Pokeballing: Getting to Know The Players!

So decided yesterday that i would go on a slight brainstorm to come up with new ideas to keep me writing a steady stream of articles for everyone which will also in turn help me keep myself up to date on the game itself (sometimes i am quite lazy when it comes to this). This is gonna be a interview style idea to get to know the players that make this wonderful game exciting. I am gonna start small with just some of the local players then work my way up to maybe doing some video interviews at events if this works.

So to start off these are the questions that I have decided to ask for the first test run
1. How long have you been playing Pokemon?:
2. Why did you start playing Pokemon?:
3. Whats your favourite Pokemon set?:
4. What are you currently running and why?:
5. What do you think of the current meta?:
6. Whats your favourite thing about the Pokemon organized play program?:
7. Whats your least favourite thing?:
8. Do you think Dark Explorers will have a impact on the current meta?:
9. Early predictions for Canadian Nationals:

Player Profile: Mario Filice
Mario Filice of Belleville Ontario is a newer player on the competitive Pokemon scene, though has yet to make his debut in the bigger tournaments. Mario also plays the Yugioh Trading Card Game which he writes blogs for (I have also guest wrote for these blogs) and has a Youtube channel SkillOverLuck.

1. How long have you been playing Pokemon?
I've been playing competitively since the summer of 2011. I've played it on and off casually since it was first released.
2. Why did you start playing Pokemon?
Pokemon are cool.

3. Whats your favourite Pokemon set?
The first Black and White set: Its the set that started off my competitive career.

4. What are you currently running and why?:
 My main build is Reshiboar. The deck is my opinion has everything a good deck should have: Energy-placing acceleration (Emboar), effective draw engine (Ninetales) and strong attackers (Reshiram and Reshiram Ex). The deck also makes great use of powerful supporters and items that other decks cannot (Fisherman, Energy Retrieval).

 5. What do you think of the current meta?:
Mewtwo Ex is definitely controlling the meta. Certain players play it because it fits really well in almost everything, while other players play it to counter the opponent's Mewtwo Ex. The Pokemon in our meta seem to be a little overpowered: However I still believe the Meta is very skill-based, and requires correct decisions when such decisions have to be made, or it can cost you the game.

 6. Whats your favourite thing about the Pokemon organized play program?:
I haven't had any tournament experience with this game yet... From what I've read, organized play does seem fairly organized. I particularly like the age divisions.

 7. Whats your least favourite thing?:
There appear to be not enough tournaments in general.

 8. Do you think Dark Explorers will have a impact on the current meta?:
Yes. Dark Pokemon will finally be playable.

 9. Early predictions for Canadian Nationals:
A deck with Mewtwo will win.

So my first sort of Pokemon interview, obviously still in the beta stages of development but something i would like to keep trying to do with my locals and maybe once perfected moving on to bigger players.

Before I sign off would just like to give out the top 8 results of the Canadian Spring Regional Championships that just happened this past weekend

Top 8 for Ontario Regionals:
1st- Corina C. (6-0) w/ CMT (CDN)
2nd- Awais K. (5-1) w/ Zekeels (CDN)
3rd- Shaun D. (5-1) w/ Zekeels (CDN)
4th- Josh M. (5-1) w/ Durant (CDN)
5th- Eric M. (5-1) w/ Donphan/Dragons/Mewtwo (CDN)
6th- Harrison D. (4-2) w/ Troll (Terrakion/Tornadus/Mewtwo) (USA) -Winner!
7th- Allan X. (4-2) w/ Zekeels (CDN)
8th- Brendon L. (4-2) w/ Durant (CDN)

as you can see a varied top 8 this time around which shows that we have a very deep meta right now, at some point this week I would like to have a look at this list and give some more thoughts and insight about what this means for Canadian Nationals June 30th-July 1st ( I am gonna be there this year kind of excited)