World Championship 2021 Pre-Tournament Player Interviews: Part Two!

Learn more about some of your favorite players and what they were thinking mere hours before the biggest tournament of the year in this second part of our Pre-Tournament Interviews! 

Congrats! You've earned a spot at the World Championships of Goat Format! What individual strengths do you believe you have as a person or player that contributed to your earning this invite?
A winning mindset.

When and why did you first begin playing the format? How good of a player do you think you were? What decks did you prefer then?
Started playing in 2003 after watching a few episodes on TV.

Is there a player you look up to? Are they playing in today's event? What do you admire about them?
Kris P and A. Alvarado. Yes, they are playing today. I admire their passion and hunger to win! Sixteen years later and they're still putting in work! Top dogs!

Is there any player or deck you are looking forward to playing against today? Any that you would prefer to avoid?
No one. Warriors.

Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of Goat Format? If so, what are they?
Shoe collector.
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Is there anything you would like to say to those rooting for you? Any shout outs you would like to make?
Shout out to everyone in this tournament and everyone taking part in making this happen! Awesome to come back and play sixteen years later

Congrats! You've earned a spot at the World Championships of Goat Format! What individual strengths do you believe you have as a person or player that contributed to your earning this invite?
I finished 2nd last year at the world championships. Just have a very good feel for the game with an exceptional team behind me.

When and why did you first begin playing the format? How good of a player do you think you were? What decks did you prefer then?
I was already a competitive player when GOAT format was introduced. I finished 2nd at Nationals the year before and topped every regionals during that era, was pretty confident during that time, but fell short at that years nationals. Covid brought be back into the scene and now I'm here to stay.

Is there a player you look up to? Are they playing in today's event? What do you admire about them?
Lazaro, Anthony, Kris these three are etched in YGO history and for reason are too long to be stated.

Is there any player or deck you are looking forward to playing against today? Any that you would prefer to avoid?
Dont want anything to do with Library ftk and my own teammates.....

Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of Goat Format? If so, what are they?
Mostly fitness and living a very active lifestyle.
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Is there anything you would like to say to those rooting for you? Any shout outs you would like to make?
Hoping to make you guys proud. My beautiful fiance and my Team OD plus all my GTA/Canadian Goat Format boys.

Congrats! You've earned a spot at the World Championships of Goat Format! What individual strengths do you believe you have as a person or player that contributed to your earning this invite?
I believe in myself, I control my stress, and I make the best plays without fear of bad outcomes.

When and why did you first begin playing the format? How good of a player do you think you were? What decks did you prefer then?
I played during the format but I didn't get really good at the game until the next format. I picked it up again in 2018 or 2019 and played Turbo while almost everyone else was still on Goat Control. So, I didn't even have to be good, but I was good at that point.

Is there a player you look up to? Are they playing in today's event? What do you admire about them?
Moxies is playing today and he deserves more credit than I can express for helping me with decks and theory. He's an excellent teammate.

Is there any player or deck you are looking forward to playing against today? Any that you would prefer to avoid?
Any match against Rampage or Overdose would be great, and I'd rather not play against Reasoning Gate.

Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of Goat Format? If so, what are they?
Goat Format is my break from the grind. Other than that it is work, sleep, workout, and lots of time with friends and family.
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Is there anything you would like to say to those rooting for you? Any shout outs you would like to make?
WorldGoneMaad has rolled with me since I got back into Goats and our team LRG has been instrumental to my success. I'm very thankful to be a part of it.

Congrats! You've earned a spot at the World Championships of Goat Format! What individual strengths do you believe you have as a person or player that contributed to your earning this invite?
I have an avid love for Panda Burn as a deck and it is truly one of the best decks to play on the ladder. I am someone who tries to get the download on other players and play an ideal anti-strategy when possible.

When and why did you first begin playing the format? How good of a player do you think you were? What decks did you prefer then?
This November will make a year of me playing the format, a baby compared to most of the folks here. I was a terrible player at the start of this year, but with a lot of time and energy I have become a slightly less terrible player.

Is there a player you look up to? Are they playing in today's event? What do you admire about them?
I really admire the Lowecke brothers' (Alephya and Delinkquent) ability to fearlessly play wild decks and win with them too. It is my dream to do the same but I am just not on their level.

Is there any player or deck you are looking forward to playing against today? Any that you would prefer to avoid?
When I saw that James was my round one I felt pretty good, then I felt not so good, then absolutely terrible, and now I feel okay again. Looking forward to playing Matt Uber too. Much less excited to see other Burn players today. I don't feel the most suited against them.

Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of Goat Format? If so, what are they?
I also love playing Smash Ultimate (I might have a tournament of that after today too!) as well as playing music. I am also an undergraduate sociologist doing research on trading card game communities.
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Is there anything you would like to say to those rooting for you? Any shout outs you would like to make?
All the love in the world to my peeps in Damage Step and of course the Europuyans. Also have to give lots of love to my burn bois, as well as Spyre27, 4D4M, Crops, indoors, and Ash. Also, shoutout to James Arc for some sweet paper games. Looking forward to more down the line.