Day 1 Coverage Team
If you have any questions about what's going on at LAIC, look for our live coverage team members in Twitch chat or follow them on Twitter--they'll be able to give you information or at least point you in the right direction.
- Tate Whitesell / Twitter @twhitesell42 / Twitch twhitesell42
- Erin Palmer / Twitter @dumb_librarian / Twitch niderina
- Kashvinder Singh Mann / Twitter @KashMann27 / Twitch kashmann27
RK9 Labs pairings
PokéStats matchup info (compiled by Alec Geissler and Luke Morsa)
Notable players and decks
Nico Alabas - Turbo Reshiram & Charizard-GX
Daniel Altavilla - Naganadel & Guzzlord-GX/Mismagius
Benjamin Branch - Oranguru/Pidgeotto Control
Igor Costa - Garchomp & Giratina-GX/Naganadel & Guzzlord-GX/Mismagius/Omastar
Connor Finton - Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX
Stéphane Ivanoff - Quagsire/Silvally-GX/Keldeo-GX/Blastoise & Piplup-GX
Zach Lesage - Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX
Grant Manley - Naganadel & Guzzlord-GX/Mismagius
Matias Matricardi - Mewtwo & Mew-GX Toolbox
Darin O'Meara - Oranguru/Pidgeotto Control
Jimmy Pendarvis - Naganadel & Guzzlord-GX/Mismagius
Rahul Reddy - Mewtwo & Mew-GX Toolbox
Ian Robb - Oranguru/Pidgeotto Control
Robin Schulz - Turbo Reshiram & Charizard-GX
Robin Schulz - Turbo Reshiram & Charizard-GX
Emery Taylor - Mewtwo & Mew-GX Toolbox
Pedro Eugenio Torres - Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX
Gustavo Wada - Garchomp & Giratina-GX/Naganadel & Guzzlord-GX/Mismagius/Omastar
Sander Wojcik - Doll Stall with Latios-GX, Mareep, Omastar, Unown LOT 91, and Will
Gustavo Wada - Garchomp & Giratina-GX/Naganadel & Guzzlord-GX/Mismagius/Omastar
Sander Wojcik - Doll Stall with Latios-GX, Mareep, Omastar, Unown LOT 91, and Will
Stream match recaps
Round 8: Rafael Santos (6-0-1, Blacephalon & Pidgeotto) 1-2 Robin Shultz (6-1-0, Reshiram & Charizard-GX [Ability] )
Game one was wrapped up quickly by Robin Shultz as Rafael was unable to bench any basic Pokemon. Game two threatened a similar ending as Rafael was unable to play a supporter turn one. As the game progressed, Rafael demonstrated the benefits of Pidgeotto's Air Mail ability. Rafael had no trouble finding the resources he needed and with neither player opting to tech Reset Stamp, Rafael was able to close out game two. Game three, similar to game one, was another demonstration of how quickly Robin's deck can set up. Robin won the series during his second turn of the game after Rafael could not bench a basic Pokemon. Both players will move on to Day 2. -Erin Palmer
Round 7:
Round 6: Zach Lesage (4-1-0, Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX) 1-2 Jimmy Pendarvis (4-1-0, Naganadel & Guzzlord-GX/Mismagius)
Due to some confusion with the stream graphics, some details are unclear about this series. It was initially believed by most of the twitch chat, casters, and stream production that Zach scooped the first game to Jimmy. However, Jimmy scooped game one to Zach, after Zach used Girafarig to send Jimmy's only out to Keldeo-GX (Ultra Forest Kartenvoy) to the Lost Zone. In game two, we watched Jimmy hit every resource needed to dominate this matchup. He closed out the game by flashing a Great Catcher to Zach, who followed this action with a swift scoop as both Regional Champion Veterans knew time was limited. Jimmy then had another explosive start to game three compared to a slow one on Zach Lesage's side of the board. As a result, Jimmy beat the clock and Zach to win this series. -Erin Palmer
Round 5: Nico Alabas (4-0-0, Turbo Reshiram & Charizard-GX) 2-0 Stéphane Ivanoff (4-0-0, Quagsire/Silvally/Keldeo-GX/Blastoise & Piplup-GX)
An unusual deck from two-time International Champion Stéphane Ivanoff found difficulty overcoming what many viewers assumed would be a favorable matchup, due to the Water-type Weakness of the attackers in Nico Alabas's Fire deck. Alabas played the matchup extremely well, making use of his single-Prize attackers to deal with Ivanoff's Keldeo-GX and offset the Prize trade in his favor. Despite having the new Silvally-GX to draw cards, Ivanoff often struggled to find what he needed and continually power up attackers. Both games were fairly close, but despite Ivanoff's attempts to force a tie as time in the round expired, Alabas was able to pull off a big Hot Burn GX to close out the second game. -Tate Whitesell
Round 4: Karl Blake (3-0-0, Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX) 1-1 Sander Wojcik (3-0-0, Doll Stall with Latios-GX, Mareep, Omastar, and Will)
Sander Wojcik, known for playing off-the-wall stall and control decks, brought possibly his wackiest concoction yet this weekend, putting a spin on the Florges/Lillie's Poké Doll "Doll Stall" archetype by adding cards such as Mareep, Omastar, Latios-GX, and Will. In game 1, Wojcik was no doubt disappointed to see Blake play down a Cryogonal--this prevented Wojcik from using his Lillie's Poké Doll, and Blake was able to take the first game quickly. In game 2, Wojcik had to look for an alternate win condition, and he found it in Unown LOT 91. In a thrilling conclusion to the series, since Blake did not play Reset Stamp in his list, Wojcik was able to accumulate 35 cards in hand and use Unown's HAND Ability to win on turn 3 of time, forcing a tie. -Tate Whitesell
Round 3: Connor Finton (2-0-0, Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX) 0-2 Pedro Torres (2-0-0, Arceus & Palkia & Dialga-GX)
Torres began game 1 with three of his Jirachi Prized--but luckily, he started his fourth copy in the Active spot and even had an Escape Board to go with it. He also had a Lillie to get a strong turn 1 setup. Finton also hit the turn 1 Lillie. Both players' second turns again mirrored each other's as they both used Altered Creation GX. Finton then whiffed the Energy Switch he needed to start attacking with Keldeo-GX. On Torres's third turn, he KOd Finton's Keldeo-GX with Drampa, prompting a quick concession from Finton. In game 2, both players started Keldeo-GX. Finton took the first Prize of the game, but Torres was the first to use Altered Creation GX. Both players traded KOs with the help of Great Catcher. In the end, Torres was able to thin his deck enough to find his last Great Catcher and take the win. -Kashvinder Mann
Round 2: Grant Manley (1-0-0, Naganadel & Guzzlord-GX/Mismagius) 0-2 Rahul Reddy (1-0-0, Mewtwo & Mew-GX Toolbox)
Game 1 was not streamed due to technical difficulties. Reddy commented after the match that Manley missed drawing into a Reset Stamp in game 1, which was important in helping Reddy win. In game 2, both players had strong first-turn setups, but on his second turn, Manley whiffed a few combo pieces and was unable to attack. Reddy then hit a second Welder to set up multiple Mewtwo & Mew-GX, and seeing the writing on the wall, Manley scooped to end this short series. -Kashvinder Mann
Round 1: Denner Ramires (0-0-0, Mewtwo & Mew-GX Toolbox) 2-1 Danny Altavilla (0-0-0, Naganadel & Guzzlord-GX/Mismagius)
In Game 1, Ramires Prized two Welder while Altavilla Prized two Dusk Stone. Altavilla managed to set up the Beast Ring turn on turn 2, and his Naganadel & Guzzlord-GX picked up 4 Prizes with the help of Beast Bringer. Altavilla then took the first game with Naganadel & Guzzlord’s GX attack. Ramires played slowly throughout game 2, performing actions such as shuffling in between search cards. After a misplay from Altavilla, Ramires won a close game 2. Altavilla started game 3 by attaching to a lone Misdreavus and passing--an unfortunate unlucky start that gave Ramires the opening to simply find a Welder and win the series, which he did. Altavilla, who was the 2018 LAIC Champion, tweeted after the match that he believed he threw the series. -Kashvinder Mann
