I’m a veteran of TCG tournaments. Experience has taught me to expect that, when attending such an event, the expected demographic is going to be white and Asian males between the ages of 15-25. That’s why, in my sleep-deprived state upon my arrival, I was shocked into alertness looking around the room.

See, more than any other game, Yu-Gi-Oh! brings out all ages, sizes, colors, and creeds. Seldom will you find that single unifying force that transcends all borders, and that, more than anything else, is what makes Yu-Gi-Oh! special.

One example of how the game brings people together is the Suchey family of Springfield, Missouri. With three members in attendance today—mother Laurie, seventeen-year-old Paul and fifteen-year-old Tony—the Sucheys are remarkable in that it took twenty-three hours of driving over the course of Thursday and Friday to get here.

“I sell phone books,” said Laurie, 30. “I had to sell 6,000 to raise the money to get here” The fourth family member, father Bill, had to stay home to care for their two dogs. However, the Sucheys used to host Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments in their home, inviting neighboring children to come in and play.

“We never really played any other card games, but we always liked cartoons, so when we started watching Yu-Gi-Oh! we started playing.” That’s all fine and dandy, but it led to a pretty eventful trip to Vegas.

Starting out in Missouri, the three Sucheys left Springfield at 3 PM with Laurie driving despite the fact that numbness in her right leg is supposed to forbid her from doing so. Paul eventually took over the wheel and was immediately pulled over for not using his blinker, despite his insistence that he had.

They traveled into Oklahoma, where they visited the world’s largest McDonalds, and upon hitting the road, Paul was pulled over again, this time for illegal use of his fog lights. After stopping the car as authorities dealt with a woman who tried to scam a toll box, they entered Texas, where Paul proceeded to open his car door with such force that he broke the springs that inhibit a car door from opening too wide.

Then it was on to New Mexico, where Laurie warned, “Stop for gas if you get below a quarter tank.” She fell asleep and of course, Paul ignored her, waking her up when they’d run out of gas at the side of the road. They got refuelled, headed through California and arrived here Friday night, only to realize they didn’t have a reservation. After a one-night stay, they were kicked out due to previous bookings filling the hotel’s capacity, found another place to stay and finally—*exhale*—made it here today. I swear, it’s all true.

Over 200 players are here today, each with their own background, each with their own story. Sunday’s going to be a good day for the Sucheys and for everyone else.