Until then,
peace out!
Τετάρτη 4 Μαΐου 2011
See you all in Spain !
Until then,
peace out!
2011 Greek National Champion interview
Congratulations for your success how do you feel about your win?Is there anybody you would like to thank?
Thank you very much! I feel very happy and when I look at my trophy I cant believe that it says 1st place .I always wanted to do well in a big event like nationals. Also,I am lucky because I am the 1st person in Europe to have a librarian !I would like to thank my friends from Thessaloniki who travelled with me and supported me and to Michael Ciplak because he helped me with my main and side deck.
Ok now.A few words about your list and why it was better than other GK lists?
My list! Hehe.When I took a look at Ciplak’s list from the ycs with the 2 rite of the spirit I said something like: wtf this card is good!I didn’t like that he was running only 2 necrovalley so I removed one Commadant for one necrovalley.I test the deck and I realized that it was very good for the mirror match.Four days before nationals I gave my deck to abatzidis to test it.I asked him if he had any problems with valleys and he said no.Then I told him that I was running only 2 commandants and he told me that maybe it’s a good idea because he was never in need of one!Now about the veilers in the main and the sided royal tributes .The day before nats I spoke to Ciplak and I asked him for his tech and for his side.He told me that the rites were the cards which he always sided out and that royal tribute wasn’t very good this format vs gk samurais and dragunities.At first,I thought him crazy,but after thinking about it I asked him if he believes that it is good idea to main 2 veilers in place of royal tributes.He replied<< maybe>>, but I was to make the final Decision.So,I took the risk and mained the veilers,putting royal tributes in the side.
Most memorable moment of the tournament?
Easy one .In the finals I summonned puppet plant and attack for game and my friend Christos Boudaloudis gave me his hand.After that I saw my friends making some noise!
Besides you,who you think was the best player of the tournament?
The best player of the tournament without a second thought is my close friend Christos Anestakis.He has the combo that every duelist needs.Skill and luck.This period,I think he is the most skillfull players. When I defeated him in the top4 I said don’t worry I will be a National Champion now and he told me<<don’t lose or else I’ll kill you>>
Ok so tell me what are your thoughts on the new Extreme Victory cards,how do you think they will affect the meta?
I haven’t looked at extreme victory too much because I spent my time testing decks.But I know that Reborn Tengu will change the meta!It’s disappointing that we couldn’t use those cards at our nationals.
Now for the finals question:What are your goals for the future?
I just need to continue becoming better and better at this game!After all,a player is not good if he just tops one event,he is good because he can do it again!
Thank you very much! I feel very happy and when I look at my trophy I cant believe that it says 1st place .I always wanted to do well in a big event like nationals. Also,I am lucky because I am the 1st person in Europe to have a librarian !I would like to thank my friends from Thessaloniki who travelled with me and supported me and to Michael Ciplak because he helped me with my main and side deck.
Ok now.A few words about your list and why it was better than other GK lists?
My list! Hehe.When I took a look at Ciplak’s list from the ycs with the 2 rite of the spirit I said something like: wtf this card is good!I didn’t like that he was running only 2 necrovalley so I removed one Commadant for one necrovalley.I test the deck and I realized that it was very good for the mirror match.Four days before nationals I gave my deck to abatzidis to test it.I asked him if he had any problems with valleys and he said no.Then I told him that I was running only 2 commandants and he told me that maybe it’s a good idea because he was never in need of one!Now about the veilers in the main and the sided royal tributes .The day before nats I spoke to Ciplak and I asked him for his tech and for his side.He told me that the rites were the cards which he always sided out and that royal tribute wasn’t very good this format vs gk samurais and dragunities.At first,I thought him crazy,but after thinking about it I asked him if he believes that it is good idea to main 2 veilers in place of royal tributes.He replied<< maybe>>, but I was to make the final Decision.So,I took the risk and mained the veilers,putting royal tributes in the side.
Most memorable moment of the tournament?
Easy one .In the finals I summonned puppet plant and attack for game and my friend Christos Boudaloudis gave me his hand.After that I saw my friends making some noise!
Besides you,who you think was the best player of the tournament?
The best player of the tournament without a second thought is my close friend Christos Anestakis.He has the combo that every duelist needs.Skill and luck.This period,I think he is the most skillfull players. When I defeated him in the top4 I said don’t worry I will be a National Champion now and he told me<<don’t lose or else I’ll kill you>>
Ok so tell me what are your thoughts on the new Extreme Victory cards,how do you think they will affect the meta?
I haven’t looked at extreme victory too much because I spent my time testing decks.But I know that Reborn Tengu will change the meta!It’s disappointing that we couldn’t use those cards at our nationals.
Now for the finals question:What are your goals for the future?
I just need to continue becoming better and better at this game!After all,a player is not good if he just tops one event,he is good because he can do it again!
Thank you for your time champ and good Luck in Spain !
Final Feature Match: Alexis Iliadis vs Christos Bountaloudis
We are now in the final match of 2011 greek national championship! After 8 rounds of swiss, 2 knockout games and something more than 12 hours in duration, this tournament has finally come to an end. This final duel will be a Gravekeeper's mirror match. We had our eye on Bountaloudis all day today but Iliadis might hold the advantage here as his main deck is better teched for the mirror match. Let's see who will be the best Gravekeeper's player at the end of day and become the national champion!
Iliadis won the dice roll and will play first.
Initial hand of Iliadis: Effect Veiler, Caius the Shadow Monarch, Gravekeeper's Recruiter, Dark Hole, Torrential Tribute.
Iliadis drew Sever Tools of the Bandit, set Recruiter and two spell or traps and passed.
Bountaloudis activated Mystical to destroy Seven Tools, then set a monster and 3 cards to his backrow.
Iliadis tributed Recruiter for Caius but Bountaloudis activated Warning to negate the summon. He added another Recruiter to his hand and passed.
Bountaloudis flipped Assailant! He normal summoned Descendant without using priority but Iliadis activated Torrential. Bountaloudis chained Seven Tools to negate it then attacked with both monsters for 3000 damage.
Iliadis drew Commandant. He activated Dark Hole to clear the field and then normal summoned Commandant but attacked into Prison.
Bountaloudis set a spell or trap and passed.
Iliadis drew Effect Veiler. He normal summoned Recruiter and pressed for 1200 damage.
Bountaloudis set another card to his backrow.
Iliadis drew Prison, then attacked into Bountaloudis' Prison and set his own before passing.
Bountaloudis set another spell or trap.
Iliadis drew Stele and passed.
Bountaloudis activated Pot of Duality to reveal Royal Tribute, Gravekeeper's Spy and Necrovalley. He added the Spy to his hand and set it.
Iliadis drew Spy and set it as well.
Bountaloudis flipped his Spy but Iliadis used Veiler on it. However, Bountaloudis used his Book of Moon to his Spy to ensure that its effect will pass. He special summoned Recruiter in defense position and set another monster before ending his turn.
Iliadis drew Gale. He flipped his Spy to special summoned Recruiter. He normal summoned Gale and tried to tune it with Spy for Black Rose but Bountaloudis flipped Oppression and negated the summon! The life points were 5000-3000 with Iliadis leading.
Bountaloudis drew for his round and passed now locked down by his own Oppression.
Iliadis drew Commandant. He activated Stele for Spy and Recruiter. He set the Spy and passed.
Bountaloudis set a spell or trap and passed.
Iliadis drew Mirror Force and set it. He set another monster and passed back.
Bountaloudis drew a card and passed.
Iliadis drew Pot of Duality and revealed Royal Oppression, Seven Tools and another Duality. He added Duality to his hand and passed play to Bountaloudis.
Bountaloudis normal summoned Descendant and tributed Recruiter to destroy Iliadis' face-down Prison. He added another Recruiter to his hand and passed back.
Iliadis drew Solemn Judgment. He activated Pot of Duality to reveal Solemn Warning, Necrovalley and Descendant. He took Descendant and normal summoned it with priority to tribute Recruiter to destroy Bountaloudis' Solemn Judgment. He added another Descendant to his hand. He flipped his set Recruiter and tribute it to destroy Torrential Tribute. Bountaloudis opted not to activate it. Iliadis got another Descendant from his deck. The Descendants on the field traded in battle and he set one spell or trap before ending his turn.
Bountaloudis drew and set a monster, then passed.
Iliadis drew Rite of Spirit. He set it and set a monster as well.
Bountaloudis drew and activated Stele for Descendant and Recruiter. He flipped his set Recruiter and normal summoned Descendant, tributing with priority the Recruiter but Iliadis used his second Veiler on the Descendant. He added Commandant to his hand, set a spell or trap and ended.
Iliadis drew Prison. He summoned Descendant but Bountaloudis activated Warning. Iliadis chained Solemn Judgment to let the Descendant remain on the field. He flipped his set Commandant and tributed it with priority for the Oppression. Then he flipped his Spy to special summon Assailant in attack position and tributed it to destroy his opponent's set Spy. He tributed the Spy as well to destroy another set Spy. Finally, he activated Rite of Spirit to special summon a Spy and tribute it to clear the last obstacle in his way. Descendant attacked directly for game!
Iliadis led the game to a prolonged battle where he managed to draw all the tech he needed to win the first duel. On the other hand, Bountaloudis got locked down by his own Oppression. Both players dive to their side decks and the second duel will start with Bountaloudis playing first.
Initial hand of Iliadis: Mystical Space Typhoon, Caius the Shadow Monarch, Mirror Force, Seven Tools of the Bandit, Gravekeeper's Commandant.
Bountaloudis kicked off the second duel with 4 set spells or traps.
Iliadis drew Stele. His Mystical hit a Dust Tornado. He normal summoned Commandant but attacked into Prison. He set 2 spell or traps and passed.
Bountaloudis summoned Commandant and pressed for 1600 damage.
Iliadis drew Prison and he set it.
Bountaloudis attacked and Iliadis activated Prison. He chained Seven Tools but so did his opponent. Commandant was removed and Bountaloudis set another card to his backrow.
Iliadis drew Effect Veiler and passed.
Bountaloudis passed back.
Iliadis drew Solemn Judgment and set it but lost it to Mystical in the end phase.
Bountaloudis drew and passed again.
Iliadis drew and set another spell or trap.
Both players picked up speed and do nothing than draw, pass and sometimes set a card in their back row, for the next 2-3 turns. So, we reached a situation where Iliadis has 6 cards in his hand and 3 cards in his backrow and Bountaloudis has 5 set spell or traps and 4 cards in his hand.Bountaloudis tried to free space in his backrow and activated Dust Tornado but selected his opponent's set Mystical which he chained to destroy My Body as a Shield. He then activated Pot of Duality to reveal Cyber Dragon, Gravekeeper's Spy, Gravekeeper's Recruiter. He selected the Recruiter to add to his hand and passed.
Iliadis drew Warning, set it and passed back.
Bountaloudis drew and passed, as well.
Iliadis drew Recruiter and set a monster.
Bountaloudis special summoned Cyber Dragon, then used Nobleman to remove the set Recruiter. He summoned Recruiter and attacked directrly with both of his monsters. He set 2 spell or traps and ended his turn.
Iliadis drew Cyber Dragon. He special summoned. Bountaloudis let it pass. After a bit of thinking he fusion summons Chimeratech Fortress Dragon with the 2 Cyber Dragons. He ran over Recruiter and Bountaloudis got another from his deck. Life points were 2100-6200 with Bountaloudis leading.
Bountaloudis activates Dark Hole on his turn. He normal summoned Recruiter but Iliadis activated Solemn Warning to negate the summon and drop to 100 life points! Bountaloudis set one more spell or trap and passed.
Iliadis drew Spy and set it to end his turn.
Bountaloudis activated Stele for 2x Recruiter. He summoned Recruiter and attacked into Spy! Warning negated the effect and destroyed the Spy.
Iliadis drew for his turn and special summoned Cyber Dragon. He then normal summoned Gale and used its effect to halve Recruiter. He tuned both of his monsters for Scrap Dragon but Bountaloudis activated another Warning! However Iliadis had another Cyber Dragon to follow up and Bountaloudis is forced to use Solemn Judgment on him and drop to 700 life points!
Bountaloudis drew for his round and summoned another Recruiter but when he tried to attack directly Iliadis flipped Mirror Force (His last remaining defense, a set Compulsory Evacuation Device)! He searched his deck for a Commandant and a Descendant and ended his turn with a set spell or trap.
Iliadis drew and activated Pot of Duality to reveal Book of Moon, Puppet Plant and Gravekeeper's Spy. He added Puppet Plant to his hand and proceeded to summon it and attack for game!!!
Alexis Iliadis is the 2011 Greek National Champion!!!
Player Profile :Vasilis Boulmpasakos
The fact that,along with Italy,Greece is the only country to have both a World champion and a European Champion!We already profiled our world champion Miltos Markou and now it high time we profile our European champion Vasilis Boulbasakos!
Vasilis gained his invitation to the 2008 European championship in Amsterdam by reaching the top 4 at his country's nationals with GB.He later ,used the same deck to became the European champion of 2008.His secret was 2 tech ryko lightsworn hunter in the main deck which helped him gain the edge in most of his matches.This European championship is also special because the top 8 consisted of 4 Greek players(Vasilis Boulmpasakos,Mourikis Christos,Stathopoulos Panagiotis and Nikos Boulmpasakos)
Before going on a hiatus,Vasilis participated in the World Championship of 2008 finishing at 16th place, becoming one of the 3 Greek players to have ever participated in a World Championship!
And all that...by the age of fourteen(the youngest ever European Champion and second youngest big event winner (Austin Kulman was 11 when he won American Nationals in 2006).
Player Profile:Mourelatos Ioannis
Semi Finals Feature Match: Alexis Iliadis vs Christos Anestakis
We are in the semifinals and it comes down to these two close friends who travelled all the way to Athens from Thessaloniki to face each other for a ticket to the finals! Alexis Iliadis is a relatively new player seeking to make a name of his own. To do that he has to overcome the reigning National champion in a match that pits Gravekeeper's against X-sabers. Let's see if Iliadis has what it takes to dethrone the champion!
Anestakis won the dice roll and will go first in the game.
Initial hand of Iliadis: 2x Gravekeeper's Spy, Caius the Shadow Monarch, Gravekeeper's Stele, Gravekeeper's Assailant.
Anestakis set a card to each zone and passed.
Iliadis drew Recruiter. He set Spy and passed back.
Anestakis set another monster and ended his turn.
Iliadis drew Book of Moon. He flipped his Spy and special summoned Descendant without using priority. Anestakis let it pass. He then tributed Spy to destroy the set Solemn Judgment of his opponent. He tributed Descendant for Caius and removed a set Darksoul. Then set one spell or trap and passed.
Anestakis set another monster and passed.
Iliadis drew Dark Hole and set a monster to end his turn.
Anestakis flipped Hamster and special summoned Darksoul in face-down defense position. He normal summoned Fulhelmknight but Book of Moon flipped it face-down.
Iliadis drew Mystical. He flipped his set Spy to special summoned Descendant. He normal summoned Recruiter and tributed it to destroy the unknown set monster: it was another Darksoul. From Recruiter he got Commandant and eventually Necrovalley from his deck. Caius destroyed Hamster and Descendant destroyed Fulhelmknight. He set Mystical and ended his turn. Anestakis searched his deck for Pashuul.
In his turn, he activates Dark Hole. He followed up with Boggart Knight to special summon Pashuul in defense position. He attacked with Boggart and set a spell or trap but lost it in the end phase to Mystical (Gottoms' Emergency Call). He searched for another Pashuul and passed.
Iliadis drew another Necrovalley. He activated Dark Hole and then Stele for 2x Spy. He activated the field and set one Spy to end his turn.
Anestakis normal summoned Pashuul and used Mind Control to take Spy. He flipped it and synchro summoned Brionac. Brionac attacked directly and he set one spell or trap before passing.
Iliadis drew Gale. He normal summoned Assailant and switched Brionac in defense position to destroy it in battle.
Anestakis set a monster and passed.
Iliadis drew Descendant. He normal summoned Gale, attacked with it into Emmersblade and Anestakis special summoned another. In main phase 2 he halved Emmersblade then synchro summoned Arcanite Magician in defense position and destroyed the two cards of Anestakis.
Anestakis set a monster and passed.
Iliadis drew Pot of Duality. He revealed Rite of Spirit, Necrovalley and Royal Oppression and added Oppression to his hand. He set one card to each zone and passed.
Anestakis set a spell or trap and passed back.
Iliadis drew Stele. He flipped his set Spy and special summoned Recruiter. He normal summoned Descendant tributing Recruiter with priority for the set monster. Hamster was destroyed and he added another Recruiter to his hand. Spy and Descendant attacked directly and then tributed Spy for the set spell/trap. Anestakis chained his Book of Moon to flip the Descendant face-down.
Anestakis drew and set 2 cards to his backrow.
Iliadis drew Dimensional Prison. He flipped Descendant, normal summoned Recruiter and attacked with both monsters. Anestakis was only able to chain Mystical to destroy Necrovalley and take less damage but after seeing his next draw he scooped.
Iliadis wins the all-important first duel! Let's see if he'll be able to win the second duel as well and advance to the final!
Initial hand of Iliadis: Gravekeeper's Stele, Pot of Duality, Caius the Shadow Monarch, Solemn Judgment, Necrovalley.
Anestakis went first and started things off with a set card in each zone and Closed Forest!
Iliadis drew Seven Tools of the Bandit. Pot of Duality revealed Commandant, Recruiter and another Duality. He took the Recruiter and set a monster and 2 spell or traps.
Anestakis flipped his set Hamster to special summon Darksoul in face-down defense position. He normal summoned Boggart Knight and special summoned Pashuul in defense position. He tuner Hamster and Pashuul for Barkion but Iliadis activates Solemn Judgment! Anestakis chains Seven Tools but Iliadis has a Seven Tools as well and Barkion is destroyed! Boggart attacked into Recruiter and Iliadis added another to his hand.
Iliadis drew Necrovalley and set the Recruiter.
Boggart Knight destroyed it and Iliadis took his last Recruiter from his deck to his hand. Anestakis set one card to each zone and ended his turn.
Iliadis drew Cyber Dragon. He special summoned it and ran over Boggart Knight, then tributed it for Caius but Anestakis flipped Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror.
On the following turn, Anestakis normal summoned Emmersblade and attacked into Caius to special summon Pashuul in defense position. He then flipped his set Darksoul and tuned his monsters for a massive Naturia Beast (with the boost from Closed Forest)! He set a spell or trap and in the end phase he searched his deck for Emmersblade.
Iliadis drew Effect Veiler. He normal summoned it, tuned it to Caius for Black Rose Dragon but Anestakis activated Solemn Warning! On his turn he flipped Darksoul and attacked with both monsters for game!
Anestakis shuts down Iliadis plans in the second duel with Closed Forest! The semifinal will move on to a third duel! Iliadis will go first in the final duel of this match.
Initial hand of Iliadis: Seven Tools of the Bandit, Dark Hole, 2x Gravekeeper's Spy, Gravekeeper's Commandant.
Iliadis drew Gravekeeper's Descendant. He used Commandant to get Necrovalley and activate it and then set a card to each zone.
Anestakis set a monster and passed.
Iliadis drew Pot of Duality. He flipped Spy to special summon Recruiter and normal summoned Descendant. Recruiter was tributed to destroy the set monster (Hamster) and he added another Recruiter to his hand. Descendant and Spy attacked directly.
Anestakis set one card to each zone and passed.
Iliadis drew Necrovalley. The Pot of Duality revealed Torrential Tribute, Dimensional Prison and Assailant. He added Torrential to his hand then normal summoned Recruiter and tributed it with priority for the set monster (Darksoul). Descendant and Spy attacked directly once more.
Anestakis drew for his turn and scooped revealing a hand full of monsters!
Anestakis drew a bad opening hand and lost the third duel and the match! Iliadis advances to the finals with 2-1!
Player Profile:Giorgos Abatzidis
When I think of big names in Greek Yugioh the first one that comes to mind is Abatzidis Giorgos.Not only has he made the top cut in many tournaments but he is also one of the most excellent and hard to read players I have seen in my whole life.His lists of achievements goes like this:
Top 4 Nationals 2007
Finalist Nationals 2009
Top 8 Nationals 2010
Top 16 Pharaoh Tour 2007
Top 8 Pharaoh Tour 2008
Top 16 European Championship 2010
Top 16 Dark Lerroy Challenge Paris France 2010
Top 32 YCS Bochum Germany 2010
Abatzidis will be representing Greece in the 2011 European Championship in Spain and we all hope to see him in the top tables!
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