2002 Gen Con UK Pokemon Professor Challenge
On September 1st (the day the new Pokémon Floor Rules became official), the first UK Pokémon Professor Challenge we held at Gen Con UK in London. I had the pleasure of being at that event and working with and meeting many of the Professors that have helped keep the Pokémon trading card game thriving in Europe. After asking many of them to help run other events at the convention, this was their chance to play.
First, I’d like to thank all 16 participants for the help they provided in running the Gym Challenge, Team Event, and other Pokémon side events at Gen Con UK. Many of them also helped with scorekeeping (Ian taught us how to do ordered pairings) or also ran events for other brands as well (thank you Ben, Graeme, and Chris).
Since this was the first event to use the new Modified format , it was interesting to see what the Professors came up with to play.
Many Professors chose to use some of the new Eevee evolutions (Espeon and Umbreon) and replaced the Chain Reaction Eevee (promo #11 which rotated out) with the Neo Discovery Energy Evolution Eevee. Also, the reign of the Feraligatr deck was finished, and Trash Exchange and Misty’s Wrath rotated out as well. This lines up with some of the deck designs we saw at the Pokémon World Championship held earlier in August.
There ended up being 2 Psychic, 3 Fire, 6 Water, 1 Grass, 1 Darkness, 1 Darkness/Fire, 1 Psychic/Darkness, and 1 Metal/Water decks played. Several of these decks also splashed in either Psychic (for Slowking) or Darkness (for a couple of Murkrows as well).
In the end, Craig Ting’s “Desperation Deck” won with Nitish Doolub’s water based deck taking second. Both of these Professors received a Pokémon Professor Jacket and plenty of product for their success.
For your viewing and deck-creation pleasure, here are some of the decks that were played!
Craig Ting’s “Desperation” Deck (1st Place)
Pokémon (23)
3 Cleffa (Lv. 6) (Neo Genesis)
4 Eevee (Lv. 14) (Neo Discovery)
3 Espeon (Lv. 45) (Neo Discovery)
1 Elekid (Lv. 6) (Neo Genesis)
1 Jigglypuff (Lv. 10) (Southern Islands)
2 Mew (Lv. 8) (Promo # 47)
4 Slowpoke (Lv. 20) (Neo Genesis)
4 Slowking (Lv. 39) (Neo Genesis)
1 Tyrogue (Lv. 7) (Neo Discovery)
Trainers (25)
2 Balloon Berry (Neo Revelation)
4 Double Gust (Neo Genesis)
1 Energy Stadium(Neo Destiny)
3 Gold Berry (Neo Genesis)
1 Lucky Stadium(Neo Destiny)
4 Pokémon Trader (Legendary Collection)
4 Professor Elm (Neo Genesis)
2 Scoop Up (Legendary Collection)
1 Time Capsule (Neo Genesis)
Energy (12)
12 Psychic Energy
Faisal Khan’s “Laetitia’s Revenge” Deck (Tied for 3rd Place)
Pokémon (25)
4 Cleffa (Lv. 6) (Neo Genesis)
1 Pichu (Lv. 5) (Neo Genesis)
1 Suicune (Lv. 33) (Neo Revelation)
4 Horsea (Lv. 22) (Neo Genesis)
4 Seadra (Lv. 36) (Neo Genesis)
3 Kingdra (Lv. 49) (Neo Revelation)
4 Slowpoke (Lv. 20) (Neo Genesis)
4 Slowking (Lv. 39) (Neo Genesis)
Trainers (24)
3 Bill’s Teleporter(Neo Genesis)
2 Energy Stadium (Neo Destiny)
2 Focus Band (Neo Genesis)
3 Pokémon Breeder Fields(Neo Revelation)
4 Pokémon Center (Promo #40)
3 Pokémon Trader (Legendary Collection)
4 Professor Elm (Neo Genesis)
3 Scoop Up (Legendary Collection)
Energy (11)
2 Full Heal Energy (Legendary Collection)
1 Recycle Energy (Neo Genesis)
8 Water Energy
Graeme Gleaves “Laetitia’s Revenge” Deck (Tied for 3rd Place)
Pokémon (19)
4 Cleffa (Lv. 6) (Neo Genesis)
4 Squirtle (Lv. 8) (Legendary Collection)
1 Dark Wartortle (Lv. 21) (Legendary Collection)
4 Dark Blastoise (Lv. 28) (Legendary Collection)
3 Sneasel (Lv. 32) (Neo Revelation)
3 Suicune (Lv. 33) (Neo Revelation)
Trainers (24)
4 Bill (Legendary Collection)
3 The Boss’s Way (Legendary Collection)
3 Double Gust (Neo Genesis)
4 Gold Berry (Neo Genesis)
4 Pokémon Breeder (Legendary Collection)
4 Professor Elm (Neo Genesis)
2 Rocket’s Hideout (Neo Revelation)
Energy (17)
4 Darkness Energy (Neo Genesis)
1 Full Heal Energy (Legendary Collection)
12 Water Energy
Ian Kendall’s “Burn Off” Deck (Tied for 4th Place)
Pokémon (16)
3 Cleffa (Lv. 6) (Neo Genesis)
3 Entei (Lv. 38) (Neo Revelation)
1 Entei (Lv. 24) (Neo Revelation)
2 Slugma (Lv. 27) (Neo Revelation)
2 Slugma (Lv. 28) (Neo Destiny)
4 Magcargo (Lv. 48) (Neo Revelation)
1 Magmar (Lv. 27) (Promo # 44)
Trainers (20)
3 Bill (Legendary Collection)
3 Double Gust (Neo Genesis)
3 Focus Band (Neo Genesis)
3 Pokémon Trader (Legendary Collection)
4 Professor Elm (Neo Genesis)
3 Scoop Up (Legendary Collection)
1 Time Capsule (Neo Genesis)
Energy (24)
24 Fire Energy
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