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PLAYER PROFILE: ROY ST. CLAIR
UNITED STATES FINALIST
Where are you from? What’s the name of the local store where you play?
I’m from Greenbelt, Maryland. There are a couple stores where I play, but the main one is called Front Row Sports Cards and Memorabilia.
What Deck did you bring to the U.S. National Championship? How did you design it? Who do you test your Decks with?
I used the best Deck I could build: Blackwings. I designed it based on the results of hundreds of matches against other powerful Decks. I realized quickly that Side Deck choices are incredibly important, and I picked Blackwings because they’re good at incorporating necessary cards from the Side Deck.
How did you prepare for the U.S. National Championship?
I tested a lot and tried to perfect my Side Deck. People need to invest a lot more time in it than they do. I think Blackwings have the best Side Deck potential, so I played them.
How did you feel when you realized that you had just won the U.S. National Championship?
Obviously I was excited. This would be my second time going to the Yu-Gi-Oh TCG World Championship.
What do you feel is your biggest strength as a player?
I avoid mistakes and try to dictate the pace of play
When and how did you first become interested in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME?
I started playing when i was 16. My brother and I started travelling around to every Regional we could. It was a great experience. It gave us a chance to travel and make a lot of friends along the way. I was hooked.
Do you have a strategy in mind for the World Championship? How will you prepare?
My strategy is to simply come with the best Main Deck and Side Deck I can build. I plan on testing with my friends.
Is there anything you’re looking forward to seeing in Tokyo?
I'm really looking foward to seeing the sights and visiting such a great city. It will be interesting to experience a culture so different from our own.
Do you have any advice for aspiring players?
You need to get a group of friends together who you can playtest with frequently. No matter what your skill level, go to all the big and small tournaments you can. You will only get better by playing people better than you, or near your skill level. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, but make sure that you learn from them. If you can learn from your experiences, then over time, you will make less and less mistakes until you consistently make fewer mistakes than your opponent. You will win the majority of your matches because you are focused on making the best plays possible. Travel as much as possible and make as many friends and connections along the way, and have a blast.
