It’s another installment in everyone’s favorite interview series! You’ve been waiting and waiting, haven’t you? I know you have. First, let’s hear from Simon Sangpukdee. He used to be one of the famous Level 3 judges from Florida, but due to a recent move, Kentucky now profits from his experience. He’ll be starting graduate classes at the University of Louisville this January.

When and where did you pass the test?

I passed it on May 22, 2004, at Wizard World in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

How long have you been judging Yu-Gi-Oh!?

Too long. Seriously, though, I’ve been judging since January 2003.

Where and how often do you judge? Do you judge mainly locally, or do you travel to a lot of events?

While I was living in South Florida, I head judged most of the Regional events there (with lots of help from Frank Debrito and Feroze Ramcharan). I was also the head judge for some of the weekly local tournaments in that area. Aside from floor judging at Nationals and Worlds back in 2004, I really didn’t travel a whole lot as a judge.

What was your pre-judging background? Did you like to play? Were you good? Did you ever win any big tournaments?

During the time I played, I could hold my own, so I didn’t embarrass myself. I’ve won a few (stress on “few”) local tournaments. I miss playing occasionally, but I feel that judging for this game, if done correctly, has its own rewards.

What’s your judging background?

I actually started to judge because the other local players would ask Frank, Feroze, or myself for rulings. It just happened that they trusted us. The three of us would help with rulings at local tournaments and we began our climb to infamy from there, especially when South Florida received its own Premier Tournament Organizer.

What’s your favorite part of being a judge?

The best part is getting to meet the people and interact with them. I also happen to think that’s the best part of playing, too—the chance to get involved with and to help shape a community. But then again, I’m old and sentimental, so what do I know?

What’s your least favorite part of being a judge?

My least favorite part is haggling with tournament organizers over the issue of judge compensation. I’m not a greedy person by nature, and it makes me very uncomfortable to ask for things. However, I feel that I have an obligation, especially as a higher level judge, to insure that the judge staff and myself are not being taken for granted, and that we are getting our fair share of compensation for the incredibly hard work that we do.

Does any one event stick out in your mind?

The 2004 US National Championship was quite an event. It was draining, but I got to work with and learn from the best judges in the game, which was a privilege in and of itself.

What’s the biggest contribution that Level 3 judges can make to the game? How about to the judge program?

The biggest contribution that Level 3 judges can make is leading by example. We must be held accountable to a higher standard in terms of gameplay knowledge, maturity and ability to deal with people. We have to push ourselves not just harder, but smarter, and in doing so we demonstrate to the other judges the skills that make more effective judges.

Have you had any particularly memorable tournament moments?

I was the head judge for the Shonen Jump Championship in Orlando, FL, this past February. Before the tournament started, I noticed that a player who was known for stealing other people’s cards in the South Florida area was in attendance. After consulting with the local organizers, I made the decision to not allow this person to enter the tournament. He made quite a scene, and since I knew a lot of attention was being drawn to his antics, I simply put his $15.00 down in front of him, and politely told him to leave and to have a good day. I walked away at that point, but when I glanced back, I did notice that he stopped spluttering and shoved the money into his pocket as fast as he could.

Tell us an interesting and little-known personal fact about yourself.

My hairline is receding.* Oh, wait, you asked for a little-known fact, which is the opposite of obvious. Hmm, well, in defiance of Asian cultural stereotypes, I’m really bad at math.

Which Yu-Gi-Oh! card best illustrates who you are?

It’s nice to see you judging again, Simon! Next up is one of my fellow Professional Event Services judges. I’ve worked with him a lot, and I can’t boss him around any more, now that he’s passed his Level 3 test. Allow me to introduce you to Jeff Yuschak! He lives in Youngstown, Ohio, where he works as a security guard for Securitas USA while majoring in literature.

When and where did you past the test?

I passed it on Friday afternoon at Gen Con So Cal. 2005. I took it previously at Nationals in July. After I took it the first time and had my answers explained, I had a rulings epiphany that helped me become a better judge. If any of you are curious, I failed it with a 65 the first time and passed it with a 93 on the second try.

How long have you been judging Yu-Gi-Oh!?

I began judging when our local store, All-American Cards & Comics, began holding tournaments. This was back when Pharaoh’s Servant came out. I passed my Level 2 test in February 2004 at the Butler, PA Regionals, and I stayed a Level 2 until Gen Con So Cal.

Where and how often do you judge? Do you judge mainly locally, or do you travel to a lot of events?

I judge locally at All-American Cards & Comics in Warren, OH. I’d judge at the Boardman, OH store if its tournament schedule didn’t conflict with my work schedule. I also do Butler, PA and Columbus, OH Regionals for Professional Event Services. I’ve also judged at a number of high-level events, such as Shonen Jump Championship Indy, Shonen Jump Los Angeles, and US Nationals 2005. If you look at the Shonen Jump Indy and Shonen Jump Los Angeles Top 8 match pictures, you’ll see me in a few of them as the table judge.

What was your pre-judging background? Did you like to play? Were you good? Did you ever win any big tournaments?

I played locally whenever I could. I’d say I was pretty good, as I helped our local players evolve beyond standard Beatdown decks, starting with the classic Clown Control deck. I even have one of those Millennium Puzzle trophies tucked away in my closet. My only real claim to fame was at Shonen Jump Columbus where I piloted my Warrior Deck to 8-2, losing to Bryan St. Clair in the tenth round, putting me in thirteenth place and knocking me out of the Top 8. While I do miss playing, I understand that there’s more need for a judge than there is for an extra player.

What’s your favorite part of being a judge?

Answering the questions that players ask. I try to impart a little bit of knowledge to them to help them better understand the game, and by extension, to make them better players.

What’s your least favorite part of being a judge?

Dealing with player shenanigans. They’re always up to something—crowding the top tables, talking smack to people who are still playing, eating on the tables, or something else. You explain to them that these are things they are not supposed to do while in the tournament area, and they still do it. Seriously, if a judge asks you to do something, do it. We don’t make you do these things because we’re cold hearted—we do it to keep the tournament area organized and free of foul play.

Does any one event stick out in your mind?

I’d say U.S. Nationals 2005. It was the first multi-day event I’d ever worked, and it was a workout, both physically and mentally. I got to meet and talk with a lot of the Level 3 judges about their thoughts on the game and rulings. It also taught me to never try to answer any of John Danker’s mind-bending questions. I won’t go into specifics, but it involves Last Will, Sangan, and Bottomless Trap Hole.

What’s the biggest contribution that Level 3 judges can make to the game? How about to the judge program?

Level 3 judges should strive to educate players as well as their fellow judges. I’ve judged and played with a lot of different people and quite frankly, you’d be amazed by the number of people who just don’t understand how the game works. There’s a lot more to giving rulings than just quoting the Upper Deck Entertainment FAQ.

Have you had any particularly memorable tournament moments?

During the first Last Chance Qualifier at US Nationals 2005, I was called over to handle a rules dispute. One player attacked with Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning and his opponent chained with Scapegoat. A replay resulted, and the player attacked again. When his opponent passed responding to the attack, he chained his Enemy Controller to switch modes on one of the Sheep tokens. His opponent argued that they were already in the damage step, so Enemy Controller was an illegal activation. But, since they hadn’t left the Battle Step yet, it was a legitimate play, and I attempted to explain this to him. Afterwards, the opponent came up and screamed that I was the worst judge he had ever seen, about two inches from my face, and stormed off. See what I mean about people not understanding how the game is played?

Tell us an interesting and little-known personal fact about yourself.

I’m a role-playing fanatic. Whether it’s console or table-top, I’m on it. My friends and I have even devised our own table-top system. I also keep a tally of RPGs I’ve beaten, with the current tally coming in at 88.

Which Yu-Gi-Oh! card best illustrates who you are?

Silent Swordsman LV5. Calm, collected, and unaffected by your spell cards. I started out as a relatively harmless Silent Swordsman LV3, but I have the potential to be even bigger and badder than I already am—Silent Swordsman LV7.

Next, say hello to another of my co-workers, Professional Event Services Judge Stephen Raisah! I think Stephen might have had the quickest and best-deserved climb from Level 1 to Level 3 of anyone I know. He’s a hard worker and a lot of fun to have on staff at any event. Want to know him better? Of course you do! Stephen lives in Columbus, Ohio, and he’s a student.

When and where did you pass the test?

I passed it the day after the Shonen Jump at Gen Con Indy 2005. It was a very nice way to end the weekend.

How long have you been judging Yu-Gi-Oh!?

I’ve been judging since early 2004.

Where and how often do you judge? Do you judge mainly locally, or do you travel to a lot of events?

I mainly judge premier events in the Midwest area. It’s especially fun in the summer, when we have Origins and Gen Con Indy.

What was your pre-judging background? Did you like to play? Were you good? Did you ever win any big tournaments?

I played with a Fiend deck that wasn’t too bad. This was during the time when there wasn’t a Forbidden list, so it wasn’t the most effective deck; but it did pose quite a challenge to the more powerful deck types of the age. Right now it’s in retirement, but maybe I can bring it out one of these days.

What’s your judging background?

I started out with local tournaments and then went on to Regionals.**

What’s your favorite part of being a judge?

I like knowing that I’m contributing to the game, so that others can enjoy playing it.

What’s your least favorite part of being a judge?

Waking up the next morning and not being able to move my legs.

Does any one event stick out in your mind?

Oh yeah. Shonen Jump Columbus, February 2005. Despite the 700+ people that showed up, the event went smoothly and the entire staff (not just the judges) did a wonderful job. I won’t be forgetting that one for quite a while.

What’s the biggest contribution that Level 3 judges can make to the game? How about to the judge program?

Being able to help new players. Every time I meet a new player, I do my best to help them have a smooth transition into the game. A lot of new players leave the game if they feel they can’t keep up, and it’s important that veteran players and judges help them get comfortable with the game.

Have you had any particularly memorable tournament moments?

Other than Shonen Jump Columbus, Origins and Gen Con Indy 2005 really stood out for me. I got to meet a lot of judges from across the U.S. and definitely learned a lot from them.

Tell us an interesting and little-known personal fact about yourself.

I love surfing and snowboarding.

Which Yu-Gi-Oh! card best illustrates who you are?

Words to live by, Stephen. Finally, we have . . . well, me. I just want to say that interviewing yourself is really weird—but let’s get on with it. My name is Julia Hedberg, and I live in Westchester, New York. I do a lot of things for a living, because I don’t think that you can live in Westchester and not have more than one job. I’m a freelance writer for Metagame.com and some other sites and magazines, and I also do graphics work from time to time.

When and where did you pass the test?

I passed it at the Minneapolis mall tour stop in 2004, in a teppanyaki restaurant. I considered buying a day pass to Camp Snoopy and taking the test while riding the roller coaster over and over, but I figured that was kind of silly.

How long have you been judging Yu-Gi-Oh!?

I’ve been judging for a while. I did a bit on the mall tour, but my first “official” judging job was at Gen Con Indy 2003. The mall tour was still going on, and several of us got sent to Indy to help out. I ended up in the Yu-Gi-Oh! room, judging and helping out the TO. Gen Con So Cal 2003 was next, then the first ever Regional tournament at King’s Games, then more convention work, various Regional tournaments, Sneak Previews, and Shonen Jump Championships for Professional Event Services.

Where and how often do you judge? Do you judge mainly locally, or do you travel to a lot of events?

Ironically, the only “local” event I’ve ever judged was that regional at King’s Games in Brooklyn. I usually judge at conventions and then events that PES runs, anywhere from Ohio through Toronto to Pennsylvania. I don’t need to travel for them as much anymore, since so many of the judges I’ve worked with over the years in those areas are solid Level 3 judges themselves now. I’m once again available for local judging, in the most Level 3 judge-congested area of the US! Go me!

What was your pre-judging background? Did you like to play? Were you good? Did you ever win any big tournaments?

I worked on all three segments of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Mall Tour. At first I was in the “learn to play with the giant cards” area, but I moved into the Millennium Puzzle when they decided to expand it. It was a much better gig—I got to sit down, not to mention wear a sharp-looking suit with a skirt and a tie! Was I good? That depends on who you ask. I remember that a lot of forums claimed we were trained monkeys in suits with no real play skills, just good decks. Honestly, though, I don’t think anyone could play that many duels across so many metagames and not develop decent skill at the game. My win ratio was usually around 90%, which isn’t too bad. I’m sorely out of practice now, though.

The only tournament I’ve ever competed in was the Shonen Jump Championship in Boston. I went 5-4, and if you factor in that I haven’t played competitively for over a year along with the deck I played (a Skill Drain filled homage to my favorite Puzzle deck, that had no Chaos, no D. D. anything, no Magician of Faith, no Scapegoat, no Tsukuyomi, and no fusions), it’s not all that bad. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, got to meet a lot of people, and I even ended up in a feature match on Metagame.com, so that’s glory for you.

What’s your judging background?

I started out at conventions and Regional tournaments and stuck to conventions and Regional tournaments, along with the occasional Shonen Jump Championship or Sneak Preview event. Granted, some of those Regional events have been tiny, but I don’t usually judge at events with fewer than a hundred people in them. I do think I’ve missed out by not doing league-type judging, actually. Week in and week out, judging helps keep your knowledge up to date, even if it is a small venue.

What’s your favorite part of being a judge?

I like a lot of things about it. I liked watching the game move from a sort of anime-based kiddy fad to an immensely popular TCG with seriously dedicated players, an established set of rules and procedures, and a massive spread of organized play, and I like that I’ve been a part of that change, by turning my effort into judging rather than continuing on as a player. I also love the judge camaraderie, and the judges I work with regularly are some of the greatest guys I know. It’s a necessary part of survival on the floor. We all get through these events by helping each other out and enjoying the experience. It is hard work, but no matter what, we always seem to have a great time.

What’s your least favorite part of being a judge?

I hate wearing the official judge clothes. I loathe pants and I never wear them unless I’m forced to. I hate the belt I have to wear so the pants will fit correctly. Whoever came up with such an uncomfortable article of apparel? And an even more uncomfortable accessory to hold it on?*** And the judge shirts, too—polyester kind of makes my skin crawl, and the “small” shirts are still about four sizes too big. As soon as the tournament is over, I change my clothes right there on the floor if I have to. Pants with a belt and a man’s shirt is practically a crime against nature.

Does any one event stick out in your mind?

So many events . . . the first one that springs to mind is the Columbus, Ohio Shonen Jump Championship last February. Professional Event Services fetched me along as a floor judge, and it was a good thing they did. We had over 700 people, and I think there were eight floor judges. We watched a registration line that never seemed to end, and after player 600 or so was signed up, we more or less hit the “denial” stage and that’s what got us through the day! Ten rounds followed by the Top 8 meant the most intense day I’ve ever had as a judge, but those of us who were there actually had a pretty good time.

Worlds 2005 was cool, too. It was the second World Championships I’ve judged, and those have always presented unique challenges. I enjoyed talking to the different players and seeing the improvement in caliber since the previous year. Every player who was there deserved to be there. Getting the chance to go to Tokyo was amazing, and we got to see head judge Dave Brent eat a giant bite of chicken liver yakitori because he thought it was beef.

What’s the biggest contribution that Level 3 judges can make to the game? How about to the judge program?

To the game, I’d say working to enforce rulings and procedures, to build up a sense of consistency. When rulings and penalties are slapdash and vary a lot from region to region, there’s no cohesion to OP, and the whole thing comes off looking very amateurish. Why would players take the game seriously? Pushing for increasing levels of quality and standardization in the rulings and penalties makes OP more organized and reliable, especially now that so many players travel to the high profile events. We’re way beyond the “King of Duelists” setup from a few years ago, and it’s important that players know that they can expect the same kinds of rulings and procedures at any event they attend. Consistency and professionalism garner more respect for the game, both from players and the TCG community as a whole.

For the judge program, I think it’s most important to train other judges, and be available to help out in whatever capacity is needed. If you’re looking to make a name for yourself or something, maybe you’ll only want to work at high profile events, or always be the head judge, but it’s all the same to me. I’m just as happy to stamp people’s hands at a Sneak Preview or sit down and give a one-on-one walkthrough to a batch of new players in a beginner’s side event. Since I’ve been judging for PES, three of my fellow judges have passed the Level 3 test, so duties are now divided up very evenly. It’s really nice to not always have to be the person holding up the sky.

Have you had any particularly memorable tournament moments?

People sometimes ask me if being female has any negative effect on my judging. I can’t think of any particular instances of discrimination, but it has led to some awkward moments. I can’t remember what the event was, but I was doing my usual “walk the tables” when a player, unaware that I was nearby, needed a judge. He yelled out “Judge!” and flung out his arm to raise his hand—and smacked me right in the chest. I thought he was going to have a stroke, because he turned absolutely purple. To this day, I have no idea what the question was going to be. The poor guy had been rendered absolutely incapable of speech and his opponent was laughing so hard that he couldn’t remember either. There were several other judges at the event, all of them male, so it figures that it would had to have been me who got hit in the chest.

Tell us an interesting and little-known personal fact about yourself.

Why did I put this question in the interview? I hate these kinds of questions! Hmmm . . . I have a bachelor’s degree in film, with a minor in costume design. My first real job out of college was as a costume designer. I had my own design company (which consisted entirely of myself) and everything. It was fun, but it was also a lot of work. I made a pair of lederhosen for Bill Cosby once. I can make all kinds of things, like superhero costumes, historical clothing, corsets, shoes, hats and jewelry.

Which Yu-Gi-Oh! card best illustrates who you are?

You know, I think I’m going to go with Injection Fairy Lily. Not just because I used to have hair that color, but because we’ve got a similar effect. We’re both on the small side, but pay that activation cost and wham! Like Lily, I run out of life points if I activate this effect too often, which is why I never want to sit around the hotel lobby and duel and so forth after an event – I’ve boosted my ATK too many times and all I want to do is go to sleep. I also kind of like her hat.

Well, this wraps up our series for now on those elusive Level 3 judges. Now, I know that you’re saying, “What about those other Level 3 judges we know? Where are their interviews?”

Not everyone has handed one in, and we’ve also added some new judges to the ranks. We’ll give those guys some time to catch their breath and hand in an interview, and when the slackers and the new guys have turned in more, I’ll restart the series. If you’ve got a Level 3 judge in your area who hasn’t appeared in an interview, then nag (I mean, ask them repeatedly and respectfully) to turn in their interview. But for now, I’ll return to other topics for a while, and I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about these gallant judges as much as I have. I’ll never look at my fellow Level 3 judges the same way again.

* Many of you may remember that Simon used to alternate weeks with me in the Agents of Judgment column. When we were trying to think of a name for the column, Jason suggested we call it, “The Bald And The Beautiful.” He thought he was so funny.

**Poor Stephen once ended up as the sole judge at a massive Regional tournament. Talk about baptism by fire! We’re all very grateful that he put it behind him and continued with the judge program!

***I understand that many members of my gender enjoy wearing pants and belts. I mean them no insult or disrespect. More power to them—I just can’t stand those things.