So, I’m all booked to compete in the UK & Ireland National Championships in Manchester next month. It’ll be my debut competition, and I’ve absolutely no idea what to expect.
Thankfully, I now have a team which is almost fully operational, so I shouldn’t get excessively embarassed. By Monday, I should be ready to compete, and from there on in, it’s just going to be a matter of honing.
I’m nervous, of course I am. I don’t want to be embarassed. Despite giving up chess eight years ago, I still miss the atmosphere of competition: the pre-match rituals, the post-match analysis; a weekend immersed in the craft.
I don’t have time, unfortunately, to order a “Don’t fuckle with Shuckle” t-shirt, but in the unlikely event that I do make it to the Sunday, I will be bringing a towel. The 26th May is Towel Day, after all.
As a novice, I won’t play up my chances. I only considered becoming competitive a year ago, and I’m not even the most adept trainer in my league. I’m inexperienced, and don’t use ugly pokemon- the main reason I will never be any good at TCG.
However, I’m determined to enjoy it. Before attending, I will buy new pages for my Pikachu filofax, and will document my time at nationals. I might even talk to other people. Hopefully, some other people from my league will go, and I won’t be stood in a corner looking like the most socially inept person in a room full of Pokemon nerds.
I’ll try and take pictures. I’m excited, and nervous and all the rest of it and it’s still three weeks away.
What am I saying? That’s nothing. I should be Super Training…
Anyone else going to the UK & Ireland nationals on the 25th? Drop me a line; I’d love to say hi. To pre-register, go to: http://www.gordianknotgames.co.uk/page47.html
Kanto to Unova (and beyond) 