Players gather for friendly play, conversations and other card games at KO2013
The Klaczynski Open comes to a close in Tinley Park with resounding success. A two day event Pokemon Trading Card Game tournament outside of Chicago in its southern suburbs attracted over 140 players from 20 different states, with some attendees coming from as far as Texas and Florida. Jason Klaczynski, a 15 year veteran of Pokemon TCG, organizer, and namesake of the event, expressed his optimism for continued non-sanctioned tournaments in the future.
The unsanctioned tournament allowed Klaczynski and other organizers take what the competitive players sought and experiment with them in an tournament setting. One improvement, best of three instead of best of one, helped increase the competitive edge. In a game where luck is a factor, best of three helps reduce the variability of wins and rewards strong players. By having unsanctioned events, Klaczynski can try out new rules to help increase the competitive nature of the game thereby influence sanctioned events to adopt better rules. Reportedly, sanctioned tournaments will adopt the best of three style tournament seen at KO 2013.
According to Klaczynski, he felt that the time was right to attempt an unsanctioned event based on conversations with other competitive players. Chicago, in addition to its central location in the nation, is a hub of TCG activity with lots of competitive play. Friendly and tight knit players helped make this a success.
The tournament was organized into two sections, with the under 14’s and main event. The top prize for the main event was 6 booster boxes, a play mat, the 15th anniversary Pikachu Set, an invitation to the Top Cut 2014 invitational tournament, of course, a shiny trophy to brag with! The winner this year was 13 year old Lex D’Andrea.
The Top Cut, a fellow media site focused on covering Pokemon TCG events, was on hand with commentary and a live stream, if you weren’t watching already. Kyle “Pooka” Sucevich was commenting many of the matches going on. Also, Top Cut Central (unrelated to “The Top Cut”), a local trading card game shop in Chicago, was on hand with purchasing and buying of Pokemon cards.
Overall, there’s hope that the Klaczynski Open will become an annual and regular event where competitive and friendly TCG players can gather and test their skills.
As organizers start to prepare for the final matches, tournament seats sit empty. Prizes sit off to the left, waiting to be claimed.
Players battling in a friendly at KO2013
A player’s deck bag with sets all the way from base to today
