
But no, heads on the attack

04:12:57.040 --> 04:12:59.200
and a prevent your cloak from coming into play.

04:12:59.200 --> 04:13:00.560
If that was Tails,

04:13:00.560 --> 04:13:03.680
that bronzon would take a KO on itself from the damage,

04:13:03.680 --> 04:13:05.480
and your cloak will be able to be evolved.

04:13:05.480 --> 04:13:08.200
This essentially buys another turn for Joji

04:13:08.200 --> 04:13:10.560
if there's no energy card in hand.

04:13:10.560 --> 04:13:12.120
I'm so concerned here.

04:13:12.120 --> 04:13:14.200
The adrenaline can take a KO,

04:13:14.200 --> 04:13:16.960
so the damage from that Evolution Jammer

04:13:16.960 --> 04:13:18.520
coming back to bite Joji,

04:13:18.520 --> 04:13:20.840
and while Andrew cannot evolve Pokemon this turn,

04:13:20.840 --> 04:13:22.800
he sure as well will on the following turn.

04:13:22.800 --> 04:13:26.000
No Baneary in play already, so there's no Megalopony.

04:13:26.000 --> 04:13:28.280
There's no response here at all, I think.

04:13:28.280 --> 04:13:29.480
Pokemon in a red card,

04:13:29.480 --> 04:13:30.940
there's nothing happening in the hand.

04:13:30.940 --> 04:13:32.180
It's going to be a pass over

04:13:32.180 --> 04:13:34.680
and the doors are wide open for Andrew in game number two.

04:13:34.680 --> 04:13:37.220
And it's all go right at this point, right?

04:13:37.220 --> 04:13:40.120
You can get into every single one of the drag clothes

04:13:40.120 --> 04:13:42.380
and it's so unfortunate for Joji

04:13:42.380 --> 04:13:45.340
because had every piece in hand to attack

04:13:45.340 --> 04:13:47.600
if he just had energy attackers,

04:13:47.600 --> 04:13:50.340
even just a cursed blast would have even helped on

04:13:50.340 --> 04:13:52.100
even something like the dust pops

04:13:52.100 --> 04:13:53.940
to try and get back into this game.

04:13:53.940 --> 04:13:57.020
But now it's all going to be go for Andrew.

04:13:57.020 --> 04:13:58.460
He is going to sift through the deck.

04:13:58.460 --> 04:14:03.100
Look how many Drakklokos are available to him, and even if he so chooses to,

04:14:03.100 --> 04:14:08.820
can start getting Fezendipity loaded up again, maybe even retreat this Drakklok in the active,

04:14:08.820 --> 04:14:12.260
and then go back into Monkey Dory and still keep taking prize cards, Ethan.

04:14:12.260 --> 04:14:20.420
We see how strong Monkey Dory is against small attackers like the Bronzong dealing 90 damage essentially every turn,

04:14:20.420 --> 04:14:26.820
and while Drakklok can't come into play, if your opponent is unable to use Cursed Blast as a way of dealing with that Pokemon,

04:14:26.820 --> 04:14:29.120
Things start to fall apart very quickly.

04:14:29.120 --> 04:14:31.920
Triple Dracloak, triple Recon Directive,

04:14:31.920 --> 04:14:34.420
a Lily's Determination on top of that,

04:14:34.420 --> 04:14:36.520
can search and find even more cards.

04:14:36.520 --> 04:14:39.820
As we see Adrenal Brain start to slowly put damage on the board.

04:14:39.820 --> 04:14:41.520
Three damage counters on the Bronzor,

04:14:41.520 --> 04:14:43.120
and just passing the turnover,

04:14:43.120 --> 04:14:47.920
a huge help that gopher Joji finds the Lily's Determination.

04:14:47.920 --> 04:14:49.920
And that means if cards are found here,

04:14:49.920 --> 04:14:52.220
like the Energy card, like the Bronzog,

04:14:52.220 --> 04:14:55.220
these Dracloaks are not going to be able to evolve on the following turn.

04:14:55.220 --> 04:15:03.380
And what could have been if just one energy was found for Andrew last turn to just get back into Monkey Dory and start using mind-bending,

04:15:03.380 --> 04:15:05.980
getting the damage at least on the other side of the board.

04:15:05.980 --> 04:15:15.460
Huge eight cards here for Joji, but the question is, Ethan, is not only Joji going to find the bronze on, but also has to find the dust globs.

04:15:15.960 --> 04:15:18.680
Wow, this hand is very poor.

04:15:18.680 --> 04:15:25.360
There is a switch so can go into mega Kangaskhan as this final Pokemon, but I'm not sure those Pokemon are present

04:15:25.360 --> 04:15:32.080
There's a poke pad and a rare candy. However, but I'm not sure I see any energy cards in the hand

04:15:32.840 --> 04:15:39.520
At this point it could be just Joji wanting to go in and use something like curse blast onto the monkey Dory

04:15:39.520 --> 04:15:43.480
But there's no energy to boot here an interesting point to note

04:15:43.480 --> 04:15:47.920
There are two energy in the prize cards for Joji so may be thinking in this spot

04:15:47.920 --> 04:15:53.160
I've got a 33% chance to draw into a way to attack with the bronzom now

04:15:53.160 --> 04:15:56.320
That's assuming there's a way to get that evolution Pokemon as well

04:15:56.360 --> 04:15:57.960
It may be a calculated risk

04:15:57.960 --> 04:16:02.040
He has to taking the spot it has to take all of the energy off the board here

04:16:02.040 --> 04:16:06.240
So it is going to be rare candy dust nor onto the monkey Dory here

04:16:06.240 --> 04:16:10.400
So Fezzan Dipty wouldn't even be able to jump into play for next turn

04:16:10.600 --> 04:16:17.400
No energy found of course would need that telepathic psychic energy enriching energy still would allow more cards to be drawn

04:16:17.400 --> 04:16:23.180
But yet again does not find a way to use evolution jammer and Andrew is gonna run away with this game

04:16:23.180 --> 04:16:28.200
And it's time for him to go there are tons of things going on and even to add insults injury

04:16:28.200 --> 04:16:34.700
Ethan there is an unfair stamp in the hand as that was actually taken off the prizes here for Andrew Hedrick

04:16:34.700 --> 04:16:37.700
But the question is you kind of want it all at this point, right?

04:16:37.700 --> 04:16:43.080
You need the energy acceleration. You want the unfair stamp as well because just look at

04:16:43.080 --> 04:16:48.080
But, Joji's board, there's just nothing to really work with other than that Mega Kangaskhan.

04:16:48.080 --> 04:16:54.580
And you saw Andrew from last game was stacking up so much damage onto the Mega Lopunny here.

04:16:54.580 --> 04:16:58.580
So, I just want to see him get at least an energy down onto the board here.

04:16:58.580 --> 04:17:04.080
Looks like Andrew is going to thin as much as possible before playing this unfair stamp.

04:17:04.080 --> 04:17:08.080
Grabs Padoe going to play Ultra Ball to this card, these unwanted Pokemon.

04:17:08.080 --> 04:17:12.080
The other Ultra Ball from his hand to get rid of more pieces he doesn't need.

04:17:12.080 --> 04:17:17.160
and then use that unfair stamp combined with two recondirective and a flip the script to

04:17:17.160 --> 04:17:21.080
see if Crispin can be there. If he can find that card, he's threatening the game in just

04:17:21.080 --> 04:17:22.080
two turns.

04:17:22.080 --> 04:17:26.400
He can mill even further than just one ultra ball. I do believe there is a second one

04:17:26.400 --> 04:17:29.160
in hand as well here.

04:17:29.160 --> 04:17:33.640
Grabbing your cloak that Pokemon no longer needed. All you need from here is just

04:17:33.640 --> 04:17:38.760
Dragapult EX and a dream. Thinking about what other card is best at this card.

04:17:38.760 --> 04:17:41.920
It will be the Lily's determination.

04:17:41.920 --> 04:17:43.120
Can just grab another card.

04:17:43.120 --> 04:17:45.000
It's not going to matter in this spot.

04:17:45.000 --> 04:17:47.160
We'll see potentially one more basic Pokemon

04:17:47.160 --> 04:17:50.200
like the Dunsparse hit the bench and a big five

04:17:50.200 --> 04:17:52.000
cards from this unfair stamp.

04:17:52.000 --> 04:17:55.000
Five big ones here, hoping to hit a Crispin.

04:17:55.000 --> 04:17:57.440
I do believe there is one in deck here.

04:17:57.440 --> 04:18:00.480
So as you said, even a combination of five cards

04:18:00.480 --> 04:18:03.680
and Crispin to go along center with,

04:18:03.680 --> 04:18:05.560
can he find the option?

04:18:05.560 --> 04:18:08.240
But even so, I mean, you look at Joji's side

04:18:08.240 --> 04:18:14.560
the board as well. That bronzor is still technically in play. So at least Andrew has one Dragapult to

04:18:14.560 --> 04:18:19.360
work with. But I'm wondering if he's going to do what he did last game and evolve all the way up

04:18:19.360 --> 04:18:23.440
just to put the big wall in front of Joji saying you know what all my Pokemon are already evolved

04:18:23.440 --> 04:18:27.760
at this point. What can you realistically do with one Bronzong? Bronzong is not a threat from

04:18:27.760 --> 04:18:32.880
this point. It is going to not do enough to slow down Andrew and these Duskull are really

04:18:32.880 --> 04:18:37.680
the only potential scary thing. So we'll see this Pokepad played thanks to the unfair

04:18:37.680 --> 04:18:39.680
stamp drawing five cards for Andrew.

04:18:40.880 --> 04:18:42.680
We're not seeing Crispin played yet away.

04:18:42.680 --> 04:18:45.880
That's definitely the card you want to play immediately as drawing into energy

04:18:45.880 --> 04:18:48.080
cards would prevent you from playing that supporter.

04:18:48.080 --> 04:18:51.780
And you have to wonder how much energy Andrew has really kind of have left to

04:18:51.780 --> 04:18:54.680
work with. And that's the problem with Dragapult sometimes in these other

04:18:54.680 --> 04:18:56.380
various three big cards Ethan, tell me.

04:18:56.980 --> 04:18:59.880
And that's probably the worst three cards you could draw into two dark

04:18:59.880 --> 04:19:04.480
energy. I'm not sure there's enough energy now in the deck to use

04:19:04.480 --> 04:19:05.280
Crispin.

04:19:05.280 --> 04:19:09.280
There was one psychic for sure, that's in the hand for Andrew.

04:19:09.280 --> 04:19:14.280
Two dark energy, that's unavailable to use the Crispin.

04:19:14.280 --> 04:19:21.280
Now a recon directive, and with how many energy cards have been discarded

04:19:21.280 --> 04:19:25.280
thanks to the monkey Dory having to attack earlier on in the game,

04:19:25.280 --> 04:19:30.280
it looks like Andrew has fallen short and is unable to announce Phantom Dive this turn.

04:19:30.280 --> 04:19:39.280
Well, he could at least announce jet headbutt at this point that would start stacking up some damage on his side with Dunsparce now sitting on the bench for Andrew.

04:19:39.280 --> 04:19:47.280
Does also technically have a Dunsparce which would turn into a Monkey Dory slot or you could just absolutely take the prize card as well.

04:19:47.280 --> 04:19:52.280
Bosses orders onto the dust goal. There's that energy that Joji needed last turn.

04:19:52.280 --> 04:19:56.280
Still a great spot. What did Joji find from the unfair stamp?

04:19:56.280 --> 04:19:58.560
Hokey Pad but no meaningful supporter.

04:19:58.560 --> 04:20:01.800
Just a boss's orders in the hand could slow

04:20:01.800 --> 04:20:04.240
Andrew down just a little bit.

04:20:04.240 --> 04:20:06.480
But there does not seem to be enough pressure coming from

04:20:06.480 --> 04:20:09.120
his side to deal with the monster that is Dragapult EX.

04:20:09.120 --> 04:20:12.400
And nine minutes away from Andrew being able to take out

04:20:12.400 --> 04:20:15.160
this set even if this game doesn't finish.

04:20:15.160 --> 04:20:18.280
But look only three prize cards left for Andrew to take

04:20:18.280 --> 04:20:19.480
and that mega Kang has gone.

04:20:19.480 --> 04:20:22.880
It's just quite literally asking for damage to be spread

04:20:22.880 --> 04:20:23.720
around here.

04:20:23.720 --> 04:20:24.760
So we'll see.

04:20:24.760 --> 04:20:28.760
It feels like Joji is going to have to be forced into evolving into the Bronzong.

04:20:28.760 --> 04:20:32.760
And like I mentioned, Ethan, you don't want this mega-kang has gone to start taking damage.

04:20:32.760 --> 04:20:38.760
So at least Evolution Jammer to keep this Dunsparse active into play, but the boss's orders, he has to play so much defense

04:20:38.760 --> 04:20:41.760
for what feels like Andrew just has this game on lock already.

04:20:41.760 --> 04:20:46.760
Desperation play. Can Andrew now find a way to accelerate energy?

04:20:46.760 --> 04:20:52.760
That minimum though can set up for another Jet Headbutt KO.

04:20:52.760 --> 04:20:57.260
Or even attached to Dragapult, he is not under an immense amount of pressure.

04:20:57.260 --> 04:21:01.160
Finally finds the Crispin, but all of those energies are currently in the hand, it seems.

04:21:01.160 --> 04:21:02.860
Let's take a look through the deck and see.

04:21:02.860 --> 04:21:08.260
Those have two energy in the deck, so drew into plenty, but can now still play that Crispin.

04:21:08.260 --> 04:21:10.760
And we're going to see a Phantom Dive Emily powered up this turn.

04:21:10.760 --> 04:21:16.260
Feels pretty good, right? Especially not only do you get the Bronzong, but you get the Duskull as well to boot.

04:21:16.260 --> 04:21:19.860
Or even if you want to go further, maybe not even take the Duskull,

04:21:19.860 --> 04:21:27.460
but get that one damage counter on the Ladias as we know boss's order seems to be everyone's favorite card to see in this scenario

04:21:27.460 --> 04:21:34.500
but I can't imagine Andrew not wanting to take the Duskull that's clearly waiting for it and the crushing hammer on top.

04:21:34.500 --> 04:21:43.300
Now come on. That's a little bit of bad manners if I do say so myself just wants to play that card to thin it out of the hand in case there is some disruption.

04:21:43.300 --> 04:21:47.660
and Andrew taking every advantage he can, optimizing every decision.

04:21:47.660 --> 04:21:49.180
You'll see two prize cards taken,

04:21:49.180 --> 04:21:51.140
Guangzong and Dustle being KOed.

04:21:51.140 --> 04:21:53.020
And from there, the question looms.

04:21:53.020 --> 04:21:55.260
What can Joji do to come back in this game?

04:21:55.260 --> 04:22:01.380
The question is, does it even seem to be showing itself at this point here?

04:22:01.380 --> 04:22:03.780
I think one thing that's really key, though,

04:22:03.780 --> 04:22:05.940
based off of the board state,

04:22:05.940 --> 04:22:10.500
Ethan is the fact that Dragapult has one singular damage counter onto it.

04:22:10.500 --> 04:22:18.160
If Andrew is able to find Dunsparse, get back into the deck, find a way to re-establish Monkey Dory Dark Energy,

04:22:18.160 --> 04:22:24.620
move the damage counter on over to Lodious here, and then find Bosses' orders. That could be game next turn.

04:22:24.620 --> 04:22:29.420
Definitely the potential with the right cards to close things out, and the complete opposite for Joji.

04:22:29.420 --> 04:22:36.880
Just a Hilda and Energy cards cannot put these weak Pokémon into play, as Andrew is left with just one prize card remaining.

04:22:36.880 --> 04:22:38.820
Cursed Blast unavailable to be used.

04:22:38.820 --> 04:22:42.220
No attackers at its disposal, and it seems like the walls are closing in.

04:22:43.720 --> 04:22:46.720
Even if this telepathic energy... Is that just the past here?

04:22:46.720 --> 04:22:49.020
Nothing more he can do in this spot.

04:22:49.020 --> 04:22:53.720
Looking at the hand that the Dunsparce, as we saw earlier, available.

04:22:53.720 --> 04:22:55.720
Andrew's going to start things off with an Ultra Ball.

04:22:55.720 --> 04:22:57.720
Discards some unneeded pieces.

04:22:57.720 --> 04:23:00.820
Special red card as well as an energy.

04:23:00.820 --> 04:23:03.020
Let's take a look at that and see what pieces are available.

04:23:03.020 --> 04:23:06.020
There's the boss's orders. There's the night stretcher.

04:23:06.020 --> 04:23:08.220
The question now, is there a dark energy?

04:23:08.220 --> 04:23:12.220
We saw one discarded via retreating the Meowth on the previous turn.

04:23:12.220 --> 04:23:15.820
Andrew is playing three copies of that with none of the prizes.

04:23:15.820 --> 04:23:20.020
He has one available and is going to see five cards this turn

04:23:20.020 --> 04:23:23.720
with those two Recondirective and that runaway draw from the Dunsparse.

04:23:23.720 --> 04:23:26.120
Has to shuffle real tight here if you're Andrew.

04:23:26.120 --> 04:23:29.220
I do believe there is already a dark energy in hand.

04:23:29.220 --> 04:23:30.420
And there it is here.

04:23:30.420 --> 04:23:32.520
But no boss's orders quite yet.

04:23:32.520 --> 04:23:34.320
So here we go. Recondirective number one.

04:23:34.320 --> 04:23:38.320
The crushing hammer taken, other card placed to the bottom of the deck.

04:23:38.320 --> 04:23:44.320
Recon directive number two, is that the boss's orders? No, just more crushing hammer.

04:23:44.320 --> 04:23:50.320
So here we go, run away, draw three cards. Can Andrew find the boss's orders to close this game out?

04:23:50.320 --> 04:23:57.320
He cannot, and while it's not the best to be able to not close this game out, it does seem like the inevitable is looming.

04:23:57.320 --> 04:24:02.320
Yeah, I mean that would have been the stylistic way to end this set already.

04:24:02.320 --> 04:24:06.880
already would be Andrew finding the boss's orders, but it may be pretty much guaranteed

04:24:07.320 --> 04:24:10.680
Considering how small Andrew's deck is for next turn here

04:24:10.680 --> 04:24:16.960
But of course you can't always just get the monkey Dory down anyway and start throwing the damage counters onto this mega

04:24:16.960 --> 04:24:22.960
Kangas gone so you can start stacking up that damage and still even if they bosses orders is found anyway

04:24:23.120 --> 04:24:30.080
Can move that one damage counter over and then still use the phantom dive so six on to Ladias here

04:24:30.080 --> 04:24:32.900
I mean, Joji, what is the line at this point?

04:24:32.900 --> 04:24:35.040
Seems like desperation.

04:24:35.040 --> 04:24:38.720
This mecha-kangaskhan cannot be KO'd if it's on the bench.

04:24:38.720 --> 04:24:42.280
It does have 230 HP or, excuse me, damage on it.

04:24:42.280 --> 04:24:44.920
The Blood Moon Ursuluna can attack for free.

04:24:44.920 --> 04:24:48.080
Is there a boss's orders to try and knock out something

04:24:48.080 --> 04:24:49.800
like Fezendipity?

04:24:49.800 --> 04:24:51.640
So it seemed like the only way to get back in

04:24:51.640 --> 04:24:53.520
is at the help of that Pokemon.

04:24:53.520 --> 04:24:54.960
Flutter main grabbed from the deck.

04:24:54.960 --> 04:24:57.280
It's not going to shut off too many relevant abilities,

04:24:57.280 --> 04:24:59.360
something like the Draklok and the active spot.

04:24:59.360 --> 04:25:00.960
But with Andrew at one price cards,

04:25:00.960 --> 04:25:02.440
it's just going to be an energy.

04:25:02.440 --> 04:25:05.640
Here we go, though, going to play to every out possible.

04:25:05.640 --> 04:25:08.040
Blood moon for 240 damage.

04:25:08.040 --> 04:25:10.000
Thanks to that season's skill ability,

04:25:10.000 --> 04:25:12.560
Andrew's still looking for the boss's orders.

04:25:12.560 --> 04:25:14.840
Not able to find it off the top of the deck,

04:25:14.840 --> 04:25:16.520
but there is the Adrenal Brain,

04:25:16.520 --> 04:25:18.000
and that's going to close the game out,

04:25:18.000 --> 04:25:20.000
can place it onto the Kengis gun on the bench,

04:25:20.000 --> 04:25:22.360
and Phantom dive with the six damage counters

04:25:22.360 --> 04:25:25.000
means that Andrew Hedrick advances to 10 and two.

04:25:25.000 --> 04:25:27.960
At three minutes and 40 seconds left,

04:25:27.960 --> 04:25:35.960
and Andrew is able to overcome the deck that was designed to essentially stop it fully into place.

04:25:35.960 --> 04:25:41.460
And as we've seen, this Megalopony Vom Vom deck can get it done absolutely.

04:25:41.460 --> 04:25:45.960
But the problem is when you don't have those dust rolls to really work around,

04:25:45.960 --> 04:25:48.960
you're not really doing much other than 30 damage.

04:25:48.960 --> 04:25:52.960
And Andrew played around that absolutely perfectly saying,

04:25:52.960 --> 04:25:58.940
Okay, I'll take this 30 damage, but I have monkey Dory to send her right back at you and not even targeting the bronze on

04:25:58.940 --> 04:26:06.220
That's not the issue. That's what most players would go for. It's actually targeting down the dust balls. That's what makes this deck on

04:26:07.400 --> 04:26:14.600
Let's take a look at that. Let's take a look back at what was definitely one of our most intense and interesting sets of the tournament

04:26:14.720 --> 04:26:17.880
Cruel arrow the MVP of game one like you mentioned

04:26:17.880 --> 04:26:23.720
Targeting down Dusk, targeting down Disclops, targeting down any Pokemon that could use Curse

04:26:23.720 --> 04:26:29.480
Blast by leaving this Bronzong to just poke very slightly, 30 damage each turn, just not

04:26:29.480 --> 04:26:33.920
enough to put pressure onto Fezendipity, and while the Megalopony eventually got into

04:26:33.920 --> 04:26:39.080
play, it was just a little bit too little, that one piece short for being able to close

04:26:39.080 --> 04:26:40.520
the game out on Meowthiax.

04:26:40.520 --> 04:26:45.680
I am so happy to at least get to feature a deck like this, because it shows creative

04:26:45.680 --> 04:26:52.640
deck building can still be used even in something like the world championship where your deck has gone

04:26:52.640 --> 04:26:58.880
undiscovered until the week of the tournament but still Andrew locking down at that game number one

04:26:58.880 --> 04:27:03.280
and then monkey dory coming into the fray doing what it does best sending the damage back even

04:27:03.280 --> 04:27:09.120
attacking at one point as well Andrew missed a huge turn with not being able to retreat the

04:27:09.120 --> 04:27:14.960
track slope there so unfortunately for him that monkey dory did go down but still one turn

04:27:14.960 --> 04:27:19.200
off of the evolution jammer means that Dragonbolt plug dates can absolutely open.

04:27:20.080 --> 04:27:25.440
President Dippenadee, the MVP of game one, Monkey Gory, the MVP of game two, the confusion,

04:27:25.440 --> 04:27:31.040
plus residual damage, healing it off thanks to that Adrenal Brain ability and Joji's deck,

04:27:31.040 --> 04:27:36.480
just not able to keep up in the second game when that lock finally broke and when it broke yet

04:27:36.480 --> 04:27:42.320
again, Dragcloak able to stabilize everything, Phantom Dive to take the KO, and that's

04:27:42.320 --> 04:27:43.500
That's a star right there.

04:27:43.500 --> 04:27:46.240
Andrew Hedrick now just one game away

04:27:46.240 --> 04:27:47.680
from advancing into top cut.

04:27:47.680 --> 04:27:49.800
It always just feels like Andrew Hedrick can do it

04:27:49.800 --> 04:27:52.520
no matter what the circumstances are in front of him.

04:27:52.520 --> 04:27:55.040
And a lot of people, I think before this match,

04:27:55.040 --> 04:27:56.560
you see, hey, we're going to stream

04:27:56.560 --> 04:27:58.280
Watt Bunny, Bronzong versus Dragapult.

04:27:58.280 --> 04:28:00.120
People may ask, oh, why would you do that?

04:28:00.120 --> 04:28:02.240
You know that this matchup can be extremely bad

04:28:02.240 --> 04:28:05.560
for Dragapult, but as long as you know how to go around it

04:28:05.560 --> 04:28:08.040
and that was perfect showcase by Andrew,

04:28:08.040 --> 04:28:10.320
you do have ways to really kind of get yourself

04:28:10.320 --> 04:28:11.320
back into the game.

04:28:11.320 --> 04:28:14.240
And just as you know, it's not the Bronzong that's the issue.

04:28:14.240 --> 04:28:17.120
It's actually the rest of the Dust goals ready to attack.

04:28:17.120 --> 04:28:21.320
I mean, 4-2-4, Ethan, that's a heavy, heavy line.

04:28:21.320 --> 04:28:24.240
Let's bring in Pablo Mesa, our analyst.

04:28:24.240 --> 04:28:28.920
Was it this amount of maybe PTCG Live games running into this deck

04:28:28.920 --> 04:28:31.640
in the last week that was allowing Andrew to pilot

04:28:31.640 --> 04:28:33.040
that matchup as great as possible?

04:28:33.040 --> 04:28:34.880
It seemed like he was doing every right thing

04:28:34.880 --> 04:28:36.240
throughout those two games.

04:28:36.240 --> 04:28:40.120
I mean, I generally always think that the very, very best

04:28:40.120 --> 04:28:42.700
in the game are the best at improvising, right?

04:28:42.700 --> 04:28:46.800
So everyone seen the hype, Andrew I'm sure,

04:28:46.800 --> 04:28:48.200
knew the deck existed.

04:28:48.200 --> 04:28:50.680
I would be very surprised if you actually took the time

04:28:50.680 --> 04:28:54.800
to try or play games against it,

04:28:54.800 --> 04:28:57.440
given its expected meta share.

04:28:57.440 --> 04:29:00.720
Many times the online results don't really translate

04:29:00.720 --> 04:29:03.640
to real life tournaments.

04:29:03.640 --> 04:29:05.680
And so of course it's a powerful deck.

04:29:05.680 --> 04:29:08.000
The Evolution Jammer is very annoying,

04:29:08.000 --> 04:29:11.700
But when you have these extremely powerful basic Pokemon to deal with that and adapt,

04:29:11.700 --> 04:29:16.200
I generally think Andrew always knew what the game planner was going to be heading into this.

04:29:17.000 --> 04:29:20.300
And that's another question, you know, finding counterplay.

04:29:20.300 --> 04:29:24.300
Does it really come down to that engine that's set up for Joji?

04:29:24.300 --> 04:29:28.200
Or is it really, you know, in Andrew's hand to make more plays to advance the board state?

04:29:28.200 --> 04:29:31.800
I really think it comes down to the Mega Lopony trying to...

04:29:31.800 --> 04:29:35.400
The Mega Lopony deck with Bronson trying to do so many things, right?

04:29:35.400 --> 04:29:42.740
slowed down the game enough with Bronson and have enough DOSNORs set up in order to threaten whatever's threatening you.

04:29:42.740 --> 04:29:48.880
But as we can see, Andrew did a very good job in making sure there were no DOSNORs available, no threat.

04:29:48.880 --> 04:29:57.820
The first KO he took with Fesendipity was on a DOSKAL over the BUNERY, knowing the BUNERY would allow Megalopony to take down the Fesendipity,

04:29:57.820 --> 04:30:03.340
but that means you get to evolve into Dragapult and Megalopony going up against Dragapult straight up,

04:30:03.340 --> 04:30:07.900
probably always going to be losing that battle and in this particular turn I

04:30:07.900 --> 04:30:12.620
think that energy retreat was definitely a careless mistake that he mentioned

04:30:12.620 --> 04:30:17.660
Ethan when it happened not having two energy available on the big open it

04:30:17.660 --> 04:30:22.060
could have cost Joji towards the end but he had this amazing pivotal moment

04:30:22.060 --> 04:30:26.620
where he had as far energies it was fine needed the perfect two cards right

04:30:26.620 --> 04:30:31.660
boss and switch I swear my heart skipped a beat when I saw the boss as the

04:30:31.660 --> 04:30:39.900
first cart. I'm sure everybody heard my gas. It's so close Pablo and as we're

04:30:39.900 --> 04:30:43.780
kind of talking about the consistency of this deck. Where does this deck really

04:30:43.780 --> 04:30:47.660
get its draw power from aside from a kengis gone right you have to rely on

04:30:47.660 --> 04:30:51.220
putting a three prize Pokemon and the Ladi awesome play it's not just the

04:30:51.220 --> 04:30:55.020
mega kengis gone you do also have to put that bench sitter there too. How

04:30:55.020 --> 04:30:58.540
do you feel like this deck is going to stack up past worlds going into our

04:30:58.540 --> 04:31:05.900
next season. I generally don't think it stacks up. Mokidori is a staple in many decks. Fesendipity

04:31:05.900 --> 04:31:11.660
is a staple in many decks as well. And I really don't think the deck has enough to deal with those

04:31:11.660 --> 04:31:16.620
two. And I mean, we saw it here, the lack of a drawing thing, right? The big reliance on

04:31:16.620 --> 04:31:20.140
me, I can't ask, I'm sure you're denying evolution, but you're also giving your opponent

04:31:20.140 --> 04:31:25.260
so much time, right? You're not drawing cards, you're not able to evolve. Just like

04:31:25.260 --> 04:31:30.860
you're living off the top deck every single time and eventually Dragapult with its more powerful

04:31:30.860 --> 04:31:35.580
attackers is just going to outpace you in terms of damage. Even the 30 damage you're dealing is

04:31:35.580 --> 04:31:42.460
being utilized against you thanks to Adrenaline. Now granted Andrew did get that very lucky top

04:31:42.460 --> 04:31:48.060
deck off the darkness energy right off the top and that definitely helped but as I tend to say

04:31:48.060 --> 04:31:54.060
in these defining moments at the very highest level of Pokemon when both players are making

04:31:54.060 --> 04:31:59.740
the absolute perfect decisions each and every turn. It usually comes down to deck building differences or

04:32:00.460 --> 04:32:07.740
lock of the draw sometimes when it matters the most. And towards the end we saw this boss

04:32:07.740 --> 04:32:14.460
disorders once again to deny the dosco. If there's no dosco or dosco available your damage

04:32:14.460 --> 04:32:21.180
output is either 30 which is insignificant or it can be dealt with through Adrenal Brain or

04:32:21.180 --> 04:32:28.460
Megalopony is a free-pricer that will always lose the battle against a powerful 2-priced Dragapult DX.

04:32:28.460 --> 04:32:33.420
So overall, obviously the deck's doing pretty well. I don't know if it has what it takes to

04:32:33.420 --> 04:32:36.220
actually beat Dragapult, the deck it is supposed to counter.

04:32:37.260 --> 04:32:41.740
A lot to take away from that match. Thank you as always Pablo for breaking things down.

04:32:42.380 --> 04:32:49.180
Wrap up Swiss round 11 and get ready for the horizon final Swiss round. Swiss round

04:32:49.180 --> 04:32:57.120
Number 12 coming up very soon. We are going to take a quick break as we do. We'll take a quick sneak peek of Pokemon TCG pocket

04:33:49.180 --> 04:34:09.180
The Pokemon training card game has some important rules.

04:34:09.180 --> 04:34:11.000
You can only have four of each card in the deck.

04:34:11.000 --> 04:34:12.660
You can only have one A-spec.

04:34:12.660 --> 04:34:17.020
But what would happen if we let our trainers break any of the rules they wanted?

04:34:17.020 --> 04:34:22.140
Well, I think I would pick a deck with a draw engine something like drag float or Zoroa or something like that

04:34:22.140 --> 04:34:26.580
And I would play probably six of each of them that way whenever I lily and I draw eight cards

04:34:26.580 --> 04:34:30.660
I'm gonna hit more than I normally would my opponents using to do against me doesn't matter

04:34:30.660 --> 04:34:32.760
I got like six of these Zoroa X the drawing to

04:34:33.140 --> 04:34:37.980
I probably play a whole bunch of aspects which I would really like because some of the aspects are really powerful

04:34:37.980 --> 04:34:40.460
But secret box makes your deck function so well

04:34:40.620 --> 04:34:44.260
So I could play secret box and a power card sounds good to me

04:34:44.260 --> 04:34:50.940
Probably way more of the power cards like extra festival grounds for example

04:34:50.940 --> 04:34:57.180
but also way more consistently six or seven lilies and way more of those

04:34:57.180 --> 04:35:02.940
probably more of like the Pokemon themselves instead of the deck cards

04:35:02.940 --> 04:35:07.260
like Shaman and such just to keep your deck more powerful.

04:35:07.260 --> 04:35:11.980
I would like to play something like United Wings because we can have

04:35:11.980 --> 04:35:17.880
have a ton of Pokémon of United Wings on this card file and attack with tons of damage

04:35:17.880 --> 04:35:21.640
and KO everything, mostly.

04:35:21.640 --> 04:35:29.320
I would put a lot of Ace Specs because they are the powerful card in the format.

04:35:29.320 --> 04:35:37.000
So when I hear in words I was confused about my Ace Specs, could be on Fire Stamp, could

04:35:37.000 --> 04:35:41.160
be Match Belt, why not play all of them?

04:35:41.160 --> 04:35:43.360
I'd probably play more poppins and pokey pads

04:35:43.360 --> 04:35:46.160
so I can make sure I get my drag cloaks every time.

04:35:46.160 --> 04:35:47.280
Well, with no restrictions,

04:35:47.280 --> 04:35:49.320
I would play at least 15 ace specs.

04:35:49.320 --> 04:35:50.440
That would be a good start.

04:35:50.440 --> 04:35:52.880
And I would probably play a few more drag cloaks

04:35:52.880 --> 04:35:55.800
because they are really powerful in the drag poll deck.

04:35:55.800 --> 04:35:56.640
I don't know.

04:35:56.640 --> 04:35:59.000
I would probably do eight release determination,

04:35:59.000 --> 04:36:00.880
just the consistency.

04:36:00.880 --> 04:36:03.040
And then, yeah, I would probably do also

04:36:03.040 --> 04:36:04.400
the six, six, so right.

04:36:04.400 --> 04:36:05.840
I'm playing so right right now.

04:36:05.840 --> 04:36:08.560
And I feel like more of those will never hurt.

04:36:08.560 --> 04:36:10.200
So probably do that.

04:36:10.200 --> 04:36:11.400
Yeah.

04:36:11.400 --> 04:36:13.160
If there were no deck restrictions whatsoever.

04:36:13.160 --> 04:36:15.320
And I'm also going to say no Rackendi restrictions.

04:36:15.320 --> 04:36:16.960
I can play it on turn one, right?

04:36:16.960 --> 04:36:20.280
I would play a deck with four Duskull, four Duskull,

04:36:20.280 --> 04:36:22.520
or four Rackendi, and as high of a draw

04:36:22.520 --> 04:36:23.840
and she doesn't have, I can have.

04:36:23.840 --> 04:36:26.720
So Secret Box is going to go into every kind of deck there

04:36:26.720 --> 04:36:27.880
and just try to turn one.

04:36:27.880 --> 04:36:30.240
Go first, and then make sure or hope

04:36:30.240 --> 04:36:31.960
that my opponent starts with one Pokemon,

04:36:31.960 --> 04:36:34.920
and I can knock that up before they even get to take a turn.

04:36:34.920 --> 04:36:36.640
Your answer is basically, if I could take thrills,

04:36:36.640 --> 04:36:38.800
I would ruin it for everyone.

04:36:38.800 --> 04:36:42.240
If I like control decks, I would ruin the game.

04:36:42.240 --> 04:36:45.880
Yeah, I put the best ace of picks in all decks.

04:36:45.880 --> 04:36:47.840
So I rest it down.

04:36:47.840 --> 04:36:51.720
And I would say, then ace of pick before deck.

04:36:51.720 --> 04:36:54.720
Ace a lot, it's very powerful cards.

04:36:54.720 --> 04:36:56.720
And what deck do you think you'd play?

04:36:56.720 --> 04:36:59.160
Eh...

04:36:59.160 --> 04:37:03.920
I'd draw a pool with a lot of ace of pick, maybe.

04:37:03.920 --> 04:37:06.680
LAUGHTER

04:37:06.680 --> 04:37:07.960
Now that we've broken the rules,

04:37:07.960 --> 04:37:13.980
Let's bring them back. Let's get back to the stream and let's watch all of our wonderful training card game players give their all

04:37:15.700 --> 04:37:21.840
Welcome back to faster than a car. So well, I've got some new friends and they're going to they're really familiar looking actually wow

04:37:22.720 --> 04:37:26.220
I've got some new friends and they're going to see if they're faster than a car

04:37:26.560 --> 04:37:31.620
Now if they managed to get this right then they win a mega evolution booster pack

04:37:31.620 --> 04:37:37.060
each how fun is that so guys I'm gonna ask you a question my cast a friend has

04:37:37.060 --> 04:37:41.040
already done this so we've got a time for you to beat so it's a little bit of a

04:37:41.040 --> 04:37:44.940
tricky one but it's two against one are you ready okay I'm ready I'm ready okay

04:37:44.940 --> 04:37:50.900
so can you name me ten Pokemon which have two legs go

04:37:50.900 --> 04:37:53.100
Piggie you too

04:38:00.100 --> 04:38:02.100
Articuno Zaptos

04:38:07.900 --> 04:38:14.920
We've also got this meow okay. We've got meow. Let's see who knows gotta have rapid dash

04:38:14.920 --> 04:38:16.920
Oh no, I'm sorry

04:38:22.560 --> 04:38:26.720
You know of course we got Charmander, how many are we had so far?

04:38:39.240 --> 04:38:41.240
You did a great job

04:38:41.240 --> 04:38:48.320
How did you approach the task I just thought about usually like the starters some of my favorite

04:38:48.320 --> 04:38:52.480
Pokemon's which are from the first Pokemon movie which is the three legendary birds so

04:38:52.480 --> 04:38:57.080
that was already like a quick easy one and for me all my favorite ones are four-legged

04:38:57.080 --> 04:39:06.400
oh who we all pay for Pokemon and my favorite is Eevee Rapidash what's the Galarian one

04:39:06.400 --> 04:39:08.400
I'm going to be playing

04:39:08.400 --> 04:39:09.400
Potea at the Glaring Lake.

04:39:09.400 --> 04:39:10.400
Oh, yeah.

04:39:10.400 --> 04:39:11.400
That's a good one.

04:39:11.400 --> 04:39:12.400
Moltres.

04:39:12.400 --> 04:39:13.400
You have so many!

04:39:13.400 --> 04:39:15.400
But yeah, it's like aww.

04:39:15.400 --> 04:39:17.400
Well, thank you so much for playing, guys,

04:39:17.400 --> 04:39:20.400
and join in next time for Faster than the Caster.

04:39:20.400 --> 04:39:23.400
The final Swiss round is upon us here,

04:39:23.400 --> 04:39:24.400
the biggest defensive of the year.

04:39:24.400 --> 04:39:26.400
Pokemon World Championships,

04:39:26.400 --> 04:39:30.400
where today we'll be playing down to just our two finalists.

04:39:30.400 --> 04:39:32.400
Welcome back into the trading card game side of things.

04:39:32.400 --> 04:39:33.400
My name's Ethan Hegging.

04:39:33.400 --> 04:39:35.400
Emily Foreman is along with me.

04:39:35.400 --> 04:39:38.360
could not be more excited for this final Swiss round.

04:39:38.360 --> 04:39:40.440
And that is my favorite part of Worlds, Ethan,

04:39:40.440 --> 04:39:44.240
is really, you know, when you get to these certain parts

04:39:44.240 --> 04:39:46.360
of the day, there's so many match-ups,

04:39:46.360 --> 04:39:49.520
but you actually just get down to quite literally

04:39:49.520 --> 04:39:51.440
the last two competitors.

04:39:51.440 --> 04:39:54.140
You can only imagine what is going through their heads

04:39:54.140 --> 04:39:55.880
as they, you know, leave the venue and they say,

04:39:55.880 --> 04:39:58.840
okay, well, I'm either a finalist or I'm a champion,

04:39:58.840 --> 04:40:02.240
but also the fact that they now have, you know,

04:40:02.240 --> 04:40:04.760
a knight to either prep against one deck.

04:40:04.760 --> 04:40:09.560
And that can actually weigh down on you so mentally going into the finals.

04:40:09.560 --> 04:40:14.560
But you got to talk about finals, even the chase after it's going to be an exciting Sunday.

04:40:14.560 --> 04:40:17.960
It was built up to the climax of the event.

04:40:18.960 --> 04:40:19.360
Build up.

04:40:19.360 --> 04:40:21.960
Let's take a look at these final Swiss rounds.

04:40:21.960 --> 04:40:24.060
The important notable matches.

04:40:24.060 --> 04:40:28.160
These are just a few of the important matches going on outside.

04:40:28.360 --> 04:40:30.660
We've got Chen-Li Zhao locked up for top cut.

04:40:30.660 --> 04:40:34.160
He'll be playing against Nathan Sprague, who still needs that one more match point.

04:40:34.160 --> 04:40:36.160
So it'll be interesting to see what happens there.

04:40:36.160 --> 04:40:39.280
Rune looking to take himself into top cut.

04:40:39.280 --> 04:40:43.400
We have Makani up against Keon Old School versus New School.

04:40:43.400 --> 04:40:44.560
Defending, or excuse me,

04:40:44.560 --> 04:40:47.000
previous world champion Diego Casidaga,

04:40:47.000 --> 04:40:48.460
looking for three more match points

04:40:48.460 --> 04:40:50.760
to get himself in a spot for top cut.

04:40:50.760 --> 04:40:52.320
And of course, our featured match,

04:40:52.320 --> 04:40:54.720
two players on the Winnen, Angus Johnson,

04:40:54.720 --> 04:40:57.040
up against Satoshi Matsuri.

04:40:57.040 --> 04:40:58.320
It's so unfortunate for Brent.

04:40:58.320 --> 04:41:02.680
Finally, taking that first loss of the tournament,

04:41:02.680 --> 04:41:09.520
just one round to go to can reach out who has safely locked himself into that top cut. As

04:41:09.520 --> 04:41:15.120
you said, Brent versus Mateusz, I think both players who have had these great stories,

04:41:15.120 --> 04:41:20.440
especially over worlds would love to see that. But of course you have these very, very

04:41:20.440 --> 04:41:25.440
stressful and very, very intense winning ends that we just have to show, especially

04:41:25.440 --> 04:41:30.600
when the matchups are so important. And they've been really honestly, I know it's

04:41:30.600 --> 04:41:32.840
It's been 42% dragapult.

04:41:32.840 --> 04:41:34.880
I know the dragapult numbers have been high,

04:41:34.880 --> 04:41:37.520
but I think what we've done really well this weekend

04:41:37.520 --> 04:41:41.840
is show a very diverse amount of decks on stream this weekend.

04:41:41.840 --> 04:41:43.640
We even started with high drapble even.

04:41:43.640 --> 04:41:45.920
I mean, there was plenty of other decks

04:41:45.920 --> 04:41:48.880
other than dragapult brought to the world.

04:41:48.880 --> 04:41:51.320
Our stage is ready, so let's throw things down.

04:41:51.320 --> 04:41:54.560
Take a look at our players and take a look at what decks

04:41:54.560 --> 04:41:56.280
they're looking to make top and cut.

04:41:56.280 --> 04:41:59.400
We have two very distinctly different players,

04:41:59.400 --> 04:42:02.360
Angus Johnson, a player from over in Australia,

04:42:02.360 --> 04:42:04.200
has played a lot throughout the years,

04:42:04.200 --> 04:42:07.560
had some solid placings at many different tournaments,

04:42:07.560 --> 04:42:09.720
up against Satoshi Matsui,

04:42:09.720 --> 04:42:12.840
a player from Japan who has come over to the U.S.

04:42:12.840 --> 04:42:14.240
to live in here,

04:42:14.240 --> 04:42:16.560
attending multiple regional championships,

04:42:16.560 --> 04:42:18.080
playing in a bunch of different events,

04:42:18.080 --> 04:42:21.320
has now led him to the biggest match of his career

04:42:21.320 --> 04:42:23.600
to get into this top-cut at the World Championship.

04:42:23.600 --> 04:42:26.680
Pokemon is a global game event,

04:42:26.680 --> 04:42:29.200
and it's so nice to see Satoshi over here,

04:42:29.200 --> 04:42:35.200
Okay, but here we go. We alluded to it last game, and like I said, there's been a diverse

04:42:35.200 --> 04:42:41.000
amount of decks that have made it here to Worlds, and now granted, Alakazam and Dustnor

04:42:41.000 --> 04:42:44.500
is one thing, but I think it's time that we feature the Crestle players that very much

04:42:44.500 --> 04:42:47.000
deserve to get featured at this point.

04:42:47.000 --> 04:42:52.000
Two very different decks, two very different strategies. When they clash together, it

04:42:52.000 --> 04:42:57.000
is going to for sure be an excellent game. Dustnor working for you, and of course

04:42:57.000 --> 04:42:59.640
the first blast ability on any Pokemon,

04:42:59.640 --> 04:43:02.340
but over on Satoshi's side has the missed energy

04:43:02.340 --> 04:43:05.980
to stop the Alakazam's powerful hand attack.

04:43:05.980 --> 04:43:08.440
We'll have to see how those two factors interact with each other.

04:43:08.440 --> 04:43:10.480
I'm interested to see how exactly Angus

04:43:10.480 --> 04:43:14.080
is going to attack this matchup, like you had mentioned.

04:43:14.080 --> 04:43:18.560
Not only is the Alakazam going to be coming into play

04:43:18.560 --> 04:43:20.720
to drop the most amount of parts possible,

04:43:20.720 --> 04:43:25.300
the main attacker very well might turn into Dusk nor Eden.

04:43:25.300 --> 04:43:30.100
does play enough energy requirements to get shadow bind off.

04:43:30.100 --> 04:43:33.900
Now granted the effect that no retreat would be one thing right,

04:43:33.900 --> 04:43:38.100
but there are technically answers to missed energy in this matchup,

04:43:38.100 --> 04:43:41.500
but also still Dusselord does have cursed blasts.

04:43:41.500 --> 04:43:45.300
A combination of a couple of those and a couple of items in this list

04:43:45.300 --> 04:43:47.700
could lead into crustal stimulus.

04:43:49.100 --> 04:43:51.700
They're drawing their opening hands getting set up.

04:43:51.700 --> 04:43:56.700
I'm just really looking to start with that Mekke Tengis gun, I guess.

04:43:56.700 --> 04:44:02.700
It's just not, and that's immediately an important factor that's going to change how this game plays out.

04:44:02.700 --> 04:44:04.700
It's just there for that run errand ability.

04:44:04.700 --> 04:44:09.700
This is some of the lowest Pokémon counts we've seen in Dex, just playing 10 Pokémon total.

04:44:09.700 --> 04:44:12.700
Or Mekke Tengis gun, and that 3-3 cross the line.

04:44:12.700 --> 04:44:14.700
Look at the prize cards. Let's see what we can start with.

04:44:14.700 --> 04:44:21.820
double dustclops in the prizes could definitely be a factor. No missed energy on Satoshi's side.

04:44:21.820 --> 04:44:26.340
Double dustclops. That's all the dustclops in the proxies, Ethan.

04:44:26.340 --> 04:44:30.900
So it is going to have to be Angus relying on rare candy, dust, nor every single time.

04:44:30.900 --> 04:44:37.500
Now, Grint, not exactly the worst strategy here, but if Angus wants to take it a little bit slow,

04:44:37.500 --> 04:44:41.500
we'll have to keep that in the back of his head, especially because Satoshi,

04:44:41.500 --> 04:44:45.620
A certain supporter card loves to have a deck

04:44:45.620 --> 04:44:48.980
build up a certain amount of cards and then just wipe it off away.

04:44:48.980 --> 04:44:53.140
A bunch of factors at play as we jump into the final Swiss round.

04:44:53.140 --> 04:44:55.180
So how does she kick things off?

04:44:55.180 --> 04:44:59.780
It looks like Drew into Mega Kang has gone as the top deck potentially.

04:44:59.780 --> 04:45:03.540
Never loved to see that when you're so close to starting that Pokemon.

04:45:03.540 --> 04:45:05.340
Does play this Poki Gear 3.0?

04:45:05.340 --> 04:45:10.780
I'm sure has an idea from this point that Angus is playing the version of this deck.

04:45:10.780 --> 04:45:16.680
Did fall earlier to what is close to the same 60 cards earlier on in this tournament

04:45:16.960 --> 04:45:19.820
To Mateus who is basically locked up a spot on top cut

04:45:19.820 --> 04:45:25.020
So he has that valuable experience going into this matchup. What adjustments do you think he may make in this time around?

04:45:25.180 --> 04:45:27.180
Might just have to be realizing how

04:45:27.820 --> 04:45:34.080
Well to use not only the handheld fan when it's time to send it those energies over a way

04:45:34.080 --> 04:45:40.120
But realizing what time it is to start using that hero skate and of course with control with crustal

04:45:40.120 --> 04:45:46.240
It's always the question of jumbo ice cream when you want to put those directly in to play here

04:45:46.240 --> 04:45:51.160
But for Angus at this point going to have at least a very ideal set up

04:45:51.160 --> 04:45:58.280
I like the thought of Bidu coming into play even if Angus does have an energy to retreat could put the item lock online

04:45:58.280 --> 04:46:02.180
At least slow Satoshi down in that matter here

04:46:02.680 --> 04:46:08.480
It's very difficult for crustal to get mega Kangus gone into play and also double into play

04:46:08.480 --> 04:46:13.980
without the use of item cards, can't play things like Ultra Ball can't play cards like Buddy Bunny Poffin

04:46:13.980 --> 04:46:19.420
It's a very difficult situation a lot of the time will be reliant off the one copy of

04:46:19.580 --> 04:46:25.140
Lumio City to end this turn but in exchange grab something like the Mechagangus gone

04:46:25.140 --> 04:46:26.800
That could be a huge card in this spot

04:46:26.800 --> 04:46:31.440
One of the big things that I'm noticing about Angus already is not leaning towards

04:46:31.800 --> 04:46:37.720
Getting a bunch of Abra out but instead going full right away with the amount of dust goals

04:46:37.720 --> 04:46:44.240
Granted, if Satoshi is unable to find a Hero's Cape, a health modifier at that point,

04:46:44.240 --> 04:46:48.280
Double Cursed Blast could very well be online at this point.

04:46:48.280 --> 04:46:52.600
So I want to see if Angus is going to be able to find the lines to get through.

04:46:52.600 --> 04:46:57.240
But Satoshi, under Item Lock, like you said, did draw the Hilda a little bit earlier,

04:46:57.240 --> 04:47:01.560
so he can get into the Crustle this turn, but not much else.

04:47:01.560 --> 04:47:03.080
We'll play the Hilda.

04:47:03.080 --> 04:47:06.080
Curious to see what energy card will get grabbed.

04:47:06.080 --> 04:47:24.080
something like the Missed Energy is great if you play down this early, you're still susceptible for a powerful hand to take the KO or even something like Cursed Blast and not playing something like a stadium card down to grab Mega Kangascon means that if there's no health modifier,

04:47:24.080 --> 04:47:31.080
Crystal just gets KO'd by a single rare candy dust nor very curious to see what else after she has in his hand.

04:47:31.080 --> 04:47:35.080
And this is what Angus has done with setting up a double Abra here, right?

04:47:35.080 --> 04:47:39.520
Definitely needs all three pieces of the Dust Ghouls to really get things going,

04:47:39.520 --> 04:47:44.120
but those four cards essentially with psychic draw that he is going to draw two off of each Abra,

04:47:44.120 --> 04:47:45.600
it's going to be pretty important here.

04:47:45.600 --> 04:47:50.600
But like you said, Ethan, Miss Energy grabbed, and so is this.

04:47:50.600 --> 04:47:56.520
So is the crustal, but the petrol is unfortunately unable to be played,

04:47:56.520 --> 04:47:59.160
and that would have been an easy answer to find the hero's game.

04:47:59.160 --> 04:48:05.720
big card in hand. It was top-decked on the previous turn. Mega Kangaskhan EX receiving the mist energy,

04:48:05.720 --> 04:48:12.840
mainly because the crustal's ability preventing it from taking damage from non EX Pokemon. Not

04:48:12.840 --> 04:48:16.920
very useful in this matchup when Alakazam gets right through that if you don't have a mist energy.

04:48:16.920 --> 04:48:23.000
I'm wondering if those early turns of Ichi Pollen and the way that it kind of stops Satoshi's setup

04:48:23.000 --> 04:48:27.880
is it if Satoshi is really just going to go into Mega Kangaskhan and that's going to be the

04:48:27.880 --> 04:48:31.920
the one that's doing the attacking rather than Crustle just kind of hanging out here.

04:48:31.920 --> 04:48:39.080
But there's the Gwyn instead to actually discard the pieces, Kedabra and Dusknor to instead

04:48:39.080 --> 04:48:42.640
of draw four, actually draw six cards here.

04:48:42.640 --> 04:48:47.600
It feels like such a big ask, especially because both of those Dusk Globs are prizey then.

04:48:47.600 --> 04:48:51.120
You have to find double rare candy, double Dusknor to get it done.

04:48:51.120 --> 04:48:52.960
It seems unlikely on this turn.

04:48:52.960 --> 04:48:57.560
We also of course saw two of the strange timepiece be used to draw some extra card

04:48:57.560 --> 04:49:02.440
with the Kadabra. There's the first card. Rare Candy on Dusknoir will be the itchy

04:49:02.440 --> 04:49:06.640
pound, so waiting to use that ability. So close because Angus actually has pretty

04:49:06.640 --> 04:49:13.060
much, I think, double Rare Candy already in hand as well here. So Satoshi using the

04:49:13.060 --> 04:49:17.800
Lily's Determination at this point to try and find that Hero's Cape so

04:49:17.800 --> 04:49:21.760
important. But I think also what is also really important, this turn, Ethan,

04:49:21.760 --> 04:49:25.680
is finding another energy attachment as well. The thing is with a lot of

04:49:25.680 --> 04:49:30.860
these control lists and as we saw yesterday with Sander, no acceleration means that these

04:49:30.860 --> 04:49:36.380
turns are very kind of picky on how exactly you want to go. A miss of an energy attachment

04:49:36.380 --> 04:49:41.420
or even that heroes cape kind of spells out a really big disaster just being off for one

04:49:41.420 --> 04:49:46.780
turn. Heroes cape, that A-spec allowing Pokemon, that tool card is attached to to have a hundred

04:49:46.780 --> 04:49:53.500
more HP. Definitely a difference maker. Big find here would be another copy of

04:49:53.500 --> 04:49:58.480
Megakangaskhan along with a missed energy. It's hard enough as it is to deal

04:49:58.480 --> 04:50:02.860
with one Megakangaskhan with a missed energy. Dealing with two, assuming

04:50:02.860 --> 04:50:06.580
Satoshi can consistently find energy cards is even more difficult.

04:50:06.580 --> 04:50:10.340
Let's find the missed energy again, but also the growing grass energy.

04:50:10.340 --> 04:50:15.100
I'm wondering if Satoshi has decided that this crustal is not going to be

04:50:15.100 --> 04:50:18.380
worth kind of keeping up all the way with the health modifiers just because

04:50:18.380 --> 04:50:22.420
one dust nor is already in play, but instead getting that Megakangaskhan

04:50:22.420 --> 04:50:27.060
ready, but instead is going to commit the growing grass energy and the pass back over.

04:50:27.060 --> 04:50:30.740
So that crustal is going to get a little bit more health here, but here comes Angus.

04:50:30.740 --> 04:50:35.780
That's a lot of card drawing. Drawing a bunch of cards. And this is the tough part of starting with

04:50:35.780 --> 04:50:40.180
Dwebble in this matchup. You, of course, want that mecha-kengis gone in the active to use

04:50:40.180 --> 04:50:44.660
that run air and ability. If you play cards like switch too early on and your opponent is

04:50:44.660 --> 04:50:48.660
able to trap something like crustal in the active spot, it really slows down the setup

04:50:48.660 --> 04:50:52.900
where the more cards you're able to see, the better positions you will be for that big combo turn.

04:50:52.900 --> 04:50:57.060
And talk us through a little bit about that combo turn that Angus is looking to put together.

04:50:57.060 --> 04:51:01.460
Well, he's looking for a couple of Cursed Blasts onto the Mega Kangus gone,

04:51:01.460 --> 04:51:06.660
and if he's able to get all three actually set up, could use because the Crustle doesn't

04:51:06.660 --> 04:51:12.900
have a Miss Energy Attach, a powerful hand to take the Naka, but could also use

04:51:12.900 --> 04:51:15.740
the Shadowbind down the line as well.

04:51:15.740 --> 04:51:20.020
I mean, that's the best part about Dusknoir also being a psychic type is that,

04:51:20.020 --> 04:51:22.820
yes, while it's a ton of energy commitment,

04:51:22.820 --> 04:51:26.540
this Pokemon tech can technically attack.

04:51:26.540 --> 04:51:29.980
Was that earlier in the field watching this matchup?

04:51:29.980 --> 04:51:32.620
Something specific that Mateus did,

04:51:32.620 --> 04:51:34.380
and I'm not sure Angus will do the same,

04:51:34.380 --> 04:51:36.260
is a similar strategy.

04:51:36.260 --> 04:51:38.700
Double Rare Candy, double Dusknoir,

04:51:38.700 --> 04:51:42.460
powered up with another Duskcloth to force his opponent to three cards,

04:51:42.460 --> 04:51:45.900
and then use that special red card to hand disrupt,

04:51:45.900 --> 04:51:50.700
was able to put Satoshi in a pretty unfavorable spot.

04:51:50.700 --> 04:51:52.980
I have to imagine if that's what he's building up to,

04:51:52.980 --> 04:51:55.580
especially with Ichi Pal and slowing down

04:51:55.580 --> 04:51:58.340
all of the potential options for Satoshi

04:51:58.340 --> 04:52:01.260
to play these item cards to either get Pokemon into play,

04:52:01.260 --> 04:52:02.780
to find supporter cards.

04:52:02.780 --> 04:52:05.740
Really, that extra time bot is super valuable.

04:52:05.740 --> 04:52:08.220
What I am worried about though, Ethan, is, well, yes,

04:52:08.220 --> 04:52:10.460
Rare Candy Dusk Nor Rare Candy Dusk Nor.

04:52:10.460 --> 04:52:13.380
This Dust Globs, or this Dust Goal, excuse me,

04:52:13.380 --> 04:52:17.220
is missing a Dust Globs of that equation here.

04:52:17.220 --> 04:52:19.800
So instead, just going to itchy pollen once more

04:52:19.800 --> 04:52:23.500
as things are getting up and running at least online here.

04:52:23.500 --> 04:52:26.860
So the Alakazam can't damage the Mega Kangaskhan,

04:52:26.860 --> 04:52:29.340
but is Angus going to find the final piece

04:52:29.340 --> 04:52:31.460
to essentially blow everything up here?

04:52:31.460 --> 04:52:33.140
But Team Rocket's Petrel being played,

04:52:33.140 --> 04:52:34.860
as you alluded to a little bit earlier,

04:52:34.860 --> 04:52:36.580
it's gotta be for that hero's cave.

04:52:36.580 --> 04:52:39.340
The Angus was so close to winning the game on that turn.

04:52:39.340 --> 04:52:43.340
Double Cursed Blast, I guess it would be just a little bit short.

04:52:43.340 --> 04:52:47.340
Looking for that third Cursed Blast ability, if you can find the rare candy,

04:52:47.340 --> 04:52:50.340
it would be almost there, right?

04:52:50.340 --> 04:52:55.340
Mega Kangascon with 200, excuse me, 300 HP means Double Cursed Blast plus a Dust Globs.

04:52:55.340 --> 04:52:59.340
However, there are two in the prize cards, and that is a difficult factor for Angus.

04:52:59.340 --> 04:53:03.340
Importantly though, that Hero's Cape you mentioned being found from the Petrel

04:53:03.340 --> 04:53:07.340
means Mega Kangascon gets even more beefy and even more difficult to take care of.

04:53:07.340 --> 04:53:11.500
Unfortunately, Hero's Cape is a tool and not an item, so there's nothing that really

04:53:11.500 --> 04:53:14.980
Padook can really do about that part here.

04:53:14.980 --> 04:53:20.620
So Satoshi, of course it's going on the Megacangus gone here, but I can only imagine that Satoshi

04:53:20.620 --> 04:53:24.460
is really kind of saying to himself, it's time to start getting the Megacangus gone.

04:53:24.460 --> 04:53:29.500
Now that the Hero's Cape is online, start to build up this Megacangus gone, where

04:53:29.500 --> 04:53:33.580
it could potentially even start attacking next turn, if an energy was already fed

04:53:33.580 --> 04:53:34.580
to it.

04:53:34.580 --> 04:53:35.580
Ethan, walk me through it.

04:53:35.580 --> 04:53:40.780
curious here debating which energy card to attach and while the missed energy on

04:53:40.780 --> 04:53:45.980
the crustal will prevent it from being hit from a powerful hand attack it can

04:53:45.980 --> 04:53:50.820
easily be dealt with with a cursed blast ability and these missed energy are the

04:53:50.820 --> 04:53:54.900
most important resources in this matchup. We're gonna see a commit to the

04:53:54.900 --> 04:54:00.300
active now all of a sudden that's one energy so she may need towards the end

04:54:00.300 --> 04:54:03.260
of the game. Yeah what's really unfortunate here too is that I don't

04:54:03.260 --> 04:54:07.460
know if Angus decides that it's time for Crustle to go.

04:54:07.460 --> 04:54:09.620
That's going to be a mega-kangaskon just hanging out here.

04:54:09.620 --> 04:54:12.780
But the problem is, Ethan, is that that energy was really

04:54:12.780 --> 04:54:14.900
actually committed already to the Crustle.

04:54:14.900 --> 04:54:16.820
So this mega-kangaskon, well, yes,

04:54:16.820 --> 04:54:19.100
it's sitting at 400 hit points here.

04:54:22.020 --> 04:54:25.740
We'll see Crustblast use onto the active Crustblast number

04:54:25.740 --> 04:54:30.180
two, damaging that mega-kangaskon on the bench.

04:54:30.180 --> 04:54:33.220
This crustal is just hanging on, it seems.

04:54:33.220 --> 04:54:35.340
Well, hanging on by 10, and that's

04:54:35.340 --> 04:54:39.140
but do still in the active that's going to be the choice attacker

04:54:39.140 --> 04:54:43.860
here, and still putting Satoshi under item lock at this point.

04:54:43.860 --> 04:54:47.020
So I'm wondering if it is time for that Sacred Ash being

04:54:47.020 --> 04:54:50.580
used to reestablish, and we'll have to go back and work

04:54:50.580 --> 04:54:51.660
just a little bit harder.

04:54:51.660 --> 04:54:54.460
It depends on what Angus took off the prizes as well.

04:54:54.460 --> 04:54:56.180
Not many rare candies left here,

04:54:56.180 --> 04:54:59.260
so it is going to have to be the old way of going

04:54:59.260 --> 04:55:01.500
from basic to stage one to stage two

04:55:01.500 --> 04:55:03.460
in order for this play to be made again.

04:55:06.460 --> 04:55:09.980
So the Duke can of course continue with the item locking.

04:55:11.180 --> 04:55:12.460
You do see that sacred ash shuffle,

04:55:12.460 --> 04:55:14.740
the Pokemon back into play.

04:55:14.740 --> 04:55:16.580
There's the buddy buddy poppin',

04:55:16.580 --> 04:55:18.660
just playing through all of the steps,

04:55:18.660 --> 04:55:22.500
seeing how things should have played out.

04:55:22.500 --> 04:55:25.020
Just wanna double check the math on the Crusul.

04:55:25.860 --> 04:55:27.700
So right now it does have that growing grass energy,

04:55:27.700 --> 04:55:31.700
so it receives 20 extra HP.

04:55:33.400 --> 04:55:36.900
There was a couple of itchy pollen use on that active Pokemon.

04:55:37.500 --> 04:55:40.800
Of course, just a little bit more bulky, just hanging on.

04:55:41.400 --> 04:55:43.300
And now the question becomes,

04:55:43.500 --> 04:55:46.800
can we see a third Cursed Blast from Angus

04:55:46.900 --> 04:55:51.700
followed by some way to deal with the following mega-kangus gone

04:55:51.800 --> 04:55:53.600
in combination with something like disruption?

04:55:53.600 --> 04:56:00.260
But the problem is Ethan because of that miss energy being attached to the crustal instead of the mega kengis gone

04:56:00.260 --> 04:56:03.680
This mega kengis gone is still just going to be

04:56:04.800 --> 04:56:09.520
Attaching an energy and essentially doing nothing with it can't use the jumbo ice cream

04:56:09.520 --> 04:56:13.920
I believe because there's no three energy on this Pokemon

04:56:13.920 --> 04:56:19.360
So unfortunately for Satoshi not going to be able to actually sift all the way through that might be a win

04:56:19.360 --> 04:56:21.920
And I think that is a win for Hengiz.

04:56:21.920 --> 04:56:24.480
Get confirmation on who picked up their cards.

04:56:24.480 --> 04:56:26.880
I'm sure she was still in a great spot,

04:56:26.880 --> 04:56:29.400
had the Vist energy on his Pokemon,

04:56:29.400 --> 04:56:32.120
and with their not being enough cursed last to be used,

04:56:32.120 --> 04:56:34.400
it looks like Satoshi is taking that game.

04:56:34.400 --> 04:56:37.680
There's just not enough ways to deal damage to that Pokemon.

04:56:37.680 --> 04:56:39.560
That's the hard part about Prostal,

04:56:39.560 --> 04:56:43.520
is that, and especially with this deck of Alakazam

04:56:43.520 --> 04:56:47.080
and Dustmore, there are weird things that counts.

04:56:47.080 --> 04:56:48.720
Those two Dustbots being prized,

04:56:48.720 --> 04:56:54.640
messes up the map come completely here so I'm interested to see where it all kind

04:56:54.640 --> 04:56:59.280
of went wrong for Angus because he had the right idea Ethan but Satoshi being

04:56:59.280 --> 04:57:03.040
named the game winner it seems like he's got it. He just wasn't able to

04:57:03.040 --> 04:57:07.080
capitalize off the cursed blast ability that missed energy really throwing a

04:57:07.080 --> 04:57:11.480
wrench in Angus' plan started off early with the hand disruption but

04:57:11.480 --> 04:57:14.920
importantly here Satoshi taking that Xerosix machinations off the prize

04:57:14.920 --> 04:57:19.640
followed by the missed energy still on the mega kengis gone and consistent

04:57:19.640 --> 04:57:23.000
energy attachments just too much for angus to be able to deal with and this

04:57:23.000 --> 04:57:26.440
being the final round these players really do not want to take a tie

04:57:26.440 --> 04:57:30.120
definitely not and you're if you're not reliably back into your win condition

04:57:30.120 --> 04:57:35.160
you blink and you miss it angus understanding I just need more time to

04:57:35.160 --> 04:57:40.640
get it done so Satoshi while not starting mega kengis on still was able

04:57:40.640 --> 04:57:42.920
to get really through everything.

04:57:44.080 --> 04:57:45.720
So going into the second match,

04:57:45.720 --> 04:57:47.120
Sadducee didn't do much,

04:57:47.120 --> 04:57:49.120
but he still had that missed energy.

04:57:49.120 --> 04:57:51.400
It's Genghis Khan to deal with the amount

04:57:51.400 --> 04:57:52.640
of cursed glass Genghis had.

04:57:52.640 --> 04:57:54.240
What does he need to do differently

04:57:54.240 --> 04:57:55.560
to take the second game?

04:57:55.560 --> 04:57:56.920
It's really hard to say.

04:57:56.920 --> 04:57:58.920
I mean, if Genghis doesn't,

04:57:58.920 --> 04:58:00.560
I mean, the most obvious answer is,

04:58:00.560 --> 04:58:03.920
don't prize double-crust blocks, right?

04:58:03.920 --> 04:58:06.600
That forces Genghis to use a lot more resources

04:58:06.600 --> 04:58:07.440
than he wants to use.

04:58:07.440 --> 04:58:10.600
I know he does play the strange time piece as well,

04:58:10.600 --> 04:58:14.760
But I feel like in this matchup it's not going to actually come into play as much.

04:58:14.760 --> 04:58:19.960
It's really Angus just has to face ways to go just a little bit faster than Sato.

04:58:19.960 --> 04:58:23.080
She had the right idea with Purdue stopping everything there,

04:58:23.080 --> 04:58:25.480
but the thing is Petrol grabs Hero's Cape.

04:58:25.480 --> 04:58:29.000
It's an item. It can be, or it's a tool, excuse me. It can be used.

04:58:29.800 --> 04:58:34.280
We'll get into game number two. Angus opting to go first this time around.

04:58:34.840 --> 04:58:37.480
Starts with that telepathic psychic energy onto Dusko.

04:58:37.480 --> 04:58:42.040
will get the bad news that there are a couple important Pokemon in the prize

04:58:42.040 --> 04:58:46.680
cards the importance of rare candy cannot be stated enough with there being

04:58:46.680 --> 04:58:51.840
two Kadabra plus a rare candy it may be a bit harder to get into a bunch of

04:58:51.840 --> 04:58:55.320
dust nor throughout the game that's not what you want to see doubles

04:58:55.320 --> 04:59:01.320
consistently being prized and for Kadabra I mean granted there are four

04:59:01.320 --> 04:59:06.720
Kadabra in this list but I guess if Angus is going first if Satoshi by

04:59:06.720 --> 04:59:12.880
chance misses the energy. This could be a big big turn for Angus going back into his turn. So has

04:59:12.880 --> 04:59:18.240
to do his best at this point to try and get set up fully. Ideally would like to see one more

04:59:18.240 --> 04:59:24.000
dust globs before passing on over to Satoshi's turn. Can always be some inconsistent air issues

04:59:24.000 --> 04:59:28.480
with deck like Crustle. You're very reliant on starting with that mega kengis gun and when

04:59:28.480 --> 04:59:33.600
that's not the case, things can definitely get out of hand. There is nothing going on in his

04:59:33.600 --> 04:59:39.680
hand. Just a Hilda can play that to grab a missed energy and use ascension, but then

04:59:39.680 --> 04:59:42.760
the Crustle would be so close to being KO'd.

04:59:42.760 --> 04:59:47.640
So it's a matter of if Angus is essentially going to draw the same combinations of cards

04:59:47.640 --> 04:59:50.960
he needed a little bit earlier. Like you had mentioned, Ethan, Hilda being played

04:59:50.960 --> 04:59:54.440
now can grab the Crustle here.

04:59:54.440 --> 05:00:01.320
And as it stands, even something like a psychic energy rare candy dust nor would

05:00:01.320 --> 05:00:03.920
deal enough damage to take a KO.

05:00:03.920 --> 05:00:06.400
You can use the mumble attack on Dust goal.

05:00:06.400 --> 05:00:10.360
That deals 30, plus the 130 from Curse Blast.

05:00:10.360 --> 05:00:11.640
Let's see what Angus can find.

05:00:11.640 --> 05:00:14.280
He's looking through the deck very quickly.

05:00:14.280 --> 05:00:17.240
Candy Dust nor plus an energy card.

05:00:17.240 --> 05:00:18.920
That will be our second game.

05:00:18.920 --> 05:00:21.280
One big thing about this list that I don't think

05:00:21.280 --> 05:00:23.200
we're in the situation to really talk about,

05:00:23.200 --> 05:00:25.680
but we can talk about here is I love the way

05:00:25.680 --> 05:00:29.120
that this list plays four copies of Gwen.

05:00:29.120 --> 05:00:30.720
So I know a little bit earlier,

05:00:30.720 --> 05:00:33.520
we talked about how double Kadabra being prized,

05:00:33.520 --> 05:00:35.320
not exactly what you want to see.

05:00:35.320 --> 05:00:37.920
But when you play so many non-Rulebox Pokemon

05:00:37.920 --> 05:00:40.480
within this list, Gwyn is a great way

05:00:40.480 --> 05:00:43.560
to get yourself to draw a plethora of cards.

05:00:43.560 --> 05:00:46.000
And honestly, for Angus, does it come down to,

05:00:46.000 --> 05:00:48.480
once again, finding rare candy dust?

05:00:48.480 --> 05:00:49.680
No, there are three.

05:00:49.680 --> 05:00:52.720
There's the rare candy, Ethan, and the Gwyn,

05:00:52.720 --> 05:00:55.320
but no Rulebox Pokemon to discard, I believe.

05:00:55.320 --> 05:00:57.080
Yeah, there's not enough going on.

05:00:57.080 --> 05:01:00.600
We're going to see the mumble action in our final Swiss round.

05:01:00.600 --> 05:01:02.400
Just a piece short.

05:01:02.400 --> 05:01:05.640
If there was a dust door in hand, that would be all she wrote.

05:01:05.640 --> 05:01:08.920
And what a top deck from Satoshi finds the pokey gear.

05:01:08.920 --> 05:01:10.320
That's half of the equation.

05:01:10.320 --> 05:01:13.880
Now needs to look a bit awkward on the right side of his deck.

05:01:13.880 --> 05:01:15.320
Seven cards from the top.

05:01:15.320 --> 05:01:17.560
Can he find something like Lily's determination?

05:01:17.560 --> 05:01:20.160
Does find Petrel, and that might be good enough

05:01:20.160 --> 05:01:22.400
to get Megacangus gone into play.

05:01:22.400 --> 05:01:23.640
Could be Megacangus gone.

05:01:23.640 --> 05:01:26.480
Could also be the hero's cape as well here.

05:01:26.480 --> 05:01:32.000
So it matters on what Satoshi wants to prioritize, excuse me.

05:01:32.000 --> 05:01:33.500
See how he's going to play it down.

05:01:33.500 --> 05:01:37.480
Petrel, very important key card in this list.

05:01:37.480 --> 05:01:41.520
Well, could also be the Lumio City to grab the mega Kangaskhan, even.

05:01:41.520 --> 05:01:44.480
That would end his turn, but honestly, that's actually

05:01:44.480 --> 05:01:46.760
the pivot that he's going for, actually prioritizing

05:01:46.760 --> 05:01:50.720
mega Kangaskhan, over getting that hero's cape.

05:01:50.720 --> 05:01:53.320
See what the choice is.

05:01:53.320 --> 05:01:55.320
It is the Lumio City, so that comes down

05:01:55.320 --> 05:02:00.520
to play guaranteeing mega kengis gone the energy attachment to start threatening some pressure

05:02:00.520 --> 05:02:05.640
with the crustal now thinking about which energy card to be there it is going to be the growing grass

05:02:05.640 --> 05:02:13.640
energy buffing this crustal HP by 20 and mega kengis god makes his way into the battle honestly

05:02:13.640 --> 05:02:19.960
from toji it feels like a weird play to use petrol out of all things to grab lumeo city out

05:02:19.960 --> 05:02:25.000
of all things but that's actually the only way i believe to grab mega kengis gone out of this

05:02:25.000 --> 05:02:30.660
deck aside from I believe there's just one ultra play and the thing is with

05:02:30.660 --> 05:02:33.760
control you want your whole menu essentially available to you at every

05:02:33.760 --> 05:02:38.280
time what's the draw Ethan no Angus has nothing just drew a card for turn and

05:02:38.280 --> 05:02:44.280
played down retreats into Abra and plays the Lumio City to end the turn no

05:02:44.280 --> 05:02:49.320
Alakazam no Kadabra no way to draw any cards or fine cards and this slow

05:02:49.320 --> 05:02:53.960
down opens the door up for Satoshi to try and retreat into mega Kangaskhan

05:02:53.960 --> 05:03:00.060
or even take some chaos and this like you said we're either retreat into mega kengis gone or get that mega kengis gone up

05:03:00.240 --> 05:03:05.920
And running here, but is the energy attachment of the spiky energy on over to Satoshi here?

05:03:05.920 --> 05:03:07.740
And this is massive yeah

05:03:07.740 --> 05:03:14.560
Then now starting to take all the energy off of the board for Angus as well doesn't play too many in this alakazam list

05:03:14.560 --> 05:03:21.800
I believe place for telepathic and only one psychic so can potentially run out of resources to even attack

05:03:21.800 --> 05:03:23.800
back. Pressure being put on

05:03:23.800 --> 05:03:25.800
Crustle. It's not something you often

05:03:25.800 --> 05:03:27.800
see with this deck early on. Top

05:03:27.800 --> 05:03:29.800
deck of the night stretcher has

05:03:29.800 --> 05:03:31.800
Fezzendipity EX, flip the script to draw

05:03:31.800 --> 05:03:33.800
cards, but those cards are not

05:03:33.800 --> 05:03:35.800
helpful. Double buddy buddy

05:03:35.800 --> 05:03:37.800
coffin and bosses orders and you do

05:03:37.800 --> 05:03:39.800
not want to bring mega kengis gone into the active

05:03:39.800 --> 05:03:41.800
spot right now. Not just that, but the

05:03:41.800 --> 05:03:43.800
Fezzendipity as well. You don't want

05:03:43.800 --> 05:03:45.800
to bench, but might have to and I do

05:03:45.800 --> 05:03:47.800
believe did to draw some more

05:03:47.800 --> 05:03:49.800
cards at this point and just a pass back

05:03:49.800 --> 05:03:57.160
Passing a Hilda top deck absolutely massive can now put a missed energy onto mega kengis gone ensuring powerful hands

05:03:57.160 --> 05:04:01.520
Can never be attacked onto that Pokemon. It's a bigger point here, too

05:04:01.520 --> 05:04:11.000
I mean you look at how many cards are in the tech here for Angus and not being able to even utilize Gwyn to draw any poke any

05:04:11.440 --> 05:04:16.920
Cards here, excuse me six cards. Unfortunately couldn't be drawn and now it's up to Satoshi

05:04:16.920 --> 05:04:20.200
to really kind of start driving away with this game.

05:04:20.200 --> 05:04:22.280
And I have a fear that he already has.

05:04:22.280 --> 05:04:24.920
I mean, this kid, Dabra, is in the active here,

05:04:24.920 --> 05:04:27.720
won't get into Alakazam, and that's a lot of energy

05:04:27.720 --> 05:04:28.800
now off the board.

05:04:28.800 --> 05:04:31.160
Angus can't really do much at all.

05:04:31.160 --> 05:04:33.520
And if Satoshi can take three prize cards

05:04:33.520 --> 05:04:35.360
before Angus applies pressure,

05:04:35.360 --> 05:04:38.240
that will limit him to just two curse blast abilities.

05:04:38.240 --> 05:04:39.920
We've seen how powerful it is

05:04:39.920 --> 05:04:42.760
when this Alakazam dust door deck can use three,

05:04:42.760 --> 05:04:44.680
even four curse blasts sometimes.

05:04:44.680 --> 05:04:46.120
So these early prize cards,

05:04:46.120 --> 05:04:49.120
While they don't mean much on the surface, they do matter in the long run.

05:04:50.320 --> 05:04:54.120
I mean, Satoshi can absolutely take his time at this point.

05:04:54.120 --> 05:04:57.120
Like a kid in a park just dropping the ice cream on a hot sunny day.

05:04:57.120 --> 05:04:58.620
Some things never change.

05:04:58.620 --> 05:05:03.120
Yeah, no. I mean, you have essentially anything that you want to do here in Satoshi,

05:05:03.120 --> 05:05:06.120
not being threatened by a special red card,

05:05:06.120 --> 05:05:10.620
so can still just keep using this crustal to take some prize cards.

05:05:10.620 --> 05:05:14.620
And that's exactly what he wants to do, get a little bit more aggressive.

05:05:14.620 --> 05:05:17.620
Angus would be down to one Abra here,

05:05:17.620 --> 05:05:20.940
but the problem is it's not about Alakazam attacking anymore.

05:05:20.940 --> 05:05:23.140
Like you said, that missed energy is in play,

05:05:23.140 --> 05:05:25.500
and this is the general fear with Crustle.

05:05:25.500 --> 05:05:27.020
A lot of players say that Crustle

05:05:27.020 --> 05:05:28.540
wasn't the play for this event,

05:05:28.540 --> 05:05:30.420
but that seems to be when Crustle

05:05:30.420 --> 05:05:32.380
gets the most amount of power.

05:05:32.380 --> 05:05:34.620
When players are just not considering it anymore,

05:05:34.620 --> 05:05:36.700
you look back a couple of months ago

05:05:36.700 --> 05:05:38.340
to enhance hammer being used,

05:05:38.340 --> 05:05:40.060
to Dene being in the list,

05:05:40.060 --> 05:05:42.380
and that could have solved so many issues,

05:05:42.380 --> 05:05:48.380
But now, unfortunately, for Angus, has to rely on finding these dust clubs and these dusknoors to get things done.

05:05:48.380 --> 05:05:54.380
I really can't afford to play things like Rescue Stretcher all free and without consequences.

05:05:54.380 --> 05:05:57.380
You need these cards to recover your dusknoor line.

05:05:57.380 --> 05:06:01.380
We'll see when I draw some more cards, six cards found.

05:06:01.380 --> 05:06:05.380
There are still just the one dusknoor drawn in.

05:06:05.380 --> 05:06:08.380
Do you see a pair of rare candy in the hand?

05:06:08.380 --> 05:06:14.380
However, you're going to really need to combine these Cursed Blast abilities together to have a strong effect.

05:06:14.380 --> 05:06:20.880
Now with Satoshi being at four prize cards, it would mean a pivotal turn could come into play.

05:06:20.880 --> 05:06:26.380
Dustnor's Cursed Blast forces Satoshi to take a prize card, turning on the special red card.

05:06:26.380 --> 05:06:30.380
If there's some sort of force attacking power on Angus' side,

05:06:30.380 --> 05:06:34.880
it could lead Satoshi in a side where he's unable to respond with enough setup and enough pressure.

05:06:34.880 --> 05:06:38.440
Well, the thing is with Satoshi going down to two prize cards

05:06:38.920 --> 05:06:45.080
With this mega kengis gone already having one energy Satoshi can very well take the next couple of turns to get

05:06:45.620 --> 05:06:51.600
Re-acclimated with potentially attacking with this mega kengis gone. So while yes angus hanging on this crustal is really good

05:06:51.600 --> 05:06:59.260
You have to consider the fact that this mega kengis gone will be able to start attacking in about two turns here

05:06:59.260 --> 05:07:02.760
and then Satoshi would be down to three prize cards

05:07:02.760 --> 05:07:04.760
and then there's a Fezendipity as well,

05:07:04.760 --> 05:07:06.920
could very well see a heads for the win.

05:07:06.920 --> 05:07:08.500
Threat number one is not this puzzle.

05:07:08.500 --> 05:07:10.300
It's 100% mega Kangaskhan.

05:07:10.300 --> 05:07:13.940
It's just so beefy and so difficult to deal with.

05:07:13.940 --> 05:07:16.240
That Pokemon will constantly present a threat.

05:07:16.240 --> 05:07:19.840
We're gonna see the retreat from the Abra into this Badoo

05:07:19.840 --> 05:07:21.740
and comboed with what I assumed

05:07:21.740 --> 05:07:24.140
to be a special red card at some point,

05:07:24.140 --> 05:07:25.680
not forced to play at this turn

05:07:25.680 --> 05:07:28.280
when Emily is the opportune time to play that card.

05:07:28.280 --> 05:07:31.320
probably right now at this point, right?

05:07:31.320 --> 05:07:34.320
I mean, Satoshi's got three cards left in deck.

05:07:34.320 --> 05:07:37.320
You definitely don't want everything you have available to you,

05:07:37.320 --> 05:07:39.320
but I think what's really important, Ethan,

05:07:39.320 --> 05:07:41.320
and Satoshi just showed the camera,

05:07:41.320 --> 05:07:43.320
there are three Jumbo ice creams,

05:07:43.320 --> 05:07:46.320
or at least two that I saw within that hand.

05:07:46.320 --> 05:07:49.320
So very important to know that now that these damage counters

05:07:49.320 --> 05:07:51.320
are going to be flown here,

05:07:51.320 --> 05:07:53.320
Pokemon's got our ladies actually drawn here,

05:07:53.320 --> 05:07:55.320
so could heal some more damage,

05:07:55.320 --> 05:07:57.320
but I don't see anything else in terms of health,

05:07:57.320 --> 05:08:00.080
of help, but my goodness, speaking of help, Ethan.

05:08:00.080 --> 05:08:02.000
Lily's determination in the top deck.

05:08:02.000 --> 05:08:03.560
Lily's determination in the hand,

05:08:03.560 --> 05:08:05.800
but I honestly would like to see Satoshi

05:08:05.800 --> 05:08:08.000
hold on to that card this turn.

05:08:08.000 --> 05:08:10.600
Guarantee healing off that mega Kangaskhan.

05:08:10.600 --> 05:08:13.360
You're basically playing protect the president at this point.

05:08:13.360 --> 05:08:16.680
Mega Kangaskhan is essentially your big man.

05:08:16.680 --> 05:08:18.600
Your whole backbone of the strategy,

05:08:18.600 --> 05:08:21.200
you can hold on and maybe even just deal

05:08:21.200 --> 05:08:23.160
with the bigger threat, which is these Duskull,

05:08:23.160 --> 05:08:25.480
holding the Lily, leaving options for next turn,

05:08:25.480 --> 05:08:26.720
a smart play here for Satoshi.

05:08:26.720 --> 05:08:31.760
not just see that Lily and immediately slam it down. And that's it. Angus understands he cannot

05:08:31.760 --> 05:08:38.240
win this game. Satoshi Matsui advances into the world championship top cut with none other than Krustle.

05:08:38.240 --> 05:08:43.840
It might have been the fastest Krustle set we've ever seen on extreme Ethan and Satoshi

05:08:43.840 --> 05:08:50.000
excited of course for himself. You gotta be bummed right? I mean you're making it in

05:08:50.000 --> 05:08:55.360
to asymmetrical top cut with a deck that nobody considered really. Let's be honest right a lot

05:08:55.360 --> 05:08:59.040
players were saying you know what why would you ever bring Krustle to the

05:08:59.040 --> 05:09:03.440
world championship Alakazam is going to play that in hands hammer it's going to

05:09:03.440 --> 05:09:07.040
be a bunch of festival lead that you're going to be finding your way but

05:09:07.040 --> 05:09:10.800
still as long as you know the matchup you got it down on box or so to say

05:09:10.800 --> 05:09:15.680
congratulations making it in and look how excited the guys are.

05:09:15.680 --> 05:09:20.400
had to battle through two days of competition to get to this point as we

05:09:20.400 --> 05:09:25.120
take a look back on how that set played out it really were these opening

05:09:25.120 --> 05:09:30.880
turns that define the game. It's cheap how long to try and disrupt but the timed petrol was

05:09:30.880 --> 05:09:36.080
able to get the heroes cape, the mega kengis gone was the top deck for turn and it's just so difficult.

05:09:36.080 --> 05:09:42.000
We're girls of how you approach it that deal with a 400 HP missed energy attack mega kengis gone.

05:09:42.000 --> 05:09:46.400
Yeah no matter which way you put it right and the problem is you just don't have enough ways to

05:09:46.400 --> 05:09:50.800
replenish the resource of the curse blast to keep doing it over and over. You can full clear

05:09:50.800 --> 05:09:57.840
at one point but it's just not enough to go all the way to 400 so for Angus unfortunately

05:09:57.840 --> 05:10:03.760
what a close close game at least for game number one but in game number two I mean just a boss's

05:10:03.760 --> 05:10:07.760
orders onto that dust ball saying you know what do you have an energy to even retreat and that's

05:10:07.760 --> 05:10:11.920
a lot to ask for a deck that's only playing five energy in total. Yeah once again don't really

05:10:11.920 --> 05:10:17.760
see Crustle get into the prize lead in matches like these taking prizes consistently turn

05:10:17.760 --> 05:10:23.600
after turn and the slow set up for Angus of course it does take time to put a bunch of dust or into play

05:10:24.320 --> 05:10:29.360
Just felt like it wasn't enough pressure not overwhelming enough and it really was this border

05:10:29.440 --> 05:10:36.560
Crustle with a missed energy taking care of the pokemon and that mega kangis gone for backup with still 170 hp left

05:10:36.800 --> 05:10:40.640
It's too much for angus to overcome and stop the sheet and it fancies into our top

05:10:41.440 --> 05:10:43.440
Well, you can't play crustle aggressive

05:10:43.840 --> 05:10:47.120
You know, why not? We're learning new things every day here at the world championship

05:10:47.120 --> 05:10:57.120
I mean, that's that's what is really important here, right, is being able to adapt on the fly and nobody saw this Alakazam and nobody saw this dust norm being paired together coming, right?

05:10:57.120 --> 05:11:03.120
So we didn't really get to see a stream. Time fees. We didn't really even get to see what the deck can truly do other than yesterday, right?

05:11:03.120 --> 05:11:10.120
Matae's hands. But the thing is, Crustle is it's it's inevitable. You're going to face one, right?

05:11:10.120 --> 05:11:29.120
that here's the thing. You can't go by in the Pokemon trading card game without hitting an uncomfortable matchup and you can't go by without hitting control. You have to do your due diligence and learning how your deck does go against these decks because listen, they're out there. Whether you like them or not, you will hit one. Sometimes you hit one on your winning end. That really sucks.

05:11:29.120 --> 05:11:35.460
It definitely want to circle back around to the fact that Satoshi just a few rounds earlier played against this matchup

05:11:35.460 --> 05:11:37.460
And that's valuable experience

05:11:37.460 --> 05:11:42.940
Maybe came in a little bit unknown against the player who had a game plan and it seems like the experience

05:11:42.940 --> 05:11:49.180
He learned the importance of getting the missed energy to play the importance of valuing mega Kangaskhan early and more importantly

05:11:49.180 --> 05:11:54.820
There were few opportunities he could have retreated into the Kangaskhan tried it by some more cards of blood Aaron

05:11:54.820 --> 05:11:57.820
I think that would offer him in this match.

05:11:57.820 --> 05:12:02.820
Yeah, especially when Angus is the one who needs to kind of rush and go faster and faster each turn, right?

05:12:02.820 --> 05:12:07.820
And had absolutely the tools to do it with Wind, for example, drawing, evidently, six cards.

05:12:07.820 --> 05:12:12.820
But it felt like there were pairs hiding in the prizes every single time, right?

05:12:12.820 --> 05:12:16.820
A pair of Kid Dabra, a pair. I think game one really was because of the prize cards, right?

05:12:16.820 --> 05:12:20.820
Unable really to get things going. But honestly, don't take it from us.

05:12:20.820 --> 05:12:22.820
I want to hear from Satoshi himself.

05:12:24.820 --> 05:12:35.660
Hello. Hello. Hello. We're here with Satoshi, who just won with the only, the one, the very

05:12:35.660 --> 05:12:43.260
mysterious guy at Crustle. Killing it on the world stage, the first time that you've been

05:12:43.260 --> 05:12:48.100
featured, you just let me know. How does it feel to have been up there with that

05:12:48.100 --> 05:12:58.100
I've been awesome. I mean I feel awesome. I was so lucky to be honest, but I mean today's my day.

05:12:58.100 --> 05:13:05.100
It is your day and you can only revel in that energy. How did it feel coming into the event with Crustle?

05:13:05.100 --> 05:13:10.100
Did it feel risky or did you feel like nah nah no one's respecting this right now?

05:13:10.100 --> 05:13:11.940
I mean, no one's respecting.

05:13:11.940 --> 05:13:16.500
That's why I got so much, like so many good games.

05:13:16.500 --> 05:13:19.700
Lucky and I have so many good friends.

05:13:19.700 --> 05:13:22.220
So, and they recommend me to play Crustle.

05:13:22.220 --> 05:13:23.820
I'm like, yeah, why not?

05:13:23.820 --> 05:13:25.180
Yeah, exactly, you've got it.

05:13:25.180 --> 05:13:26.620
Do you want to give some of those friends a shout out?

05:13:26.620 --> 05:13:27.540
Are they here supporting you?

05:13:27.540 --> 05:13:28.580
I think that's just that.

05:13:28.580 --> 05:13:32.900
Yeah, shout out to Lillian, Steph, Carter, Johnny,

05:13:32.900 --> 05:13:38.100
Michael, John, Henry, Abban, and Rahul.

05:13:38.100 --> 05:13:41.180
Yeah, Mustafa, everybody, but yeah.

05:13:41.180 --> 05:13:43.260
And then shout out to my parents, too.

05:13:43.260 --> 05:13:44.460
Yeah, absolutely.

05:13:44.460 --> 05:13:47.260
We got to wrap the people who got us here, haven't we?

05:13:47.260 --> 05:13:49.140
Absolutely.

05:13:49.140 --> 05:13:52.060
Incredible show with Prustle so far.

05:13:52.060 --> 05:13:53.580
How are we feeling?

05:13:53.580 --> 05:13:57.260
Jettisoning yourself into the top tables of this event,

05:13:57.260 --> 05:14:00.660
did you ever imagine yourself being in this position?

05:14:00.660 --> 05:14:03.220
No, not at all, because I've never made cash.

05:14:03.220 --> 05:14:04.540
I've never made top cut.

05:14:04.540 --> 05:14:06.500
This is my first top cut.

05:14:06.500 --> 05:14:10.340
That would be like, yeah, this is just crazy to me.

05:14:10.340 --> 05:14:13.740
At the World Championship, you said you haven't even

05:14:13.740 --> 05:14:14.780
been playing that long.

05:14:14.780 --> 05:14:17.300
What's your journey into the game been like?

05:14:17.300 --> 05:14:20.260
I mean, I started it when Prismatic came out,

05:14:20.260 --> 05:14:21.700
and then I got into it.

05:14:21.700 --> 05:14:23.700
So, Craig, I like Pokemon.

05:14:23.700 --> 05:14:25.100
I mean, my name is Satoshi.

05:14:25.100 --> 05:14:26.620
Satoshi is an ash.

05:14:26.620 --> 05:14:29.260
So I'm like, I hope you play Pokemon.

05:14:29.260 --> 05:14:32.060
And I guess I'm just left by Pokemon.

05:14:32.060 --> 05:14:33.540
It was meant to be.

05:14:33.540 --> 05:14:35.540
that's what we're going to do.

05:14:35.540 --> 05:14:37.540
We're going to throw it back to

05:14:37.540 --> 05:14:39.540
the cast. This was a more good

05:14:39.540 --> 05:14:43.540
times. Thank you. Thanks so much,

05:14:43.540 --> 05:14:46.540
Amy. Great to hear from our

05:14:46.540 --> 05:14:49.540
winner of May. Is there a

05:14:49.540 --> 05:14:51.540
possibility he is the real

05:14:51.540 --> 05:14:53.540
Ash Ketchum in this tournament

05:14:53.540 --> 05:14:55.540
trying to become a Pokemon

05:14:55.540 --> 05:14:57.540
master. You know, when I

05:14:57.540 --> 05:14:59.540
realized that, as he said, then

05:14:59.540 --> 05:15:01.540
I was like, that's gotta be

05:15:01.540 --> 05:15:06.540
that as he said, then I was like that's got to be some plot armor, man. And I think it's

05:15:06.540 --> 05:15:12.460
so impressive. And it really is kind of showing that no matter how long you've been playing,

05:15:12.460 --> 05:15:17.460
you can make it to this world stage. I do believe Satoshi said he started in prismatic

05:15:17.460 --> 05:15:23.060
from what I heard prismatic believe it or not is not that far ago in terms of sets.

05:15:23.060 --> 05:15:27.460
So realistically, it's about the people that you surround yourself with as well.

05:15:27.460 --> 05:15:34.820
I heard some great names there in terms of support for Satoshi, so when you got a good testing group honestly get even anything is possible

05:15:34.820 --> 05:15:37.320
And that's what the world championships are about

05:15:37.320 --> 05:15:41.280
Of course you have the players that are expected to perform well, but it feels like every year

05:15:41.280 --> 05:15:46.860
There's always a Cinderella story. Yeah, you know unknown players someone who made their way through

05:15:47.140 --> 05:15:50.800
grinding local events or the regional circuit or whatever events

05:15:50.800 --> 05:16:01.800
have had a huge breakout position, but with the right deck with the right look and with the right matchups find themselves in a spot where they go on this epic journey to try and take home a trophy title.

05:16:01.800 --> 05:16:17.800
And you want to talk about Cinderella stories. I know that we can't talk about everything just yet, but Oivind, a player who is of course one of a favorite of Europe and who had an amazing run at the World Championship last year, I believe, just locked himself into asymmetrical top cut again.

05:16:17.800 --> 05:16:19.360
And this is what we're talking about.

05:16:19.360 --> 05:16:23.560
There are way too many players here to feature at once.

05:16:23.560 --> 05:16:25.160
It's so unfortunate that we can't have eyes

05:16:25.160 --> 05:16:26.080
all over the place.

05:16:26.080 --> 05:16:28.480
But this is why it's important for you all to keep up

05:16:28.480 --> 05:16:31.160
as well, too, it will help us out.

05:16:31.160 --> 05:16:33.520
And honestly, I'm just so excited to see

05:16:33.520 --> 05:16:36.040
how the rest of the day is going to go.

05:16:36.040 --> 05:16:38.440
We're going up to our final two competitors.

05:16:38.440 --> 05:16:41.240
Somebody's gonna be a champion tomorrow, Ethan.

05:16:41.240 --> 05:16:42.160
As we get ready for top cut,

05:16:42.160 --> 05:16:43.240
we'll make sure, of course,

05:16:43.240 --> 05:16:45.160
we break down the players, all the decks.

05:16:45.160 --> 05:16:49.280
This is the place you want to be, you are a Pokemon TCG fan.

05:16:49.280 --> 05:16:52.400
We are going to have such exciting action for our top cut.

05:16:52.400 --> 05:16:53.640
I just can't wait.

05:16:53.640 --> 05:16:56.880
I mean, we keep saying it, and it's going to feel surreal.

05:16:56.880 --> 05:16:59.440
But tomorrow, the Chase Center.

05:16:59.440 --> 05:17:03.560
Pokemon cards in the Chase Center, Ethan.

05:17:03.560 --> 05:17:04.400
It's going to be crazy.

05:17:04.400 --> 05:17:07.320
I have no words to describe what this place is

05:17:07.320 --> 05:17:10.120
going to look like, what it's going to sound like,

05:17:10.120 --> 05:17:13.000
how excited and nervous at the same time

05:17:13.000 --> 05:17:14.880
these players are going to be.

05:17:14.880 --> 05:17:18.840
course will be featuring the juniors division, seniors division and master's

05:17:18.840 --> 05:17:23.440
division finalists will be crowning three champions for the Pokemon TCG tomorrow at the chase.

05:17:23.800 --> 05:17:28.000
And what's very fun about watching the other age divisions is how different the

05:17:28.000 --> 05:17:32.000
meta is for a lot of our age divisions. Back at NAIC, you and I, Ethan,

05:17:32.440 --> 05:17:36.840
commented in a haunch crow winning, haunch crow and raging bolt, right?

05:17:37.080 --> 05:17:40.920
So I really love these younger divisions, especially because you kind of get

05:17:40.920 --> 05:17:43.160
to see their journeys up through the masters as well.

05:17:43.160 --> 05:17:48.160
plenty of the players that you see today in Masters also started in Juniors.

05:17:48.160 --> 05:17:52.280
Yeah, long road for a lot of these competitors. We talked yesterday about Ross

05:17:52.280 --> 05:17:56.000
Coffin. He's been playing in every world championship. We have players here that

05:17:56.000 --> 05:17:59.280
this is their first world championship. This is their first season, you know,

05:17:59.280 --> 05:18:03.880
someone like Satoshi, for example, who just made himself a top cut

05:18:03.880 --> 05:18:07.880
representative. There are so many different journeys people take to get to

05:18:07.880 --> 05:18:10.680
this spot and that's what makes the game so special. When you sit down

05:18:10.680 --> 05:18:14.760
against your opponent. You have no idea what their journey has been. How many hours they've

05:18:14.760 --> 05:18:18.760
practiced, who they've lost to, who they've beaten. That's what makes the game so special.

05:18:18.760 --> 05:18:24.040
And it's really a global game. It always will be a global game, not just at the World Championship.

05:18:24.040 --> 05:18:28.760
People are flying hours and hours to go all over the world, whether you're from North America,

05:18:28.760 --> 05:18:33.800
from Australia. But speaking of North America, Ethan, one of our breakout stars

05:18:33.800 --> 05:18:38.920
from last season, Karris Jones, is currently at the feature match table. And I think we're

05:18:38.920 --> 05:18:43.880
going to try to pull up the match here so we can keep going and keep figuring out some

05:18:43.880 --> 05:18:48.280
of these matchups here. Ethan, I mean, she's still piloting this Alakazam.

05:18:48.280 --> 05:18:56.480
Yeah, and up against a very interesting deck. So these players currently at 7, 1, and 3.

05:18:56.480 --> 05:19:02.960
So potentially on the cusp of top cut, a win would give them 27 match points. Kind

05:19:02.960 --> 05:19:06.400
and it just right around that angle.

05:19:06.400 --> 05:19:08.680
We'll see Fan Rotom start things off

05:19:08.680 --> 05:19:11.680
and I am seeing some very interesting Pokemon

05:19:11.680 --> 05:19:13.120
in using Chas Deck.

05:19:13.120 --> 05:19:15.080
Yeah, here's the thing, Ethan.

05:19:15.080 --> 05:19:16.840
We saw Megalopony a little bit earlier,

05:19:16.840 --> 05:19:18.600
paired with a couple of other friends.

05:19:18.600 --> 05:19:21.960
I actually think used deck is majorly going to be

05:19:21.960 --> 05:19:23.640
just colorless box.

05:19:23.640 --> 05:19:27.000
So using the Fan Rotom to find all of your support

05:19:27.000 --> 05:19:28.920
Pokemon that being done sparse

05:19:28.920 --> 05:19:31.040
and then bringing your Megalopony in play.

05:19:31.040 --> 05:19:34.600
This is kind of what we saw originally with Megalopony

05:19:34.600 --> 05:19:36.520
being the one that's kind of the attacker

05:19:36.520 --> 05:19:39.600
and then just using the Dunspar to keep drawing cards here.

05:19:39.600 --> 05:19:41.840
But I'm interested to see if Karris Jones is

05:19:42.940 --> 05:19:45.600
having an answer at least to the missed energy

05:19:45.600 --> 05:19:49.160
that's inevitably going to come down onto this Megalopony.

05:19:49.160 --> 05:19:52.640
And this immediately presents a problem for Karris

05:19:52.640 --> 05:19:55.920
trying to find some way to deal with that card.

05:19:55.920 --> 05:19:58.680
She of course, for her Indianapolis win,

05:19:58.680 --> 05:19:59.600
was able to deal with it

05:19:59.600 --> 05:20:02.840
Thanks to the Denny to bring back the double enhanced hammer.

05:20:02.840 --> 05:20:05.360
But if those cards are not in the list,

05:20:05.360 --> 05:20:08.960
things could definitely get out of hand quickly.

05:20:08.960 --> 05:20:11.040
Just peeking over the list right now

05:20:11.040 --> 05:20:14.160
does have a couple of copies of handheld fan

05:20:14.160 --> 05:20:15.760
that could go through.

05:20:15.760 --> 05:20:19.440
But I'm not seeing that very signature enhanced hammer

05:20:19.440 --> 05:20:23.400
that helped her win in Deanapolis, as you mentioned here.

05:20:23.400 --> 05:20:25.040
Take a look at the handheld fan count.

05:20:25.040 --> 05:20:27.720
It is two.

05:20:27.720 --> 05:20:34.260
And you have to always remember this Alakazam deck with the Dunsparse can do an infinite loop where they don't deck out

05:20:34.260 --> 05:20:37.860
thanks to the Dunsparse plus another Dunsparse on the following turn.

05:20:38.720 --> 05:20:41.940
So you have to go for some sort of attacking strategy.

05:20:42.500 --> 05:20:46.560
Megaloppenet, if it can attack consistently, will deal with every Pokemon in this deck.

05:20:46.560 --> 05:20:50.940
The question just becomes, how many missed energy can you consistently get onto that Pokemon

05:20:50.940 --> 05:20:54.320
to avoid a powerful hand from taking out your mega evolution Pokemon?

05:20:54.320 --> 05:20:58.020
One thing that I do love about used deck as I'm looking at the deck list

05:20:58.020 --> 05:21:01.420
does at least play one copy of Wally's Compassion,

05:21:01.420 --> 05:21:06.120
as we saw with this deck many moons ago at this point here.

05:21:06.120 --> 05:21:10.620
But one thing that I thought was missing from the Bronze on Lopony deck just a little bit more

05:21:10.620 --> 05:21:12.620
was actually Wally's Compassion.

05:21:12.620 --> 05:21:15.120
This Mega Lopony gives up a lot of prize cards

05:21:15.120 --> 05:21:18.220
and players really do love to prioritize it.

05:21:18.220 --> 05:21:21.720
But for Karras' turn, having only one Abra here,

05:21:21.720 --> 05:21:24.760
not exactly what you want to see, but double attachment

05:21:24.760 --> 05:21:28.720
for the missed energy onto the Lopunny there

05:21:28.720 --> 05:21:30.160
all the way through.

05:21:30.160 --> 05:21:33.680
I mean, that Lopunny is going to take a knockout this term,

05:21:33.680 --> 05:21:35.160
but that handheld fan is only going

05:21:35.160 --> 05:21:37.040
to be able to move one missed energy.

05:21:37.040 --> 05:21:40.520
But the thing is, Ethan, you can either move it to a done

05:21:40.520 --> 05:21:43.040
sparse, and that's going to go back into the deck.

05:21:43.040 --> 05:21:44.480
You move it to the fan rotom, and that

05:21:44.480 --> 05:21:46.440
can be used to still attack here

05:21:46.440 --> 05:21:47.560
if there's a stadium in play.

05:21:47.560 --> 05:21:50.360
Or you just move it to the other mega Lopunny EX

05:21:50.360 --> 05:21:52.560
when it comes into play?

05:21:52.560 --> 05:21:55.480
Yeah, not great options whatsoever.

05:21:55.480 --> 05:21:59.920
Missed energy count, 100% we're seeing in multiple matchups

05:21:59.920 --> 05:22:02.880
how Missed energy truly shuts down Alakazam.

05:22:02.880 --> 05:22:04.520
And that was the big adjustment for the deck

05:22:04.520 --> 05:22:07.120
going into this event, not expecting many players

05:22:07.120 --> 05:22:09.320
to include that card in their deck

05:22:09.320 --> 05:22:11.360
and decided to free up some spots,

05:22:11.360 --> 05:22:13.160
play some more consistency cards,

05:22:13.160 --> 05:22:15.000
play other forms of disruption.

05:22:15.000 --> 05:22:17.280
And we've seen that in these later rounds

05:22:17.280 --> 05:22:18.800
towards the end of the tournament,

05:22:18.800 --> 05:22:21.200
some players are getting punished for their mistake.

05:22:21.200 --> 05:22:23.280
And I'm very interested to see,

05:22:23.280 --> 05:22:27.520
and I would love to talk to you on why deciding to go with a deck like this.

05:22:27.520 --> 05:22:31.040
It feels like the only deck in the room that's truly prepared for Alakazam.

05:22:31.040 --> 05:22:36.960
And really, I mean, nobody truly was prepared for Alakazam this entire time here.

05:22:36.960 --> 05:22:40.320
So it is going to be fan-roaring going up into the active here.

05:22:40.320 --> 05:22:44.640
I'm wondering if you want to take a little bit more of an aggressive approach,

05:22:44.640 --> 05:22:47.600
saying I don't really care about this Genesect here,

05:22:47.600 --> 05:22:50.240
and would rather just go straight to the Abra?

05:22:50.240 --> 05:22:51.360
Definitely can.

05:22:51.360 --> 05:22:53.920
Of course, moving that Fan Rotom out of the active spot

05:22:53.920 --> 05:22:55.680
can be a bit of a challenge.

05:22:55.680 --> 05:22:57.920
You do have to commit some resources.

05:22:57.920 --> 05:23:00.560
You never really want to play Switch

05:23:00.560 --> 05:23:03.040
if it's not getting you an attack for turn.

05:23:03.040 --> 05:23:05.920
Something like the Air Balloon is better on to the Megalopony

05:23:05.920 --> 05:23:07.760
since you can retreat into the Dunsparse,

05:23:07.760 --> 05:23:08.800
then shuffle it back in,

05:23:08.800 --> 05:23:12.960
and you basically get a free reset on your Gale Thrust attack.

05:23:12.960 --> 05:23:14.480
There's also the Spikey Hopper attack

05:23:14.480 --> 05:23:16.000
that can just consistently be used.

05:23:16.000 --> 05:23:19.720
use, do 160 damage, get through everything in this deck,

05:23:19.720 --> 05:23:22.960
and that way you don't have to constantly be moving in and out.

05:23:22.960 --> 05:23:25.080
It's really going to come down to, yet again,

05:23:25.080 --> 05:23:27.760
how many missed energy can be put into play,

05:23:27.760 --> 05:23:31.160
and more importantly, how disruptive is that handheld fan?

05:23:31.160 --> 05:23:33.400
Pass back on over, the battle cage is played,

05:23:33.400 --> 05:23:38.200
so that requirement for assault landing has been filled here.

05:23:38.200 --> 05:23:42.080
One Pogiepad off of the runaway draw has been found,

05:23:42.080 --> 05:23:44.040
so that is at least another Abra,

05:23:44.040 --> 05:23:50.040
Or it could be a cadavera if Karris really wants to spin the wheel and optimally draw some more cards.

05:23:50.040 --> 05:23:53.180
But as you can see, it is going to be Hilda for the turn.

05:23:53.180 --> 05:23:59.940
Telepathic psychic energy found, and that means Karris now reliably has some ways to grab some more Pokemon out of the deck.

05:24:01.560 --> 05:24:05.900
The question still looms, Emily. What is the response to missed energy?

05:24:06.460 --> 05:24:11.100
The Genesect with this handheld fan, of course, can interact with that attack.

05:24:11.100 --> 05:24:15.980
And you're just losing that Pokemon. There's already two missed energy on, so you're still

05:24:15.980 --> 05:24:22.540
safe from a potential powerful hand on following turns. You always have to ask yourself if the

05:24:22.540 --> 05:24:27.900
Pokemon TCG, when your back is up against the wall, what can I do to play around the

05:24:27.900 --> 05:24:33.580
conditions my opponent is setting? And for Karris, there's not a lot. Super Cybold

05:24:33.580 --> 05:24:37.360
can hit that Pokemon, but it's only going to do 30 damage. The Dunsparse take so much

05:24:37.360 --> 05:24:41.000
time to power up and bosses orders can easily put a wrench in those plans I

05:24:41.000 --> 05:24:45.560
just struggle to see how Karris finds a way out of this game. Well according to

05:24:45.560 --> 05:24:50.920
the list if I'm reading it correctly I mean Karris does at least play a copy

05:24:50.920 --> 05:24:56.280
of Lily's Clefairy EX so that could be powered up but the problem is one thing

05:24:56.280 --> 05:25:00.440
that Mega Lot Bunny does extremely well and what this deck is really known for

05:25:00.440 --> 05:25:03.920
is the amount of switches that it's used to get Lot Bunny out of the

05:25:03.920 --> 05:25:08.400
active so Gale for us can go back in. So if she were to promote a 2 prize

05:25:08.400 --> 05:25:13.040
Pokemon that's easy pickings for someone like you to really take advantage of.

05:25:13.040 --> 05:25:17.380
And I think you realize is that his lotbunny is technically completely safe.

05:25:17.380 --> 05:25:21.500
He can use all of this time even with Genesect in the active with ace

05:25:21.500 --> 05:25:26.180
nullifier now in effect because of the tools. He can really use just sit back

05:25:26.180 --> 05:25:30.200
and say you know what I don't need my enriching energy just yet. I'll attack

05:25:30.200 --> 05:25:31.700
when I really feel like it.

05:25:32.700 --> 05:25:36.500
Lily's Clefairy can, of course, attack that Megalopony.

05:25:36.500 --> 05:25:39.600
It's an effects of attack that that Missed Energy blocks.

05:25:39.600 --> 05:25:41.500
And more importantly, that handheld fan.

05:25:41.500 --> 05:25:44.500
If it's available, it's probably best used

05:25:44.500 --> 05:25:47.600
onto that Clefairy EX.

05:25:47.600 --> 05:25:50.800
Being able to just disrupt and pressure your opponent

05:25:50.800 --> 05:25:52.800
to attack into you yet again.

05:25:52.800 --> 05:25:54.000
A big factor in this match.

05:25:54.000 --> 05:25:57.300
And we see Cares prevent herself from benching that Pokemon,

05:25:57.300 --> 05:25:59.400
ideally with the plan to use something

05:25:59.400 --> 05:26:02.520
like a wondrous path to attack with it on the same turn it comes into play.

05:26:02.520 --> 05:26:07.640
You kind of want to leave your only attacking Pokemon in this matchup as a surprise.

05:26:07.640 --> 05:26:13.000
As we mentioned a little bit earlier, you is only playing one, I believe, copy of the Wally's

05:26:13.000 --> 05:26:19.000
Compassion. So while, yes, these full boards will be able to at least buff the damage,

05:26:19.640 --> 05:26:24.680
you will have to use that Wally's Compassion very, very carefully here. That's a fire energy,

05:26:24.680 --> 05:26:31.300
Ethan, going to be at least an assault landing onto the only draw Pokemon that done sparse right now

05:26:31.300 --> 05:26:34.360
I just want to use bosses orders take care of that Pokemon

05:26:34.360 --> 05:26:36.960
You never know what fun surprises could be in play

05:26:37.240 --> 05:26:41.620
See one of those fun surprises that the done sparse EX over on use side

05:26:41.620 --> 05:26:46.060
So just wants to play around every potential option shut the draw power off force

05:26:46.340 --> 05:26:50.620
Kadabra and Alakazam to come into play and with that it does limit the

05:26:50.620 --> 05:26:54.380
total amount of draw throughout the game that Karris will have by taking out

05:26:54.380 --> 05:26:57.340
something like the Dunsparse or Dunsparse. I just want to talk about

05:26:57.340 --> 05:27:01.020
use lists just a little bit just knowing that we went into worlds and

05:27:01.020 --> 05:27:05.460
especially Liam Halliburton and toward playing a Zorak list with four watch

05:27:05.460 --> 05:27:10.780
tower it feels very dangerous to go up against a kind of a meta that feels

05:27:10.780 --> 05:27:14.540
kind of planned against you here but you was actually playing three battle

05:27:14.540 --> 05:27:19.060
cage and one copy of the jamming tower so a lot of these tools the

05:27:19.060 --> 05:27:23.500
players love to use like air balloon shutting off actually helps them in the

05:27:23.500 --> 05:27:28.140
end as Donnie is going to be used for turn couple more cards being drawn here

05:27:28.140 --> 05:27:32.220
but I love the way that you is actually just protecting the Lopony until it's

05:27:32.220 --> 05:27:36.500
time really to go in and start taking these prize cards and if jamming towers

05:27:36.500 --> 05:27:41.780
played down at the right time the game almost ends on the spot you shut

05:27:41.780 --> 05:27:45.380
off the handheld fan for that turn you keep your two missed energy on

05:27:45.380 --> 05:27:49.880
your Pokemon and if the one psychic pattern wonderous patch excuse me is used to power up

05:27:49.880 --> 05:27:53.740
Lillis Clefairy then your opponent has to telegraph and attack on the following turns

05:27:53.740 --> 05:27:56.380
meeting bosses orders can easily clean things up.

05:27:56.380 --> 05:27:59.380
Harris has got to act quick in this spot if she wants to keep herself in this game.

05:27:59.380 --> 05:28:03.820
Plenty of cards in hand to go alongside her as well.

05:28:03.820 --> 05:28:06.540
Very well gets set up another Dunsparse as well.

05:28:06.540 --> 05:28:07.540
She's going to put it down.

05:28:07.540 --> 05:28:10.260
I'm wondering if she's going to fill that final bench slot.

05:28:10.260 --> 05:28:14.060
Yep, with Dunsparse as you've alluded to Ethan I think it is really smart to

05:28:14.060 --> 05:28:19.340
not just put forward the Lily's Clefairy until it's attacking, but more so importantly until the

05:28:19.340 --> 05:28:25.340
Megalopony is attacking. You don't want to reveal it now, but more so instead when the benches are

05:28:25.340 --> 05:28:31.180
full for her against the Lopony instead. That's at least going to give her the most amount of prize

05:28:31.180 --> 05:28:36.140
cards possible. And especially because you is only playing one Wally's Compassion, that damage

05:28:36.140 --> 05:28:38.860
is going to stay there after that for the rest of the game.

05:28:38.860 --> 05:28:42.780
Pass of the turn, we see Miss Energy number three.

05:28:42.780 --> 05:28:47.220
That is a lot of special energy attached to this Pokemon,

05:28:47.220 --> 05:28:54.140
really making sure that Alakazam does not deal a powerful hand attack to that Megalopping.

05:28:54.140 --> 05:28:59.220
I think what's also interesting is that we don't get to see the prize cards when it's on a featured patch,

05:28:59.220 --> 05:29:07.420
but the thing is there's still a Baneary on the bench that does at least need one copy of Miss Energy at some point here.

05:29:07.420 --> 05:29:10.700
So you will draw six cards from this Lily's determination,

05:29:10.700 --> 05:29:16.800
and you'll find that jamming tower stadium to shut off the handheld fan.

05:29:16.800 --> 05:29:19.840
Still two use of the runaway draw at his disposal.

05:29:19.840 --> 05:29:22.340
See, three cards drawn.

05:29:22.340 --> 05:29:24.340
Did Dunspar shuffle back into the deck?

05:29:26.840 --> 05:29:32.080
See if Dunspar's can come back down to reuse that ability later on in the game.

05:29:32.080 --> 05:29:36.080
But even if you was unable to find something like the jamming tower,

05:29:36.080 --> 05:29:39.720
He's got two missed energy as a backup and has to assume that at most

05:29:40.120 --> 05:29:46.800
Keras has one more handheld fan available at her disposal. Yeah, it feels pretty good at this point here for you

05:29:47.760 --> 05:29:49.760
three cards drawn

05:29:49.760 --> 05:29:54.080
Both done sparse gone for the time being there's one from the hand

05:29:54.480 --> 05:29:58.720
Pauphin would also be a great card. There's a air balloon

05:29:58.720 --> 05:30:02.600
So sure access for this megalopony to move down the line

05:30:02.600 --> 05:30:09.220
I don't think I've ever seen so many cards attached to a lot before Ethan usually it's just a a energy and

05:30:09.280 --> 05:30:12.920
That's all you kind of need as long as you can get in it out of the active

05:30:12.920 --> 05:30:16.720
But this may go this make a lot money is going to be the one that does it here

05:30:16.720 --> 05:30:23.420
And just another pass back on over to Keras inside here really just respecting the handheld fan as much as possible

05:30:23.760 --> 05:30:26.920
Maybe you was trying to toy with her patience just a little bit

05:30:26.920 --> 05:30:33.360
Alakazam does draw plenty of cards and we are in our final round of swiss here

05:30:34.160 --> 05:30:37.540
Yeah, both players have access to that to Dunspar's loop

05:30:37.540 --> 05:30:44.440
So they won't be decking out in this game and with you being the only one to essentially deal damage consistently

05:30:44.440 --> 05:30:47.480
It really just comes down to resources with that being the case

05:30:47.560 --> 05:30:52.260
There's no incentive for you to attack until he has a way to shut off this handheld fan

05:30:52.260 --> 05:30:58.820
That's when he's going to get the most value and the most use out of that jamming tower all the time in the world for you

05:30:58.820 --> 05:31:01.020
Now as Karras can still just keep going

05:31:01.740 --> 05:31:07.760
Set up the amount of cards and really I think you should say you can take this fan rotum

05:31:07.760 --> 05:31:12.700
I've given it to you on a silver platter, but I can see her just passing over and over again

05:31:12.700 --> 05:31:17.980
It's one of the most viral clips from the season of her just saying you know what if you fall in past

05:31:17.980 --> 05:31:23.400
Maybe thinking about an alternate win condition to stall something out, but that doesn't work, right?

05:31:23.400 --> 05:31:29.700
Because the DUNS sparse can keep looping. Now, there is a world where both players get into an infinite board state

05:31:29.700 --> 05:31:34.100
where no one is progressing things and things go back and forth, and it can definitely get complicated.

05:31:34.100 --> 05:31:38.660
But how many resources you still have access to? I'm not sure we'll quite see that happen.

05:31:38.660 --> 05:31:44.860
No DUNS sparse in play, a knockout on the DUNS sparse because of boss's orders plus powerful hand.

05:31:44.860 --> 05:31:48.620
and see if you can find that jamming tower,

05:31:48.620 --> 05:31:51.740
considering playing something like the Nightstretcher.

05:31:51.740 --> 05:31:52.980
Pokey Gear here.

05:31:52.980 --> 05:31:55.740
Now, you did at least drive Lily's determination,

05:31:55.740 --> 05:31:58.140
so could refresh the hand if anything else,

05:31:58.140 --> 05:32:01.100
but still buying time, essentially.

05:32:01.100 --> 05:32:03.620
Boss's orders here could get aggressive

05:32:03.620 --> 05:32:07.820
and go after the Alakazam without the tool on it.

05:32:07.820 --> 05:32:10.780
Just start to at least get prize cards of his own

05:32:10.780 --> 05:32:11.980
with that Mega Law Bunny,

05:32:11.980 --> 05:32:16.220
with the air balloon on it, but the problem is,

05:32:16.220 --> 05:32:18.580
does you want to start getting aggressive now?

05:32:18.580 --> 05:32:22.320
At least we'll set up the DUNS spars here.

05:32:22.320 --> 05:32:25.540
You can just use another assault landing on a DUNS sparse.

05:32:25.540 --> 05:32:28.220
Keep the energy in play.

05:32:28.220 --> 05:32:30.260
I was wondering what to go with, of course,

05:32:30.260 --> 05:32:32.300
attacking into this Alakazam with Fanroton.

05:32:32.300 --> 05:32:34.380
Definitely not a wise choice.

05:32:34.380 --> 05:32:36.940
We've seen Hugo out of his way to play around that.

05:32:36.940 --> 05:32:40.220
Really just wants every missed energy as possible.

05:32:40.220 --> 05:32:43.100
This is a bit excessive, don't you think?

05:32:43.100 --> 05:32:45.900
Yeah, it's definitely not what you want to see here,

05:32:45.900 --> 05:32:48.580
but I think the wrench in the side here for you

05:32:48.580 --> 05:32:51.220
is that Karras is not taking this fan rodom.

05:32:51.220 --> 05:32:55.740
I think she's purposefully leaving here as kind of this target.

05:32:55.740 --> 05:32:59.620
And this poor Baneeri on the bench has no balloon

05:32:59.620 --> 05:33:02.500
and no missed energy on it, Ethan.

05:33:02.500 --> 05:33:05.460
Really all or nothing with one Pokemon.

05:33:05.460 --> 05:33:08.700
Yeah, I don't know if Karras has enough ways

05:33:08.700 --> 05:33:12.460
to play boss's orders consistently to get it into a spot

05:33:12.460 --> 05:33:14.860
where the Beniri can't retreat.

05:33:14.860 --> 05:33:18.300
Seems a bit difficult with it just having a one retreat cost.

05:33:18.300 --> 05:33:21.620
And immediately, see, Keras start off with an eerie.

05:33:21.620 --> 05:33:24.180
So bringing back that card that found her success

05:33:24.180 --> 05:33:25.140
in Indianapolis.

05:33:25.140 --> 05:33:28.580
There's only that special red card to this card.

05:33:28.580 --> 05:33:30.220
Doesn't see anything like the battle cage.

05:33:30.220 --> 05:33:32.580
So may not be aware that that stadium card is what

05:33:32.580 --> 05:33:34.020
he was waiting for.

05:33:34.020 --> 05:33:36.380
It's just not exactly what Keras wants to see.

05:33:36.380 --> 05:33:39.140
It's more so information than anything else,

05:33:39.140 --> 05:33:43.420
but finally be able to continue going through her loop here.

05:33:43.420 --> 05:33:46.140
It just feels like a standstill at this point even, right?

05:33:46.140 --> 05:33:49.860
You doesn't want to move this fan rodem away,

05:33:49.860 --> 05:33:53.580
and nor does Karris want to attack this fan rodem,

05:33:53.580 --> 05:33:56.300
because that means that the handheld fan is not

05:33:56.300 --> 05:34:00.740
going to find much for her.

05:34:00.740 --> 05:34:02.260
See Dunsparce come into play.

05:34:02.260 --> 05:34:04.300
Now considering whether or not to play the Lily's

05:34:04.300 --> 05:34:07.180
determination before the start of this turn.

05:34:07.180 --> 05:34:10.280
Fosses orders also available thanks to the pokey gear.

05:34:12.300 --> 05:34:14.380
Things to consider, it will be fan rotom

05:34:14.380 --> 05:34:16.300
getting involved yet again.

05:34:16.300 --> 05:34:20.060
Foss onto Dunsparse using that assault landing.

05:34:20.060 --> 05:34:23.500
You takes the prize lead going down to four prizes

05:34:23.500 --> 05:34:25.820
and Keras is eventually gonna be in a spot

05:34:25.820 --> 05:34:28.540
where all the Pokemon in play don't wanna be KO'd

05:34:28.540 --> 05:34:31.020
or are prevented from being KO'd.

05:34:31.020 --> 05:34:32.260
And we'll just be in a standstill

05:34:32.260 --> 05:34:34.560
until you eventually find that staining card.

05:34:34.560 --> 05:34:37.300
Now, I know this weekend is fully about Alakazam

05:34:37.300 --> 05:34:40.200
and how players have really kind of teched it out,

05:34:40.200 --> 05:34:42.440
but the thing is, what I really enjoy about you

05:34:42.440 --> 05:34:45.580
going after this Dunsparse is the amount of recovery options

05:34:45.580 --> 05:34:47.440
that Karris doesn't have.

05:34:47.440 --> 05:34:49.540
So a lot of times some of these Alakazam lists

05:34:49.540 --> 05:34:51.740
back in the day were playing something like Alana's Aid

05:34:51.740 --> 05:34:54.820
to get back tons of Pokemon, but for Karris,

05:34:54.820 --> 05:34:57.020
I mean, she's only playing one Nightstretcher

05:34:57.020 --> 05:35:01.380
and one Sacred Ash, so only has use of those resources

05:35:01.380 --> 05:35:06.180
Just for once, if you continues to target down these done sparses,

05:35:06.180 --> 05:35:07.980
that infinite loop that you had mentioned,

05:35:07.980 --> 05:35:10.680
even not going to be online for too much longer.

05:35:10.680 --> 05:35:14.980
Just so many difficulties for Karris in this situation.

05:35:14.980 --> 05:35:17.780
You have to play around for energy, for missed energy.

05:35:17.780 --> 05:35:23.580
Loppany, and the Clefairy can make things a bit awkward.

05:35:23.580 --> 05:35:27.380
Is playing one copy of that special red card?

05:35:27.380 --> 05:35:32.540
So in a world where you goes for a KO to put himself down to three prizes,

05:35:32.540 --> 05:35:38.740
that surprise Lillies Clefairy plus hand disruption might be enough to find a way back into this game.

05:35:38.740 --> 05:35:43.740
It's not just the surprise Lillies Clefairy, it's the surprise Lillies Pearl as well, too.

05:35:43.740 --> 05:35:48.820
So that can absolutely mess up you's prize map, but as we've been talking about,

05:35:48.820 --> 05:35:53.700
you has been really kind of waiting for this jamming tower this entire time

05:35:53.700 --> 05:35:55.740
to start really getting things going.

05:35:55.740 --> 05:35:59.020
And as Kara's finally going to take down this Van Rotem,

05:35:59.020 --> 05:36:02.580
you have to ask if you is finally going to start

05:36:02.580 --> 05:36:05.140
using this Mega Law Pony with four energy on it

05:36:05.140 --> 05:36:06.100
to get it going.

05:36:06.100 --> 05:36:08.260
Just counting cards and deck, making sure deck out

05:36:08.260 --> 05:36:10.740
is not an option.

05:36:10.740 --> 05:36:12.260
Cards in the hand.

05:36:12.260 --> 05:36:16.180
Always got to be aware of what resources you still have,

05:36:16.180 --> 05:36:18.220
what is available at your disposal.

05:36:18.220 --> 05:36:19.940
Three cards drawn off the Dunsparse.

05:36:19.940 --> 05:36:20.820
Back in it goes.

05:36:20.820 --> 05:36:21.740
Whee!

05:36:21.740 --> 05:36:22.620
It's gone.

05:36:22.620 --> 05:36:27.620
back in the deck. You'd love to see it. I mean honestly what a life it would be to

05:36:27.620 --> 05:36:32.260
be at the Dunsparse. Every day you just are thrown in and out of the deck and you

05:36:32.260 --> 05:36:36.380
can confidently say life is never boring. Until a Team Rockets watchtower comes

05:36:36.380 --> 05:36:39.340
down and then you're never allowed to jump back in never getting just kind of

05:36:39.340 --> 05:36:42.660
sit there. Kind of sad. Yeah definitely could have some bad days but

05:36:42.660 --> 05:36:47.900
everybody has bad days. And there it is. It looks like no potentially no

05:36:47.900 --> 05:36:51.260
jamming tower still. Oh it's at the bottom of the deck you could see that

05:36:51.260 --> 05:36:56.380
full-art jamming tower just slowly thinning cards out Hilda for just a fire energy

05:36:58.620 --> 05:37:00.860
see it put on to the baneery

05:37:03.260 --> 05:37:10.940
and she's gonna use the attack, char moving the energy to the pench purposely or actually looks

05:37:10.940 --> 05:37:15.420
like the slap for 10 damage and you force the energy to be moved from the handheld

05:37:15.420 --> 05:37:19.020
It's... it's... it's skibb for dad?

05:37:19.020 --> 05:37:22.020
Just styling. You know what? You got it.

05:37:22.020 --> 05:37:26.720
You could pop it and just attach the energy to the megalopony on the bench, but said no.

05:37:26.720 --> 05:37:30.520
I want to deal 10 damage, so just styling out in this game.

05:37:30.520 --> 05:37:37.420
Sure, why not? I mean, sometimes in the Pokemon Trading Card game, it really comes down to these micro decisions

05:37:37.420 --> 05:37:42.520
that really, you know, this 10 damage could be the most important 10 damage we actually see all day here.

05:37:42.520 --> 05:37:44.680
but an Erie is being played,

05:37:44.680 --> 05:37:47.880
so now Karis gets to see you's hand

05:37:47.880 --> 05:37:51.480
as you got to see her hand a little bit earlier, not too long ago.

05:37:51.480 --> 05:37:55.000
And not sure of the exact time in this situation.

05:37:55.000 --> 05:37:57.880
But you is just at such a massive advantage

05:37:57.880 --> 05:38:00.280
that there's really no reason for him to rush.

05:38:00.280 --> 05:38:02.040
He knows the jamming towers in play.

05:38:02.040 --> 05:38:05.400
He knows he has ways to get around the deck out situation.

05:38:05.400 --> 05:38:07.160
So you may as well just take your time

05:38:07.160 --> 05:38:09.160
if you know that there's not really a situation

05:38:09.160 --> 05:38:10.040
where you're going to lose.

05:38:10.040 --> 05:38:11.560
And this also works too.

05:38:11.560 --> 05:38:15.560
You have no Pokemon on your bench, so Handheld Fan just does absolutely nothing.

05:38:15.560 --> 05:38:22.060
Now, Karris is just no enhanced hammers either, and even if there were at this point, I mean,

05:38:22.060 --> 05:38:26.060
you can't use it four times in a row unless you've got four of them here.

05:38:26.060 --> 05:38:32.060
So Karris really has to wonder, I mean, there's how many cards are left in deck here for you?

05:38:32.060 --> 05:38:35.060
There are a decent amount, but this is the combo turn for Karris.

05:38:35.060 --> 05:38:39.560
Can play this Lilliskal Fairy down, fill the bench up, use the Wunderous Patch,

05:38:39.560 --> 05:38:46.900
and then play the special red card to hand disrupt the biggest issue however is you're taking a free hit KO

05:38:47.580 --> 05:38:52.900
Onto this megalopony and that is just not a trade when it's taking a to hit KO in response

05:38:53.060 --> 05:38:54.540
Not exactly what you want to see

05:38:54.540 --> 05:39:01.120
But if she has the lilies pearl modifier available to her at least this lilies Clefairy X would only be

05:39:02.780 --> 05:39:06.500
One price card here, but this is also a strategy by

05:39:06.500 --> 05:39:11.000
Now it doesn't change much. The Lilith Clefairy will just take enough damage over time.

05:39:11.000 --> 05:39:12.000
Yeah.

05:39:12.000 --> 05:39:17.800
Just trying to think of ways that Karis is planning to deal with this Pokemon, but it just seems

05:39:17.800 --> 05:39:20.200
like she's trapped in a box with no way to escape.

05:39:20.200 --> 05:39:24.120
Yeah, Specky Hopper can be used just twice, like you had mentioned, to get the prize

05:39:24.120 --> 05:39:28.840
card. And the thing is, no Lilith's pearl either. That's going to leave you on one

05:39:28.840 --> 05:39:35.000
prize card left. And as of right now, you hasn't used that one Wally's Compassion.

05:39:35.000 --> 05:39:37.780
Yeah, now you can't really use it from this. Yeah

05:39:37.780 --> 05:39:43.060
No, it's about the same. Your opponent is just holding on to an enhanced hammer. Very true. Pick all those energies back up

05:39:43.060 --> 05:39:49.400
Just about playing as safe as possible on spot. There is that special red card as we see. There's a full Murondo full bench just for Kara

05:39:49.400 --> 05:39:57.560
So 120 damage, three hit KO, it's Megaloppeny easily getting a two hit KO onto the Lilies Clefairy. Draw for turn

05:39:57.560 --> 05:40:02.300
There's that jamming tower it looks like. And really what does you have to do in this spot?

05:40:02.300 --> 05:40:07.820
can use that's the lilies determination but doesn't really change much and has

05:40:07.820 --> 05:40:12.940
the poke pad to grab another Pokemon I'm not quite sure how many switches you

05:40:12.940 --> 05:40:18.940
does play to do a good old gale thrust but actually none in this type of list I

05:40:18.940 --> 05:40:23.540
mean usually you have a second lot bunny ready to go at this point but it's

05:40:23.540 --> 05:40:27.860
really just going to be you I believe using the spiky hopper and there is

05:40:27.860 --> 05:40:33.400
that lilies pearl now granted you did draw the jamming tower even so next turn if

05:40:33.400 --> 05:40:38.900
Karris isn't weary of it this lilies could very could be two prize cards again

05:40:38.900 --> 05:40:43.100
that would definitely spell disaster any Pokemon that's promoted on the

05:40:43.100 --> 05:40:47.020
following turn outside of the lilies could very would be one hit KO'd so

05:40:47.020 --> 05:40:52.460
there it is again full moon rondo for 120 damage what can find you see the

05:40:52.460 --> 05:40:57.020
jamming tower removing that stadium card turning off the lilies pearl and

05:40:57.020 --> 05:40:59.900
There's a KO and looking at Karris's list,

05:40:59.900 --> 05:41:04.340
there's no way to reestablish the Lily's Clefairy in one turn.

05:41:04.340 --> 05:41:07.300
And this is what we talked about just a little bit earlier.

05:41:07.300 --> 05:41:08.140
Oh, it's there.

05:41:08.140 --> 05:41:11.060
Wait, there's a secret ash and a second Wonders Patch.

05:41:11.060 --> 05:41:12.900
Can Karris find this?

05:41:12.900 --> 05:41:15.980
She's gonna check the discard pile and see what else is there.

05:41:15.980 --> 05:41:18.340
If she can fill the bench up yet again,

05:41:18.340 --> 05:41:21.300
she wouldn't be able to use that last full moon rondo.

05:41:21.300 --> 05:41:24.020
It's just so strange to see the amount of Wonders Patch.

05:41:24.020 --> 05:41:26.380
I wonder if you is not gonna be expecting this.

05:41:26.380 --> 05:41:31.700
It could be the Dawn to find the Lillies Clefairy and the Dedun scars even so it's a matter like you said

05:41:31.780 --> 05:41:38.860
Does Karris have the wondrous patch and the energy attachment for a turn you has done so much this entire game

05:41:39.140 --> 05:41:43.940
Can also keep drawing as well. There's there is and the wondrous energy

05:41:45.060 --> 05:41:47.820
Taking a KO Wow what a game for Karris

05:41:47.820 --> 05:41:53.780
It seemed like she had no way back found the line and you was just taken by surprise in that game

05:41:53.780 --> 05:41:55.240
I certainly would as well.

05:41:55.240 --> 05:41:57.680
Both players had something tricky up the sleeve.

05:41:57.680 --> 05:41:59.120
We talked about this a little bit earlier

05:41:59.120 --> 05:42:00.320
with Karris's list.

05:42:00.320 --> 05:42:03.560
Ethan, there was not much recovery there as well.

05:42:03.560 --> 05:42:06.100
So in some of those pressure situations,

05:42:06.100 --> 05:42:08.720
a lot of players, when they see their dunce prices go down,

05:42:08.720 --> 05:42:10.860
they get just a little bit more and more and more.

05:42:10.860 --> 05:42:13.360
Concerned, hey, my draw engine is offline.

05:42:13.360 --> 05:42:15.360
But the problem is in a matchup like that,

05:42:15.360 --> 05:42:18.960
that's not the Pokemon that you're really looking for,

05:42:18.960 --> 05:42:19.800
right?

05:42:19.800 --> 05:42:20.800
You have to start attacking.

05:42:20.800 --> 05:42:27.640
So you did such a good job of getting to that board state where it's like what are you going to do about a Lopini with four energy on it?

05:42:27.640 --> 05:42:32.920
But still I mean, Karris, this is what she does best. She finds ways in really strange ones, too.

05:42:33.160 --> 05:42:36.460
It definitely taken by surprise from the Lilies Clefairy.

05:42:37.120 --> 05:42:41.740
Additionally, didn't have a done sparse in play right if that's there, then you take a one hit KO,

05:42:42.100 --> 05:42:46.960
lose the various dealt with, and definitely played a little bit too passive in that game.

05:42:46.960 --> 05:42:54.340
If you've just taken a few knockouts earlier than that jamming tower Lily's Clefairy play most likely you take your last two prizes in the game

05:42:54.340 --> 05:42:59.380
Just ends but just was a little bit too scared of that handheld fan and so it came back to bite

05:42:59.440 --> 05:43:02.920
Yeah, and just got word that Karris did end up winning the match

05:43:02.920 --> 05:43:07.680
I know we did have just game one for you all but Karris did end up winning that match

05:43:07.680 --> 05:43:14.180
So overcoming four missed energies and a lot of money still very impressive and especially because no enhanced hammer

05:43:14.180 --> 05:43:20.020
No enhanced hammer at all, Karris wins the set, not sure we'll see her quite in top cut,

05:43:20.020 --> 05:43:24.860
but still walking away with a great end to the season, top 32, top 16 somewhere in that

05:43:24.860 --> 05:43:27.740
range, never championed whatsoever.

05:43:27.740 --> 05:43:31.980
Now as we get into our top cut, we've got a little bit of time before we get to the

05:43:31.980 --> 05:43:35.180
matches and really get this action started.

05:43:35.180 --> 05:43:38.900
While we wait 10 years ago, another world champion was crowned.

05:43:38.900 --> 05:43:40.900
Let's take a video at how that went down.

05:44:02.100 --> 05:44:08.460
Hi everyone, I'm here with Jesper Eriksson who won the world championships as a senior

05:44:08.460 --> 05:44:13.460
right here in San Francisco, 10 years ago in 2016.

05:44:17.380 --> 05:44:20.060
How are we feeling being back?

05:44:20.060 --> 05:44:20.940
It feels amazing.

05:44:20.940 --> 05:44:22.900
After we were told two years ago

05:44:22.900 --> 05:44:25.380
that we would go back to San Francisco,

05:44:25.380 --> 05:44:28.020
I immediately had that goosebumps feeling of,

05:44:28.020 --> 05:44:29.900
wait, I get to go back again?

05:44:29.900 --> 05:44:32.100
And with this being 10 years after,

05:44:32.100 --> 05:44:35.460
maybe the perfect circle can have a closing.

05:44:35.460 --> 05:44:36.500
Maybe.

05:44:36.500 --> 05:44:41.700
What would it mean to you to win the World Championships here in 2026?

05:44:42.200 --> 05:44:47.300
We haven't had a repeat champion in both seniors and masters.

05:44:47.300 --> 05:44:50.600
We've seen Jason Klasinski win three times, all of them in masters.

05:44:51.000 --> 05:44:53.100
We haven't had that from seniors to masters yet.

05:44:53.100 --> 05:44:57.700
And I always hope that I can be the first, although it's just incredible being here.

05:44:58.500 --> 05:45:00.800
And regardless of my result, I'm going to be happy.

05:45:00.800 --> 05:45:02.300
I'm going to go here and have a lot of fun.

05:45:02.300 --> 05:45:03.900
Like I always want to do at tournaments.

05:45:04.500 --> 05:45:05.400
We love to hear it.

05:45:05.400 --> 05:45:12.280
I mean what more could we want than a bit of fun? So obviously you have moved from

05:45:12.280 --> 05:45:19.320
seniors to masters divisions what has that journey been like for you? Well I've gotten older. I'm a

05:45:19.320 --> 05:45:25.880
grown-up now right? Going from 15 now to turn 25 recently right? It's a whole journey enough

05:45:25.880 --> 05:45:31.720
itself moving a bit from you know being this all out player to a caster and a coach in the game

05:45:31.720 --> 05:45:37.960
as well. It's just giving me much more context and much more perspective in the game and it's

05:45:37.960 --> 05:45:42.440
giving me the experience so I feel like when I sit down and I play against players that I have

05:45:42.440 --> 05:45:47.160
you know that bit of an edge right that you want when you have 19 years of experience as I have

05:45:47.160 --> 05:45:51.960
so it's just an incredible experience and a journey that I wouldn't have been the same without.

05:45:51.960 --> 05:45:57.080
Coming from being a seniors champion would you have any advice for the seniors who are

05:45:57.080 --> 05:45:59.080
leveling up to Masters soon.

05:45:59.080 --> 05:46:01.080
Don't put too much pressure on yourself.

05:46:01.080 --> 05:46:03.080
Maybe, regardless of your results in seniors,

05:46:03.080 --> 05:46:05.080
Masters is a new breath of life.

05:46:05.080 --> 05:46:06.080
It's a new chapter, right?

05:46:06.080 --> 05:46:08.080
And the Regionals, they're a bit longer.

05:46:08.080 --> 05:46:10.080
It's a bit more waiting times, sometimes between the rounds.

05:46:10.080 --> 05:46:12.080
But just more people to play against

05:46:12.080 --> 05:46:13.080
and have fun with.

05:46:13.080 --> 05:46:16.080
And I think if you go in and take the route off,

05:46:16.080 --> 05:46:17.080
let's have fun at this tournament,

05:46:17.080 --> 05:46:18.080
regardless of the size of it,

05:46:18.080 --> 05:46:20.080
whether that be an IC,

05:46:20.080 --> 05:46:23.080
a Regional Championship, or here at Worlds, even.

05:46:23.080 --> 05:46:24.080
If you have fun with it,

05:46:24.080 --> 05:46:26.080
you would automatically perform better.

05:46:26.080 --> 05:46:27.080
I'm going to be doing better.

05:46:27.080 --> 05:46:28.080
I'm having fun with it.

05:46:28.080 --> 05:46:31.560
Go watch the stream this weekend and hopefully I will be there in the chase center Sunday.

05:46:31.560 --> 05:46:34.720
That is a true dream of mine since we started the whole arena experience.

05:46:34.720 --> 05:46:38.960
But yeah, thank you to my family, my girlfriend and limitless for everything you've done

05:46:38.960 --> 05:46:39.960
for me.

05:46:39.960 --> 05:46:40.960
Thank you so much Jesper.

05:46:40.960 --> 05:46:43.200
Very good luck this weekend.

05:46:43.200 --> 05:46:48.120
It could be a full circle championship Sunday for Jesper.

05:46:48.120 --> 05:46:51.280
What we have plenty of other competitors you're going to have to battle through

05:46:51.280 --> 05:46:52.600
to get there.

05:46:52.600 --> 05:46:57.600
So, with that, make sure you stay tuned in all weekend for all of the action.

05:46:57.600 --> 05:46:59.600
I'll see you next time.

05:48:22.600 --> 05:48:30.600
So close final matches concluding out on the floor and that means we will know which competitors will beat in our

05:48:30.600 --> 05:48:37.160
Top cut and have that dream still alive of becoming the world champion. My name is Tripp Richard joined here by Kyle Pukasukovic

05:48:37.640 --> 05:48:42.280
And this is what we've worked so hard towards all weekend long all season long

05:48:42.720 --> 05:48:44.720
Gonna come down to these last few games

05:48:44.720 --> 05:48:50.680
I believe the 10 players who have made it to our top cut, the Dream, is still alive

05:48:50.680 --> 05:48:51.680
and well.

05:48:51.680 --> 05:48:55.440
You can still become a world champion at this event.

05:48:55.440 --> 05:48:59.720
The rest of the field, Dream's broken, Heart's broken at this point.

05:48:59.720 --> 05:49:05.080
So many players, maybe had an opportunity on their last round for winning in and unfortunately

05:49:05.080 --> 05:49:08.720
just not their year, but 10 remain at this point.

05:49:08.720 --> 05:49:13.720
10 players remain, but only one of them can become our champion.

05:49:13.720 --> 05:49:18.360
We'll get into exactly who and what decks are going to be competing later.

05:49:18.360 --> 05:49:24.520
But I think headlining this top cut for sure, we can speak on just quickly, Diego Castillardo,

05:49:24.520 --> 05:49:27.720
the 2017 World Champion.

05:49:27.720 --> 05:49:33.160
He's looking to do what no other person has done besides Jason Kuzinski,

05:49:33.160 --> 05:49:36.520
which is to win multiple World Championship titles.

05:49:36.520 --> 05:49:40.680
It would be an amazing accomplishment already making it back to the top cut of the World

05:49:40.680 --> 05:49:47.000
championships and amazing accomplishment for Diego who's done that three times in the past.

05:49:47.000 --> 05:49:52.520
Of course as you mentioned former world champion as well and you know as the years have gone by

05:49:52.520 --> 05:49:57.960
chip a lot of those older players have fallen by the wayside other things come up in life maybe

05:49:57.960 --> 05:50:03.080
you don't have much time to practice and be at the top of your game at world championship

05:50:03.080 --> 05:50:07.320
caliber level. We've seen you know exceptions like Ross Coffin we bring up all the time

05:50:07.320 --> 05:50:12.320
Diego is kind of in that class as well, you know, he's still around.

05:50:12.320 --> 05:50:16.320
He's still at the top of his game and he's managed to make it back again.

05:50:16.320 --> 05:50:17.320
It's an incredible story.

05:50:17.320 --> 05:50:23.320
Absolutely, especially being now nine years removed from that 2017 World Championship title run.

05:50:23.320 --> 05:50:29.320
He's had other strong runs at Worlds, top 64, I think, in there between now and then,

05:50:29.320 --> 05:50:32.320
but has not made it back in the top five.

05:50:32.320 --> 05:50:36.320
That's what it's about, just getting to the next stage of the tournament, right?

05:50:36.320 --> 05:50:41.320
you're just trying so hard to get into phase two, staying alive, keeping that dream afloat.

05:50:41.320 --> 05:50:47.320
Phase two into top cut, as long as you can just get phase by phase by phase, I hope still remains.

05:50:47.320 --> 05:50:51.320
Well, I think we have some of our other friends standing by.

05:50:51.320 --> 05:50:53.320
We have Pablo, Joe, and Amy.

05:50:53.320 --> 05:50:56.320
We're going to bring them in to get some of their thoughts as well.

05:50:56.320 --> 05:50:59.320
What are you seeing as we head into this top cut?

05:50:59.320 --> 05:51:01.320
It's a party over here.

05:51:01.320 --> 05:51:09.320
I mean very exciting I gotta say like you guys said I mean I faced Diego in that top

05:51:09.320 --> 05:51:14.560
card where he became world champion so this would be a very special thing to see him push

05:51:14.560 --> 05:51:18.320
forward and push towards that potential second win.

05:51:18.320 --> 05:51:23.000
There are some really really big names in this top card coming up and it's gonna be

05:51:23.000 --> 05:51:27.260
a phenomenal show that's for sure because I know I've always enjoyed a lot of these

05:51:27.260 --> 05:51:33.420
players matches before and now we have a field which is quite varied of the decks that we know

05:51:33.420 --> 05:51:38.060
are definitely going to be up there. I think it's a lot more varied than what we were maybe

05:51:38.060 --> 05:51:42.620
expecting from that day one graphic. Yeah, I think there's a lot of good variety out there.

05:51:42.620 --> 05:51:47.260
I was just watching those dying embers of the Andrew versus Natalie sets where it really got

05:51:47.260 --> 05:51:51.340
down to the wire. There was mind bend confusion flicks coming into the equation, players

05:51:51.340 --> 05:51:56.300
having to retreat into late game itchy pollen to try and deny outs of night stretcher on

05:51:56.300 --> 05:51:58.300
final critical turns. And

05:51:58.300 --> 05:51:59.300
Frederick just about to pull

05:51:59.300 --> 05:52:00.300
that one out and got himself

05:52:00.300 --> 05:52:01.300
into now the position for the

05:52:01.300 --> 05:52:03.300
asymmetrical top cut. Really

05:52:03.300 --> 05:52:04.300
devastating for Natalie. She's

05:52:04.300 --> 05:52:05.300
had a great run. She also was

05:52:05.300 --> 05:52:07.300
so unfortunate on our screen

05:52:07.300 --> 05:52:08.300
game today, but she's a heck of

05:52:08.300 --> 05:52:10.300
a competitor. She's had another

05:52:10.300 --> 05:52:12.300
amazing run today. Such a good

05:52:12.300 --> 05:52:14.300
season overall as well, really

05:52:14.300 --> 05:52:15.300
hitting herself at the top of

05:52:15.300 --> 05:52:17.300
those really expert players

05:52:17.300 --> 05:52:18.300
that we come to know and

05:52:18.300 --> 05:52:20.300
love that will kind of always

05:52:20.300 --> 05:52:21.300
up there in our top cuts.

05:52:21.300 --> 05:52:23.300
But this isn't the Pokemon

05:52:23.300 --> 05:52:25.300
World Championships and you'd

05:52:25.300 --> 05:52:28.700
You don't just have an ordinary tournament field then.

05:52:28.700 --> 05:52:33.700
You've got literally the best players in the entire world in one room and going cool.

05:52:33.700 --> 05:52:34.700
Hush out guys.

05:52:34.700 --> 05:52:40.940
And I want to thank Chippangal for all your support so far.

05:52:40.940 --> 05:52:44.420
We're going to be seeing you very soon in our top cut matches.

05:52:44.420 --> 05:52:50.940
We're going to take over this top cut pre-show now and generally we can't reveal the players

05:52:50.940 --> 05:52:51.940
just yet.

05:52:51.940 --> 05:52:53.380
We can't reveal the decks just yet.

05:52:53.380 --> 05:52:55.220
But what an exciting tournament.

05:52:55.220 --> 05:53:03.300
had. I think it really showcased a lot of creativity which is not something that we tend to see too much

05:53:03.300 --> 05:53:09.780
of. There's specific players who are very well known about creating road decks but I've definitely

05:53:09.780 --> 05:53:14.660
felt like we've had a lot more variety than I expected it to be like just drag a pull down

05:53:14.660 --> 05:53:19.540
over the place. I think we definitely saw some builds of decks this weekend which have been

05:53:19.540 --> 05:53:23.620
incredibly hyper consistent. We've seen those consistent decks we've seen them and we're

05:53:23.620 --> 05:53:25.320
we're like, okay, yeah, cool.

05:53:25.320 --> 05:53:27.620
That's very what maybe we'd call vanilla

05:53:27.620 --> 05:53:29.620
in regards to the deck build,

05:53:29.620 --> 05:53:32.420
where we're clearly seeing the players

05:53:32.420 --> 05:53:36.340
are wanting to almost guarantee themselves in that phase too,

05:53:36.340 --> 05:53:38.500
but can it push them all the way?

05:53:38.500 --> 05:53:42.580
Can being kind of vanilla, being ordinary get you there,

05:53:42.580 --> 05:53:43.420
not always?

05:53:43.420 --> 05:53:45.220
Sometimes you've got to think outside of the box

05:53:45.220 --> 05:53:46.700
and that's where, like you said, Pablo,

05:53:46.700 --> 05:53:49.180
we've had all of that innovative deck building,

05:53:49.180 --> 05:53:52.380
which has just been the superstar this tournament for me.

05:53:52.380 --> 05:53:56.220
many players would say that's sort of fallen by the wayside the information era that we have now

05:53:56.220 --> 05:54:00.860
daily tournaments going on online there's just so much content out there whether it's

05:54:00.860 --> 05:54:04.860
other players giving you tips and tricks guides on these archetypes as well

05:54:04.860 --> 05:54:09.340
it feels like there's so much that has already been covered but still coming to the world championships

05:54:09.340 --> 05:54:13.260
a number of pilots were still able to keep a lot under wraps and come up with some really

05:54:13.260 --> 05:54:16.620
really cool lists so i'm very happy that we're even featuring some of those further

05:54:16.620 --> 05:54:21.180
into our top cut and speaking of superstars we have our first player to reveal for this

05:54:21.180 --> 05:54:27.160
top cut we have Brent Tonneson the number one seeded player of this event

05:54:27.160 --> 05:54:33.560
playing that very unique Dragonfall deck with crushing hammers of course that's

05:54:33.560 --> 05:54:39.320
been a main strategy since we had this rotation nobody should be surprised to

05:54:39.320 --> 05:54:43.720
see Dragonfall at the very very top. No seeing Dragonfall at the tippity top

05:54:43.720 --> 05:54:49.080
certainly was likely to be on the cards however seeing the crushing hammer

05:54:49.080 --> 05:54:57.080
I think is the part that really speaks to me in theory. The deck has those spaces of the crushing hammers inhibit

05:54:57.080 --> 05:55:04.080
But actually they can they can make all great games. They really can and so it's whether you want to dedicate those spaces to something

05:55:04.080 --> 05:55:10.080
That is a coin flip or not and in this instance Brent's gone. I'm going for the coin flips and if they go in my favor

05:55:10.080 --> 05:55:15.080
I'm going to go really far in this event if they don't go in my favor. I'm still a good player. I'm still it's still a good debt

05:55:15.080 --> 05:55:18.080
I can overcome as many match ups as I can

05:55:18.080 --> 05:55:24.040
I can and brand he's had a flawless one really he's had an incredible couple of days in those Swiss rounds and

05:55:24.400 --> 05:55:30.120
It's strangely a bold choice to just go so straightforward with the list that we've known about for many months

05:55:30.120 --> 05:55:33.600
But just saying that give myself the four counts of everything that's good

05:55:33.600 --> 05:55:37.680
And I know is good and I can find wiggle room with the cards that I have within my list

05:55:37.680 --> 05:55:39.280
He's made no exceptions

05:55:39.280 --> 05:55:44.400
No wacky tech cards that could come up in the sort of 5% matchup that could be in the room instead

05:55:44.400 --> 05:55:50.360
He's just saying I want my deck to work as smoothly as possible in every round and that's worked out incredibly for him

05:55:50.360 --> 05:55:58.040
And we got to see that on stream over the weekend, right? We were able to feature Brent in one of our matches which was

05:55:59.080 --> 05:56:06.280
Very intense between another very well-known player from Europe who is known for his creativity in his deck building playing

05:56:06.280 --> 05:56:08.600
I have quite a standard deck. I was surprised for sure

05:56:09.120 --> 05:56:13.960
But overall I think risky ruins was definitely a card to look out for in this mirror match Brent

05:56:14.400 --> 05:56:17.280
and those started with both playing it, I could believe,

05:56:17.280 --> 05:56:20.440
and they were not fearful at all to just get it out immediately,

05:56:20.440 --> 05:56:24.320
and it created chaos with damage counters all over the place.

05:56:24.320 --> 05:56:27.880
It was an interesting game for me because I always

05:56:27.880 --> 05:56:31.640
am not quite sure how to approach the Dragoball-Mare match.

05:56:31.640 --> 05:56:34.040
It feels like a big game of chicken.

05:56:34.040 --> 05:56:36.400
Where do I put the damage? Do I put the damage?

05:56:36.400 --> 05:56:38.720
Do they play Monkey Dory? Don't they play Monkey Dory?

05:56:38.720 --> 05:56:42.800
And at the moment more than ever, those are the pining questions

05:56:42.800 --> 05:56:49.160
that although they seem microscopic in the bit grand scheme of things, those are what make or break a match.

05:56:49.160 --> 05:56:52.360
And those are the decisions that really cinch it.

05:56:52.360 --> 05:57:00.640
And you can see here, Brent is very meticulously spreading those damage counters thinly to make it really frustrating for Oscar to remove any of them.

05:57:00.640 --> 05:57:08.240
We've seen plenty of dragapult throughout the entire weekend, but almost every set has played out so differently just by how those opening turns shape up.

05:57:08.240 --> 05:57:13.280
players trying to evade getting caught by unfair stamps or special red cards at

05:57:13.280 --> 05:57:16.600
points trying to play around monkey Dory as much as possible and cashing

05:57:16.600 --> 05:57:19.460
themselves as we see Fred in this instance actually finding that as his

05:57:19.460 --> 05:57:23.440
final attacker because so often a drag-a-pop board swing can really

05:57:23.440 --> 05:57:26.680
devastate the evolution line itself you have to find this final couple of

05:57:26.680 --> 05:57:29.960
Pokemon sometimes this is basics I don't know about you guys but that

05:57:29.960 --> 05:57:34.200
Acerola's mischievous towards the end of the game really had me on pH off my seat

05:57:34.200 --> 05:57:38.080
but of course all those damage counters in play allowed Brent to just fight

05:57:38.080 --> 05:57:45.080
I feel like if that gets played at the World Championship, I'm sure many players have picked up the cards, which is double-checking exactly what it is.

05:57:45.080 --> 05:57:58.080
And another player that we are able to reveal now is our lovely Diego, who again, we had a fantastic preview of, and I believe Ross actually got the opportunity to speak to Diego,

05:57:58.080 --> 05:58:00.080
to be able to get to that

05:58:00.080 --> 05:58:02.080
typically top of this time.

05:58:02.080 --> 05:58:04.080
This time Diego brings Alakazam

05:58:04.080 --> 05:58:06.080
to our stage. Yeah, it's an

05:58:06.080 --> 05:58:08.080
interesting choice from Diego

05:58:08.080 --> 05:58:10.080
is a player that typically

05:58:10.080 --> 05:58:12.080
doesn't go for the top deck in

05:58:12.080 --> 05:58:14.080
the room, barring his world

05:58:14.080 --> 05:58:16.080
champions win, of course, but

05:58:16.080 --> 05:58:18.080
even then it was a new

05:58:18.080 --> 05:58:20.080
opportunity for him to

05:58:20.080 --> 05:58:22.080
get to the top deck in the

05:58:22.080 --> 05:58:24.080
room, and he's a great

05:58:24.080 --> 05:58:26.080
player. He's a great

05:58:26.080 --> 05:58:28.080
it's win, of course, but even

05:58:28.080 --> 05:58:29.080
then it was a new archetype

05:58:29.080 --> 05:58:30.080
that he sort of innovated in his

05:58:30.080 --> 05:58:32.080
own way, but Diego's been having

05:58:32.080 --> 05:58:34.080
some great results even as of

05:58:34.080 --> 05:58:35.080
late, and he's demonstrated

05:58:35.080 --> 05:58:36.080
exactly why his build of

05:58:36.080 --> 05:58:37.080
Alakazam is one of the top ones

05:58:37.080 --> 05:58:39.080
out there. He might not be the

05:58:39.080 --> 05:58:40.080
only Alakazam in our asymmetrical

05:58:40.080 --> 05:58:42.080
top cut, but he has to be happy

05:58:42.080 --> 05:58:44.080
that he's going for the control

05:58:44.080 --> 05:58:45.080
package this weekend because

05:58:45.080 --> 05:58:46.080
there may be some other

05:58:46.080 --> 05:58:47.080
matchups where that could

05:58:47.080 --> 05:58:49.080
really come clutch for him.

05:58:49.080 --> 05:58:50.080
We did get to see Diego

05:58:50.080 --> 05:58:52.080
play out last round of the

05:58:52.080 --> 05:58:54.080
day yesterday where he was

05:58:54.080 --> 05:59:00.320
to really dominate this big basic box deck, which is supposed to like overwhelm, drag up hold,

05:59:00.320 --> 05:59:05.680
and take it down with weakness and culinary pressure, and willpower bun, but Dingo was able

05:59:05.680 --> 05:59:10.480
to stabilize each and every time, put everything out of ring of well ring, and just honestly

05:59:10.480 --> 05:59:15.600
played pretty much flawlessly that set. Yeah, honestly, I think it's a really impressive

05:59:15.600 --> 05:59:20.000
trait to be able to stay calm in a situation where you're staring down a deck which can

05:59:20.000 --> 05:59:27.120
take multiple prize cards against you, a deck which can kind of overcome the strategic advantage

05:59:27.120 --> 05:59:32.680
you have of being a single prize deck. And actually Diego really flourished and I love

05:59:32.680 --> 05:59:38.680
seeing the Dedenne still standing in the deck firm because that's one of the cards in particular

05:59:38.680 --> 05:59:42.360
that's going to allow Diego to continue further in this event with the other decks

05:59:42.360 --> 05:59:45.600
that are looking like they're going to sneak their way into our top cut.

05:59:45.600 --> 05:59:49.000
Yeah, that control package. A lot of people have experimented with it and they're

05:59:49.000 --> 05:59:55.160
not necessarily taking it recently people trying out two cannon from the pitch black expansion and simply just other builds of alakazam

05:59:55.160 --> 05:59:58.700
Seeing things like the forest of fatality and raps could coming into other builds

05:59:58.700 --> 06:00:03.840
But in this instance Diego going for an old faithful and it's really showing why it's still such a strong choice

06:00:03.960 --> 06:00:07.240
Yeah, the double ginsik being that a little bit of extra spice that's

06:00:07.800 --> 06:00:09.600
and

06:00:09.600 --> 06:00:15.280
Yeah, well former world champion almost a decade ago and even before that he already had accolades, right?

06:00:15.280 --> 06:00:22.480
So it would be pretty impressive to see him walk away with another title after over two decades of playing at this level

06:00:22.840 --> 06:00:24.840
That's wild

06:00:25.480 --> 06:00:29.080
I mean it's you wouldn't say that he's been dominant that entire amount of time

06:00:29.080 --> 06:00:34.680
But the fact that he can cherry pick tournaments and has the capacity to go over the top when he has those right slices of luck

06:00:34.680 --> 06:00:37.320
Go his way shows how consistent he's been this entire time

06:00:37.920 --> 06:00:42.400
Absolutely, you can tell he's a decorated player just through the way that he holds himself even during a match

06:00:42.400 --> 06:00:49.800
and now next up we have Henry Chau, another fan favorite, a much more recent player,

06:00:49.800 --> 06:00:55.240
a much younger player as well, who has accomplished so much in so little time

06:00:55.240 --> 06:01:01.800
and I saw a very funny comment earlier, obviously Henry was the guard of our EX

06:01:01.800 --> 06:01:05.800
player, right? He probably dominated Dragapult throughout that whole time and now

06:01:05.800 --> 06:01:09.600
Well, she's Dragapult, the extra strongest holder, perhaps.

06:01:09.600 --> 06:01:17.840
I mean, what better way than to learn how to be Dragapult, than to defeat it for so long

06:01:17.840 --> 06:01:18.840
with Gardevoir.

06:01:18.840 --> 06:01:23.600
Actually, it feels like a natural pivot for Henry, as far as I'm concerned.

06:01:23.600 --> 06:01:27.200
But we still get those Henry-isms that we had with Gardevoir.

06:01:27.200 --> 06:01:28.200
We really do.

06:01:28.200 --> 06:01:30.120
He's taking prize cards, X-Tree.

06:01:30.120 --> 06:01:34.200
He's doing more than Dragapult can typically do.

06:01:34.200 --> 06:01:37.640
why he's chosen this dust more packages because I think it feels a little bit like

06:01:37.640 --> 06:01:41.000
hope the surprise for me is that he's forsaken monkey Dory that seems like

06:01:41.000 --> 06:01:45.240
the guy associated most with Henry once he's constructed a list that doesn't

06:01:45.240 --> 06:01:48.840
play monkey Dory whatsoever no darkness energy he's basically has tried to get

06:01:48.840 --> 06:01:51.960
as much space into the deck as possible and saying that this one cheat code

06:01:51.960 --> 06:01:55.400
there's one per tracks could be the way that you can not fall prey to your

06:01:55.400 --> 06:01:58.000
opponent using lots of monkey Dory it means he doesn't have to worry with

06:01:58.000 --> 06:02:00.880
crushing hammers it's much more streamlined with what he's trying

06:02:00.880 --> 06:02:06.560
with those cursed blasters instead and we were lucky enough to see Henry Chao featured in two

06:02:06.560 --> 06:02:12.320
different rounds this tournament so we are very aware of what his deck can accomplish we first

06:02:12.320 --> 06:02:19.520
saw him honestly dominate this festival lead deck with multiple price turns taking advantage of that

06:02:19.520 --> 06:02:25.520
low HP the extra damage counter placement and of course that does more capability and I mean

06:02:25.520 --> 06:02:30.320
even though he ended up losing that first game he was able to recover pretty flawlessly.

06:02:30.320 --> 06:02:34.160
the first time. Yeah, as we

06:02:34.160 --> 06:02:35.860
know, the festival leaders

06:02:35.860 --> 06:02:37.220
have been absolutely on it

06:02:37.220 --> 06:02:38.420
with trying to make sure

06:02:38.420 --> 06:02:40.360
the dragapult matchup is as

06:02:40.360 --> 06:02:42.300
good as it can get because you

06:02:42.300 --> 06:02:45.100
don't take a deck into this

06:02:45.100 --> 06:02:47.060
event that cannot defeat

06:02:47.060 --> 06:02:48.560
dragapult. It's nuts. You

06:02:48.560 --> 06:02:50.400
just don't do it. So this was

06:02:50.400 --> 06:02:52.300
although on paper, you say

06:02:52.300 --> 06:02:53.940
traditionally dragapult has the

06:02:53.940 --> 06:02:54.980
advantage that's not

06:02:54.980 --> 06:02:56.080
necessarily the case anymore.

06:02:56.080 --> 06:02:57.540
We saw it in game one, but

06:02:57.540 --> 06:02:58.740
then Henry Child just knew

06:02:58.740 --> 06:03:00.180
every step to take to keep

06:03:00.180 --> 06:03:06.300
everything away and just left the borders just to swat me that was really good artist read from Henry there a

06:03:06.400 --> 06:03:08.960
Patient turn but he could have got in the action a little bit earlier

06:03:09.100 --> 06:03:14.900
Instead he wants to set up a checkmate scenario and I think that's something that Henry has been known for right making these

06:03:15.580 --> 06:03:19.420
server north thoughts plays and also very innovative with this list

06:03:19.420 --> 06:03:22.100
He played a Zorike X line in his car

06:03:22.940 --> 06:03:27.980
Now he's playing monkey Dory less drag-up fold but also denying his opponents monkey Dory

06:03:27.980 --> 06:03:30.940
So giving himself a big advantage that way.

06:03:30.940 --> 06:03:34.420
So really impressive to see dominating a good match

06:03:34.420 --> 06:03:37.420
of infestability, dominating the mirror match as well.

06:03:37.420 --> 06:03:39.900
And yeah, I mean, I'm very much looking forward

06:03:39.900 --> 06:03:41.980
to seeing how Henry does his tournaments

06:03:41.980 --> 06:03:43.940
as we continue with the top cut.

06:03:43.940 --> 06:03:46.540
I think Henry is one of our best innovators

06:03:46.540 --> 06:03:48.260
within the strong effects.

06:03:48.260 --> 06:03:51.340
He only takes a little bit of innovation

06:03:51.340 --> 06:03:53.540
to make a huge impact on our matter.

06:03:53.540 --> 06:03:55.860
And that's something I really admire in him

06:03:55.860 --> 06:03:59.900
that's the only way to get

06:03:59.900 --> 06:04:01.900
back into the game. We saw

06:04:01.900 --> 06:04:03.900
that as one of our top players

06:04:03.900 --> 06:04:05.900
in this instance, using the

06:04:05.900 --> 06:04:07.900
trapped instead of the monkey

06:04:07.900 --> 06:04:09.900
Dory allowed him the space to

06:04:09.900 --> 06:04:11.900
create a more consistent list.

06:04:11.900 --> 06:04:13.900
And that is really where it all

06:04:13.900 --> 06:04:15.900
came into play, and we saw

06:04:15.900 --> 06:04:17.900
this maltres put in so much

06:04:17.900 --> 06:04:19.900
work. Yeah, I mean, this is

06:04:19.900 --> 06:04:21.900
for me. The sets of the

06:04:21.900 --> 06:04:23.900
tournament so far. This was

06:04:23.900 --> 06:04:29.660
such good opportunities to find bosses orders somehow didn't and then Jackson got into a position where

06:04:29.660 --> 06:04:35.980
he forced Henry to have a top deck out not many outs in the deck whatsoever slams bosses orders

06:04:35.980 --> 06:04:39.820
not only is Henry capable of pulling out some of the best plays in the game doesn't hurt having

06:04:39.820 --> 06:04:44.220
a nice slice of luck along the way as well. Not the first time we've seen Henry Chow slam a car

06:04:44.220 --> 06:04:49.900
a game winning card on the table and I I don't know we might see we might continue to see that

06:04:49.900 --> 06:05:18.900
I'm very very impressive. One of my favorite players to watch and just everyone's on the lookout on what is Henry's 60 this time. Yeah, it's always something on the players lips is Henry playing, especially when God for rotated. Everyone was really curious about what he was going to next. Yeah, he was sort of seen as a one trick pony for a lot of time. You know, he was doing excellently with the deck. You can see why he stuck with one the entire time. But he's saying no, it's not just one archetype. I can be a master of anything in any format.

06:05:18.900 --> 06:05:28.020
of innovators. We've got another in our midst as Mateusz, of course, has made it into our top cut with

06:05:28.020 --> 06:05:37.620
that innovative Alakazam Dusknoir build where he has masterfully avoided any red cards shenanigans,

06:05:37.620 --> 06:05:45.700
which was one of the really crushing card reveals as far as Alakazam was concerned about its history

06:05:45.700 --> 06:05:48.900
and actually having it now at the World Championship in this position feels great.

06:05:49.620 --> 06:05:55.620
And having back-to-back top 8s at the World Championships, that's like on top of an incredibly

06:05:55.620 --> 06:06:01.460
creative deck building, the huge success throughout the season winning original championship in fact

06:06:01.460 --> 06:06:06.020
back-to-back top 8s at the World Championship with very unique decks as well. He had a very

06:06:06.020 --> 06:06:11.060
unique take on Zorakiax last time around. Now he has a very unique take on Alagazam allowing

06:06:11.060 --> 06:06:16.100
himself to manipulate the price parts. I'm really looking forward to see how much he finishes this

06:06:16.100 --> 06:06:20.180
tournament. I just want to ask him how he got that testing process started. Where did it all begin?

06:06:20.980 --> 06:06:24.740
Was it the Gwyn supporter card that he's playing four of this weekend from pitch black

06:06:24.740 --> 06:06:28.900
that opened up the third eye and said, why don't I just shove as many Pokemon in my list as

06:06:28.900 --> 06:06:32.660
possible, give myself all these outs? Maybe that's what led him down the corridor of the

06:06:32.660 --> 06:06:37.140
strange timepiece. And that's really where this archetype flourishes, where you don't play

06:06:37.140 --> 06:06:42.580
the traditional Dung Sparse package, instead you look to again shave on card spaces by

06:06:42.580 --> 06:06:46.900
having that strange timepiece item card in its place, so that you can just bounce between

06:06:46.900 --> 06:06:51.180
your Alakazam evolutions. And then that also opens the door for Dustamard to just have

06:06:51.180 --> 06:06:55.220
even more control over the opponent's board. You always think about Alakazam, always just

06:06:55.220 --> 06:07:00.380
trying to get the critical mass for the knockout, but Matesh is using this card and

06:07:00.380 --> 06:07:04.940
scaling that two damage each time to get the perfect math in play so they can play

06:07:04.940 --> 06:07:08.940
the game. And that's what

06:07:08.940 --> 06:07:10.580
we're going to do. We're going

06:07:10.580 --> 06:07:12.180
to be able to play around those

06:07:12.180 --> 06:07:13.740
key item disruptors. That's

06:07:13.740 --> 06:07:15.040
exactly what we saw from his

06:07:15.040 --> 06:07:16.380
tree match. Right? He did that

06:07:16.380 --> 06:07:18.140
masterfully. We saw the

06:07:18.140 --> 06:07:19.780
strange timepiece take place for

06:07:19.780 --> 06:07:21.860
extra draw potential. We saw

06:07:21.860 --> 06:07:23.220
the dosn't are as well, uh,

06:07:23.220 --> 06:07:24.860
taking those last few KOs or

06:07:24.860 --> 06:07:26.860
closing out the game rather

06:07:26.860 --> 06:07:28.860
without exposing himself to

06:07:28.860 --> 06:07:30.860
the special record really,

06:07:30.860 --> 06:07:32.300
really well done. Yeah,

06:07:32.300 --> 06:07:33.660
choosing and analyzing when

06:07:33.660 --> 06:07:37.460
you're not going to be able to

06:07:37.560 --> 06:07:39.560
be able to do that because you

06:07:39.660 --> 06:07:41.560
kind of want to have a slow

06:07:41.660 --> 06:07:43.560
setup because you want the

06:07:43.660 --> 06:07:45.560
card draw. You need the card

06:07:45.660 --> 06:07:46.560
draw, and then you're

06:07:46.660 --> 06:07:48.560
preventing yourself from being

06:07:48.660 --> 06:07:50.560
disrupted by not taking any

06:07:50.660 --> 06:07:51.560
knockouts. A lot of Dex's

06:07:51.660 --> 06:07:53.560
weekend. We've seen excess

06:07:53.660 --> 06:07:54.560
judge and the taste didn't

06:07:54.660 --> 06:07:55.560
really need to worry about

06:07:55.660 --> 06:07:56.560
that too much. Only a handful

06:07:56.660 --> 06:07:57.560
of archetypes will play it

06:07:57.660 --> 06:07:58.560
even then. It's like a one

06:07:58.660 --> 06:07:59.560
old copy, so it's difficult

06:07:59.660 --> 06:08:01.560
for the opponent to time

06:08:01.660 --> 06:08:02.560
that at the right moment.

06:08:02.560 --> 06:08:07.680
just be gawking at for how great of a line of play she can construct and yes she created this

06:08:07.680 --> 06:08:12.800
excellent dunk in game number two but in this game number three she was just sort of out of

06:08:12.800 --> 06:08:18.160
options the entire time. Even a great mind like hers couldn't find any way to disrupt

06:08:18.160 --> 06:08:26.480
Matej's game plan. Yeah I mean I really would have loved to see the chat's reaction,

06:08:26.480 --> 06:08:31.440
our viewers' reaction is when Matej chose not to draw with AlexSan.

06:08:31.440 --> 06:08:35.920
I can only imagine the string of messages telling he didn't draw from AlexSan,

06:08:35.920 --> 06:08:39.200
he didn't draw from AlexSan. He purposely chose not to do that.

06:08:39.200 --> 06:08:43.440
We haven't seen that before on stream. It was flawless play and yeah,

06:08:43.440 --> 06:08:47.040
that last post-sorders by Viper just had no clue what to do.

06:08:47.040 --> 06:08:51.440
There was Checkmate on board. Having that sort of control over

06:08:51.440 --> 06:08:55.600
your possibility to win a game is what impressed me the most on the stage so far

06:08:55.600 --> 06:09:09.600
I was lucky enough to interview him after that game and said that the best piece of deck building advice when constructing a new archetype is to start with the engine and that's where I think that strange time piece came in.

06:09:09.600 --> 06:09:20.600
It was actually I have more control over what I'm doing. A lot of the time Alakazam can get a little bit stuck in the mid to late game with card draw even with the Dunlun sparse engine.

06:09:20.600 --> 06:09:27.600
But not if you can devolve your Pokemon and evolve them again for more card draw, but like you said Pablo, that's optional.

06:09:28.600 --> 06:09:31.600
And multiple times throughout that set, he was getting to the very bottom of the deck.

06:09:31.600 --> 06:09:36.600
So he was accessing every card available to him and making the most out of every card within his list.

06:09:36.600 --> 06:09:42.600
And Alakazam's normally known for sort of rebounding and getting back into a place where it's got enough cards to actually get a knockout.

06:09:42.600 --> 06:09:47.600
In this case, Matej is trying to actually just like go to the bottom and then close the game.

06:09:47.600 --> 06:09:57.900
And now, next up we have another, of course, incredible player who has generally won it all in his very short Pokemon career, except for the World Championship.

06:09:57.900 --> 06:10:05.100
But I'm sure Andrew Hendrick will be trying his best to get that title, the one title that he does not have yet.

06:10:05.100 --> 06:10:14.100
He's an NAIC champion, he's five times regional champion, he might even have first through eighth places in Top Gods regionals and whatnot.

06:10:14.100 --> 06:10:19.100
is this the big one for Andrew?

06:10:19.100 --> 06:10:23.100
Surely it has to come around at some point, and maybe this is his time.

06:10:23.100 --> 06:10:29.100
Another Dragapult EX with crushing hammers again going for that consistent build.

06:10:29.100 --> 06:10:32.100
We know Dragapult's strengths, we know its weaknesses.

06:10:32.100 --> 06:10:35.100
At this point, it's a bunch of incredibly talented players in the pool

06:10:35.100 --> 06:10:37.100
and seeing who comes out on top.

06:10:37.100 --> 06:10:39.100
And we call it the Hedrick build for a reason.

06:10:39.100 --> 06:10:42.100
He was the key innovator of crushing hammer in the first place

06:10:42.100 --> 06:10:46.100
the tournament. He's such a

06:10:46.100 --> 06:10:47.800
fantastic player to watch,

06:10:47.800 --> 06:10:49.800
whether it's with his loss own

06:10:49.800 --> 06:10:51.200
deck or with even with the

06:10:51.200 --> 06:10:52.900
metang Dialog of the star

06:10:52.900 --> 06:10:54.900
archetype. He's such a great

06:10:54.900 --> 06:10:56.900
sort of metagame. He can put a

06:10:56.900 --> 06:10:58.600
pinpoint on a meta game in this

06:10:58.600 --> 06:10:59.800
case. He's just deciding to be

06:10:59.800 --> 06:11:01.400
the bad guy. He's playing the

06:11:01.400 --> 06:11:02.600
dragon ball, but I love the

06:11:02.600 --> 06:11:04.100
fact that he can cherry pick

06:11:04.100 --> 06:11:05.600
tournaments and have like a

06:11:05.600 --> 06:11:06.600
really bold deck choice

06:11:06.600 --> 06:11:07.900
behind him at times. So to

06:11:07.900 --> 06:11:13.020
pick tournaments and have like a really bold deck choice behind him at times so he exerts

06:11:13.020 --> 06:11:18.460
great emphasis on metagaming at times but then when he thinks there's one deck that is simply the best

06:11:18.460 --> 06:11:23.660
he will pilot it to you know great accomplishment. I mean I'm gonna go ahead and I used to call

06:11:23.660 --> 06:11:28.460
Henry Chow the Gardevoir EX master player of the universe. I generally think Andrew

06:11:28.460 --> 06:11:34.700
Henry's legacy with Dragon Ball takes place beyond this latest rotation. When Gardevoir was dominating

06:11:34.700 --> 06:11:44.000
Even he himself said, I've committed so much time to Dragon Pulse, I'm so good with Dragon Pulse that even though I recognise Cardivore is a better deck, I'm still going to stick with Dragon Pulse.

06:11:44.000 --> 06:11:52.000
Then here he is continuing with Dragon Pulse, making the perfect decisions and making it all the way to the top card final in the World Championships.

06:11:52.000 --> 06:11:58.000
We had the honour of seeing that very mastery in our Swiss round 11 for Mantru.

06:11:58.000 --> 06:12:02.000
I mean, it's a good time. It's

06:12:02.000 --> 06:12:05.000
a good time. And if boy was a

06:12:05.000 --> 06:12:07.000
good time against a cheese, uh,

06:12:07.000 --> 06:12:09.000
Bronzong build, which I was a

06:12:09.000 --> 06:12:10.000
little bit worried for Andrew

06:12:10.000 --> 06:12:12.000
when I saw Bronzong hit the

06:12:12.000 --> 06:12:14.000
stage. Yeah I mean, this is

06:12:14.000 --> 06:12:16.000
meant to be a counterstyle

06:12:16.000 --> 06:12:17.000
archetype predominantly for

06:12:17.000 --> 06:12:18.000
this matchup. Andrew is one of

06:12:18.000 --> 06:12:20.000
the players who just gets so

06:12:20.000 --> 06:12:21.000
many reps in with Pokemon. He

06:12:21.000 --> 06:12:22.000
would not be fazed by this

06:12:22.000 --> 06:12:23.000
whatsoever. He knows exactly

06:12:23.000 --> 06:12:24.000
what to do in these

06:12:24.000 --> 06:12:25.000
situations, whether it's

06:12:25.000 --> 06:12:26.000
weaving in mind bends or

06:12:26.000 --> 06:12:27.000
trying to attack that

06:12:27.000 --> 06:12:28.540
Dragaport was the key to this one.

06:12:28.540 --> 06:12:33.040
I think the perfect word you used just now, Joe, was supposed.

06:12:33.040 --> 06:12:33.540
Yeah.

06:12:33.540 --> 06:12:35.280
It is supposed to be a counter deck,

06:12:35.280 --> 06:12:36.880
but against the very best players,

06:12:36.880 --> 06:12:39.360
the ones that are not going to get faced at all

06:12:39.360 --> 06:12:42.280
by the pressure of not being able to evolve,

06:12:42.280 --> 06:12:45.360
the ones that can really adapt and have shown time

06:12:45.360 --> 06:12:46.760
and time and again that they'll

06:12:46.760 --> 06:12:49.400
be able to navigate every situation,

06:12:49.400 --> 06:12:52.200
you never saw a single drop of sweat from Andrew

06:12:52.200 --> 06:12:53.640
in this set, I don't think.

06:12:53.640 --> 06:12:55.800
Now, even coming up against the unconventional,

06:12:55.800 --> 06:12:59.740
the game. And he's got a lot

06:12:59.740 --> 06:13:01.740
of work in. So, uh, Andrew

06:13:01.740 --> 06:13:03.780
very much blessing that he's

06:13:03.780 --> 06:13:05.740
got that there unlike Henry

06:13:05.740 --> 06:13:06.780
Chow. So it could have been a

06:13:06.780 --> 06:13:07.820
bit of a sticky one of the

06:13:07.820 --> 06:13:09.780
tables returned in the matchups

06:13:09.780 --> 06:13:10.780
were reversed, but actually

06:13:10.780 --> 06:13:12.780
Andrew still had the capacity

06:13:12.780 --> 06:13:13.780
to take this further and to

06:13:13.780 --> 06:13:15.780
take down bronzong with that

06:13:15.780 --> 06:13:17.780
evolution jammer preventing any

06:13:17.780 --> 06:13:18.780
of his dragons revolving.

06:13:18.780 --> 06:13:19.780
Just feels like he's one of

06:13:19.780 --> 06:13:20.800
these ice cold players in the

06:13:20.800 --> 06:13:22.800
game where even in those

06:13:22.800 --> 06:13:23.800
really tense situations, he's

06:13:23.800 --> 06:13:24.800
just very relaxed. The

06:13:24.800 --> 06:13:27.680
head to retails on a flip that could win the game. If it's a head, she's just like,

06:13:27.680 --> 06:13:29.600
yeah, it was tails. So I guess I'll keep playing.

06:13:29.600 --> 06:13:33.880
You might see a chuckle from. Yeah. Oh, well, yeah, this happened.

06:13:33.880 --> 06:13:36.680
Raps. Yeah. That path closed.

06:13:36.680 --> 06:13:39.800
This one open. Exactly. Always finding the win condition.

06:13:39.800 --> 06:13:42.920
There's a feeling. Really, really impressive as usual. Yeah.

06:13:45.240 --> 06:13:50.760
What a gem. We've had the pleasure of watching Andrew play so many matches before.

06:13:50.760 --> 06:13:55.480
But honestly, that one's going to remain in my memory for a very long time.

06:13:55.480 --> 06:13:56.840
The concern on my face.

06:13:56.840 --> 06:13:59.960
You should have seen the backstage in Bronson was I was like,

06:13:59.960 --> 06:14:02.000
but Andrew, Andrew's really good.

06:14:02.000 --> 06:14:04.000
Andrew does know, right?

06:14:06.000 --> 06:14:07.160
He studied up, don't worry.

06:14:07.160 --> 06:14:07.960
He knows the Bronson.

06:14:07.960 --> 06:14:09.600
He was coming out a couple of days before the tournament.

06:14:09.600 --> 06:14:11.040
There was a lot of chatter about the archetype.

06:14:11.040 --> 06:14:13.560
Only a handful of players actually decided to take the risk

06:14:13.560 --> 06:14:16.240
for the world championships and, hey, it got pretty far.

06:14:16.240 --> 06:14:19.600
But ultimately, these players who have played with a deck

06:14:19.600 --> 06:14:23.600
for a full season or more. At this point they're going to find the wiggle room that they need to.

06:14:24.400 --> 06:14:31.600
And now next up our another player that's made it to the top card all the way from Australia. We have Nathan

06:14:31.600 --> 06:14:39.120
Spry. We did get to feature him throughout our Swiss rounds this weekend so far but here he is

06:14:39.680 --> 06:14:44.640
top 32 at last year's Worlds finally making through and making top card.

06:14:44.640 --> 06:14:48.440
I think it's going to be a

06:14:48.440 --> 06:14:53.640
great start. Absolute

06:14:53.640 --> 06:14:56.640
gauntlet of impressive

06:14:56.640 --> 06:14:58.640
accolades over the last few

06:14:58.640 --> 06:15:00.640
years. Nathan's briars

06:15:00.640 --> 06:15:02.640
certainly no one to mess with

06:15:02.640 --> 06:15:04.640
and running that lilies to

06:15:04.640 --> 06:15:07.640
very ex kind of big basic

06:15:07.640 --> 06:15:09.640
Pokemon bashy box deck. He's

06:15:09.640 --> 06:15:11.640
got a bit of everything going

06:15:11.640 --> 06:15:12.640
on. And honestly, those are

06:15:12.640 --> 06:15:25.640
all the way. Yeah we call it a box for a reason. There's also what's going on in his deck list and it's amazing to see a player like Nathan who's been chipping away at results, you know, going deep in tournaments, but why not make your first big top cut the world championships?

06:15:25.640 --> 06:15:29.840
Yeah, sure. And with a deck that, as you mentioned, Amy, lets you adapt, right?

06:15:29.840 --> 06:15:34.120
Adapt to any situation that you're up against with all the different typing,

06:15:34.120 --> 06:15:40.160
all the different possibilities of attacks, a solid draw engine with mega Kangas can as well.

06:15:40.160 --> 06:15:44.200
So yeah, pretty cool to see him get all the way here.

06:15:45.200 --> 06:15:49.560
Absolutely. And of course, we're seeing a bit of Satoshi as well

06:15:49.560 --> 06:15:55.400
who's going to be joining us and their impressive crustal build.

06:15:55.400 --> 06:16:00.120
So how are we feeling about the fact that Krosla is up there in our top card guys?

06:16:00.120 --> 06:16:02.440
Were you expecting that at the beginning of this event?

06:16:02.440 --> 06:16:03.440
I would say no.

06:16:03.440 --> 06:16:04.440
Yes!

06:16:04.440 --> 06:16:05.940
I wouldn't have expected it personally.

06:16:05.940 --> 06:16:08.600
There's always that one person who higher rules Joe.

06:16:08.600 --> 06:16:10.600
Every single time.

06:16:10.600 --> 06:16:12.440
Well that's the thing Pablo.

06:16:12.440 --> 06:16:17.040
We figured that the matchup spread was way less favourable for the World Championships.

06:16:17.040 --> 06:16:20.680
There was the new matchup of Mega Excadrill to contend with.

06:16:20.680 --> 06:16:23.680
There was still a number of Alakazam builds that could have the controlling package

06:16:23.680 --> 06:16:24.680
that's awkward.

06:16:24.680 --> 06:16:28.720
the game. It's like, you know,

06:16:28.720 --> 06:16:30.320
you're just poking out in the

06:16:30.320 --> 06:16:31.920
field. Even a number of the

06:16:31.920 --> 06:16:33.120
Dragonpole players would

06:16:33.120 --> 06:16:34.760
sometimes have things like

06:16:34.760 --> 06:16:35.760
Chi you in their deck list if

06:16:35.760 --> 06:16:37.760
it was a blazing in build of

06:16:37.760 --> 06:16:39.760
Dragonpole, so it felt fraught

06:16:39.760 --> 06:16:40.760
for the crystal players. It

06:16:40.760 --> 06:16:41.760
really felt you had to have a

06:16:41.760 --> 06:16:43.760
very specific run of matchups.

06:16:43.760 --> 06:16:44.760
But again, it's one of these

06:16:44.760 --> 06:16:45.760
things where if you can

06:16:45.760 --> 06:16:47.760
really read the meta game and

06:16:47.760 --> 06:16:48.760
say that the very best players

06:16:48.760 --> 06:16:49.760
in the room won't go for

06:16:49.760 --> 06:16:50.760
some of these other fringe

06:16:50.760 --> 06:16:51.760
decks, they'll go for the

06:16:51.760 --> 06:16:53.760
very best. That's exactly

06:16:53.760 --> 06:16:59.760
And because in theory, Mega Exkidril is here to shut things down with better growth.

06:16:59.760 --> 06:17:07.260
Mega Exkidril showed up in 4% and you can factor in 1-2 losses to that matchup if you're going to dominate the rest of the field.

06:17:07.260 --> 06:17:13.760
I haven't seen a single Dragonfall deck with respect across all this weekend, and if that's 40%, you're in for a good time.

06:17:13.760 --> 06:17:14.760
Yeah, that's so true.

06:17:14.760 --> 06:17:17.760
Yeah, it makes sense. I think there are some jamming tower dustimals out there.

06:17:17.760 --> 06:17:20.760
That might be the only hope for some of these Dragonfall players, but even then,

06:17:20.760 --> 06:17:25.680
It's going to be a slog with the amount of kick-point buff and healing cards within that list. It's never going to be that simple

06:17:26.520 --> 06:17:33.200
And now we have our last player joining us in top god Satoshi is one of them in case it wasn't very clear

06:17:33.200 --> 06:17:35.840
But Kien, Amidie with another

06:17:36.360 --> 06:17:42.680
DragoPultec joining us once again Santa Clara regional champion quite a few years ago a couple

06:17:42.920 --> 06:17:47.920
Deep runs at Worlds last year and NAIC as well a few years ago

06:17:47.920 --> 06:17:53.920
but his first ever world's top

06:17:53.920 --> 06:17:55.920
card this season. Impressively,

06:17:55.920 --> 06:17:57.920
Anaheim, world's top 32 as well.

06:17:57.920 --> 06:17:59.920
So did pretty well last year.

06:17:59.920 --> 06:18:01.920
That is a very, very good result.

06:18:01.920 --> 06:18:03.920
I'm just pushing it that little bit

06:18:03.920 --> 06:18:06.920
further. Can Kim go all the way

06:18:06.920 --> 06:18:09.920
with Dragapult crushing hammer,

06:18:09.920 --> 06:18:11.920
which seems to be the favored

06:18:11.920 --> 06:18:14.920
Dragapult going into our top

06:18:14.920 --> 06:18:19.240
right? Yeah, it's what to be expected to be honest of you. You know, a lot of people think that the

06:18:19.240 --> 06:18:23.400
crushing hammers the best ways simply because you can shut down avenues of attack. You can

06:18:23.400 --> 06:18:26.920
stop an opponent from using the boss's orders or you can make your boss's orders much better if

06:18:26.920 --> 06:18:31.640
you're going to take an energy away from a Pokemon and force them to manually retreat out of

06:18:31.640 --> 06:18:36.200
another Pokemon because in game allows you to have even more flexibility. When you're already

06:18:36.200 --> 06:18:39.480
combining it with the most flexible attack that we have in the game in the Phantom Dive,

06:18:39.480 --> 06:18:43.480
you can create lots of pockets to really be devastating. Ian's been a name that's been

06:18:43.480 --> 06:18:48.600
around for many years. These are just some recent accomplishments, but he's a player who's really

06:18:48.600 --> 06:18:52.920
chipped away at the meta game for many, many years now. He's got a ton of experience under his belt.

06:18:53.480 --> 06:18:59.400
And on the other side of many, many years, we have Rune, of course we can't forget about Rune,

06:18:59.400 --> 06:19:05.720
also made it to the top cut here with fan-favorite Russell, a very successful,

06:19:07.160 --> 06:19:13.160
a very successful senior career so far, making a name for himself in Masters Division.

06:19:13.160 --> 06:19:26.160
Already with a regional championship in the Masters Division, another top 8 last season as well, so first top cut of many at the World Championships I'm going to wager, Rune is here to make an anchor himself in this division.

06:19:26.160 --> 06:19:36.160
Yeah, more than one crustal managed to scuttle through the net and into our top cut, so maybe it wasn't so unlikely for a blow.

06:19:36.160 --> 06:19:39.520
I mean, especially Rune as well. He's just a great player all round

06:19:39.520 --> 06:19:45.120
He's got all of those senior accomplishments under his belt even junior accomplishments under his belt has done well at the world

06:19:45.120 --> 06:19:49.200
Championships before in those divisions as well as international first-place finishes

06:19:49.200 --> 06:19:52.720
So it was inevitable that he was going to come on to the scene strong in the Masters division

06:19:52.720 --> 06:19:56.000
But already making it into the top eight of the world championships is crazy

06:19:56.560 --> 06:20:02.560
That's her lineup for the top cut these 10 players will be battling it out in our bracket

06:20:02.560 --> 06:20:10.080
which we will be revealing very very soon so make sure you are staying tuned don't go anywhere

06:20:13.840 --> 06:20:20.240
okay welcome back to faster than a caster we've got two competitors ready to try and win these

06:20:20.240 --> 06:20:26.400
two mega evolution booster packs but will you be faster than a caster let's find outplay along

06:20:26.400 --> 06:20:35.240
at home so I need you two to work together Pokemon that begin with the

06:20:35.240 --> 06:20:41.640
letter R go real Lou

06:20:41.640 --> 06:20:48.640
Rekwaza, Reggie Giggs, Reggie Rock, Reggie Seal, Reggie Ice, Reggie Dregal, and Reggie L...

06:20:48.640 --> 06:20:57.640
We've done it! That's more than ten! And that was incredibly fast of that, Acosta! Congratulations, duty!

06:20:57.640 --> 06:21:04.640
You nailed it! Here is a booster pack each! Thank you so much! You absolutely nailed it!

06:21:04.640 --> 06:21:10.640
Emily had a time of over one minute and she only got five.

06:21:10.640 --> 06:21:15.640
Thank you so much. We'll catch you next time on Faster than a Caster.

06:21:15.640 --> 06:21:17.640
The Pokemon training card game has some important rules.

06:21:17.640 --> 06:21:19.640
You can only have four of each card in the deck.

06:21:19.640 --> 06:21:21.640
You can only have one A-spec.

06:21:21.640 --> 06:21:26.640
But what would happen if we let our trainers break any of the rules they wanted?

06:21:26.640 --> 06:21:28.640
Well, I think I would pick a deck with a draw engine,

06:21:28.640 --> 06:21:31.640
something like Dragflow, or Zoroac, or something like that,

06:21:31.640 --> 06:21:33.640
and I would play probably six of each of them.

06:21:33.640 --> 06:21:36.040
That way whenever I lily and I draw eight cards

06:21:36.040 --> 06:21:40.140
I'm gonna hit more than I normally would by opponents using to do against me. It doesn't matter

06:21:40.140 --> 06:21:42.200
I got like six of these are likes to draw into

06:21:42.600 --> 06:21:47.420
I probably play a whole bunch of aspects which I would really like because some of the aspects are really powerful

06:21:47.420 --> 06:21:53.680
But secret box makes your deck function so well, so I could play secret box and a power card. Sounds good to me

06:21:54.640 --> 06:21:57.260
probably way more of the power cards like

06:21:57.760 --> 06:22:03.620
extra festival granted festival II for example, but also way more consistently six or seven

06:22:03.640 --> 06:22:10.680
the lilies and way more of those, probably more of like the Pokemon themselves instead

06:22:10.680 --> 06:22:16.680
of the deck cards like Shaman and such, just to keep your deck more powerful.

06:22:16.680 --> 06:22:22.640
I would like to play something like United Wings because we can have a ton of Pokemon

06:22:22.640 --> 06:22:31.040
of United Wings on this card file and attack with tons of damage and KO everything, mostly.

06:22:31.040 --> 06:22:39.920
I would put a lot of A-specs because they are the powerful card in the format, so when

06:22:39.920 --> 06:22:47.160
I hear in words I was confusing about my A-spec, it could be unfair stamp, it could be max belt,

06:22:47.160 --> 06:22:50.560
why not play all of them?

06:22:50.560 --> 06:22:54.200
I'd probably play more Poffins and Pokepads so I can make sure I get my draft books

06:22:54.200 --> 06:22:55.200
every time.

06:22:55.200 --> 06:22:59.120
Well, with no restrictions I would play at least 15 A-specs, that would be a good

06:22:59.120 --> 06:23:01.820
and I would probably play a few more direct likes

06:23:01.820 --> 06:23:04.120
because they are really powerful in the drag-of-all deck.

06:23:04.120 --> 06:23:05.620
Um, I don't know.

06:23:05.620 --> 06:23:08.120
I would probably do eight Middle East termination,

06:23:08.120 --> 06:23:09.620
just the consistency.

06:23:09.620 --> 06:23:13.620
And then, yeah, I would probably do also the 6-6 Starwreck line.

06:23:13.620 --> 06:23:20.620
I'm playing Starwreck right now, and I feel like more of those will never hurt, so probably do that, yeah.

06:23:20.620 --> 06:23:24.620
If there were no deck restrictions whatsoever, and I'm also going to say no Rekendi restrictions.

06:23:24.620 --> 06:23:25.620
I can play it on turn one, right?

06:23:25.620 --> 06:23:32.620
I would play a deck with four Duskull, four Duskull, four Rekendi, and as high as a draw on Janus, I can have.

06:23:32.620 --> 06:23:36.620
So Secret Box is going to go into every kind of deck there, and just try turn one.

06:23:36.620 --> 06:23:40.520
turn one go first and then make sure or hope that my opponent starts with one

06:23:40.520 --> 06:23:43.620
Pokemon and I can knock that out before they even get to take a turn.

06:23:43.620 --> 06:23:47.620
Your answer was basically if I could take the rules I would ruin it for everyone.

06:23:47.620 --> 06:23:49.620
That's why I control decks.

06:23:49.620 --> 06:23:51.620
I wouldn't ruin the game.

06:23:51.620 --> 06:23:55.620
Yeah I put the best ace a pig in all decks.

06:23:55.620 --> 06:23:57.620
Rest of the stamina.

06:23:57.620 --> 06:24:00.620
Then ace a pig before the deck.

06:24:00.620 --> 06:24:03.620
Ace a lot. It's a very powerful card.

06:24:03.620 --> 06:24:05.660
And what deck do you think you'd play?

06:24:05.660 --> 06:24:08.060
Um...

06:24:08.060 --> 06:24:11.300
I... I'd rather pull with this...

06:24:11.300 --> 06:24:13.340
A lot of... I'd say pick, maybe.

06:24:13.340 --> 06:24:15.500
LAUGHTER

06:24:15.500 --> 06:24:18.100
Now that we've broken the rules, let's bring them back,

06:24:18.100 --> 06:24:19.500
let's get back to the stream,

06:24:19.500 --> 06:24:21.300
and let's watch all of our wonderful

06:24:21.300 --> 06:24:23.500
trading card game players give their all.

06:25:03.620 --> 06:25:05.620
I

06:25:33.620 --> 06:25:42.620
Welcome back in Pokemon fans to the world championships here in San Francisco, California trading card game action coming to a head.

06:25:42.620 --> 06:25:48.620
We are ready to get into those ever important top cut matches.

06:25:48.620 --> 06:25:56.620
Hundreds of trainers from across the globe entered this room and now for the simply 10 remain chipperty here alongside Kyle.

06:25:56.620 --> 06:26:01.620
It's ready to take you through our first of many top cut matches this evening.

06:26:01.620 --> 06:26:03.620
What a time, Kyle. What a time.

06:26:03.620 --> 06:26:10.620
What a time to be alive, Chip. What a time to be here at the football world championships in San Francisco.

06:26:10.620 --> 06:26:14.620
And what a time it's going to be for our 10 remaining players.

06:26:14.620 --> 06:26:20.620
You know, it's got to be such a mix of emotions for everybody who's still in the running right.

06:26:20.620 --> 06:26:27.340
so much hope you're so close to maybe fulfilling your dream to becoming a world champion. I feel a

06:26:27.340 --> 06:26:33.180
bit anxious. Might be cursing your luck if you got the wrong matchup in the top cut here, but

06:26:34.060 --> 06:26:38.220
one thing is going to be for sure by the end of today we'll be down to just two players.

06:26:38.780 --> 06:26:42.620
Players up to this point have been playing Swiss rounds where they are constantly playing

06:26:42.620 --> 06:26:46.940
against other players who have similar records to them, but now we have cut down

06:26:46.940 --> 06:26:53.420
to single elimination. We have our bracket ready to share. You mentioned the match-ups, Kyle.

06:26:53.420 --> 06:27:00.220
This is incredibly important for many, many of those players. Of course, a handful have already

06:27:00.220 --> 06:27:05.180
advanced into the top eight, not having to worry about playing this asymmetrical round,

06:27:05.180 --> 06:27:10.060
but for four trainers, if they want to hold that glory of making top eight of the World

06:27:10.060 --> 06:27:15.740
Championships, they've still got one more match to do. Yep, we did have 10 players make our

06:27:15.740 --> 06:27:22.340
top cut here. We have this asymmetrical cut where everybody who has the same record as

06:27:22.340 --> 06:27:28.980
each place does make it into the cut. And so that means we have 10 and that means six

06:27:28.980 --> 06:27:34.180
of our players have advanced to the top eight and can rest knowing that they have that

06:27:34.180 --> 06:27:40.100
great accomplishment. Four players here still have to win one more. Finally make the

06:27:40.100 --> 06:27:41.100
top eight.

06:27:41.100 --> 06:27:47.900
And as the bracket breaks down, of course, what you're playing against is extremely important.

06:27:47.900 --> 06:27:53.740
Having good matchups is nice going into any given wide field, but now that you have just

06:27:53.740 --> 06:27:58.580
one opponent after one opponent and you can map out who you'll be playing up against,

06:27:58.580 --> 06:28:01.820
those matchups are as important as ever.

06:28:01.820 --> 06:28:07.100
Looking at those two matches that we'll be seeing in that top 16 Nathan Sprite up

06:28:07.100 --> 06:28:09.220
against Oivens Vindavut.

06:28:09.220 --> 06:28:12.300
Of course, Oiven getting top eight at the World Championships.

06:28:12.300 --> 06:28:15.660
The last season, he's followed it up with another top cut performance here.

06:28:15.660 --> 06:28:19.580
We've got Diego Casieraga against Piano Mini from the U.S.

06:28:19.580 --> 06:28:24.500
Yeah, two great matchups here, and you know, much different road to the top cut.

06:28:24.500 --> 06:28:29.180
Oiven this year versus last year, you know, he went on that huge undefeated streak

06:28:29.180 --> 06:28:32.380
to begin last year's World Championships this year.

06:28:32.380 --> 06:28:37.740
After a rockier start, had to battle his way up from the bottom and keep winning

06:28:37.740 --> 06:28:41.340
near the end of the event, going to Hot Street to make it back here.

06:28:41.340 --> 06:28:45.260
You know, we actually didn't feature him in any of our matches on the main stage

06:28:45.260 --> 06:28:46.620
this weekend.

06:28:46.620 --> 06:28:47.980
He won't be making it back here.

06:28:47.980 --> 06:28:51.580
Going up against Nathan, who actually did make top 32 at the World

06:28:51.580 --> 06:28:57.060
Championships last season, but maybe not as well known of a player as some

06:28:57.060 --> 06:28:57.980
of the other ones.

06:28:57.980 --> 06:29:00.380
Yeah, that one at the bottom, Diego versus Keon.

06:29:00.380 --> 06:29:03.100
Those are two veteran players.

06:29:03.100 --> 06:29:04.900
One of stars did a match up then.

06:29:04.900 --> 06:29:09.140
Other factors that we should make the folks at home aware of as we get into top cut.

06:29:09.140 --> 06:29:14.700
We are now in an open deck list phase of the tournament players before they play their games.

06:29:14.700 --> 06:29:17.480
We'll have a couple of minutes to review their opponent's list.

06:29:17.480 --> 06:29:22.020
Make note of any tech cards, make note of maybe where they cut corners in the deck building.

06:29:22.020 --> 06:29:25.120
Did they slim down on their ultra balls? Did they slim down on their bosses' orders?

06:29:25.120 --> 06:29:28.700
All those pieces can be really valuable as you play through a game.

06:29:28.700 --> 06:29:34.820
And another factor as well, the higher seated player now has an advantage in top cut.

06:29:34.820 --> 06:29:39.380
Yeah, if you are the higher seeded player, you do get to choose who goes first.

06:29:40.220 --> 06:29:45.980
You get to skip that opening coin flip, one of the advantages of being that higher seed.

06:29:45.980 --> 06:29:51.340
So, you know, Brent, the number one overall seed, if he continues to win in advance in this tournament,

06:29:51.340 --> 06:29:54.980
he'll get to choose who gets to go first in each of his matches.

06:29:55.180 --> 06:30:01.900
An incredible advantage in deserving when you win as many games as Brent did coming into top cut.

06:30:01.900 --> 06:30:06.340
I do enjoy that change that we made through the season this year.

06:30:07.240 --> 06:30:08.940
You know, we spent time in the pre-show, of course,

06:30:08.940 --> 06:30:10.940
talking about each of these players individually,

06:30:10.940 --> 06:30:13.780
but just looking back, seeing all these names listed.

06:30:14.380 --> 06:30:16.380
And we've got the Anglicosiraga, of course,

06:30:16.380 --> 06:30:19.320
the 2017 World Champion,

06:30:19.320 --> 06:30:23.120
looking to become just the second player ever to win multiple worlds.

06:30:23.480 --> 06:30:25.160
But all these other names, Kyle,

06:30:25.160 --> 06:30:27.760
if you think back to the last two or three years of the game,

06:30:28.300 --> 06:30:31.260
these players have been dominating the game

06:30:31.260 --> 06:30:33.100
in their respective regions.

06:30:33.100 --> 06:30:37.100
Okay, if players like Brent, Andrew Hedrick, Henry Chow,

06:30:37.100 --> 06:30:40.100
and Mateusz has had a great season so far,

06:30:40.100 --> 06:30:41.900
also made top cut at Worlds.

06:30:41.900 --> 06:30:45.220
Last season, I mean, this is a list

06:30:45.220 --> 06:30:46.740
of some of the best players in the world,

06:30:46.740 --> 06:30:48.580
which is exactly what you would expect.

06:30:48.580 --> 06:30:50.820
But I think what's fascinating here is

06:30:50.820 --> 06:30:53.220
a lot of these players are ones that

06:30:54.220 --> 06:30:56.380
have had great success at the regional

06:30:56.380 --> 06:30:58.860
and international level,

06:30:58.860 --> 06:31:00.460
but haven't been able to piece together

06:31:00.460 --> 06:31:07.140
make world championships finish. Now for players like Brent, Andrew, Henry, they

06:31:07.140 --> 06:31:13.180
are here with a golden opportunity to perhaps become world champion and

06:31:13.180 --> 06:31:18.500
really cement themselves as some of the game's greatest players. There's plenty

06:31:18.500 --> 06:31:23.120
of those great players with tons of backing, tons of accomplishments, but it

06:31:23.120 --> 06:31:27.060
seems like every year at Worlds there will be one or two dark horses, a

06:31:27.060 --> 06:31:31.020
player who were maybe a little less familiar with getting into top cut.

06:31:31.020 --> 06:31:35.260
I think this year that is certainly Satoshi Matsui, a player who's only

06:31:35.260 --> 06:31:40.100
been playing the game for just about a year qualified for the world championships.

06:31:40.220 --> 06:31:41.820
And here he is in top eight.

06:31:42.020 --> 06:31:45.340
Yeah, I think during his interview, he said, this is my first top cut.

06:31:47.060 --> 06:31:48.820
Just on the run of a lifetime.

06:31:49.420 --> 06:31:51.220
And hey, sometimes that's how it goes.

06:31:51.260 --> 06:31:55.180
I would say that's been actually pretty common for the last couple of years

06:31:55.180 --> 06:31:56.820
at the World Championships.

06:31:56.820 --> 06:31:58.620
The winner has ended up being, you know,

06:31:58.620 --> 06:32:02.020
very good players that weren't household names.

06:32:02.020 --> 06:32:03.620
The last year we had Riley McKay,

06:32:03.620 --> 06:32:07.260
who first out of the scene at NAIC leading up to it.

06:32:07.260 --> 06:32:10.700
But before that, maybe he was not a well-known player.

06:32:10.700 --> 06:32:12.940
Just had a great couple of months stretch.

06:32:12.940 --> 06:32:16.400
Huge finish at NAIC, wins the World Championships.

06:32:16.400 --> 06:32:19.300
Yeah, I think back to players like Fernando Suquentes.

06:32:19.300 --> 06:32:22.620
So again, he's very not household names at the time,

06:32:22.620 --> 06:32:26.380
But all the players who qualify at the World Championships

06:32:26.380 --> 06:32:30.060
are here for a reason, and this is your big opportunity

06:32:30.060 --> 06:32:31.380
to make a name for yourself.

06:32:31.380 --> 06:32:35.180
So Toshi's best finish ahead of this top eight,

06:32:35.180 --> 06:32:37.660
top 64 at the Houston Regional Championships.

06:32:37.660 --> 06:32:40.380
What a story that just goes to show.

06:32:40.380 --> 06:32:42.020
You know, if you get into the game

06:32:42.020 --> 06:32:44.620
and you really commit the time to it,

06:32:44.620 --> 06:32:46.620
then you make a great medical.

06:32:47.540 --> 06:32:48.380
Things go your way.

06:32:48.380 --> 06:32:52.500
You can end up amongst the best very, very quickly.

06:32:52.500 --> 06:32:58.720
And I mean as we look towards which decks made it into this top cut, I think no surprise.

06:32:58.720 --> 06:33:06.240
Dragapult EX is the most represented deck, but only four out of the 10 decks.

06:33:06.240 --> 06:33:11.820
You know, that is about what it was, its representation in the overall world's

06:33:11.820 --> 06:33:17.860
meta game to start, you know, there's about a little over 40% of the meta game sharing day one, right?

06:33:17.860 --> 06:33:19.320
So that's about right.

06:33:19.320 --> 06:33:21.720
And then I think some of the surprises for sure.

06:33:21.720 --> 06:33:25.560
Crossbowl, there's two of those that way outperformed

06:33:25.560 --> 06:33:28.820
its expectations and probably Alakazam,

06:33:28.820 --> 06:33:31.920
two of those as well, the big surprises.

06:33:31.920 --> 06:33:33.720
But then no surprise to see a couple other ones

06:33:33.720 --> 06:33:36.800
like the end Zorak and the raging bolt

06:33:36.800 --> 06:33:38.680
or the big basic EX deck.

06:33:38.680 --> 06:33:40.640
Yeah, I think Mateusz Laskiewicz's deck,

06:33:40.640 --> 06:33:42.760
the Alakazam is the most surprising

06:33:42.760 --> 06:33:44.560
of our top cut entrance here.

06:33:44.560 --> 06:33:47.120
Everyone else, you know, they're playing very good decks,

06:33:47.120 --> 06:33:48.600
things we've seen a bit before.

06:33:48.600 --> 06:33:51.580
But Tase has done, I think, by far the most innovation

06:33:51.580 --> 06:33:56.680
heading into this top cut with his Alakazam dust noir den.

06:33:56.680 --> 06:34:00.040
Yeah, I think that's the one where we first saw the decklist.

06:34:00.040 --> 06:34:03.040
We saw Henry Brand bringing it to this event.

06:34:03.040 --> 06:34:04.160
We first saw the decklist.

06:34:04.160 --> 06:34:06.320
He was like, what is this?

06:34:06.320 --> 06:34:08.480
What's the point of this thing?

06:34:08.480 --> 06:34:09.840
Where's the Duns bars?

06:34:09.840 --> 06:34:11.520
What's going on?

06:34:11.520 --> 06:34:14.960
And then all it took was one match of seeing it play out.

06:34:14.960 --> 06:34:17.480
You go, oh, I get it now.

06:34:17.480 --> 06:34:21.040
This is pretty genius idea.

06:34:21.040 --> 06:34:25.160
And I mean, this is one where, if things just

06:34:25.160 --> 06:34:28.040
keep going according to plan, formatage,

06:34:28.040 --> 06:34:33.280
we could see something we haven't seen a ton of in recent years,

06:34:33.280 --> 06:34:35.920
like a very new, innovative deck.

06:34:35.920 --> 06:34:38.080
Of course, using Alakazam, which is well-known,

06:34:38.080 --> 06:34:42.480
but a very new twist on that to perhaps win the world

06:34:42.480 --> 06:34:45.200
championships, those are rare feats.

06:34:45.200 --> 06:34:49.120
We will be playing all the way down to our two finalists.

06:34:49.120 --> 06:34:54.120
This evening, lots of Pokemon action still to come.

06:34:54.280 --> 06:34:55.800
Pukas, you look at this bracket,

06:34:55.800 --> 06:34:57.640
and you see who's playing who.

06:34:57.640 --> 06:35:00.840
What decks are up against one another?

06:35:00.840 --> 06:35:03.240
Are you really favoring anyone on either side of the bracket

06:35:03.240 --> 06:35:06.560
to get into that finals match?

06:35:06.560 --> 06:35:07.880
It's tough to look at this

06:35:07.880 --> 06:35:10.880
and not think Satoshi has a good road ahead.

06:35:10.880 --> 06:35:12.680
Having that crustal deck,

06:35:12.680 --> 06:35:15.580
There's potentially a lot of Dragonbolt decks

06:35:15.580 --> 06:35:19.160
that don't have good counters to that.

06:35:19.160 --> 06:35:21.520
That is a potential thing I'm looking at,

06:35:21.520 --> 06:35:24.320
but the one match I think is gonna be key

06:35:24.320 --> 06:35:27.680
for maybe deciding how this tournament plays out

06:35:27.680 --> 06:35:31.240
is Diego versus Keon at the bottom there.

06:35:31.240 --> 06:35:35.640
Diego has enhanced hammer in his deck,

06:35:35.640 --> 06:35:38.280
which can counter those crustal decks.

06:35:38.280 --> 06:35:42.040
I don't think Keon has a great way to deal with crustal.

06:35:42.040 --> 06:35:45.220
That one match there can influence what goes the top four,

06:35:45.220 --> 06:35:48.320
what goes the finals, what ends up winning this whole tournament.

06:35:49.720 --> 06:35:51.960
Of course, if you're watching along at home

06:35:51.960 --> 06:35:53.920
through the course of the weekend, any of our streams,

06:35:53.920 --> 06:35:56.300
you want to make sure you're taking advantage

06:35:56.300 --> 06:35:58.760
of the available Twitch drops.

06:35:58.760 --> 06:36:01.740
Lots of incredible cosmetics that you can earn

06:36:01.740 --> 06:36:04.500
to bling out your deck, swag yourself out a little bit

06:36:04.500 --> 06:36:07.340
as you're playing on the Pokemon Trading Card game lives,

06:36:07.340 --> 06:36:09.140
coins, deck boxes,

06:36:09.140 --> 06:36:13.900
needs across both Pokemon World Championships coverage and also the

06:36:13.900 --> 06:36:20.740
Pokemon XP tree. Cool stuff of course this is the first time we have Pokemon XP

06:36:20.740 --> 06:36:27.540
with Pokemon World Championships lining up with celebrating 30 years of Pokemon.

06:36:27.540 --> 06:36:35.540
Check out all this cool stuff, card sleeves, you know, customized stuff in Pokemon TCG Live.

06:36:35.540 --> 06:36:39.540
A lot of people might be looking to use those Charizard Sneak Shoe.

06:36:39.540 --> 06:36:42.540
I'm certainly going to be one of those people.

06:36:42.540 --> 06:36:47.540
Ouka, of course there's tons of other Pokemon action happening live right now.

06:36:47.540 --> 06:36:52.540
We're here with the trading card game coverage, but there are tons of other games happening.

06:36:52.540 --> 06:36:54.540
We've got our Pokemon Go broadcast down here.

06:36:54.540 --> 06:37:01.540
Pokemon Champions this way and then down below Pokemon Unite as well.

06:37:01.540 --> 06:37:04.540
Yeah, of course. That's the part. That's fun about the World Championships.

06:37:04.540 --> 06:37:14.540
You know, we love the Pokemon TCG here, but it's the celebration of all things Pokemon and that is, you know, Unite, Go!

06:37:14.540 --> 06:37:17.540
Champions, so much fun stuff to follow.

06:37:17.540 --> 06:37:26.540
And of course, all these trainers are battling right now for a chance to head to that arena tomorrow to play in Championship Sunday.

06:37:26.540 --> 06:37:27.540
That's what it's all about.

06:37:27.540 --> 06:37:32.540
It looks like both Champions and Unite are in their top eight currently.

06:37:32.540 --> 06:37:35.860
We're about to get into top eight match,

06:37:35.860 --> 06:37:37.500
which we are very excited to be featured.

06:37:37.500 --> 06:37:40.700
We're going to have Matayush up against Henry Chow.

06:37:40.700 --> 06:37:43.580
We looked at the bracket and looked at who's

06:37:43.580 --> 06:37:45.060
going to be playing against who.

06:37:45.060 --> 06:37:46.340
We know obviously all these matches are great,

06:37:46.340 --> 06:37:48.260
but this certainly seems like a standout.

06:37:48.260 --> 06:37:48.980
Oh, absolutely.

06:37:48.980 --> 06:37:52.980
These are some of the best players this season.

06:37:52.980 --> 06:37:53.820
One more to be said.

06:37:53.820 --> 06:37:56.340
I'm sure we'll talk about that more as we get into it.

06:37:56.340 --> 06:37:59.140
But I do think it's interesting to note,

06:37:59.140 --> 06:38:03.460
Henry Chow had an excellent season last season,

06:38:03.460 --> 06:38:05.300
winning a bunch of regional championships.

06:38:05.300 --> 06:38:08.260
He was one of the top performers again and again

06:38:08.260 --> 06:38:11.140
and again with Gardevoir EX.

06:38:11.140 --> 06:38:12.940
And then of course in the middle of this season,

06:38:12.940 --> 06:38:14.740
we did have the standard format rotation

06:38:14.740 --> 06:38:17.820
where Gardevoir EX could no longer be used.

06:38:17.820 --> 06:38:20.820
And then there's a question, what's Henry gonna do now?

06:38:20.820 --> 06:38:23.540
He doesn't have Gardevoir to fall back on.

06:38:23.540 --> 06:38:26.780
I think for a bit we saw a lot of like top 32,

06:38:26.780 --> 06:38:30.460
Top 16 finishes from Henry at a lot of different events.

06:38:30.460 --> 06:38:34.460
He wasn't able to break through to many top eats, top cuts.

06:38:34.460 --> 06:38:38.660
Now he's proven, don't need Gardevoir to succeed.

06:38:38.660 --> 06:38:41.100
He's here in the top eight of the world championships.

06:38:41.100 --> 06:38:43.780
Gardevoir, of course, very often led the charge

06:38:43.780 --> 06:38:46.100
in meta-share percentage.

06:38:46.100 --> 06:38:47.540
Let's take a look at the meta-share percentage.

06:38:47.540 --> 06:38:51.860
For this event, Henry going from number one in Gardevoir

06:38:51.860 --> 06:38:53.300
into number one in Dragonfall,

06:38:53.300 --> 06:38:54.860
not too big of a surprise.

06:38:54.860 --> 06:38:58.700
Phase one, absolutely dominated by Dragapult DX,

06:38:58.700 --> 06:39:01.780
344 of the trainers who entered this room,

06:39:01.780 --> 06:39:05.540
decided to use it as their choice for the world championships.

06:39:05.540 --> 06:39:10.540
43% a massive, massive lead over the next few decks.

06:39:12.300 --> 06:39:14.860
I said it yesterday, but if you add up the next five,

06:39:14.860 --> 06:39:17.380
it still doesn't total how much Dragapult

06:39:17.380 --> 06:39:19.580
was in the room at this event.

06:39:19.580 --> 06:39:22.460
By far the most popular deck.

06:39:22.460 --> 06:39:23.820
And for good reason.

06:39:23.820 --> 06:39:26.540
It's got so many things going for it.

06:39:26.540 --> 06:39:29.180
The reason that it's been the number one deck,

06:39:29.180 --> 06:39:31.780
the reason why it has a target on its back

06:39:31.780 --> 06:39:32.700
coming into this event,

06:39:32.700 --> 06:39:35.180
and why pretty much everyone decided,

06:39:35.180 --> 06:39:37.020
you know, I'm gonna play this deck.

06:39:37.020 --> 06:39:40.100
I'm gonna play a deck that can maybe beat this deck

06:39:40.100 --> 06:39:42.780
or I'm gonna try to, you know,

06:39:42.780 --> 06:39:44.580
zig whatever else is zagging

06:39:44.580 --> 06:39:46.100
and try to play the decks

06:39:46.100 --> 06:39:48.180
that beat the Dragonbolt counters.

06:39:48.180 --> 06:39:52.820
It's kind of, Dragonbolt EX has been the centerpiece

06:39:52.820 --> 06:39:55.260
of this standard format metagame so far.

06:39:57.300 --> 06:39:59.660
We'll take a look at the phase two metagame

06:39:59.660 --> 06:40:02.700
and I will say, Puka, oh before we get there,

06:40:02.700 --> 06:40:06.060
let's make a stop here at the best of the rest,

06:40:06.060 --> 06:40:09.220
some of those other decks that of course we've seen,

06:40:09.220 --> 06:40:11.820
we've got some festival lead yesterday,

06:40:11.820 --> 06:40:15.180
raging boldly appearances, crustal of course,

06:40:15.180 --> 06:40:18.860
we've seen kind of push through into the day two metagame.

06:40:20.060 --> 06:40:21.460
Lots of powerful options here

06:40:21.460 --> 06:40:24.700
the trainers chose to bring to World Championships this year.

06:40:24.700 --> 06:40:27.580
Yeah, I mean, what a crazy conversion rate

06:40:27.580 --> 06:40:29.180
for the Crustle, right?

06:40:29.180 --> 06:40:31.740
Only 21 people in the entire event

06:40:31.740 --> 06:40:33.900
brought that deck to the World Championships.

06:40:33.900 --> 06:40:36.420
Two of them made it to the top cut.

06:40:36.420 --> 06:40:37.780
Two of them were in top eight already.

06:40:37.780 --> 06:40:39.340
Well, let's take a look at how many of them made it

06:40:39.340 --> 06:40:43.740
into phase two, 21 in phase one.

06:40:43.740 --> 06:40:45.780
We can take a look at that phase two.

06:40:45.780 --> 06:40:48.660
I know it made it all the way up, eight players.

06:40:48.660 --> 06:40:51.940
And then two of those converting it into top defense.

06:40:51.940 --> 06:40:52.820
Yeah, incredible.

06:40:52.820 --> 06:40:58.260
And I mean, this has been one of those decks in the format,

06:40:58.260 --> 06:40:59.380
right?

06:40:59.380 --> 06:41:03.340
You either prepare for it or you don't.

06:41:03.340 --> 06:41:06.860
It has just a lot of very good matchups,

06:41:06.860 --> 06:41:11.100
several very bad matchups, very few in between.

06:41:11.100 --> 06:41:14.020
It's one of those very straightforward decks.

06:41:14.020 --> 06:41:16.540
Can you deal with my missed energy,

06:41:16.540 --> 06:41:26.540
Pokemon that can't be damaged by Pokemon EX and my healing cards. If you can, good game, if not, well, tough war.

06:41:26.540 --> 06:41:34.540
At regional championships this season, we've seen pretty consistently around 30% day one Dragonbolt EX ever since the rotation.

06:41:34.540 --> 06:41:42.540
And then moving into phase two, that number has jumped up above 40%, sometimes nearly 50% of the day two field.

06:41:42.540 --> 06:41:44.860
We see a bit of an inverse here at the World Championships.

06:41:44.860 --> 06:41:46.740
More players playing it in Phase 1,

06:41:46.740 --> 06:41:49.500
but it's not converting quite as well into Phase 2.

06:41:49.500 --> 06:41:51.420
What do you make of that?

06:41:51.420 --> 06:41:53.420
Yeah, it's tough to make heads or tails of it.

06:41:53.420 --> 06:41:56.660
You know, the World Championships, such a dynamic event.

06:41:56.660 --> 06:41:58.380
You never really know what's going to happen.

06:41:58.380 --> 06:42:00.540
I do think we saw a good chunk of top players

06:42:00.540 --> 06:42:02.580
decide to stick with the Dragonbolt,

06:42:02.580 --> 06:42:05.140
but many of them also decided they weren't

06:42:05.140 --> 06:42:06.620
going to be part of that group.

06:42:06.620 --> 06:42:10.340
We saw a lot of very strong players opt not to use

06:42:10.340 --> 06:42:16.780
Dragapult and maybe try to innovate in other ways so I think that may have played into it Dragapult was the most played deck

06:42:16.780 --> 06:42:20.220
But I think a lot of the time what drives what's happening here in phase two

06:42:20.220 --> 06:42:23.940
What makes the top cut is what the very very best players are using

06:42:24.580 --> 06:42:28.380
Of course always going to be a huge factor in these tournaments as

06:42:29.140 --> 06:42:31.660
Regardless of matchups regardless of deck choice

06:42:32.860 --> 06:42:38.660
The skill reigns supreme the players who are the best continue to succeed

06:42:38.660 --> 06:42:43.480
And that is, I think, made evident with our top cut at Worlds this year.

06:42:43.480 --> 06:42:47.780
So many extremely accomplished players making it through.

06:42:47.780 --> 06:42:52.660
And we are going to see two of them right now as we get down to the stage for

06:42:52.660 --> 06:42:57.460
top eight A, Henry Chow, Person Mateus, Laschkevitz.

06:42:57.460 --> 06:43:00.100
Oh, what a match.

06:43:00.100 --> 06:43:03.540
This is gonna be, Jim, this is fitting up the world.

06:43:03.540 --> 06:43:06.180
Champion, Jim's two world-class players.

06:43:06.180 --> 06:43:11.340
either one you could see emerging as world champion from this weekend.

06:43:11.980 --> 06:43:16.480
Henry, we saw earlier in the day with a miraculous top deck of a boss's

06:43:16.480 --> 06:43:20.740
orders to get a crucial win to propel himself here.

06:43:21.340 --> 06:43:23.780
You got to wonder, is it just his week?

06:43:25.620 --> 06:43:27.440
Succeeded any Pokemon tournament.

06:43:27.440 --> 06:43:29.580
It feels like three things have to be true.

06:43:29.580 --> 06:43:31.620
You've got to prepare well and play well.

06:43:31.980 --> 06:43:35.280
You got to have picked a good deck and it's got to be.

06:43:36.180 --> 06:43:40.080
That was certainly a it's your weekend moment for Henry chow

06:43:40.080 --> 06:43:45.520
I mean that top deck is the difference between him sitting in this chair and him being in the prize wall pickup line

06:43:46.480 --> 06:43:50.760
Now he finds himself up against the teyesh course with that alakazam

06:43:51.160 --> 06:43:55.820
Just nor deck the most innovative deck that we have in top touch the most unique spin

06:43:56.920 --> 06:44:00.920
He's certainly found something very unique that I'm sure players

06:44:00.920 --> 06:44:04.640
players across the world are going to be seeing in the

06:44:04.640 --> 06:44:07.140
Pokemon Trading Card game live in weeks to come,

06:44:07.140 --> 06:44:10.160
regardless of his final standing in this event.

06:44:10.160 --> 06:44:13.560
We see now players exchanging deck lists,

06:44:13.560 --> 06:44:18.320
taking a moment to review what the other player has available.

06:44:18.320 --> 06:44:19.800
Look at looking at these two players lists.

06:44:19.800 --> 06:44:22.440
What do you think the things are that each of them

06:44:22.440 --> 06:44:23.560
will be making note of?

06:44:23.560 --> 06:44:27.200
Of course, Henry perhaps has a little bit more to study,

06:44:27.200 --> 06:44:28.560
Mateus.

06:44:28.560 --> 06:44:31.500
Yeah, maybe, but Henry does have some odd things

06:44:31.500 --> 06:44:34.600
in his deck list as well, such as no Monkey Dory.

06:44:35.480 --> 06:44:36.840
I think the cards we've seen a lot of

06:44:36.840 --> 06:44:38.960
opted to go with the Petraps over that,

06:44:38.960 --> 06:44:40.880
and I don't think that will make any difference.

06:44:40.880 --> 06:44:45.320
Actually, both players bringing the Petraps to this event,

06:44:45.320 --> 06:44:46.560
fearing the Monkey Dory,

06:44:46.560 --> 06:44:49.280
deciding to counter it instead of using it themselves.

06:44:49.280 --> 06:44:52.080
I think a couple of big cards here from Henry's side.

06:44:52.080 --> 06:44:54.320
Number one, Judge.

06:44:54.320 --> 06:44:56.600
This is not a card we see Dragon Bolt play

06:44:56.600 --> 06:44:59.620
very often these days, but it is a supporter card.

06:44:59.620 --> 06:45:02.500
You can play it on any turn of the game

06:45:02.500 --> 06:45:04.420
to disrupt your opponent's hand.

06:45:04.420 --> 06:45:07.540
And that is what Alakazam is all about.

06:45:07.540 --> 06:45:10.420
Stockpile a bunch of cards in your hand

06:45:10.420 --> 06:45:12.700
for that powerful hand attack.

06:45:12.700 --> 06:45:14.580
I think we could see that Judge

06:45:14.580 --> 06:45:16.100
potentially be a difference maker.

06:45:16.100 --> 06:45:18.140
The one Judge, the one unfair stamp

06:45:18.140 --> 06:45:19.940
and the one special red card,

06:45:19.940 --> 06:45:21.700
those are the ways that Henry Chao

06:45:21.700 --> 06:45:26.300
has to reset the hand of Mateus Lashkovitz.

06:45:26.600 --> 06:45:33.320
Yeah, the other thing, there's no, you know, from a taste, there's no, you know, things

06:45:33.320 --> 06:45:35.640
to block the Phantom Dive.

06:45:35.640 --> 06:45:38.760
There's no things to block Henry's Dust Noir either.

06:45:38.760 --> 06:45:41.920
No, like, side up, things like that.

06:45:41.920 --> 06:45:45.760
Of course, I mean, why would you play side up in this deck for either player?

06:45:45.760 --> 06:45:52.080
But, you know, Dragonbolt is one of these decks that can pick apart a weak Alakazam

06:45:52.080 --> 06:45:54.280
board state with that Phantom Dive.

06:45:54.280 --> 06:45:58.320
We don't see anything like the battle cage from Mattesh either.

06:45:58.320 --> 06:46:05.120
I do think Henry's going to have some opportunities here to pick apart this Alec-Azam deck.

06:46:05.120 --> 06:46:10.360
But both players also opting for two copies of that Badoo.

06:46:10.360 --> 06:46:13.840
Itchy pollen, raining supreme here again.

06:46:13.840 --> 06:46:16.840
Henry Chow is the third seed coming into this cut.

06:46:16.840 --> 06:46:22.200
Mattesh, the sixth seed, that means that Henry will have the option here first,

06:46:22.200 --> 06:46:28.200
for second. An ever important choice. Which way do you think he'll leave?

06:46:28.200 --> 06:46:34.200
That's a tough choice. I kind of feel like you want to go second. Just being the first one to use that itchy pollen

06:46:34.200 --> 06:46:39.200
could be a big deal here, but it's such a tough choice, right? You want to go first

06:46:39.200 --> 06:46:44.200
when you want to evolve your Pokemon up into the druklok, into the dust clumps,

06:46:44.200 --> 06:46:48.200
things like that. I honestly don't know what I would be doing here.

06:46:48.200 --> 06:46:52.780
I'm sure Henry's given it some thought. He's got a great testing group as well.

06:46:52.780 --> 06:46:58.280
I'm sure they've talked plenty about in the time since Top Cut was set to now

06:46:58.280 --> 06:47:04.320
what he should be doing, which options did he choose, and Mateus as well. Also well

06:47:04.320 --> 06:47:08.080
networked with his friend group and testing partners, perhaps people who

06:47:08.080 --> 06:47:12.600
have scouted out the stream and given him some insight into the way Henry's

06:47:12.600 --> 06:47:17.600
been playing and different sorts of maneuvers he could make.

06:47:17.600 --> 06:47:18.940
We do a confirmation.

06:47:18.940 --> 06:47:21.540
Henry chose to go second.

06:47:21.540 --> 06:47:24.140
Maybe favoring that itchy pollen.

06:47:24.140 --> 06:47:26.340
Also being able to play a supporter first

06:47:26.340 --> 06:47:27.880
is giving himself the best chance

06:47:27.880 --> 06:47:30.060
to ensure a setup happens.

06:47:30.060 --> 06:47:32.780
We see prize cards going out for both of these players.

06:47:32.780 --> 06:47:36.020
Quite a few Pokemon on the side of a Mateish.

06:47:36.020 --> 06:47:38.820
That Don and Dustin are in the prizes for Henry.

06:47:38.820 --> 06:47:41.860
Two Kadabra and a Dustclops for Mateish.

06:47:41.860 --> 06:47:45.980
You know, just talking about how important the itchy pollen is early on.

06:47:45.980 --> 06:47:51.460
That's going to become even more impactful when the three of those stage one Pokemon

06:47:51.900 --> 06:47:57.500
are in Mateus' prize cards that could really hinder his setup early in the game.

06:47:57.780 --> 06:47:58.940
There is the fist bump.

06:47:58.940 --> 06:47:59.620
Here we go.

06:47:59.620 --> 06:48:04.140
Top eight at the 2026 World Championships underway.

06:48:04.140 --> 06:48:08.140
Mateus Lashkovits will be taking the first turn and he kicks it off with an Abra

06:48:08.300 --> 06:48:09.420
in the active spot.

06:48:09.420 --> 06:48:11.140
Telepathic psychic energy down.

06:48:11.140 --> 06:48:14.020
This will allow him to search the deck for two basic psychic Pokémon

06:48:14.020 --> 06:48:15.680
and bring them into play.

06:48:15.680 --> 06:48:17.680
Extended time here as well in Top Cut.

06:48:17.680 --> 06:48:20.680
We see 75 minutes there on the clock,

06:48:20.680 --> 06:48:24.180
ensuring that a three game set can occur.

06:48:24.180 --> 06:48:26.180
This is where Matash will take an opportunity

06:48:26.180 --> 06:48:28.380
to check what's in those prize cards.

06:48:28.380 --> 06:48:31.480
And I do think this will be pretty bad news for him

06:48:31.480 --> 06:48:33.480
on what's available.

06:48:33.480 --> 06:48:37.180
But this telepathic psychic energy is one of these cards

06:48:37.180 --> 06:48:40.880
that came out in one of the recent expansions

06:48:40.880 --> 06:48:44.460
that really made this Alakazam deck much stronger.

06:48:44.460 --> 06:48:47.020
You can use your energy attachment for the turn

06:48:47.020 --> 06:48:50.960
to go search for two psychic basic Pokemon

06:48:50.960 --> 06:48:52.800
and put them onto your bench.

06:48:52.800 --> 06:48:56.240
Your energy attachment just turns into a buddy-buddy poffin

06:48:56.240 --> 06:48:59.400
of sorts, and it just adds so much consistency

06:48:59.400 --> 06:49:00.640
to this style of deck.

06:49:00.640 --> 06:49:02.140
Thinking back in the history of the game,

06:49:02.140 --> 06:49:04.680
this type of effect has almost always been good.

06:49:04.680 --> 06:49:07.440
Capture energy, such a strong card for so long,

06:49:07.440 --> 06:49:09.880
even all the way back to call energy,

06:49:09.880 --> 06:49:15.800
which was a four off in many archetypes back in the 2009 and 2010 formats.

06:49:16.360 --> 06:49:17.760
And that one ended your turn.

06:49:17.760 --> 06:49:19.200
It did end your turn in this one.

06:49:19.200 --> 06:49:23.600
You just get to keep going here as we see Mateusz playing out a poke pad,

06:49:23.860 --> 06:49:25.340
fetching out one of those cadavers.

06:49:25.340 --> 06:49:27.600
That is huge to find on this opening term.

06:49:27.600 --> 06:49:32.740
Absolutely. You want to get ahead again of that item lock from the itchy pollen.

06:49:33.240 --> 06:49:35.320
Now looks like it's back over to Henry.

06:49:35.880 --> 06:49:38.180
He's going to be taking a look through his prize cards here,

06:49:38.180 --> 06:49:41.740
Kicking things off with the buddy buddy pop buddy buddy pop and the main card

06:49:41.740 --> 06:49:45.280
You want to see in your opening hand for so many archetypes

06:49:45.280 --> 06:49:52.620
Especially the dragapult build searching your deck for two Pokemon with 70 HP or less and putting them into play

06:49:53.220 --> 06:49:56.500
See just taking stock of which Pokemon are and are not available

06:49:56.860 --> 06:50:03.220
Surely noting that dusk nor is not part of the party for this game one until some prize cards

06:50:03.500 --> 06:50:05.060
Start to be taken

06:50:05.060 --> 06:50:07.060
Does have both copies of his Badoo

06:50:07.460 --> 06:50:11.740
I have to think Badoo will be coming out this turn as long as he's got an energy to retreat

06:50:12.460 --> 06:50:18.340
Yeah, I would say one of the only awkward things about this is you know your pun has the cadaver in hand already

06:50:18.940 --> 06:50:23.220
Cadaver can just do 30 damage and knock out of a do on the second turn

06:50:23.740 --> 06:50:29.460
You might just be okay with that that walks right into something like an unfair stamp on the following turn

06:50:29.860 --> 06:50:31.700
but one of the

06:50:31.700 --> 06:50:35.140
Real challenges with dragapult in the early game is

06:50:35.860 --> 06:50:38.540
You know trying not to fall too far behind

06:50:39.420 --> 06:50:45.420
Before you can set up a dragapult EX and you can see the double Badoo already

06:50:45.860 --> 06:50:49.420
Henry anticipating that the first one is gonna go down and

06:50:50.100 --> 06:50:53.060
Really prioritizing having that pivot to the next turns

06:50:53.060 --> 06:50:55.700
We doesn't have to burn more energy cards to retreat

06:50:55.700 --> 06:51:01.540
You really prioritizing the setup here as well as Meowth EX fetched out from an ultra ball

06:51:01.900 --> 06:51:08.700
Putting that into play to use that last ditch catch ability allowing him to search the deck for any supporter card and adding it to the hand

06:51:08.700 --> 06:51:13.960
And it is all about the lilies determination sending the hand into the deck and drawing six cards

06:51:13.960 --> 06:51:19.600
But since Henry does have exactly six prize cards remaining. He's going to get eight cards

06:51:19.600 --> 06:51:26.800
So often we see Dragonbolt players use this card turn after turn after turn until they are fully established and set up

06:51:28.080 --> 06:51:31.360
Some wonderful start so far from Henry. He's gonna be able to

06:51:32.360 --> 06:51:36.960
Establish some things early on you know Dragonbolt EX is a relatively slow deck

06:51:37.280 --> 06:51:43.800
Have to evolve from basic to stage one to stage two this version doesn't play any rare candy

06:51:43.800 --> 06:51:52.040
You're not going to see any pressure in the opening turns, but you will see the itchy pollen and itchy pollen incoming and you

06:51:52.040 --> 06:51:57.240
Called it out with this but do potentially going down right away to a cadaver attack

06:51:57.240 --> 06:52:00.080
Did you see one of those eight cards? Henry drew it was

06:52:00.560 --> 06:52:08.240
The unfair stamp is Mateus just going to walk into this and drop down to simply two cards

06:52:08.240 --> 06:52:16.040
Yeah, unfair stamp is one of the biggest cards in the format right now.

06:52:16.040 --> 06:52:19.600
Sometimes you can just attack in on the second turn and just cross your fingers and say what

06:52:19.600 --> 06:52:23.440
are the odds my opponent just has the unfair stamp already.

06:52:23.440 --> 06:52:24.880
No way to search it out.

06:52:24.880 --> 06:52:26.800
Just has to draw into it naturally.

06:52:26.800 --> 06:52:27.800
Yep.

06:52:27.800 --> 06:52:31.480
And of course, when they do, you feel horrible, but when they don't...

06:52:31.480 --> 06:52:32.480
It's a little unfair.

06:52:32.480 --> 06:52:33.480
Yeah, weird.

06:52:33.480 --> 06:52:40.260
I do want to call it as well. Henry's board state is very awkward with a lot of

06:52:40.260 --> 06:52:44.400
Badoo, Meowth, EX, no room for a dust ball right now, but look at that chip.

06:52:44.400 --> 06:52:49.140
Support a card we got going on here. Here we go. Gwynn, one of the new cards

06:52:49.140 --> 06:52:53.800
from the pitch black expansion, I think, you know, perhaps designed to go along

06:52:53.800 --> 06:52:58.920
with that hide-and-sneak archetype, but used here to discard a bunch of

06:52:58.920 --> 06:53:04.080
Pokemon and draw six cards and immediately here we see that knockout from

06:53:04.080 --> 06:53:07.760
Mateusz and Henry playing quickly. I think that was a top deck of a second

06:53:07.760 --> 06:53:12.600
dracloak. Two dracloaks into play and there it is unfair stamp. Both players

06:53:12.600 --> 06:53:16.760
shuffling their hands in. Henry will get five. Mateusz will be left with only

06:53:16.760 --> 06:53:22.480
two. Just isn't fair Chip. You take a simple knockout to stop the item lock

06:53:22.480 --> 06:53:27.360
from Ichi Palin and your reward is getting your hand shuffled in and

06:53:27.360 --> 06:53:29.440
and you only have two cards.

06:53:29.440 --> 06:53:34.000
This can be devastating for Matias here.

06:53:34.880 --> 06:53:37.440
He just doesn't have that strong of a setup right now.

06:53:37.440 --> 06:53:40.960
There's just those two Abra on the bench.

06:53:40.960 --> 06:53:42.760
Yikes, this could be really bad

06:53:42.760 --> 06:53:46.160
if he doesn't find something like Alakazam or Kadabra

06:53:46.160 --> 06:53:47.480
to start drawing some cards.

06:53:47.480 --> 06:53:49.280
Still plenty for Henry Chow to do here

06:53:49.280 --> 06:53:50.440
as Recon Directive number one.

06:53:50.440 --> 06:53:52.120
As you lost, and Recon Directive number two

06:53:52.120 --> 06:53:54.920
does find him, the Lilly's determination.

06:53:54.920 --> 06:53:56.920
He of course has not played a supporter card

06:53:56.920 --> 06:53:59.460
at this turn feels odd since he's already shuffled

06:53:59.460 --> 06:54:00.800
and drawn some cards,

06:54:00.800 --> 06:54:02.640
but Billy's determination is still live to be played,

06:54:02.640 --> 06:54:05.400
but not before Poképad fetches out the third draw.

06:54:05.400 --> 06:54:07.440
This is an excellent start for Henry.

06:54:08.400 --> 06:54:11.160
Absolutely, and gonna follow up the unfair state

06:54:11.160 --> 06:54:14.320
by half to imagine with another itchy pollen,

06:54:14.320 --> 06:54:17.640
which will make any cards like Poképad, Buddy Buddy,

06:54:17.640 --> 06:54:20.000
Poffin, you know, those item cards

06:54:20.000 --> 06:54:21.800
that allow you to search for your Pokemon,

06:54:21.800 --> 06:54:24.120
they will be useless.

06:54:24.120 --> 06:54:25.880
Henry trying to set up a situation

06:54:25.880 --> 06:54:35.880
Maybe Matiasz is not able to evolve any of those Pokemon and then he can swoop in with Dragapult EX, Phantom Dive and knock out multiple Pokemon at once.

06:54:35.880 --> 06:54:47.880
And perhaps knocking out even more with that Duskull coming down, setting up to potentially become a Duskull off, setting up for a Cursed Blast to rain havoc down on Matiasz's side of the field.

06:54:47.880 --> 06:54:50.920
Abra, very soft Pokemon. In fact,

06:54:50.920 --> 06:54:53.920
Mateus playing two copies of that teleporter.

06:54:53.920 --> 06:54:55.920
Abra, it only has 40 hit points.

06:54:55.920 --> 06:55:01.920
That is a prime target for both Dragapult EX and Dust Clops.

06:55:01.920 --> 06:55:06.920
With the Cursed Blast, it's right now feels like the momentum is going

06:55:06.920 --> 06:55:10.920
Henry Chow's way. Being able to sift through the deck,

06:55:10.920 --> 06:55:13.920
slowly set up this game plan.

06:55:13.920 --> 06:55:20.920
The only silver lining for Matiasz at this point is he will take the lead in this game,

06:55:20.920 --> 06:55:25.420
get a bit of a cushion in that regard and probably be up by two prize cards at the end of his

06:55:25.420 --> 06:55:26.420
turn.

06:55:26.420 --> 06:55:27.920
Let's see what the unfair stamp has left.

06:55:27.920 --> 06:55:32.840
Matiasz with, there is a Hilda, couple of buddy, buddy, Poffin, he's unable to play,

06:55:32.840 --> 06:55:35.040
but the Hilda is a really nice find.

06:55:35.040 --> 06:55:36.240
Yeah, that's great.

06:55:36.240 --> 06:55:41.440
At the very least, that's going to find an Alakazam to draw three cards here.

06:55:41.440 --> 06:55:44.240
If you're wondering, is he going to go for a Cadabra?

06:55:44.240 --> 06:55:46.840
Maybe try to save one of those Abra here.

06:55:46.840 --> 06:55:50.320
If you go for Alakazam, try to draw an extra card.

06:55:50.320 --> 06:55:52.520
This is not an easy decision.

06:55:52.520 --> 06:55:54.200
I also want to call out,

06:55:54.200 --> 06:55:59.680
normally the A-Spec card in Alakazam decks is the enriching energy.

06:55:59.680 --> 06:56:03.360
That card that allows you to draw four cards when you attach it.

06:56:03.360 --> 06:56:07.640
But because there's no Dundz-Barse in this version of the deck,

06:56:07.640 --> 06:56:11.340
The A-Spec card is actually Prime Catcher.

06:56:11.340 --> 06:56:16.640
So this would be a spot where you would love to hilda for enriching energy and draw a bunch of cards.

06:56:16.640 --> 06:56:21.940
But Prime Catcher is the choice here and you can't even play that right now because of Edgy Pollen.

06:56:22.640 --> 06:56:30.140
Mateusz ultimately did land on Alakazam. We did see him mull it over a bit, Kadabra versus Alakazam.

06:56:30.140 --> 06:56:33.440
Which one seemed better? He values the extra card here.

06:56:33.440 --> 06:56:37.920
Let's find another Alakazam, but no Kedabra, Puka.

06:56:37.920 --> 06:56:38.720
Oh, Chip.

06:56:38.720 --> 06:56:39.560
Follow-up supporter.

06:56:39.560 --> 06:56:40.640
He's going to jump ahead here.

06:56:40.640 --> 06:56:41.600
He's going to take the lead.

06:56:41.600 --> 06:56:44.520
Four prizes remaining to Henry's six.

06:56:44.520 --> 06:56:47.720
But this is exactly what Henry wants to have happen.

06:56:47.720 --> 06:56:52.040
I think Matash knows devastation is looming for him here.

06:56:52.040 --> 06:56:55.400
There is a good chance we will leave this turn

06:56:55.400 --> 06:56:59.560
with zero Alakazam, zero Abra in play.

06:56:59.560 --> 06:57:02.080
Nothing but a field full of duskull.

06:57:02.080 --> 06:57:06.040
Formatash, this is really dire.

06:57:06.040 --> 06:57:10.660
All Henry needs to pull that off after this polka pad finds out the dust

06:57:10.660 --> 06:57:15.040
glops is a psychic energy and a dragapult EX.

06:57:15.040 --> 06:57:19.680
And he has so much access to his deck now, he can play a supporter card.

06:57:19.680 --> 06:57:22.340
He can play a couple of recondirectives.

06:57:22.340 --> 06:57:26.280
He could even get back that Fezzendipiti EX he discarded if necessary.

06:57:26.280 --> 06:57:27.320
There's Rosa's encouragement.

06:57:27.320 --> 06:57:29.780
That is a way he could guarantee the attachment.

06:57:29.780 --> 06:57:34.780
He needs to find himself a Dragapult EX.

06:57:34.780 --> 06:57:41.780
The other part of this that might feel a bit unfair is if Henry goes with the dust globs, uses the Cursed Blast.

06:57:41.780 --> 06:57:46.780
He knocks out one of those Abra. It will force Metayush to take a prize card,

06:57:46.780 --> 06:57:53.780
which would then unlock Henry's special red card to disrupt Metayush's hand further.

06:57:53.780 --> 06:57:55.780
Here is the beginning of this turn, Chip.

06:57:55.780 --> 06:57:59.940
Kirst Blast takes out the Abra, awarding both players a prize card,

06:57:59.940 --> 06:58:02.180
and Mateusz down to just three now.

06:58:02.180 --> 06:58:06.300
Henry finally striking with five prizes remaining on his end.

06:58:06.300 --> 06:58:10.500
I don't think we're going to get out of this turn without Henry Chow tying this game up.

06:58:10.500 --> 06:58:13.540
Psychic energy attached from the hand onto the dragapult.

06:58:13.540 --> 06:58:17.740
Tonight's stretcher searching the discard pile to bring back a dust goal,

06:58:17.740 --> 06:58:20.820
setting up for future Kirst Blasts and a buddy, buddy,

06:58:20.820 --> 06:58:23.520
pop and just to thin the hand out of beds.

06:58:25.220 --> 06:58:30.820
I think the only thing Henry would have to be concerned about, I mean, I don't think you can use enough

06:58:31.320 --> 06:58:36.720
cursed blasts from Mitaesh without losing, like you said, if the game's going to be tied at some point.

06:58:36.720 --> 06:58:43.920
But, I mean, you could see a ridiculous turn, right, where Mitaesh gets like three dust-noir out

06:58:43.920 --> 06:58:46.820
and forces a sudden death scenario.

06:58:46.820 --> 06:58:52.580
very unlikely but that kind of feels like the only way they'll have a shot in

06:58:52.580 --> 06:58:56.780
this game at this point. The Alakazam is really the only attacker he has. It's also

06:58:56.780 --> 06:59:00.620
his draw engine as well. Like you mentioned, no Dundsmars, no enriching

06:59:00.620 --> 06:59:04.540
energy. He's got those Gwyn, but that's really the only way for him to draw.

06:59:04.540 --> 06:59:09.500
And here it is. Phantom dive takes down Alakazam, targets down the Abra,

06:59:09.500 --> 06:59:13.660
Henry ties it up, three prizes to three, Mateusz sees the writing on the

06:59:13.660 --> 06:59:16.600
and it's gonna pack us up to game two.

06:59:16.600 --> 06:59:20.340
That is textbook, drag a bolt for you.

06:59:20.340 --> 06:59:23.140
The itchy pollen early in the game.

06:59:23.140 --> 06:59:25.680
You buy some time, set up multiple knockouts

06:59:25.680 --> 06:59:27.820
with Phantom Dive.

06:59:27.820 --> 06:59:30.220
Just was not a whole lot of chance for you

06:59:30.220 --> 06:59:32.060
in that situation.

06:59:32.060 --> 06:59:35.260
Really see this choice of the dust bar line

06:59:35.260 --> 06:59:37.700
for Henry Payne dividends.

06:59:37.700 --> 06:59:40.060
Without that, you know, you can maybe knock out

06:59:40.060 --> 06:59:43.860
Alakazam and Abra, but then you leave one,

06:59:43.860 --> 06:59:46.100
you get into a sticky spot where your opponent

06:59:46.100 --> 06:59:49.620
is able to get an Alakazam out on the following turn,

06:59:49.620 --> 06:59:54.300
but that additional damage from the Dustbop's first blast

06:59:54.300 --> 06:59:57.100
lets you just decimate your opponent's field.

06:59:57.100 --> 07:00:00.180
So many cards drawn for Mateish on his second turn.

07:00:00.180 --> 07:00:03.140
It was seeming like everything was going according to plan,

07:00:03.140 --> 07:00:05.780
but then Henry Chow was able to respond

07:00:05.780 --> 07:00:07.180
with that unfair stamp.

07:00:07.180 --> 07:00:10.960
reset that hand down, and it's not finding too much.

07:00:10.960 --> 07:00:15.080
The Hilda was nice, but we're being hit by an unfair stamp,

07:00:15.080 --> 07:00:17.560
and there's not that many fines of the Cadabra

07:00:17.560 --> 07:00:19.240
thanks to two being prized.

07:00:19.240 --> 07:00:23.560
It seems really difficult for Mateusz to get back through his deck.

07:00:23.560 --> 07:00:26.640
I have to wonder if Mateusz is maybe a little bit too

07:00:26.640 --> 07:00:29.120
aggressive in that first game.

07:00:29.120 --> 07:00:31.160
It's tempting to just attack with the Cadabra

07:00:31.160 --> 07:00:34.540
and knock out the Badiak, but immediately got unfair

07:00:34.540 --> 07:00:41.540
stamps, not to think, you know, would it have been maybe better if your hand is good enough

07:00:41.540 --> 07:00:45.620
to wait an extra turn, try to get one more cadaver out before you go into it.

07:00:45.620 --> 07:00:50.100
But sometimes you just got to go for it and say, okay, they had on first hand.

07:00:50.100 --> 07:00:55.260
Playing the odds a little bit, not super likely necessarily for Henry to have it, but not

07:00:55.260 --> 07:00:57.620
super unreasonable either.

07:00:57.620 --> 07:00:59.620
Oh, all right.

07:00:59.620 --> 07:01:04.100
So probably not the way that Mataesh wanted this top heat to start off.

07:01:04.100 --> 07:01:09.700
Henry probably feeling great, but it's only one game of our best of three match here.

07:01:09.700 --> 07:01:16.900
Anybody could still take this home in advance, do the top four of the world championships,

07:01:16.900 --> 07:01:22.340
which is a huge plateau, of course, such an increase in pricing and everything like that.

07:01:22.340 --> 07:01:25.940
Every match you play from here on out is just so impactful.

07:01:25.940 --> 07:01:38.940
The Chayesh will have the opportunity to choose first or second here, so he will choose going second, and he will be the one to have the opportunity to get an opening, Ichi, Paulin.

07:01:38.940 --> 07:01:46.940
Let's see what Henry has available in this opening hand. The lead of the dust goal, not too bad. And a couple of Drepi join the party here.

07:01:46.940 --> 07:01:51.180
It's like ultra ball being debated here. Henry recognizing that the

07:01:51.820 --> 07:01:56.820
Badoo itchy pollen is extremely likely from his opponent wants to make sure to play those item cards while he came

07:01:57.700 --> 07:02:03.300
Yeah, and in the first game we didn't see that at all, but they should not even put down a Badoo at any point

07:02:04.140 --> 07:02:10.980
Probably recognizing when I go first, this is not gonna be very impactful. My opponent's already played a lot of things

07:02:11.260 --> 07:02:13.900
Set up for the following turn played a supporter card

07:02:13.900 --> 07:02:17.900
just not worth putting this tiny Pokemon into play.

07:02:17.900 --> 07:02:18.900
Not how that game's gonna go.

07:02:18.900 --> 07:02:21.900
I wonder if we'll see the roles shift in game number two,

07:02:21.900 --> 07:02:24.900
where Matanj could have the first opportunity

07:02:24.900 --> 07:02:27.900
to do the itchy pollen, do the item locking,

07:02:27.900 --> 07:02:29.900
and maybe slow Henry down this time.

07:02:29.900 --> 07:02:31.900
I'd normally look at these prize cards and say,

07:02:31.900 --> 07:02:33.900
oh, not too big of a deal.

07:02:33.900 --> 07:02:35.900
Nothing really of consequence, but something to note, Puka,

07:02:35.900 --> 07:02:37.900
Henry did just use an Ultra Ball

07:02:37.900 --> 07:02:40.900
and discarded an Ultra Ball with it.

07:02:40.900 --> 07:02:44.340
His other two ultra ball are in his prize cards.

07:02:44.340 --> 07:02:45.700
That's something we'll have to track.

07:02:45.700 --> 07:02:48.500
It could be difficult for him to find a Dragonbolt EX.

07:02:49.820 --> 07:02:51.820
That's very true.

07:02:51.820 --> 07:02:54.220
I guess maybe the silver lining is he just played Dawn,

07:02:54.220 --> 07:02:56.820
which is one way to find a Dragonbolt EX.

07:02:56.820 --> 07:02:58.300
But yeah, that's going to be really awkward.

07:02:58.300 --> 07:03:01.660
And I think also something you don't think to search for

07:03:01.660 --> 07:03:04.700
when you're looking at what's in my prize cards.

07:03:04.700 --> 07:03:07.540
You just don't really have the time or the mental capacity

07:03:07.540 --> 07:03:12.820
to note every single thing that's in your prize cards and Ultra Ball is just not something you

07:03:12.820 --> 07:03:17.220
think to look for. We'll take it into the deck right away with an opening Hilda, searching out

07:03:17.220 --> 07:03:22.900
an evolution Pokemon and an energy card. We will shortly see that telepathic psychic energy come

07:03:22.900 --> 07:03:29.140
into play here, catching out a few more of those psychic basics. Looks like the evolution

07:03:29.140 --> 07:03:34.820
Pokemon he's going with for now is that Dusk Lops, telepathic psychic has now joined that

07:03:34.820 --> 07:03:42.340
party. Taking a note of his prize cards. Doesn't look thrilled I'll say that. Looks like a couple

07:03:42.340 --> 07:03:48.820
of telepathic psychic in his prize cards. Not very many energy available. Okay he only plays

07:03:48.820 --> 07:03:56.740
five energy. I mean he's only got two available until he starts to take prize cards. That's

07:03:56.740 --> 07:04:02.980
not good Chip. Thankfully you only need one to attack with Alakazam. But if he retreats

07:04:02.980 --> 07:04:05.980
He just won off here to attack with Badoo,

07:04:05.980 --> 07:04:07.660
then he's only got one.

07:04:07.660 --> 07:04:08.900
Exactly.

07:04:08.900 --> 07:04:11.940
I don't think he can afford to do that anymore.

07:04:11.940 --> 07:04:14.460
Meanwhile, you have to find your last energy card,

07:04:14.460 --> 07:04:15.980
and then you have to hope at some point

07:04:15.980 --> 07:04:19.380
when you take a prize card, you find another energy card.

07:04:19.380 --> 07:04:20.780
I mean, you have pretty good odds.

07:04:20.780 --> 07:04:23.460
There are half of your prizes.

07:04:23.460 --> 07:04:26.180
But yeah, this is two games in a row now

07:04:26.180 --> 07:04:29.940
where Matias might have to come up with an alternate plan

07:04:29.940 --> 07:04:33.380
just based on what's in those prize cards.

07:04:33.380 --> 07:04:35.940
Do you see that telepathic psychic energy coming down,

07:04:35.940 --> 07:04:38.780
searching the deck for two basic psychic Pokémon?

07:04:38.780 --> 07:04:42.420
It looks like Abra and that Duskull are hitting the field.

07:04:42.420 --> 07:04:44.660
And a buddy, buddy, Poffin can ensure a few more Pokémon

07:04:44.660 --> 07:04:45.500
come out.

07:04:45.500 --> 07:04:48.700
And he does grab out the Badoo.

07:04:48.700 --> 07:04:51.740
That does signify the retreat of that telepathic psychic

07:04:51.740 --> 07:04:53.700
energy and the itchy pollen.

07:04:53.700 --> 07:04:55.540
He's just going to value shutting Henry down.

07:04:55.540 --> 07:04:57.380
So, so much now over to Henry.

07:04:57.380 --> 07:05:01.020
We see that Recon Directive and a huge hit off of those two cards.

07:05:01.020 --> 07:05:04.020
Lily's determination.

07:05:04.020 --> 07:05:06.100
That's going to turn into eight more cards.

07:05:06.100 --> 07:05:07.660
But not before the dawn.

07:05:07.660 --> 07:05:08.660
What do you think of this?

07:05:08.660 --> 07:05:10.140
He's got the dawn in hand.

07:05:10.140 --> 07:05:12.220
He's going to choose to play it slowly.

07:05:12.220 --> 07:05:13.820
I don't mind it at all.

07:05:13.820 --> 07:05:15.540
This can do a couple of different things.

07:05:15.540 --> 07:05:17.180
You can grab a dust clops.

07:05:17.180 --> 07:05:19.780
You can just get your dust go out of the active spot

07:05:19.780 --> 07:05:21.220
without having to burn in energy

07:05:21.220 --> 07:05:22.940
if you want to go that route.

07:05:22.940 --> 07:05:25.380
You can set yourself up to find that dragapult

07:05:25.380 --> 07:05:30.500
that you don't have any Ultra Balls this this might just end up working out I'm

07:05:30.500 --> 07:05:34.500
not sure if Henry has an energy but yeah look the curse blast. It's gonna take out

07:05:34.500 --> 07:05:38.320
the Badoo and he'll promote his own Badoo and he is gonna match Mateus'

07:05:38.320 --> 07:05:43.340
itchy-pulling with one of his own. That is a huge hit though. Mateus off of that

07:05:43.340 --> 07:05:48.620
prize card did take I think a telepathic psychic energy. Henry's in

07:05:48.620 --> 07:05:57.140
such a good position here. Matias is all basic Pokemon in play still and Henry was able to get rid of that

07:05:57.140 --> 07:06:05.260
but do and itchy pollen on his own turn and put Matias in an awkward spot where again he can't play cards like

07:06:05.260 --> 07:06:12.420
Pokepad buddy buddy Poffin. It's gonna be tougher to search for things and crucially does shut off rare candy as well.

07:06:12.420 --> 07:06:15.980
Oh, but Mateusz can draw so many cards here.

07:06:15.980 --> 07:06:19.580
We see that first psychic draw, finding two from the top of the deck.

07:06:19.580 --> 07:06:21.580
There's the attach of the telepathic psychic energy,

07:06:21.580 --> 07:06:25.340
but he has when waiting in the hand.

07:06:25.340 --> 07:06:28.580
And Pokemon he is happy to get rid of, such as that Petratt,

07:06:28.580 --> 07:06:31.780
of course, a tech for those decks that use Monkey Dory.

07:06:31.780 --> 07:06:33.500
Not something he has to worry about.

07:06:33.500 --> 07:06:36.260
Now that he has surveyed Henry Chow's list,

07:06:36.260 --> 07:06:37.940
he'll be happy to discard that Pokemon

07:06:37.940 --> 07:06:41.740
in favor of drawing six cards from the top of his deck.

07:06:41.740 --> 07:06:46.260
That's a lot of cards to just add right to your hand.

07:06:46.260 --> 07:06:49.380
Still more to come as well here with the psychic draw.

07:06:49.380 --> 07:06:53.380
Two more being found and here comes a couple of dust globs

07:06:53.380 --> 07:06:55.940
evolving up those dust gulls.

07:06:55.940 --> 07:06:58.900
Preparing for future curse blasts with dust nor.

07:06:58.900 --> 07:07:01.740
They are also live to just pop right now though.

07:07:01.740 --> 07:07:02.900
Not sure how worth it that would be.

07:07:02.900 --> 07:07:04.180
It is something to consider though.

07:07:04.180 --> 07:07:06.100
He could take out that only Dracloak.

07:07:06.100 --> 07:07:08.500
I think it's very tempting.

07:07:08.500 --> 07:07:09.580
Take out the only Dracloak.

07:07:09.580 --> 07:07:11.500
The only thing that has energy on it,

07:07:11.500 --> 07:07:14.420
You're going to knock out the active, knock out that Drakloak,

07:07:14.420 --> 07:07:18.340
leave Henry with no attacker for at least two turns.

07:07:18.340 --> 07:07:22.060
I mean, you'd have to at least be a little bit tempted.

07:07:22.060 --> 07:07:23.980
And then did Matias just pass?

07:07:23.980 --> 07:07:28.380
He did just pass, perhaps an adjustment from game number one,

07:07:28.380 --> 07:07:31.740
saying he didn't want to walk into the unfair stamp.

07:07:31.740 --> 07:07:33.980
Well, let's say Henry Childsboard seemed much less developed,

07:07:33.980 --> 07:07:36.300
and this is going to be excellent for Henry

07:07:36.300 --> 07:07:39.020
as he uses Recon Directive, finds another Drakloak,

07:07:39.020 --> 07:07:42.320
evolves into Dragapult and plays the least determination.

07:07:43.580 --> 07:07:47.420
Of course, Henry's looking for a fire energy here at the very least,

07:07:47.420 --> 07:07:50.320
perhaps to begin Phantom Dive.

07:07:51.420 --> 07:07:54.520
Feels like a reasonable turn to try to use Phantom Dive,

07:07:54.520 --> 07:07:58.620
but would also be a little bit, I don't know,

07:07:58.920 --> 07:08:01.020
it would feel a little bit odd, you know,

07:08:01.020 --> 07:08:03.320
that's your only Pokemon with energy in play.

07:08:03.320 --> 07:08:08.820
But it feels like Tasha's evolved up so many of those Pokemon now.

07:08:08.820 --> 07:08:12.020
He might be feeling the pressure to try to fire back.

07:08:12.020 --> 07:08:17.520
He did find the fire energy, so Phantom Dive is certainly available for him.

07:08:17.520 --> 07:08:24.820
But with the Katabra waiting on the bench with a couple of Dusk Lops potentially ready to become Dusk Noir,

07:08:24.820 --> 07:08:28.520
Henry's Dragapult DX is far from safe.

07:08:28.520 --> 07:08:32.520
He'll play a buddy-buddy puff in to fetch out another Dusk Call down to the bench,

07:08:32.520 --> 07:08:35.220
perhaps debating one more Pokemon to join the party.

07:08:35.220 --> 07:08:37.140
His fourth 3P is prized,

07:08:37.140 --> 07:08:39.780
so he cannot bring that Pokemon out.

07:08:39.780 --> 07:08:42.780
What a second Duskull could hit the field.

07:08:42.780 --> 07:08:46.180
Yeah. If Henry does go for the Phantom Dive here,

07:08:46.180 --> 07:08:48.720
I think it becomes a question of what you're going to target

07:08:48.720 --> 07:08:51.480
down with those six damage counters.

07:08:51.480 --> 07:08:53.540
Do you simply take out a Duskull,

07:08:53.540 --> 07:08:59.100
try to limit the explosive opportunity that Matash could have?

07:08:59.100 --> 07:09:01.580
I guess probably not.

07:09:01.580 --> 07:09:04.840
You know, you're gonna be down to three prize cards after a phantom dive

07:09:05.420 --> 07:09:09.080
The most the tape could use this to curse blasts in a term without losing

07:09:09.080 --> 07:09:12.840
So it's probably Abra you would go after and just kind of hope that

07:09:13.700 --> 07:09:17.460
Hey, I hope you don't get to enough cards to knock out my dragon pole to help

07:09:17.700 --> 07:09:21.640
This is a race I can win a pair of recon directives used for Henry

07:09:22.040 --> 07:09:26.900
Debating here off this second what card he'd like to hang on to looks like night stretcher will be the winner of

07:09:27.260 --> 07:09:30.900
That debate fair stamp is waiting in the hand

07:09:30.900 --> 07:09:36.780
And why is it Matthias had a bit of foresight to not take the KO on the Badoe perhaps?

07:09:36.780 --> 07:09:37.780
I'd love to see that.

07:09:37.780 --> 07:09:40.780
And now is Henry going to spread these energies out?

07:09:40.780 --> 07:09:43.340
Is he not going to phantom dive this turn?

07:09:43.340 --> 07:09:47.700
Yeah, again, it just feels like such a perilous situation.

07:09:47.700 --> 07:09:48.700
You put yourself in.

07:09:48.700 --> 07:09:52.220
You could see exactly how this can go wrong.

07:09:52.220 --> 07:09:56.580
Yes, you'd love to take a couple prize cards, force your opponent to have all

07:09:56.580 --> 07:10:04.460
all the pieces to put together a massive turn, but no, just patience, Ichi Pollen being used.

07:10:04.460 --> 07:10:10.300
Ichi Pollen utilized also worth noting that Henry has looked at the list from Mitaish.

07:10:10.300 --> 07:10:14.140
Mitaish only has one boss's orders and no D'dun Sparse.

07:10:14.140 --> 07:10:18.940
It's so unlikely for him to be punished by this play with the Dragapult KO.

07:10:18.940 --> 07:10:23.940
He'll go with the evolution of the Alakazam psychic draw to find three more cards.

07:10:23.940 --> 07:10:30.820
I'm wondering if Henry wants to wait to find judge that might be the one card. He's waiting for

07:10:31.460 --> 07:10:34.640
Play judge then phantom dive in the same turn

07:10:35.580 --> 07:10:40.220
Reduce your opponent's hand down to four cards make it really challenging

07:10:41.460 --> 07:10:46.460
Oh the one of boss's orders from Mateus and that

07:10:46.700 --> 07:10:51.060
Just nor coming into play that will allow for him to take this KL

07:10:51.060 --> 07:10:53.940
but he is actually going to play it slow.

07:10:53.940 --> 07:10:55.640
He's not going to take the knockout.

07:10:55.640 --> 07:10:57.640
He'll hit for 240 damage,

07:10:57.640 --> 07:10:59.800
leave this Dragon Bolt with 80 HP.

07:10:59.800 --> 07:11:01.680
This is the brilliance of this deck.

07:11:01.680 --> 07:11:03.880
But wow, the one boss's orders.

07:11:03.880 --> 07:11:06.680
That was a huge card for Matayush,

07:11:06.680 --> 07:11:10.580
defined here to hit into that Dragon Bolt EX

07:11:10.580 --> 07:11:14.280
and set it up for a Cursed Blast on the following turn.

07:11:14.280 --> 07:11:17.600
This is the strategy of this Alakazam deck.

07:11:17.600 --> 07:11:19.320
Soften up your opponent's Pokemon

07:11:19.320 --> 07:11:23.900
with the first powerful hand play around things like unfair stamp special red

07:11:23.900 --> 07:11:28.320
card those sorts of things and then in the following turn use that curse blast

07:11:28.320 --> 07:11:32.940
to knock out the the Pokemon you damaged before maybe knock out a few other

07:11:32.940 --> 07:11:37.780
things you're trying to almost play dragopold's game wipe the board in one

07:11:37.780 --> 07:11:44.460
turn we saw Henry wipe Mateus last game getting rid of all Abra Mateus is

07:11:44.460 --> 07:11:47.120
setting up for the potential of wiping out

07:11:47.120 --> 07:11:49.460
Dragonpole TX and both Dracloak,

07:11:49.460 --> 07:11:53.160
the potential of multiple of those curse blast abilities

07:11:53.160 --> 07:11:56.020
being utilized, very, very likely here.

07:11:56.020 --> 07:11:58.860
How will Henry Chow respond?

07:12:00.700 --> 07:12:01.540
It's a great question.

07:12:01.540 --> 07:12:05.740
It's even maybe a situation where you want to evolve

07:12:05.740 --> 07:12:07.540
one of those Dracloak preemptively

07:12:07.540 --> 07:12:09.480
just to make sure it can't get curse blasted.

07:12:09.480 --> 07:12:12.840
But again, remember Henry is on ultra balls.

07:12:12.840 --> 07:12:16.520
It might be tough to find another Dragapult EX in this situation.

07:12:18.120 --> 07:12:22.180
Debating a Cursed Glass Tier, which is just with the Dusk Lofts, not the Dusk Norse,

07:12:22.180 --> 07:12:26.520
so it will just be five damage counters placed onto one of Mateusz's Pokemon.

07:12:27.020 --> 07:12:32.040
And he's going to take out the Abra, maybe fishing for one of those Ultra Balls from his prize cards.

07:12:32.040 --> 07:12:36.720
He does not find it, and Pukka, he does not have a way to find a Dragapult Tier.

07:12:37.540 --> 07:12:41.320
It sure doesn't look like it. Is there anything in the discard pile he can find?

07:12:41.320 --> 07:12:47.880
The second dust clops and he's going to curse Blast again.

07:12:47.880 --> 07:12:50.200
He's going to clear the board of all the Alakazam,

07:12:50.200 --> 07:12:52.920
Abra and Kadabra once again.

07:12:52.920 --> 07:12:58.000
He's going to give Matejish some prize cards alongside this.

07:12:58.000 --> 07:13:00.040
And the Buddy Buddy Poffin will be played just

07:13:00.040 --> 07:13:02.920
spinning that card from the hand.

07:13:02.920 --> 07:13:04.120
This is great for Henry.

07:13:04.120 --> 07:13:07.440
He'll take out both Alakazam and the Kadabra,

07:13:07.440 --> 07:13:09.960
sprinkle some damage elsewhere.

07:13:09.960 --> 07:13:15.800
But Puka, it's possible for Bateyash to win on this next turn.

07:13:15.800 --> 07:13:19.960
I guess he can't actually win because he's going to take two prize cards,

07:13:19.960 --> 07:13:23.400
but he could force a tiebreaker game.

07:13:23.400 --> 07:13:25.240
Yeah, he could force this.

07:13:25.240 --> 07:13:29.960
He could end up in a situation where if you use Dustor's Cursed Blast

07:13:29.960 --> 07:13:33.800
to do enough damage to knock out one of your opponent's Pokemon,

07:13:33.800 --> 07:13:36.760
you knock out your own Pokemon and your opponent's Pokemon,

07:13:36.760 --> 07:13:40.440
You both collect your prize cards at the same time and win at the same time

07:13:41.200 --> 07:13:49.600
And maybe what we're heading for there is two prizes for Henry chow down to just the two remaining and is there any other play for

07:13:49.600 --> 07:13:50.760
Matayush

07:13:50.760 --> 07:13:55.920
He has no way to utilize an alakazam, but he's got a full grip of cards in his hand

07:13:56.280 --> 07:14:03.240
There is that poke a pad being played to fetch out another Pokemon without a rule box could find another dust nor

07:14:03.240 --> 07:14:06.040
It's just going to be the Badoo.

07:14:06.040 --> 07:14:09.080
If Matias can find a line, he's going to go for it.

07:14:09.080 --> 07:14:09.800
He will see that.

07:14:09.800 --> 07:14:11.160
Dusk Noir's Curse Blast.

07:14:11.160 --> 07:14:14.560
And the second Dusk Glops being used,

07:14:14.560 --> 07:14:16.200
all those Curse Blasts happen.

07:14:16.200 --> 07:14:17.720
And these players will both satisfy

07:14:17.720 --> 07:14:20.040
the same number of win conditions.

07:14:20.040 --> 07:14:23.520
Hookah, we're going into a tiebreaker game.

07:14:23.520 --> 07:14:24.520
Ooh, OK.

07:14:24.520 --> 07:14:27.080
It's been a while since we've seen one of these situations,

07:14:27.080 --> 07:14:27.580
Chip.

07:14:27.580 --> 07:14:30.040
This is a tiebreaker game.

07:14:30.040 --> 07:14:33.160
We're going to set up for a full game.

07:14:33.160 --> 07:14:35.780
This second game has not resolved yet.

07:14:35.780 --> 07:14:39.720
Metayush's tournament life is at stake here.

07:14:39.720 --> 07:14:41.360
And it's very simple.

07:14:41.360 --> 07:14:44.800
First prize card wins.

07:14:44.800 --> 07:14:47.520
Now, of course, it gets really awkward with Joss Klops as well.

07:14:47.520 --> 07:14:52.480
You can extend this a bit still with some cursed blasts.

07:14:52.480 --> 07:14:54.720
But yeah, this is what it comes down to.

07:14:54.720 --> 07:14:58.640
If Henry takes a prize card first in this tiebreaker game,

07:14:58.640 --> 07:15:00.680
He advances to the top four.

07:15:00.680 --> 07:15:03.920
If Mateusz does, we're going to go to game three.

07:15:03.920 --> 07:15:05.360
And we actually see these players,

07:15:05.360 --> 07:15:08.520
they have to flip a coin to decide who goes first

07:15:08.520 --> 07:15:09.640
in this tiebreaker game.

07:15:09.640 --> 07:15:13.000
This is like a game that exists in a little bubble

07:15:13.000 --> 07:15:17.320
in and of itself, almost outside of the normal best of three.

07:15:17.320 --> 07:15:19.240
This is simply aiming to resolve

07:15:19.240 --> 07:15:22.120
the result of game number two.

07:15:22.120 --> 07:15:26.960
Such a unique situation, but not the first time Mateusz

07:15:26.960 --> 07:15:31.920
encountered this in this tournament. I watched his round 11 out in the field

07:15:31.920 --> 07:15:37.240
against Rune where this same thing happens. These players went to a tiebreaker

07:15:37.240 --> 07:15:45.240
game after a situation like this in a game three and now it is just a chance

07:15:45.240 --> 07:15:49.800
for Mateus to hang on here. He has won prize card away from being eliminated

07:15:49.800 --> 07:15:54.560
from the World Championships. So much can happen in this kind of a situation.

07:15:54.560 --> 07:15:57.080
Player strategies have to change completely.

07:15:57.080 --> 07:15:58.360
Everything changes.

07:15:58.360 --> 07:15:59.680
Yes.

07:15:59.680 --> 07:16:01.800
Normally, on the first turn of the game,

07:16:01.800 --> 07:16:03.880
you want to go for itchy pollen.

07:16:03.880 --> 07:16:06.880
But now, a 30 HP, but do getting knocked out

07:16:06.880 --> 07:16:08.080
loses you the game.

07:16:08.080 --> 07:16:11.720
And now, also, normally, you want to go second,

07:16:11.720 --> 07:16:13.160
it seems, in this matchup.

07:16:13.160 --> 07:16:14.760
I think you want to go first.

07:16:14.760 --> 07:16:17.400
You want to try to get the turn to attack.

07:16:17.400 --> 07:16:20.480
It's like Matash is going first here in our tiebreaker game.

07:16:20.480 --> 07:16:24.000
Does start with the dust goal.

07:16:24.000 --> 07:16:26.160
There's so much that can happen here.

07:16:26.160 --> 07:16:29.640
I think one crucial thing,

07:16:29.640 --> 07:16:32.560
Taysh would hopefully find an energy card here,

07:16:33.480 --> 07:16:36.840
but we could be here for a while, Chip.

07:16:36.840 --> 07:16:38.080
Let's be honest.

07:16:38.080 --> 07:16:41.560
What's gonna happen if Matejish next turn

07:16:41.560 --> 07:16:44.800
goes rare candy, dust nor, and takes a prize card?

07:16:44.800 --> 07:16:46.840
Do we set up for a new tiebreaker game?

07:16:46.840 --> 07:16:51.520
Or do they play until someone is ahead on prize cards?

07:16:51.520 --> 07:16:53.320
I believe that is what it is, yes.

07:16:53.320 --> 07:16:56.320
until somebody is ahead on prize cards.

07:16:56.320 --> 07:16:59.480
That is how the tiebreaker game ends.

07:16:59.480 --> 07:17:03.480
Well, we've seen things that can happen

07:17:03.480 --> 07:17:05.360
in like the expanded format as well.

07:17:05.360 --> 07:17:07.320
I think there's like the Zerker Tree GX

07:17:07.320 --> 07:17:10.120
that can put out an extra prize card for your opponent.

07:17:10.120 --> 07:17:13.600
That's a way to end one of these tiebreaker games as well.

07:17:13.600 --> 07:17:15.960
It's when there's a differential,

07:17:15.960 --> 07:17:18.480
but these games can get really awkward

07:17:20.040 --> 07:17:21.400
and no energy attachment.

07:17:21.400 --> 07:17:27.560
No energy attachment, but Matej did have his prime catcher in hand, Puka.

07:17:27.560 --> 07:17:30.360
That's the way he can make up for the miss of an energy.

07:17:30.360 --> 07:17:33.640
Henry has a lot to consider here, opening Drepi.

07:17:33.640 --> 07:17:39.640
He does have, it looks like, a buddy-buddy coffin in the hand, and that will be the play.

07:17:39.640 --> 07:17:43.640
He also has low determination, he's got an energy card.

07:17:43.640 --> 07:17:47.880
He could go itchy pollen here, but putting a 30 HP Pokemon in play.

07:17:47.880 --> 07:17:52.040
he's again we're gonna have to see him change his strategy will he even put

07:17:52.040 --> 07:17:59.080
Bidu out? It's difficult to know if that's the right thing to do I kind of

07:17:59.080 --> 07:18:05.160
think it is because your opponent can't actually attack Bidu next turn and not

07:18:05.160 --> 07:18:10.120
gonna yes we can see the curse blast but again that would not end up in a

07:18:10.120 --> 07:18:15.080
player being ahead on prize cards so the game potentially continues after

07:18:15.080 --> 07:18:20.840
that I guess we would be clarification on exactly how this tiebreaker game is

07:18:20.840 --> 07:18:25.520
going to work with these kinds of effects but we'll get our people backstage

07:18:25.520 --> 07:18:29.800
looking at the rule book here such a unique situation but I think if that's

07:18:29.800 --> 07:18:34.880
the case you still want to itchy pollen because I mean well what would

07:18:34.880 --> 07:18:38.800
montage be able to do on the next turn best you could do is a vaulted

07:18:38.800 --> 07:18:43.880
cadabra and not be able to attack but Henry it would still be multiple turns

07:18:43.880 --> 07:18:49.040
away I mean from him being the one to attack right yeah that's the other side

07:18:49.040 --> 07:18:54.480
of this Henry won't be able to win next turn if Matash just you know like gets

07:18:54.480 --> 07:18:59.280
rare candy Alec is amry if you're gonna bite this creepy or this dusk hole with

07:18:59.280 --> 07:19:04.520
this creepy he's playing Crispin I mean you may as well right what you gotta do

07:19:04.520 --> 07:19:08.120
is take a prize card you just want to attack yeah I was actually thinking the

07:19:08.120 --> 07:19:12.080
the one Pokemon you'd want to start with with for Henry is peasant

07:19:12.080 --> 07:19:16.320
the thing with the biggest amount of HP he's going to bite with

07:19:16.320 --> 07:19:22.060
dreamy Crispin to energy into play 40 damage on this dust goal.

07:19:22.060 --> 07:19:25.860
And this is this threatens a boss's orders next turn to win.

07:19:25.860 --> 07:19:29.640
Tage could win the game right now, though. If he has rare candy

07:19:29.640 --> 07:19:33.000
allocas and energy, he has his prime catcher in hand. That's

07:19:33.000 --> 07:19:36.200
right, Chip. His prime catcher is a way has the energy. He has

07:19:36.200 --> 07:19:39.600
the allocas and all he needs is a rare candy here from the

07:19:39.600 --> 07:19:41.260
does not find it.

07:19:41.260 --> 07:19:44.220
A win though can still draw him a ton of cards.

07:19:44.220 --> 07:19:47.500
He has four rare candy in his list.

07:19:47.500 --> 07:19:50.220
He can discard two Pokemon from his hand

07:19:50.220 --> 07:19:51.820
and draw six from the top of the deck.

07:19:51.820 --> 07:19:55.820
Not before telepathic psychic energy will thin things out.

07:19:55.820 --> 07:19:58.700
Fetching out a couple of psychic Pokemon.

07:19:58.700 --> 07:20:03.580
And this is all because Henry did not use Badoo last turn.

07:20:03.580 --> 07:20:05.980
Mateus has this opening to find that rare candy

07:20:05.980 --> 07:20:08.660
and use his premature to win.

07:20:08.660 --> 07:20:10.560
Oh, this is tense, Chip.

07:20:10.560 --> 07:20:13.880
We're going to see a win for the win, maybe.

07:20:13.880 --> 07:20:15.200
Needs to find rare candy.

07:20:15.200 --> 07:20:18.960
I think the good news is that even if the tash misses here,

07:20:18.960 --> 07:20:20.200
it's not necessarily over.

07:20:20.200 --> 07:20:23.760
You can use the prime catcher to get your dusk all out

07:20:23.760 --> 07:20:24.640
of the active spot.

07:20:24.640 --> 07:20:27.680
Then you would force Henry to have a boss's orders

07:20:27.680 --> 07:20:30.120
to win on the following turn.

07:20:30.120 --> 07:20:34.240
Oh, this is, I cannot imagine a more nerve-wracking

07:20:34.240 --> 07:20:35.960
situation than this.

07:20:35.960 --> 07:20:38.400
Your tournament is on the line here.

07:20:38.400 --> 07:20:43.800
need to find something. We have gotten confirmation that it is whoever is the

07:20:43.800 --> 07:20:48.000
prize advantaged player. That will be the player who wins the game. Six cards to

07:20:48.000 --> 07:20:53.240
come from this Gwen. One rare candy ends it for Mateus has not found it just yet.

07:20:53.240 --> 07:20:58.160
There is one in the prize cards. Is it this final one? And no he does with. He

07:20:58.160 --> 07:21:01.240
will not be able to rare candy into Alakazam. He has no way to win the

07:21:01.240 --> 07:21:06.960
game on this turn. Oh now what the prime catcher has to be used to get

07:21:06.960 --> 07:21:12.960
with this dust goal out of the active spot now and Henry

07:21:12.960 --> 07:21:15.960
Chow is the ball back in Henry's for Henry's a boss's

07:21:15.960 --> 07:21:17.960
orders away from winning the game.

07:21:17.960 --> 07:21:18.960
The boss's orders.

07:21:18.960 --> 07:21:19.960
Ultra ball for me out.

07:21:19.960 --> 07:21:23.960
It's all works so many different ways that Henry could

07:21:23.960 --> 07:21:25.960
close this one out.

07:21:25.960 --> 07:21:28.960
See that pocket pad fetches out the dust norm.

07:21:28.960 --> 07:21:30.960
We're going to see the Cadabra.

07:21:30.960 --> 07:21:34.960
You could still find a rare candy off of this to do

07:21:34.960 --> 07:21:39.840
Dusk Noir, and that would knock out the Stripie with the energy on it, but he missed again!

07:21:39.840 --> 07:21:44.480
He missed again, three rare candy in the deck, does not find any of them.

07:21:44.480 --> 07:21:46.880
He is going to evolve into Dusk Glops.

07:21:48.240 --> 07:21:52.560
It's making that prime catcher a little harder for Henry to win.

07:21:52.560 --> 07:21:59.280
Prime catcher of the A-Spec card, is this Matash's hope to try to survive in this tournament.

07:21:59.280 --> 07:22:03.440
He's got an energy in his hand. If he has an energy and a boss, his orders

07:22:03.440 --> 07:22:08.040
actually doesn't quite win it because everything is out of range nothing gets

07:22:08.040 --> 07:22:12.120
KO'd to a bite he has Lily's determination he has boss he has energy but

07:22:12.120 --> 07:22:18.720
there's nothing that bite can KO he has no dracloak he has no way oh no to search

07:22:18.720 --> 07:22:22.880
anything else out the endeavor in the after spot I don't think Henry can win

07:22:22.880 --> 07:22:27.080
now this turn Puka both players just shaking their heads like how could I

07:22:27.080 --> 07:22:32.080
not find something so simple to win this game yeah crucially evolving into

07:22:32.080 --> 07:22:36.240
Dust Clops prevented this game from ending as well.

07:22:36.240 --> 07:22:41.100
Now, if Henry bosses up the Dust Clops,

07:22:41.100 --> 07:22:43.920
Matej will be able to curse blasts the 3P

07:22:43.920 --> 07:22:46.000
that's already got damage on it.

07:22:46.000 --> 07:22:48.640
He will stay at five to five in prize cards,

07:22:48.640 --> 07:22:52.720
and then an Alakazam can swoop in and win the game.

07:22:52.720 --> 07:22:55.920
And he's going to put down that Fezzendipiti EX.

07:22:55.920 --> 07:23:00.280
It's holding onto that boss, which had that Matej not

07:23:00.280 --> 07:23:04.240
I found Dusclops would have closed out the game.

07:23:04.240 --> 07:23:06.840
Will have to just go with a lily's determination.

07:23:06.840 --> 07:23:09.000
He'll get eight cards.

07:23:09.000 --> 07:23:12.280
But I don't think he has a way to deal 80 damage this turn.

07:23:12.280 --> 07:23:15.560
The max he could do would be 70 with a drake cloaks dragon

07:23:15.560 --> 07:23:16.060
headbutt.

07:23:16.060 --> 07:23:19.400
No way to deal that extra 10 damage.

07:23:19.400 --> 07:23:21.560
Yeah, I think Henry's only hope at this point

07:23:21.560 --> 07:23:23.800
is to just retreat into Fezendipity

07:23:23.800 --> 07:23:25.720
and hope that it can take it.

07:23:25.720 --> 07:23:27.520
But no, that's it.

07:23:27.520 --> 07:23:31.160
Henry recognizes that he I think has no way to win

07:23:31.160 --> 07:23:35.120
and Mateus is gonna be awarded a game two victory

07:23:35.120 --> 07:23:37.440
coming out ahead and sudden death.

07:23:37.440 --> 07:23:41.400
What a bizarre way to keep your hopes alive here

07:23:41.400 --> 07:23:43.720
at the World Championships.

07:23:43.720 --> 07:23:47.360
That's gotta be a big jolt of energy for Matash

07:23:47.360 --> 07:23:50.600
as we head into a third and deciding game.

07:23:50.600 --> 07:23:54.280
He was one prize card away from being eliminated

07:23:54.280 --> 07:23:58.040
from flying back home with a top eight finish

07:23:58.040 --> 07:23:59.040
at the World Championship.

07:23:59.040 --> 07:24:00.720
Something he, of course, would be proud of,

07:24:00.720 --> 07:24:04.040
but would, of course, sting being so close.

07:24:04.040 --> 07:24:06.360
It is so hard to get to this point

07:24:06.360 --> 07:24:09.760
and so difficult to ever fight your way back.

07:24:09.760 --> 07:24:13.200
You only have so many chances to become a champion.

07:24:13.200 --> 07:24:15.760
And Mateus is making a full-on effort here.

07:24:17.240 --> 07:24:19.680
I'm curious if we have Pablo standing by,

07:24:19.680 --> 07:24:22.960
see if there's anything big we saw in that second game.

07:24:22.960 --> 07:24:25.560
what a wild ride it was.

07:24:25.560 --> 07:24:27.060
It really was, Kyle.

07:24:27.060 --> 07:24:31.720
I mean, very, very cool to see this situation

07:24:31.720 --> 07:24:33.760
that only hasn't come up.

07:24:33.760 --> 07:24:36.520
I don't remember the last time we saw it,

07:24:36.520 --> 07:24:38.720
or if we have seen it.

07:24:38.720 --> 07:24:40.040
I really can't recall.

07:24:40.040 --> 07:24:43.680
So many games of Pokemon, maybe it has happened before,

07:24:43.680 --> 07:24:48.680
but I mean, you guys mentioned that Atej was actually,

07:24:49.360 --> 07:24:51.760
or has already done it before right in a round.

07:24:51.760 --> 07:24:54.680
So, not something he's unfamiliar with, and with four-way candy,

07:24:54.680 --> 07:24:57.960
he's probably pretty able to do it consistently,

07:24:57.960 --> 07:25:00.960
and perhaps take an advantage with a quick Galaga zap.

07:25:00.960 --> 07:25:05.080
These tiebreaker games are so, so rare in the Pokemon DCG.

07:25:05.080 --> 07:25:06.360
They do happen, though.

07:25:06.360 --> 07:25:08.000
I have to imagine, though,

07:25:08.000 --> 07:25:09.640
this is the highest stakes moment

07:25:09.640 --> 07:25:12.160
for one top eight of the World Championships.

07:25:12.160 --> 07:25:13.320
Are you kidding me?

07:25:14.280 --> 07:25:15.720
Oh, just think.

07:25:15.720 --> 07:25:18.680
I mean, if Mateusz goes on to the top four

07:25:18.680 --> 07:25:20.360
and ultimately wins this tournament,

07:25:20.360 --> 07:25:26.360
That will be one of the moments for the ages here at the world championships.

07:25:26.360 --> 07:25:31.440
We have over two decades worth of world championships for the TCG so far.

07:25:31.940 --> 07:25:34.380
Iconic moments are made every year.

07:25:34.640 --> 07:25:40.220
And here we are in game three chip winner moves on game three underway.

07:25:40.220 --> 07:25:45.460
But do the starter for Matias here with Henry Chow starting at the skull on his end

07:25:45.460 --> 07:25:49.260
and a opening buddy, buddy Poffin, always a welcome sight.

07:25:50.360 --> 07:25:57.360
After that, are we going to see a normal game or another weird one?

07:25:57.360 --> 07:25:59.360
Impossible to tell.

07:25:59.360 --> 07:26:01.360
Prize cards being checked here for Mateus.

07:26:01.360 --> 07:26:03.360
Really nothing super consequential.

07:26:03.360 --> 07:26:06.360
In some matchups you'd be devastated to see Shaman over there in those six,

07:26:06.360 --> 07:26:08.360
but obviously not a big deal in this moment.

07:26:08.360 --> 07:26:12.360
A couple of his supporters, he doesn't play that many supporters in his deck,

07:26:12.360 --> 07:26:16.360
so perhaps something to track there with the Gwyn and the Hilda hiding away.

07:26:16.360 --> 07:26:24.160
But Buddy Buddy Poffin will find out a pair of Abra. Got that 40 HP Teleporter one, and then also

07:26:24.160 --> 07:26:28.200
teleportation attack available on that 50 HP Abra.

07:26:28.200 --> 07:26:34.560
Of course Abra, classic Abra right, teleporting all the time. But this is exactly what you need to

07:26:34.560 --> 07:26:39.600
see when you go first. You need to get basic Pokemon into play, whether that's Buddy Buddy

07:26:39.600 --> 07:26:42.880
body poppin', the telepathic psychic energy,

07:26:42.880 --> 07:26:46.360
but Tanshu's deck revolves around getting basic Pokemon

07:26:46.360 --> 07:26:49.320
down as quickly as possible, evolving them up.

07:26:49.320 --> 07:26:53.000
You know, such a somewhat unique build to see these days.

07:26:53.000 --> 07:26:56.520
So many stage two Pokemon in one deck.

07:26:56.520 --> 07:26:59.500
It's all about evolving up higher and higher.

07:26:59.500 --> 07:27:01.720
We see the era of, you know,

07:27:01.720 --> 07:27:04.440
we've seen the era of big basic Pokemon for a long time,

07:27:04.440 --> 07:27:08.640
but here she's all stage two Pokemon are the stars.

07:27:08.640 --> 07:27:10.080
Wow! Look at the start.

07:27:10.080 --> 07:27:12.520
What an opening here for Matej.

07:27:12.520 --> 07:27:15.140
Playing out a handful of item cards as well

07:27:15.140 --> 07:27:18.920
to play around the potential itchy pollen of Henry Chow,

07:27:18.920 --> 07:27:21.220
utilizing that telepathic psychic energy.

07:27:21.220 --> 07:27:23.580
And Paul for turn there from Henry Chow

07:27:23.580 --> 07:27:25.720
is a Lily's determination.

07:27:25.720 --> 07:27:27.060
His hand was unplayable.

07:27:27.060 --> 07:27:28.200
Look at that hand, Puka.

07:27:28.200 --> 07:27:32.060
Two fire energy, a Dragonbolt EX.

07:27:32.060 --> 07:27:34.840
Stadium card nothing at all to work with.

07:27:34.840 --> 07:27:40.340
He is bailed out and saved by that Lily's determination top deck.

07:27:40.340 --> 07:27:43.580
Wow, what a draw to stay in this game.

07:27:43.580 --> 07:27:47.460
I mean, he surely just would have lost on the next turn.

07:27:47.460 --> 07:27:49.860
But now, new life for Henry now.

07:27:49.860 --> 07:27:52.860
What a roller coaster we've been on.

07:27:52.860 --> 07:27:55.380
These eight cards are going to be massive for Henry.

07:27:55.380 --> 07:27:57.060
It was effectively a game on board, right?

07:27:57.060 --> 07:28:00.320
We just saw Mateusz use Pokepad to get that dust

07:28:00.320 --> 07:28:00.700
gloves.

07:28:00.700 --> 07:28:02.980
If he used dust gloves, 50 damage to the dust goal,

07:28:02.980 --> 07:28:05.440
that she Paulin is the 10 damage he needs.

07:28:05.440 --> 07:28:06.480
That would have been the game.

07:28:06.480 --> 07:28:08.080
That would have been Matiasz moving on.

07:28:08.080 --> 07:28:11.280
That Lilly's determination keeps Henry in this set.

07:28:11.280 --> 07:28:12.160
And what a find.

07:28:12.160 --> 07:28:14.800
The buddy, buddy, Poffin.

07:28:14.800 --> 07:28:16.760
And Henry's going to fire right back.

07:28:16.760 --> 07:28:19.320
Buddy, buddy, Poffin got an ultra ball

07:28:19.320 --> 07:28:22.800
to get things ready to go.

07:28:22.800 --> 07:28:24.280
You never know what's going to happen

07:28:24.280 --> 07:28:26.520
next between these two players.

07:28:26.520 --> 07:28:28.920
Of course, Henry with the boss's orders

07:28:28.920 --> 07:28:30.840
top deck earlier in the day.

07:28:30.840 --> 07:28:34.040
Now the Lilly's determination, top deck.

07:28:34.040 --> 07:28:36.400
One of these players has to move on chip.

07:28:36.400 --> 07:28:40.440
It's a shame one of them has to have their run end here.

07:28:40.440 --> 07:28:44.880
Whoever goes on, I mean, what a run it's gonna be.

07:28:44.880 --> 07:28:47.080
And look at these prize cards for Henry Pinka,

07:28:47.080 --> 07:28:48.920
unfair stamp judge.

07:28:48.920 --> 07:28:51.520
Two of the three ways he has to disrupt his opponent

07:28:51.520 --> 07:28:54.880
and the only ways he could ever aggressively disrupt

07:28:54.880 --> 07:28:57.080
his opponent, that special red card, not active,

07:28:57.080 --> 07:29:00.760
until Mateusz has taken three prize cards.

07:29:01.760 --> 07:29:04.400
I think fortunately you can maybe fish some of those out

07:29:04.400 --> 07:29:07.080
if you're able to set up a cursed blast.

07:29:07.080 --> 07:29:10.520
That unfair stamp is pretty good position,

07:29:10.520 --> 07:29:12.760
but yeah, this is not ideal.

07:29:12.760 --> 07:29:16.640
Lots of cards that Henry would like to have access to

07:29:16.640 --> 07:29:19.640
for sure, but I think in general,

07:29:19.640 --> 07:29:24.160
this is a kind of scary position for Henry to be in.

07:29:24.160 --> 07:29:26.120
has the buddy-buddy puff in for these two.

07:29:26.120 --> 07:29:29.080
Drifi has to use an energy attachment for the turn

07:29:29.080 --> 07:29:31.200
to retreat into Badou.

07:29:31.200 --> 07:29:33.320
You definitely cannot end this turn

07:29:33.320 --> 07:29:35.320
without saying ipsy pollen.

07:29:35.320 --> 07:29:36.840
The potential for your opponent

07:29:36.840 --> 07:29:38.600
to just play a bunch of rare candy

07:29:38.600 --> 07:29:42.640
evolve into those stage two Pokemon, way too high.

07:29:42.640 --> 07:29:44.800
But Henry's gotta be feeling the pressure here.

07:29:44.800 --> 07:29:48.800
Seems like Mateusz has set himself up very well.

07:29:48.800 --> 07:29:50.560
And there is the retreat into the Badou,

07:29:50.560 --> 07:29:52.520
the second Badou coming down as well,

07:29:52.520 --> 07:29:56.940
Preparing for the potential of a Kadabra attacking into this Pokemon

07:29:57.560 --> 07:30:01.360
And Mateusz will be unable to play any of his item cards here

07:30:01.360 --> 07:30:07.080
But this hand full of Pokemon Kadabra number one psychic draw to find two more cards

07:30:07.360 --> 07:30:11.960
It's like Kadabra number two waiting in the hand a couple more cards will be available

07:30:12.160 --> 07:30:17.560
He's got dust globs in order to start evolving up and getting ready for a future dust nor cursed blast

07:30:17.560 --> 07:30:20.760
No, he's not gonna wait for the future. He's in a curse blast right now

07:30:22.520 --> 07:30:26.120
When putting an interesting decision on Henry right now,

07:30:26.120 --> 07:30:27.920
what Pokemon to send out?

07:30:27.920 --> 07:30:30.520
I actually wondered if Mateusz would have

07:30:30.520 --> 07:30:32.840
curse blasted the benched Badoo in that spot

07:30:32.840 --> 07:30:35.120
and just force the other one to stay active.

07:30:35.120 --> 07:30:37.600
You could do something like knock out the benched one,

07:30:37.600 --> 07:30:39.600
force Henry to leave that Badoo active,

07:30:39.600 --> 07:30:41.160
and then go into your own Kadebra.

07:30:41.160 --> 07:30:43.480
And look at that find off the prize cards for Henry.

07:30:43.480 --> 07:30:46.920
Rips the unfair stamp, so that will be an available play

07:30:46.920 --> 07:30:50.200
for him next turn if Mateusz does not use itchy pollen.

07:30:50.200 --> 07:30:51.600
Should he go with the Supersciple,

07:30:51.600 --> 07:30:54.440
he'll be able to take a prize card on this Badoo,

07:30:54.440 --> 07:30:56.600
go down to just four remaining.

07:30:56.600 --> 07:30:58.760
He would walk right into unfair stamp

07:30:58.760 --> 07:31:00.680
for a second game in this set.

07:31:03.000 --> 07:31:05.760
Decision time for Mateusz here.

07:31:05.760 --> 07:31:10.000
You attack with Kadabra, put on the maximum pressure,

07:31:10.000 --> 07:31:11.800
or do you simply itchy pollen

07:31:11.800 --> 07:31:15.260
and try to set up your own board a little bit more?

07:31:15.260 --> 07:31:17.200
This is not an easy decision.

07:31:17.200 --> 07:31:19.560
I see the merits of both sides of this.

07:31:19.560 --> 07:31:21.520
What will Mateusz do?

07:31:21.520 --> 07:31:31.860
Still has a few more cards to see before he finalizes his decision as Gwen will discard two Pokemon from the hand in order to draw six from the top of the deck.

07:31:31.860 --> 07:31:38.300
Debating on what those two Pokemon discarded will be, looks like he does land on Badoo and a Duskull.

07:31:38.300 --> 07:31:42.360
He actually was going to discard a Duskull and change his mind.

07:31:42.360 --> 07:31:46.480
He does decide to hang on to the Duskull and there's a rare candy in the hand, of course cannot play it.

07:31:46.480 --> 07:31:51.360
Henry did use a cheap pollen last turn and we are going to see him get aggressive here.

07:31:51.360 --> 07:31:53.760
He is going up with this Kadabra.

07:31:53.760 --> 07:31:56.840
He's going to use the Super Cybold, take a prize,

07:31:56.840 --> 07:31:58.120
and jump ahead in this game.

07:31:58.120 --> 07:32:00.880
Four prizes remaining to Henry's five.

07:32:00.880 --> 07:32:05.080
And Henry found the perfect prize card in that unfair stamp.

07:32:05.080 --> 07:32:07.800
Having a debate about what to promote here.

07:32:07.800 --> 07:32:10.960
Dusko or Drippy, what will be the choice?

07:32:10.960 --> 07:32:13.280
It looks like he does land on the Dusko.

07:32:13.280 --> 07:32:16.480
Not an easy choice to make here.

07:32:16.480 --> 07:32:18.320
Wow, what a prize card drawn.

07:32:18.320 --> 07:32:21.200
As you said, Chip, the one best card

07:32:21.200 --> 07:32:23.960
he could have gotten off of that one prize card,

07:32:23.960 --> 07:32:26.160
the unfair stamp.

07:32:26.160 --> 07:32:31.040
This could be the one way that Henry gets to stay

07:32:31.040 --> 07:32:35.920
in this game and slow down this offense from Mitaish.

07:32:35.920 --> 07:32:37.880
It's going to need to be kind of perfect times

07:32:37.880 --> 07:32:41.400
from here on out from Henry to battle back in this one.

07:32:41.400 --> 07:32:44.280
He is going to attach the energy to his drip float

07:32:44.280 --> 07:32:49.400
And Bench Fesendipity then play on fair stamp.

07:32:49.400 --> 07:32:51.800
Both players shuffle their hands into the deck.

07:32:51.800 --> 07:32:54.360
Henry will be awarded with five, and he's still

07:32:54.360 --> 07:32:56.200
going to be able to roll through this turn.

07:32:56.200 --> 07:32:59.120
Recon directive, flip the script, even a supporter

07:32:59.120 --> 07:33:00.640
still to be played.

07:33:00.640 --> 07:33:03.360
And Matiasch will be left with simply two cards

07:33:03.360 --> 07:33:07.800
to work with on his next turn.

07:33:07.800 --> 07:33:10.520
What is Henry going to go for here?

07:33:10.520 --> 07:33:12.760
I think he would love to be able to itchy-pull

07:33:12.760 --> 07:33:19.800
this turn and get back into that item lock, but both Bidu now in the discard pile would need to

07:33:19.800 --> 07:33:24.920
find a night stretcher to get it back and has already attached for the turn in order to get a

07:33:24.920 --> 07:33:29.560
Bidu into the active would also need to curse blast with dust clops to get that out of there.

07:33:30.920 --> 07:33:36.200
Feels not great that your opponent could just draw a poke pad off these two cards,

07:33:36.200 --> 07:33:41.960
get an alakazam and start drawing back up. Henry needs to find some way to make sure that

07:33:41.960 --> 07:33:48.500
But this unfair stamp sticks and maybe stamps his ticket into the top four.

07:33:48.500 --> 07:33:52.580
Flip the script utilized to draw three cards from the top of the deck, finding a buddy buddy

07:33:52.580 --> 07:33:57.700
puffin which Henry will play to fetch that second duskull from the deck.

07:33:57.700 --> 07:34:00.500
Putting that Pokemon into play.

07:34:00.500 --> 07:34:05.420
He's also got a pookapad in hand so we could see another druck cloak hit the field

07:34:05.420 --> 07:34:09.340
or that dusklock is a way to pivot this active out.

07:34:09.340 --> 07:34:10.340
He still could play supporter.

07:34:10.340 --> 07:34:12.880
He's got Crispin in his hand.

07:34:12.880 --> 07:34:16.300
That's another way that he could retreat this duskull

07:34:16.300 --> 07:34:17.060
should he want to.

07:34:17.060 --> 07:34:22.180
And he will attach an energy from that Crispin to this active.

07:34:22.180 --> 07:34:25.260
Can we see a night stretcher to go with this, though?

07:34:25.260 --> 07:34:30.060
I think Ichi Pollen would be a huge part of this turn.

07:34:30.060 --> 07:34:32.220
Henry might be digging for it here.

07:34:32.220 --> 07:34:35.300
He's got two cards to see off this recon directive.

07:34:35.300 --> 07:34:37.580
Looking at them, it doesn't look like one

07:34:37.580 --> 07:34:38.580
is a night stretcher.

07:34:38.580 --> 07:34:43.580
but he does have one waiting already in the hand.

07:34:43.580 --> 07:34:46.420
Pocopat gonna definitely find one more

07:34:46.420 --> 07:34:51.020
jocloak for a recon directive.

07:34:51.020 --> 07:34:56.060
Did see Chip in Matanche's hand is a Pocopat.

07:34:56.060 --> 07:34:59.560
If there's no itchy pollen here,

07:34:59.560 --> 07:35:03.860
we'll certainly see an Alakazam come into play.

07:35:03.860 --> 07:35:05.260
Here is that night stretcher.

07:35:05.260 --> 07:35:07.980
He is able to find it, had it waiting in the hand,

07:35:07.980 --> 07:35:10.440
And we'll get into the Badoo and this is huge.

07:35:10.440 --> 07:35:14.320
He is walking right into that super side bolt,

07:35:14.320 --> 07:35:16.720
but he is keeping Mateusz locked for yet another turn

07:35:16.720 --> 07:35:19.880
as he builds up to the future of Cursed Blast,

07:35:19.880 --> 07:35:23.400
of Phantom Dive, and picking apart Mateusz's board.

07:35:24.600 --> 07:35:26.560
That was a massive fine.

07:35:26.560 --> 07:35:29.500
Unfair stamp into all of this.

07:35:29.500 --> 07:35:33.240
Henry putting immense pressure onto Mateusz.

07:35:33.240 --> 07:35:36.080
What did he draw off of those two cards

07:35:36.080 --> 07:35:37.080
on the unfair stamp?

07:35:37.080 --> 07:35:40.760
One, no for sure, is a Pokepad, which cannot be used now.

07:35:40.760 --> 07:35:44.880
I think he did also have a Hilda, so that would be a way he could find out a Pokemon,

07:35:44.880 --> 07:35:51.680
either Alakazam or Kadabra, to draw through the deck and also boost the HP of his board overall.

07:35:52.520 --> 07:35:54.720
But we've talked about it through the entirety of this set.

07:35:54.720 --> 07:35:57.640
These basic Pokemon are so small.

07:35:57.640 --> 07:36:00.720
60 HP on these Duskles, 50 HP on the Abra,

07:36:00.720 --> 07:36:03.320
of course, little 30 HP Badoo hanging around as well.

07:36:03.320 --> 07:36:07.320
That is what Dragapult dreams of when it comes to Phantom Dive.

07:36:07.320 --> 07:36:15.320
What a match we've seen here between our two competitors in the top eight of the world championships.

07:36:15.320 --> 07:36:19.320
World-class play from both. Oh, two item cards and a Hilda.

07:36:19.320 --> 07:36:24.320
The Hilda, the only bailout here, searching out any evolution Pokemon and an energy card to add to the hand.

07:36:24.320 --> 07:36:32.320
And he will land on the Kadabra as his grab here using psychic draw to find two more cards.

07:36:32.320 --> 07:36:39.320
I don't mind this at all. Make it challenging for Henry, but let's see what he draws.

07:36:39.320 --> 07:36:47.320
I guess I'll win perhaps for the next turn. No, it looks like Petrack's shaming in his hand.

07:36:47.320 --> 07:36:52.320
A couple of more item cards in that basic psychic energy, so...

07:36:52.320 --> 07:36:57.320
I don't mind this play from Matash.

07:36:57.320 --> 07:37:01.320
It's going to force Henry, if he wants to completely clear this board,

07:37:01.320 --> 07:37:03.820
he's going to have to use two Cursed Blasts,

07:37:03.820 --> 07:37:09.020
and he can wipe out both Kadabra and the active one with Phantom Dive.

07:37:09.020 --> 07:37:13.420
But then they would put Matash down to one prize card,

07:37:13.420 --> 07:37:15.820
and Henry would be at two,

07:37:15.820 --> 07:37:19.120
and that would still leave the door open for Matash

07:37:19.120 --> 07:37:22.420
to go with something like Rare Candy into Dusknoir

07:37:22.420 --> 07:37:25.620
and Cursed Blasts to win this game.

07:37:25.620 --> 07:37:32.420
So Matatjus making it as difficult as possible for Henry to set up some massive play here.

07:37:32.420 --> 07:37:35.700
Henry promotes his Drakloka, attaches an energy to it.

07:37:35.700 --> 07:37:40.500
It is simply a dragapult DX away from the Phantom Dive being on the table.

07:37:40.500 --> 07:37:43.060
And he'll send his hand into the deck with the laser termination.

07:37:43.060 --> 07:37:45.460
Still a pair of recon directives to use.

07:37:45.460 --> 07:37:51.860
Also flip the script on the table to be utilized for Henry Chow here.

07:37:51.860 --> 07:37:55.300
You can see on his face the pressure of the moment.

07:37:55.300 --> 07:37:58.100
I mean, this is massive. This is win or go home.

07:37:58.100 --> 07:38:02.000
These six cards and the few to follow will be very important

07:38:02.000 --> 07:38:04.200
to determine who is moving on to top four.

07:38:04.200 --> 07:38:06.200
Here comes a flip the script. Three cards to find.

07:38:06.200 --> 07:38:07.700
It's the fun dragapult.

07:38:07.700 --> 07:38:11.300
Needs a dragapult and the Ultra Ball will guarantee that.

07:38:11.300 --> 07:38:12.700
He's going to use a recon directive.

07:38:12.700 --> 07:38:16.800
Does find that special red card, Puka.

07:38:16.800 --> 07:38:20.100
Card he's able to play now since Mateusz took that KO last turn.

07:38:20.100 --> 07:38:23.600
He'll be able to throw Mateusz's hand down to the deck even further.

07:38:23.600 --> 07:38:28.400
Matias doesn't have that much to work with right now though, but he's going to get extra cards in his hand

07:38:28.400 --> 07:38:35.620
Thanks to curse blast so special red card is extremely impactful and here he goes curse blast takes down

07:38:35.800 --> 07:38:43.840
Kadabra both players taking a prize card that is huge defined dust noir in that situation being able to completely knock out a

07:38:43.840 --> 07:38:47.320
Kadabra now Henry can set up this play

07:38:47.320 --> 07:38:54.640
He has dust clops put five damage counters on the cadaver you phantom dive knock out the active knock out the kid cadaver and

07:38:54.760 --> 07:39:00.420
The Badoo three prize cards and you go down to a single prize card

07:39:01.520 --> 07:39:05.500
This could leave us in another situation ship

07:39:06.040 --> 07:39:09.180
Where if Matash finds rare candy and dust are?

07:39:10.400 --> 07:39:15.480
You know Henry had an opportunity to maybe condense his board down to things that cannot be cursed blasted

07:39:15.480 --> 07:39:22.440
but we could see I don't want to curse it yet another tiebreaker game it is

07:39:22.440 --> 07:39:27.840
entirely possible Mateus down to just one prize card remaining but with the

07:39:27.840 --> 07:39:32.160
active cadabra with that benched one taking so much damage these Pokemon

07:39:32.160 --> 07:39:37.680
will both be cleared from play Henry Chow with four prize cards remaining

07:39:37.680 --> 07:39:41.120
there is that special red card sending the hand to the bottom of the deck for

07:39:41.120 --> 07:39:48.480
Mateus and wiping out all of these Pokemon from play one prize card apiece for each of these players and Mateus

07:39:48.920 --> 07:39:50.920
only has a pair of

07:39:50.920 --> 07:39:55.060
Dusts gold to work with he did find dust nor just needs rare candy

07:39:55.060 --> 07:39:57.400
Nothing else in the hand if he finds a rare candy here

07:39:57.400 --> 07:40:03.180
He can send us to another tiebreaker game and okay. He does not have it. He still has gone

07:40:03.360 --> 07:40:07.680
This can find Fezendipity ex and flip the script, but no

07:40:07.680 --> 07:40:13.440
He's gonna extend the hand here does not have it available and is going to shake

07:40:13.800 --> 07:40:18.980
Henry's hand and send him forward to top four at the world championships Wow

07:40:19.800 --> 07:40:21.800
Congratulations to Henry Chow

07:40:22.140 --> 07:40:26.680
Miracle run continues the top tech of the lilies determination

07:40:26.680 --> 07:40:34.080
On that third and final game to stay in it and battle back and take down this

07:40:34.080 --> 07:40:38.800
this unique, this innovative Elixam of Dustinor Deck.

07:40:38.800 --> 07:40:42.880
What an incredible display from both of these players,

07:40:42.880 --> 07:40:47.160
Matiasz, holding on in that tiebreaker game in Game 2,

07:40:47.160 --> 07:40:49.240
but Henry is the one that moves on.

07:40:49.240 --> 07:40:52.080
This is one that I think we will remember

07:40:52.080 --> 07:40:54.400
for a long time to come.

07:40:54.400 --> 07:40:57.280
One of the best Pokemon TCG matches

07:40:57.280 --> 07:41:01.200
I have ever seen, two incredible players.

07:41:01.200 --> 07:41:03.360
Matiasz's run will come to an end here,

07:41:03.360 --> 07:41:05.400
top eight of the World Championships.

07:41:05.400 --> 07:41:07.600
Two years in a row, Puka.

07:41:07.600 --> 07:41:10.960
What a couple of year runs in your pad.

07:41:10.960 --> 07:41:15.000
Yeah, I mean, an incredible back-to-back run for Matash.

07:41:15.000 --> 07:41:17.760
I think he has to feel a little bit disappointed

07:41:17.760 --> 07:41:20.160
that he was not able to advance once again,

07:41:20.160 --> 07:41:23.400
but still excellent season for him

07:41:23.400 --> 07:41:26.920
and an excellent run with such an amazing deck.

07:41:26.920 --> 07:41:30.480
It's a shame to see this one fall where he did again.

07:41:30.480 --> 07:41:32.280
It feels like a shame that one of these players

07:41:32.280 --> 07:41:36.640
had to go out here, but that's how the bracket goes sometimes.

07:41:36.640 --> 07:41:41.680
What a match we had here, so much happening back and forth.

07:41:41.680 --> 07:41:43.160
A lot of Purdue going back and forth.

07:41:43.160 --> 07:41:44.600
A lot of Purdue.

07:41:44.600 --> 07:41:46.800
Both these players were a little itchy sitting up there

07:41:46.800 --> 07:41:49.200
on the stage.

07:41:49.200 --> 07:41:50.840
This was a huge turn in that game,

07:41:50.840 --> 07:41:52.720
two puka bosses orders on the table.

07:41:52.720 --> 07:41:54.640
That is a one-off card in his deck.

07:41:54.640 --> 07:41:56.680
Prime catcher not working because he was hit with itchy

07:41:56.680 --> 07:41:58.040
pollen.

07:41:58.040 --> 07:42:00.400
Absolutely, and this is where I thought, oh, maybe

07:42:00.400 --> 07:42:04.440
Henry found a way to, you know, clear the board here with the curse blast.

07:42:04.440 --> 07:42:07.120
The Phantom died, what was going to happen.

07:42:07.600 --> 07:42:11.040
But the Tash had set up this curse blast play,

07:42:11.080 --> 07:42:16.000
take two prize cards off of this one and then boom, we had to a tiebreaker game

07:42:16.000 --> 07:42:19.280
because both players have collected all six of their prize cards.

07:42:19.280 --> 07:42:22.720
And then what unfolded was, I mean, just insanity.

07:42:23.240 --> 07:42:27.800
And then to game three, the top deck of the determination to keep Henry Chow alive.

07:42:27.800 --> 07:42:33.560
Mateusz would have won the game on his second turn had Henry not found a supporter card or a way to get out of Pokemon

07:42:44.200 --> 07:42:49.760
So much changes in the world championships. I mean top cut top eight. Those are excellent excellent accomplishments

07:42:49.760 --> 07:42:53.320
But it feels so nice to get into top four you earn yourself one of those

07:42:53.320 --> 07:42:59.400
iconic trophy cards. The prize pool continues to increase. You get to take home a Pikachu trophy

07:42:59.400 --> 07:43:05.160
regardless of your final standing and you get an invitation to the next season's World Championships

07:43:05.160 --> 07:43:11.880
as well. You can see my tames there extending the hand congratulating Henry who honestly battled

07:43:11.880 --> 07:43:16.760
back. It set up such a crazy comeback there that game but I think we're gonna throw it over to the stage.

07:43:16.760 --> 07:43:26.760
I'm going to go for a second.

07:43:26.760 --> 07:43:28.760
Top four with no look at

07:43:28.760 --> 07:43:30.760
slowing down. Henry. How we

07:43:30.760 --> 07:43:34.760
feeling coming out of that

07:43:34.760 --> 07:43:36.760
creature smash? That was

07:43:36.760 --> 07:43:38.760
absolutely insane. I mean,

07:43:38.760 --> 07:43:39.760
Game one, you know, went great.

07:43:39.760 --> 07:43:41.760
I drew amazing in game one. I

07:43:41.760 --> 07:43:43.760
was feeling pretty good. Game

07:43:43.760 --> 07:43:45.760
two got myself into a pretty

07:43:45.760 --> 07:43:50.200
done to play around it, but sudden death I think is pretty much a 50-50. If I go first,

07:43:50.200 --> 07:43:53.820
it's pretty hard for him to stop me from taking the first prize, and then actually even going

07:43:53.820 --> 07:43:59.200
second I actually got a chance if I had top vector cloak and then in game three I really

07:43:59.200 --> 07:44:03.200
thought it was all over. I mean I don't know if the camera caught my opening hand, it

07:44:03.200 --> 07:44:07.960
was absolutely disgusting. And this is my second time on stream actually, top decking

07:44:07.960 --> 07:44:11.600
Lily off a completely unplayable hand. This happened in round five against Festival

07:44:11.600 --> 07:44:22.600
I just, I can't believe that happened, the universe feels like it's, it feels like the universe is toying with me and I made a huge, huge blunder at the end of game 3 as well.

07:44:22.600 --> 07:44:31.600
I benched the Driepe to thin my deck before my lilies, but if I had thought far enough ahead in the turn, I could have made a pulse, pulse, fez board.

07:44:31.600 --> 07:44:37.380
So he couldn't force that in death with dust nor but I benched the street view that meant that off the red card

07:44:37.380 --> 07:44:42.180
Which I was really lucky even draw the red card because I'm certain you would have had the candy dust her if I didn't drop the red card

07:44:43.020 --> 07:44:46.580
She would have been able to force another seven death, which I don't know if I hard would have been able to handle that

07:44:49.620 --> 07:44:56.080
But honestly at this level of play it's interesting still to hear that you reflect immediately on the game and think to yourself

07:44:56.080 --> 07:45:00.040
What can I always be doing better? Is that something you always think when you come out of a match?

07:45:00.040 --> 07:45:03.020
Yeah, I mean it depends if I see it or not, of course

07:45:03.020 --> 07:45:05.740
Yeah, sometimes I just don't know I haven't made a mistake until someone told me

07:45:05.740 --> 07:45:08.500
I'm sure some of my friends must have caught this mistake for me

07:45:08.500 --> 07:45:11.180
It was just later on in the turn after I popped all my nostrils

07:45:11.180 --> 07:45:15.020
I'm looking at my board and I can say but I can make this a pull to the other two pulls to defend

07:45:15.020 --> 07:45:20.980
Why is this creepy on the board? But I I got bailed out as and I'll take it

07:45:20.980 --> 07:45:24.180
I'll take it. You got to get everything you can get. I'll try to play better next game

07:45:25.180 --> 07:45:29.900
I mean even so a phenomenal run thus far

07:45:30.040 --> 07:45:37.040
you. We are with twists and

07:45:37.140 --> 07:45:39.040
turns every single moment.

07:45:39.140 --> 07:45:41.040
Henry. We are so pleased to

07:45:41.140 --> 07:45:42.040
have you on this stage and we

07:45:42.140 --> 07:45:44.040
wish the best of luck going

07:45:44.140 --> 07:45:45.040
forward. And he final words

07:45:45.140 --> 07:45:47.040
before we let you move on in

07:45:47.140 --> 07:45:49.040
this event. You are top four

07:45:49.140 --> 07:45:51.040
guaranteed. Let's see how far

07:45:51.140 --> 07:45:52.040
we can go. I just thank you

07:45:52.140 --> 07:45:53.040
so much. Everybody's tuning

07:45:53.140 --> 07:45:54.040
in and watching even my

07:45:54.140 --> 07:45:55.040
friends who are not affiliated

07:45:55.140 --> 07:45:56.040
with Pokemon and just watch

07:45:56.140 --> 07:45:58.040
it support me. It really

07:45:58.140 --> 07:45:59.040
means the world to me. This

07:45:59.040 --> 07:46:03.200
the top four today, so gotta hold it together. But yeah, I really wanted to get this discernment.

07:46:03.840 --> 07:46:09.440
Well, hopefully your luck hasn't ended there and the top decks continue to bail you out of silly

07:46:09.440 --> 07:46:17.760
situations, including the stickiest of tiebreaker games. So thank you, Henry, for joining us once

07:46:17.760 --> 07:46:22.960
again and congratulations. Let's keep rolling on with more action. Let's head back to the

07:46:22.960 --> 07:46:24.640
the Caster Desk for some more.

07:46:27.240 --> 07:46:30.840
Congratulations to Henry Chow.

07:46:30.840 --> 07:46:33.160
He's been one of the best players in the game

07:46:33.160 --> 07:46:35.600
the last couple of seasons.

07:46:35.600 --> 07:46:37.880
Didn't have a great run at Worlds last year,

07:46:37.880 --> 07:46:40.840
but now top four at this event,

07:46:40.840 --> 07:46:43.520
solidifying himself as just one of the top,

07:46:43.520 --> 07:46:45.560
top, top players in the game,

07:46:45.560 --> 07:46:49.160
and aiming to push even farther forward here.

07:46:50.120 --> 07:46:52.640
You heard that emotion in his voice.

07:46:52.640 --> 07:46:55.840
I mean, what a game, what a roller coaster it was.

07:46:55.840 --> 07:46:58.200
I mean, we're feeling it here in the booth.

07:46:58.200 --> 07:47:00.080
Our audience out in the crowd feeling it.

07:47:00.080 --> 07:47:01.840
You at home, I hope feeling it as well,

07:47:01.840 --> 07:47:04.280
but I cannot even imagine what is swirling

07:47:04.280 --> 07:47:06.160
through Henry Chow's mind in this moment.

07:47:06.160 --> 07:47:07.440
Yeah, I think that's one of the things

07:47:07.440 --> 07:47:10.080
that makes Henry easy to root for.

07:47:10.080 --> 07:47:11.840
You can see how much it means to him.

07:47:11.840 --> 07:47:14.360
You know, he's not afraid to show his emotions

07:47:14.360 --> 07:47:16.160
in those situations we've seen.

07:47:16.160 --> 07:47:17.880
Pretty much every time he's been on the stream

07:47:17.880 --> 07:47:21.720
this weekend, just seems so exhausted and relieved

07:47:21.720 --> 07:47:24.000
whenever things go his way,

07:47:24.000 --> 07:47:26.000
and he really puts his heart into it,

07:47:26.000 --> 07:47:28.480
and I'm gonna keep an eye on him

07:47:28.480 --> 07:47:30.920
and see where this weekend takes him.

07:47:30.920 --> 07:47:33.920
These moments are what the World Championships

07:47:33.920 --> 07:47:36.680
is all about unforgettable memories,

07:47:36.680 --> 07:47:38.360
incredible high level play.

07:47:38.360 --> 07:47:40.880
We're gonna bring Pablo Mesa in

07:47:40.880 --> 07:47:43.840
to help us break down the game we just watched.

07:47:43.840 --> 07:47:46.240
Table man, what do you think of that?

07:47:46.240 --> 07:47:48.160
Tiebreaker game in top eight of Worlds,

07:47:48.160 --> 07:47:49.040
are you kidding me?

07:47:49.040 --> 07:47:59.040
I know, and if you had told me Henry would do it with Gardevoir it would have 100% believed you, but now Gardevoir is gone and he's still here showing that it's not really the deck, right?

07:47:59.040 --> 07:48:15.040
It's the player himself, his skill is, I mean, I don't know if he's reached his ceiling or not, he's playing some amazing Pokemon and the fact that the first thing he does as soon as he walks away from that match is say he's gonna play better next time.

07:48:15.040 --> 07:48:24.160
what's not his best it's just it's really inspiring to see and I mean as we've talked

07:48:24.160 --> 07:48:30.080
before right at this high level play sometimes you need that little bit extra of luck the universe

07:48:30.080 --> 07:48:35.200
is definitely helping out Henry Chow a little bit with these early on first steps which are so

07:48:35.200 --> 07:48:40.000
devastating that Lily topic as well when the stakes are this high when both players are this

07:48:40.000 --> 07:48:45.760
good sometimes the lock of a draw is what will define a match such as this one and of course

07:48:45.760 --> 07:48:52.560
the early stamp very very damaging to these alakazam decks and especially when you're able to

07:48:52.560 --> 07:48:59.440
combine that with a withing a cadavera yeah withing a cadavera is really what put a nail in the

07:48:59.440 --> 07:49:05.680
coffin here for my page the double avra susceptibility on the bench made it so that he had no

07:49:05.680 --> 07:49:11.840
no follow-up, no way to protect the Abra and the Kadabra, and led to this multi-price turn

07:49:11.840 --> 07:49:17.240
of just knocking out everything from the board with a single Phantom Dive, and led to the

07:49:17.240 --> 07:49:21.400
pretty interesting scenario of the crazy Southern Dead.

07:49:21.400 --> 07:49:23.480
Something we hadn't seen before.

07:49:23.480 --> 07:49:28.720
I think players took a few shortcuts here, so just wanted to make sure it was very

07:49:28.720 --> 07:49:30.120
clear what happened.

07:49:30.120 --> 07:49:46.120
Dragonbolt has 80 HP left, so DOSNOR takes out the Dragonbolt, Henry takes a prize, Mateusz takes two, and then the DOS Glove takes out the body, tying everyone up at zero prize cards.

07:49:46.120 --> 07:49:57.120
And because both players have basic Pokemon or Pokemon in play remaining, that means only one win condition is fulfilled for both players, and therefore we go to the sudden death game.

07:49:57.120 --> 07:50:04.000
and I mean how how much tighter do you need the margins to be that the game has

07:50:04.000 --> 07:50:10.040
to be settled by another game right and another one that really showcased some

07:50:10.040 --> 07:50:16.360
very interesting play as well very small margins and in the end Mateusz

07:50:16.360 --> 07:50:20.160
walked away the winner of their bowl players with key cards when they had an

07:50:20.160 --> 07:50:25.960
opening but overall I think this turn and this game showed how Mateusz's

07:50:25.960 --> 07:50:32.080
deck is built is a very unique Alakazam deck build that does really well against the expected

07:50:32.080 --> 07:50:37.120
Dragapult Leasing and Variant which is probably the one that has what's gathering the most

07:50:37.120 --> 07:50:42.620
attention leading into the event because of Mega Exca Drills potential to counter quotation

07:50:42.620 --> 07:50:47.580
marks Dragapult and crushing hammers that really affect this version of the deck

07:50:47.580 --> 07:50:55.680
but when you are up against a multi-target threat which is Dothmore and Dothclubs which

07:50:55.680 --> 07:50:58.980
which are able to remove the Pokemon from your bench very easily

07:50:58.980 --> 07:51:02.020
on top of the Phantom Divex for damage counters.

07:51:02.020 --> 07:51:04.620
The low HP is what ultimately being,

07:51:04.620 --> 07:51:07.580
ultimately was, but there's this demise here.

07:51:07.580 --> 07:51:11.680
Versus the other dry-off variants, I have to imagine there's good price rates

07:51:11.680 --> 07:51:14.580
and the pressure on the bench is manageable,

07:51:14.580 --> 07:51:19.520
but when you have all these Dust Clubs and Dust Lords just targeting your bench

07:51:19.520 --> 07:51:23.880
over and over and eliminating multiple Cadabras and Abras in a single turn

07:51:23.880 --> 07:51:26.920
On top of your active, that's where things fell apart in.

07:51:26.920 --> 07:51:32.600
Over the course of three games we saw, like them only attack once where it really mattered, right?

07:51:32.600 --> 07:51:38.920
Against the Dragapult. So I think this version of the deck very successful in the expected metagame,

07:51:38.920 --> 07:51:44.280
but when you come up against a Titan such as Henry Chow and piloting the Dragapult version

07:51:44.280 --> 07:51:49.400
of the deck that you're gonna struggle with the most, we see Henry walk away the winner

07:51:49.400 --> 07:52:00.120
a fantastic display of skill, decision-making, and even after the game already evaluating what he can do better as he advances into the top four of Worlds.

07:52:00.120 --> 07:52:06.640
I'm loving this game, one of the best, as you mentioned Chip, one of the best we've seen so far with a very interesting sudden death.

07:52:06.640 --> 07:52:16.240
And I'm really looking forward to see how much farther Henry Chao can push himself and push the boundaries of what is the top-top level of Pokemon trading card game.

07:52:16.240 --> 07:52:23.840
Thank you so much Pablo for the insight as always. It is ever appreciated. That is

07:52:23.840 --> 07:52:28.480
just our first top 8 game. We still have another top 8 game to cover.

07:52:28.480 --> 07:52:31.880
We're gonna be covering both top four games tonight as well and if that's

07:52:31.880 --> 07:52:35.800
what game one had in store for us, I don't know if I can take three more.

07:52:35.800 --> 07:52:41.200
And you got to think if Henry Chow does go on to perhaps become world

07:52:41.200 --> 07:52:45.800
champion at this event, you know that match will probably be immortalized in

07:52:45.800 --> 07:52:48.240
in history as one of the best matches

07:52:48.240 --> 07:52:49.600
to ever be played on this stage.

07:52:49.600 --> 07:52:53.640
Maybe one that decided the whole fate of this tournament.

07:52:53.640 --> 07:52:56.680
There are now just six players remaining.

07:52:56.680 --> 07:52:58.000
Henry Chaus moved on to top four.

07:52:58.000 --> 07:53:01.240
Andrew Hedrick has also moved on to top four.

07:53:01.240 --> 07:53:04.320
We do have two more top eight games still to cover.

07:53:04.320 --> 07:53:06.200
We'll be having Brent Tonneson up against Nathan

07:53:06.200 --> 07:53:07.960
Spry up on the main stage.

07:53:07.960 --> 07:53:09.960
Diego Casiraga and Roon Hyrimans

07:53:09.960 --> 07:53:12.600
will be playing out on the floor.

07:53:12.600 --> 07:53:14.480
Brent and Nathan will be playing up on the big stage,

07:53:14.480 --> 07:53:17.760
Like mentioned, Ethan and Emily are going to be coming in

07:53:17.760 --> 07:53:20.480
to cover that game for you all.

07:53:20.480 --> 07:53:24.000
It's just six players left to see who will be immortalized

07:53:24.000 --> 07:53:25.320
as a world champion.

07:53:55.320 --> 07:53:58.320
The flame goes out in the woods

07:53:58.320 --> 07:54:00.320
We'll remember the names

07:54:00.320 --> 07:54:02.320
The time has come

07:54:02.320 --> 07:54:04.320
We'll look in their eyes

07:54:04.320 --> 07:54:06.320
They've been through the night

07:54:06.320 --> 07:54:08.320
They came to be

07:54:08.320 --> 07:54:10.320
In the light

07:54:13.320 --> 07:54:15.320
In the light

07:54:17.320 --> 07:54:19.320
In the light

07:54:21.320 --> 07:54:23.320
In the light

07:55:55.320 --> 07:55:57.320
and this match will not disappoint.

07:55:57.320 --> 07:55:58.320
My name is Ethan Hegge.

07:55:58.320 --> 07:56:00.320
I'm joined alongside Emily Foreman.

07:56:00.320 --> 07:56:02.320
Cannot be more excited.

07:56:02.320 --> 07:56:04.320
Cannot stress how excited we are

07:56:04.320 --> 07:56:05.320
for this last Top A match.

07:56:05.320 --> 07:56:08.320
The seats are full out in the crowd

07:56:08.320 --> 07:56:10.320
for all of our games here

07:56:10.320 --> 07:56:12.320
at the World Championship

07:56:12.320 --> 07:56:14.320
and even, I mean the excitement

07:56:14.320 --> 07:56:16.320
for all of our competitors

07:56:16.320 --> 07:56:17.320
all around the world

07:56:17.320 --> 07:56:19.320
in all around the Pokemon ecosystem

07:56:19.320 --> 07:56:22.320
as well for Unite Go Champions

07:56:22.320 --> 07:56:24.320
and here in the Trading Card Game.

07:56:24.320 --> 07:56:28.180
only building like you said but Ethan only two players can make it to the

07:56:28.180 --> 07:56:32.480
chase center tomorrow and honestly I cannot even pick out of a hat if I had

07:56:32.480 --> 07:56:36.240
to guess right now wouldn't even be able to tell you which one. Well hold it

07:56:36.240 --> 07:56:39.680
against you we've been building this bracket brick by brick and we could take

07:56:39.680 --> 07:56:44.920
a look at the bracket to see how things have shaped out for these players.

07:56:44.920 --> 07:56:49.880
We started off the asymmetric top cut we played two games so there was a total

07:56:49.880 --> 07:56:56.360
10 players in that top cut and then we made it to a top 8. We just saw Henry Chow win that game and

07:56:56.360 --> 07:57:01.160
wow what a crazy match that was. I mean Pablo said it a little bit earlier in the day but I believe

07:57:01.160 --> 07:57:06.440
it was San Antonio a couple years ago that he coined Henry Chow the Gardevoir master of the

07:57:06.440 --> 07:57:11.080
universe but look at him going even further with Gardevoir's number one enemy and that was

07:57:11.080 --> 07:57:17.560
Dragonfall but it's nice to see Henry Chow going into this top four with a completely different deck.

07:57:17.560 --> 07:57:24.640
You also have to note out as well as we're checking out this bracket here Andrew Hedrick was able to defeat Satoshi

07:57:24.840 --> 07:57:30.680
So this top four Ethan I mean look at the stars up and down at this top eight

07:57:30.680 --> 07:57:35.180
I mean you cannot predict who is going to win was out in the field looking at that match

07:57:35.180 --> 07:57:40.800
It was on one of our featured streams so many players and fans in the arena could check that match out

07:57:41.000 --> 07:57:45.560
It was an absolute roller coaster Andrew's crushing hammers were paid actors

07:57:45.560 --> 07:57:47.560
They were basically said discard of energy.

07:57:47.560 --> 07:57:48.560
You did not need to flip.

07:57:48.560 --> 07:57:49.560
We got you, my friend.

07:57:49.560 --> 07:57:50.560
Getting rid of the missed energy,

07:57:50.560 --> 07:57:52.560
getting rid of the growing grass energy,

07:57:52.560 --> 07:57:54.560
and Sato, she was just unable to keep up.

07:57:54.560 --> 07:57:56.560
And it was a quick 2-0 in a matchup

07:57:56.560 --> 07:57:58.560
that usually takes a lot of time.

07:57:58.560 --> 07:58:00.560
Him and Henry on different sides of the bracket,

07:58:00.560 --> 07:58:02.560
their collision course and finals

07:58:02.560 --> 07:58:03.560
seems like it may be eminent.

07:58:03.560 --> 07:58:05.560
It's going to be up to the other four players

07:58:05.560 --> 07:58:06.560
that are playing their top eight matches

07:58:06.560 --> 07:58:08.560
to see if they can take them down.

07:58:08.560 --> 07:58:10.560
It has been so interesting to see

07:58:10.560 --> 07:58:13.560
how Dragapult has really developed in this tournament

07:58:13.560 --> 07:58:18.800
because going into the tournament every single person I know has been writing off

07:58:18.800 --> 07:58:23.320
Dragonfall, Dustin Orr saying you're better off playing even Blaziken. Everyone knows

07:58:23.320 --> 07:58:26.880
that crushing camera is going to be the most dominant version of Dragonfall, but

07:58:26.880 --> 07:58:31.960
still many many players decided to bring the cursed last line that Dustin Orr

07:58:31.960 --> 07:58:36.800
line over to the World Championships and it has only benefited them. So I am

07:58:36.800 --> 07:58:41.600
so excited to see if Henry Chow and Andrew Hedrick are going to be

07:58:41.600 --> 07:58:47.200
able to make it to the finals but we still have plenty of matches here to go.

07:58:47.200 --> 07:58:51.200
We're going to take it down to the stage so we can see another top eight match.

07:58:51.200 --> 07:58:57.400
It will be two of Australia's finest local match taken it to the big stage.

07:58:57.400 --> 07:59:02.000
The world stage at that Nathan's fry up against Brent Tonneson.

07:59:02.000 --> 07:59:05.600
What more can we say about Brent? He is one of the games great.

07:59:05.600 --> 07:59:10.680
One of the best players in the world finally having a strong finish at

07:59:10.680 --> 07:59:15.880
the world championships. I'm sure he's not satisfied with just top eight. He wants to go all the way.

07:59:15.880 --> 07:59:23.720
Yeah, like you said, Australian showdown as well. Brent's number one in Oceania. He has been for several

07:59:23.720 --> 07:59:31.320
seasons now in a row and he has a friend of not only Australia but he is a friend of the entire

07:59:31.320 --> 07:59:37.400
world. If there is a regional there is always a chance that Brent is actually going to show up

07:59:37.400 --> 07:59:44.120
no matter what. But against his opponent Nathan Spry, now it's a very large world. We live in

07:59:44.120 --> 07:59:49.560
Ethan. What are the chances that you actually hit one of your locals in a top eight of worlds?

07:59:50.360 --> 07:59:55.800
Nothing is impossible when it comes to the Pokemon TCG. A bit of a Cinderella run last year in

07:59:55.800 --> 08:00:02.200
Anaheim. Top 32 with Armor Rouge, you're dead. Woo, not on the radar. Very spicy. So Nathan,

08:00:02.200 --> 08:00:05.080
very used to these toolbox style decks.

08:00:05.080 --> 08:00:06.720
Of course, that moved energy around.

08:00:06.720 --> 08:00:09.560
This time you're powering up different attachments.

08:00:09.560 --> 08:00:11.040
You see it right there on the screen.

08:00:11.040 --> 08:00:14.720
That Lily's Cleverie EX will be the key card in this matchup.

08:00:14.720 --> 08:00:16.800
Yeah, I'm so excited to see

08:00:16.800 --> 08:00:18.480
and what players are currently doing

08:00:18.480 --> 08:00:21.320
if you are unfamiliar with these top cut games.

08:00:21.320 --> 08:00:23.240
If you make it to this point,

08:00:23.240 --> 08:00:25.280
you actually get a nice little sneak peek

08:00:25.280 --> 08:00:27.520
at your opponent's deck list.

08:00:27.520 --> 08:00:29.600
So what Nathan is really looking for

08:00:29.600 --> 08:00:33.080
or as he is the pilot of this basic big box

08:00:33.080 --> 08:00:37.080
is looking to see if Brent is playing a shame in

08:00:37.080 --> 08:00:39.320
because he wants to use that ball spring mass over plot

08:00:39.320 --> 08:00:41.920
to take a couple of prizes over on one turn.

08:00:41.920 --> 08:00:43.760
But the thing is for Brent,

08:00:43.760 --> 08:00:47.240
he has really created the most consistent dragon bolt list

08:00:47.240 --> 08:00:50.480
I think we've seen in a very, very long time.

08:00:50.480 --> 08:00:52.640
No funny business besides the crushing hammer,

08:00:52.640 --> 08:00:55.600
just dragon bolts, buttoot,

08:00:55.600 --> 08:00:57.440
peasant dipity and a couple of friends

08:00:57.440 --> 08:00:58.560
including monkey Dory.

08:00:58.560 --> 08:01:03.060
So the Dunspar's package, there's no cursed blast being used,

08:01:03.060 --> 08:01:07.560
just wants to maximize the counts of cards that are in actual recede,

08:01:07.560 --> 08:01:09.560
that being an extremely effective strategy.

08:01:09.560 --> 08:01:13.060
Nathan, on the other hand, playing a bunch of different attackers.

08:01:13.060 --> 08:01:14.560
Of course, have that lose.

08:01:14.560 --> 08:01:17.560
Clefairy EX, the Fairy Zone ability makes it so.

08:01:17.560 --> 08:01:21.060
Dragapult EX, a dragon Pokemon that normally does not have weaknesses,

08:01:21.060 --> 08:01:23.060
one of the benefits of being a dragon type.

08:01:23.060 --> 08:01:28.060
Now is weak to psychic Pokemon as long as Clefairy is in play.

08:01:28.060 --> 08:01:30.020
a lot of other exciting attackers.

08:01:30.020 --> 08:01:32.900
Dive into those details once we get now to our match.

08:01:32.900 --> 08:01:34.660
The problem is with Basic Box.

08:01:34.660 --> 08:01:36.600
As a Basic Box enjoyer,

08:01:36.600 --> 08:01:39.340
the problem is you so desperately need

08:01:39.340 --> 08:01:42.340
to start Mega Kangaskhan EX in hand

08:01:42.340 --> 08:01:45.400
to get it into the active as quickly as possible

08:01:45.400 --> 08:01:47.780
so you can start drawing cards.

08:01:47.780 --> 08:01:50.440
Big Basic Box has a very big tendency

08:01:50.440 --> 08:01:53.120
if you are not starting Mega Kangaskhan

08:01:53.120 --> 08:01:55.180
to absolutely prick.

08:01:55.180 --> 08:01:57.460
See what the prize cards are gonna give us Ethan

08:01:57.460 --> 08:02:02.260
And that's so far not too bad, unless I curse it right now.

08:02:02.260 --> 08:02:04.660
OK, Prime Catcher not great for the big basics.

08:02:04.660 --> 08:02:07.540
And one copy of the Lilies could vary DX,

08:02:07.540 --> 08:02:09.780
but there are two, of course, in the deck.

08:02:09.780 --> 08:02:12.420
Very important to have access to at least one of them.

08:02:12.420 --> 08:02:14.540
But a nice structure being priced

08:02:14.540 --> 08:02:17.060
means there's only the ability to get two Lilies

08:02:17.060 --> 08:02:18.820
to vary out as it's safe.

08:02:18.820 --> 08:02:21.060
Track and pull can never take that first KO.

08:02:21.060 --> 08:02:23.820
Things could definitely get dicey in on Brent's side.

08:02:23.820 --> 08:02:26.900
Dark Energy Stadium cards that are definitely relevant.

08:02:26.900 --> 08:02:28.540
I think we're ready to get into things here.

08:02:28.540 --> 08:02:31.620
Our second top eight match at the World Championships.

08:02:31.620 --> 08:02:33.680
The winner moves on to get a Pikachu trophy,

08:02:33.680 --> 08:02:37.060
cards and that chance to battle at the Chase Center tomorrow.

08:02:37.060 --> 08:02:39.320
My favorite thing about Brent is the fact

08:02:39.320 --> 08:02:42.020
that he is going first in this matchup.

08:02:42.020 --> 08:02:44.260
One of the big things about Basic Box

08:02:44.260 --> 08:02:46.540
is that it really wants to accelerate energy

08:02:46.540 --> 08:02:49.420
and start attacking as quickly as possible.

08:02:49.420 --> 08:02:52.540
And the thing is because Brent is the top seed of Swiss

08:02:52.540 --> 08:02:56.500
he actually gets to take that luxury away from Nathan

08:02:56.500 --> 08:02:59.080
because he placed so high here.

08:02:59.080 --> 08:03:01.920
So going in, it's going to be all about the setup here.

08:03:01.920 --> 08:03:05.200
Because both players have actually seen each other's list here,

08:03:05.200 --> 08:03:07.840
Brent does know that Nathan wants to pivot

08:03:07.840 --> 08:03:09.620
into this well-sparing mask overpump

08:03:09.620 --> 08:03:12.300
and get that to rental pump as quickly as possible.

08:03:13.960 --> 08:03:16.040
We see this very commonly with lots of players

08:03:16.040 --> 08:03:18.600
in the Pokemon TCK, bunching all of those Pokemon

08:03:18.600 --> 08:03:20.240
to the front of the deck just to make it

08:03:20.240 --> 08:03:22.160
a little bit easier to identify.

08:03:22.160 --> 08:03:24.960
So Treepe is the choice over on Nathan's side.

08:03:24.960 --> 08:03:26.360
You definitely have to have a sigh of relief

08:03:26.360 --> 08:03:28.560
when your opponent doesn't play Buddy Buddy Poffin,

08:03:28.560 --> 08:03:30.320
but instead that Poke Pad to start.

08:03:30.320 --> 08:03:32.800
Doesn't mean the rest of the hand is too bad.

08:03:32.800 --> 08:03:34.280
Brent's gonna play on the safer side.

08:03:34.280 --> 08:03:36.020
Interesting, did see the list and knows

08:03:36.020 --> 08:03:39.800
that there's no way to shut off Miao's EX's ability

08:03:39.800 --> 08:03:41.040
that last ditch catch.

08:03:41.040 --> 08:03:43.120
Still wants to just grab a supporter card,

08:03:43.120 --> 08:03:45.280
which will most likely be that Lily's determination.

08:03:45.280 --> 08:03:46.480
It's guaranteed, right?

08:03:46.480 --> 08:03:47.920
And Brent's saying, you know what?

08:03:47.920 --> 08:03:50.520
This Miao, the EX is going to stay on the bench,

08:03:50.520 --> 08:03:52.640
but at least if, as well,

08:03:52.640 --> 08:03:54.560
if he has that energy attachment,

08:03:54.560 --> 08:03:58.400
This Lily's determination next turn is going to be practically guaranteed.

08:03:58.400 --> 08:04:03.200
So we'll just want to see if Brett wants to find another way to get something going here.

08:04:03.200 --> 08:04:06.480
But unfortunately has to bench the Meowth right away here.

08:04:06.480 --> 08:04:11.840
That's going to be a very prime target for something like Boss's orders and the mega kangaskhan.

08:04:11.840 --> 08:04:14.720
Not even having to flip heads to get the knockout.

08:04:14.720 --> 08:04:16.400
Yeah, big liability in multiple ways.

08:04:16.400 --> 08:04:20.560
You were talking about that wellspring mask ogre pump, the torrential pump.

08:04:20.560 --> 08:04:24.320
Saab is another great attack on something like the Meowth EX.

08:04:24.320 --> 08:04:27.020
only has that one attack for three energy cards.

08:04:27.020 --> 08:04:29.720
Yes, it picks itself up, but it's a big investment

08:04:29.720 --> 08:04:31.620
and costs a lot of resources.

08:04:31.620 --> 08:04:32.520
We'll shuffle the deck up.

08:04:32.520 --> 08:04:34.900
There's a couple of energy cards that can place that down

08:04:34.900 --> 08:04:37.700
onto, what I presume to be one of these two Treepy.

08:04:37.700 --> 08:04:39.260
Not much else going on in the hand.

08:04:39.260 --> 08:04:41.140
We'll have to rely off that Lily for the following turn.

08:04:41.140 --> 08:04:42.440
Yeah, nothing, like you said,

08:04:42.440 --> 08:04:44.580
nothing else in that hand really for Brent.

08:04:44.580 --> 08:04:46.080
Can't ask for anything more though.

08:04:46.080 --> 08:04:47.840
You do have to at least double Treepy

08:04:47.840 --> 08:04:50.780
and an energy attachment to follow through with.

08:04:50.780 --> 08:04:53.080
So going back over onto Nathan's side,

08:04:53.080 --> 08:04:55.480
This is exactly where you want to start.

08:04:55.480 --> 08:04:59.840
Now, granted, Ladias is usually a very key Pokémon to this matchup,

08:04:59.840 --> 08:05:02.680
but unfortunately has it in the hand a little bit too early.

08:05:02.680 --> 08:05:07.120
So this ultra ball coming down now has to grab the mega Kangus gone here.

08:05:07.120 --> 08:05:10.000
Just needs a little bit more draw, granted.

08:05:10.000 --> 08:05:13.880
In some of these turns, even like Nathan kind of wants to do here,

08:05:13.880 --> 08:05:18.120
it's wellspring mask over pond time as soon as possible.

08:05:18.120 --> 08:05:21.960
But the problem is you just can't get into it so easily here.

08:05:21.960 --> 08:05:25.180
So it's actually going to be the Meowth now on Nathan's side

08:05:25.180 --> 08:05:28.900
to find the Serrano to get a couple of more EX Pokemon out.

08:05:28.900 --> 08:05:31.860
But the real question is, is Nathan going to prioritize

08:05:31.860 --> 08:05:34.380
putting Mechakangus on forward for more draw

08:05:34.380 --> 08:05:37.460
or get that stop lock going?

08:05:37.460 --> 08:05:39.300
Nathan himself will take a look at the deck,

08:05:39.300 --> 08:05:41.580
see what pieces are available.

08:05:41.580 --> 08:05:43.420
Is sitting on some solid cards in hand

08:05:43.420 --> 08:05:45.820
for the following turn, that powerful supporter,

08:05:45.820 --> 08:05:48.460
Crispin, to accelerate energy.

08:05:48.460 --> 08:05:50.940
So it's a manual attachment for turn up to Shabby.

08:05:50.940 --> 08:05:54.440
and what better way to end the turn off than drawing a few cards with Run-Aaron.

08:05:54.440 --> 08:05:57.440
Thanks to that Ladias EX's Skyliner ability.

08:05:57.440 --> 08:06:01.440
Will be the Fezendipity for later on that flip. The script ability super strong.

08:06:01.440 --> 08:06:04.440
We'll see how he can put together this turn and more importantly,

08:06:04.440 --> 08:06:07.440
next turn what attack he wants to go towards.

08:06:07.440 --> 08:06:10.440
Assuming that Brent can find some pieces and get set up.

08:06:10.440 --> 08:06:13.440
Like you had said, Mega Kang has gone now going into the active.

08:06:13.440 --> 08:06:19.440
Need some more resources to find those plays for later.

08:06:19.440 --> 08:06:25.240
That's a really big find though, with Meowth guaranteed for next turn to get the Crispin up and running as well.

08:06:25.240 --> 08:06:31.680
But sometimes it feels like, even when you play this big basic box, you're really at the mercy of your opening hand.

08:06:31.680 --> 08:06:37.360
And the problem is not starting Mega Kangascon, you've actually now are forced to use a supporter this early.

08:06:37.360 --> 08:06:38.960
Crushing Hammer, gonna flip tails.

08:06:38.960 --> 08:06:44.120
Yeah, big flip. If that flips heads, Mega Kangascon is not really in a position where it can easily attack.

08:06:44.120 --> 08:06:46.720
would have to rely off teal dance shenanigans

08:06:46.720 --> 08:06:49.600
with an energy switch paired and there's not a huge hand

08:06:49.600 --> 08:06:51.520
and not a lot of resources available.

08:06:51.520 --> 08:06:53.480
We'll see if that attachment to the Kangaskhan

08:06:53.480 --> 08:06:55.280
pays off compared to like you mentioned,

08:06:55.280 --> 08:06:56.720
the wellspring ogre pond.

08:06:56.720 --> 08:06:59.080
Now things are going to get just a little bit more difficult

08:06:59.080 --> 08:07:01.640
as that friendly face or maybe an evil face

08:07:01.640 --> 08:07:03.600
if you've been itchy followed a little bit too much.

08:07:03.600 --> 08:07:05.240
Badoo comes down to play followed

08:07:05.240 --> 08:07:07.360
by the lilies determination really now looking

08:07:07.360 --> 08:07:08.280
for this reclope.

08:07:08.280 --> 08:07:09.720
Not just looking for the reclope,

08:07:09.720 --> 08:07:11.920
looking for the energy to move this 3B

08:07:11.920 --> 08:07:13.360
out of the active as well.

08:07:13.360 --> 08:07:15.240
Now that Nathan has committed this energy

08:07:15.240 --> 08:07:17.060
to the Mega Kangascon EX,

08:07:17.060 --> 08:07:19.520
this Mega Kangascon is actually going to be the one

08:07:19.520 --> 08:07:21.200
that's going to be doing the attacking

08:07:21.200 --> 08:07:23.080
for at least two turns.

08:07:23.080 --> 08:07:24.840
It's very big, it's very bulky,

08:07:24.840 --> 08:07:27.760
and Dragapult has very far moved away

08:07:27.760 --> 08:07:30.000
from the rare candy Dragapult Crispin Day.

08:07:30.000 --> 08:07:33.640
So this Mega Kangascon is going to get a ton of mileage,

08:07:33.640 --> 08:07:35.080
which is going to give Nathan some time

08:07:35.080 --> 08:07:37.000
to kind of move around Brent's board here,

08:07:37.000 --> 08:07:39.180
but big, big eight cards.

08:07:40.400 --> 08:07:42.760
Set up, of course, very dire and very important,

08:07:42.760 --> 08:07:44.280
and that is more than a solid hand.

08:07:44.280 --> 08:07:46.560
Dracloak, first card drawn.

08:07:46.560 --> 08:07:47.880
Let me use this Recon Directive first,

08:07:47.880 --> 08:07:50.720
trying to maximize his outset, finding Pokemon.

08:07:51.720 --> 08:07:52.560
Really taking the card.

08:07:52.560 --> 08:07:54.560
Saw Monkey Dory in the top.

08:07:54.560 --> 08:07:55.400
Wonder if that was the card.

08:07:55.400 --> 08:07:58.000
Like, no, it's another Dracloak, an excellent find.

08:07:58.000 --> 08:07:59.960
There is a high chance that we're gonna see

08:07:59.960 --> 08:08:01.080
double Recon Directive

08:08:01.080 --> 08:08:03.080
and potentially that attachment to retreat.

08:08:03.080 --> 08:08:04.640
That 3B did come down this turn,

08:08:04.640 --> 08:08:07.560
so it only put two Dracloak into play.

08:08:07.560 --> 08:08:09.120
Does already have the energy on the bench,

08:08:09.120 --> 08:08:11.240
and it's very unlikely that that Dracloak

08:08:11.240 --> 08:08:13.580
with the psychic energy will be put under pressure this turn.

08:08:13.580 --> 08:08:16.660
That was a really hard decision for Brent off of the recon directive.

08:08:16.660 --> 08:08:20.200
It's either Lilly's determination or the crushing hammer.

08:08:20.200 --> 08:08:23.700
And this crushing hammer here is so important to hit, unfortunately, for Brent.

08:08:23.700 --> 08:08:25.040
Not going to find the first one.

08:08:25.040 --> 08:08:27.000
Do you believe had a second one?

08:08:27.000 --> 08:08:29.000
Or is that just the special red card here?

08:08:29.000 --> 08:08:30.660
Played to crushing hammer this turn.

08:08:30.660 --> 08:08:32.940
If it went 50-50, it would have gotten its job done.

08:08:32.940 --> 08:08:37.460
But no, double tails in a big time match could turn the tides of battle.

08:08:37.460 --> 08:08:38.840
There is the itchy pollen.

08:08:38.840 --> 08:08:44.520
You can just go on taking a little bit of damage, but more importantly shutting item cards off things like energy switch cannot be used

08:08:44.640 --> 08:08:49.760
Really reliant off having a Crispin and we see that already in Nathan's hand if he chooses to use it

08:08:49.760 --> 08:08:50.880
I mean

08:08:50.880 --> 08:08:56.960
Ethan you got to look at Nathan's hand. It is all Pokemon now granted Nathan does at least have a Crispin

08:08:56.960 --> 08:09:03.520
So double Meowth does not have to come into play just yet here, but look going all the way benching wide here

08:09:03.520 --> 08:09:08.080
Yeah, and benching not just any Pokemon that is enamorous ladies and gentlemen

08:09:08.080 --> 08:09:13.960
You are seeing that correctly on your screen the love for residents such a good attack

08:09:13.960 --> 08:09:18.740
If you can get that Pokemon powered up being able to just take a one hit KO deal

08:09:18.880 --> 08:09:23.080
200 damage on a variety of Pokemon things like me out and of course

08:09:23.320 --> 08:09:28.000
Dragapult EX if you have that Lily's Clefairy in play all on a one prize Pokemon

08:09:28.000 --> 08:09:28.920
It does take three energy

08:09:28.920 --> 08:09:31.380
but being a one-pricer can kind of skew the price

08:09:31.380 --> 08:09:33.100
rate against this Dragon pull deck.

08:09:33.100 --> 08:09:35.220
Part of the big piece that Nathan is missing,

08:09:35.220 --> 08:09:37.180
though, as part of the board, Ethan,

08:09:37.180 --> 08:09:39.260
is that teal mask ogre pawn, right?

08:09:39.260 --> 08:09:42.300
Being able to consistently go through decks through and through,

08:09:42.300 --> 08:09:46.700
but Nathan actually deciding not to power up the Kangascon

08:09:46.700 --> 08:09:49.420
right away doesn't want to fall victim potentially

08:09:49.420 --> 08:09:50.820
to an unfair stand.

08:09:50.820 --> 08:09:53.260
Is this going to be heart sign for the knockout?

08:09:53.260 --> 08:09:55.500
Yeah, just wants to make sure Kangascon is not

08:09:55.500 --> 08:09:57.980
taking the full force of a phantom dive.

08:09:57.980 --> 08:10:02.420
If this active is hit for a knockout, that's going to be great value off this enamorous.

08:10:02.420 --> 08:10:04.440
It only can add one energy committed to it.

08:10:04.440 --> 08:10:05.920
If the mega kangas gone, it's healthy.

08:10:05.920 --> 08:10:10.000
It gets to use Run-Air and for at least two turns, there's going to be plenty of card draw,

08:10:10.000 --> 08:10:11.460
thanks to that festin-dipity on the bench.

08:10:11.460 --> 08:10:13.000
I'd like this approach from the one-pricer.

08:10:13.000 --> 08:10:15.380
We'll have to see how Brent is able to play his turn out.

08:10:15.380 --> 08:10:17.380
Two recon directive at his disposal.

08:10:17.380 --> 08:10:18.880
A third potentially as well.

08:10:18.880 --> 08:10:21.120
We see the ultra ball in hand.

08:10:21.120 --> 08:10:22.800
Does have the fire energy.

08:10:22.800 --> 08:10:24.800
Bosses orders.

08:10:24.800 --> 08:10:28.280
I gotta imagine if Brent can play something like on fair stamp

08:10:28.280 --> 08:10:31.240
as well as bring up a Pokemon like Fesidipity

08:10:31.240 --> 08:10:34.840
while not taking a knockout, activating that ability,

08:10:34.840 --> 08:10:37.240
we could see Nathan in a bit of a precarious situation.

08:10:37.240 --> 08:10:39.600
This is the part of the reason why players either love

08:10:39.600 --> 08:10:42.920
to play against big basic box or love to hate it, right?

08:10:42.920 --> 08:10:46.200
The amount of multi prize knockouts that you have

08:10:46.200 --> 08:10:49.480
that will just be sitting there practically the entire time.

08:10:49.480 --> 08:10:50.920
And unfortunately for Nathan,

08:10:50.920 --> 08:10:52.280
usually this deck is comboed

08:10:52.280 --> 08:10:54.080
not only with that team last gogropon,

08:10:54.080 --> 08:10:57.020
but of course with an area zero under depths as well.

08:10:57.020 --> 08:10:59.800
So the thing is when you're playing so many one ups here,

08:10:59.800 --> 08:11:00.800
here comes that Moultrie,

08:11:00.800 --> 08:11:03.040
sounds about to talk about coming down.

08:11:03.040 --> 08:11:06.600
This could actually be a nice way to kind of scare Nathan off

08:11:06.600 --> 08:11:09.920
of even putting Teal Mask over upon into play.

08:11:09.920 --> 08:11:12.440
Bit of an interesting route for Brent.

08:11:12.440 --> 08:11:13.840
It's going to let his opponent go down

08:11:13.840 --> 08:11:16.960
to four prize cards, but brings up this Moultrie,

08:11:16.960 --> 08:11:20.040
a one prize Pokemon capable of setting Mega Kengis

08:11:20.040 --> 08:11:22.200
gone up for a two hit KO.

08:11:22.200 --> 08:11:23.520
There's the fighting wings.

08:11:23.520 --> 08:11:26.520
I think he's gone just 180 HP left.

08:11:26.520 --> 08:11:29.040
And a pretty solid back line here for Brent.

08:11:29.040 --> 08:11:31.720
Two recon directives, potentially a third.

08:11:31.720 --> 08:11:35.120
And how great does it really feel for Nathan to take a KO,

08:11:35.120 --> 08:11:37.320
be in that unfair stamp range?

08:11:37.320 --> 08:11:39.600
And if you do so, it could be trouble.

08:11:39.600 --> 08:11:43.000
There are so many cards in Nathan's hand,

08:11:43.000 --> 08:11:47.120
and none of them allow him directly to extend the bench,

08:11:47.120 --> 08:11:49.800
which he really needs to do right now.

08:11:49.800 --> 08:11:52.120
He can get the Teal Mask Ogre Pawn in play,

08:11:52.120 --> 08:11:55.720
but there's Multraise ready to go to get those prize cards.

08:11:55.720 --> 08:11:57.960
So it feels like Nathan is really kind of forced

08:11:57.960 --> 08:11:59.960
to attack into this Multraise,

08:11:59.960 --> 08:12:04.000
because of course, if it's not going to be knocked out now,

08:12:04.000 --> 08:12:06.240
I mean, Brent can still kind of manipulate

08:12:06.240 --> 08:12:08.960
the damage around where Dragon Pulti X can come in

08:12:08.960 --> 08:12:11.080
and take a massive amount of prize cards.

08:12:11.080 --> 08:12:12.720
Like you said, at least Fezzendipiti

08:12:12.720 --> 08:12:14.480
is on the bench for next turn,

08:12:14.480 --> 08:12:16.440
but feels like Mega Kangus gone here

08:12:16.440 --> 08:12:18.120
is in a great, great danger.

08:12:18.120 --> 08:12:20.360
Yeah, great spot for Brent, to be honest.

08:12:20.360 --> 08:12:25.000
He is on a two turn clock to potentially close this game out.

08:12:25.000 --> 08:12:27.320
Knockout on mega kengis gun with a phantom dive

08:12:27.320 --> 08:12:31.440
and 120 damage residually thanks to those six damage counters

08:12:31.440 --> 08:12:33.600
would be enough to knock out an amorous

08:12:33.600 --> 08:12:35.240
if you can play a boss's orders.

08:12:35.240 --> 08:12:37.160
It looks like Brent has taken the lead

08:12:37.160 --> 08:12:38.840
even though he's fallen behind.

08:12:38.840 --> 08:12:40.840
Just doesn't feel comfortable if you're Brent.

08:12:40.840 --> 08:12:42.880
And there's no energy on the board either.

08:12:42.880 --> 08:12:44.400
Brent said I do believe there is

08:12:44.400 --> 08:12:47.000
at least a night stretcher within the hand.

08:12:47.000 --> 08:12:48.640
But really, I mean, you look at this board

08:12:48.640 --> 08:12:50.120
and it's just uncomfortable.

08:12:50.120 --> 08:12:51.720
And now, all of a sudden, Brittany

08:12:51.720 --> 08:12:55.080
needs to find a weird mix of a Crispin

08:12:55.080 --> 08:12:58.320
into a Dragapult EX to at least start the prize race.

08:12:58.320 --> 08:12:59.880
But the problem is the rest of the board

08:12:59.880 --> 08:13:01.480
has just not come to yet.

08:13:01.480 --> 08:13:03.480
A Rosa here would be excellent.

08:13:03.480 --> 08:13:05.240
Rosa's encouragement would allow

08:13:05.240 --> 08:13:07.940
too energy to be accelerated to this Dragapult EX

08:13:07.940 --> 08:13:11.560
since he is behind on prizes and allow an extra energy

08:13:11.560 --> 08:13:13.920
card to be put onto one of these Benster Cloak,

08:13:13.920 --> 08:13:16.480
meaning boss's orders could be played on the following turn.

08:13:16.480 --> 08:13:18.000
Has the Rosa in hand?

08:13:18.000 --> 08:13:18.760
Is there an energy?

08:13:18.760 --> 08:13:25.060
There's an unfair stamp. Brent now just needs to find an attachment to one of these three cloak and he'll be in a pretty solid spot

08:13:25.060 --> 08:13:29.060
It's not even just the drag loop that could be the recipient of an energy

08:13:29.140 --> 08:13:33.300
Could also be the monkey Dory and move starting to move some of these damage counters back

08:13:33.300 --> 08:13:36.820
But still I like the idea here of rather being safe than sorry

08:13:37.060 --> 08:13:42.660
Getting this drag look ready to go potentially because one thing that Brent knows about basic bots

08:13:42.660 --> 08:13:48.600
Is that there's always a Lily's clifari waiting in the wings incredible turn for Brent fully powers up a drag

08:13:48.600 --> 08:13:55.080
Dragonpole gets a Bench Drakloak ready and plays on fair stamp to shuffle Nathan's hand as well as his into the deck

08:13:55.240 --> 08:14:03.160
Nathan will only get two cards Brent is going to get five and there is not a mega Kanga scone on Nathan's bench to promote into the active

08:14:03.480 --> 08:14:07.160
Meaning he may at most only be able to see six cards from his deck this term

08:14:07.720 --> 08:14:14.520
The problem is even if Nathan wanted to get set up once again that would require potentially benching another me out

08:14:14.520 --> 08:14:20.480
That is just another piece of food for this Dragonpole to go on ahead and take some more prize cards here

08:14:20.480 --> 08:14:23.000
So Brent I mean moving pretty quickly now

08:14:23.000 --> 08:14:29.520
We went from a board Ethan that really was not comfortable at all to now a board that feels almost like a checkmate if you will

08:14:30.360 --> 08:14:35.340
So we'll see an Amaris put up to just 40 HP remaining

08:14:35.720 --> 08:14:38.240
60 HP rather does have 120 HP and

08:14:38.240 --> 08:14:42.720
and Fezendipity and Lodios impactfully one damage counter on each of those Pokemon.

08:14:42.720 --> 08:14:46.960
I mean that of course always leads into your favorite card to top deck.

08:14:46.960 --> 08:14:48.800
Bosses orders, we've already seen it.

08:14:48.800 --> 08:14:53.600
See what Fezendipity gives here as well, an energy switch, an energy and GMPOW.

08:14:53.600 --> 08:14:57.840
There's another mega tank is gone in the hand at least, but the problem is

08:14:57.840 --> 08:15:03.040
Brent's already sitting one Bosses orders away on multiple Pokemon to get it done, right?

08:15:03.040 --> 08:15:06.320
It already has, like you said, the energy or the damage counters, excuse me,

08:15:06.320 --> 08:15:11.320
on to the Lodios and the Fezendipity, it's really just a choice and if you look at Brent

08:15:11.320 --> 08:15:15.480
kind of already flashing it, he already has it in hand so with no special red card because

08:15:15.480 --> 08:15:20.680
it was already discarded at the beginning of the game, he might just have it in hand.

08:15:20.680 --> 08:15:23.280
We may be flipping coins here ladies and gentlemen.

08:15:23.280 --> 08:15:24.280
Oh boy.

08:15:24.280 --> 08:15:25.560
Kangaskhan is going to draw two cards.

08:15:25.560 --> 08:15:29.620
There's no way to move into another Pokemon with Prime Catcher prize.

08:15:29.620 --> 08:15:32.600
There is a Crispin in hand and I think this is Nathan's best play.

08:15:32.600 --> 08:15:36.560
the Crispin, it's going to allow the energy to be accelerated to Mega Kangascon as well

08:15:36.560 --> 08:15:41.600
as a manual attachment because of that energy switch and we need to flip three heads in

08:15:41.600 --> 08:15:46.360
a row otherwise a boss's orders will close the game out for Brett.

08:15:46.360 --> 08:15:51.840
You know usually when you play Mega Kangascon and you go for this rapid fire combo on CCG

08:15:51.840 --> 08:15:56.520
Live it's usually a buddy that you're usually flipping five heads on and it's never when

08:15:56.520 --> 08:16:00.240
you need it the most on Dragonpole so here we go rapid fire combo.

08:16:00.240 --> 08:16:04.240
immediately does not find it and just going to pick cards up,

08:16:04.240 --> 08:16:06.680
understands the game is a wrap.

08:16:06.680 --> 08:16:10.140
Brent Tonneson in quick fashion, taking game number one.

08:16:10.140 --> 08:16:13.580
And this is the thing with Basis Box, realistically even.

08:16:13.580 --> 08:16:16.920
It has the answer for everything you put in front of it.

08:16:16.920 --> 08:16:19.520
But unfortunately, if you do not start Mega Tank,

08:16:19.520 --> 08:16:23.620
you don't really have the ability to unlock what this deck

08:16:23.620 --> 08:16:25.320
really can't do for you.

08:16:25.320 --> 08:16:27.700
And that's the thing when you leave it up to the wheel

08:16:27.700 --> 08:16:32.620
of chance versus Brent who has consistency already unlocked.

08:16:32.620 --> 08:16:35.940
It's really hard to say if Nathan is going to be able

08:16:35.940 --> 08:16:37.780
to find a way back into this.

08:16:39.220 --> 08:16:41.380
They can take away from that game Brent,

08:16:41.380 --> 08:16:43.980
responding expertly to early pressure,

08:16:43.980 --> 08:16:46.020
even without the help of pressure camera.

08:16:46.020 --> 08:16:48.420
Back at game number one.

08:16:48.420 --> 08:16:49.900
Nathan not starting that mega Kangaskhan

08:16:49.900 --> 08:16:53.260
did get into it and had a couple of cool plays.

08:16:53.260 --> 08:16:55.500
An Amorous deal a little bit of damage,

08:16:55.500 --> 08:17:01.300
but having that one prize Pokemon in play did lead to a nice prize map for Brent, if that game were to complete them.

08:17:01.300 --> 08:17:07.060
And honestly, I love the way that Moltres is not just used as a counter to Teal Mask Ogre Pawn,

08:17:07.060 --> 08:17:14.300
really does set up a ton of Pokemon to fall victim to a bunch of attacks, especially from Dragapult.

08:17:14.300 --> 08:17:22.940
I know that we've seen some cursed blasts over the weekend, but honestly, I love the way that Brent has just kept it simple practically this entire tournament.

08:17:22.940 --> 08:17:27.420
and it has led him to be the first seed in this A-Spectacle top cut for a reason.

08:17:27.420 --> 08:17:29.660
Look at that beautiful crowd out there, Ethan.

08:17:29.660 --> 08:17:31.900
I know some people are hyped to see TCGA.

08:17:33.180 --> 08:17:37.820
Grant Tonneson, one game away from hoisting that Pikachu trophy

08:17:37.820 --> 08:17:43.260
and potentially moving on to an incredibly big match is in his career.

08:17:43.260 --> 08:17:45.020
Price cards will go out.

08:17:45.020 --> 08:17:48.300
Most likely C going first yet again for Nathan.

08:17:48.300 --> 08:17:49.340
And that's the choice.

08:17:49.340 --> 08:17:52.220
Nathan decided to go first in this game rather than second.

08:17:52.220 --> 08:17:55.020
Just do a little bit more if he has that mega-kangis on him.

08:17:55.020 --> 08:17:57.580
We're ready to hop into game number two,

08:17:57.580 --> 08:18:00.940
and Bill, one of the worst starters in the deck for Nathan,

08:18:00.940 --> 08:18:03.340
it's gonna be that Iron Leaves EX.

08:18:03.340 --> 08:18:05.420
And the draw for turn didn't help him.

08:18:05.420 --> 08:18:07.020
There is nothing in his hand.

08:18:07.020 --> 08:18:08.300
Just an attached pass.

08:18:08.300 --> 08:18:10.380
No supporters for the following turn either.

08:18:11.180 --> 08:18:13.740
And Brent is sitting on at least a solid hand.

08:18:13.740 --> 08:18:15.900
Stadium plus Lilly's determination

08:18:15.900 --> 08:18:18.380
can start to at least funnel through the deck a bit.

08:18:18.380 --> 08:18:23.900
Look at the way that Brent is really weighing every single option that he has.

08:18:23.900 --> 08:18:27.820
Even really thinking about putting down the risky ruins as well,

08:18:27.820 --> 08:18:31.420
doesn't want to have too much damage on his side of the board.

08:18:31.420 --> 08:18:33.900
But when your opponent opens, like you said,

08:18:33.900 --> 08:18:38.620
quite possibly the worst starter in the deck to begin this match with.

08:18:38.620 --> 08:18:43.340
And then nothing else, you've got to feel like it's a little bit safer than not

08:18:43.340 --> 08:18:46.060
to just put a stadium in play.

08:18:46.060 --> 08:18:50.100
So big eight cards for Brent, but as we've been talking about this entire time

08:18:50.500 --> 08:18:55.300
How often with a very consistent list you miss something like a buddy buddy pop it

08:18:55.540 --> 08:18:59.820
We'll have to see off of these eight cards as Brent gets set up through this game

08:18:59.820 --> 08:19:07.740
Do have an update from out in the field Diego Casiraga joins the other two players as the third top four player

08:19:07.740 --> 08:19:15.900
So the winner of this match will join Diego along with Henry and Andrew as our four quarter semi finalists

08:19:16.060 --> 08:19:20.540
does find the buddy buddy puff in that's gonna allow two more tree be to come into play and there's

08:19:20.540 --> 08:19:28.140
additionally but do plus an energy and itchy pollen is going to stay nothing else hurts more than if

08:19:28.140 --> 08:19:33.180
Nathan were to draw something like an ultra ball to get himself out of this mess by finding me

08:19:33.180 --> 08:19:37.420
out not being able to do it and the worst part is looking at Nathan's hand even there's not

08:19:37.420 --> 08:19:42.300
even a grass energy to at least start powering up this iron leaves so now Brent's is going

08:19:42.300 --> 08:19:46.580
going to have a ton of time looking at Brent's prizes. Nothing too sorely missed

08:19:46.580 --> 08:19:51.100
here. Of course, not having full access to all of your dragopult line must hurt

08:19:51.100 --> 08:19:55.600
in one crushing hammer. But the rest of it right the aspect unfair stamp is still

08:19:55.600 --> 08:19:59.900
absolutely online. And now Brent honestly just has his way, whichever way he

08:19:59.900 --> 08:20:00.340
wants it.

08:20:01.900 --> 08:20:06.060
Interesting to see Brent choose to not grab the do out of the deck would

08:20:06.060 --> 08:20:11.540
technically thin a card even though he has one in his hand. May signal just

08:20:11.540 --> 08:20:14.340
trying to commit energy to the Bench Pokemon, but no.

08:20:14.340 --> 08:20:16.740
Will play the Badoo down from his hand instead.

08:20:16.740 --> 08:20:18.780
Two damage counters from the risky ruins,

08:20:18.780 --> 08:20:21.180
as well as the energy going to this card pile,

08:20:21.180 --> 08:20:23.380
thanks to that one retreat cost,

08:20:23.380 --> 08:20:26.140
and Ichi Pallant immediately putting on the pressure

08:20:26.140 --> 08:20:27.100
on turn number one.

08:20:27.100 --> 08:20:28.820
And then going into Brent's second turn,

08:20:28.820 --> 08:20:31.420
already has Ultra Ball and another Lily's in hand,

08:20:31.420 --> 08:20:33.860
but draws the Mega Tank is gone.

08:20:33.860 --> 08:20:37.220
So now here we go, finally able to find the Stadium Bump,

08:20:37.220 --> 08:20:40.220
and going into Mega Tank is gone to draw some cards.

08:20:40.220 --> 08:20:47.220
would actually need to find Cyrano or something to get at least basic Pokemon out of the deck

08:20:47.220 --> 08:20:51.220
onto the bench, but at least having Megacangus gone at this point.

08:20:51.220 --> 08:20:54.220
You're one Crispin away from starting to take some prize cards.

08:20:54.220 --> 08:20:59.220
There is no Crispin in sight, Emily. There is nothing but energies and items that cannot be played

08:20:59.220 --> 08:21:04.220
and immediately Brent's starting off with an Evolution, an Attachment, and a Lily's Determination.

08:21:04.220 --> 08:21:07.220
And while prize cards have not been taken, while Megacangus gone is in play,

08:21:07.220 --> 08:21:14.060
The clock is slowly ticking and Brent is going to be able to confidently fire off a phantom dive on the following turn

08:21:14.060 --> 08:21:21.300
It's not even just that Ethan is that Brent can also go in and once again pull this Moltres play as well

08:21:21.300 --> 08:21:28.420
There's plenty of ways to get this mega King has gone damage within the next couple of turns to really start setting up

08:21:28.420 --> 08:21:34.300
The point where Nathan would have an opportunity to fire back, but it would just be too late and quite frankly Ethan

08:21:34.300 --> 08:21:37.120
looking at the board seat right now.

08:21:37.120 --> 08:21:38.860
If there's more drag loops in play

08:21:38.860 --> 08:21:39.740
as they were just drawn,

08:21:39.740 --> 08:21:42.260
it's starting to feel that way already.

08:21:42.260 --> 08:21:45.100
Recon directive finds a Crispin.

08:21:45.100 --> 08:21:46.500
That will be an excellent supporter

08:21:46.500 --> 08:21:48.700
for the following turns.

08:21:48.700 --> 08:21:50.220
Unfair stamp.

08:21:50.220 --> 08:21:52.700
I am not quite, it looks like Dragapult EX

08:21:52.700 --> 08:21:54.140
so has that for the following turn

08:21:54.140 --> 08:21:56.620
and an Ultra ball which can find the third

08:21:56.620 --> 08:21:58.820
trickloak, a perfect turn two,

08:21:58.820 --> 08:22:00.500
followed from that turn one.

08:22:00.500 --> 08:22:02.620
Brent is absolutely in the driver's seat.

08:22:02.620 --> 08:22:13.900
Consistency is king Ethan and that is exactly what Brent has done with this list either just naturally drawing into drag cloaks or being able to get into the drag cloaks with things like

08:22:13.900 --> 08:22:23.500
Ultravault. You can't ask for anything else. You already have one energy attached onto the board here and now you're going to have your whole entire engine online for as long as you choose.

08:22:23.500 --> 08:22:30.620
There's the fire energy if he wants it. Does also have another pokey pad I believe but you just got to take the fire in those moments.

08:22:30.620 --> 08:22:33.860
Don't have to tunnel into Kristen for the following turn.

08:22:33.860 --> 08:22:34.900
Guarantee that attachment.

08:22:34.900 --> 08:22:36.580
Recon directive number three.

08:22:36.580 --> 08:22:38.100
And if you're in Nathan's shoes,

08:22:38.100 --> 08:22:39.540
you have to just be shaking your head.

08:22:39.540 --> 08:22:42.100
Everything so far has gone wrong for you

08:22:42.100 --> 08:22:44.020
and everything has gone right for Brent.

08:22:44.020 --> 08:22:46.140
He's got to stay composed and got to try to think

08:22:46.140 --> 08:22:48.380
about how to get out of the situation.

08:22:48.380 --> 08:22:49.780
It's so strangely enough

08:22:49.780 --> 08:22:51.460
that the perfect combinations of fards

08:22:51.460 --> 08:22:53.660
wouldn't even help Nathan at this point.

08:22:53.660 --> 08:22:55.580
I do believe what was just drawn,

08:22:55.580 --> 08:22:58.220
was that a cipher maniacs code breaking?

08:22:58.220 --> 08:22:59.860
So this is one of the ways

08:22:59.860 --> 08:23:03.440
that Nathan could at least start getting set up a little bit more.

08:23:03.440 --> 08:23:07.340
You're able to use that to manipulate the top two cards of the deck.

08:23:07.340 --> 08:23:09.180
A lot of y'all's drawn is pretty good,

08:23:09.180 --> 08:23:12.780
but I think what Nathan is more so happy about

08:23:12.780 --> 08:23:14.220
is drawing into that Crispin.

08:23:14.220 --> 08:23:15.920
At least there's an attack online.

08:23:15.920 --> 08:23:18.420
Yeah, just such a rough spot to use Cypher Maniac.

08:23:18.420 --> 08:23:20.920
You use your supporter and you're not attacking.

08:23:20.920 --> 08:23:23.260
Crispin found definitely a big deal.

08:23:23.260 --> 08:23:25.860
Meka Kengisgan can start to get in there,

08:23:25.860 --> 08:23:28.100
swing, take some prizes.

08:23:28.100 --> 08:23:29.660
Try and run away with this game.

08:23:29.660 --> 08:23:32.820
see the water energy brought to the front, as well as the grass energy.

08:23:32.820 --> 08:23:36.760
Are you considering what energy to prioritize? Of course, those psychic energy

08:23:36.760 --> 08:23:40.200
have to be your number one priority, because of how important Lily's Clefairy is.

08:23:40.200 --> 08:23:43.960
The thing is, you want to keep them in the deck as long as possible, too.

08:23:43.960 --> 08:23:47.960
Just because BUDDU can always come back and lock those energies into place,

08:23:47.960 --> 08:23:50.240
and then you wouldn't be able to use something like an energy switch

08:23:50.240 --> 08:23:52.600
to get them onto your Lily's Clefairy here.

08:23:52.600 --> 08:23:56.720
And the thing is, what's so unfortunate about these two energy in particular

08:23:56.720 --> 08:24:00.480
being chosen is the fact that we're never going to see the main users of said

08:24:00.480 --> 08:24:05.320
energies. We haven't seen even a teal dance this match, Ethan. So it's looking

08:24:05.320 --> 08:24:09.020
so unfortunate for Nathan right now. At least he'll get some prize cards going,

08:24:09.020 --> 08:24:11.400
but the question is, what does he do next?

08:24:11.400 --> 08:24:15.320
Yeah, it's been so tough. He's had half of his teal mask overpon in the prizes

08:24:15.320 --> 08:24:19.080
each game. It's hard to find those cards if you're not using a supporter

08:24:19.080 --> 08:24:23.920
like Cyrano. So here we go. Knocked out taken on Bidu with that rapid fire

08:24:23.920 --> 08:24:29.860
combo Brent already guaranteed to fire off a phantom dive this turn everything else is just a cherry on top

08:24:30.080 --> 08:24:34.700
Just wants to use that unfair sample. Look at what the recon directed just gave Brent

08:24:34.700 --> 08:24:40.360
It's just like a nice little present for you on top if you would like to bench that sensitivity and why not at this point?

08:24:40.360 --> 08:24:42.560
You're so far ahead cards down cards down

08:24:44.160 --> 08:24:48.640
Everything's under control here. Listen. There's a lot of pressure on these top eight matches, right?

08:24:48.640 --> 08:24:56.560
There's a lot of shaky hands. It's okay. Take a deep breath three more cards though as you had mentioned even more

08:24:56.560 --> 08:25:01.400
I mean the deck is completely unlocked dare I say I mean you have three drak cloaks

08:25:01.400 --> 08:25:07.720
Three con directive you can fire off and attack this turn and if the unfair stamp is in hand like I think you did say

08:25:09.160 --> 08:25:15.380
Yeah, looks like a dragapult EX sometimes the side border can look like an unfair stamp

08:25:15.380 --> 08:25:19.380
It is not available for the time being, but doesn't even necessarily need it.

08:25:19.380 --> 08:25:22.380
Great when you pair it with a KO, of course.

08:25:22.380 --> 08:25:26.380
You do allow your opponent to use Fezantipity, but Fezantipity is not down in this spot.

08:25:26.380 --> 08:25:28.380
You see the stadium bump from the risky ruins.

08:25:28.380 --> 08:25:32.380
That means the bench is now down to just five Pokemon for both players.

08:25:32.380 --> 08:25:36.380
Kudori comes into play. Two damage counters, thanks to the risky ruins.

08:25:36.380 --> 08:25:40.380
We are going to see Phantom Dive powered up on top of a Crispin.

08:25:40.380 --> 08:25:43.380
Excellent to make sure we can fire off consecutive attacks.

08:25:43.380 --> 08:25:45.560
exactly what Brent wants to see as well.

08:25:45.560 --> 08:25:47.360
He is one boss's orders away,

08:25:47.360 --> 08:25:50.120
next turn from finding five prize cards, right?

08:25:50.120 --> 08:25:52.360
Laudios is always going to be a recipient

08:25:52.360 --> 08:25:55.820
of at least one damage counter from a Phantom Dive,

08:25:55.820 --> 08:25:58.320
that is true, but also this Iron Leaves EX

08:25:58.320 --> 08:26:00.080
doesn't have enough damage counters

08:26:00.080 --> 08:26:02.120
or it doesn't have enough health, excuse me,

08:26:02.120 --> 08:26:05.680
to survive a Phantom Dive of its own either.

08:26:05.680 --> 08:26:09.440
So while Brent now gets to kind of get things set up,

08:26:09.440 --> 08:26:11.440
does have a little bit of damage counters to play with

08:26:11.440 --> 08:26:13.360
on the following turns as well here.

08:26:13.360 --> 08:26:15.080
So there it is moving.

08:26:15.080 --> 08:26:18.040
He can't move these two damage counters over to Ladias.

08:26:18.040 --> 08:26:20.520
We'll most likely see it onto the mecha-kangaskhan

08:26:20.520 --> 08:26:24.440
by hitting for 200 damage to the active spot,

08:26:24.440 --> 08:26:26.800
plus the 20 this turn from Adrenal Brain.

08:26:26.800 --> 08:26:29.120
It will bring this kangaskhan to 230,

08:26:29.120 --> 08:26:31.600
meaning an Adrenal Brain plus boss on the following turn

08:26:31.600 --> 08:26:34.480
will be able to take it out with that residual damage.

08:26:34.480 --> 08:26:35.320
There it is.

08:26:35.320 --> 08:26:36.160
Adrenal Brain to the active.

08:26:36.160 --> 08:26:38.840
Phantom die for 200, brings this kangaskhan

08:26:38.840 --> 08:26:41.000
to just 70 HP remaining.

08:26:41.000 --> 08:26:42.800
One damage counter for sure on the Ladias.

08:26:42.800 --> 08:26:45.720
and that Iron Leaves now also gonna be in range of being KOed.

08:26:45.720 --> 08:26:47.960
Many players at this moment would probably try

08:26:47.960 --> 08:26:50.800
and get into their Lily's Clefairy as quickly as possible

08:26:50.800 --> 08:26:52.360
and take out the looming thread,

08:26:52.360 --> 08:26:54.200
but unfortunately Lily's Clefairy DX

08:26:54.200 --> 08:26:57.320
has really low hit points into a deck like Dragapult.

08:26:57.320 --> 08:26:59.000
So while yes, you would have essentially

08:26:59.000 --> 08:27:01.680
a one hit knockout onto the Dragapult DX

08:27:01.680 --> 08:27:03.880
thanks to Fairy Zone, the problem is

08:27:03.880 --> 08:27:06.060
that's not really gonna stop this five prize turn

08:27:06.060 --> 08:27:08.200
from essentially happening at this point.

08:27:08.200 --> 08:27:10.040
So now it's up to Nathan to either get this

08:27:10.040 --> 08:27:15.440
megacangaskon out of play or try to find a way to get another attacker that's

08:27:15.440 --> 08:27:22.560
could potentially survive a phantom dive. There is the ultra ball, see energy in

08:27:22.560 --> 08:27:27.680
switch in hand for Nathan. Did not decide to put a psychic energy on that

08:27:27.680 --> 08:27:32.320
megacangaskon so as it stands we cannot see an attack from Lily's

08:27:32.320 --> 08:27:36.060
Clefairy unless the Cypher Maniac grabs pieces. So there is the Cypher

08:27:36.060 --> 08:27:39.580
Maniac will grab the psychic energy as well as another

08:27:40.300 --> 08:27:43.740
Excuse me any card from the deck looks like Fezendipity

08:27:44.140 --> 08:27:48.700
Sorry the Clefairy in hand so can at least use that flip the script ability to draw a few cards

08:27:49.260 --> 08:27:56.300
The 20 damage from risky ruins honestly not that impactful on Clefairy definitely could be on some of these other Pokemon as it stands

08:27:56.540 --> 08:27:59.180
It looks like the price map is pretty clear for Brent to close this game out

08:27:59.340 --> 08:28:05.660
Yeah, that's the problem with this deck into a deck like Dragonbolt. Well, yes, it does have the answer

08:28:06.060 --> 08:28:09.740
If you're not the one who has multiple attackers ready to go,

08:28:09.740 --> 08:28:12.500
you can go up two prize cards or a prize card.

08:28:12.500 --> 08:28:13.500
That's fine.

08:28:13.500 --> 08:28:16.140
You don't want this Mechakangus gone at any point,

08:28:16.140 --> 08:28:18.700
taking such a big hit of damage here.

08:28:18.700 --> 08:28:22.260
So this Mulspring Mask Ogrebon is going to come into play.

08:28:22.260 --> 08:28:25.100
Okay, we can fire off and attack this turn.

08:28:25.100 --> 08:28:28.860
Double energy switch in the hand, flip the script.

08:28:28.860 --> 08:28:31.220
We'll see Double for Cloak go down

08:28:31.220 --> 08:28:33.140
thanks to a torrential pump

08:28:33.140 --> 08:28:35.340
in combination with Prime Catcher.

08:28:35.340 --> 08:28:39.260
100 damage to the active, 120 to the bench,

08:28:39.260 --> 08:28:41.580
and all of a sudden with no treat me in play,

08:28:41.580 --> 08:28:43.980
if Dragapult EX goes down on the following turn,

08:28:43.980 --> 08:28:45.700
there's no backup attacker.

08:28:45.700 --> 08:28:48.780
This wellspring mask Ogre Pond would go down next turn,

08:28:48.780 --> 08:28:51.900
but the thing is if Brent already has boss's orders in him,

08:28:51.900 --> 08:28:54.860
this is going to be a ton of damage sent back over.

08:28:54.860 --> 08:28:57.700
This Monkey Dory still does have two damage counters

08:28:57.700 --> 08:29:00.860
to work with, and as I look with Brent's list,

08:29:00.860 --> 08:29:03.300
if he is able to find another Monkey Dory

08:29:03.300 --> 08:29:08.100
and get that set up. Double Adrenaline could spell a ton of trouble for Nathan.

08:29:09.500 --> 08:29:13.300
Just considering which Pokémon to promote into the active spot,

08:29:14.700 --> 08:29:16.100
would it be the Monkey Dory?

08:29:16.900 --> 08:29:19.700
Now just kind of deciding how to approach this turn.

08:29:19.700 --> 08:29:22.500
See, of course, the deck shuffled. Two prize cards taken for Nathan.

08:29:23.100 --> 08:29:25.500
What does the hand look like? Starting off with a Poképad.

08:29:26.500 --> 08:29:29.900
I was able to find another Pokémon. It is the Monkey Dory.

08:29:29.900 --> 08:29:36.460
As it stands, the fourth Treepy is in the prize cards for Brent, so cannot even establish

08:29:36.460 --> 08:29:39.540
another one unless he can find a night stretch of this turn.

08:29:39.540 --> 08:29:44.260
But honestly, I'm looking at the board, Ethan, and is there not a five prize turn that is

08:29:44.260 --> 08:29:48.620
potentially lined up at this point with the second Monkey Dory being grabbed and moving

08:29:48.620 --> 08:29:52.380
at both damage counters over before Brett were to retreat?

08:29:52.380 --> 08:29:53.540
The five is guaranteed.

08:29:53.540 --> 08:29:56.260
The issue comes down to that final prize card.

08:29:56.260 --> 08:29:58.900
Willy's Clefairy taking a KO on Dragapult

08:29:58.900 --> 08:30:03.020
means there's no backup attacker to take that last prize.

08:30:03.020 --> 08:30:05.020
And with Nathan going down to just one prize card,

08:30:05.020 --> 08:30:06.620
he'll be up boss's orders away.

08:30:06.620 --> 08:30:08.620
Brent has to try and play through this scenario

08:30:08.620 --> 08:30:10.180
to figure out how he's going to win.

08:30:10.180 --> 08:30:11.780
And this makes sense.

08:30:11.780 --> 08:30:14.260
Start to put damage counters onto Pokemon,

08:30:14.260 --> 08:30:16.900
retreat off, keep the Dragapult up,

08:30:16.900 --> 08:30:20.420
and see if maybe Moltres can take that final prize.

08:30:20.420 --> 08:30:22.460
Definitely getting tricky for Brent here,

08:30:22.460 --> 08:30:23.560
moving the damage counters.

08:30:23.560 --> 08:30:26.520
Like you said, I love how he's just moving one,

08:30:26.520 --> 08:30:28.620
I think just keeping the damage on the board

08:30:28.620 --> 08:30:30.380
as closely as possible here,

08:30:30.380 --> 08:30:31.960
but that is going to be one damage counter

08:30:31.960 --> 08:30:33.340
moved over to mega Kangascon.

08:30:33.340 --> 08:30:35.240
You know that that Phantom dive

08:30:35.240 --> 08:30:38.280
is going to take five prizes, like you said.

08:30:38.280 --> 08:30:41.180
And the game is lined up on the following turn.

08:30:41.180 --> 08:30:43.600
We cannot forget, Iron Leaves is in play,

08:30:43.600 --> 08:30:46.560
weak to fire, getting one hit KO'd,

08:30:46.560 --> 08:30:48.720
we'll see the Multras preemptively benched.

08:30:48.720 --> 08:30:51.920
Nathan cannot deal with both threats at the same time,

08:30:51.920 --> 08:30:54.560
meaning Boss's orders closes either game out.

08:30:54.560 --> 08:30:56.480
We'll see the Boss play preemptively

08:30:56.480 --> 08:30:59.200
to take out the Fezendipity, shut off that draw,

08:30:59.200 --> 08:31:01.520
combined with the special red card,

08:31:01.520 --> 08:31:03.860
and Nathan's large hand now going to the bottom

08:31:03.860 --> 08:31:05.360
will only get three cards.

08:31:05.360 --> 08:31:08.640
I mean, this is every single draw engine offline

08:31:08.640 --> 08:31:09.600
in one turn.

08:31:09.600 --> 08:31:12.000
Both Fezendipity and Megacangus gone

08:31:12.000 --> 08:31:15.080
would be about what Nathan drew into here,

08:31:15.080 --> 08:31:16.560
but as you mentioned, Ethan,

08:31:16.560 --> 08:31:19.520
Checkmate is technically on a board for Brent

08:31:19.520 --> 08:31:21.280
and multiple Checkmates, right?

08:31:21.280 --> 08:31:24.880
So the energy does find a mega Kangas gun at least.

08:31:24.880 --> 08:31:26.960
Yeah, but there's nothing else in this hand.

08:31:26.960 --> 08:31:29.480
It's going to have to promote the mega Kangas gun

08:31:29.480 --> 08:31:30.720
to use run errand.

08:31:30.720 --> 08:31:32.640
But that means there's no way to switch

08:31:32.640 --> 08:31:34.360
into Lily's Clefairy of this turn.

08:31:34.360 --> 08:31:35.440
Two cards drawn.

08:31:35.440 --> 08:31:37.000
There's no help at all.

08:31:37.000 --> 08:31:38.320
Fezendipity is gone.

08:31:38.320 --> 08:31:41.320
The Serrano cannot find any Pokemon of help.

08:31:41.320 --> 08:31:43.520
And it seems that all the walls are shutting.

08:31:43.520 --> 08:31:45.560
He'll do what he can, search through the deck.

08:31:45.560 --> 08:31:47.680
But it seems the inevitable is coming.

08:31:47.680 --> 08:31:49.960
If Serrano actually were to look out

08:31:49.960 --> 08:31:57.240
Any three Pokemon could find a way to potentially bench them all right and then get rid of the area zero underdebs

08:31:57.240 --> 08:32:02.600
Thus getting the iron leaves out of play here because it seems like Brent can finish it off not only with draggable

08:32:02.600 --> 08:32:05.440
But it with Maltres it wouldn't matter with what though

08:32:05.440 --> 08:32:11.240
It wouldn't matter bosses orders can take out two different Pokemon this turn if the meow comes down to fill the bench up

08:32:11.240 --> 08:32:13.240
It seems that there's an option either way

08:32:13.720 --> 08:32:19.000
Brent has essentially set himself up to secure a spot in top four. We'll see what Nathan can do

08:32:19.960 --> 08:32:24.220
Question is the rest of the hand at this point already has retreated as well

08:32:24.620 --> 08:32:28.640
So we just have to be an attachment and just hope that Brent doesn't have boss

08:32:29.640 --> 08:32:35.640
Bosses orders chaos the bench EX well spring mask overpond and Brent

08:32:35.880 --> 08:32:44.960
Tonneson advances as our final top four member. I mean even consistency is king through and through and Brent is number one seed

08:32:44.960 --> 08:32:50.900
for a reason finding a way through all of these tricky matchups and this big

08:32:50.900 --> 08:32:56.180
basic box I feel like on stream we never get to see its power unfolds clearly

08:32:56.180 --> 08:33:00.480
it's good enough to make it to top eight it's just that when you play so many

08:33:00.480 --> 08:33:06.680
one-offs the chance of breaking is way too high for the stack absolutely

08:33:06.680 --> 08:33:09.940
well-deserved for both players congratulations of course of course

08:33:09.940 --> 08:33:15.540
and Nathan for making it to the top eight, what a hard fought match and what an excellently piloted

08:33:15.540 --> 08:33:20.820
match from Brent as we look back on how that set played out. I mean this was the matchup of a

08:33:20.820 --> 08:33:26.900
lifetime really when you think about it. There are several ways for big basic box to destroy

08:33:26.900 --> 08:33:32.900
Dragapult. Has Lillie Slaffari, has Wellspring Mask Ogre Pawn but the problem is Nathan had to

08:33:32.900 --> 08:33:37.540
work for that optimal start both times and even in the second time there was no chance of

08:33:37.540 --> 08:33:42.980
getting an optimal smart. But it goes back to what Brett does best and it's his deck building.

08:33:42.980 --> 08:33:48.980
Many moons ago he built that amazing Gardevoir EX deck that had tons of results and now here he is

08:33:48.980 --> 08:33:55.300
on Dragapult essentially repeating the same thing. Consistency is king no other way to put it.

08:33:56.180 --> 08:34:02.340
What a set we haven't even seen that Lilith's Clifari attack once. Now that is very uncharacteristic

08:34:02.340 --> 08:34:06.740
for how this matchup tends to go. Nathan just on the bad side of the coin today

08:34:07.540 --> 08:34:12.260
and able to find the pieces necessary, and Brent set this up masterfully.

08:34:12.260 --> 08:34:16.500
Voltra has to take the final KO, even after Nathan Turner, both for Cloak,

08:34:16.500 --> 08:34:20.740
it seemed that no matter what twists and turns and what problems were thrown at Brent,

08:34:20.740 --> 08:34:24.180
he was able to respond and the bosses' orders sealed the deal.

08:34:24.180 --> 08:34:29.380
Brent Tonneson is just two matches away from advancing to become a world champion.

08:34:29.380 --> 08:34:34.100
It is so exciting to see Brent up there, and we've been talking about it this entire weekend

08:34:34.100 --> 08:34:39.220
that Brent is a friend to many, many people and many, many regions and I know tons of people

08:34:39.220 --> 08:34:44.580
are so stoked to see him up there with Dragapult of course. I think a lot of players were a little

08:34:44.580 --> 08:34:50.340
bit nervous about playing Dragapult and then you know it's just what's good is good right. I mean

08:34:50.340 --> 08:34:53.620
you don't have to get too tricky with it as long as you're good with the best deck in the

08:34:53.620 --> 08:35:00.660
room. I mean what can't you do? Brent is now the recipient of a Pikachu trophy and maybe

08:35:00.660 --> 08:35:05.060
much more to come. Let's throw it down and hear from our latest semifinalists.

08:35:07.460 --> 08:35:14.940
Our latest semifinalists, Brent Tonneson has blessed us with another cracking game

08:35:14.940 --> 08:35:18.220
against all odds. How are we feeling advancing to top four?

08:35:18.700 --> 08:35:24.700
I feel surreal. Yeah, I mean, it does feel like bad to be someone who's a

08:35:24.700 --> 08:35:30.260
friend and one of my locals. Yeah, I think the fun fact was he beat me in

08:35:30.260 --> 08:35:34.260
he was like trying to get his

08:35:34.360 --> 08:35:36.260
invite for the first time. And

08:35:36.360 --> 08:35:37.260
now he's playing a top eight of

08:35:37.360 --> 08:35:39.260
the world. Against a friend

08:35:39.360 --> 08:35:41.260
someone who's probably helped

08:35:41.360 --> 08:35:42.260
about a lot at league and kind

08:35:42.360 --> 08:35:44.260
of in that social scenario, I

08:35:44.360 --> 08:35:46.260
imagine as well. Yeah, we

08:35:46.360 --> 08:35:48.260
definitely talk sometimes. We

08:35:48.360 --> 08:35:49.260
definitely had some discussions

08:35:49.360 --> 08:35:51.260
on things. I think he I was

08:35:51.360 --> 08:35:52.260
one of the players who told me

08:35:52.360 --> 08:35:53.260
they should stick with both to

08:35:53.360 --> 08:35:55.260
play it for this event. Wow,

08:35:55.360 --> 08:35:57.260
that is an amazing tip bit. So

08:35:57.360 --> 08:35:59.260
going up against that matchup,

08:35:59.260 --> 08:36:03.400
that matchup how did you approach it in your head when you knew that this was

08:36:03.400 --> 08:36:10.480
going to be your matchup? Well in the matchup, generally if you attack at 6-5 or

08:36:10.480 --> 08:36:14.780
when they're at 5 prize cards and you're still at 6 as Dragaport, you're usually in

08:36:14.780 --> 08:36:17.620
a pretty good position but they do have a lot of openings where they can be

08:36:17.620 --> 08:36:23.180
very aggressive. I think I did not exactly get that in game one but it

08:36:23.180 --> 08:36:26.140
start wasn't strong enough that I was able to stall a turn later and

08:36:26.140 --> 08:36:27.740
and that convert into a win.

08:36:27.740 --> 08:36:29.580
Oh, we love to hear it.

08:36:29.580 --> 08:36:34.580
That is genuinely a phenomenal story from yourself

08:36:34.580 --> 08:36:36.420
and of course your opponent.

08:36:36.420 --> 08:36:38.500
Thank you so much for joining us once again.

08:36:38.500 --> 08:36:40.580
I'll leave you to it so you can prepare

08:36:40.580 --> 08:36:45.420
because it is going to be a wild ride later on

08:36:45.420 --> 08:36:47.660
when we get to see you once again in top four.

08:36:47.660 --> 08:36:49.980
But in the meantime, any quick shoutouts

08:36:49.980 --> 08:36:51.260
before I let you off?

08:36:51.260 --> 08:36:53.380
Well, I have to shout out my sponsor PSA

08:36:53.380 --> 08:36:54.900
and I guess all my friends and family

08:36:54.900 --> 08:37:00.100
supporting it. Thank you so very much. We're going to jump over to Pablo Cpie as any final thoughts

08:37:00.100 --> 08:37:10.500
for us on that one. Thank you so much, Amy. Great to hear from Brent, the world traveler as he is

08:37:10.500 --> 08:37:16.100
known. Really cool to see him achieve success at the world championships. I think he's won

08:37:16.100 --> 08:37:20.900
plenty of regionals. He's done pretty well at internationals. He had a very good season,

08:37:20.900 --> 08:37:30.700
perhaps not one up to his usual standard, but here he is closing out the 2026 season with the cherry on top

08:37:31.300 --> 08:37:35.100
advancing onto top four and honestly in very dominating fashion

08:37:35.260 --> 08:37:40.420
the the games were very straightforward. It was Dragonbolt attacking over and over and

08:37:40.940 --> 08:37:41.980
the

08:37:41.980 --> 08:37:47.300
the threat of the Anamaris combined with the Clefairy is something that he always had to keep in mind

08:37:47.300 --> 08:37:53.940
But this energy switch play probably gave Brent a big sigh of relief because that meant there was no

08:37:54.060 --> 08:37:58.120
Lilith Clefairy showing up. We actually didn't see any Lilith Clefairy throughout both games

08:37:58.120 --> 08:38:04.700
We didn't see any Teal Mask overpon, so Nathan's deck probably not working to its full list potential

08:38:04.700 --> 08:38:07.060
in this particular round, which of course

08:38:07.460 --> 08:38:13.620
these cards, the Anamaris and Lilith Clefairy, the Teal Mask to provide energy acceleration and draw power

08:38:13.660 --> 08:38:16.460
They are all very important key

08:38:17.300 --> 08:38:23.820
things from Nathan's deck but it just wasn't available to him and that means when you're

08:38:23.820 --> 08:38:28.820
not applying any sort of pressure to Dragapult it's definitely going to take over the game.

08:38:28.820 --> 08:38:34.640
We saw even the crushing hammers were pretty mild, they were very unimpactful, Nathan barely

08:38:34.640 --> 08:38:39.340
managed to have attackers powered up and as soon as he didn't flip three heads in a

08:38:39.340 --> 08:38:44.320
row to take down this Dragapult DX he just immediately said you know what let's go

08:38:44.320 --> 08:38:49.680
to a second game and the second game was a little bit better for him. We pulled off this really cool

08:38:49.680 --> 08:38:54.320
play with a double energy switch into the well spring overpond combined with the prime catcher,

08:38:54.320 --> 08:39:00.480
so a very aggressive move but perhaps just a little too late. Brent had already attacked

08:39:00.480 --> 08:39:05.680
once with Phantom Dive. You want to be pulling this off to delay any potential Dragapult attacks

08:39:05.680 --> 08:39:11.040
but even though you leave Brent with no dripping play, a single Dragapult as well

08:39:11.040 --> 08:39:18.400
that hopefully can be dealt by Lillie's Claffery, once again never showed up and at that point

08:39:18.400 --> 08:39:24.240
it was too little too late. The super aggressive deck wasn't able to be aggressive enough to slow

08:39:24.240 --> 08:39:30.800
down Dragapult's reign of terror and we have Dragapult played by Brent Henderson advancing

08:39:30.800 --> 08:39:38.000
into the top four. Really impressive run by Brent so far, I don't know what it's gonna take

08:39:38.000 --> 08:39:44.960
to stop him here at this world championship. We have two more matches to go today. Both

08:39:44.960 --> 08:39:51.680
semifinals will be live streamed right here and so we do have our casters ready to go.

08:39:51.680 --> 08:39:53.680
Ross and Joe, take it away.

08:40:51.680 --> 08:41:09.040
I'm a little bit excited about Pit Lovely X there and the energy acceleration I'm

08:41:09.040 --> 08:41:13.040
thinking pull off in Pokemon pocket, but that is going to have to wait until we figure

08:41:13.040 --> 08:41:19.920
out our finalist here at the Pokemon trading card game World Championship 2026 in San Francisco.

08:41:19.920 --> 08:41:22.000
Two top four games we have to show you.

08:41:22.000 --> 08:41:24.400
The winners of those two games will be facing off

08:41:24.400 --> 08:41:25.880
in the Chase Center tomorrow

08:41:25.880 --> 08:41:28.360
to determine our world champion.

08:41:28.360 --> 08:41:29.880
And we're gonna start you off with my Wii.

08:41:29.880 --> 08:41:33.120
I mean, my South Ross and the lovely Joe Bernard-Joes.

08:41:33.120 --> 08:41:34.600
What's got your height this weekend?

08:41:34.600 --> 08:41:36.200
Oh my God, there's so much to choose from.

08:41:36.200 --> 08:41:37.640
There's so much, Ross,

08:41:37.640 --> 08:41:39.240
and there's still two more games to go.

08:41:39.240 --> 08:41:41.240
But before we have our finalists

08:41:41.240 --> 08:41:43.160
in the Chase Center tomorrow,

08:41:43.160 --> 08:41:44.800
our players can already pat themselves on the back.

08:41:44.800 --> 08:41:47.520
They've already earned a coveted Peachy promo

08:41:47.520 --> 08:41:48.600
from the World Championships.

08:41:48.600 --> 08:41:55.680
Let's take a look at those top eight decks and see how our cut has shaped up because a lot of the discussion around this tournament was

08:41:55.680 --> 08:41:57.680
What was the best play for the event?

08:41:57.680 --> 08:42:01.520
Well, we had two crustal, actually an opposite side but a bracket

08:42:01.520 --> 08:42:04.880
Yeah, there was a potential for a crustal mirror match in the finals

08:42:04.880 --> 08:42:10.880
They have both fallen by the wayside. We've got Dragapok coming there in big numbers

08:42:10.880 --> 08:42:18.520
Alakazam coming out as well and a couple of crustal there as well as a couple of those big basic box decks

08:42:18.600 --> 08:42:23.600
So, a little bit of variety, but still a lot of drag-a-pot.

08:42:23.600 --> 08:42:27.600
The big jump out to be more than the next year, unnamed.

08:42:27.600 --> 08:42:33.600
This is one of the most star-studded top eight I think we've ever had at a world championship.

08:42:33.600 --> 08:42:36.600
We got a player returning from top eight last year in Matesh.

08:42:36.600 --> 08:42:39.600
We've got Brent Tonneson, the championship point leader from last year.

08:42:39.600 --> 08:42:42.600
We've got Henry Chow, who won three regionals last season.

08:42:42.600 --> 08:42:47.600
We've got Gardevoir, Andrew Hedrick, who was just looking up in profile, right?

08:42:47.600 --> 08:42:53.440
regional wins and a special championship win and an international win. We've got a former

08:42:53.440 --> 08:43:00.240
world champion Diego Casaraga. We have got a star-studded lineup here. Yeah, all of these players

08:43:00.240 --> 08:43:05.760
are well worthy champions and only four remain at this stage for us. As you mentioned, these are

08:43:05.760 --> 08:43:10.240
some of the best players the game has seen, not just in recent years, although looking at the

08:43:10.240 --> 08:43:14.480
likes of Henry Chow and Andrew Hedrick, these have been some of the most dominant players

08:43:14.480 --> 08:43:19.840
in the US. Brent Tonneson travels around the world gaining accomplishment after accomplishment whether

08:43:19.840 --> 08:43:24.880
it's in Europe, in the US or where he hails from in Australia. Brent is such a consistent

08:43:24.880 --> 08:43:30.080
performer as you mentioned, topped the leaderboards for multiple years now, wasn't number one this

08:43:30.080 --> 08:43:34.800
season was only in the top 10 in air quotes. Oh no. Oh no, but he's made a point of doing

08:43:34.800 --> 08:43:38.400
what he needs to at the world championship to get into that top four placement.

08:43:38.400 --> 08:43:42.960
That Diego Casaraga, I mean this first word championship top eight was in 2007. He's

08:43:42.960 --> 08:43:44.560
He's been doing this for a long time.

08:43:44.560 --> 08:43:48.400
Oh, yes, it's his fourth top cut at the World Championships

08:43:48.400 --> 08:43:49.720
for Diego, of course.

08:43:49.720 --> 08:43:53.480
One with Guardiwac, GX back in 2017,

08:43:53.480 --> 08:43:55.640
looking to become only the second player ever

08:43:55.640 --> 08:43:58.000
to repeat as a world champion.

08:43:58.000 --> 08:44:00.160
We saw Jason Kozinski win three times,

08:44:00.160 --> 08:44:02.600
most recently in 2013,

08:44:02.600 --> 08:44:05.080
Diego hoping to add his names at list

08:44:05.080 --> 08:44:06.360
of repeat champions.

08:44:06.360 --> 08:44:09.280
But whoever wins now from these four players,

08:44:09.280 --> 08:44:11.680
there is a great story that is gonna be told,

08:44:11.680 --> 08:44:15.680
all four of those players have already made their mark on the game.

08:44:15.680 --> 08:44:22.280
Now it's time to see if they can add a world championship or in the case of Diego, another world championship.

08:44:22.280 --> 08:44:28.680
So it's either Dragapult with Brushing Hammer, Dragapult with Brushing Hammer, Dragapult with Dostalar or Alakazam.

08:44:28.680 --> 08:44:32.280
And it's going to be that second matchup in the bracket that we're going to be showing you here.

08:44:32.280 --> 08:44:40.080
Well, let's head on down to the stage because the players are ready and we need to get rolling here in our first top four.

08:44:40.080 --> 08:44:46.880
it is going to be Diego against Henry, Alakazam against Dragapult. Look at their records 11-0.

08:44:46.880 --> 08:44:52.800
In 11-1, we've got 11-0, sorry, 11-1. Season win lost there. That is a pretty

08:44:52.800 --> 08:44:59.680
hefty 140 wins for Henry. Both of them have had a top four this season. Neither of them

08:44:59.680 --> 08:45:04.160
had a victory yet, although Henry did have three regional wins last season with Gardevoir.

08:45:04.160 --> 08:45:08.720
So, I mean, one of the things I really love here, two of the best Gardevoir players ever,

08:45:08.720 --> 08:45:10.720
But it's very different eras.

08:45:10.720 --> 08:45:12.060
Yeah, certainly different eras.

08:45:12.060 --> 08:45:15.220
That just shows how Dom and Gadawad have been in all these iterations.

08:45:15.220 --> 08:45:19.220
The front pilots, they are both on very different decks together.

08:45:19.220 --> 08:45:23.220
Alakazam has been a three-story, probably entirely tendency cross

08:45:23.220 --> 08:45:25.720
with the various materials from this Dastamard build

08:45:25.720 --> 08:45:28.720
or the various other builds of Alakazam.

08:45:28.720 --> 08:45:32.220
Diego has sort of swept through the field quite nicely.

08:45:32.220 --> 08:45:35.220
You can see those accomplishments, including just that little bit.

08:45:35.220 --> 08:45:38.220
It's not just the world championship placements for Diego.

08:45:38.220 --> 08:45:42.500
He's also had a more recent regional championship under his belt

08:45:42.500 --> 08:45:44.940
and some top four finishes as well.

08:45:44.940 --> 08:45:52.100
Absolutely, and Henry, 25 regional champion, 25 regional champion, 25 regional champion.

08:45:52.100 --> 08:45:56.220
One of the most dominant runs we've ever seen with any player piloting any deck.

08:45:56.220 --> 08:46:00.340
In 2025, it was Henry Chow with Gardevoir in 2017.

08:46:00.340 --> 08:46:03.420
Otherwise, championship was Diego with Gardevoir.

08:46:03.420 --> 08:46:06.100
Here we've got Alakazam and Dragapole.

08:46:06.100 --> 08:46:11.540
And Diego here, trying to stop us having an all-drag-a-pop final of the world champion deck.

08:46:11.540 --> 08:46:19.860
And I think digging into the decks that little bit, what's going to be really interesting to follow the entire series is that Henry is playing only one stadium card.

08:46:19.860 --> 08:46:26.340
He's playing one copy of Jamming Tower in his list, but Diego, he has four copies of the battle stage.

08:46:26.340 --> 08:46:33.060
That can shut down a lot of the trickery that Henry has been in his deck with Curse Blast and tried to dive down a counter placement.

08:46:33.060 --> 08:46:38.820
So Diego trying to manage that stadium more is going to be vital and Henry capitalizing on the

08:46:38.820 --> 08:46:43.780
potentially only one turn he has of full value with all of his abilities and attacks.

08:46:45.780 --> 08:46:50.980
It is going to be very important and does look like we're getting some prize cards hitting down here.

08:46:50.980 --> 08:46:55.300
Anything terrifying? Nothing too bad from Henry.

08:46:55.300 --> 08:46:59.860
The Loisé can be a little bit awkward for Diego at times, especially alongside that copy of

08:46:59.860 --> 08:47:04.820
safe match, the area as well in the FIES Cards, that's an awful one. That is not one you want to see go.

08:47:04.820 --> 08:47:11.220
We have players, we have a stage, we have, we've got a hand on a basic Pokemon. We are getting ready

08:47:11.220 --> 08:47:15.540
here for our first of two top fours. Don't go anywhere. As soon as this top four is done,

08:47:15.540 --> 08:47:20.260
we will go to the second. From right now, we've got Henry and Diego. There is a fifth

08:47:20.260 --> 08:47:25.220
bump and we are rolling here in the top four on the Pokemon Training Card Game. World

08:47:25.220 --> 08:47:30.100
champion Jips. Henry goes first with a dripping energy and then a pass to Diego.

08:47:30.100 --> 08:47:34.180
It's not much but it's just about enough and I've got a quick peek at Henry's hand as well.

08:47:34.180 --> 08:47:38.420
He does have at least a cloak on the next turn and I believe in Lily's determination. So

08:47:38.420 --> 08:47:42.180
it's not the wide board that you would like with multiple basics but at least we know that

08:47:42.180 --> 08:47:47.300
Henry is in the game. Action over to Diego now with that early buddy buddy Poffin. He wants to

08:47:47.300 --> 08:47:51.940
find as many of those opera as possible and he does have quite a traditional engine really

08:47:51.940 --> 08:47:56.540
with the 3-3 line of the Dunsparse in the deck as well.

08:47:56.540 --> 08:47:59.060
Diego with a really like streamlined straightforward build,

08:47:59.060 --> 08:48:02.100
even plays two copies of the Ace nullifier Geneset

08:48:02.100 --> 08:48:06.300
to try and help safeguard him around the Ace-spec unfair stamp.

08:48:06.300 --> 08:48:08.980
So that's also going to be an interaction we have to follow throughout this set.

08:48:08.980 --> 08:48:12.860
Absolutely. This Alakazam deck, the goal is very simple.

08:48:12.860 --> 08:48:14.180
Build your hand.

08:48:14.180 --> 08:48:16.620
Kadabra draws cards, Alakazam draws cards,

08:48:16.620 --> 08:48:18.300
the Dunsparse draws cards,

08:48:18.300 --> 08:48:21.900
and then you get to place two damage counters for every card in your hand

08:48:21.900 --> 08:48:25.100
using Alakazam's attack for just a single energy.

08:48:25.100 --> 08:48:27.260
Get a whole bunch of cards in your hand

08:48:27.260 --> 08:48:30.740
and use powerful hand to do huge damage.

08:48:30.740 --> 08:48:32.580
But, someone like an Unfest,

08:48:32.580 --> 08:48:35.460
that making you shuffle your hand in to get back and drawing two cards.

08:48:35.460 --> 08:48:37.300
Absolutely devastating.

08:48:37.300 --> 08:48:39.660
Can't be played if there is an ace nullifier,

08:48:39.660 --> 08:48:42.660
Jenna Sekt on the board to try and turn it off.

08:48:42.660 --> 08:48:47.260
So that's something we will absolutely be looking for as we go.

08:48:47.260 --> 08:48:49.900
Early doors, you just want your Abra to evolve

08:48:49.900 --> 08:48:53.340
and you're done's past to evolve up to draw some cards later.

08:48:53.340 --> 08:48:57.980
So often we talk about hand disruption being a way to limit your opponent's outs towards doing things,

08:48:57.980 --> 08:49:03.260
but not only does hand disruption hurt Diego in this case by hurting his outs,

08:49:03.260 --> 08:49:06.700
but also the entirety of his damage output comes from his hand size as well,

08:49:06.700 --> 08:49:11.340
so it's extra devastating. No one at Diego is taking precautions here.

08:49:11.340 --> 08:49:13.980
Looks like it's going to be early festivity on the bench.

08:49:13.980 --> 08:49:17.740
We do have an energy attachment, so we can get a teleportation attacking if we wish.

08:49:17.740 --> 08:49:24.320
to try and shift your Abra out of the line of fire and is in fact going to go into his

08:49:24.320 --> 08:49:28.720
Fezantipity EX. Diego is holding onto one of his air balloon. Henry's showing off that

08:49:28.720 --> 08:49:34.960
he had four draft blows in the hand. Unfortunately, when you've got 4-3 on the bench, 4-3 cloak

08:49:34.960 --> 08:49:39.080
amazing, but this point, no. Evolve one up, get the first recon directive on the

08:49:39.080 --> 08:49:44.040
board, Lily's determination for a new eight cards. And this deck is rather straightforward

08:49:44.040 --> 08:49:47.080
in some ways. You want to evolve up into the cloak, which gives you a bit of draw

08:49:47.080 --> 08:49:52.280
power of recon directive and then Dragapult has arguably the best attack in the game.

08:49:52.280 --> 08:49:58.360
Two energy, 200 to the active and you get to drop six damage counters on the bench wherever you like.

08:49:58.360 --> 08:50:03.320
If that's not enough fun, you just add in your dust blocks and dust wall that can KO themselves

08:50:03.320 --> 08:50:08.280
to drop more damage counters and you try to build up into those turns where you take multiple

08:50:08.280 --> 08:50:13.480
KOs. A nice eight cards from Lily then as there's already the buddy buddy Poffin in hand for Henry

08:50:13.480 --> 08:50:19.840
picks up a couple more so we'll be able to really go wide on this bench having the threat of multiple

08:50:19.840 --> 08:50:26.120
cursed blasts in addition to Phantom Diver's what makes life so scary for Diego sat on the other side

08:50:26.120 --> 08:50:31.880
of the table because there's such vulnerable low hit point Pokemon 50 hit points on the Abra 80

08:50:31.880 --> 08:50:37.200
hit points on Kadabra it's very very quickly where your entire board can be wiped away from

08:50:37.200 --> 08:50:41.480
you if Henry is able to capitalize on multiple cursed blasts in a term that is something we

08:50:41.480 --> 08:50:46.180
to try and avoid. Of course, that's where that battle cage comes in that you highlighted at the beginning of the game here.

08:50:46.180 --> 08:50:55.380
Battle cage is a stadium card that stops damage counters being placed on bench Pokemon, not the active, by effects of attacks or ability.

08:50:55.380 --> 08:51:02.480
So both the residual damage from Phantom Dive and the damage counter, some curse blast will all be stopped by battle cage.

08:51:02.480 --> 08:51:06.480
That makes it absolutely huge. So timing that is going to be crucial.

08:51:06.480 --> 08:51:12.320
But with four of them, it really comes down to actually when Henry times his one stadium to get rid of it.

08:51:12.320 --> 08:51:16.680
As it happens, Henry is at least getting his board set up as best as possible.

08:51:16.680 --> 08:51:21.520
Will he also be able to pivot into Budu here? Yes, there is the psychic energy retreat.

08:51:21.520 --> 08:51:26.120
So we can at least initiate an item lock here, whilst also getting a really relevant 10 damage

08:51:26.120 --> 08:51:30.420
onto the active Fezantipity EX, setting Henry up for a potential bosses order

08:51:30.420 --> 08:51:33.720
later down the line alongside Phantom Dive for a clean lockout.

08:51:33.720 --> 08:51:40.940
Very nice, we see our first at Dunsparse, we're going to get that runaway draw that allows you to draw three cards and then return to Dunsparse to your deck.

08:51:40.940 --> 08:51:45.360
Genesect, boss's orders and there was another supporter, I believe, it was a dawn that was seen.

08:51:45.360 --> 08:51:49.040
That's the pick up that I'm happy to see and Diego is certainly happy to see that as well.

08:51:49.040 --> 08:51:55.360
Speaking of which, here comes Dawn, go and grab yourself a basic Pokémon and a Stage 1 and a Stage 2.

08:51:55.360 --> 08:52:00.720
It's ideal for an archetype like this where all of your Pokémon also have draws stapled onto them.

08:52:00.720 --> 08:52:04.260
So being able to search out a number of these Pokemon all in one go

08:52:04.560 --> 08:52:08.120
Help you evolve up and get into a healthier range of hit points

08:52:08.120 --> 08:52:10.120
So you're not going to be targeted down too quickly

08:52:10.640 --> 08:52:13.400
But it also means you're going to see a ton of cards in the process

08:52:14.480 --> 08:52:19.680
Absolutely, we've got a cadaver. We've got an alakazam the basic one is a few different options here

08:52:19.680 --> 08:52:23.040
It depends where you're going to be going a lot of time done sparsely the option

08:52:23.040 --> 08:52:29.160
Yeah, there's a little attempt. Yeah, there's a temptation to really never go opera because if ever you're able to draw naturally into your

08:52:29.160 --> 08:52:32.160
telepathic psychic energy, you get to find more Abra for free.

08:52:32.160 --> 08:52:34.920
So, I like the option here from Diego.

08:52:34.920 --> 08:52:37.680
We'll have the very least see two cards from the psychic draw

08:52:37.680 --> 08:52:39.600
from Kadabra that he's just searched out.

08:52:39.600 --> 08:52:41.600
And when he's ready to take his first KO,

08:52:41.600 --> 08:52:43.920
that is when you need to get that Genesect established

08:52:43.920 --> 08:52:46.560
to make sure that that unfair stamp

08:52:46.560 --> 08:52:48.200
will not be hitting the board.

08:52:48.200 --> 08:52:50.040
We do see Duns boss coming down.

08:52:50.040 --> 08:52:51.840
We're gonna see an evolution up into Kadabra.

08:52:51.840 --> 08:52:54.320
That's gonna draw two cards with psychic draw.

08:52:54.320 --> 08:52:55.880
You get two for evolving into Kadabra,

08:52:55.880 --> 08:52:58.880
three for evolving into Alakazam.

08:52:58.880 --> 08:53:01.680
One more than the stage is the way I like to remember it.

08:53:01.680 --> 08:53:05.760
Now, Gadabra can use Super Sidebot for 30 damage into Budu

08:53:05.760 --> 08:53:06.640
if Diego wishes.

08:53:06.640 --> 08:53:08.220
He could get aggressive.

08:53:08.220 --> 08:53:10.020
I'm not personally seeing his board

08:53:10.020 --> 08:53:12.400
being strong enough to make that play come together,

08:53:12.400 --> 08:53:13.940
especially because you would have to commit your tool

08:53:13.940 --> 08:53:16.840
to the active rather than to the Genesect on the bench,

08:53:16.840 --> 08:53:18.680
which is normally what you want to do.

08:53:18.680 --> 08:53:20.600
But we do see the early battle cage coming to play,

08:53:20.600 --> 08:53:23.480
so Diego might be considering this line.

08:53:23.480 --> 08:53:25.200
Battle cage already out there.

08:53:25.200 --> 08:53:26.780
Henry's gonna have to be very carefully,

08:53:26.780 --> 08:53:31.540
only one stadium, so the second battlecade will stick for the game. It is just a retreat

08:53:31.540 --> 08:53:36.280
into that dunce pass, just leaving something in the active. I hope it's not going to get

08:53:36.280 --> 08:53:40.260
KO'd, but if it does get KO'd it's the least important thing on your board.

08:53:40.260 --> 08:53:44.140
Yeah, you don't want to feed Henry those easy two prize cards, and you also don't

08:53:44.140 --> 08:53:49.500
want any of your evolution line going down. Diego is in a precarious spot. There is

08:53:49.500 --> 08:53:53.300
the potential for a boss's orders on Kadabra, and if Henry is also able to

08:53:53.300 --> 08:53:55.300
He could fight a stadium bump.

08:53:55.300 --> 08:53:57.300
He could look out the Abra as well.

08:53:57.300 --> 08:54:00.300
He does have to work on getting rid of that back-and-cage.

08:54:00.300 --> 08:54:02.300
Right now we've got free recon directive going.

08:54:02.300 --> 08:54:05.300
We've got a poker pad drawn off the third recon directive.

08:54:05.300 --> 08:54:10.300
So that is going to allow you to go and get a non-EX Pokemon,

08:54:10.300 --> 08:54:12.300
a non-rubox Pokemon.

08:54:12.300 --> 08:54:16.300
Good news is it doesn't look like we're seeing any big burst attacks coming down here.

08:54:16.300 --> 08:54:19.300
So that does mean that we should be in a...

08:54:19.300 --> 08:54:25.800
We could either have ulti-ball in the hand, so we could either find the Meowth EX, or we could just guarantee that Dragapult EX right now.

08:54:25.800 --> 08:54:32.300
It's always a strange situation when that battle cage is up, the main selling point of Dragapult is that damage counter placement, really.

08:54:32.300 --> 08:54:39.300
And now you're basically, you know, the same as just using your Jet Headbutt attack, because you can knock out this stun sparse pretty cleanly.

08:54:39.300 --> 08:54:48.300
Although initiating that prize race can still have its advantages, you're denying potential draw from Runaway Draw, later on in the game, from Diego.

08:54:48.300 --> 08:54:53.780
And at the same time you're throwing a pretty high hit point Pokemon into the active position before

08:54:53.940 --> 08:54:56.760
Diego has had a chance to really start motoring through his deck

08:54:58.620 --> 08:55:03.740
Absolutely, we do see the dragon pole is the choice off of the ultra ball with a fire energy in hand

08:55:03.740 --> 08:55:07.800
That does mean Henry is gonna be able to phantom done if he wishes

08:55:08.140 --> 08:55:09.460
We're now gonna see a boss

08:55:09.460 --> 08:55:14.580
It was already in hand on the cadaver and that means that we are gonna see the free retreat from the Badoo

08:55:14.580 --> 08:55:22.160
Dragapult goes into the active and it is going to be a KO but no residual bench damage because of that battle gauge

08:55:22.160 --> 08:55:27.720
So already coming in and showing its worth. Yeah, that that was really well timed from Diego to

08:55:28.020 --> 08:55:32.300
Otherwise, you know, he could be completely in an awful position with no Abra whatsoever

08:55:32.580 --> 08:55:36.860
There's a tippity and done sparse. He can see already the value of this stadium card

08:55:37.060 --> 08:55:39.060
And it's going to be Diego's

08:55:39.060 --> 08:55:43.020
to really keep this in play for as long as possible.

08:55:43.020 --> 08:55:45.020
As we see a reload of buddy-buddy pop-in now,

08:55:45.020 --> 08:55:47.660
some of his locked up items are now released

08:55:47.660 --> 08:55:50.140
because the itchy poem is no longer in effect.

08:55:50.140 --> 08:55:52.060
So Diego will take a chance to look through his deck

08:55:52.060 --> 08:55:55.060
one more time just to confirm things before shuffling up.

08:55:55.060 --> 08:55:56.660
And I think he should have access to

08:55:56.660 --> 08:55:57.700
a decent amount of draw here.

08:55:57.700 --> 08:55:59.700
He has flipped the script online.

08:55:59.700 --> 08:56:02.780
He now can use runaway draw this turn

08:56:02.780 --> 08:56:04.700
in addition to any psychic draw.

08:56:04.700 --> 08:56:06.580
Ideally he wants to work towards a rare candy

08:56:06.580 --> 08:56:10.100
so we can start coming back with some attachment because Alakazam.

08:56:10.100 --> 08:56:12.900
Absolutely. If you want a quick maths lesson, here's what you do.

08:56:12.900 --> 08:56:15.620
You look at the HP of the Pokémon you want to KO.

08:56:15.620 --> 08:56:17.580
You take off the zero, divide it by two.

08:56:17.580 --> 08:56:21.260
That's how many cards you need in hand to get a clean one-hit KO.

08:56:21.260 --> 08:56:24.660
If it's an odd number, just add one and then divide by two.

08:56:24.660 --> 08:56:27.540
So, Dragapult 32 divided by two is 16.

08:56:27.540 --> 08:56:32.620
That's how many cards you need in hand for a clean one-hit KO with your Alakazam.

08:56:32.620 --> 08:56:37.540
getting free off this to Duns Pass is going to be an excellent start and it

08:56:37.540 --> 08:56:41.620
looks like we've got an energy and a poker pad. Didn't look ideal to be honest

08:56:41.620 --> 08:56:46.100
with you and remember Diego has that Lana's aid and the sacred ash both in

08:56:46.100 --> 08:56:50.180
his prize cards. It's only real means of Pokemon recovery as he's not playing

08:56:50.180 --> 08:56:52.700
Night Stretch in his list that's sometimes a one-off that you see

08:56:52.700 --> 08:56:56.740
alongside that so the fact that Henry has gone early taking out a Kadabra

08:56:56.740 --> 08:56:59.980
could be limiting Diego here who once again opts to go for dawn for his

08:56:59.980 --> 08:57:04.460
support for the turn. It looks as though Diego is taking another turn off here and just trying

08:57:04.460 --> 08:57:10.660
to reestablish as big of a bench as he can. Tadapra coming into the hand. You can also

08:57:10.660 --> 08:57:15.100
reestablish Tadapra or a dunce bus. There's always that, well, there you go. Also, the

08:57:15.100 --> 08:57:18.900
ace nullified, Genesect is important. When you do get aggressive, you don't want to

08:57:18.900 --> 08:57:21.900
see an unfair stamp coming your way. No. As soon as you're ready to take your

08:57:21.900 --> 08:57:25.100
first prize, you don't need Genesect down until you're taking KO's. But the

08:57:25.100 --> 08:57:28.620
second you take your first KO, that is when you need to have Genesect already

08:57:28.620 --> 08:57:30.620
down on the board, but unless

08:57:30.620 --> 08:57:32.620
there's a rare candy hiding in Diego's hand,

08:57:32.620 --> 08:57:35.620
there is an energy. We saw that telepathic energy.

08:57:35.620 --> 08:57:37.620
Unless there's a rare candy already there, we're not

08:57:37.620 --> 08:57:39.620
really going to see an attack this term.

08:57:39.620 --> 08:57:42.620
Even if there is, we don't have nearly enough cars

08:57:42.620 --> 08:57:44.620
to get a KO. Here comes the Geneslect.

08:57:44.620 --> 08:57:46.620
We are going to see a buddy-buddy poffin.

08:57:46.620 --> 08:57:48.620
But you're right, Joel, just for having a spy

08:57:48.620 --> 08:57:50.620
of the deck list, both of those, you say

08:57:50.620 --> 08:57:52.620
Krilashny and Lana's aid, they're both played as one-offs.

08:57:52.620 --> 08:57:54.620
So there's no recovery right now.

08:57:54.620 --> 08:57:57.620
No, it's a terrifying spot for Diego, really.

08:57:57.620 --> 08:58:00.060
Especially when you're having more passive turns here

08:58:00.800 --> 08:58:03.020
It is the one evolution of Gadabra

08:58:03.020 --> 08:58:05.640
That's the only abra that he has access to this turn that can evolve

08:58:05.900 --> 08:58:10.000
We do see access to the enriching energy to be a manual attachment this turn

08:58:10.780 --> 08:58:13.820
That was draw four in your cards. Yeah four draws there

08:58:13.820 --> 08:58:17.300
But it's an aspect you don't often see but is pretty perfect for the alakazam deck

08:58:17.300 --> 08:58:19.020
It's fantastic for alakazam

08:58:19.020 --> 08:58:21.740
But that kind of confirms that will not be an attack coming son

08:58:21.740 --> 08:58:26.300
So she does no wondrous after anything like that. You got a nice big chunky hand of cards

08:58:26.300 --> 08:58:33.180
which is wonderful. But again, you're letting Henry take a second KO and then you're going from there.

08:58:33.180 --> 08:58:38.700
We put Genesek up into the active, just essentially, unfortunately, that is the sacrificial lamb.

08:58:38.700 --> 08:58:43.260
That is just being put up there to beat KO because it's the least important thing on your board.

08:58:43.260 --> 08:58:45.980
You can play another one in a minute if you need to.

08:58:46.620 --> 08:58:49.900
As for Henry then, are we going to see the floodgates begin to open?

08:58:49.900 --> 08:58:52.460
Can he access? Well, there's access to another boss's orders.

08:58:52.460 --> 08:58:57.860
It's definitely intriguing. I love that. I love bosses all the time to get down here.

08:58:57.860 --> 08:59:01.300
Like you're already you're already doing well. Just press the advantage.

08:59:01.300 --> 08:59:04.900
You know, you've got energy attachments that you can float quite happily as well.

08:59:04.900 --> 08:59:11.420
Draw engine has been pretty untouched. Energy down there onto the drag

08:59:11.420 --> 08:59:14.460
cloak. And this is what's wonderful when you're playing dragapult. A term where

08:59:14.460 --> 08:59:17.260
you've got a dragapult attacking. You can just get a free energy down.

08:59:17.260 --> 08:59:21.420
Essentially now turns that dragapult into a single energy attacker. Here comes

08:59:21.420 --> 08:59:26.820
a poker pad to go and search presumably a dustclops here just to potentially give

08:59:26.820 --> 08:59:30.480
you that option moving forward. I mean you could even just trade it for an

08:59:30.480 --> 08:59:34.580
Abra right now if you wanted to. Maybe bosses orders up the Cadabra and just

08:59:34.580 --> 08:59:39.540
take out all of those options. You don't know your opponents out of recovery but

08:59:39.540 --> 08:59:44.100
you would have to boss up the Abra due to the battle cave. So you boss up

08:59:44.100 --> 08:59:48.280
the Abra then you could curse blast the Abra exactly and then it's

08:59:48.280 --> 08:59:50.400
It's Dan Stieger to re-promote to his Geneset.

08:59:50.400 --> 08:59:51.600
That would be the only line there.

08:59:51.600 --> 08:59:52.720
Oh, I mean, bring up the Kadabra.

08:59:52.720 --> 08:59:54.240
Just KO with Phantom Dive.

08:59:54.240 --> 08:59:55.240
Oh, just playing it with Phantom Dive?

08:59:55.240 --> 08:59:56.080
Yeah, sure.

08:59:56.080 --> 08:59:56.900
You're right.

08:59:56.900 --> 08:59:58.160
We would need the stadium to pull off the other play.

08:59:58.160 --> 08:59:59.440
Now, if we get the stadium here,

08:59:59.440 --> 09:00:00.800
you can actually KO all three of them.

09:00:00.800 --> 09:00:01.920
That would basically be game.

09:00:01.920 --> 09:00:03.320
Yes, yes.

09:00:03.320 --> 09:00:04.640
I feel like we had the stadium though.

09:00:04.640 --> 09:00:07.360
The stadium would be in play by now.

09:00:07.360 --> 09:00:09.000
Still like the idea of going Kadabra.

09:00:09.000 --> 09:00:10.560
We're actually going Pes and Dipty here.

09:00:10.560 --> 09:00:11.960
I like this as well.

09:00:11.960 --> 09:00:13.120
It's just two prizes.

09:00:13.120 --> 09:00:14.200
You're just prize racing here.

09:00:14.200 --> 09:00:15.040
Well, this is what you say.

09:00:15.040 --> 09:00:16.320
You go down to three prize cards,

09:00:16.320 --> 09:00:24.900
Then you say that your one stadium bump will give you a means towards a three prize turn with curse blast and fat and dive damage counter placement

09:00:24.900 --> 09:00:30.100
It's very possible Henry is once again putting himself a one turn clock away from potentially winning

09:00:30.600 --> 09:00:32.600
Provided he can bounce that stadium charge

09:00:33.100 --> 09:00:36.780
On the following turn and this is a dream right you got one stadium bump

09:00:36.780 --> 09:00:40.820
But you're putting yourself in a situation where you literally only need one and then you're gonna win the game

09:00:40.860 --> 09:00:45.900
Yeah, who needs more than one at least at the moment not Henry here comes a poker pad for Diego

09:00:45.900 --> 09:00:50.860
still no Alakazam attacking. We finally have one. We can attack and attack this

09:00:50.860 --> 09:00:57.020
turn, take two prizes, but you're now kind of terrified. You really, really need to

09:00:57.020 --> 09:01:01.620
try and do something to disrupt here. Might just be KO the Dragapult and hope,

09:01:01.620 --> 09:01:06.340
but we might try and do something. I mean, what I've ruptured to do you have, Joe?

09:01:06.340 --> 09:01:09.900
Well, that's the issue. The Alakazam archetype is relatively straightforward in

09:01:09.900 --> 09:01:14.100
nature. It's just trying to race pretty routinely, honestly, so you really

09:01:14.100 --> 09:01:18.100
lack any form of disruption. It's really only the airy supporter card that you can look to use

09:01:18.100 --> 09:01:21.940
to make life difficult. You could use a boss's orders on DOS glocks, but it feels like your

09:01:21.940 --> 09:01:26.420
prize race is running away from you anyway at that stage. It's going to be Lucky Helmets

09:01:26.420 --> 09:01:31.540
onto the Genesect, activating that ace nullifier. So I imagine Diego will have to simply go

09:01:31.540 --> 09:01:35.300
through the straggapult, but it's one of those situations where Henry, if he can draw

09:01:35.300 --> 09:01:38.900
deep enough into his deck and find that jamming tower, he can all come down in this

09:01:38.900 --> 09:01:43.940
game number one here. Diego has had a fairly slow start. It's really starting to show now.

09:01:45.140 --> 09:01:52.660
Absolutely has. Right now that Abra is an issue. Abra's only got 50 HP. So that is going to be easily

09:01:52.660 --> 09:01:59.220
KOed by the residual damage from a phantom dive. A dust walk to take out that Kadabra.

09:01:59.220 --> 09:02:04.340
And then obviously the KO on the active would be free prizes. Right now Diego is counting

09:02:04.340 --> 09:02:09.280
the cards in hand. Do we have 16? Is that enough to get the KO? I'll be honest, I'm not

09:02:09.280 --> 09:02:15.460
following enough. We are to see Hilda. That's a plus one. Yeah. Player supporter minus one.

09:02:15.460 --> 09:02:20.240
Search out a Pokemon and an energy plus two for plus one overall. However, this Dunds

09:02:20.240 --> 09:02:24.980
Pass could then give you another two extra cards. So that's going to get you a little

09:02:24.980 --> 09:02:26.660
bit closer with that runaway draw.

09:02:26.660 --> 09:02:32.580
That is 15 in the hand right now.

09:02:32.580 --> 09:02:34.060
Okay, so the Dunsparse will get...

09:02:34.060 --> 09:02:36.580
Okay, so this is when you put you down to 13,

09:02:36.580 --> 09:02:39.580
but then runaway draw will then put you up to 16,

09:02:39.580 --> 09:02:41.260
and that is the magic number.

09:02:41.260 --> 09:02:42.740
Yeah, the Alexander does it on its own.

09:02:42.740 --> 09:02:44.300
Oh, that too.

09:02:44.300 --> 09:02:45.940
I'm pretty sure we can't evolve that Dunsparse.

09:02:45.940 --> 09:02:46.940
No, I don't think so.

09:02:46.940 --> 09:02:47.940
Diego is making sure.

09:02:49.740 --> 09:02:52.940
He's figuring out what's been played this turn.

09:02:52.940 --> 09:02:53.980
There are judges at the table.

09:02:53.980 --> 09:02:54.820
I'll be honest with you.

09:02:54.820 --> 09:02:56.820
It's just going to be a straight

09:02:56.820 --> 09:02:58.820
KO on the drag-up hole, but that

09:02:58.820 --> 09:03:00.820
was never the pinch turn. This Joe

09:03:00.820 --> 09:03:02.820
is a pinch turn. Free retreat

09:03:02.820 --> 09:03:04.820
Purdue in the active. Can we get

09:03:04.820 --> 09:03:06.820
well, I mean, we need to get

09:03:06.820 --> 09:03:08.820
a stadium bump and I think, well,

09:03:08.820 --> 09:03:10.820
is there a chance for a treble

09:03:10.820 --> 09:03:12.820
KO now? I don't think so. I

09:03:12.820 --> 09:03:14.820
think Diego has done a good

09:03:14.820 --> 09:03:16.820
job of evolving out of all of

09:03:16.820 --> 09:03:18.820
these lower hit point Pokemon.

09:03:18.820 --> 09:03:20.820
I believe Henry would just be

09:03:20.820 --> 09:03:22.820
10 shy from a phantom dive

09:03:22.820 --> 09:03:27.260
from a Phantom Dive, two prize KO in addition to a Cursed Blast KO.

09:03:27.260 --> 09:03:29.180
That's what I'm seeing, unfortunately.

09:03:29.180 --> 09:03:32.860
That Dunn-Sparse is the lowest HP thing on the bench, and it's got 60.

09:03:32.860 --> 09:03:35.180
You can evolve him into a Dust Guard and take a KO.

09:03:35.180 --> 09:03:38.620
You can KO the active. You will be one short.

09:03:38.620 --> 09:03:41.420
So Diego granted a little bit of a lifeline here

09:03:41.420 --> 09:03:44.500
as we see another direct look going and being searched out.

09:03:44.500 --> 09:03:46.460
To give free recon directive again,

09:03:46.460 --> 09:03:49.740
that is giving access to six extra cards.

09:03:49.740 --> 09:03:52.100
Is it that important that this takes to bump the stadium?

09:03:52.100 --> 09:03:55.500
Can Henry just take two prizes and just say,

09:03:55.500 --> 09:03:57.420
well, Diego's not winning the game next turn,

09:03:57.420 --> 09:04:00.180
so I'll take two this turn and finish it off next turn?

09:04:00.180 --> 09:04:01.860
Yeah, one prize this turn is plenty.

09:04:01.860 --> 09:04:05.420
So I think Henry's going to get to work on maybe getting even more energy into play.

09:04:05.420 --> 09:04:07.180
That would be ideal for him.

09:04:07.180 --> 09:04:09.260
So he won Crispin in his list.

09:04:09.260 --> 09:04:10.780
He also does play a copy of Judge as well.

09:04:10.780 --> 09:04:14.900
If he wants to get creative, he could try and use Judge as a hand disruption.

09:04:14.900 --> 09:04:17.660
Crispin's come out of the Dreykond directive here.

09:04:17.660 --> 09:04:19.260
I feel like as long as there's enough energy in the deck,

09:04:19.260 --> 09:04:21.500
That's going to be a very strong supporter for Henry this turn

09:04:22.020 --> 09:04:25.280
I see the final recon directive to pretty useless cards

09:04:25.280 --> 09:04:28.660
You could even just burn this buddy buddy popping or use it for optional fodder at this stage

09:04:29.460 --> 09:04:33.000
Absolutely, you could it's not gonna get you too much. You've got all the basics

09:04:33.000 --> 09:04:36.600
You really need at this point in the game. So it is gonna be optional fodder

09:04:36.600 --> 09:04:42.140
It looks like first a poker pad though go and find a non ex Pokemon of choice

09:04:42.140 --> 09:04:44.420
It is a Moltres sounds like fodder to me Ross

09:04:44.420 --> 09:04:47.220
That smacked a lot like for the DiMigio.

09:04:47.220 --> 09:04:50.140
Feels like that's getting discarded with the buddy-buddy pop-in

09:04:50.140 --> 09:04:52.580
to get that ultra ball rolling.

09:04:52.580 --> 09:04:54.820
Yep, there's a good amount of energy in the deck for Henry here,

09:04:54.820 --> 09:04:57.260
so we can Crispin this turn,

09:04:57.260 --> 09:04:58.660
turn that deck as much as possible.

09:04:58.660 --> 09:05:02.020
You can see there's still a really big chunk of cards remaining in that deck.

09:05:02.020 --> 09:05:05.860
So there's no guarantee that next turn he'll be able to find that jamming tower.

09:05:06.740 --> 09:05:08.980
This game is not over. Let's be perfectly clear.

09:05:08.980 --> 09:05:13.220
Diego can win this in two turns, and Henry can win it in two turns.

09:05:13.220 --> 09:05:16.060
but Henry's got to keep those drag-a-pult rolling.

09:05:16.060 --> 09:05:18.540
We see... Is that Lily's determination?

09:05:18.540 --> 09:05:21.300
No, that's also part of his disc up all right there.

09:05:21.300 --> 09:05:24.340
It is going to be the Fesantipity EX

09:05:24.340 --> 09:05:25.980
into the hand for Henry.

09:05:25.980 --> 09:05:27.900
He may not even need to stadium at all this game.

09:05:27.900 --> 09:05:30.060
If Henry uses Crispin this turn,

09:05:30.060 --> 09:05:33.340
he could use that boss's orders effect on anything that isn't Alakazam,

09:05:33.340 --> 09:05:36.220
because that's the only Pokemon with 140 hit points.

09:05:36.220 --> 09:05:40.420
If you bring up any other Pokemon, then you can curse Blast the Active for a prize,

09:05:40.420 --> 09:05:44.460
And then you can also phantom dive the Alexander close the game.

09:05:44.460 --> 09:05:46.380
So it may not even require a stadium at all here,

09:05:46.380 --> 09:05:48.900
just because he's had such a strong early game starts,

09:05:48.900 --> 09:05:50.700
and Diego has been a little slow here.

09:05:50.700 --> 09:05:54.140
No, absolutely. Right now, because there's no easy KO

09:05:54.140 --> 09:05:56.180
with six damage counters on the bench,

09:05:56.180 --> 09:05:58.220
you're probably going to get two natural KO's

09:05:58.220 --> 09:06:00.500
and one with the cursed blast.

09:06:00.500 --> 09:06:03.100
You don't necessarily, like you say, you don't need it.

09:06:03.100 --> 09:06:05.060
It would be nice to get rid of it to open cursed blast,

09:06:05.060 --> 09:06:08.300
but you are in a very strong position regardless.

09:06:08.300 --> 09:06:10.540
So you might be able to take the time off.

09:06:10.540 --> 09:06:12.900
Let's first have a look at this Ultra Ball.

09:06:12.900 --> 09:06:15.860
That is going to go and get another Pokemon, presumably a Dragapult.

09:06:15.860 --> 09:06:17.380
Feels like you probably need one of those.

09:06:17.380 --> 09:06:18.580
Yep, that's Dragapult EX.

09:06:18.580 --> 09:06:24.260
So Henry is working his way towards a really nice closing turn on the next turn.

09:06:24.260 --> 09:06:26.740
He still has one manual attachment to go here.

09:06:26.740 --> 09:06:27.420
Cannibal of Up.

09:06:27.420 --> 09:06:29.780
Then he's looking towards the likes of Nightstretcher.

09:06:29.780 --> 09:06:33.020
If he's unable to find Dragapult from those prize cards,

09:06:33.020 --> 09:06:35.540
there is one stored away there and Nightstretcher actually.

09:06:35.540 --> 09:06:39.020
He's got good odds of finding his next follow-up piece,

09:06:39.020 --> 09:06:42.060
but even just a one-priced KO is plenty for Henry here,

09:06:42.060 --> 09:06:44.540
as we see him finally promote that Dragonpole EX.

09:06:44.540 --> 09:06:47.340
He's attached to the bench, he's done everything he needs to do.

09:06:47.340 --> 09:06:51.300
Henry Chao has put himself one solid attack away from the game.

09:06:51.300 --> 09:06:53.220
How can Diego respond here?

09:06:54.420 --> 09:06:57.300
Well, first things first, it's going to be KO this Dragonpole.

09:06:57.300 --> 09:06:59.260
That is the most important thing right now.

09:06:59.260 --> 09:07:01.980
Henry needs to take two prizes next turn.

09:07:01.980 --> 09:07:03.460
If he wants to use the curse blast,

09:07:03.460 --> 09:07:06.640
He is going to need to get rid of that Babel cage.

09:07:06.640 --> 09:07:08.500
Right now it's over to Diego.

09:07:08.500 --> 09:07:11.080
And essentially, it's not the nicest,

09:07:11.080 --> 09:07:12.720
but it's K of the Dragapult.

09:07:12.720 --> 09:07:13.840
Oh, there's an Aries.

09:07:13.840 --> 09:07:15.420
You're going to get rid of special red card.

09:07:15.420 --> 09:07:16.480
I love that.

09:07:16.480 --> 09:07:17.440
Two great hits.

09:07:17.440 --> 09:07:18.780
Yeah, that's wonderful.

09:07:18.780 --> 09:07:22.120
Night Stretch and special red card.

09:07:22.120 --> 09:07:23.860
Not too bad.

09:07:23.860 --> 09:07:25.180
Night Stretch would have been one of the pieces

09:07:25.180 --> 09:07:29.860
Henry required to have his next Dragapult EX online.

09:07:29.860 --> 09:07:32.100
And also the fact that Diego is almost certainly

09:07:32.100 --> 09:07:36.360
going down to two prize cards this turn. Getting rid of that special red card is huge. The one

09:07:36.360 --> 09:07:42.360
of supporters coming in clutch for Diego. Making life a little bit more awkward for Henry. Diego

09:07:42.360 --> 09:07:46.600
is not going to be secure. That's not going to be an issue. It's really just how much

09:07:46.600 --> 09:07:51.840
of a defense he can put up with this fairly vulnerable bench beyond that. That is a big

09:07:51.840 --> 09:07:55.080
question here. But honestly, if I'm Diego, I'm starting to feel better and better

09:07:55.080 --> 09:07:59.520
about this. My opponent has to bump the stadium to get a double KO next time. I'm

09:07:59.520 --> 09:08:04.000
not seeing any way. They can use bosses orders as well. They can bosses orders up the Genesects

09:08:04.000 --> 09:08:07.520
and curse Blastly Active with a Dostnoir and then you will have Phantom Pantalus.

09:08:07.520 --> 09:08:11.320
Oh yes, my apologies. Okay, so we're going to need a boss or a stadium. Thank you very

09:08:11.320 --> 09:08:15.400
much Joe. Alongside also recovering a Dragapult. And that's kind of my point. And you're

09:08:15.400 --> 09:08:19.600
going to need a psychic energy as well. It's not that much of a given. I don't

09:08:19.600 --> 09:08:23.840
get me wrong. If I'd still probably rather be in Henry's position, you've got the

09:08:23.840 --> 09:08:27.360
initiative right now, but the Echo's got to be feeling a little bit like this

09:08:27.360 --> 09:08:33.260
This is still doable. If I can take two prizes here, you know, next turn, I can K.O. let Nefes and Dipty to end the game.

09:08:33.260 --> 09:08:39.360
And that's going to be an awful lot easier. There's a boss already in hand for next turn, and you're not really worried about special red card anymore,

09:08:39.360 --> 09:08:47.860
because there he already got rid of it. So, here we go. K.O. on the dragapult. Diego down to two prizes remaining, boss's orders in hand.

09:08:47.860 --> 09:08:52.260
Diego's looking like he's probably going to win the game next turn. Joe is Henry going to stop him.

09:08:52.260 --> 09:08:55.060
There it is. I mean, Knight stretcher has come into the hand, Ross.

09:08:55.060 --> 09:08:57.060
I think that's the final piece that Rewakrya.

09:08:57.060 --> 09:09:01.060
Knight stretcher for Dragapult, EX, Psyche, an energy to the Drekloak.

09:09:01.060 --> 09:09:04.660
And because we already have Dostomar in hand, we can use that boss's orders.

09:09:04.660 --> 09:09:07.660
Here we go. Boss is going to bring the Genesect in the active.

09:09:07.660 --> 09:09:10.660
Battlecage does not stop. Cursed blast on the active.

09:09:10.660 --> 09:09:12.660
Now we KO the Genesect.

09:09:12.660 --> 09:09:15.660
Go down to one prize remaining. You've got to promote something.

09:09:15.660 --> 09:09:18.660
Whatever you promote will be KOed by a Phantom Dive.

09:09:18.660 --> 09:09:25.100
and that is going to give Henry a one game to zero lead here in the top four of the world championships one

09:09:25.260 --> 09:09:29.600
Game away from looking at sport on stage in the chase center tomorrow

09:09:31.140 --> 09:09:34.760
Things were pretty smooth for Henry Chow in that game number one

09:09:35.260 --> 09:09:39.020
Never even required to bump battle cage so rare to see

09:09:39.580 --> 09:09:43.620
Dragapult just doing 200 damage a turn was enough in this instance cross

09:09:43.620 --> 09:09:50.520
But if that like Diego wasn't sputtering in those opening stages Henry some really good early game bosses orders to

09:09:50.620 --> 09:09:55.240
Destructs the sort of main draw power Diego has access to in addition to

09:09:55.820 --> 09:09:59.940
So we've made a tackle that he tried to work towards and Diego was lacking those rare candy

09:09:59.940 --> 09:10:04.060
One of those strange arc-tides where you feel like a example most of them always have it

09:10:04.060 --> 09:10:06.140
So the amount of reach they have in their hand

09:10:06.140 --> 09:10:10.540
But because you're not selecting the card you're accessing you're just simply touring off the top of the deck

09:10:10.540 --> 09:10:15.000
sometimes being good by counselling these cars and just this stuff okay well

09:10:15.000 --> 09:10:19.720
let's take a look back then at what Henry did to take victory in that first

09:10:19.720 --> 09:10:23.880
game so we saw the first KO on the cadavera and this is really just Diego

09:10:23.880 --> 09:10:29.000
not having very much it took far too long to get rolling by which point

09:10:29.000 --> 09:10:33.040
Henry takes a second KO and for that was on the pheasant dip going down to

09:10:33.040 --> 09:10:37.480
free prize cards remaining plenty of options for if the battle cage wasn't

09:10:37.480 --> 09:10:43.200
there but it always was. Diego finally starts taking prizes but unfortunately it was too

09:10:43.200 --> 09:10:48.120
little too late and then we're hopefully going to see in a second this big end state scenario

09:10:48.120 --> 09:10:53.240
where Henry goes well panel gauge only protects the bench so I can just boss his orders up

09:10:53.240 --> 09:10:58.080
something in the active, KO it with cursed blast from the dust war and then that means

09:10:58.080 --> 09:11:02.800
something gets promoted that gets KO'd by the dragapult and then Henry takes a pretty

09:11:02.800 --> 09:11:12.800
the end. But the Ago knows. He

09:11:12.800 --> 09:11:14.800
did not have the best draws in

09:11:14.800 --> 09:11:16.800
that first game, especially

09:11:16.800 --> 09:11:18.800
when Alexander is much better

09:11:18.800 --> 09:11:19.800
archetype going first into this

09:11:19.800 --> 09:11:20.800
matchup. I feel like so having

09:11:20.800 --> 09:11:21.800
that advantage is really going

09:11:21.800 --> 09:11:22.800
to help him out. You can get

09:11:22.800 --> 09:11:23.800
evolving that little bit

09:11:23.800 --> 09:11:25.800
quicker. Slow down the

09:11:25.800 --> 09:11:26.800
evolutionary side to does

09:11:26.800 --> 09:11:28.800
not play their candy. So you

09:11:28.800 --> 09:11:29.800
know you're not really going

09:11:29.800 --> 09:11:30.800
to be facing down the

09:11:30.800 --> 09:11:36.800
this second game and let's not forget he started his only ex for qualms as well and Henry really

09:11:36.800 --> 09:11:42.480
quickly capitalized on that festivity so that he could have very easily chain attacks throughout the

09:11:42.480 --> 09:11:46.480
remainder of the game to stay ahead of the race so the fact that it was a festivity starts and

09:11:46.480 --> 09:11:50.640
that he had a slower start under the itch of pollen lock, I feel like this next game is going

09:11:50.640 --> 09:11:54.720
to be a lot closer. Even that 10 damage from itch and pollen was absolutely huge in the end

09:11:54.720 --> 09:11:58.880
because with no effort with that account to slide around that's what led to the KO on the

09:11:58.880 --> 09:12:06.880
So yeah, very important point. We have seen a Mulligan from the Aver. There won't be a second Mulligan. There's at least an Apra in hand.

09:12:06.880 --> 09:12:10.880
You do have to have a basic Pokemon to start a game off the Pokemon trading card game.

09:12:10.880 --> 09:12:16.880
If you don't have a basic Pokemon, we call that a Mulligan. You have to shuffle your hand to draw a new opening hand

09:12:16.880 --> 09:12:22.880
and your opponent gets to have an extra card. All this like a luck and apology. Sorry I made you wait a bit because I didn't have a basic.

09:12:22.880 --> 09:12:24.880
Have an extra card to make it better.

09:12:24.880 --> 09:12:29.600
to make it better. And here is a fist bump, and here is game two, Abra against

09:12:29.600 --> 09:12:34.160
Reapy, Alakazam against Dragapol, and Diego will get the chance to go first.

09:12:34.160 --> 09:12:37.960
Hopefully, Joe will have a better start than last time. Well, I can already see

09:12:37.960 --> 09:12:41.240
there's a poker pad in the hand, and he also already has access to his

09:12:41.240 --> 09:12:45.160
aspectly enriching energy. So it may well be that this poker pad will

09:12:45.160 --> 09:12:48.400
search out a done sparse just to get the value of enriching and

09:12:48.400 --> 09:12:52.720
potentially reuse it throughout the game. Alternatively, he may just still

09:12:52.720 --> 09:12:57.280
need to have a backup Abra, and you say that just one use of enriching in this case is enough.

09:12:57.840 --> 09:13:02.880
The Odea is going to go for the Duns-Bars, first of all, which is no bad thing. He's already

09:13:02.880 --> 09:13:07.920
holding onto some supporters for the next turn, so Odea's hand is pretty reasonable, ideally from

09:13:07.920 --> 09:13:13.280
the next four cards from his Enriching Energy A-Spec. He might be able to find some more

09:13:13.280 --> 09:13:18.080
buddy-buddy poffin. That would be ideal. Those prize cards, not the worst. You are lacking

09:13:18.080 --> 09:13:21.360
one of your Abra, one of your Aleksandam, and again that Lana's aid has found its way into

09:13:21.360 --> 09:13:25.840
prizes. At least you've got Sacred Ash this time. At least you've got some recovery. Yeah,

09:13:25.840 --> 09:13:29.920
we can handle that. Even the third copy of Alakazam can be a big deal just so you have that

09:13:29.920 --> 09:13:35.200
higher threshold of hit points at times. It's going to be something Diego can navigate around throughout

09:13:35.200 --> 09:13:39.840
the game. Absolutely. And here, you know, one of the things about Dragaport is it just doesn't

09:13:39.840 --> 09:13:43.600
put on very much early game damage. It takes a couple of turns to get rolling. It's wide but

09:13:43.600 --> 09:13:49.920
due is so, so ubiquitous with the deck. So that will give you a couple of turns to set up

09:13:49.920 --> 09:13:54.880
if you can deal with the lack of items, which can sometimes be a very big if.

09:13:54.880 --> 09:13:57.520
So we've got the Dunstmas, we've got the Aberrindy Active,

09:13:57.520 --> 09:14:00.400
hopefully we can start to, you know, see Diego.

09:14:01.360 --> 09:14:04.640
Get this board going a little bit more, get a bunch of basics down,

09:14:04.640 --> 09:14:10.800
and then one of the nice things to get around your item lock is just draw a whole bunch of cards.

09:14:10.800 --> 09:14:13.680
Oh, he's not mucking about, Joe. Turn on the ball, Cage!

09:14:13.680 --> 09:14:16.400
Well, players have open decklists at this stage in the tournament.

09:14:16.400 --> 09:14:19.680
They know that Henry only has access to one stadium card,

09:14:19.920 --> 09:14:26.920
The four draws from the enriching energy weren't ideal for Diego, so action passes over to Henry now.

09:14:26.920 --> 09:14:31.560
He's going to be looking to get his, but do on that. It's not the exact start Diego wanted.

09:14:31.560 --> 09:14:36.720
Funch of cards, it's nice, but not many Pokemon. So Henry here using a buddy-buddy poffin.

09:14:36.720 --> 09:14:42.320
Doing that over the game search, of course. Remember that there are six cards that are put down as prize cards at the beginning of the game.

09:14:42.320 --> 09:14:48.120
Those are cards to which you do not have access until you draw them by taking prizes, by knocking out Pokemon.

09:14:48.120 --> 09:14:54.120
Good players like Henry, what they're going to do is spend the first search of the game, trying to figure out what those prizes are.

09:14:54.120 --> 09:14:59.120
And the good news for Henry is that there is no jamming tower in the prize cards.

09:14:59.120 --> 09:15:03.120
That's already the first thing that he's going to be checking, but ultimately nothing too dangerous for him.

09:15:03.120 --> 09:15:09.120
That Pheasant Dipty EX obviously can be a good way for him to go deeper into the deck when he's trying to close out games,

09:15:09.120 --> 09:15:13.120
but might not be too concerning for a little while. Overall, pretty nice prize cards for both players.

09:15:13.120 --> 09:15:17.520
players. The 1,000 dip, he makes me a little bit nervous, but you're almost certainly going

09:15:17.520 --> 09:15:22.000
to have something prize every game that you'd rather not have prize. It's not the end of

09:15:22.000 --> 09:15:26.800
the world. So Henry there, just making a couple little notes of what is prize. You can refer

09:15:26.800 --> 09:15:30.720
back to that as you get later in the game. Tension rises, you forget a few things.

09:15:30.720 --> 09:15:35.840
So you look back and go, oh, that's what happened. That's what's in the prizes.

09:15:35.840 --> 09:15:38.920
Yeah. Henry's already looking like in a really good position. He's got one buddy,

09:15:38.920 --> 09:15:43.920
I think he's also got a poker pad in the hand as well as a Lily's determination

09:15:43.920 --> 09:15:48.020
So things are looking pretty good for Henry here, even a backup 3p

09:15:48.020 --> 09:15:51.480
And in this case Henry's gonna commit to a second bud who here

09:15:52.000 --> 09:15:55.740
Seeing the value of chaining item lock against Diego

09:15:56.240 --> 09:16:00.000
Really saw Diego start and went I don't think you've got all that much going on

09:16:00.000 --> 09:16:05.520
So I'm just gonna make sure you are item lock for a whole bunch of turns and by the time this item lock is broken

09:16:05.520 --> 09:16:12.100
I'm gonna have everything I need established to start taking these multiple prizes. Here we go with the

09:16:12.100 --> 09:16:18.820
What just a shuffle up from Lily's determination? No prize cars taken means eight new cars coming out for Henry Chow here

09:16:18.820 --> 09:16:22.520
We've already got an energy on the active 3p and another 3p down as well

09:16:22.760 --> 09:16:27.240
What can we get from these eight cars to make things better? It's already picture perfect

09:16:27.240 --> 09:16:35.000
It's not into a ton of search and typically in the Dragapult deck that search can so quickly be converted into draw

09:16:35.520 --> 09:16:41.120
So Henry could fill up his final bench space with a Treepee if he wishes and can already start to put some DracLoke into his hand.

09:16:41.120 --> 09:16:47.320
And even one of each energy, one fire and one psychic for good measure, after buddy-buddy-puffin to get basics,

09:16:47.320 --> 09:16:52.920
and then you've got your poker pan, I think it was an octable in there as well to go and get your Revolution Pokemon.

09:16:52.920 --> 09:16:59.920
Just a, and even the unfair stat with your opponent dares to take a prize, just really good hand.

09:16:59.920 --> 09:17:04.320
This is one of the big sort of pitfalls you can have whilst using that early budgie,

09:17:04.320 --> 09:17:06.720
They're sort of teasing Diego saying,

09:17:06.720 --> 09:17:07.760
I'm going to use that item lock.

09:17:07.760 --> 09:17:11.120
I know your Kadabra can take a knockout on this body easily,

09:17:11.120 --> 09:17:12.920
but then you're holding onto that A-Spec.

09:17:12.920 --> 09:17:14.120
You can instantly punish them.

09:17:14.120 --> 09:17:16.400
So, Henry, throwing all of these items away,

09:17:16.400 --> 09:17:19.400
the reason being, Erie is in the deck for Diego,

09:17:19.400 --> 09:17:21.920
and he knows that there's no hand disruption beyond Erie,

09:17:21.920 --> 09:17:23.360
so let's convert these into track hook now

09:17:23.360 --> 09:17:24.800
and guarantee them for next turn.

09:17:24.800 --> 09:17:26.000
Well, there's the itchy pollen.

09:17:26.000 --> 09:17:27.840
There will be no item cast from Diego.

09:17:27.840 --> 09:17:29.480
Does get that telepathic energy,

09:17:29.480 --> 09:17:31.520
which is actually huge here.

09:17:31.520 --> 09:17:34.560
Go and search out a couple of basic psychic Pokémon,

09:17:34.560 --> 09:17:36.480
or as I like to call them, Abra,

09:17:36.480 --> 09:17:40.280
and that is going to allow him to set up quite nicely,

09:17:40.280 --> 09:17:42.360
hopefully, under this item lock,

09:17:42.360 --> 09:17:44.240
and as soon as you start drawing the Kadabra,

09:17:44.240 --> 09:17:46.680
drawing the Alakazam, drawing the Dundspot,

09:17:46.680 --> 09:17:49.400
then you're going to be drawing extra cards,

09:17:49.400 --> 09:17:52.840
and hopefully mitigating that item lock a little bit.

09:17:52.840 --> 09:17:55.040
Yeah, and part of the reason why Diego plays two copies

09:17:55.040 --> 09:17:56.600
of that ace nullified Geneset

09:17:56.600 --> 09:17:59.080
is to try and allow him to be aggressive

09:17:59.080 --> 09:18:01.360
with these Kadabra and take those prizes,

09:18:01.360 --> 09:18:05.280
If he's able to develop the Genesect alongside a tool,

09:18:05.280 --> 09:18:07.280
he then doesn't have to fear the unfair stamp.

09:18:07.280 --> 09:18:10.880
So if he can make that combination come together from his hand here,

09:18:10.880 --> 09:18:12.520
it could still be a big turn for him.

09:18:12.520 --> 09:18:13.640
Well, there is a Kadabra.

09:18:13.640 --> 09:18:16.760
Two cards will be drawn from psychic draw.

09:18:16.760 --> 09:18:18.960
What are we going to see? It is a Genesect.

09:18:18.960 --> 09:18:20.280
Do we have a tool to attach?

09:18:20.280 --> 09:18:22.360
Because it only works when there's a tool on there.

09:18:22.360 --> 09:18:23.320
I don't see it just yet,

09:18:23.320 --> 09:18:26.640
but there is access to this runaway draw for three cards.

09:18:26.640 --> 09:18:29.560
Looking for a tool, that would be absolutely huge.

09:18:29.560 --> 09:18:36.440
any tall warrior. There it is. Lucky helmets. Nice. Okay, this is fantastic. This is exactly what I was saying a second ago.

09:18:36.440 --> 09:18:42.040
Yes, you're item locks, but you have a bunch of just natural draw, and that means you can bend to Genesect,

09:18:42.040 --> 09:18:46.760
attack to tall, all of a sudden ace nullifier is online. You can care of the Badoo,

09:18:46.760 --> 09:18:52.520
but Henry isn't then allowed to go and use unfair staff, which is in and of itself unfair,

09:18:52.520 --> 09:18:58.120
which I think is ironic. It's going to be the hilder for turn for Diego. Already has attached here,

09:18:58.120 --> 09:19:01.300
but he could re-establish an energy into that hand.

09:19:01.300 --> 09:19:05.000
At the very least, he can stash more of these psychic Pokemon

09:19:05.000 --> 09:19:08.040
for the next turn to continue to draw through the decks.

09:19:08.040 --> 09:19:11.540
So, may as well take advantage of the heal the while you can.

09:19:12.380 --> 09:19:15.280
And I have to think that with the lucky helmet pickup,

09:19:15.280 --> 09:19:17.280
you do go for this early prize card.

09:19:17.280 --> 09:19:18.940
I think you probably do.

09:19:18.940 --> 09:19:21.840
And, you know, at this point, you open deck list, right?

09:19:21.840 --> 09:19:24.780
So, you know Henry's not playing any rare candy.

09:19:24.780 --> 09:19:27.520
So, that could abrub. It seems pretty self-willed.

09:19:27.520 --> 09:19:30.600
Yeah, you've got Barocade, and that Canabra should be pretty safe.

09:19:30.600 --> 09:19:32.840
Yeah, it's looking safe from my side here.

09:19:32.840 --> 09:19:35.760
So if you go and search out with Alakazam and Enriching Energy,

09:19:35.760 --> 09:19:37.680
which is exactly what Diego's doing,

09:19:37.680 --> 09:19:40.200
that's probably seven cards drawn next turn.

09:19:40.200 --> 09:19:41.840
That's a lot of cards.

09:19:41.840 --> 09:19:44.360
Things are looking pretty good for Diego in the second game,

09:19:44.360 --> 09:19:47.120
who will now nullify this board.

09:19:47.120 --> 09:19:48.840
So it doesn't have to fear the un-fessed up,

09:19:48.840 --> 09:19:50.400
that we know is already in Henry's hand.

09:19:50.400 --> 09:19:52.840
So a great pick up for Diego,

09:19:52.840 --> 09:19:55.400
and now we'll take the first prize card of the game

09:19:55.400 --> 09:19:56.920
and even hit some Abra to boot.

09:19:56.920 --> 09:19:58.840
That's a really, really good turn for him.

09:19:58.840 --> 09:20:00.000
Back over to Henry.

09:20:00.000 --> 09:20:01.640
We do see a recon directive.

09:20:01.640 --> 09:20:05.720
It's either a night stretcher or a dust noir goes for the dust noir.

09:20:05.720 --> 09:20:07.760
For now, that's going to not ready yet,

09:20:07.760 --> 09:20:08.880
but hopefully in a turn or two,

09:20:08.880 --> 09:20:11.840
we'll be recon directive on a second draft look.

09:20:11.840 --> 09:20:15.160
Freshly evolved gives access to a protract,

09:20:15.160 --> 09:20:17.680
which is not going to help too much here.

09:20:17.680 --> 09:20:18.880
Fordor is an ultriball.

09:20:18.880 --> 09:20:21.680
So I think Fordor is probably the right word.

09:20:21.680 --> 09:20:23.400
Yeah, we're going to throw the protract away,

09:20:23.400 --> 09:20:25.400
as well as a dust noir.

09:20:25.400 --> 09:20:29.640
to put a stash that for later in the discard pile with your night stretchers and the third

09:20:29.640 --> 09:20:34.760
drake cloak coming into play. Henry with a pretty perfect turn one and two here giving access to

09:20:34.760 --> 09:20:40.280
three recon directive. This is the power of dragaport at play. This is absolutely what you are

09:20:40.280 --> 09:20:44.360
looking for. A couple of cards coming to hand here. Well not coming to hand being a recon

09:20:44.360 --> 09:20:49.400
directive. You get to have one of them and that is a rose we've got there in hand. That

09:20:49.400 --> 09:20:54.520
is a good energy acceleration onto a stage two if you need it sometimes. One energy onto a

09:20:54.520 --> 09:20:56.520
with the Dragon of Dragloak.

09:20:56.520 --> 09:20:58.520
It seems like there is a judge in hand,

09:20:58.520 --> 09:21:00.520
which is going to be very important later on.

09:21:00.520 --> 09:21:02.520
For now, it's just a...

09:21:02.520 --> 09:21:04.520
the Chichi Colin.

09:21:04.520 --> 09:21:06.520
Seems like a decent play.

09:21:06.520 --> 09:21:08.520
You're allowing Diego to have this early pressure.

09:21:08.520 --> 09:21:10.520
You're hoping that you can spring board back

09:21:10.520 --> 09:21:12.520
with a judge as well as a knockout with Phantom Dive.

09:21:12.520 --> 09:21:14.520
However, Diego has

09:21:14.520 --> 09:21:16.520
a lot of cards to draw here.

09:21:16.520 --> 09:21:18.520
He's already evolved into Alakazam into the active.

09:21:18.520 --> 09:21:20.520
He can Psychic Draw with two Kadabra now as well.

09:21:20.520 --> 09:21:22.520
He's hoping that he can sit

09:21:22.520 --> 09:21:25.680
can sit on this large hand size for as long as possible. There's even the bosses orders

09:21:25.680 --> 09:21:33.080
pick up now for Diego. Does he want to chase down those energy from the Benchtrick cloak?

09:21:33.080 --> 09:21:34.080
Seems like a pretty good option.

09:21:34.080 --> 09:21:37.880
He's going to say, I think you probably do, because the problem is you already KO'd want

09:21:37.880 --> 09:21:41.400
to do. You've got an Alex out in the active. You've got an absolute mountain of cards

09:21:41.400 --> 09:21:46.560
in hand. You either want to be KOing a Dragapult, which isn't an option, or

09:21:46.560 --> 09:21:51.400
just going after the most important thing, which right now is that Dragquirk with

09:21:51.400 --> 09:21:55.740
the energy on, telepathic energy onto the Kadabra for the time being, will allow you

09:21:55.740 --> 09:21:58.340
to search to get any other basic psychic?

09:21:58.340 --> 09:22:02.580
Yeah, I like just stashing this energy, even without any psychic Pokemon targets, it means

09:22:02.580 --> 09:22:05.420
that you can again weave in that enriching energy on another turn.

09:22:05.420 --> 09:22:09.460
So you're almost making your healers more live in the deck, just in case you are hit

09:22:09.460 --> 09:22:10.460
with that judge.

09:22:10.460 --> 09:22:13.540
So that's also a really strong option on a turn where you don't need that many

09:22:13.540 --> 09:22:15.860
cards in hand to have a powerful hand KO here.

09:22:15.860 --> 09:22:18.700
And he has an insane amount of cards in hand, he doesn't need that many to deal

09:22:18.700 --> 09:22:19.700
with this reclote.

09:22:19.700 --> 09:22:23.700
really does not. You only actually need five in hand. You've easily got five.

09:22:23.700 --> 09:22:27.200
So it was the boss onto the drag-loak here. That is going to be a KO.

09:22:27.200 --> 09:22:31.700
Diego up two prizes to zero, and that is in a very good position.

09:22:31.700 --> 09:22:35.700
This is already so different to what we saw back in game one.

09:22:35.700 --> 09:22:38.700
Henry's going to need some kind of energy acceleration here.

09:22:38.700 --> 09:22:40.200
Starts with Crispin.

09:22:40.200 --> 09:22:44.700
And that boss's orders from Diego has now just meant that he doesn't have to be concerned about Judge.

09:22:44.700 --> 09:22:49.200
He was already ace nullifying the unfair stamp, and he's not yet falling prey to the special red card.

09:22:49.200 --> 09:22:52.400
So Diego is fully aware that he could hold on to this hand

09:22:52.720 --> 09:22:59.480
Fax that boss's orders on the previous turn forcing Henry into a line by a Crispin here rather than anything else

09:22:59.960 --> 09:23:04.160
And instantly one energy is going to go on to the cloak and now we will recon directive

09:23:04.400 --> 09:23:09.960
That stadium bump coming into the hand. This is where things get spicy. Yeah, Jammin tower is in hand

09:23:09.960 --> 09:23:14.360
But there's no as well. There's no great targets for that residual damage not yet

09:23:14.360 --> 09:23:18.280
but you need to have it all in one turn if you can.

09:23:18.280 --> 09:23:19.720
Yeah, unfortunately you do.

09:23:19.720 --> 09:23:21.560
It does tend to be a bit of a combo.

09:23:21.560 --> 09:23:23.560
Only one judge, you better time it well.

09:23:23.560 --> 09:23:26.480
Only one jamming tower, you better time it well.

09:23:26.480 --> 09:23:29.520
Henry has a bunch of these one-off options.

09:23:29.520 --> 09:23:33.080
If timed correctly, could absolutely swing the game.

09:23:33.080 --> 09:23:35.640
One special red card as well.

09:23:35.640 --> 09:23:38.920
In theory, a bunch of outs to Alakazam.

09:23:38.920 --> 09:23:42.400
I'm pretty sure Henry shouldn't have evolved into track-a-pult this turn.

09:23:42.400 --> 09:23:44.840
I'm pretty sure he should go for just a single prize board

09:23:44.840 --> 09:23:46.680
and continue to itchy pollinear.

09:23:46.680 --> 09:23:48.800
I think ultra-balling into a dust box.

09:23:48.800 --> 09:23:51.360
Now he's found that jamming tower.

09:23:51.360 --> 09:23:53.480
Could be pretty important so he can work his way

09:23:53.480 --> 09:23:56.400
towards a dust noir on the next turn.

09:23:56.400 --> 09:23:58.480
So he has just picked up Dragapop,

09:23:58.480 --> 09:24:00.880
but he might even be sacrificing it here

09:24:00.880 --> 09:24:02.920
alongside a rose's encouragement.

09:24:02.920 --> 09:24:04.760
Henry is gambling everything right now.

09:24:04.760 --> 09:24:06.880
These are both of his energy acceleration cards

09:24:06.880 --> 09:24:08.480
being used this turn.

09:24:08.480 --> 09:24:10.080
So instead he will spread his energy

09:24:10.080 --> 09:24:11.960
onto multiple draklok this turn,

09:24:11.960 --> 09:24:18.920
evolve into this dustclops and say that I can have a big swing turn with dust no art jamming tower and a knockout later on

09:24:20.080 --> 09:24:27.700
Even if you don't own one psychic on each draculate with a fire in hand to make sure you've definitely got what you need next turn energy

09:24:27.700 --> 09:24:34.280
Why so itchy pollen Diego is still item lock there is no access to items Diego taking a prize

09:24:34.280 --> 09:24:36.280
It's not an issue here. That's going to happen

09:24:36.280 --> 09:24:40.880
But you're kind of thinking at this point my opponent is slowing things down

09:24:40.880 --> 09:24:45.840
how bad is the turn gonna be when they decide to go faster you know we go to see

09:24:45.840 --> 09:24:49.320
a judge are we gonna see a jamming tower we're gonna see all of this coming

09:24:49.320 --> 09:24:54.560
down in one term really it's just making yourself as well prepared for that as

09:24:54.560 --> 09:24:58.360
possible oh I like this this is creative getting the enriching energy

09:24:58.360 --> 09:25:01.840
onto Genesect because it wasn't an air balloon coming onto the Genesect you

09:25:01.840 --> 09:25:04.360
have to be aware that it's one retreat cost can be awkward at times

09:25:04.360 --> 09:25:11.680
Gigo has drawn into a dunce boss. That's handy. He does also have access to dawn in hand this turn as well as bosses orders

09:25:11.880 --> 09:25:15.800
But he's gonna hold on to these cards seeing so he's just grown such a substantial hand

09:25:16.360 --> 09:25:21.600
He's also drawn into those air balloon. So you could consider putting Fezzendipity down proactively

09:25:21.980 --> 09:25:27.000
Expecting the floodgates to open pretty soon. I do like the enriching energy on the genocide

09:25:27.000 --> 09:25:30.800
Well, I gotta ask you Joe. You can't now cycle it like you can on of the dunce boss

09:25:30.800 --> 09:25:34.660
That could come back to bite later on right it could be awkward

09:25:35.000 --> 09:25:38.720
But then again, it's one of those situations where you don't always have the opportunity anyway

09:25:38.720 --> 09:25:44.840
No, it's gonna be another boss's orders attempt here. Diego trying to stifle those energies once again

09:25:44.840 --> 09:25:50.640
And is happy to ignore buddhu your limiting Henry's draw. You're forcing extra attachments out of him

09:25:50.640 --> 09:25:54.200
I even see the pheasant gifty and ebbly and come down this turn as well

09:25:54.720 --> 09:25:58.480
Diego is getting into range of the special red card and he's taking precautions

09:25:58.480 --> 09:26:02.760
I actually kind of love taking out this because you know again you're open checklist

09:26:02.760 --> 09:26:05.000
You know Rose is gone. You know Crispin's gone

09:26:05.080 --> 09:26:09.720
You know that both of these energy on the dracloak is everything that's there now

09:26:09.720 --> 09:26:15.560
There's no guarantee UK or the dragapult next turn, but if you do that's all the energy gone

09:26:15.560 --> 09:26:18.360
I think it's time. I think it's time for judge

09:26:18.920 --> 09:26:25.440
Always time for judge Henry is considering all of his options here. I think this is the turn. He's debating whether or not to

09:26:26.160 --> 09:26:28.160
Play jamming tower perhaps here

09:26:28.480 --> 09:26:32.280
Or is he thinking that he just doesn't have high enough odds from the judge?

09:26:32.280 --> 09:26:35.880
But it is time Henry has fallen quite far behind in this game

09:26:35.880 --> 09:26:38.080
and he needs to limit Diego's hand.

09:26:38.080 --> 09:26:40.280
This was one of the few ways that he could.

09:26:40.280 --> 09:26:43.280
It was either find your special red card,

09:26:43.280 --> 09:26:44.880
or play the judge here.

09:26:44.880 --> 09:26:48.280
In this case, he's going to give himself just four cards and a recon directive

09:26:48.280 --> 09:26:51.280
to at the very least find a Dragonpole TX this turn.

09:26:51.280 --> 09:26:53.280
You need to start attacking.

09:26:53.280 --> 09:26:55.480
Yeah, and if the Dragonpole goes down, you lose the game.

09:26:55.480 --> 09:26:57.280
That is it. You're not recovering from that.

09:26:57.280 --> 09:27:01.480
So this is the turn. I think you have to just judge and hope it works out.

09:27:01.480 --> 09:27:05.480
Diego can refill his hand. We've seen these texts do that.

09:27:05.480 --> 09:27:09.280
There's two Kadabra ready to evolve. There's a Duns boss ready to evolve.

09:27:09.280 --> 09:27:13.280
There are a bunch of drawing options. You've got your Pheasant Dipty ready to flip the script.

09:27:13.280 --> 09:27:15.480
So here are four cards for Diego.

09:27:15.480 --> 09:27:18.280
There's the Dragapult. That's a big piece.

09:27:18.280 --> 09:27:22.480
Okay. Can we... Oh, Nightstretcher as well. There's the option for Dostouar.

09:27:22.480 --> 09:27:26.280
We could curse blast the active Alakazam. Thanks to some early itchy pollen.

09:27:26.280 --> 09:27:31.240
that's in range of a knockout. It is. You could also phantom dive after the fact.

09:27:32.680 --> 09:27:36.200
You would be giving Diego potentially more cards to fit the script, but

09:27:36.200 --> 09:27:41.240
at this stage you kind of have to start going for this. I think you do. I think that might be,

09:27:41.240 --> 09:27:46.200
that is a fun play. We'll see if it comes out. It is the Night Stretcher that is taken off

09:27:46.200 --> 09:27:51.560
of the recon directive here. That's going to go into hand. We've already got the energy.

09:27:51.560 --> 09:27:57.720
There's a night stretcher that presumably is going to be always for a tree P actually say not thinking that's more on the active

09:27:59.080 --> 09:28:05.480
Just go into the active with dragapult right now and hope that the 320 hit point threshold is too much for Diego

09:28:06.120 --> 09:28:10.440
He only has four cards currently in his hand. He has flipped the script that can get him three additional cards

09:28:10.760 --> 09:28:13.080
As you mentioned ross that enriching energy has been committed

09:28:13.560 --> 09:28:18.200
That's not a way for Diego to springboard into enough to take out this dragapult

09:28:18.200 --> 09:28:24.200
16 cards. If we get to 16 cards, this game is over. You will need to put the Alakazam down.

09:28:24.200 --> 09:28:30.200
You'll do that anyway to draw extra cards. Get to 16 cards in hand. You will end up winning this game.

09:28:30.200 --> 09:28:37.200
That Dragapolka down, you have one prize card remaining, and there really won't be much for Henry to do at that point.

09:28:37.200 --> 09:28:41.200
But, I mean, you can see the hand, Joe. How likely is this to happen?

09:28:41.200 --> 09:28:47.200
Well, there's not many of those evolution pieces just yet for Diego. It does start with a Hilda.

09:28:47.200 --> 09:28:51.200
We have three Pokémon that we can evolve. Each of them can draw three cards.

09:28:51.200 --> 09:28:55.200
With two psychic draws from two Alakazam plus a runaway draw.

09:28:55.200 --> 09:28:59.200
I'm not sure if it's enough when you're also having to manually play these Pokémon down.

09:28:59.200 --> 09:29:02.200
You're only going plus two on each of these.

09:29:02.200 --> 09:29:04.200
So I think Henry's found a window of opportunity.

09:29:04.200 --> 09:29:10.200
Imagine if that enriching energy was still available here and usually set that as well.

09:29:10.200 --> 09:29:15.200
I mean, it is one of those things, but also if you don't put an energy on the Geneset, then it can become a trap target later.

09:29:15.200 --> 09:29:16.200
Oh, absolutely.

09:29:16.200 --> 09:29:23.200
Oh, I'm not saying it was the wrong decision. I'm just saying, I'd really, you know, if I was Diego, I'd really like it right now.

09:29:23.200 --> 09:29:31.200
These are the fine margins of Pokemon, though. You can see the logic as to why Diego did it at the time, as we do see the first psychic draw from Alakazam.

09:29:31.200 --> 09:29:38.200
Do you see any more pieces? No, I don't see much here. Didn't draw into the Duns boss.

09:29:38.200 --> 09:29:44.200
There is an ultra ball, but the ultra ball, unfortunately, is kind of a minus two when you play it.

09:29:44.200 --> 09:29:50.200
So then when you play the Alakazam, you have even it's not a great use of resources.

09:29:50.200 --> 09:29:52.200
It's not building your hand size at all.

09:29:54.200 --> 09:29:59.200
This is very awkward. We're going to put telepathic energy onto the Kadabra.

09:29:59.200 --> 09:30:04.200
And you can have a quick look at the decks if there are any basic psychic Pokemon we may want to grab out.

09:30:04.200 --> 09:30:05.200
There is an Abra there.

09:30:05.200 --> 09:30:09.460
there. It feels like Diego may just go for a passive turn again. It feels like you've

09:30:09.460 --> 09:30:14.600
got to reload those cannons after you've just lost a large hand's-size. So he may end up

09:30:14.600 --> 09:30:19.760
promoting the Dunsparse at the end of this turn here, or even the Abra, to be honest

09:30:19.760 --> 09:30:22.560
with you, because he's already got so many energy around this board, he can probably

09:30:22.560 --> 09:30:28.160
feel fairly safe to do so, but no. Instead, Diego is going to go with an attack and

09:30:28.160 --> 09:30:33.680
put some damage counters into play. Diego has to be far less concerned about Henry

09:30:33.680 --> 09:30:37.600
having monkey with no monkey Dory putting damage counts into players far less scary for him

09:30:38.160 --> 09:30:42.320
that's a substantial chunk as well being hit into this dragapult yet well you got to think

09:30:42.320 --> 09:30:47.120
Diego's winning in two if he's winning is winning in two turns regardless here now there's no

09:30:47.120 --> 09:30:51.120
turn where you need an absolutely redonkulous gigantic hand yeah that's true and it also means

09:30:51.120 --> 09:30:55.040
that if there is a special red card coming out you can still get close to the dragapult

09:30:55.040 --> 09:31:00.800
ex next turn so probably is the wisest approach Henry though a slow attachment to

09:31:00.800 --> 09:31:04.400
What else is going on in this hand? Is there anything else for him here?

09:31:04.400 --> 09:31:06.400
Not seeing too much. There is an option.

09:31:06.400 --> 09:31:08.400
Now, if Jammingtower were to be found,

09:31:08.400 --> 09:31:12.800
that Abra would represent a very easy second prize on the bench for Henry.

09:31:12.800 --> 09:31:15.400
Of course, there was a judge last turn. There's only one in the deck.

09:31:15.400 --> 09:31:18.600
The odds aren't great. Henry's shaking his head.

09:31:18.600 --> 09:31:19.600
That's going to be the knockout.

09:31:19.600 --> 09:31:23.800
I think he knows he's got low percentage win at this stage.

09:31:23.800 --> 09:31:26.400
He's just seeing what Diego can construct.

09:31:26.400 --> 09:31:29.400
Got to make him have it in the hand, because, at the very least,

09:31:29.400 --> 09:31:35.240
He has to build quite a few cards here. He does top deck the Duns sparse, but he has plenty of draws before that.

09:31:35.240 --> 09:31:41.800
First we'll flip the script from Pheasant Dippity, but it is looking more and more favourable for Diego at this stage.

09:31:41.800 --> 09:31:43.160
Really?

09:31:43.160 --> 09:31:44.600
That's a Kadabra lined up.

09:31:46.120 --> 09:31:50.200
Does he have the recovery required to get some of these Alakazam out of the discard pile?

09:31:50.200 --> 09:31:52.600
That's what we're going to be looking for here.

09:31:52.600 --> 09:31:55.320
Redie is Alakazam. You only need six cards in hand.

09:31:55.320 --> 09:31:57.160
The card in hand is no longer an issue.

09:31:57.160 --> 09:31:58.520
Looks like it is going to be a dawn,

09:31:58.520 --> 09:32:01.360
gets you a basic of stage one and a stage two.

09:32:01.360 --> 09:32:02.720
That's going to get you your Kadabra

09:32:02.720 --> 09:32:05.240
and your Alakazam as well as a basic.

09:32:05.240 --> 09:32:08.160
Of course, we've already got the dunce bar in hand.

09:32:08.160 --> 09:32:10.920
And I kind of love the fact that here

09:32:10.920 --> 09:32:12.160
you need six cards in hand.

09:32:12.160 --> 09:32:14.920
Now, our night is just going to be the concession from Henry.

09:32:14.920 --> 09:32:16.280
Diego takes game two.

09:32:16.280 --> 09:32:19.440
There is too much pressure from the Alakazam line

09:32:19.440 --> 09:32:22.040
and that means we are going to a game three.

09:32:22.040 --> 09:32:24.320
But the wonderful thing is we're in top four.

09:32:24.320 --> 09:32:27.920
We've got a longer clock! We've got loads of time for a game free, Joe!

09:32:27.920 --> 09:32:32.160
We have plenty of time, and I was about to say before Henry picked up his guards,

09:32:32.160 --> 09:32:35.920
that was going to be the picture-perfect board statement that Diego had constructed

09:32:35.920 --> 09:32:39.040
whilst also going down to just one price by remaining.

09:32:39.040 --> 09:32:43.280
So, Henry could see the price on the wall, he had six price cards still to take,

09:32:43.280 --> 09:32:44.560
not going to get it done there.

09:32:44.560 --> 09:32:48.720
Diego, coolly, with a much better draw in this game number two,

09:32:48.720 --> 09:32:51.360
a light work that Henry's thought there.

09:32:51.360 --> 09:32:53.440
Absolutely did!

09:32:53.440 --> 09:32:56.880
And that we've just seen this is what Alakazam does.

09:32:56.880 --> 09:33:00.240
Let's see it again. Let's go to the replay.

09:33:00.240 --> 09:33:02.240
See what we've already seen so far.

09:33:02.240 --> 09:33:03.840
This is just game two here.

09:33:03.840 --> 09:33:07.520
And this is Diego, early KO with the Kadabra,

09:33:07.520 --> 09:33:09.840
but crucially with that ace-mullifier genocide,

09:33:09.840 --> 09:33:13.040
making sure there will be no unfair stamp.

09:33:13.040 --> 09:33:16.400
And from here, it was Henry Tran set up,

09:33:16.400 --> 09:33:17.840
and Diego just ruining it.

09:33:17.840 --> 09:33:19.440
We saw the force of orders,

09:33:19.440 --> 09:33:21.920
KOing that drag loop with the energy on,

09:33:21.920 --> 09:33:28.360
two turns in a row. We did finally see a dragapult come up and take a prize. Diego unable to get

09:33:28.360 --> 09:33:34.440
a one hit KO going. I can just hit it now and then it's a two hit KO and I never need

09:33:34.440 --> 09:33:40.240
a large hand size to pull it off and Henry went good point. Let's go to a game three.

09:33:40.240 --> 09:33:45.400
Henry Chow who made his name last season when he free regionals with Guard of War. Diego

09:33:45.400 --> 09:33:48.000
a well-known player for many, many years,

09:33:48.000 --> 09:33:50.600
who's biggest championship,

09:33:50.600 --> 09:33:54.320
you know, biggest result was in the World Championships in 2017

09:33:54.320 --> 09:33:56.040
with a different guard of war.

09:33:56.040 --> 09:33:58.120
Now it is a best of one.

09:33:58.120 --> 09:34:00.280
Whoever wins this final game

09:34:00.280 --> 09:34:02.960
will be joining us in the Chase Center tomorrow

09:34:02.960 --> 09:34:06.160
for the World Championship Final.

09:34:06.160 --> 09:34:07.840
It doesn't get bigger than this, Ross.

09:34:07.840 --> 09:34:09.560
Just won the game away.

09:34:09.560 --> 09:34:11.640
Riding it out in the Chase Center.

09:34:11.640 --> 09:34:13.000
And there is the fist bump.

09:34:13.000 --> 09:34:14.480
We are off game free.

09:34:14.480 --> 09:34:21.040
It all comes down to this and it is going to be it looks like Henry going first 3p against Abra

09:34:21.840 --> 09:34:23.840
And I'm not seeing much in the hand

09:34:23.840 --> 09:34:31.480
I see a dust goal as well as one poker pad will this be for a second 3p and just hope that leaves determination can help you out

09:34:31.880 --> 09:34:38.000
Or to try and hold this for a guaranteed trochloak on the next turn of the game an age old question for those drag-a-port players

09:34:38.360 --> 09:34:40.120
Henry opps the pass

09:34:40.120 --> 09:34:44.200
Well, we've got a 3p and a dusk all hopefully things will get a bit better next turn

09:34:44.560 --> 09:34:49.320
Diego here first turn where you're allowed to play a supporter items are not locked

09:34:49.320 --> 09:34:54.420
So here we go buddy buddy poffin is going to go and get a couple of basic Pokemon

09:34:54.420 --> 09:34:57.840
You're gonna have a look to fear and figure out which cars are in your prizes

09:34:57.840 --> 09:35:03.360
And we are also going to go and grab a couple of basics worth noting

09:35:03.360 --> 09:35:09.360
There are two battle cage in the prizes, but there are still two in the deck compared to one jamming tower

09:35:09.360 --> 09:35:15.640
So not as bad, but ultimately it means that if this game 3 comes down to Henry just having to throw that stadium out there

09:35:15.640 --> 09:35:18.720
There's a much higher likelihood of that actually sticking around for a turn

09:35:18.720 --> 09:35:23.920
So it's going to be a little bit awkward Diego with that early search will grab at least one done sparse

09:35:23.920 --> 09:35:27.920
And he does already have to be threatened by the dust skull on Henry's side of the board

09:35:28.160 --> 09:35:34.560
We may try and look towards getting multiple Abra into play because you don't want your only Abra to be cursed blasted too early

09:35:34.560 --> 09:35:43.560
Absolutely not. That 50 HP is terrifying and one of the main reasons is Dusklox drops 5 damage counters when it uses Cursed Blast.

09:35:43.560 --> 09:35:54.560
Now we have gone and gone 2 Duns-Bars to only one Abra in the active, which would suggest Diego maybe has a telepathic energy or at least some way, I hope so, to get towards more Abra.

09:35:54.560 --> 09:36:03.560
Looks like Diego is also thinking about getting an Abra down here. He has to select 3 targets but we will, I think there's additional Ball Search available to him.

09:36:03.560 --> 09:36:06.200
Just weighing up the options of what's better.

09:36:06.200 --> 09:36:07.600
I don't think he's actually got free.

09:36:07.600 --> 09:36:09.360
I think, yeah, he's doing that.

09:36:09.360 --> 09:36:10.440
He's saying that he wants an Abra

09:36:10.440 --> 09:36:12.440
and that's because he's got a Poker Pad in hand.

09:36:12.440 --> 09:36:14.200
Okay. So Poker Pad.

09:36:14.200 --> 09:36:15.800
I know it's going to be a telepathic energy.

09:36:15.800 --> 09:36:16.800
Yeah, as you said, Ross.

09:36:16.800 --> 09:36:18.200
Love this. Hilda's going to get

09:36:18.200 --> 09:36:20.240
an Evolution Pokemon and an energy

09:36:20.240 --> 09:36:22.040
and has to be telepathic energy.

09:36:22.040 --> 09:36:23.920
We're just going to go and get two Abra

09:36:23.920 --> 09:36:26.400
and there is also a Poker Pad here.

09:36:26.400 --> 09:36:28.760
But strong argument to play that preemptively

09:36:28.760 --> 09:36:30.160
for an Evolution Pokemon with

09:36:30.160 --> 09:36:32.760
Purdue on the horizon.

09:36:32.760 --> 09:36:35.060
Yeah, nice to see that cadaver coming into the hands.

09:36:35.060 --> 09:36:37.860
So it's like Deere's hand is already pretty well sorted.

09:36:38.860 --> 09:36:40.260
And some additional Averacoming into play.

09:36:40.260 --> 09:36:44.560
This is a really picturesque turn one going second for Diego right now.

09:36:45.060 --> 09:36:45.860
Saw the Dedenne.

09:36:47.660 --> 09:36:48.560
You're not for this matchup.

09:36:48.560 --> 09:36:50.160
Yeah, I wouldn't go to Dedenne personally.

09:36:50.160 --> 09:36:51.760
I think Dedenne is great.

09:36:52.060 --> 09:36:54.060
I think this matchup, have a little bit of a snooze.

09:36:54.060 --> 09:36:54.860
Wait for tomorrow.

09:36:54.860 --> 09:36:56.460
You might be needed more then.

09:36:57.060 --> 09:37:00.760
Here comes a poker pad to go and search out a non EX,

09:37:00.760 --> 09:37:02.460
non robot Pokemon.

09:37:02.760 --> 09:37:06.760
Do we get another base? Or do we get an evolution for next turn?

09:37:06.760 --> 09:37:10.760
I think picking up another Kadabra is pretty reasonable here.

09:37:10.760 --> 09:37:13.760
It's actually going to be the ace nullifier, Geneset.

09:37:13.760 --> 09:37:17.760
So Diego saying, I want the opportunity to go aggressive if I have to.

09:37:17.760 --> 09:37:21.760
In this game number three, I don't want to be slowed down by unfair stamp.

09:37:21.760 --> 09:37:26.760
I want to use this Pokemon. He's always made it a trademark, including his list, by playing two copies.

09:37:26.760 --> 09:37:31.760
Identifying how important it is to not fall short to that ace spec choice.

09:37:31.760 --> 09:37:37.040
already has the air balloon in hand so why not I mean yeah quite frankly I mean

09:37:37.040 --> 09:37:41.600
it's doing so much good he hasn't been unfair stand once in this whole series

09:37:41.600 --> 09:37:45.960
and it is going to be just that that attack from the Abra flick back to the

09:37:45.960 --> 09:37:49.760
bench while doing 10 damage popping a Genesect active just because it's got a

09:37:49.760 --> 09:37:53.720
little bit more beef yep I mean already holding on to that air balloon you

09:37:53.720 --> 09:37:57.120
can feel pretty confident with that line of play Henry is gonna poke a pad

09:37:57.120 --> 09:38:00.980
out the one track bloke that he chose to hold this poker pads for

09:38:00.980 --> 09:38:04.500
this turn just to guarantee that stage one and he's also going to do his routine

09:38:04.500 --> 09:38:07.940
deck check. He does have a couple of those psychic energy in the prize cards.

09:38:07.940 --> 09:38:11.620
I want to feel a little bit awkward for him. We know that he needs to keep up on

09:38:11.620 --> 09:38:15.340
these energy attachments when Alakazam is swinging. It can be swinging pretty hard

09:38:15.340 --> 09:38:17.980
so you've got to keep up on those energy drops throughout the entire game.

09:38:17.980 --> 09:38:23.000
We also have a couple of drake cloak as well. It's not ideal prizes. Oh it's a

09:38:23.000 --> 09:38:26.580
one of each. Yeah. Oh it is one of each. My apologies. One of each is still

09:38:26.580 --> 09:38:30.180
not ideal and then we've got two psychic energy. That's got some bosses

09:38:30.180 --> 09:38:33.900
not ideal, but you play two Dusk Gloss free bosses orders.

09:38:33.900 --> 09:38:36.300
You'll probably be able to work around them just fine,

09:38:36.300 --> 09:38:38.140
but two of your four psychic energy

09:38:38.140 --> 09:38:40.260
when you need it to attack with Dragapult.

09:38:40.260 --> 09:38:42.140
So I'm going to keep an eye on, but most players

09:38:42.140 --> 09:38:44.260
take prizes from the bottom to the top,

09:38:44.260 --> 09:38:47.940
so we expect them to be taken sooner rather than later.

09:38:47.940 --> 09:38:49.300
I'm just going to take the moment to acknowledge

09:38:49.300 --> 09:38:52.660
that we are in such a historic match.

09:38:52.660 --> 09:38:56.820
Diego Casaraga has been such an amazing player

09:38:56.820 --> 09:38:58.860
to watch for many years.

09:38:58.860 --> 09:39:03.360
for so many moments. Henry Chow, a player of the now,

09:39:03.360 --> 09:39:06.600
over the last couple of seasons, he has been non-stop competing

09:39:06.600 --> 09:39:10.200
at the very highest level, and this Lily's determination

09:39:10.200 --> 09:39:13.040
is going to be huge for him here. Henry evolving up into

09:39:13.040 --> 09:39:16.280
multiple stage one Pokemon and needs to start seeing

09:39:16.280 --> 09:39:19.280
some buddy-buddy puff in, as well as energy this turn.

09:39:19.280 --> 09:39:23.040
If he wants to initiate an itchy pollen item block,

09:39:23.040 --> 09:39:26.040
failing that, he at least has to protect his Procloak.

09:39:26.040 --> 09:39:30.200
No, absolutely. Diego is in a position to start taking prizes next turn.

09:39:30.200 --> 09:39:32.440
He has got a decent board of Pokémon.

09:39:32.440 --> 09:39:34.840
And again, we said it before, but it bears repeating.

09:39:34.840 --> 09:39:36.880
All of those Pokémon of Diego's bench,

09:39:36.880 --> 09:39:38.840
when you evolve, they draw you cards.

09:39:38.840 --> 09:39:41.240
Kadabra, the Duns boss, they all draw cards.

09:39:41.240 --> 09:39:43.920
You wreck Andy into an Alakazam. It draws cards.

09:39:43.920 --> 09:39:46.640
Everything is drawing you cards as you go.

09:39:46.640 --> 09:39:50.520
There does seem to be a Dreepee in hand, for Henry, at least.

09:39:50.520 --> 09:39:51.640
It's a pretty strong hand.

09:39:51.640 --> 09:39:53.720
Oh, we're... Sorry, Joe, I dropped your legs.

09:39:53.720 --> 09:39:55.440
We're out of dust globs.

09:39:55.440 --> 09:40:00.200
He has ironed up the dust glocks to try and potentially take out presumably the Abra with the energy on

09:40:00.800 --> 09:40:06.680
Hasn't made the decision yet, but it's clearly thinking about it. He's edging towards it. He's gonna do it

09:40:06.680 --> 09:40:09.640
No, he's not gonna do it. I think he's gonna do it Joe. He's gonna do it

09:40:13.760 --> 09:40:15.760
We could be here a while

09:40:16.040 --> 09:40:22.440
Unlike the Abra on the bench which just went away with that curse blast one prize to each player

09:40:22.440 --> 09:40:27.400
but crucially the eyebrow of the energy attack is no more on Diego's bench

09:40:28.280 --> 09:40:33.380
Henry then has a easy recon directive choice of ultra ball or ultra ball. I take ultra ball personally

09:40:33.380 --> 09:40:38.560
Yeah, good shout and it is going to be the buddy buddy pop in now in addition to there's already 3p in

09:40:38.960 --> 09:40:45.960
Hand and there's already a Boudou in hand. So Henry can easily reload a dusk all as well as a 3p

09:40:46.760 --> 09:40:51.360
One of the things that's intrigued me so much about Henry's play throughout this entire tournament is how

09:40:51.360 --> 09:40:55.720
aggressively he likes to use those dust globs during the game much more

09:40:55.720 --> 09:40:59.560
aggressive than most players I would say. I've been surprised in this tournament

09:40:59.560 --> 09:41:03.360
not in a bad way but I've been surprised by the situations in which Henry

09:41:03.360 --> 09:41:06.720
has decided hey it's turn two I'm gonna use dust globs to take something out

09:41:06.720 --> 09:41:10.560
we saw it on a Purdue in a previous game that was absolutely crucial we've

09:41:10.560 --> 09:41:14.880
seen it on an Abra here hoping for Henry's sake that it is going to be the

09:41:14.880 --> 09:41:18.440
same we see an energy attachment just to manually retreat the Tricloak and

09:41:18.440 --> 09:41:30.100
And that means that we do get a Badoo into the active, and it is going to be an itchy bollum, 10 damage, but far more importantly is no item cards coming down.

09:41:30.100 --> 09:41:35.600
I say 10 damage. It would have been 10 damage, were it not for the resistance that we see on Jannisette.

09:41:35.600 --> 09:41:40.100
He's not worried about the damage in this case. He just wants to shut down the flow of Diego's deck.

09:41:40.100 --> 09:41:44.900
We already see that. We're a couple of Katabra already in the hand, and Adorn has just found his way into the hand.

09:41:44.900 --> 09:41:49.060
In addition to one of his two copies of Battle Cage,

09:41:49.060 --> 09:41:51.780
with two in those prize cards, lest we forget,

09:41:51.780 --> 09:41:55.420
and now we have the runaway draw from Diego.

09:41:55.420 --> 09:41:58.940
Thanks to this itchy pollen, Henry knows that there's not going to be

09:41:58.940 --> 09:42:03.180
an attack from an Alakazam, but there could still be a Kadabra KO this turn.

09:42:03.180 --> 09:42:06.580
And we know that Diego was happy to do so in that game number two

09:42:06.580 --> 09:42:09.900
where he came out the victor as soon as he was able to combine a KO

09:42:09.900 --> 09:42:13.860
with the ace nullified Genesect, and that will be a board save that he can

09:42:13.860 --> 09:42:19.700
Once again repeats. Yeah, absolutely. He's got that air balloon to attach to the active to enable free retreat

09:42:19.700 --> 09:42:22.860
We're lacking energy right now. I was there just about to say Joe

09:42:22.860 --> 09:42:26.620
I don't think we've got an energy right now. So that's a tough break

09:42:27.180 --> 09:42:32.000
Was that look how many cards are in that hand and yet? No, it's gonna be a dawn to go and grab

09:42:32.780 --> 09:42:35.540
Basic a stage one and a stage two

09:42:35.820 --> 09:42:41.860
Coming down to our final runaway draw for an energy card here. I think it might be runaway draw desperate search for an energy

09:42:41.860 --> 09:42:43.860
I think that might be the only play.

09:42:43.860 --> 09:42:45.860
It's a surprising turn of events.

09:42:45.860 --> 09:42:47.860
Diego has seen so many cards.

09:42:47.860 --> 09:42:51.860
You think it's inevitable that there's going to be one in there, but not yet.

09:42:51.860 --> 09:42:54.860
Well, there's only five energy in the deck.

09:42:54.860 --> 09:42:57.860
One of which, of course, is hiding away in the prizes.

09:42:57.860 --> 09:42:59.860
One of which on the Abra that just got KOed.

09:42:59.860 --> 09:43:03.860
So that does mean there's only actually free energy available.

09:43:03.860 --> 09:43:05.860
Maybe that's why we're seeing it with.

09:43:05.860 --> 09:43:08.860
So cross your fingers if you want to see Diego win here.

09:43:08.860 --> 09:43:09.860
Cross your fingers.

09:43:09.860 --> 09:43:14.740
we're about to see a psychic energy coming off of this runaway draw. Everything else is there.

09:43:14.740 --> 09:43:19.700
We've got Kadabra. We've got the air balloons, both turn on ace nullifier and get Genesect out.

09:43:19.700 --> 09:43:25.540
The active. Do we have a psychic energy coming off of this draw? Huge turning point in the game.

09:43:25.540 --> 09:43:32.580
We do. That telepathic energy comes out. That's a big pickup for Diego. You want to pressure

09:43:32.580 --> 09:43:36.660
the board as much as possible. We've seen what Henry can do when he has access to Curse

09:43:36.660 --> 09:43:40.660
So, let's speed up the game, start taking these prize cards.

09:43:40.660 --> 09:43:43.660
It's also the best-case scenario, a telepathic energy,

09:43:43.660 --> 09:43:48.660
so he can also replace an Abra that was carried on the previous turn.

09:43:48.660 --> 09:43:51.660
So, now his board is looking a little bit more stable here.

09:43:51.660 --> 09:43:52.660
Absolutely huge.

09:43:52.660 --> 09:43:55.660
Like, with the energy there, would it put you a whole turn back?

09:43:55.660 --> 09:43:57.660
So, when you get to the end of the game, you're like,

09:43:57.660 --> 09:43:59.660
ah, I would have won with one more turn. Well, that's where the turn went.

09:43:59.660 --> 09:44:02.660
But not to me, the telepathic energy did come out.

09:44:02.660 --> 09:44:05.660
We see a dunce pass, ping and pop down to replace it, a dunce pass.

09:44:05.660 --> 09:44:09.100
battle cage comes down to turn off all of those shenanigans.

09:44:09.100 --> 09:44:10.780
You've already seen one cursed blast.

09:44:10.780 --> 09:44:12.380
And now for that, thank you very much.

09:44:12.380 --> 09:44:14.220
So we see an air balloon on the Genesect.

09:44:14.220 --> 09:44:16.740
That's going to give it free retreat into the Kadabra.

09:44:16.740 --> 09:44:18.740
And then Kadabra can just come along

09:44:18.740 --> 09:44:20.940
and Super Cybolt for 30.

09:44:20.940 --> 09:44:23.660
Get the KO onto that Purdue.

09:44:23.660 --> 09:44:24.780
Start the prize race,

09:44:24.780 --> 09:44:27.620
but there will be no unfair stamp

09:44:27.620 --> 09:44:31.340
because ace nullifier on that Genesect is online.

09:44:31.340 --> 09:44:33.420
Diego has been so diligent with this

09:44:33.420 --> 09:44:35.140
throughout the entire set.

09:44:35.140 --> 09:44:38.580
You have to respect that dangerous A-spec.

09:44:38.580 --> 09:44:42.180
Henry already taking a moment to pause here.

09:44:42.180 --> 09:44:43.700
How can he punish his opponent?

09:44:43.700 --> 09:44:47.860
He's thinking of promoting a dust skull here,

09:44:47.860 --> 09:44:49.180
even though there's free retreat

09:44:49.180 --> 09:44:52.300
with his body has just been knocked out, my apologies.

09:44:52.300 --> 09:44:55.140
But it is forcing him into a dust globs play here,

09:44:55.140 --> 09:44:57.260
and Ness is gonna take another turn off.

09:44:57.260 --> 09:44:59.700
Well, the dust globs would only be able to go to the active,

09:44:59.700 --> 09:45:02.060
which is not the best use of the damage.

09:45:02.060 --> 09:45:03.940
I mean, it still gets damaged down,

09:45:03.940 --> 09:45:07.020
but it's not what you're looking for.

09:45:07.020 --> 09:45:09.120
Henry once again on the back foot here,

09:45:09.120 --> 09:45:12.980
Diego absolutely the aggressor in this game number three.

09:45:12.980 --> 09:45:15.480
Lost game one, came back in one game two.

09:45:15.480 --> 09:45:17.340
Remember we are in game three here.

09:45:17.340 --> 09:45:20.620
It is top four at the World Championships in San Francisco.

09:45:20.620 --> 09:45:22.380
The winner of this individual game

09:45:22.380 --> 09:45:23.740
will take a two-one win

09:45:23.740 --> 09:45:26.980
and we will see them again in the chase center tomorrow

09:45:26.980 --> 09:45:28.740
on stage and I'm telling you,

09:45:28.740 --> 09:45:30.260
you don't wanna miss tomorrow.

09:45:30.260 --> 09:45:34.100
That is looking like the best venue you've ever seen

09:45:34.100 --> 09:45:37.340
for a trading card game championship match.

09:45:37.340 --> 09:45:39.100
Rare situation where you may be using

09:45:39.100 --> 09:45:41.580
your unfair stamp as discard fodder for an ultra ball.

09:45:41.580 --> 09:45:43.180
No!

09:45:43.180 --> 09:45:45.420
It's come to the hand, and we do have a dawn

09:45:45.420 --> 09:45:47.340
as the support of the turn for Henry.

09:45:47.340 --> 09:45:49.180
So confirmation that there's not gonna be

09:45:49.180 --> 09:45:51.660
much of an attack going on this turn.

09:45:51.660 --> 09:45:53.740
Unless you value, something will be cursed blast.

09:45:53.740 --> 09:45:55.940
We can reload perhaps a bodu here

09:45:55.940 --> 09:45:58.140
to continue to item lock.

09:45:58.140 --> 09:46:01.460
has been something Henry has tried to maintain for a lot of this game.

09:46:01.460 --> 09:46:06.100
Problem is, if you continue to ice a lot, you continue to feed your opponent prizes,

09:46:06.100 --> 09:46:09.500
that will go down, that will be Diego's third prize,

09:46:09.500 --> 09:46:13.420
and he is just building up those Alakazam on the bench as we go.

09:46:13.420 --> 09:46:15.980
Good news, of course, you haven't played your judge yet,

09:46:15.980 --> 09:46:17.860
you haven't played your special red card,

09:46:17.860 --> 09:46:20.460
so you do still have those hand disruption options,

09:46:20.460 --> 09:46:24.460
you haven't used your jamming tower for your big potential multi-price term.

09:46:24.460 --> 09:46:27.540
So all three of those one-offs are still in the deck, there's still options.

09:46:27.540 --> 09:46:33.100
Yeah, and that's one of the key choices from Henry this tournament to have all three options of disruption

09:46:33.100 --> 09:46:34.620
There's normally cherry pick two of those

09:46:34.620 --> 09:46:36.260
It's almost all with the unfair stamp

09:46:36.260 --> 09:46:42.100
And it's either the all of the special red card or the judge in this case Henry wanted to have all three options

09:46:42.100 --> 09:46:46.700
And it could end up being a huge choice for him as we progress through this game

09:46:47.060 --> 09:46:52.220
Henry able to pick up a few more drawing cards with that third reclote that he can evolve into and is also going to hold

09:46:52.220 --> 09:46:54.260
On to the festivity in his hand for now

09:46:54.260 --> 09:46:57.920
He does already have energy that he can commit this turn

09:46:57.920 --> 09:47:02.020
I think essentially what he wants to do is force Diego down to three prize cards

09:47:02.020 --> 09:47:07.540
It's almost almost allow Diego to go down to three prize cards so that he has both judge and the special red card

09:47:07.540 --> 09:47:12.780
They can work into this game. He's got the stadium. He just drew the jamming towel off of that recon directive

09:47:12.780 --> 09:47:16.300
So that is going to give that one turn of well would say one turn

09:47:16.300 --> 09:47:21.100
Diego doesn't draw into his other stadium. Maybe not but one turn at least of hey

09:47:21.100 --> 09:47:26.020
I can actually use Phantom Dive. I can use Curse Blast on the bench. I can do all of my fun tricks

09:47:26.540 --> 09:47:31.860
Right now it's going to be a night stretcher to go and grab a Pokemon or a basic energy from the discard pile

09:47:31.860 --> 09:47:33.860
It is going to be that dust globs

09:47:34.300 --> 09:47:36.300
You can use that to evolve the active

09:47:37.420 --> 09:47:41.060
Then just the pass. Now you're threatening on all fronts

09:47:41.060 --> 09:47:44.180
You're saying I want my draw power to stick around so if you want a boss's orders

09:47:44.180 --> 09:47:47.740
I at least still have access to my dust of R if you just take out the dust globs

09:47:47.740 --> 09:47:53.100
I can still manage with that because I'm going to be on odd prize cards and I can try and force my opponent through multiple

09:47:53.380 --> 09:47:55.380
of my Dragon Pulse EX.

09:47:55.900 --> 09:48:02.620
Let's see how Diego wants to respond to this. Can he weave in an airy perhaps this turn? That could be a huge issue.

09:48:03.300 --> 09:48:05.260
The knockout is already confirmed.

09:48:05.260 --> 09:48:12.300
It's really how he can make his board as safe as possible. Evolving up into another Kadabra would be very handy here.

09:48:12.300 --> 09:48:14.940
Getting another Duns Barcing to play would be very handy as well.

09:48:14.940 --> 09:48:20.900
But if you can find that area supporter card it could be massive you can try and catch Henry off kilter

09:48:21.900 --> 09:48:27.860
You can catch that special red card if you can catch something else in that hand you can really slow him down

09:48:29.100 --> 09:48:33.980
Catch the ace back here. I'm not sure if special red card is in there bro. No, not at the moment

09:48:33.980 --> 09:48:36.980
But do you guys not to know that that's what he's trying to work towards?

09:48:38.020 --> 09:48:40.620
Absolutely. Just pick up that Feds and 50 EX

09:48:40.620 --> 09:48:43.780
It could be a Pokemon that he also tries to weave in.

09:48:43.780 --> 09:48:45.260
He's got another heirloom in hand,

09:48:45.260 --> 09:48:48.660
so it could be another Pokemon he decides to bench here.

09:48:48.660 --> 09:48:50.900
Knowing that once you take this knockout,

09:48:50.900 --> 09:48:53.300
you're gonna be in range of that special red card,

09:48:53.300 --> 09:48:54.860
so you do want to have the script

09:48:54.860 --> 09:48:56.900
to help you burst back into some cards.

09:48:56.900 --> 09:48:58.220
You absolutely do.

09:48:58.220 --> 09:48:59.540
Here comes the poker pad.

09:48:59.540 --> 09:49:02.820
That's gonna go and search out a non-robot Pokemon.

09:49:02.820 --> 09:49:05.060
It is going to be, is that genocide design up there?

09:49:05.060 --> 09:49:06.820
Think about it.

09:49:06.820 --> 09:49:09.140
Probably just as a discard for later,

09:49:09.140 --> 09:49:11.260
even just to add a card into hands.

09:49:11.260 --> 09:49:13.860
He's not got, you know, not much else right now.

09:49:13.860 --> 09:49:16.300
It's not going to do him much good at this precise moment.

09:49:16.300 --> 09:49:19.060
We've got a Genesect who's already doing its job.

09:49:19.060 --> 09:49:20.500
But like we've got Tuka Dabra down

09:49:20.500 --> 09:49:23.260
that could evolve up into Alakazam and draw a bunch of cards.

09:49:23.260 --> 09:49:26.060
Look at this, the second copy of Genesect coming into play.

09:49:26.060 --> 09:49:29.900
Oh, my word! He is not getting unfest up this turn, Joe.

09:49:29.900 --> 09:49:31.860
That means it's a boss's orders effect.

09:49:31.860 --> 09:49:35.860
You're going to try and take out the Cloak here from Henry Chow.

09:49:35.860 --> 09:49:38.140
Now you're saying there's still going to be no unfest up,

09:49:38.140 --> 09:49:44.800
Even if there's a dust to our getting into the equation with jamming tower, Diego if you want to have a safe board

09:49:44.800 --> 09:49:49.740
That's how you do it can even draw three cards with another evolution here of Alakazam

09:49:50.900 --> 09:49:57.800
You're finding a spot to use bosses orders again targeting down the energy Diego going down to three prize cards with double

09:49:57.860 --> 09:50:03.420
Genesect developed. I love it. I've ever seen double Genesect on the board at the same time

09:50:03.420 --> 09:50:07.880
But it means that unfair stamping you might as well scarred of an altar ball now. I'm afraid Henry

09:50:07.880 --> 09:50:11.540
It is not gonna do you any good for the rest of this game

09:50:11.820 --> 09:50:14.180
We've got a dust box. We got to dracloak

09:50:14.340 --> 09:50:19.100
It seems like we're grabbing and a night stretch rapid now was from a recon directive

09:50:19.100 --> 09:50:23.360
And then we're gonna get what's like a buddy puffing on Lily's determination from the second one

09:50:23.860 --> 09:50:25.860
It was like it has to be Lily from this stage

09:50:26.500 --> 09:50:31.660
You could still try and use flip the script this turn and try and work towards your special red cards

09:50:31.660 --> 09:50:35.660
But, Judge feels pretty poor this turn.

09:50:35.660 --> 09:50:38.660
It does feel... I mean, you really need energy at this point.

09:50:38.660 --> 09:50:41.660
That's the thing. If you attacked one energy a turn, that just tells Diego,

09:50:41.660 --> 09:50:44.660
hey Diego, KO this one! This is the one you want!

09:50:44.660 --> 09:50:48.660
So you need something like a Crispin or a Rosa, but the problem is then,

09:50:48.660 --> 09:50:51.660
you need to get it all in one turn and then you're not playing Judge.

09:50:51.660 --> 09:50:55.660
It is starting to look a little bit hairy. Diego just free prize cards away

09:50:55.660 --> 09:50:59.660
from booking his spot to a second world championship final.

09:50:59.660 --> 09:51:01.780
Here comes a PokeBad.

09:51:01.780 --> 09:51:04.460
That's going to search out another Pokemon for Henry here.

09:51:04.460 --> 09:51:07.260
Honestly, I'm just so pleased with the play from Diego last time.

09:51:07.260 --> 09:51:11.180
The second ace nullified, Geneset, also with the air balloon, is just incredible,

09:51:11.180 --> 09:51:14.380
because Henry was slowly trying to creep towards this play

09:51:14.380 --> 09:51:16.980
where you blow up the Geneset on the bench,

09:51:16.980 --> 09:51:19.940
so you can unleash your unfest amp to be powerful.

09:51:19.940 --> 09:51:22.340
Diego's having none of that, not his first rodeo.

09:51:22.340 --> 09:51:23.740
No, and that could have been a play.

09:51:23.740 --> 09:51:25.260
You know, we've got the jamming tower in hand,

09:51:25.260 --> 09:51:27.940
you've all opened the bustle, I'll play down the jamming tower,

09:51:27.940 --> 09:51:30.640
and then Kers Blast will get rid of the Genesect on the bench.

09:51:30.640 --> 09:51:33.580
He'll immediately unfair stamp. It was all there.

09:51:33.580 --> 09:51:37.140
Diego, he wasn't to know both those cards were in hand,

09:51:37.140 --> 09:51:39.980
but he also, like you say, not his first rodeo,

09:51:39.980 --> 09:51:43.080
you're thinking, what is the worst thing that can happen right now?

09:51:43.080 --> 09:51:45.380
Hey, I've got an answer to that.

09:51:46.580 --> 09:51:49.580
So strong from Henry.

09:51:50.580 --> 09:51:51.680
Oh, sorry, from Diego.

09:51:51.680 --> 09:51:53.340
And it's put Henry in this strange position

09:51:53.340 --> 09:51:56.180
where he might even be having another turn

09:51:56.180 --> 09:52:00.340
He's putting on the brakes doesn't want to put an EX Pokemon into play

09:52:01.740 --> 09:52:07.100
Can the way you only give up one prize card this turn means you can still use curse blast and a phantom dive

09:52:08.500 --> 09:52:12.340
It gives him one more turn to try desperately to dig

09:52:12.900 --> 09:52:16.060
Towards that special red card on the following turn

09:52:16.740 --> 09:52:20.100
Not in hand now. There's no judge. There's special red card

09:52:20.100 --> 09:52:26.160
We are just going to see an ultra ball still holding on to that unfair stab still holding on to a little bit

09:52:26.160 --> 09:52:28.800
I hope that maybe we can use it here

09:52:28.800 --> 09:52:30.740
Oh, we did it go to this guy

09:52:30.740 --> 09:52:35.400
Well, we've just even alter ball to get rid of some pieces and then a lilies determination fresh hand here

09:52:35.820 --> 09:52:42.060
Henry unable to use judge didn't value any of the supporter card instead is going to go for the lead termination

09:52:42.900 --> 09:52:47.300
Didn't want to put the pheasant dipty into play either that would allow Diego down to one prize card

09:52:47.300 --> 09:52:49.780
And that would essentially diffuse your curse blast Pokemon

09:52:50.100 --> 09:52:52.540
It's not going to go to that just yet.

09:52:52.540 --> 09:52:53.660
It's not there yet.

09:52:53.660 --> 09:52:55.980
Drawn back into the unfair stuff.

09:52:55.980 --> 09:52:58.660
I haven't hit the special red card.

09:52:58.660 --> 09:53:00.940
You're just as likely to hit each of them,

09:53:00.940 --> 09:53:03.220
but you hit the one you can't play yet.

09:53:03.220 --> 09:53:06.580
And that means that it's going to be back to Diego in a moment.

09:53:06.580 --> 09:53:09.940
And you just think, I mean, I suppose maybe you do,

09:53:09.940 --> 09:53:12.220
but do it again because you just don't want the Dracula

09:53:12.220 --> 09:53:14.780
being KOed either way, but do stay there.

09:53:14.780 --> 09:53:17.220
And it is going to be a pass over to Diego.

09:53:17.220 --> 09:53:20.540
but the very least, the KO and going down to two prizes

09:53:20.540 --> 09:53:21.580
is on the board.

09:53:21.580 --> 09:53:23.220
Could we see maybe a boss's orders

09:53:23.220 --> 09:53:26.660
to take out the drag cloak with the only energy on?

09:53:26.660 --> 09:53:29.940
The cheeky Lucky Helmets from Diego.

09:53:29.940 --> 09:53:32.940
A decent option to give you that little bit more draw.

09:53:32.940 --> 09:53:36.540
Diego is really closing in on this game pretty quickly.

09:53:36.540 --> 09:53:37.700
You're still gonna have to probably get

09:53:37.700 --> 09:53:40.220
through one Dragapult EX here.

09:53:40.220 --> 09:53:41.380
That's the thing you have to still have

09:53:41.380 --> 09:53:42.220
in the back of your mind,

09:53:42.220 --> 09:53:43.180
that you're gonna have to still springboard

09:53:43.180 --> 09:53:44.140
into a number of cards,

09:53:44.140 --> 09:53:46.220
but the Lucky Helmet helps you do that.

09:53:46.220 --> 09:53:48.460
already safeguarded around the unfair stamp.

09:53:49.460 --> 09:53:51.060
He's done pretty much everything he needs to do.

09:53:51.060 --> 09:53:52.580
He's holding on to that boss's orders as well,

09:53:52.580 --> 09:53:54.620
so he could just continue to take out energy.

09:53:54.620 --> 09:53:55.460
There it is.

09:53:55.460 --> 09:53:58.100
You'd go after the Droglo, you'd get rid of the energy,

09:53:58.100 --> 09:54:01.380
and now, they can't play Judge next turn,

09:54:01.380 --> 09:54:03.380
and they can't play unfair stamp next turn,

09:54:03.380 --> 09:54:05.180
so it's exactly special red card

09:54:05.180 --> 09:54:07.060
as the only thing that you are worried about.

09:54:07.060 --> 09:54:09.820
We take the KO, and Diego goes down

09:54:09.820 --> 09:54:12.260
to two prize cards remaining.

09:54:12.260 --> 09:54:14.780
One Dragapult KO away from a space

09:54:14.780 --> 09:54:17.140
at the World Championship Finals.

09:54:17.140 --> 09:54:18.700
Does Henry have a way back?

09:54:18.700 --> 09:54:20.860
Still five prize cards to take.

09:54:20.860 --> 09:54:23.420
Draco goes into the active.

09:54:23.420 --> 09:54:24.460
Top deck, no help.

09:54:24.460 --> 09:54:27.420
It's gonna have to come down to this recon directive, Ross.

09:54:27.420 --> 09:54:28.260
What have we got?

09:54:28.260 --> 09:54:30.140
It's a Crispin and a Dragapult.

09:54:30.140 --> 09:54:31.860
A shaken ahead from Henry.

09:54:31.860 --> 09:54:34.820
Oh, and if you're Diego, you love to see that.

09:54:34.820 --> 09:54:36.380
Your opponent shaking their head.

09:54:36.380 --> 09:54:38.900
Is it all slipping away for Henry Chow here?

09:54:38.900 --> 09:54:40.180
You kind of want both of those cards

09:54:40.180 --> 09:54:41.860
to start launching an attack.

09:54:41.860 --> 09:54:44.460
You can't, it's only one just to be clear.

09:54:44.460 --> 09:54:46.900
But both of them would be quite nice.

09:54:46.900 --> 09:54:48.220
Oh, and what's Henry got?

09:54:48.220 --> 09:54:50.460
Other than that, he dates to Crispin.

09:54:50.460 --> 09:54:52.620
That's going to get us as all this is his only other supporter card,

09:54:52.620 --> 09:54:54.860
and that's pretty useless.

09:54:54.860 --> 09:54:56.460
And neither supports are looking great here.

09:54:56.460 --> 09:54:58.540
It could be the Crispin.

09:54:58.540 --> 09:55:00.660
But at this stage again, you have to just give up a single prize.

09:55:00.660 --> 09:55:03.100
Are you retreating into Drepi here?

09:55:03.100 --> 09:55:04.580
That's your best line of play.

09:55:04.580 --> 09:55:07.340
That's going to put Diego down to one prize card remaining.

09:55:07.340 --> 09:55:09.340
I think Diego has played two boss so far, right?

09:55:09.340 --> 09:55:09.700
He has.

09:55:09.700 --> 09:55:10.580
And there are two in the deck.

09:55:10.580 --> 09:55:12.340
So, boss is now out for Diego.

09:55:12.340 --> 09:55:13.700
There will be no more gusting,

09:55:13.700 --> 09:55:18.340
No more bosses orders. You just have to hit what's in front of you. But Henry here

09:55:18.340 --> 09:55:21.700
He's got three hand disruption cards. None of them have hit the board

09:55:21.700 --> 09:55:27.400
None of them have given him any value whatsoever here and Diego has really just had a very straightforward

09:55:27.940 --> 09:55:32.940
Set up of Alakazam chaos smaller Pokemon. He hasn't had to reach a tall

09:55:33.500 --> 09:55:34.500
energy

09:55:34.500 --> 09:55:41.820
Onto the drag cloak and a second one and then a retreat into but do when you are five prizes down to two remaining

09:55:41.820 --> 09:55:44.940
and it is just going to be an itchy pollen.

09:55:44.940 --> 09:55:48.020
There will be no item cards for Diego,

09:55:48.020 --> 09:55:52.100
but he will draw cards for the lucky helmet.

09:55:52.100 --> 09:55:54.420
Has plenty of draw right now.

09:55:56.260 --> 09:55:59.220
Henry was really wobbling on that final turn,

09:55:59.220 --> 09:56:01.180
almost retreated the psychic energy away.

09:56:01.180 --> 09:56:03.060
You can see he's feeling the pressure

09:56:03.060 --> 09:56:05.940
and Diego, all he has to do is take a prize card.

09:56:05.940 --> 09:56:09.700
Diego Casaraga, just one prize card away.

09:56:09.700 --> 09:56:11.460
Henry's been holding onto a lot of the puzzle pieces,

09:56:11.460 --> 09:56:14.420
has picked up a Meowth EX.

09:56:14.420 --> 09:56:17.820
Could that be one of his final defences here?

09:56:17.820 --> 09:56:19.860
I think it almost feels like at this point

09:56:19.860 --> 09:56:21.140
where you're looking for, you get an energy,

09:56:21.140 --> 09:56:23.780
you get a dragapult, you find your jamming tower,

09:56:23.780 --> 09:56:26.540
and you just hope that Diego's not able to piece together

09:56:26.540 --> 09:56:29.220
a big KO onto a dragapult,

09:56:29.220 --> 09:56:32.380
because I'm not seeing much else that Henry's got here.

09:56:32.380 --> 09:56:33.900
He's having a look through his deck,

09:56:33.900 --> 09:56:35.460
but he's got to be thinking at this point,

09:56:35.460 --> 09:56:38.220
is there anything that I can do?

09:56:38.220 --> 09:56:39.180
Where am I at?

09:56:39.180 --> 09:56:42.300
What can I do when I'm this far down?

09:56:42.300 --> 09:56:45.660
It's going to be the Meowth for Judge. It has to be at this stage.

09:56:45.660 --> 09:56:48.300
The hand size is too monstrous for Diego.

09:56:48.300 --> 09:56:50.940
We have the fight energy already in hand.

09:56:50.940 --> 09:56:53.660
Did we also already have the Dragapult EX in the hand as well?

09:56:55.260 --> 09:56:57.260
There we go. We have the stadium though.

09:56:57.260 --> 09:56:58.700
You could consider playing this card,

09:56:58.700 --> 09:57:01.180
but you have to be so careful about when you do.

09:57:01.180 --> 09:57:04.620
Here comes the only stadium that Jammingtower comes down.

09:57:04.620 --> 09:57:07.820
We do see Dustnoir and it is going to be a judge.

09:57:07.820 --> 09:57:14.060
Finally, we get some hand disruption Henry has got to get a dragapot and this is Henry's last stand here

09:57:14.060 --> 09:57:18.380
You get dragapot. You've got jamming tower down. You put your opponent down to a four-card hand

09:57:18.420 --> 09:57:24.780
You know they have no gusting left and you say you can't KO this dragapot and I'm making a huge comeback

09:57:24.900 --> 09:57:28.940
And it's looking ugly here, but just a couple of turns of phantom dive and it can all change

09:57:28.940 --> 09:57:32.060
Oh, yes, you can still put in a substantial amount of damage

09:57:32.060 --> 09:57:36.220
knocking out one Alakazam, setting up the bench to Kadabra on the following turn,

09:57:36.220 --> 09:57:39.220
if you're able to sponge a hit, you can knock out an Alakazam, finish off the

09:57:39.220 --> 09:57:44.740
Kadabra. If Diego is unable to find another Stage 2 Evolution, it's a poker

09:57:44.740 --> 09:57:47.500
pad coming out from Henry. I'm not even sure if he has access to the Dragaport EX

09:57:47.500 --> 09:57:52.100
just yet, his own judge. We've got a dawn coming down. We do have a

09:57:52.100 --> 09:57:55.060
dust lock. We come down to the recon directive, even if Henry can find this

09:57:55.060 --> 09:57:58.140
Dragaport in the first place. There's a light structure in the

09:57:58.140 --> 09:58:00.140
So that's okay

09:58:00.140 --> 09:58:03.180
Okay, so that's gonna get you towards the dragapult. That's gonna be big

09:58:03.180 --> 09:58:07.100
And it picks up the special red card as well. Oh, I love that

09:58:07.260 --> 09:58:13.120
That's a special red card surely. Yeah, so you can judge phantom dive this term the next turn special red card phantom dive

09:58:13.700 --> 09:58:16.220
Henry's done everything he can to be as cautious as possible

09:58:16.820 --> 09:58:19.700
To still have this chance to phantom dive cleanly two times

09:58:20.260 --> 09:58:25.400
You're asking for a lot here. You need to get a fairly poor four-card hand from judge

09:58:25.400 --> 09:58:31.900
But he's gonna set up the Kadabra and hope they can take out multiple Alakazam in a turn and leave Diego with no attackers whatsoever

09:58:32.240 --> 09:58:37.560
Diego what do you have? Do we do Alakazam already? Do we draw off the lucky helmet? No because of the jamming tower

09:58:37.560 --> 09:58:42.540
Oh, of course. Thank you very much a jamming tower turns off the lucky helmet. No draws from that

09:58:42.540 --> 09:58:45.020
We've got five cards in hand. We do have a dawn

09:58:45.680 --> 09:58:53.520
We do have a potential Alakazam draw for free. It does feel like we are just gonna be hitting and working on a two hit KO here

09:58:53.520 --> 09:58:58.020
But already evolving up into the Alakazam is the biggest relief for Diego.

09:58:58.020 --> 09:59:02.520
That's the most important thing here. Get your Kadabra out of range of a second Phantom Dive.

09:59:02.520 --> 09:59:03.020
Yes.

09:59:03.020 --> 09:59:06.020
And then you can two-hit here with this last Dragapultie X from Henry.

09:59:06.020 --> 09:59:10.020
So the judge has been just good enough for Diego so far.

09:59:10.020 --> 09:59:13.020
Just good enough. I think is a good way to put it.

09:59:13.020 --> 09:59:17.020
We're going to go and get a Pheasant Dipty. That can go down and draw you three extra cards.

09:59:17.020 --> 09:59:20.020
Go and get a Stage 1 Dedunce, but it's not doing anything.

09:59:20.020 --> 09:59:24.460
This is plus one card in hand, which is everything this deck wants to do.

09:59:24.460 --> 09:59:27.500
So we're going to be drawing six cards here, three from Flip the Script,

09:59:27.500 --> 09:59:29.060
three from Alakazam.

09:59:29.060 --> 09:59:31.820
Doesn't look like we've got a KO this turn,

09:59:31.820 --> 09:59:35.980
but we can set up for a two-hit KO and win the game next turn.

09:59:35.980 --> 09:59:39.100
16 cards does seem out of reach.

09:59:39.100 --> 09:59:41.740
Let's see the three cards. There's the Enriching Energy.

09:59:41.740 --> 09:59:45.060
OK, that's a lot of cards here.

09:59:45.060 --> 09:59:48.620
There's the Enriching Energy to draw four.

09:59:48.620 --> 09:59:53.620
We can get three more off the dunce pass and then three more of the back here.

09:59:53.620 --> 09:59:55.620
Diego start counting.

09:59:55.620 --> 09:59:59.620
You've got flip the script, you've got runaway draw. That could be enough.

09:59:59.620 --> 10:00:02.620
There's the handshake. Diego does get the 16 cards in hand.

10:00:02.620 --> 10:00:04.620
One Hickey on the fresh Dragonpole.

10:00:04.620 --> 10:00:08.620
And Diego Casaraga is back to the Pokemon trading card game.

10:00:08.620 --> 10:00:12.620
World Championship. We'll see him in the chase as of tomorrow.

10:00:12.620 --> 10:00:17.620
Trying to be the second player ever to repeat as the Masters Division World Champion.

10:00:17.620 --> 10:00:21.860
Wow, Diego, you're doing it again.

10:00:21.860 --> 10:00:25.460
All the words of J-Witz, go Diego, go.

10:00:25.460 --> 10:00:29.860
My word, the end of that game, Joe, that was so stressful.

10:00:29.860 --> 10:00:33.260
I have so much sympathy for the players there.

10:00:33.260 --> 10:00:37.420
Just another Diego was running away with it, and then Henry had the turn.

10:00:37.420 --> 10:00:42.260
We had the jamming power, we had the judge, we had special red card.

10:00:42.260 --> 10:00:48.900
Lopmanet turned in, but then Diego somehow to rich energy and it's necessary and it's always

10:00:48.900 --> 10:00:56.260
that we do have 16 cards in hand. Let's go. Oh such an impressive result for Diego there.

10:00:56.260 --> 10:01:00.660
Keeping his cool. Let's see how it all played out. Starting off in this game number one then.

10:01:00.660 --> 10:01:05.220
Diego had a really slow start in this game number one. Henry was getting in there with

10:01:05.220 --> 10:01:09.380
Phantom Dive even with the battle cage established. He was able to go up three prize

10:01:09.380 --> 10:01:14.140
guards before Diego was able to initiate any sort of attack. Absolutely

10:01:14.140 --> 10:01:18.780
battlecade was there but battlecade was absolutely not doing anything like you

10:01:18.780 --> 10:01:23.180
needed it to. We had this big turn at the end where you use the curse blast to

10:01:23.180 --> 10:01:27.500
KO the active the battlecade will not protect big KO off the game to where

10:01:27.500 --> 10:01:33.620
Diego has a much better start. All these KO's with Alakazam while Henry is not

10:01:33.620 --> 10:01:37.700
able to actually set up much of anything Diego is able to then start

10:01:37.700 --> 10:01:43.840
Hicking apart the bench using Boston's orders to take out the Drakloak that Henry really wanted to stay on the board

10:01:43.840 --> 10:01:50.360
And then when we finally saw Dragapult come up, Diego is able to just draw a whole bunch of cards

10:01:50.360 --> 10:01:55.720
He didn't get a one hit KO, but a two hit KO was more than enough and Henry went all right then

10:01:55.720 --> 10:01:58.220
Let's go to game three. Game three

10:01:58.580 --> 10:02:03.700
And then in that un-mouse situation Henry going early with Cursefast trying to just limit those

10:02:03.700 --> 10:02:08.600
Kedavra as much as possible, knowing that he had to keep replaying these low hit-point

10:02:08.600 --> 10:02:11.960
both on, and he tried to find a situation where he could get three prize cards later

10:02:11.960 --> 10:02:12.960
on in the game.

10:02:12.960 --> 10:02:17.800
That's why he was getting so aggressive with those dust blocks for Diego, with a much better

10:02:17.800 --> 10:02:22.800
opener here, was able to weave in a knockout early on with a Kedavra whilst getting the

10:02:22.800 --> 10:02:26.520
ace nullified Geneset online, and that was really hithering Henry, he was really

10:02:26.520 --> 10:02:30.880
desperate he tried to weave in that ace spec for Diego, with that second copy of

10:02:30.880 --> 10:02:34.720
The Jettison coming down, but there was gonna be no shenanigans from Dostnilor.

10:02:34.720 --> 10:02:39.000
And that was such a crucial play, and here we see Diego going,

10:02:39.000 --> 10:02:42.960
I know you dropped me last turn, and I know that your jamming tower turned off

10:02:42.960 --> 10:02:47.480
Milwaukee helmet, but I think I can still get the 16 card turned out.

10:02:47.480 --> 10:02:52.720
He totally could, and he is going back to the World Championship Finals 2017.

10:02:52.720 --> 10:02:55.880
He took a bit of a risk with Guard of War GX, the first weekend,

10:02:55.880 --> 10:02:57.600
the burning shadows was legal.

10:02:57.600 --> 10:03:01.100
He played that deck all the way to a World Championship victory.

10:03:01.100 --> 10:03:02.900
And the community loved it.

10:03:02.900 --> 10:03:05.600
He's been a fan favorite for so many years.

10:03:05.600 --> 10:03:09.000
Well, nine years later, we're back, Joe, and he might be doing it again.

10:03:09.000 --> 10:03:11.200
There you go. Not getting rusty at all.

10:03:11.200 --> 10:03:15.200
He is not going anywhere, teaching the new blood how to do it.

10:03:15.200 --> 10:03:17.600
He has been at Pokemon for so many years.

10:03:17.600 --> 10:03:20.200
He's seen so many iterations of the game.

10:03:20.200 --> 10:03:22.500
He's still able to compete at the very top.

10:03:22.500 --> 10:03:24.600
He's only able to compete in a handful of tournaments these days.

10:03:24.600 --> 10:03:25.700
You know, he's a dad.

10:03:25.700 --> 10:03:27.300
He's doing all sorts of other things in the game.

10:03:27.300 --> 10:03:33.080
He still finds the time to come to these major tournaments still makes it to the World Championships almost every year

10:03:33.080 --> 10:03:37.400
And he really has solidified himself as one of the best ever in this game

10:03:37.400 --> 10:03:42.620
I did see a great social media post which was basically like his kid watching him play in the World Championships

10:03:42.860 --> 10:03:47.300
Just that lovely kind of father-son moment. I absolutely get those feelings

10:03:47.300 --> 10:03:49.780
But they don't want to be playing the World Championships

10:03:49.780 --> 10:03:51.340
You know close enough Joe close enough

10:03:51.340 --> 10:03:55.820
But it is just lovely, you know seeing these players who have been around a while they have other responsibilities

10:03:55.820 --> 10:03:59.420
but they stay in the game, and when you're that level of good,

10:03:59.420 --> 10:04:02.780
you can come back and do it all over again.

10:04:02.780 --> 10:04:06.460
And still, the only hope for a Dragon Pult Not-Winning Worlds

10:04:06.460 --> 10:04:07.700
this year.

10:04:07.700 --> 10:04:09.100
That's one down.

10:04:09.100 --> 10:04:10.220
Who to go?

10:04:10.220 --> 10:04:11.540
We have a Dragon Pult Mirror match,

10:04:11.540 --> 10:04:13.500
and the other side of our top four

10:04:13.500 --> 10:04:17.500
will be Brent Parson or Andrew Hedrick meeting Diego

10:04:17.500 --> 10:04:19.020
Kassiraga in the finals.

10:04:19.020 --> 10:04:21.060
Either way, it's going to be an immense show tomorrow.

10:04:21.060 --> 10:04:22.140
It is going to be.

10:04:22.140 --> 10:04:23.300
I mean, we looked at the top four,

10:04:23.300 --> 10:04:24.420
we looked at all of these players,

10:04:24.420 --> 10:04:31.300
any of these four players would be a great story winning world after everything we've seen these are players that we've followed for years players

10:04:31.300 --> 10:04:33.900
We're all very familiar with and now it's like well

10:04:33.900 --> 10:04:36.900
It's coming down to it and any of them will still make a great story

10:04:37.100 --> 10:04:44.140
But Diego repeating as world champion the last time we saw that was Jason Kuzitski winning his third world championships

10:04:44.140 --> 10:04:48.500
That was in 2013 that was before we even started casting Joe

10:04:48.780 --> 10:04:50.460
That's a long time

10:04:50.460 --> 10:04:51.820
Long time ago, man.

10:04:51.820 --> 10:04:53.540
It was like a completely different game at this stage.

10:04:53.540 --> 10:04:55.940
And that's what's, again, just so impressive for Diego.

10:04:55.940 --> 10:04:59.100
He's had to relearn this game year after year,

10:04:59.100 --> 10:05:00.420
not only the new cards coming in,

10:05:00.420 --> 10:05:03.340
but just sort of tempo and pace of the game as a whole.

10:05:03.340 --> 10:05:05.740
Totally different from back in 2007,

10:05:05.740 --> 10:05:08.700
he was playing B'net EX with some EV illusions,

10:05:08.700 --> 10:05:10.060
where there was things like 70 damage

10:05:10.060 --> 10:05:12.500
being a good number, 90 hit points on, you know,

10:05:12.500 --> 10:05:14.380
two prize EX Pokemon at that stage.

10:05:14.380 --> 10:05:17.260
Now we're looking at 320 hit point two prize Pokemon.

10:05:17.260 --> 10:05:18.420
We've come a long way,

10:05:18.420 --> 10:05:23.060
Diego still finds the way to pinpoint a meta game and really catch it a little bit still.

10:05:23.060 --> 10:05:25.540
You can see the love of the game. Give a little bit of love to Henry Chow.

10:05:25.540 --> 10:05:29.300
Oh, yeah. Last season, the Guard of War player. When Guard of War was the best

10:05:29.300 --> 10:05:33.300
deck around, Henry Chow was the best Guard of War player. Three regional wins.

10:05:33.300 --> 10:05:36.660
And going into this season, there was a bit of a chatter of, well, you know,

10:05:36.660 --> 10:05:41.540
is Henry just a really good Guard of War player or can he adapt to another deck?

10:05:41.540 --> 10:05:46.100
I think it's pretty conclusive at this point. Henry did a great job adapting,

10:05:46.100 --> 10:05:50.820
picking up Dragapult and going no I'm still at great place give me five minutes to learn the deck

10:05:50.820 --> 10:05:57.380
would you and I adored his deck list a great choice for the weekend and he really utilized those

10:05:57.380 --> 10:06:03.620
cursed blast Pokemon in a very different way in a very unorthodox way in a lot of those situations

10:06:03.620 --> 10:06:08.340
the cogs just seem to turn differently for Henry yes there were times time and time again where

10:06:08.340 --> 10:06:13.060
it felt like he's been out of this tournament and he's come back from the bitter death of it

10:06:13.060 --> 10:06:16.900
and has got himself to a top four, an amazing result for Henry Chow.

10:06:16.900 --> 10:06:19.860
He congratulates us to him, but now it's all about our finalists.

10:06:19.860 --> 10:06:24.340
It is all about our finalists, but why talk about him when we can talk to him?

10:06:24.340 --> 10:06:26.740
So let's catch up with Amy and let's go to the stage.

10:06:30.020 --> 10:06:36.580
And here we are with Diego, who is using a really big spoon to carve his name once again

10:06:36.580 --> 10:06:41.620
into the Pokemon TCG finals here at the World Championships.

10:06:41.620 --> 10:06:45.060
Diego, how does it feel to be back on the stage?

10:06:53.700 --> 10:06:57.380
It's very exciting to be here after so many years of playing,

10:06:57.380 --> 10:06:59.460
and I'm very excited to be here with my family.

10:07:00.100 --> 10:07:05.700
Family is what it's all about, and I can see these guys love Pokemon too.

10:07:05.700 --> 10:07:07.780
I have a question for them if it's okay.

10:07:07.780 --> 10:07:08.900
What are their favorite Pokemon?

10:07:11.620 --> 10:07:15.060
Lugia, Kerali, Pikachu.

10:07:16.740 --> 10:07:22.180
Amazing! It's a family affair over here at the World Championships, as it should be.

10:07:22.180 --> 10:07:27.540
So, when preparing for this event, I've got to ask, Alakazam, the build you went with

10:07:27.540 --> 10:07:32.820
is what I'd call quite a traditional build for Alakazam. You've got enhanced hammers to deal

10:07:32.820 --> 10:07:38.100
with a lot of threats coming up. Were there any cards that you changed out in and out of

10:07:38.100 --> 10:07:40.500
your deck last minute that you could reveal to us?

10:07:40.500 --> 10:07:43.340
No, he wouldn't change anything because it's working.

10:07:43.340 --> 10:07:46.540
But with my teammates, we're going to do the deck.

10:07:46.540 --> 10:07:50.180
We practiced a lot and we made the best cards.

10:07:50.940 --> 10:07:54.180
No, he wouldn't change anything because everything has been working so far

10:07:54.180 --> 10:07:57.380
and everything is thanks to his team members.

10:07:57.380 --> 10:08:00.500
Oh, that's amazing. Let's get a huge shout-out to that team.

10:08:00.500 --> 10:08:02.180
Do you want to give us some specifics?

10:08:02.180 --> 10:08:07.060
No, I'm going to say hi to all my family and friends.

10:08:07.060 --> 10:08:27.060
The last time I was competing like this, the last time he won Worlds, he was still in his mother's belly.

10:08:27.060 --> 10:08:33.060
Oh my goodness, time has passed, but your skill is still here.

10:08:33.060 --> 10:08:37.060
I'm astounded to see how well you've played,

10:08:37.060 --> 10:08:41.060
and it's so lovely to see your family getting involved as well.

10:08:41.060 --> 10:08:44.060
Do you think these guys are going to be world champions one day too?

10:08:44.060 --> 10:08:49.060
They practice a lot, maybe.

10:08:49.060 --> 10:08:53.060
Family affairs have world champions across the board.

10:08:53.060 --> 10:08:59.060
Diego, do you have anything that you're going to do to prepare this evening, ready for tomorrow?

10:08:59.060 --> 10:09:02.060
I'm blessed, blessed, I mean.

10:09:02.060 --> 10:09:07.060
Rest and eat, that is the best thing you can possibly do and spend some time with your family.

10:09:07.060 --> 10:09:12.060
Thank you so very much, it's been an absolute pleasure watching you succeed today.

10:09:12.060 --> 10:09:17.060
Very good luck in the finals tomorrow for me and the rest of the crew, so thank you so much.

10:09:17.060 --> 10:09:23.060
Thank you so much. One last big old chip in Diego, our first finalist!

10:09:28.060 --> 10:09:34.060
We're gonna go back to Pablo to get some good, juicy analysis of that game.

10:09:37.060 --> 10:09:41.060
Thank you so much, Amy. Congratulations to both players.

10:09:41.060 --> 10:09:44.060
And I'm just gonna say, this is a preview for the Latin Regional Street.

10:09:44.060 --> 10:09:51.500
you can expect. Next season the energy lovely to see and of course amazing play by both players in

10:09:51.500 --> 10:09:57.260
this semi-final match here at the World Championships. Diego advancing to championship

10:09:57.260 --> 10:10:03.420
Sunday but not without a few hiccups along the way losing that first game but having the

10:10:03.420 --> 10:10:11.180
resilience to come back and funnily enough the very first turn really decided that game won.

10:10:11.180 --> 10:10:19.780
Benching, Daphis, and TPT to be able to go back into it, that decision, I think, ultimately ended up hurting Diego.

10:10:19.780 --> 10:10:27.180
He had the Herbalune available to free retreat and whatnot, but that bodyw, putting 10 damage,

10:10:27.180 --> 10:10:33.180
that 10 damage can be the difference between advancing to World Finals or possibly not,

10:10:33.180 --> 10:10:38.780
and that 10 damage from the bodyw, along with the item lock, allowed Henry to set up this play,

10:10:38.780 --> 10:10:44.620
where in the price trade-off two prizes is very significant. It means you have to

10:10:44.620 --> 10:10:50.240
take one less turn in order to win the whole game and Diego really made the best

10:10:50.240 --> 10:10:57.760
he could out of this but ultimately he ended up falling to to Henry in game

10:10:57.760 --> 10:11:02.840
one. He was able to make a comeback but in order to maximize his chances of

10:11:02.840 --> 10:11:07.120
winning a well-timed area was part of his plan. He was against the Rogue,

10:11:07.120 --> 10:11:13.440
he was stuck in this situation where he needed Henry to ultimately whiff in the crucial moment the

10:11:13.440 --> 10:11:19.920
front of Dostnovar was happening and airy hit both special red card but more crucially a night

10:11:19.920 --> 10:11:26.160
stretcher with the night stretcher and the knockout on Dragapult that meant that Henry needed a

10:11:26.160 --> 10:11:32.560
psychic the Dostnovar and a Dragapult as well which he would have had otherwise thanks to that

10:11:32.560 --> 10:11:38.120
night stretcher so perfect timing the list is obviously very very good but

10:11:38.120 --> 10:11:45.480
ultimately it just wasn't quite enough in order to win this game. Henry had the

10:11:45.480 --> 10:11:50.200
perfect pieces, found the boss, found the dosnure, found the Dragapult, utilized

10:11:50.200 --> 10:11:55.080
dosnure to bypass that battle cage as that only protects the bench but not

10:11:55.080 --> 10:12:00.120
the active and really crazy to see a battle cage coming into play for the

10:12:00.120 --> 10:12:06.760
whole game but then ultimately not being enough and Henry managing to pull out the win and then

10:12:06.760 --> 10:12:13.800
in game two we saw another very crucial boss disorders pressure by Diego he was able to consistently

10:12:13.800 --> 10:12:18.680
apply this pressure find the boss disorders take down the energy and by denying the energy what

10:12:18.680 --> 10:12:24.520
you do you force your opponent to find either Crispin or Rosa's encouragement which Henry only

10:12:24.520 --> 10:12:30.360
place a single copy of in order to force them to be able to attack and that means no

10:12:30.360 --> 10:12:36.480
judge right with Genesek denying the unfair stamp pretty much all three games with special

10:12:36.480 --> 10:12:41.880
red card not being active because we're still in a situation where we haven't taken three

10:12:41.880 --> 10:12:47.200
prizes we're still at four that means there's no hand disruption and that means the hand

10:12:47.200 --> 10:12:53.080
continues to build and Diego can't threaten any incoming Dragonbolt this still force Henry

10:12:53.080 --> 10:13:01.160
to have to take it slow and steady and then we had this very peculiar situation towards the end.

10:13:01.160 --> 10:13:05.240
I'm getting a little, yeah, with the Double Genesect. I was like, where's the Double Genesect?

10:13:05.240 --> 10:13:12.040
Double Genesect means even if you set up a Dostnovar, you cannot get attacked by On First

10:13:12.040 --> 10:13:18.440
Stamp, giving you the freedom to take down the energy once again forcing Rose's encouragement,

10:13:18.440 --> 10:13:23.000
forcing Crispin. Denying energy on Dragapult is definitely a way to beat it.

10:13:23.560 --> 10:13:32.040
Usually this is done in the mirror match with crushing hammer. Of course boss disorders is a great way to pressure the energy and Henry, one of his deck

10:13:32.840 --> 10:13:38.040
building choices for this weekend was to skip out a little bit on the energy acceleration.

10:13:38.360 --> 10:13:41.320
Two copies of Crispin, one of Rosa is usually the norm.

10:13:41.640 --> 10:13:47.160
He decided to play one of each and that ultimately led to a little bit slower games.

10:13:47.160 --> 10:13:54.600
but Diego was always on top of things and continued to apply and apply the pressure and this was a very crucial moment

10:13:54.600 --> 10:13:59.680
I think this encapsulates perfectly how the pressure the nerves the moment

10:13:59.680 --> 10:14:05.000
How important it is to keep your cool Henry almost made a small mistake by

10:14:05.200 --> 10:14:08.320
Retreating the wrong energy had a fire energy in his hand

10:14:08.320 --> 10:14:14.480
which we can barely see right there and he was about to retreat the psychic energy of the

10:14:14.480 --> 10:14:21.360
which would have led to him having zero chance or making it even harder for him to make a comeback in this particular game.

10:14:21.360 --> 10:14:28.200
So both players playing at their best the pressure of the moment being one game away for both players from playing in

10:14:28.400 --> 10:14:33.980
Championship Sunday almost made that crucial mistake wasn't enough despite not making it and

10:14:34.480 --> 10:14:40.160
Diego advances to the finals. Next up we have Brent Tonneson against Andrew Hedrick

10:14:40.160 --> 10:14:46.440
We do have one small tidbit at the fun zone at Pokemon XP with Amy Gabby and Fareed

10:14:46.440 --> 10:14:51.180
So let's take it away over there as we head back to our next master's top four

10:14:57.920 --> 10:15:04.040
Welcome guys, we're here at Pokemon XP out in the garden. I know they let us go outside

10:15:04.040 --> 10:15:12.040
I'm with Fareed and Gabby of course my name is Amy we're gonna take you around some of the activities that everyone can enjoy here.

10:15:16.040 --> 10:15:23.040
So in the Alola region trainers can work part-time to rescue Fukumuku by trucking them back in the ocean after they wash ashore.

10:15:23.040 --> 10:15:32.040
But here at the World Championships we can have a little bit of a fun competition by trying to chuck them back into the ocean just to see who's you know better Fukumuku trucker.

10:15:32.040 --> 10:15:37.040
So Amy Farid, I think you two need to have a little bit of a friendly competition to see who's better. What do you think?

10:15:37.040 --> 10:15:38.040
I think we've got to do it.

10:15:38.040 --> 10:15:39.040
I'm ready.

10:15:46.040 --> 10:15:50.040
We see Gabby up here going to save that hukamuku real good. She didn't do it.

10:15:50.040 --> 10:15:56.040
But you know what? They both work really hard. Farid's going to get that bonus for working in a lola.

10:15:58.040 --> 10:16:01.040
Good job everyone. Saving the hukamuku.

10:16:01.040 --> 10:16:10.980
Okay trainers, we are outside at the pin rally station and what pin have we just got ourselves beautiful little for off one pins one available

10:16:10.980 --> 10:16:13.720
Everyone that's out here and there's a queue for them

10:16:13.720 --> 10:16:17.580
But there's another one that we'd like to get so stay tuned because we'll be back

10:16:23.120 --> 10:16:29.120
Hi guys, I'm here at the fur fur hair salon and misty is helping me out with a new look

10:16:29.120 --> 10:16:34.880
We're getting some cute brains and they've got loads of different styles. You can pick from

10:16:35.800 --> 10:16:37.800
patents, so glitter accessories

10:16:38.560 --> 10:16:44.120
Braids the law. There's so much goodness gracious. There's just so much

10:16:44.240 --> 10:16:49.920
So we're gonna see how the final look comes out. I really love the little braids. They're so cute

10:16:53.080 --> 10:16:54.720
This is a look this is a vibe

10:16:54.720 --> 10:17:01.080
So we're here in the fur through hair salon, and I am getting special treatment from my new friend Claudio

10:17:01.080 --> 10:17:06.860
We're getting green Pokemon go. So I hope you enjoy it guys the things we do for Pokemon

10:17:16.860 --> 10:17:21.780
Hey everybody, I'm here with Kevin at the bee dome and Kevin, why don't you tell us what's going on here today?

10:17:21.780 --> 10:17:25.220
Hi, thank you so much for having me well. This is for Planet B

10:17:25.220 --> 10:17:29.980
We talk about science education and be conservation for schools around the Bay Area

10:17:29.980 --> 10:17:33.820
We're here making seed balls because bees are the most important pollinator

10:17:33.820 --> 10:17:39.620
Did you know that there are 20,000 types of species of bees around the world? I actually did not um, you know girl

10:17:39.980 --> 10:17:43.700
All right. Well tell me what's the seed ball? Yeah, so it's just a little bit of clay

10:17:43.700 --> 10:17:46.820
We put some poppy seeds in there kids can just toss it out

10:17:46.820 --> 10:17:51.340
And then we just help the bees because bees are very important to our ecosystem and environments

10:17:51.780 --> 10:17:54.500
Any particular reason why you're using poppy seeds?

10:17:54.500 --> 10:17:56.380
Poppy seeds are native to California.

10:17:56.380 --> 10:17:57.500
We love California.

10:17:57.500 --> 10:17:58.940
Welcome to San Francisco.

10:17:58.940 --> 10:18:01.220
And we just want to support more local bees here

10:18:01.220 --> 10:18:03.020
in the San Francisco Bay area.

10:18:03.020 --> 10:18:04.300
We've had our eyes done.

10:18:04.300 --> 10:18:05.260
We've had our hair done.

10:18:05.260 --> 10:18:06.580
We've got new pins.

10:18:06.580 --> 10:18:09.140
There's so much to do at the Yerba Buena Gardens.

10:18:09.140 --> 10:18:10.300
Make sure to check it out.

10:18:10.300 --> 10:18:12.980
But from us, that's a wrap.

10:18:21.780 --> 10:18:26.780
I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do that, but I'm going to do it.

10:18:26.780 --> 10:18:31.780
I'm going to be able to do it.

10:18:31.780 --> 10:18:36.780
I'm going to do it.

10:18:36.780 --> 10:18:41.780
I'm going to do it.

10:18:41.780 --> 10:18:46.780
I'm going to do it.

10:18:46.780 --> 10:18:51.780
I'm not sure if this is a good idea, but I'm pretty sure it's a good idea.

10:18:51.780 --> 10:18:56.780
I'm pretty sure it's a good idea, but I'm pretty sure it's a good idea.

10:19:16.780 --> 10:19:30.140
And then there were three welcome back in Pokemon fans to the trading car game competition here

10:19:30.140 --> 10:19:34.780
at the world championships 2026 in San Francisco, California.

10:19:34.780 --> 10:19:39.460
We've got Diego Cosiroga waiting to play his final match tomorrow, but we've got to

10:19:39.460 --> 10:19:42.660
determine who his finals opponent will be.

10:19:42.660 --> 10:19:45.940
It's going to be our job for the next 75 or so minutes

10:19:45.940 --> 10:19:50.060
chipper cheat here in the desk with Kyle Putsukovich.

10:19:50.060 --> 10:19:52.180
It's going to be either Brent Tonneson or Andrew

10:19:52.180 --> 10:19:54.660
Hedrick facing off in the chase arena tomorrow.

10:19:54.660 --> 10:19:56.220
What an event we ended up with.

10:19:56.220 --> 10:19:58.260
We were uncertain as we were going through this event

10:19:58.260 --> 10:19:59.660
how things were going to play out.

10:19:59.660 --> 10:20:03.100
You know, a couple crustal decks made it into the top eight.

10:20:03.100 --> 10:20:05.620
How are things going to shake out?

10:20:05.620 --> 10:20:09.180
Turns out, Dragon Pult was the answer all along.

10:20:09.180 --> 10:20:11.540
But, of course, Diego, congratulations.

10:20:11.540 --> 10:20:14.820
making it back to the Finals of the World Championships

10:20:14.820 --> 10:20:18.100
a second time with that Alakazam deck.

10:20:18.100 --> 10:20:22.820
So we will not have a dragapult mirror match in the Finals.

10:20:22.820 --> 10:20:26.720
We do have one to decide who will join Diego

10:20:26.720 --> 10:20:31.720
and what a matchup it is between two of the top players

10:20:31.740 --> 10:20:35.940
in the last couple of seasons, Brent and Andrew Hedrick.

10:20:35.940 --> 10:20:39.780
Multiple championships between both of these trainers,

10:20:39.780 --> 10:20:41.940
but only one of them is gonna keep that dream alive

10:20:41.940 --> 10:20:44.340
but the coming world champion.

10:20:44.340 --> 10:20:45.620
Let's get down to that stage

10:20:45.620 --> 10:20:48.620
where our players are getting set up

10:20:48.620 --> 10:20:52.500
and determine who will be playing in the arena tomorrow.

10:20:52.500 --> 10:20:55.540
Brent Tonneson lacing off Andrew Hedrick.

10:20:55.540 --> 10:20:56.980
As you alluded to, Kyle,

10:20:56.980 --> 10:20:59.500
it is a mirror match.

10:20:59.500 --> 10:21:04.500
Dragapult EX alongside the Everador crushing hammer.

10:21:04.860 --> 10:21:07.340
Okay, Andrew Hedrick was really the person

10:21:07.340 --> 10:21:09.460
who made this deck.

10:21:09.460 --> 10:21:12.340
We had the rotation in the standard format.

10:21:12.340 --> 10:21:14.100
Players were using Dragapult DX,

10:21:14.100 --> 10:21:16.640
and Andrew Hedrick was kind of the first one

10:21:16.640 --> 10:21:18.300
to put this on the map.

10:21:18.300 --> 10:21:21.180
You have a lot of extra spaces for this deck.

10:21:22.180 --> 10:21:24.380
Why not play some crushing hammers?

10:21:24.380 --> 10:21:26.720
Give yourself an advantage in the mirror match,

10:21:26.720 --> 10:21:29.120
and this immediately became adopted

10:21:29.120 --> 10:21:32.320
as the way to play this deck.

10:21:32.320 --> 10:21:33.720
So in a lot of ways,

10:21:33.720 --> 10:21:36.720
very fitting in this Dragapult format

10:21:36.720 --> 10:21:40.360
that we find ourselves in at kind of the creator of this modern

10:21:40.360 --> 10:21:43.960
variant of the deck is here with a chance to go to the finals of the world

10:21:43.960 --> 10:21:49.280
championships. Andrew won the Los Angeles regional championships this year with

10:21:49.560 --> 10:21:53.720
this archetype. He had a couple of other strong finishes with the deck,

10:21:53.720 --> 10:21:58.040
including a top 32 finish at this season for the American internationals.

10:21:58.040 --> 10:22:02.240
And even though there's been a new set for least couple new sets since

10:22:02.240 --> 10:22:05.360
that first L.A. regionals where he won with this archetype,

10:22:05.360 --> 10:22:08.320
The deck has really not changed that much.

10:22:08.320 --> 10:22:09.600
A couple of new cards thrown in,

10:22:09.600 --> 10:22:12.360
the roses encouragement, special red card.

10:22:12.360 --> 10:22:15.920
Other than that, the core of the deck is all the same.

10:22:15.920 --> 10:22:18.520
Look at the accomplishments for these players.

10:22:18.520 --> 10:22:21.320
Brett Tonneson, six-time regional champion.

10:22:21.320 --> 10:22:24.160
Andrew Hunter, five-time regional champion.

10:22:24.160 --> 10:22:28.680
Of course, one NAIC, a couple seasons ago as well.

10:22:28.680 --> 10:22:30.120
Take a look here, Chip.

10:22:30.120 --> 10:22:33.040
Neither player had really had a huge success

10:22:33.040 --> 10:22:34.400
at the World Championship,

10:22:34.400 --> 10:22:39.400
despite all the wins, the finals at all other stages.

10:22:39.920 --> 10:22:43.640
This is really the first time both of them find themselves

10:22:43.640 --> 10:22:46.480
in a spot to have an opportunity

10:22:46.480 --> 10:22:48.360
to win the world championships.

10:22:48.360 --> 10:22:50.040
And for one of them,

10:22:50.040 --> 10:22:52.920
this is gonna feel like the best weekend of their lives.

10:22:52.920 --> 10:22:55.280
Brink has played plenty of Dragapult this year,

10:22:55.280 --> 10:22:57.320
though most often it has been Dragapult

10:22:57.320 --> 10:23:00.000
alongside Dusknor, a changeup for him

10:23:00.000 --> 10:23:01.000
heading into this event.

10:23:01.000 --> 10:23:04.440
Rise cards going out for both of these players.

10:23:04.440 --> 10:23:06.640
Couple of interesting things to note for certain,

10:23:06.640 --> 10:23:08.160
too psychic energy for Brent.

10:23:08.160 --> 10:23:11.200
That could make for some awkward crispens for him

10:23:11.200 --> 10:23:12.040
in the future.

10:23:12.040 --> 10:23:13.760
And speaking of the Crispen,

10:23:13.760 --> 10:23:16.440
one of them is hiding out in Andrew Hedrick's private space.

10:23:16.440 --> 10:23:17.440
Big thing right off the bat,

10:23:17.440 --> 10:23:19.920
you do need a psychic and a fire type energy

10:23:19.920 --> 10:23:23.880
to use Dragonfall DX's Phantom Dive Attack.

10:23:23.880 --> 10:23:24.720
As you mentioned,

10:23:24.720 --> 10:23:29.280
you have only three psychic energy in Brent's deck.

10:23:29.280 --> 10:23:32.800
So I can have access to one at the beginning of the game.

10:23:32.800 --> 10:23:34.880
This will be something we keep an eye on.

10:23:34.880 --> 10:23:36.320
And these players are moving.

10:23:36.320 --> 10:23:38.120
We're headed down to the table.

10:23:38.120 --> 10:23:41.640
Let's kick off game one of Masters' top four.

10:23:41.640 --> 10:23:44.840
And it will be Andrew Hedrick with the opening turn,

10:23:44.840 --> 10:23:47.960
starting off with Adripi and playing Buddy Buddy Poffin,

10:23:47.960 --> 10:23:51.200
searching his deck for two Pokemon with 70 HP or less,

10:23:51.200 --> 10:23:52.760
and bringing them down into play.

10:23:52.760 --> 10:23:54.880
And Pooka, look at that starter for Brent.

10:23:54.880 --> 10:23:58.000
That one of Meowth EX.

10:23:58.000 --> 10:24:00.160
You hate to see it if you're Brent.

10:24:00.160 --> 10:24:02.420
Love to see it if you're Andrew.

10:24:02.420 --> 10:24:04.920
This is one of the premier support Pokemon

10:24:04.920 --> 10:24:06.680
in the Pokemon TCG right now,

10:24:06.680 --> 10:24:09.680
but it only can use that last ditch catch ability

10:24:09.680 --> 10:24:13.700
when you play it from your hand onto your bench.

10:24:13.700 --> 10:24:16.100
When you start with it as your active Pokemon

10:24:16.100 --> 10:24:17.760
for the game, you cannot use that ability

10:24:17.760 --> 10:24:20.040
and it is a huge liability.

10:24:20.040 --> 10:24:24.120
Gives up two prize cards and only has 170 HP.

10:24:24.120 --> 10:24:26.080
Off this opening buddy, buddy, Poffin Andrew

10:24:26.080 --> 10:24:30.120
has placed down one Drippy and a Badou.

10:24:30.120 --> 10:24:33.280
Now Brent is the higher seated player in top cut,

10:24:33.280 --> 10:24:36.920
so he did choose to go second here,

10:24:36.920 --> 10:24:39.240
allowing Andrew to take the first turn.

10:24:39.240 --> 10:24:41.160
That of course means Andrew will be the first player

10:24:41.160 --> 10:24:43.600
to be able to evolve up into Drakloaks,

10:24:43.600 --> 10:24:45.320
but Brent will have that advantage

10:24:45.320 --> 10:24:47.840
of being the first player to be able to play a supporter

10:24:47.840 --> 10:24:51.240
and the first player to potentially attack.

10:24:52.640 --> 10:24:54.200
I also wanted to call out Chip,

10:24:54.200 --> 10:24:56.800
Even the one of the judges at our table,

10:24:56.800 --> 10:25:00.440
a former top four competitor at the World Championships as well,

10:25:00.440 --> 10:25:02.800
Pedro is the star stud at table here.

10:25:04.120 --> 10:25:05.480
He's been in this seat before.

10:25:05.480 --> 10:25:10.240
Absolutely, just in a different position at the table this time around.

10:25:10.240 --> 10:25:14.640
We see here, Andrew being wary of the potential from his opponents.

10:25:14.640 --> 10:25:17.280
Flays on the next turn, knowing that Badou's a cheap pollen,

10:25:17.280 --> 10:25:20.720
more than likely plays out plenty of item cards.

10:25:20.720 --> 10:25:26.000
hookah pad included in that and now ultra ball fetching out a me out ex

10:25:27.720 --> 10:25:29.720
Crucially discarding some

10:25:29.760 --> 10:25:34.920
Maybe important cards a crushing hammer it looks like and a dedun sparse heading to the discard pile

10:25:35.400 --> 10:25:38.540
Those can be important, but like Andrew realizing

10:25:39.320 --> 10:25:41.320
I mean first of all

10:25:41.600 --> 10:25:46.900
Again Andrew is kind of like the dragapult player in this format

10:25:46.900 --> 10:25:51.980
he must have played against other Dragonpole decks dozens and dozens of

10:25:51.980 --> 10:25:55.560
times at this point. It's probably not a situation that's come up that he has not

10:25:55.560 --> 10:25:59.940
encountered. So he's got to be the most experienced Dragonpole mirror player in

10:25:59.940 --> 10:26:05.740
this event. Yeah I think even for someone like Brent who is such an experienced

10:26:05.740 --> 10:26:10.380
player and has had such a magical run through this event right started

10:26:10.380 --> 10:26:14.780
undefeated for a very long time. Seeing your paired up with a player

10:26:14.780 --> 10:26:17.820
like Andrew Hedrick could make you a little bit nervous.

10:26:17.820 --> 10:26:22.260
You know you have to be on top of your game against this guy.

10:26:22.260 --> 10:26:24.460
He's not going to give you an inch.

10:26:24.460 --> 10:26:27.260
Brent will match Andrew's opening buddy, buddy Poffin,

10:26:27.260 --> 10:26:30.780
with a Poffin of his own, searching through the deck now.

10:26:30.780 --> 10:26:33.580
So his decision's perhaps a little more difficult,

10:26:33.580 --> 10:26:36.180
considering that Meowthie X being forced into play early.

10:26:36.180 --> 10:26:38.940
And sure enough, no Badoo found at the start.

10:26:38.940 --> 10:26:40.500
It will be a pair of Dreepee,

10:26:40.500 --> 10:26:42.620
and they will also take some damage

10:26:42.620 --> 10:26:45.220
from that risky ruins that Andrew put into play.

10:26:45.220 --> 10:26:48.780
Yeah, risky ruins was a huge part to play down on the first turn.

10:26:48.780 --> 10:26:53.220
It's actually the only stadium card either player seems to be using in this deck,

10:26:53.220 --> 10:26:58.100
but Andrew being able to play down the Bidu before the risky ruins,

10:26:58.100 --> 10:27:00.820
and then put it out, makes it so that, yeah,

10:27:00.820 --> 10:27:04.500
that Bidu is going to come into play with two damage counters already.

10:27:04.500 --> 10:27:07.100
And this is an awkward situation, right?

10:27:07.100 --> 10:27:09.980
You want to retreat into your Bidu and use itgy pollen,

10:27:09.980 --> 10:27:12.920
but then it could get knocked out immediately by your opponents.

10:27:12.920 --> 10:27:16.380
The board setup is looking pretty solid here for Brent.

10:27:16.380 --> 10:27:18.980
After the use of the Poffin and that Poke pad,

10:27:18.980 --> 10:27:22.780
bringing down Badoo, having a monkey Dory to put into play,

10:27:22.780 --> 10:27:25.260
as well that powerful Adrenal Brain ability

10:27:25.260 --> 10:27:28.100
and throws the hand into the deck

10:27:28.100 --> 10:27:31.180
with Lily's determination shuffling in to draw six cards.

10:27:31.180 --> 10:27:34.500
But since he still has his full six prize cards running,

10:27:34.500 --> 10:27:37.300
he'll be able to now draw eight cards.

10:27:37.300 --> 10:27:43.300
Looking to find perhaps an energy shift he wants to retreat and use Ichi Pauline.

10:27:43.300 --> 10:27:52.300
One thing I want to call out, we've paid a lot of attention to the deck building choices of a lot of these players coming into the World Championships.

10:27:52.300 --> 10:28:00.300
I would say for quite a while, it had become standard to go down to a single copy of that Badoo in this Dragapult deck.

10:28:00.300 --> 10:28:07.300
But a lot of players at this event went back to Bidu in their deck, realizing how important it is

10:28:07.300 --> 10:28:12.300
not just to have one, but to sometimes use more than one in a game.

10:28:12.300 --> 10:28:15.300
And both of these players happened to come to that same conclusion.

10:28:15.300 --> 10:28:17.300
We saw that quite a bit this week.

10:28:17.300 --> 10:28:22.300
I think it was Andrew himself, was the original player to go down to the single copy of Bidu

10:28:22.300 --> 10:28:25.300
and that made most of the community follow suits.

10:28:25.300 --> 10:28:34.300
But Brent here will actually attach an energy to the Monkey Dory and use Adrenalbrain for going the itchy pollen this turn.

10:28:34.300 --> 10:28:38.300
I'm just going to be content to bounce that damage over to Andrew's side.

10:28:38.300 --> 10:28:44.300
Now Andrew will kick off his second turn immediately, evolving a drippy Intedraklok,

10:28:44.300 --> 10:28:52.300
benching down that Monkey Dory and using Meowth E at that last ditch catch, fetching a supporter from the deck.

10:28:52.300 --> 10:28:54.100
deck, and he'll be able to grab

10:28:54.100 --> 10:28:56.140
Lily's determination to get an

10:28:56.140 --> 10:28:57.300
eight cards of his own.

10:28:59.740 --> 10:29:01.380
Yeah, I think Monkey Dory is one

10:29:01.380 --> 10:29:02.500
of these cards will be seeing a

10:29:02.500 --> 10:29:04.460
lot of in this match here.

10:29:04.460 --> 10:29:06.140
Chip course that Adrenaline

10:29:06.140 --> 10:29:08.060
ability has been used for quite

10:29:08.060 --> 10:29:09.780
a while in the standard format

10:29:09.780 --> 10:29:11.100
at this point, but the risky

10:29:11.100 --> 10:29:13.740
ruins did force Brent to alter

10:29:13.740 --> 10:29:16.500
his plans and have to go into

10:29:16.500 --> 10:29:18.140
the Monkey Dory rather than

10:29:18.140 --> 10:29:21.020
using the itchy pollen and we'll

10:29:21.020 --> 10:29:25.100
see if that's gonna end up paying off for Andrew as now he can play any cards like

10:29:25.100 --> 10:29:29.180
polka pad that he draws off to the Solis determination and immediately that

10:29:29.180 --> 10:29:33.980
first card scene was one of those polka pad pookas so Andrew will be able to

10:29:33.980 --> 10:29:38.820
find out another drip cloak should he want to buddy buddy puffin also found

10:29:38.820 --> 10:29:41.940
here it looks like he'll kick off this sequence with a recon directive

10:29:41.940 --> 10:29:45.500
looking at the top two cards of the deck and this is gonna be the first

10:29:45.500 --> 10:29:50.460
of many, many, many, many recon directives we will see in this set.

10:29:50.460 --> 10:29:56.020
Of course, one of the reasons this deck is as popular as it is every turn.

10:29:56.020 --> 10:30:00.940
You get to look at the top two cards of your deck, take one, put the other on the bottom of your deck.

10:30:00.940 --> 10:30:03.860
And guess what? You have more than one of these in play.

10:30:03.860 --> 10:30:06.900
All of them can use that ability every turn.

10:30:06.900 --> 10:30:12.660
Just allows you to go through your deck and find the cards you need to set up your big future play.

10:30:12.660 --> 10:30:17.380
And speaking of more than one, Andrew has found his second Drakloak off of this Poképad,

10:30:17.380 --> 10:30:21.420
so he'll still get one more peek into the deck here.

10:30:21.420 --> 10:30:25.900
His badou in the active spot, he could potentially just go with that Ichi Pollen.

10:30:25.900 --> 10:30:29.220
I do think he does not have an energy as of now, Fuga.

10:30:29.220 --> 10:30:33.140
So I think that may be what he's looking for, and he does find a psychic off of

10:30:33.140 --> 10:30:36.540
this recon directive.

10:30:36.540 --> 10:30:40.620
Energy is often the name of the game in these Dragapult mirror matches.

10:30:40.620 --> 10:30:45.540
course with the inclusion of crushing hammer it becomes a very vital resource

10:30:45.540 --> 10:30:50.860
even in the middle and late stages of the game and even things like discarding a

10:30:50.860 --> 10:30:57.700
darkness energy off of your opponent's monkey Dory would be a big deal. This is

10:30:57.700 --> 10:31:03.780
also a challenging situation for Andrew because Brent has that monkey Dory set up

10:31:03.780 --> 10:31:09.620
already. Again your inclination is to use itchy pollen whenever you can but

10:31:09.620 --> 10:31:13.860
But if you do that, Adrenal Brain, I guess no matter what,

10:31:13.860 --> 10:31:14.860
can knock out this Purdue.

10:31:14.860 --> 10:31:17.220
There's already lots of damage counters

10:31:17.220 --> 10:31:19.220
to move around with the Monkey Dory.

10:31:19.220 --> 10:31:22.060
But you have to be sitting here thinking,

10:31:22.060 --> 10:31:23.460
my Purdue's going to get knocked out.

10:31:23.460 --> 10:31:25.660
And I'm going to have to figure out what Pokemon

10:31:25.660 --> 10:31:29.540
to put in the active spot if Brent decides to knock me out.

10:31:29.540 --> 10:31:31.300
Andrew does use itchy pollen.

10:31:31.300 --> 10:31:33.140
10 damage placed onto the Meowth.

10:31:33.140 --> 10:31:36.020
And Grant Tonneson will be unable to play any item

10:31:36.020 --> 10:31:36.780
cards this turn.

10:31:36.780 --> 10:31:40.580
as we see the first recon directive does show a pair of items,

10:31:40.580 --> 10:31:43.260
but unusable at this point.

10:31:43.260 --> 10:31:47.020
But the second Drakloak found, that is huge for Brent

10:31:47.020 --> 10:31:50.420
after being hit with an itchy pollen.

10:31:50.420 --> 10:31:51.020
Absolutely.

10:31:51.020 --> 10:31:55.780
Often these mirror matches can come down to one player

10:31:55.780 --> 10:31:59.020
using that itchy pollen, preventing the use of item cards,

10:31:59.020 --> 10:32:03.300
while the other fails to find their Drakloak.

10:32:03.300 --> 10:32:04.460
It seems like we're going to get

10:32:04.460 --> 10:32:06.540
into a pretty good game here.

10:32:06.540 --> 10:32:13.760
Yeah, there are. There are a lot of times when you see these matchups where you know one player sets up while the other struggles to do so and

10:32:13.760 --> 10:32:22.100
Brent is going to take the first KO here using that Adrenal brain to bounce some damage over to the Badoo of Andrew Hedrick and now

10:32:22.100 --> 10:32:28.600
Andrew is left with that choice you called out. What should he promote and he's going to send up his Drakloak with the energy card.

10:32:29.660 --> 10:32:35.640
Yeah, I I love this because you know your opponent can't play any crushing hammers. You used itchy pollen.

10:32:36.540 --> 10:32:42.260
Your opponent also can't really do any relevant attacks to threaten your dracloak in this situation

10:32:43.220 --> 10:32:49.620
They've already evolved up into those dracloak on their side. There's just not enough energy in play to really

10:32:50.580 --> 10:32:55.100
Threaten any sort of attack. So I think in Andrew is pretty much saying

10:32:55.580 --> 10:33:02.620
I'm gonna try to go for dragapult and phantom dive next turn and look at this Brent off of his prize card that he took

10:33:02.620 --> 10:33:08.540
found judge and that will be the exact card he chooses to play here having both

10:33:08.540 --> 10:33:14.220
players shuffle their hands into the deck and they'll only get four cards he's

10:33:14.220 --> 10:33:19.500
trying to slow Andrew down here a bit yeah and this is one of the differences

10:33:19.500 --> 10:33:25.340
between their two decklists Brett is playing that one copy of judge you know

10:33:25.340 --> 10:33:29.260
the premier hand disruption cards in the format are unfair stamp you can only

10:33:29.260 --> 10:33:32.900
use it after one of your Pokemon was knocked out during your opponent's

10:33:32.900 --> 10:33:37.480
previous turn, special red card. You can only use it if your opponent has three or

10:33:37.480 --> 10:33:42.500
fewer prize cards, but Judge, you can use that whenever. And a lot of times it does

10:33:42.500 --> 10:33:46.500
catch your opponent off guard, but what? Just a pass, absolutely nothing on the

10:33:46.500 --> 10:33:49.660
other end of the judge for Brent Connison. And an incredible draw for

10:33:49.660 --> 10:33:54.420
Andrew Hedrick. He's got himself at your cloak. He's got Dragonbolt DX, and he

10:33:54.420 --> 10:34:00.500
He also has a lily's determination, what a disaster for Brent can't even retreat the

10:34:00.500 --> 10:34:05.500
Meowth EX or even attached to a benched trick cloak or anything like that.

10:34:05.500 --> 10:34:09.940
The judge ended up disrupting him more than his opponent.

10:34:09.940 --> 10:34:13.700
Now Inger with just so many different paths here.

10:34:13.700 --> 10:34:17.020
I think the most simple one though is to try to find a psychic energy.

10:34:17.020 --> 10:34:22.060
He'll use recon directive with this active trick cloak and it all this drawing that

10:34:22.060 --> 10:34:25.960
he's about to do this turn, the one thing he's looking for is a psychic energy.

10:34:26.960 --> 10:34:32.760
He's actually here Puka debating Recon Directive and Evolve or Lily's determination first.

10:34:33.260 --> 10:34:34.360
What do you think of this choice?

10:34:35.660 --> 10:34:40.660
It's a tough one. I think if you had Crispin, that would be such a huge play this turn.

10:34:41.060 --> 10:34:46.960
If you could Crispin get a psychic on the active, darkness on the monkey door, you could set up a big knockout,

10:34:46.960 --> 10:34:50.660
the active knockout, that already has two damage counters on it.

10:34:50.660 --> 10:34:58.740
But we've been seeing this a lot this weekend from players like both Brent and Andrew and even Henry Chow earlier

10:34:59.940 --> 10:35:05.020
Patience conservative play not going for the home run every time

10:35:05.300 --> 10:35:12.100
Set yourself up first and then try to close out the game later. Don't always reach for those big plays

10:35:12.820 --> 10:35:18.740
Here are eight cards from that Lily's determination and the first crushing hammer flip

10:35:18.740 --> 10:35:20.240
It does fall heads.

10:35:20.240 --> 10:35:25.340
That means Andrew will be able to discard the darkness energy from Brent's Monkey Dory.

10:35:25.340 --> 10:35:29.640
That Adrenaline Ability going to be a massive part of this mirror match.

10:35:29.640 --> 10:35:32.140
Here comes Recon Directive number one.

10:35:32.140 --> 10:35:35.140
Still no psychic energy available for Andrew Hedrick.

10:35:35.140 --> 10:35:37.640
And he's going to have to look at these top four cards upon one.

10:35:37.640 --> 10:35:39.140
Recon Directive number two.

10:35:39.140 --> 10:35:42.340
Monkey Dory and special red card offered up.

10:35:43.840 --> 10:35:48.240
Neither of those cards going to be super useful in this exact turn.

10:35:48.240 --> 10:35:53.640
So I'll have to think a little bit ahead as to which one he wants to hang on to in this point

10:35:53.800 --> 10:35:56.400
And now puka recondirective number three

10:35:56.400 --> 10:36:02.520
He needs to find a psychic energy if he wants to be the first player to phantom dive here and he does not find it

10:36:04.640 --> 10:36:10.480
This seemed like such a promising turn he draws so many cards and he just doesn't find a psychic

10:36:10.480 --> 10:36:16.480
is one of the, I guess, few downsides of Dragapult.

10:36:16.480 --> 10:36:20.480
You actually need two different types of energy to use Phantom Dive.

10:36:20.480 --> 10:36:23.480
But Andrew hasn't found any energy off of all of this.

10:36:23.480 --> 10:36:30.480
These are the thin margins that come up in these Dragapult mirror matches sometimes.

10:36:30.480 --> 10:36:32.480
Checking the discard pile.

10:36:32.480 --> 10:36:35.480
Do I have any psychic in here that I can make stretcher back to my hand?

10:36:35.480 --> 10:36:36.480
No.

10:36:36.480 --> 10:36:39.900
breath here from Andrew really having to think about how to approach the

10:36:39.900 --> 10:36:44.220
situation he does have the night stretcher so he could get back but do he

10:36:44.220 --> 10:36:47.540
could itchy pollen again here he's got his other one and he's got oh the second

10:36:47.540 --> 10:36:50.100
one actually already in the hands of getting to conserve night stretcher

10:36:50.100 --> 10:36:55.900
even better is that better to retreat this dracloak and use itchy pollen here

10:36:55.900 --> 10:37:01.740
that is his internal debate looks like the answer is gonna be yes for now he

10:37:01.740 --> 10:37:05.300
can recover this fire energy he'll discard from the retreat to still

10:37:05.300 --> 10:37:09.020
get an attachment to this turn. He knows this fire energy will be safe from

10:37:09.020 --> 10:37:13.580
crushing hammers if Ichi Pollen is the attack utilized.

10:37:14.080 --> 10:37:18.900
A very interesting situation because you know, well I guess now with the

10:37:18.900 --> 10:37:22.100
darkness energy off of that monkey door, you don't know that your Purdue is

10:37:22.100 --> 10:37:27.920
gonna get knocked out. So maybe this is an opportunity for Andrew to lock

10:37:27.920 --> 10:37:32.860
down Brent's options. It is still a very awkward situation for Brent with

10:37:32.860 --> 10:37:36.260
the Meowth EX in the active spot.

10:37:36.260 --> 10:37:39.020
He had no energy on his bench Pokemon.

10:37:39.020 --> 10:37:42.620
It's going to be a few turns before he can start attacking.

10:37:42.620 --> 10:37:44.660
But I'm sure Brent was actually kind of happy

10:37:44.660 --> 10:37:46.620
with how that played out.

10:37:46.620 --> 10:37:48.180
Probably expected a phantom dive,

10:37:48.180 --> 10:37:50.300
and he was going to be under a ton of pressure.

10:37:50.300 --> 10:37:53.260
But now, maybe he gets a little breathing room.

10:37:53.260 --> 10:37:55.220
A very interesting early game here, Pukas.

10:37:55.220 --> 10:37:58.180
Both players have gotten an OK setup,

10:37:58.180 --> 10:38:00.340
but neither has really pieced together

10:38:00.340 --> 10:38:02.060
their ideal game plan.

10:38:02.060 --> 10:38:08.420
We'll have to see how it develops as we continue forward here Brent playing a Crispin as supporter for turn does find

10:38:08.500 --> 10:38:12.380
The darkness energy to replace the one he lost on the previous turn

10:38:12.380 --> 10:38:17.300
So Adrenaline is available to him recondirective number one and now number two

10:38:17.820 --> 10:38:22.740
Seeing a handful of more cars. It looks like a fire energy will be held on to

10:38:25.020 --> 10:38:27.020
But still no Phantom dive

10:38:27.020 --> 10:38:29.020
He's going to try to get himself prepped up

10:38:29.020 --> 10:38:31.520
and is actually going to promote his Bidu here.

10:38:31.520 --> 10:38:33.520
He will retreat me out into the Bidu.

10:38:33.520 --> 10:38:36.020
He can use Adrenaline to move some damage counters over.

10:38:36.020 --> 10:38:40.220
He's going to ping pong 20 over to the Dracloak on Andrew's side

10:38:40.220 --> 10:38:43.420
and Ichy Paulin able to score a KO.

10:38:43.420 --> 10:38:48.320
Brent Tonneson jumping far ahead here, four prizes to six.

10:38:48.320 --> 10:38:51.020
I think this is what Brent wanted to do on the previous turn

10:38:51.020 --> 10:38:54.220
and now just got the opportunity to do it.

10:38:54.220 --> 10:39:01.360
The benefit of getting this knockout with the itchy pollen is Andrew cannot use unfair stamp on his turn

10:39:02.620 --> 10:39:07.540
It's gonna be an awkward spot now Brent is up by two prize cards

10:39:08.260 --> 10:39:12.900
surprisingly both of those knockouts on those 30 HP but do

10:39:13.740 --> 10:39:20.760
Will those two prize cards at the beginning be enough cushion for him and Andrew Hedrick finally off of that third recon

10:39:20.760 --> 10:39:25.880
Directive able to find a psychic energy. He'll be able to phantom dive this turn

10:39:26.440 --> 10:39:29.720
But he has not been able to establish a darkness energy on his monkey Dory

10:39:30.320 --> 10:39:34.520
Don't see a crisp in but he does have bosses orders and you called it out

10:39:34.520 --> 10:39:40.920
Who could how important monkey Dory is in this matchup Andrew wants to clear this Pokemon out of play immediately

10:39:41.680 --> 10:39:49.640
It's just so annoying to deal with it can set up so many plays on your opponent's side for multiple knockouts with phantom dive

10:39:49.640 --> 10:39:53.220
and Adrenal Brain, but what a huge phantom dive from Andrew there.

10:39:53.220 --> 10:39:54.840
He's going to tie this game up.

10:39:54.840 --> 10:39:57.680
Four prizes remaining a piece for these players.

10:39:57.680 --> 10:40:02.220
Andrew taking down that Badoo and the Monkey Dory.

10:40:02.220 --> 10:40:05.520
Brent pushing up his Dracloak, plays a Buddy Buddy Poffin,

10:40:05.520 --> 10:40:10.300
finally able to play out these item cards he has been holding on to.

10:40:10.860 --> 10:40:13.300
It's going to get another Driepe down into play.

10:40:15.000 --> 10:40:16.440
Take a look through what else he has in his hand.

10:40:16.440 --> 10:40:18.200
Plenty of other Buddy Buddy Poffins.

10:40:18.200 --> 10:40:24.900
happy to just lay those out and here it is Puka unfair stamp his a spec of

10:40:24.900 --> 10:40:29.420
choice sending both players hands into the deck since Andrew took a K on the

10:40:29.420 --> 10:40:33.380
last turn Brent will have five cards to work with and Andrew will be left with

10:40:33.380 --> 10:40:38.900
only two. Not sure if we could take a look at Brent's prize cards I mean one

10:40:38.900 --> 10:40:44.060
of the things you'd love to have here is another Crispin looks like no we'll

10:40:44.060 --> 10:40:48.060
have access to another Crispin. If he can draw into it here,

10:40:48.060 --> 10:40:52.220
promise there's no energy in place. So if he wants to get off a Phantom

10:40:52.220 --> 10:40:55.820
dive on this turn, would need to find that Crispin to

10:40:55.820 --> 10:41:01.020
power up a Dragapult EX. He's used one and there's one remaining. It

10:41:01.020 --> 10:41:03.900
would be a massive draw off of these five.

10:41:03.900 --> 10:41:07.580
There are still so many cards he can see this turn. However,

10:41:07.580 --> 10:41:11.740
a couple recon directives. He could also get Fezendipiti EX into the mix

10:41:11.740 --> 10:41:14.580
to use flip the script to draw a few more cards.

10:41:14.580 --> 10:41:17.580
He's going to thin the deck a little bit here using that pocket pad.

10:41:17.580 --> 10:41:19.620
He could get another tricklead,

10:41:19.620 --> 10:41:22.540
but he wouldn't be able to evolve that droopy that just came into play,

10:41:22.540 --> 10:41:26.980
but he will replenish his board with another Monkey Dory.

10:41:27.980 --> 10:41:29.180
Another thing to call out.

10:41:29.180 --> 10:41:32.740
Now there are two Darkness Energy in Brent's discard pile,

10:41:32.740 --> 10:41:34.340
and the other plays two.

10:41:34.340 --> 10:41:40.060
So we'll have to use a Night Stretcher if he wants to get Monkey Dory up and running.

10:41:40.060 --> 10:41:45.420
Here comes the recon directives and it will be Brent grabbing on to a crushing hammer.

10:41:45.980 --> 10:41:50.540
That's always a nice little bailout. If you can flip a couple heads, you can always get back

10:41:50.540 --> 10:41:55.820
into the game. There is a Rosa's encouragement, apart that both of these players do play in their

10:41:55.820 --> 10:42:00.620
decks. Also a night stretcher being offered as an option. It will be the Rosa's hung on to

10:42:00.620 --> 10:42:05.740
for Brent. Here it is, crushing hammer, Puka. Gonna be a flip of the coin for Brent and it is

10:42:05.740 --> 10:42:13.140
a heads huge flip here every crushing hammer becomes so important as this game

10:42:13.140 --> 10:42:17.940
progresses also a decision on which energy to get rid of here comes with

10:42:17.940 --> 10:42:23.020
the psychic the roses encouragement seems like a great card to have here but

10:42:23.020 --> 10:42:28.260
you can't use it unless your opponent has fewer prize cards remaining boss's

10:42:28.260 --> 10:42:33.060
orders will be Brent's move this does mean he's unable to play a

10:42:33.060 --> 10:42:37.820
Crispin, he was not able to find it so he's gonna have to just bring this Pokemon up

10:42:37.820 --> 10:42:42.940
and I guess ask the question of Andrew Hedrick, can you move this Pokemon this

10:42:42.940 --> 10:42:47.100
coming turn? Right, well and with the crushing hammer it means you know a

10:42:47.100 --> 10:42:51.620
regular attachment wouldn't be enough to do another Phantom Dive. This is just

10:42:51.620 --> 10:42:56.620
a way you can strain your opponent's energy cards and really make it so it's

10:42:56.620 --> 10:43:00.660
tough to Phantom Dive, it's tough to use your energy on the Monkey Dory

10:43:00.660 --> 10:43:05.960
for adrenaline. You have to use one to retreat, but then you also need your attachments to go other places.

10:43:06.080 --> 10:43:09.060
This is where crushing hammer and these kinds of moves add up.

10:43:09.500 --> 10:43:16.980
The perfect prize card last turn for Andrew Hedrix KO was the one copy of Crispin that he prized.

10:43:16.980 --> 10:43:20.980
It's now in his hand, so he will be able to play that card,

10:43:21.220 --> 10:43:27.740
get an extra energy into play, and then attach for turn to his dragapult so he can Phantom dive this turn and

10:43:27.740 --> 10:43:31.420
And the only thing that would make it any better

10:43:31.420 --> 10:43:34.100
if he could Adrenaline Brain,

10:43:34.100 --> 10:43:35.180
he's not gonna be able to retreat

10:43:35.180 --> 10:43:36.460
and Adrenaline Brain, however,

10:43:36.460 --> 10:43:39.580
so he's gonna have to be content

10:43:39.580 --> 10:43:41.660
taking down a Dracloak.

10:43:41.660 --> 10:43:43.860
He founds his second Crispin here as well.

10:43:43.860 --> 10:43:46.620
Yeah, also wanna mention that Brent decided

10:43:46.620 --> 10:43:51.620
to move the damage off of his Drippy with Adrenaline Brain,

10:43:51.620 --> 10:43:55.220
knowing that Andrew could not Adrenaline Brain

10:43:55.220 --> 10:43:58.260
and Phantom Dive in the same turn.

10:43:58.260 --> 10:44:00.580
So if you wanted to protect that Dripie

10:44:00.580 --> 10:44:02.660
from getting knocked out by a Phantom Dive,

10:44:02.660 --> 10:44:05.820
if Andrew happened to have a Crispin on this turn,

10:44:05.820 --> 10:44:08.900
these are the little things that add up

10:44:08.900 --> 10:44:10.900
over the course of a game.

10:44:10.900 --> 10:44:12.340
Where are you moving damage from?

10:44:12.340 --> 10:44:14.160
Where are you moving them to?

10:44:14.160 --> 10:44:15.800
There's so many small things

10:44:15.800 --> 10:44:17.620
that go into these Dragon Pull matches.

10:44:17.620 --> 10:44:19.860
And also which energy cards you pull out

10:44:19.860 --> 10:44:22.700
at a given time from the deck with a Crispin

10:44:22.700 --> 10:44:29.060
Committing a darkness energy to retreat to this Meowth means it's one less that's available for a future Adrenal Brain.

10:44:29.060 --> 10:44:35.000
That is going to be his play, however, as Crispin attaches the dark to the active and then from his hand he'll bring down that psychic

10:44:35.000 --> 10:44:43.100
that he added to his arsenal and he'll be able to retreat, he'll be able to Phantom Dive and sprinkle some damage over on Brent Tonneson's side.

10:44:43.100 --> 10:44:45.100
And he'll jump ahead in this game.

10:44:45.100 --> 10:44:52.100
But this is a little bit of a scary position for Andrew. He will be going down to three prize cards remaining.

10:44:52.700 --> 10:45:00.180
And it's going to be a big question of where Andrew places the damage counters for the

10:45:00.180 --> 10:45:01.180
Phantom Dive.

10:45:01.180 --> 10:45:05.100
You cannot get a clean knockout on a bench Pokemon here.

10:45:05.100 --> 10:45:10.620
Six damage counters, not enough to knock out the 70 HP, Treepy, nothing else in range

10:45:10.620 --> 10:45:15.780
and of course you're leaving a lot of damage on your opponent's board to send back

10:45:15.780 --> 10:45:19.580
your way with Monkey Dory's Adrenal Brain.

10:45:19.580 --> 10:45:22.140
Second, you're still going to go for it.

10:45:22.140 --> 10:45:24.820
Sometimes we've seen players just do a simple jet headbutt

10:45:24.820 --> 10:45:27.380
in these kinds of spots to not give your opponent more fuel.

10:45:27.380 --> 10:45:32.220
But no, Andrew deciding, I can kind of overload damage here

10:45:32.220 --> 10:45:35.820
on this monkey Dory and make sure that even if damage gets

10:45:35.820 --> 10:45:38.740
moved off a phantom dive, we'll finish it off next turn.

10:45:38.740 --> 10:45:41.380
Phantom dive KO for Andrew.

10:45:41.380 --> 10:45:43.300
Now three prizes left in Brent.

10:45:43.300 --> 10:45:45.380
Immediately evolves his drake cloak

10:45:45.380 --> 10:45:47.220
and plays a lilies determination.

10:45:47.220 --> 10:45:50.500
He'll get himself six new cards to work with.

10:45:50.500 --> 10:45:52.300
That does mean he's not going to be able to attack

10:45:52.300 --> 10:45:53.380
with a Dragapult this turn,

10:45:53.380 --> 10:45:55.140
and he promoted his Monkey Dory.

10:45:55.140 --> 10:45:56.660
That's not the plan this turn, Chip.

10:45:56.660 --> 10:45:57.780
Yeah.

10:45:57.780 --> 10:46:00.100
We're going for mine, Benda, pretty sure.

10:46:03.180 --> 10:46:05.780
And again, this is part of this crushing hammer strategy,

10:46:05.780 --> 10:46:08.220
a way to really disrupt what your opponent

10:46:08.220 --> 10:46:11.420
is able to do on all their turns.

10:46:11.420 --> 10:46:13.380
You can force your opponent to flip

10:46:13.380 --> 10:46:15.700
for that confused special condition

10:46:15.700 --> 10:46:17.500
and maybe by yourself a turn.

10:46:17.500 --> 10:46:18.340
It's very annoying.

10:46:18.340 --> 10:46:20.380
The first flip happening here is the flip,

10:46:20.380 --> 10:46:22.700
the script of Fezendipity EX,

10:46:22.700 --> 10:46:24.500
and the crushing hammer was found.

10:46:24.500 --> 10:46:27.780
So another flip could happen on this turn.

10:46:27.780 --> 10:46:31.940
Crispin headed to the hand for Brent is very, very nice.

10:46:31.940 --> 10:46:34.860
He's got another recon directive to work with here as well.

10:46:34.860 --> 10:46:37.900
He already has the psychic energy in hand necessary

10:46:37.900 --> 10:46:40.620
for that mind bend.

10:46:40.620 --> 10:46:43.300
Is that a second crushing hammer found off of that?

10:46:43.300 --> 10:46:45.300
Here we go, Jim.

10:46:45.300 --> 10:46:47.300
Here could be absolutely devastating.

10:46:47.300 --> 10:46:50.300
Here comes crushing hammer flip number one.

10:46:50.300 --> 10:46:54.300
It does fall tails, but another one could provide some help,

10:46:54.300 --> 10:46:56.300
but no another tails.

10:46:56.300 --> 10:47:00.300
That is two tails for Ben Thomson on this turn and in this game.

10:47:00.300 --> 10:47:07.300
All right, now Brett may be asking the question to Andrew.

10:47:07.300 --> 10:47:09.300
Are you feeling lucky?

10:47:09.300 --> 10:47:21.300
If you remember back to when Andrew Hedrick won NAIC a couple seasons ago, there was a big coin flip involved with that in this exact situation with this Pokemon.

10:47:21.300 --> 10:47:32.300
It was Andrew Hedrick's Iron Hands EX that was confused by Stefan Ivanov's Monkey Dory. Andrew did go for the flip in that situation, and it rolled heads.

10:47:32.300 --> 10:47:35.980
He's ensuring he would be the NAIC champion.

10:47:35.980 --> 10:47:38.820
Will he have to go for it here in this spot?

10:47:38.820 --> 10:47:43.420
I think with a Crispin, the answer to that is no.

10:47:43.420 --> 10:47:44.260
I agree.

10:47:44.260 --> 10:47:45.860
I don't think you need to, but it

10:47:45.860 --> 10:47:48.420
will depend on how much energy is left in the deck.

10:47:48.420 --> 10:47:51.300
If you can get the full two off of this Crispin,

10:47:51.300 --> 10:47:54.300
yeah, probably not needed.

10:47:54.300 --> 10:47:58.060
Brett is in such a fragile position at this point.

10:47:58.060 --> 10:48:00.100
And Andrew knows at this point,

10:48:00.100 --> 10:48:03.440
I believe three crushing hammers are gone for Brent.

10:48:03.440 --> 10:48:06.440
So that, I have a scary part of the game

10:48:06.440 --> 10:48:08.720
is mostly over for him.

10:48:08.720 --> 10:48:11.560
There can't be any random,

10:48:11.560 --> 10:48:14.920
all my energy got discarded off of my dragapult.

10:48:14.920 --> 10:48:16.920
Andrew now will be able to kind of plan

10:48:16.920 --> 10:48:19.680
the rest of the game out without much fear

10:48:19.680 --> 10:48:21.280
of getting his energy discarded.

10:48:23.320 --> 10:48:25.580
Andrew has not used his recon directives just yet.

10:48:25.580 --> 10:48:27.480
This turns, I'm gonna look at these top two,

10:48:27.480 --> 10:48:29.720
unfair stamp, one of those offered up.

10:48:29.720 --> 10:48:32.240
Of course, no KO happened, so we'll not take that.

10:48:32.240 --> 10:48:36.160
It's going to be Boss's orders held onto instead.

10:48:36.160 --> 10:48:38.360
Looks like a thin of the deck with a buddy-buddy pawfin',

10:48:38.360 --> 10:48:40.720
or maybe just a shuffle of the deck.

10:48:40.720 --> 10:48:44.480
You won't see that unfair scamp back in the mix before the recon

10:48:44.480 --> 10:48:47.000
directive number two.

10:48:47.000 --> 10:48:49.440
One more thing to mention, just small differences

10:48:49.440 --> 10:48:51.720
between these two players, Deckless.

10:48:51.720 --> 10:48:53.920
Andrew is running nine energy in his deck,

10:48:53.920 --> 10:48:55.840
versus what I think is the standard eight.

10:48:55.840 --> 10:48:59.800
we see in a lot, and that can be a difference maker

10:48:59.800 --> 10:49:01.760
in these Dragapult matches as well.

10:49:01.760 --> 10:49:04.840
Simply having access to more energy cards

10:49:04.840 --> 10:49:06.360
sometimes is the difference.

10:49:07.240 --> 10:49:10.680
Poca Pad taken off of the final recon directive

10:49:10.680 --> 10:49:11.960
for Andrew this turn,

10:49:11.960 --> 10:49:15.040
and it's got a night stretcher in the hand.

10:49:15.040 --> 10:49:17.240
It's gonna choose to play it.

10:49:17.240 --> 10:49:21.560
It's gonna get that Badoo back in play.

10:49:21.560 --> 10:49:24.240
Let's take some damage from that risky ruins.

10:49:24.240 --> 10:49:27.680
Is it going to itch and pollen this turn, Puka?

10:49:27.680 --> 10:49:32.400
Yeah, it's a decent play when you're kind of ahead like this

10:49:32.400 --> 10:49:37.560
and your opponent really has no dragapult setup to attack you.

10:49:37.560 --> 10:49:39.520
It might seem weird.

10:49:39.520 --> 10:49:41.480
Zepadu is almost certainly going to get knocked out.

10:49:41.480 --> 10:49:45.280
It's going to be a free prize card for your opponent.

10:49:45.280 --> 10:49:48.640
But this is something we see quite a bit

10:49:48.640 --> 10:49:51.240
when your Pokemon is confused.

10:49:51.240 --> 10:49:52.960
You don't really want to go for the flip.

10:49:52.960 --> 10:49:56.560
If you flip tails, things can get really bad.

10:49:56.560 --> 10:50:00.080
But if you just retreat, use Ichi Pollen,

10:50:00.080 --> 10:50:04.320
it really limits what your opponent is able to do on this turn.

10:50:04.320 --> 10:50:08.160
He will use Ichi Pollen, locking those item cards down

10:50:08.160 --> 10:50:10.440
in Brent Connason's hands.

10:50:10.440 --> 10:50:12.280
So he'll kick off his turn with recondirective.

10:50:12.280 --> 10:50:14.520
There is that fourth and final crushing hammer,

10:50:14.520 --> 10:50:17.240
of course, unable to be played right now.

10:50:17.240 --> 10:50:19.440
And should he want to attack with a drag ball this turn,

10:50:19.440 --> 10:50:22.320
he would need a Crispin, which

10:50:22.320 --> 10:50:24.040
Has he actually played all of his Crispin?

10:50:24.040 --> 10:50:24.880
He does play the two.

10:50:24.880 --> 10:50:27.160
Let's get a check of that discard pile real quick.

10:50:27.160 --> 10:50:29.200
He does have the Roses encouragement in hand,

10:50:29.200 --> 10:50:30.760
which now he can use.

10:50:30.760 --> 10:50:31.680
That's right, yes.

10:50:31.680 --> 10:50:35.120
He does still have more prize cards remaining.

10:50:35.120 --> 10:50:37.040
It does look like he does have one Crispin

10:50:37.040 --> 10:50:38.000
still floating around in the deck,

10:50:38.000 --> 10:50:40.600
but Roses would be a nice way

10:50:40.600 --> 10:50:43.000
to get off an attack this turn with Dragapults.

10:50:44.000 --> 10:50:44.840
It's a little awkward

10:50:44.840 --> 10:50:46.600
because you kind of have to telegraph

10:50:46.600 --> 10:50:48.740
what you're doing here potentially.

10:50:48.740 --> 10:50:58.740
You know, if you want to knock up Badoo with Adrena Brain, you need to evolve to Dragapult EX and play the Roses encouragement first and show your opponent

10:50:58.740 --> 10:51:05.740
that's what your plan is for the turn because once you tie up the game again, you can't use it.

10:51:05.740 --> 10:51:12.740
It could potentially influence what Andrew would decide to promote in this situation.

10:51:12.740 --> 10:51:17.780
We'll see Brent retreat that Monkey Dory and he'll use that Rose's encouragement to bring back the psyche

10:51:17.780 --> 10:51:23.620
He just discarded along with a fire that found its way to the discard pile earlier on in the game

10:51:23.620 --> 10:51:28.180
And now Phantom Dive up and running an extra attachment of this fire energy

10:51:28.660 --> 10:51:36.740
preparing for some sort of unfair stamp plus crushing hammer shenanigans and we're gonna see that Phantom Dive taking out your cloak and

10:51:36.900 --> 10:51:41.700
Taking out the Badoo Brent Tonneson jumping back ahead just two prize cards remaining for him

10:51:41.700 --> 10:51:47.500
But Andrew Hedrick has the boss's orders to bring up me out the X and with Monkey Dory

10:51:47.500 --> 10:51:51.720
He'd be able to take his final three prize cards and win game one

10:51:52.780 --> 10:51:57.780
That Andrew set that up perfectly that Monkey Dory had five damage counters

10:51:58.260 --> 10:52:01.780
Remaining on it after the adrenaline move three off

10:52:02.260 --> 10:52:08.340
Just 60 HP remaining meant it was a prime target for the six damage counters from Phantom dive

10:52:08.340 --> 10:52:15.860
And then either the Meowth EX or honestly even the Physi-dipity EX plus adrenaline was enough there

10:52:16.980 --> 10:52:18.980
And that was

10:52:19.180 --> 10:52:25.820
That was a clinic from Andrew Hedrick in that first game of I don't approach a track of full fear match, I suppose

10:52:26.340 --> 10:52:32.020
We're gonna bring Pablo Mesa in to give some thoughts on that game one of top four

10:52:32.020 --> 10:52:36.020
I mean, they were died by the crushing hamburgers, right?

10:52:36.020 --> 10:52:39.020
They didn't go brand-tonneson's way, I could believe.

10:52:39.020 --> 10:52:42.020
Hedrick flipped at least one head-stat match.

10:52:42.020 --> 10:52:47.020
That can be the difference, but I do want to say that extra energy

10:52:47.020 --> 10:52:50.020
that Andrew Hedrick is playing, I think he's been playing

10:52:50.020 --> 10:52:56.020
a base of nine since his very success in the post-rotation metagame.

10:52:56.020 --> 10:52:59.020
I can only think that could possibly give him an edge here.

10:52:59.020 --> 10:53:04.020
Just because you find energy a lot earlier, you find energy more often you're able to

10:53:05.020 --> 10:53:08.020
easily, easier pay between costs as well.

10:53:08.020 --> 10:53:12.020
So that kind of energy, I generally think could be a difference

10:53:12.020 --> 10:53:15.020
and it might have played a role in this match particularly.

10:53:15.020 --> 10:53:20.020
And that extra energy as well, being a darkness energy makes it all the easier to use Monkey Glory,

10:53:20.020 --> 10:53:25.020
which is such an important piece of this mirror match.

10:53:25.020 --> 10:53:27.860
getting ready to get into game number two here.

10:53:27.860 --> 10:53:31.860
Now Brent did get to choosing game one first versus second.

10:53:31.860 --> 10:53:34.380
He did not go his way.

10:53:34.380 --> 10:53:37.740
Any reason you think for him to change his decision here, Puka?

10:53:37.740 --> 10:53:39.740
I don't think so.

10:53:39.740 --> 10:53:44.460
Shouldn't let one game decide to change your strategy here.

10:53:44.460 --> 10:53:46.980
If you think going second is better, then you should go second.

10:53:46.980 --> 10:53:49.260
I mean, especially you've already looked at your opponent's

10:53:49.260 --> 10:53:50.340
decklists.

10:53:50.340 --> 10:53:53.460
Ideally, you've figured out what the plan is by now.

10:53:53.460 --> 10:54:00.380
So yeah, I have to assume going second will be Brent's choice once again looks like Andrew Hadrick has a mulligan, so

10:54:01.620 --> 10:54:07.780
Shuffle his hand back in and still try to find a basic in his seven opening hand cards

10:54:08.940 --> 10:54:13.100
Take a look here and see if he's able to get one we can get into this next game

10:54:13.100 --> 10:54:16.540
Of course to start a game the Pokemon CCG when you draw that opening hand of seven

10:54:16.540 --> 10:54:20.540
You do have to find at least one basic to get the game rolling

10:54:20.540 --> 10:54:25.180
Andrew was unable to do that the first time around and that means Brent will have an additional

10:54:25.180 --> 10:54:28.780
part to work with on his first turn.

10:54:28.780 --> 10:54:32.380
Let's get into it game two, the top four.

10:54:32.380 --> 10:54:42.380
All right, we are kicking off game number two in the top four of the world championships

10:54:42.380 --> 10:54:44.380
here in San Francisco.

10:54:44.380 --> 10:54:50.180
If Andrew wins, he will join at Diego Casiraga in the finals tomorrow at the

10:54:50.180 --> 10:54:52.460
Chase Center in the big arena.

10:54:52.460 --> 10:54:55.300
Grant needs to win these next two games.

10:54:55.300 --> 10:54:58.620
He wants his dream of becoming world champion

10:54:58.620 --> 10:55:01.500
to remain a possibility.

10:55:01.500 --> 10:55:04.660
Looks like a little bit of a weaker hand for Andrew

10:55:04.660 --> 10:55:05.140
in this game.

10:55:05.140 --> 10:55:07.100
I don't see a buddy buddy Poffin in there.

10:55:07.100 --> 10:55:09.500
Yeah, the play of the poker pad initially

10:55:09.500 --> 10:55:11.900
does usually signal that.

10:55:11.900 --> 10:55:13.940
That's often if a buddy buddy Poffin is there,

10:55:13.940 --> 10:55:15.940
that is to grab immediately.

10:55:15.940 --> 10:55:18.540
But still, this poker pad allows him to get down

10:55:18.540 --> 10:55:25.540
try to get into your club next turn and looking at those prize cards, anytime an energy prize you got to definitely make note of that.

10:55:26.540 --> 10:55:30.540
Lily's boss crush. I mean these are all good cards but you got to prize something.

10:55:31.540 --> 10:55:40.540
Yeah, exactly. Alright, I think we'll probably see both players be able to play the game here at least, which is great to see.

10:55:40.540 --> 10:55:46.700
to see. It's all about, well, there's no question about it. You're gonna get itchy

10:55:46.700 --> 10:55:52.460
pollen. Brett did start with it, both players, starting with this key Pokemon

10:55:52.460 --> 10:55:59.460
that has been emblematic of the Pokemon TCG over the last couple seasons. And

10:55:59.460 --> 10:56:08.020
it is just a pass. It's gonna be over to Brent now on his opening turn. See

10:56:08.020 --> 10:56:10.360
what he's got to work with. Of course, he's able to play a supporter card

10:56:10.360 --> 10:56:15.240
here. I'm sure he's looking for a buddy buddy poppin but no the first card of this game is going

10:56:15.240 --> 10:56:21.000
to be a crushing hammer and this one is also going to fall tails. That's three hammer tails in a row

10:56:21.000 --> 10:56:28.600
for Brent. Another interesting thing so I think when you're first starting out playing the Pokemon

10:56:28.600 --> 10:56:33.720
TCG your first instinct when you're setting up to play the game is to bench all of the

10:56:33.720 --> 10:56:39.880
Pokemon in your opening hand during setup but then as you play a bit more you realize oh

10:56:39.880 --> 10:56:43.240
There's no ways for my opponent to disrupt my hand

10:56:43.240 --> 10:56:45.400
on the first turn of the game when they go first.

10:56:45.400 --> 10:56:47.600
So I'll just put out one basic Pokemon,

10:56:47.600 --> 10:56:49.100
keep the rest in my hand,

10:56:49.100 --> 10:56:54.340
play them during my turn to disguise the strength of my hand.

10:56:54.340 --> 10:56:56.800
But then it's kind of like the other end of the bell curve,

10:56:56.800 --> 10:56:58.940
where it's like when you're a genius,

10:56:58.940 --> 10:57:01.480
then you just bench the Pokemon again.

10:57:01.480 --> 10:57:06.780
Brett playing around the risky ruins on Andrew's side.

10:57:06.780 --> 10:57:08.840
That really burned him in the first game.

10:57:08.840 --> 10:57:16.560
He decided to start the game off with more than one Pokemon in play just so he wouldn't have to put damage counters on his own Pokemon

10:57:16.800 --> 10:57:22.440
Looking at his prize cards. There is a full evolution line of dragapult hiding out there one Dripi

10:57:22.440 --> 10:57:28.640
Wandercloak in that one dragapult and also crushing hammer in his prizes. He does match Andrew Hedrick in that aspect

10:57:30.720 --> 10:57:32.720
Chip that

10:57:32.720 --> 10:57:39.200
Now look like a good hand for Brent. Oh wow. Yeah, no supporter being played just a itchy pollen

10:57:39.200 --> 10:57:46.120
He was at least able to get down a couple of drippy, but no supporter on his end and Andrew Hedrick

10:57:46.360 --> 10:57:48.360
immediately into the Lilly's determination

10:57:50.720 --> 10:57:56.200
No can't see it right now, but Brent kind of got hands on his head. Yeah, there it is

10:57:57.040 --> 10:57:59.520
Realizing he's not in a great situation here

10:57:59.520 --> 10:58:05.880
He's down a game here in top four, Puka. If he loses this game, this is where his

10:58:05.880 --> 10:58:08.720
tournament run will end.

10:58:08.720 --> 10:58:12.120
Yeah, does have a drake cloak for next turn at least. Can start using recon

10:58:12.120 --> 10:58:18.120
directive, but no energy attachment. Didn't play a supporter card, isn't

10:58:18.120 --> 10:58:23.280
great. And on the other side, it's looking a little bit better for Andrew.

10:58:23.280 --> 10:58:27.200
Looks like he's gonna get a drake cloak into play, uses recon directive.

10:58:27.200 --> 10:58:29.600
It's an energy attachment for a turn.

10:58:29.600 --> 10:58:31.400
He's got another drippy in hand.

10:58:31.400 --> 10:58:35.300
And sometimes, we'll see players pounce on these situations

10:58:35.300 --> 10:58:38.040
and go in with the dragon head, but...

10:58:38.040 --> 10:58:39.600
I don't think we'll see it here, Chip.

10:58:39.600 --> 10:58:41.980
There's just not a good reason to do it here.

10:58:41.980 --> 10:58:44.800
Your opponent could be holding on to unfair stamp

10:58:44.800 --> 10:58:45.800
in this situation.

10:58:45.800 --> 10:58:48.140
You just don't need to run into that.

10:58:48.140 --> 10:58:50.540
Just press your advantage here.

10:58:50.540 --> 10:58:53.740
Try to lock down your opponent with the itchy pollen

10:58:53.740 --> 10:58:55.040
and go from there.

10:58:55.040 --> 10:58:56.780
There is the Meowth EX.

10:58:56.780 --> 10:58:59.580
That must have been his top deck this term, Puka.

10:58:59.580 --> 10:59:02.940
He'll immediately use that last-ditch catchability,

10:59:02.940 --> 10:59:04.260
search the deck for a supporter card,

10:59:04.260 --> 10:59:07.820
and snap out that Lily's determination.

10:59:07.820 --> 10:59:11.260
That's a nice reset for Brent here.

10:59:11.260 --> 10:59:13.980
Already got the one drip cloak in play, which is nice.

10:59:13.980 --> 10:59:15.780
Draw a lot of cards.

10:59:15.780 --> 10:59:21.020
So probably not too unlikely to draw another one.

10:59:21.020 --> 10:59:23.540
Looks like we're going to have ourselves

10:59:23.540 --> 10:59:26.380
a nice little drag-a-pult game here.

10:59:26.380 --> 10:59:34.920
Get some energy cards in the mix, but right now it's all about setting up your recon directives and using that itchy pollen.

10:59:34.920 --> 10:59:40.420
Here is recon directive number one for Brent, holding on to a crushing hammer there.

10:59:40.420 --> 10:59:44.720
It looks like Dracloak number two is available for yet another recon directive.

10:59:44.720 --> 10:59:48.620
That's a deputy in a basic fire energy, the potential options.

10:59:48.620 --> 10:59:53.720
Looks like he does already have a psychic in hand to get his attachment for turn.

10:59:53.720 --> 10:59:56.180
And Andrew Pablo called it out.

10:59:56.180 --> 10:59:58.560
He was playing an extra energy card

10:59:58.560 --> 11:00:03.120
and was able to attach on both turn one and turn two.

11:00:03.120 --> 11:00:04.520
Oh, look at this.

11:00:04.520 --> 11:00:07.480
He's going to choose to use Monkey Dory here

11:00:07.480 --> 11:00:10.880
as opposed to trying to get an energy established on a Drakloak.

11:00:10.880 --> 11:00:14.480
And this is going to allow him to strike first yet again.

11:00:14.480 --> 11:00:17.680
Moving that 10 damage over to Andrew's Bidu puts it up to 20

11:00:17.680 --> 11:00:20.120
and then then Ichi Paulin takes it down.

11:00:20.120 --> 11:00:22.120
First prize card of this game goes to Brent.

11:00:23.720 --> 11:00:29.720
Of course, Andrew does have two energy on the stroke cloak already.

11:00:29.720 --> 11:00:35.720
Just needs to find Dragapult EX in order to use Phantom Dive on this turn.

11:00:35.720 --> 11:00:43.720
Ideally would pair it with, like a boss's orders to go after a higher impact benched Pokemon here.

11:00:43.720 --> 11:00:46.720
With that flip the script is going to see a lot of cards.

11:00:46.720 --> 11:00:53.720
Andrew has prized a Dragapult here, and he's, of course, unable to play any item cards to search for one,

11:00:53.720 --> 11:00:58.720
so he certainly could whiff out on the Dragapult attack this turn.

11:00:58.720 --> 11:01:01.720
He's already used Flip the Script to use that first Recon Directive.

11:01:01.720 --> 11:01:03.720
Here is Recon Directive number two.

11:01:03.720 --> 11:01:07.720
It doesn't look like a Dragapult was one of those two available cards.

11:01:07.720 --> 11:01:12.720
You're right, Chip, and I don't see one in hand right now.

11:01:12.720 --> 11:01:17.720
Now, Meowth EX, that probably won't help here.

11:01:18.200 --> 11:01:21.200
You could use it to find a Lily's determination.

11:01:21.200 --> 11:01:22.700
Maybe draw the dragon pulp that way,

11:01:22.700 --> 11:01:27.020
but yeah, this is maybe a precarious situation now.

11:01:27.920 --> 11:01:30.760
So we just see Crispin getting used.

11:01:30.760 --> 11:01:33.160
Crispin could load some energy up into play

11:01:33.160 --> 11:01:37.680
onto perhaps Andrew's other Drakloak to get that

11:01:37.680 --> 11:01:40.480
powered up, we've also seen at times

11:01:40.480 --> 11:01:44.640
The Cruel Arrow of Fezendipity get into the mix, but this is not going to be one of those

11:01:44.640 --> 11:01:48.360
times Puka, a pair of energy down onto Dracloak on the bench.

11:01:48.360 --> 11:01:51.360
Yeah, I think Hawaii's from Andrew there.

11:01:51.360 --> 11:01:56.220
This is not a situation where the Fezendipity EX will be particularly powerful once your

11:01:56.220 --> 11:02:01.840
opponent has Dracloak in play and can evolve into Dragapult EX.

11:02:01.840 --> 11:02:06.120
The effectiveness of Cruel Arrow goes down quite a bit.

11:02:06.120 --> 11:02:10.160
As you said, we've seen it be used to great effect in the past.

11:02:10.160 --> 11:02:12.120
You just don't want to miss the play when it's available.

11:02:12.120 --> 11:02:13.280
That is for sure.

11:02:13.280 --> 11:02:15.920
There is the dragon headbutt, though, for Andrew.

11:02:15.920 --> 11:02:17.840
He's going to take that KO on Badoo.

11:02:17.840 --> 11:02:18.840
Tie this game up.

11:02:18.840 --> 11:02:20.920
Five prizes remaining for each player.

11:02:20.920 --> 11:02:23.400
Jack of all TX taken from his prizes.

11:02:23.400 --> 11:02:26.240
But here is this barrage of crushing hammers.

11:02:26.240 --> 11:02:28.080
This is what Brent has been waiting for.

11:02:28.080 --> 11:02:30.400
And there is a heads.

11:02:30.400 --> 11:02:31.680
And this could be a huge turn.

11:02:31.680 --> 11:02:34.160
If he gets rid of both energy on the bench

11:02:34.160 --> 11:02:35.640
and knock out this active, he

11:02:35.640 --> 11:02:38.320
can clear four energy out of play in a single turn.

11:02:38.320 --> 11:02:41.060
And he does hit heads on that second hammer.

11:02:41.060 --> 11:02:43.680
Should he have Crispin, Dragapult EX,

11:02:43.680 --> 11:02:47.060
he would be able to take out all of Andrew's energy

11:02:47.060 --> 11:02:48.820
in one fell swoop.

11:02:48.820 --> 11:02:50.760
These are the swings you can see

11:02:50.760 --> 11:02:53.000
in these Dragapult mirror matches now.

11:02:53.000 --> 11:02:55.920
And you can see how important it was for Andrew

11:02:55.920 --> 11:03:00.240
to find Dragapult EX on that previous turn.

11:03:00.240 --> 11:03:05.240
Now he is in extreme danger of losing all energy in play.

11:03:05.240 --> 11:03:14.280
in play. All it takes, like you said, Chip, is a Crispin. Can Brent piece that final puzzle piece

11:03:14.280 --> 11:03:20.360
together here? There's an attachment of the psychic energy to his active, and it looks like

11:03:20.360 --> 11:03:26.200
he's actually not going to try to find a Crispin. He's going for the judge. Yeah, all he needs is

11:03:26.200 --> 11:03:32.040
Dragapult EX. He can use Adrenal Brain to move two damage counters, then Jet Headbutt for the

11:03:32.040 --> 11:03:39.200
knockout. This is a twofold play here for Brent as he's fitting his hand out and

11:03:39.200 --> 11:03:43.440
then playing a shuffle draw card to cycle through his deck even more. He's also

11:03:43.440 --> 11:03:49.880
going to hit Andrew Hedrick's hand and leave him with just four cards. Huge

11:03:49.880 --> 11:03:54.760
swing in the second game here to decide who goes to the finals at the

11:03:54.760 --> 11:03:59.680
Pokemon TCG World Championships. Four cards drawn off of this judge. Let's

11:03:59.680 --> 11:04:01.940
Let's not get ahead of ourselves here, Puka.

11:04:01.940 --> 11:04:04.640
Finding a Dragapult may not be the easiest thing for Brent

11:04:04.640 --> 11:04:07.140
with one of the prizes as well as two Ultra Ball,

11:04:07.140 --> 11:04:09.680
but he is going to see so many cards here.

11:04:09.680 --> 11:04:11.800
Starting it off with a flip the script

11:04:11.800 --> 11:04:15.160
and Ultra Ball will guarantee Dragapult comes out this time.

11:04:19.760 --> 11:04:22.360
Two cards from this recon directive.

11:04:22.360 --> 11:04:24.760
It's got an energy and a buddy-buddy poffin available.

11:04:24.760 --> 11:04:25.800
It's gonna hold onto the fire.

11:04:25.800 --> 11:04:28.520
That'll be really nice on his next turn.

11:04:28.520 --> 11:04:33.000
And now another recon directive to look at those top two,

11:04:33.000 --> 11:04:35.840
find a piece he wants to hold on to.

11:04:35.840 --> 11:04:37.040
It is going to be Crispin.

11:04:37.040 --> 11:04:38.800
That'll be a nice response to have

11:04:38.800 --> 11:04:41.160
should Andrew find a few fortunate heads,

11:04:41.160 --> 11:04:42.680
flips on his next turn.

11:04:42.680 --> 11:04:45.720
And this ultra ball is going to get the big piece.

11:04:45.720 --> 11:04:48.040
Dragapult, EX.

11:04:48.040 --> 11:04:50.560
No need to worry about Phantom Dive.

11:04:50.560 --> 11:04:54.040
Thanks to that risky ruins, placing the 20 damage

11:04:54.040 --> 11:04:56.680
on that Drippy, Brent is able to bounce it

11:04:56.680 --> 11:04:59.480
over to the active of Andrew Hedrick with Adrenaline Brain.

11:04:59.480 --> 11:05:02.280
And now Jet Headbutt on Dragopolte X

11:05:02.280 --> 11:05:05.840
lines up for the perfect math KO to take down Dracloak.

11:05:05.840 --> 11:05:07.840
What a turn.

11:05:07.840 --> 11:05:10.760
Incredible response from Brent.

11:05:10.760 --> 11:05:12.680
What will Andrew do to respond?

11:05:12.680 --> 11:05:16.280
Of course, he could have crushing hammers of his own.

11:05:16.280 --> 11:05:21.400
And this would be a prime turn to find the unfair stamp.

11:05:21.400 --> 11:05:25.560
And there it is in his hand, Puka, ready to play,

11:05:25.560 --> 11:05:28.560
ready to this route and try to draw through the deck.

11:05:28.560 --> 11:05:30.800
But before playing his unfair stamp,

11:05:30.800 --> 11:05:33.600
we're going to see the use of a recon directive

11:05:33.600 --> 11:05:36.320
looking at these top two.

11:05:36.320 --> 11:05:40.720
Finds himself a polka pad, also ultra ball.

11:05:40.720 --> 11:05:44.200
See a crushing hammer to go with the unfair stamp.

11:05:44.200 --> 11:05:48.640
These are some of these big, high impact swing cards.

11:05:48.640 --> 11:05:52.040
You can see in this matchup.

11:05:52.040 --> 11:05:54.360
And here it is, crushing hammer flip for Andrew Hedrick.

11:05:54.360 --> 11:05:58.360
And this one is going to land Tails now a decision, though.

11:05:58.360 --> 11:06:00.320
Puka, will he get rid of the energy from the active

11:06:00.320 --> 11:06:03.000
or the monkey Dori it looks like he's going to target down

11:06:03.000 --> 11:06:03.840
Dragopolis?

11:06:06.600 --> 11:06:09.160
I think he's hoping maybe he'll find another crushing hammer

11:06:09.160 --> 11:06:11.520
and the next one won't be a decision.

11:06:11.520 --> 11:06:15.760
You'll just do exactly what Brent just did to you.

11:06:15.760 --> 11:06:18.280
Get rid of all your energy.

11:06:18.280 --> 11:06:22.440
Still long ways to go for Andrew on this turn

11:06:22.440 --> 11:06:27.000
to really get the highest impact outcome here.

11:06:27.000 --> 11:06:30.160
Brett is in a really challenging situation

11:06:30.160 --> 11:06:32.120
if he gets hit by the unfair stamp, though.

11:06:32.120 --> 11:06:34.920
Just the one drake cloak in play.

11:06:36.200 --> 11:06:40.760
Only one recon directive to draw out of the two cards

11:06:40.760 --> 11:06:41.840
he'll be drawing.

11:06:42.760 --> 11:06:46.380
So the momentum could swing back into Andrew's favor,

11:06:46.380 --> 11:06:50.200
but I mean, his board isn't the best either.

11:06:50.200 --> 11:06:54.360
just the one Dragapult he has no recon directives anymore.

11:06:54.360 --> 11:06:56.840
Ultraball gets rid of a Lily's determination

11:06:56.840 --> 11:06:59.760
and a Badoo here, fitting the Badoo out of the deck

11:06:59.760 --> 11:07:01.920
with a polka pad, finding out Dragapult.

11:07:01.920 --> 11:07:04.040
He still has flip the script to use,

11:07:04.040 --> 11:07:07.920
but it will be on the other end of this unfair stamp.

11:07:07.920 --> 11:07:10.680
And look at the sequencing decisions here from Andrew.

11:07:10.680 --> 11:07:12.840
He had Ultraball in the hand.

11:07:12.840 --> 11:07:16.240
He used the recon directive before unfair stamp

11:07:16.240 --> 11:07:18.160
because he knew he had the piece

11:07:18.160 --> 11:07:20.400
to go fetch out Dragapult.

11:07:20.400 --> 11:07:23.880
And I think here, Puka, if he can find a Crispin

11:07:23.880 --> 11:07:26.480
and get two energy cards into play,

11:07:26.480 --> 11:07:28.400
it would be a huge swing in this game.

11:07:28.400 --> 11:07:32.400
Yeah, Rose's encouragement also would be great to find as well.

11:07:32.400 --> 11:07:34.120
Maybe even the preferred option,

11:07:34.120 --> 11:07:37.120
since you get them out of the discard pile

11:07:37.120 --> 11:07:39.680
and not need to take more energy cards out of your deck.

11:07:39.680 --> 11:07:42.440
Yeah, I wonder how many energy he even has in the deck now,

11:07:42.440 --> 11:07:46.160
as we know that there's two each of those fire and psychics down.

11:07:46.160 --> 11:07:48.040
We're going to see those five cards being drawn.

11:07:48.040 --> 11:07:49.900
There is one fire energy.

11:07:49.900 --> 11:07:53.280
Here is the script of the Fezendipity EX.

11:07:53.280 --> 11:07:57.200
It does find Crispin, but he also does have Ultra Ball,

11:07:57.200 --> 11:07:59.160
so he could use Ultra Ball to get me out

11:07:59.160 --> 11:08:01.400
if Rosa's encouragement would be preferred.

11:08:02.800 --> 11:08:05.280
Yeah, and that would let you charge up Monkey Dory

11:08:05.280 --> 11:08:07.280
as well, this turn, if you wanted to.

11:08:08.440 --> 11:08:09.960
You can use the Rosa's encouragement

11:08:09.960 --> 11:08:13.280
to put two energy on your active Dragonbolt EX,

11:08:13.280 --> 11:08:15.480
then use your attachment for the turn.

11:08:16.160 --> 11:08:20.660
onto Monkey Dory to set up Adrenaline.

11:08:20.660 --> 11:08:25.820
Now Monkey Dory is eyed up and will be brought into play here.

11:08:25.820 --> 11:08:28.660
Does receive 20 damage, thanks to the risky ruins.

11:08:31.060 --> 11:08:32.940
Let's see if that Ultra Ball is going to be used here.

11:08:32.940 --> 11:08:37.180
Will Andrew go for that Meowth?

11:08:37.180 --> 11:08:39.180
Sure seems like a chip.

11:08:39.180 --> 11:08:42.460
That would be the thing to Ultra Ball for here.

11:08:42.460 --> 11:08:45.620
It's not even clear that you have the different types

11:08:45.620 --> 11:08:48.780
energy in the deck for the Crispin at this point, but looks like he drew a

11:08:48.780 --> 11:08:53.620
couple in his hand, so that does seem unlikely. Sure enough, ultra ball for me

11:08:53.620 --> 11:08:59.620
out, last ditch catch. Finding out any supporter card from his deck.

11:08:59.620 --> 11:09:05.020
And that Rosa's encouragement is the name of the game here. He has more prize

11:09:05.020 --> 11:09:09.460
cards remaining than his opponent. Still five prizes remaining for Andrew.

11:09:09.460 --> 11:09:14.860
Four for Brent Tonneson. He's also gonna fetch out Ed Driepey here. This

11:09:14.860 --> 11:09:19.060
We'll take a little damage from the risky ruin, but should he get a darkness energy established

11:09:19.060 --> 11:09:21.180
We'll be able to move that damage back over

11:09:24.020 --> 11:09:26.020
This is gonna be a tough

11:09:26.740 --> 11:09:31.740
Decision for Andrew on where to put damage from both Adrenaline and

11:09:33.380 --> 11:09:35.380
Phantom dive

11:09:35.380 --> 11:09:40.700
Think you can look at it real quickly and say oh you can knock out 3b move a damage counter over there with Adrenaline

11:09:40.700 --> 11:09:44.940
brain, take a knockout, but then you give your opponent access to flip the script.

11:09:44.940 --> 11:09:48.540
So it may be a situation where you're just loading the field with damage,

11:09:48.540 --> 11:09:50.700
but not actually taking a knockout.

11:09:50.700 --> 11:09:54.980
He's gonna move 20 damage from his monkey Dory over to Brent's monkey Dory,

11:09:54.980 --> 11:10:01.020
and Phantom Dive 200 damage laid into the active and 60 damage onto the bench.

11:10:01.020 --> 11:10:02.820
Hoka pad played right away from Brent.

11:10:02.820 --> 11:10:05.060
We'll give him a second to cloak into play.

11:10:05.060 --> 11:10:07.260
He's gonna be living off of these recon directives.

11:10:07.260 --> 11:10:12.260
Yeah, and with just no energy in play,

11:10:12.260 --> 11:10:14.260
besides the one on the Monkey Dory,

11:10:14.260 --> 11:10:19.260
I feel like Crispin has to be one of the big cards to find here

11:10:19.260 --> 11:10:21.260
in order to power up a Phantom Dive.

11:10:21.260 --> 11:10:24.260
But even in this spot, how good is using Phantom Dive

11:10:24.260 --> 11:10:27.260
with your Pokemon that is heavily damaged?

11:10:27.260 --> 11:10:29.260
What else can he do?

11:10:29.260 --> 11:10:32.260
Well, go through the deck and try to find some keys.

11:10:32.260 --> 11:10:34.260
It looks like a fire energy was found,

11:10:34.260 --> 11:10:39.860
Perhaps that minimum a jet headbutt could happen and try to start chipping away at a dragapult.

11:10:39.860 --> 11:10:42.460
That damage is really difficult to make relevant.

11:10:42.460 --> 11:10:47.860
He's going to use that second recon directive and sees his unfair stamp offered as well as a night stretcher.

11:10:47.860 --> 11:10:55.060
And I hang on to the pink card for now and it's just going to concede the fact that this dragapult in the active is going to go down.

11:10:56.460 --> 11:10:58.460
That just does not feel good, Chip.

11:10:59.460 --> 11:11:03.260
Sacrificing a dragapult EX, two prize cards.

11:11:03.260 --> 11:11:04.940
to go with it.

11:11:04.940 --> 11:11:06.340
This would feel better, I think, for Brent

11:11:06.340 --> 11:11:07.740
if he had a second dragapult

11:11:07.740 --> 11:11:09.500
and could protect this energy investment.

11:11:09.500 --> 11:11:12.620
But now, Andrew's got a few ways to deal with this.

11:11:12.620 --> 11:11:14.340
If he finds a crushing hammer,

11:11:14.340 --> 11:11:15.180
can give it to that energy.

11:11:15.180 --> 11:11:18.700
But even if he just finds it, bosses orders.

11:11:18.700 --> 11:11:21.820
He could get rid of that energy and play from Brent.

11:11:23.020 --> 11:11:24.540
Here is the crushing hammer in hand

11:11:24.540 --> 11:11:26.820
and he's going for it, flipping the back coin.

11:11:26.820 --> 11:11:30.860
And this one is going to roll heads,

11:11:30.860 --> 11:11:33.860
Take a moment and check the discard pile.

11:11:33.860 --> 11:11:35.900
Figure out if that Monkey Dory is ever worth dealing with,

11:11:35.900 --> 11:11:39.100
but no, let's just take fire energy out of play

11:11:39.100 --> 11:11:40.060
and put Phantom Dive.

11:11:40.060 --> 11:11:43.180
He'll be able to knock out the Monkey Dory here, Puka.

11:11:43.180 --> 11:11:45.660
This is looking really tough for Brent.

11:11:45.660 --> 11:11:48.260
Andrew is gonna steam roll ahead this turn.

11:11:49.660 --> 11:11:54.660
And Brent, played around a potentially disastrous situation

11:11:54.900 --> 11:11:59.160
by only moving two damage counters with his Monkey Dory.

11:11:59.160 --> 11:12:03.720
If you move three, then Andrew can just fling three

11:12:03.720 --> 11:12:07.800
on to your dracloak and set up a phantom dive

11:12:07.800 --> 11:12:10.440
to knock out the active and your dracloak.

11:12:10.440 --> 11:12:13.160
Only moving two denies that play,

11:12:13.160 --> 11:12:16.440
but now still something extremely devastating.

11:12:17.400 --> 11:12:20.800
Phantom dive, knock out the active, knock out monkey Dory.

11:12:20.800 --> 11:12:23.560
Andrew will go down to just two prize cards

11:12:23.560 --> 11:12:27.240
after this turn and Brent is on the ropes here.

11:12:27.240 --> 11:12:33.840
He's got a few different draw abilities available that he'll have to utilize in order to fight

11:12:33.840 --> 11:12:35.560
his way back into this one.

11:12:35.560 --> 11:12:37.920
And we see that damage sprinkled into play.

11:12:37.920 --> 11:12:42.680
A three prize card turn for Andrew Hedrick jumping ahead in this game.

11:12:42.680 --> 11:12:47.840
Just a boss's orders away from winning the game next turn, taking out that Meowth

11:12:47.840 --> 11:12:49.800
EX that Brent has in play.

11:12:49.800 --> 11:12:54.840
Brent's going to do everything he can to withstand this unfair stamp ready to

11:12:54.840 --> 11:12:55.840
go.

11:12:55.840 --> 11:12:58.780
Yeah, huge unfair stamp here.

11:12:58.780 --> 11:13:01.780
Could give Brett the chance he needs to win this game.

11:13:01.780 --> 11:13:05.280
There's a couple different things he could find on this turn

11:13:05.280 --> 11:13:07.420
to make a huge difference.

11:13:07.420 --> 11:13:10.060
If he has any crushing hammers left,

11:13:10.060 --> 11:13:14.760
now would be the time to draw one and use one here.

11:13:14.760 --> 11:13:17.660
And the thing is the Rosa's encouragement

11:13:17.660 --> 11:13:20.540
to be able to power up his Dragapult EX.

11:13:20.540 --> 11:13:25.100
Now that Andrew is the one with more prize cards remaining,

11:13:25.100 --> 11:13:28.100
This is a tricky spot to try to come back from.

11:13:28.100 --> 11:13:33.600
He really just needs to hope, at this point, Andrew does not find a boss's orders

11:13:33.600 --> 11:13:37.600
to be able to phantom dive for those last two prize cards.

11:13:37.600 --> 11:13:42.600
Five cards here for Brent to try to piece something together.

11:13:42.600 --> 11:13:47.600
We'll use a poker pad, search through the deck, then out a non-rule box Pokémon.

11:13:47.600 --> 11:13:51.600
Looks like Badoe getting into the mix even here in the late game.

11:13:51.600 --> 11:13:53.600
Just taking it out of the deck, of course.

11:13:53.600 --> 11:13:58.840
There's still a lot of cards he can draw here a couple recon directives also that flip the script of the Fezzendipity

11:14:00.200 --> 11:14:05.480
It's gonna effectively be able to see the top seven cards of his deck this turn

11:14:07.760 --> 11:14:13.280
Such a tense moment here and you know Andrew also playing around the monkey Dory play

11:14:14.480 --> 11:14:21.380
Only leaving two damage counters on any one Pokemon, but here's a huge flip the script three cards for Brent

11:14:21.380 --> 11:14:24.060
I see a psychic energy night stretcher.

11:14:24.060 --> 11:14:27.260
Ultra ball can guarantee a dragapult this turn.

11:14:27.260 --> 11:14:28.620
He's gonna play that right now

11:14:28.620 --> 11:14:30.780
before any uses of Recon Directive.

11:14:31.860 --> 11:14:32.700
But how many energy?

11:14:32.700 --> 11:14:33.900
It looks like he does have one psychic,

11:14:33.900 --> 11:14:35.260
one fire left in the deck,

11:14:35.260 --> 11:14:39.540
so he can still fire off a Phantom Dive here

11:14:39.540 --> 11:14:41.200
if he finds the Crispin.

11:14:42.780 --> 11:14:44.480
Now of course, Rose's encouragement active

11:14:44.480 --> 11:14:45.900
on his end as well.

11:14:48.180 --> 11:14:51.340
Those are the three cards he's gonna be looking for.

11:14:51.380 --> 11:14:54.980
Let's get one check real quick of that discard pile on Brent's side

11:14:54.980 --> 11:14:58.580
and we can see how many of those supporters have been played thus far

11:14:58.580 --> 11:15:00.380
if they're all still available.

11:15:00.380 --> 11:15:02.580
Let me see that recon directive.

11:15:02.580 --> 11:15:05.380
It's like a buddy buddy puffin' as one.

11:15:05.380 --> 11:15:07.080
Recon directive number two.

11:15:07.080 --> 11:15:10.680
Buddy puffin' once again at the fire energy.

11:15:10.680 --> 11:15:13.280
I don't see a roses or a Crispin.

11:15:13.280 --> 11:15:17.580
Oh no, is there no way to power up Dragapult EX on this turn?

11:15:17.580 --> 11:15:22.580
Oh, Brent looking through all the options here.

11:15:22.580 --> 11:15:28.580
There's so many things you have to play around in this situation, such a tightrope to walk.

11:15:28.580 --> 11:15:36.580
If you're going to make an attack this turn, but also deny your opponent the chance to win on his following turn.

11:15:36.580 --> 11:15:40.580
What is it going to be?

11:15:40.580 --> 11:15:43.780
It's going to use Monkey Dory as a part of this sequence,

11:15:43.780 --> 11:15:49.820
and move an energy over from this side to the other.

11:15:49.820 --> 11:15:51.140
Excuse me, a damage counter.

11:15:51.140 --> 11:15:53.180
It will just be the one damage counter from Dracloak

11:15:53.180 --> 11:15:54.980
to Andrews Dracloak.

11:15:54.980 --> 11:15:58.460
And only a pass if Andrew Hedrick finds bosses orders.

11:15:58.460 --> 11:16:01.340
He will win the game and punch his ticket

11:16:01.340 --> 11:16:03.220
into Championship Sunday.

11:16:03.220 --> 11:16:06.460
Andrew Hedrick takes down Ren Thomas.

11:16:06.460 --> 11:16:11.460
Congratulations to Andrew Hedrick.

11:16:11.460 --> 11:16:17.460
He's gonna head the Chase Center tomorrow in the big arena.

11:16:17.460 --> 11:16:19.460
One more match.

11:16:19.460 --> 11:16:21.460
They'll go up against Diego.

11:16:21.460 --> 11:16:25.460
I see which player will be crowned world champion.

11:16:25.460 --> 11:16:29.460
It feels like so many accomplishments he has.

11:16:29.460 --> 11:16:32.460
Many time regional champion, IC champion.

11:16:32.460 --> 11:16:37.460
and now an opportunity to become a world champion.

11:16:37.460 --> 11:16:40.960
And this is all just in the last four or five years

11:16:40.960 --> 11:16:42.960
of his competitive career.

11:16:42.960 --> 11:16:45.460
Puka, he really first onto the scene in this like

11:16:45.460 --> 11:16:47.460
poof-poofed era of the game.

11:16:47.460 --> 11:16:50.960
2022 and onward, he has been a dominant force.

11:16:50.960 --> 11:16:53.460
Five regional titles, one IC,

11:16:53.460 --> 11:16:56.960
and now a chance to become the world champion.

11:16:56.960 --> 11:16:59.960
Yeah, and he really showed off his skills

11:16:59.960 --> 11:17:02.580
in this Dragonbolt mirror match here.

11:17:02.580 --> 11:17:04.840
Brent did have some unfortunate things happen,

11:17:04.840 --> 11:17:07.540
starting with the Meowth EX.

11:17:07.540 --> 11:17:10.380
Not always drawing exactly what he needed.

11:17:10.380 --> 11:17:13.220
But hey, that's gonna happen sometimes.

11:17:13.220 --> 11:17:16.880
And maybe Brent against some other players,

11:17:16.880 --> 11:17:19.260
they've been able to come back in those situations.

11:17:19.260 --> 11:17:20.980
But against someone like Andrew Hedrick,

11:17:20.980 --> 11:17:24.200
where every damage counter is going to be placed precisely,

11:17:24.200 --> 11:17:26.800
every attachment is going to be pristine.

11:17:26.800 --> 11:17:29.160
You just have not much room for error.

11:17:29.960 --> 11:17:35.160
And it was a boss's orders for the win in game number one.

11:17:35.160 --> 11:17:39.160
And a similar story in game number two, but not before.

11:17:39.160 --> 11:17:41.560
Some resistance on Brent Thomason's end.

11:17:41.560 --> 11:17:46.760
Brent had an incredible turn here where he used a double crushing hammer to get rid of

11:17:46.760 --> 11:17:52.760
both energy on Andrew's side and used the dragon headbutt, jet headbutt in order to

11:17:52.760 --> 11:17:53.760
take the KO.

11:17:53.760 --> 11:17:55.260
What a huge turn this was.

11:17:55.260 --> 11:17:59.920
I mean, it seemed like there was no way that Andrew was going to be able to come

11:17:59.920 --> 11:18:05.520
back from this. Yeah, it seemed like two crushing hammers knocking out all the energy but then

11:18:05.520 --> 11:18:13.200
right away the crushing hammer from Andrew was able to power up the dragapult EX and just was able

11:18:13.200 --> 11:18:20.080
to swing this game put himself in a position to find the bosses orders to win this match. Now

11:18:20.080 --> 11:18:26.160
we're going to head over to the stage to hear from our winner. Hello everybody of course we're

11:18:26.160 --> 11:18:33.160
We're here with Andrew, the winner of our feature match, heading headfirst into our finals tomorrow.

11:18:33.160 --> 11:18:38.160
How are we feeling now that that is secured and in place? Has it sunk in?

11:18:39.160 --> 11:18:45.160
I would say not really. Feels okay though. Glad to be up here and it was a really fun set.

11:18:45.160 --> 11:18:48.160
Honestly, it seemed like every single pokeball was just in your court.

11:18:48.160 --> 11:18:52.160
Were there any moments where you were like, oh no, that's looking a bit fishy?

11:18:52.160 --> 11:18:58.160
Yeah, I definitely some scary

11:18:58.160 --> 11:18:59.160
moments on a game to when he

11:18:59.160 --> 11:19:00.160
went in with the judge went

11:19:00.160 --> 11:19:01.160
through my drink. Look, I mean,

11:19:01.160 --> 11:19:02.160
I didn't have to draw kind of

11:19:02.160 --> 11:19:03.160
well there to respond to him,

11:19:03.160 --> 11:19:04.160
but I was able to do it and put

11:19:04.160 --> 11:19:05.160
myself in a really good spot

11:19:05.160 --> 11:19:06.160
to win. Yeah, you honestly

11:19:06.160 --> 11:19:08.160
played for Leslie. I couldn't

11:19:08.160 --> 11:19:10.160
see anything that could have

11:19:10.160 --> 11:19:13.160
possibly made that any

11:19:13.160 --> 11:19:14.160
different. Honestly, it was

11:19:14.160 --> 11:19:16.160
just a fantastic set watch,

11:19:16.160 --> 11:19:18.160
but also really inspirational

11:19:18.160 --> 11:19:20.160
because that is such a

11:19:20.160 --> 11:19:21.160
tricky matchup. But the

11:19:21.160 --> 11:19:24.760
to be a little different. Have

11:19:24.760 --> 11:19:26.160
you got any thoughts going

11:19:26.160 --> 11:19:27.160
into that? Yeah, I mean, I'm

11:19:27.160 --> 11:19:29.160
definitely played against

11:19:29.160 --> 11:19:30.160
Alakazam's in testing, too, but

11:19:30.160 --> 11:19:31.160
and probably try to be trying

11:19:31.160 --> 11:19:32.160
to go over some more tonight and

11:19:32.160 --> 11:19:34.160
make sure I'm ready for finals.

11:19:34.160 --> 11:19:37.160
Honestly, preparation is key. How

11:19:37.160 --> 11:19:39.160
about its pilot? Yeah, I mean,

11:19:39.160 --> 11:19:41.160
the former world champion right

11:19:41.160 --> 11:19:42.160
back in the finals. I can't

11:19:42.160 --> 11:19:43.160
let him win two times in a

11:19:43.160 --> 11:19:44.160
row, right? I've got to try

11:19:44.160 --> 11:19:45.160
to take him down, but you

11:19:45.160 --> 11:19:46.160
know, it's going to be a

11:19:46.160 --> 11:19:47.160
great finals right? It's a

11:19:47.160 --> 11:19:48.160
great player, so it could be

11:19:48.160 --> 11:19:50.160
really fun. Honestly, I cannot

11:19:50.160 --> 11:19:55.760
to be up all night just excited to watch. So you make sure you get plenty of breath to be got any

11:19:55.760 --> 11:20:00.320
shout outs before I leave you to rest and get some last minute practice it against Alakazam.

11:20:00.960 --> 11:20:03.920
Yeah, I mean, so it's all my friends who played the deck with me.

11:20:03.920 --> 11:20:07.360
Sounds of my parents were supporting me. And so it's a pokey color too.

11:20:08.160 --> 11:20:14.560
Absolutely. Thank you so much. Andrew Hendrick, everyone bringing the heat with Dragapult,

11:20:14.560 --> 11:20:19.080
having birthed the fantastic crushing hammers build

11:20:19.080 --> 11:20:21.400
from this man's excellent brain,

11:20:21.400 --> 11:20:23.000
we are gonna throw it back to Pablo

11:20:23.000 --> 11:20:26.080
for one last really thorough assessment.

11:20:30.100 --> 11:20:32.240
Not quite Pablo, but we'll have to do

11:20:32.240 --> 11:20:34.280
Chip and Puka here to break it down.

11:20:34.280 --> 11:20:36.400
What an incredible moment.

11:20:36.400 --> 11:20:40.280
What a run, what a tournament for all of our competitors.

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I mean, of course we have to say congratulations to Brent.

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I mean, he started this tournament, I think, 10-0, right?

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Made it into top cut as the number one seed gets top four.

11:20:50.040 --> 11:20:52.520
He'll get so many things to go along with that.

11:20:52.520 --> 11:20:55.880
Trophy cards, a massive Pikachu trophy as well,

11:20:55.880 --> 11:20:58.760
but the run does come just short.

11:20:58.760 --> 11:21:02.360
Yeah, and it hurts to get that far and fall short for sure,

11:21:02.360 --> 11:21:04.920
but it's one of those where it feels bad in the moment.

11:21:04.920 --> 11:21:07.120
But maybe in a couple of weeks, you'll look back

11:21:07.120 --> 11:21:09.040
and think that's pretty cool.

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I mean, it's a top four in the world.

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only so many opportunities to make that happen.

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Let's get a quick recap of the brackets

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and see how we got to this point

11:21:17.840 --> 11:21:20.960
where there are but two that remain

11:21:20.960 --> 11:21:24.040
in true Hedrick and Diego Casiraga,

11:21:24.040 --> 11:21:29.000
facing off at the Chase Center tomorrow in the arena

11:21:29.000 --> 11:21:33.040
to determine who will be etched into Pokemon history forever.

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Will it be Diego once again,

11:21:35.960 --> 11:21:39.960
nine years removed from his first place finish in 2017

11:21:39.960 --> 11:21:49.400
In Anaheim in this very state, Andrew Hedrick being the one to get that victory five-time

11:21:49.400 --> 11:21:55.400
regional champion and I see winner, if he gets this world's win, Puka, I mean, it does

11:21:55.400 --> 11:21:57.480
not get much better than that.

11:21:57.480 --> 11:22:04.640
Yeah, and definitely a battle between the new generation versus the old generation versus

11:22:04.640 --> 11:22:08.960
Andrew, one of these top players in the last three or four years.

11:22:08.960 --> 11:22:13.400
Diego been around for decades competing at the World Championships.

11:22:13.400 --> 11:22:15.120
So we'll see who comes out on top.

11:22:15.120 --> 11:22:18.000
In recent times, it's really been the younger players

11:22:18.000 --> 11:22:20.520
taking down the World Championships.

11:22:20.520 --> 11:22:22.520
It's been a while since we've seen one of these veterans

11:22:22.520 --> 11:22:24.640
like Diego take the crown.

11:22:25.880 --> 11:22:28.640
We're gonna wanna make sure that you are tuning in

11:22:28.640 --> 11:22:30.200
to Championship Sunday tomorrow,

11:22:30.200 --> 11:22:31.640
not just for the trading card game,

11:22:31.640 --> 11:22:34.160
but for all of our Pokemon games,

11:22:34.160 --> 11:22:36.240
Pokemon Unites, Pokemon Go,

11:22:36.240 --> 11:22:38.240
and of course, Pokemon Champions.

11:22:38.240 --> 11:22:43.240
will be crowning so many world champions tomorrow.

11:22:43.520 --> 11:22:47.280
But you can turn in at 9 a.m. Pacific time.

11:22:47.280 --> 11:22:49.320
You're not gonna want to miss it.

11:22:49.320 --> 11:22:52.480
Yeah, and if you're not in Pacific time, look it up.

11:22:52.480 --> 11:22:53.800
You can find what time you're in.

11:22:53.800 --> 11:22:55.480
That's why I gave them Pacific time.

11:22:55.480 --> 11:22:58.400
Little Google will get you there, of course.

11:22:58.400 --> 11:23:00.680
What a time, what a moment, what an event.

11:23:00.680 --> 11:23:03.880
And it is not over just yet.

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The most exciting is still to come.

11:23:07.360 --> 11:23:09.360
We'll see you all there tomorrow.

11:23:23.360 --> 11:23:27.360
Welcome to day two of the Pokémon World Championships.

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bring back over fun and friends.

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Thomas it.

11:24:12.160 --> 11:24:13.860
Hedrick finds both his orders.

11:24:13.860 --> 11:24:16.920
He will win the game and punch his ticket into

11:24:16.920 --> 11:24:18.400
championship Sunday.

11:24:18.400 --> 11:24:20.000
Andrew Hedrick.

11:24:23.000 --> 11:24:23.960
Don't get the tickets.

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They come in time.

11:24:24.960 --> 11:24:27.960
We'll take the hold of the Fred Stragum hole at the age of

11:24:27.960 --> 11:24:29.360
Dr. Roger is back.

11:24:37.360 --> 11:24:45.360
music

11:24:45.360 --> 11:24:49.360
music

11:24:49.360 --> 11:24:57.360
music

11:24:57.360 --> 11:24:59.360
music

11:25:07.360 --> 11:25:09.360
you