Hi there. In this Pokemon TCG post/report, I talk about my first Pokemon trading card game League Challenge event that I attended recently.

There are a few card game stores in my area but I decided to go Toronto for a League Challenge event. I treated this Toronto trip as a day trip to try out this tournament and do some shopping.

<center><img src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2019/09/19/20/24/city-4490237_960_720.jpg" /></center>
<center><a href="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2019/09/19/20/24/city-4490237_960_720.jpg">Image Source</a></center>

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## Topics
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* What Is A League Challenge?
* The Venue
* My Gholdengo ex Deck
* Round One
* Round Two
* Random Deck Check
* Round Three
* After The Tournament

## What Is A League Challenge?
---

A Pokemon TCG league challenge is an organized local tournament designed for those looking into competitive play. League Challenges are a step up over regular local tournaments. League Challenges are below local League Cups tournament and League Cups are below the large Regional tournaments.

Local tournaments and League Challenges are in the best of one format. League Cups have a best of one format with a Best of 3 format for the top eight players after an initial Swiss Best of 1 system I think. Regional tournaments are all best of threes.

I have heard of guys doing Regional tournaments as their first tournament. I don't know about this. The transition from online play to in-person play is different. You have to check the cards in the deck when searching for cards plus having decent shuffling techniques/practice. There is also checking opponent discard piles. It is important to practice at smaller scale events and work your way up.

<center><img src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/08/27/11/59/pokemon-1624022_960_720.jpg" /></center>
<center><a href="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/08/27/11/59/pokemon-1624022_960_720.jpg">Image Source</a></center>


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## The Venue
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The place I went to in Toronto is called Hairy Tarantula. It was my first time visiting this place. The left side of the store contains mostly Pokemon cards, Magic The Gathering cards and card supplies. The other parts of the store contain Comic books and toys. They also have plush toys like Squishmallows available.

This store is quite big for a local store. There are many tables available as they host multiple tournaments across different trading card games. The seating areas are quite large which makes playing comfortable for the players. A public washroom is available which is helpful for players.

Before going to this tournament I expected something like 16 or more players with 4 or more best of one rounds. It turned out that there were only 7 players present. Only three rounds of play with prize adjustments for those who no losses and those with 1 loss. One of the seven players would receive a bye (free win) as there would be no opponent with 7 players in the event.


<center><img src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/08/13/19/22/pokemon-1591427_960_720.jpg" /></center>
<center><a href="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/08/13/19/22/pokemon-1591427_960_720.jpg">Image Source</a></center>

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## My Gholdengo ex Deck
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Here is the deck I went with for this event. It is a deck I am comfortable with and has decent matchups against many decks. It is [Gholdengo ex](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Gholdengo_ex_(Paradox_Rift_139)) with Palkia. Decklist below.

**Pokémon: 8**

* 1 Spiritomb PAL 89
* 2 Gimmighoul PAR 88
* 2 Origin Forme Palkia V ASR 39
* 2 Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR ASR 40
* 1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
* 1 Manaphy BRS 41
* 4 Gholdengo ex PAR 139
* 2 Gimmighoul PAR 87

**Trainer: 14**

* 3 PokéStop PGO 68
* 2 Irida ASR 147
* 1 Pal Pad SVI 182
* 3 Nest Ball SVI 181
* 4 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
* 1 Boss's Orders PAL 172
* 3 Ultra Ball BRS 150
* 4 Worker SIT 167
* 4 Superior Energy Retrieval PAL 189
* 1 Super Rod PAL 188
* 1 Roxanne ASR 150
* 4 Cross Switcher FST 230
* 2 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
* 1 Energy Retrieval SVI 171

**Energy: 2**

* 5 Basic {M} Energy Energy 16
* 6 Basic {W} Energy Energy 11

Total Cards: 60

<center><img src="https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/thumb/2/29/GholdengoexParadoxRift139.jpg/430px-GholdengoexParadoxRift139.jpg" /></center>
<center><a href="https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/thumb/2/29/GholdengoexParadoxRift139.jpg/430px-GholdengoexParadoxRift139.jpg">Bulbapedia Image Source</a></center>

&nbsp;

## Round One
---

I find the first rounds to be tough. Everyone starts at 0 wins and 0 losses and you can potentially draw someone who is really good at the start. 

I thought I was playing a mirror match when I saw his Palkia and [Radiant Greninja](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Radiant_Greninja_(Astral_Radiance_46)). It was more of a [Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Origin_Forme_Palkia_VSTAR_(Astral_Radiance_40))
themed deck. At the start I was worried when my first [Gholdengo ex](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Gholdengo_ex_(Paradox_Rift_139)) was knocked out early by his [Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Origin_Forme_Palkia_VSTAR_(Astral_Radiance_40)) when we both had all 6 Pokemon in play each. 

In the later turns I was able to get sequences and turns resulting in good knockouts. I was careful to not run out of cards in my deck while I got the win. 

As it was my first League Challenge I had to get used to signing match slips and reporting wins/losses. Both players signed the match slip to acknowledge the result of the game.

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<center><img src="https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/thumb/3/3f/OriginFormePalkiaVSTARAstralRadiance208.jpg/430px-OriginFormePalkiaVSTARAstralRadiance208.jpg" /></center>
<center><a href="https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/thumb/3/3f/OriginFormePalkiaVSTARAstralRadiance208.jpg/430px-OriginFormePalkiaVSTARAstralRadiance208.jpg">Bulbapedia Image Source</a></center>


## Round Two
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For the second round I face someone who is also one win and zero losses. I kind of saw his deck in round one as he sat on my left. He might have seen my deck as well. He was a fellow [Gholdengo ex](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Gholdengo_ex_(Paradox_Rift_139)) player. It was a mirror match in round two. Due to the recent success of [Gholdengo ex](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Gholdengo_ex_(Paradox_Rift_139)) a mirror match was not out of the question.

This match was pretty one sided in my favour. His two [Gimmighouls](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Gimmighoul_(Paradox_Rift_87)) were open targets for my [Radiant Greninja](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Radiant_Greninja_(Astral_Radiance_46)). My lead just compounded and he could not do much against me. I felt bad for him near the end as his [Pokestop](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Pok%C3%A9Stop_(Pok%C3%A9mon_GO_68)) discard three supporters with no Item cards to pick up.

After the match he told me that he was surprised I used two copies of [Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Origin_Forme_Palkia_VSTAR_(Astral_Radiance_40)). He assumed I used only one and I would not get a second in play after my [Pokestop](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Pok%C3%A9Stop_(Pok%C3%A9mon_GO_68)) discard a first copy in the early game. 

I did get lucky here. After this round I am at 2 wins with 0 losses.

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<center><img src="https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/thumb/5/58/RadiantGreninjaAstralRadiance46.jpg/430px-RadiantGreninjaAstralRadiance46.jpg" /></center>
<center><a href="https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/thumb/5/58/RadiantGreninjaAstralRadiance46.jpg/430px-RadiantGreninjaAstralRadiance46.jpg">Bulbapedia Image Source</a></center>


## Random Deck Check
---

I have heard about random deck checks in tournaments. This was the first time having a random deck check. It did take a while but it was not so bad. My opponent for round three who was also 2 wins 0 losses had a minor penalty as he had the wrong Mareep in the deck. For me this would not affect the gameplay that much. The difference between Mareeps was 10 HP or something. The opponent had a minor penalty or warning. I forgot the exact details as we still played the final round. 

Before this event I really made sure that the cards I had physically in the deck matched the ones in the list I emailed the organizer. There was the thing where you had to make sure that you did not lose cards in between rounds too. I passed the deck check.

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## Round Three (Final Round)
---

In the final round I faced off against [Miraidon ex](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Miraidon_ex_(Scarlet_%26_Violet_81)) with [Regielki VMAX](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Regieleki_VMAX_(Silver_Tempest_58)). My opening basic Pokemon in the active was a [Spiritomb](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Spiritomb_(Paldea_Evolved_89)). I did not have a second basic Pokemon option to put in the active. My start was not the greatest but it was something that I was able to work with. The opponent's lead active was an [Iron Hands ex](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Iron_Hands_ex_(Paradox_Rift_70)). I don't think this was great for him either. [Iron Hands ex](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Iron_Hands_ex_(Paradox_Rift_70)) is better on the bench so it can receive Basic Lightning energy from Electric Generator and [Flaaffy's](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Flaaffy_(Evolving_Skies_55)) Dynamotor ability.

The details are somewhat fuzzy but I do recall using two [Cross Switchers](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Cross_Switcher_(Fusion_Strike_230)) plus [Gholdengo ex](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Gholdengo_ex_(Paradox_Rift_139)) to knockout an [Iron Hands ex](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Iron_Hands_ex_(Paradox_Rift_70)). He then brought out a second one the next turn. As I was facing electric Pokemon I did not want to put any [Origin Forme Palkia V](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Origin_Forme_Palkia_V_(Astral_Radiance_39)) in play. This was a defensive strategy to avoid giving up three prize cards to the opponent's [Iron Hands ex](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Iron_Hands_ex_(Paradox_Rift_70)) from its Amp You Very Much attack. 

My final play to win the game was something like [Gholdengo ex](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Gholdengo_ex_(Paradox_Rift_139)) Coin Bonus ability, get 6 basic energies in hand to knockout the opponent's [Miraidon ex](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Miraidon_ex_(Scarlet_%26_Violet_81)). This matchup was actually pretty close. If I did not get the knockout win in that last turn there was a strong chance that he would have won in his next turn.

<center><img src="https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/thumb/d/d4/MiraidonexSVPPromo28.jpg/430px-MiraidonexSVPPromo28.jpg" /></center>
<center><a href="https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/thumb/d/d4/MiraidonexSVPPromo28.jpg/430px-MiraidonexSVPPromo28.jpg">Bulbapedia Image Source</a></center>

&nbsp;

## After The Tournament
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I win this League Challenge and end with 3 wins and 0 losses. I win 3 Play! Pokémon Prize Pack Series Four packs and 30 CAD store credit. I also won another prize pack from a raffle between rounds.

After the tournament I open the Series 4 Prize packs. The best pulls I got were [Forest Seal Stone](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Forest_Seal_Stone_(Silver_Tempest_156)), [Lugia VSTAR](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Lugia_VSTAR_(Silver_Tempest_139)) and [Iono](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Iono_(Paldea_Evolved_185)). Super lucky pulls. I also stayed in the store for a bit to buy stuff with the 30 CAD store credit. 

I liked the store and I also enjoyed playing there. Before the event I just wanted to try out a League challenge and just play well. Winning was something that I did not consider. It was simpler for me to have a mindset of playing well and have a good time. Winning was just a bonus. 

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<center><img src="https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/thumb/1/1d/ForestSealStoneSilverTempest156.jpg/430px-ForestSealStoneSilverTempest156.jpg" /></center>
<center><a href="https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/thumb/1/1d/ForestSealStoneSilverTempest156.jpg/430px-ForestSealStoneSilverTempest156.jpg">Image Source</a></center>

<center>Thank you for reading.</center>