It's time to duel island-style, as players gather for Shonen Jump Championship Honolulu, the largest Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG tournament the state has ever seen. Registration has just closed with 154 players enrolled. Many participants have allowed themselves a break to enjoy some local distractions, from the beautiful beaches to the exquisite Japanese Koi pond just outside the event hall.
Several players have come from the neighbor islands to participate, excited by the chance to play in such a big tournament. Taylor Willis and Spencer Lincoln from the island of Maui are happy to be here, and ready to play. “I saw it in the Shonen Jump Magazine, and I’ve never been in a tournament this big,” said Spencer. While they’re looking to see Gladiator Beasts everywhere, they were also expecting variations on Adam Corn’s Monarch deck as well as Dark Armed Dragon and Monarch decks. Taylor commented that they are prepared for anything. “There’s such a wide variety of people, you never know what you’re going to see.” Taylor is playing a Monarch Deck like Adam Corn’s, with Prime Material Dragon, while Spencer is going with a deck he only calls ‘Beatdown.’
Some mainland powerhouses have come out to the Aloha State to win fame and fortune, including current US National Champion, Chris Bowling. Sponsored by Yu-Gi-Oh! ETC, he’s come prepared to win. We asked him about the field he expects to see here in Hawaii, which he says hasn’t changed much from Philadelphia. “People are still trying to counter Gladiator Beasts, but it’s still doing really well.” He anticipated the field to be made up of Gladiator Beasts, easily expected to be the biggest deck at the event, as well as Monarchs with Royal Oppression (supported by the recent change in rulings on that card), and Dark Armed Dragon decks.
When asked which deck he felt was favored to win, he replied simply:
“My deck.”
He says he and his teammates Jerry Wang and Erin Diaz have crafted the winning deck, a control-oriented version of Dark Armed Dragon, which he feels is primed to take him to Day 2.
Other mainland players like Corey DeFeo and Jack McNeeley followed the Shonen Jump trail to the islands, each looking to win his own copy of the incredible Doomcaliber Knight!
The vendors have been noticing some powerful trends in sales just this morning as players scramble to pick up their own ‘tech’ for the event. Ed Stout, an independent vendor, says cards like Prohibition, Disk Commander, Mind Control, and Dust Tornado have been flying, citing the cards low cost relative to the big cards like Judgment Dragon. “They’re gone,” he says, already moving to another card sale. The card? Solemn Judgment.
The players are seated and the announcements are starting, with Hawaii’s Premier Tournament Organizer for Upper Deck Michael Otsuji and Head Judge Frank Debrito getting the players ready. The cheers are loud as the participants begin to feel the excitement of Hawaii’s first Shonen Jump Championship. Of course, we’ll be bringing you the big stories throughout the day so you won’t want to miss it!