Super Trainer Showdown 2000

Article tags: 2000, America, Tournament, Wizards of the Coast era

The Super Trainer Showdowns 2000 were two official Pokemon TCG tournaments that occurred in the summer and fall of 2000. They were the first top-level event that Wizards of the Coast would host for the TCG, which had been recently released the previous year in America.

To make the events more accessible, they were not DCI-sanctioned (the official ranking system for all Wizards products), meaning that players could play without registering for a DCI number. They did however follow the same rules as DCI-sanctioned tournaments.

*Super Trainer Showdown 2000 advertising card*

The Super Trainer Showdowns were actually international events despite being held in America. Wizards aimed to support the non-Japanese international releases by inviting a few players from other countries where the TCG was being distributed in.

Qualification

Both West and East Coast Super Trainer Showdowns (STS) were open to general attendees. However, players could secure guaranteed entry with a “Gold Invitation”. They earned these by placing highly in the Pokemon TCG Tours that took place in malls across America earlier in 2000.

A spot could also be secured by special invite by being a highly ranked DCI player, or by being a special international attendee. It is unknown how these international players were chosen, but it was likely by local DCI rankings.

For those who wanted to attend as general attendees, they had to present their Pokemon League badge books with a requisite amount of badges. For the first STS (West Coast), this requirement was 3 badges. For the second STS (East Coast), this requirement was 5 badges.

Even those with the required number of badges were not guaranteed entry if the event reached capacity. This happened to many attendees at the first West Coast tournament, so Wizards created a pre-registration process for the second east coast tournament.

The East Coast tournaments also had on-site registration, but players were encouraged to pre-register to avoid being turned away on-site if the tournament filled up.

*Page from STS East Coast information book with invitation details, courtesy of thunder_moo*

Gold Invitation

Players who played in the Super Trainer Showdown Qualifiers at the Pokemon Tours held across America in 2000 had an opportunity to win a “Gold Invitation”, which guaranteed their entry into the tournament.

By winning at least 3 games in a row at the qualifiers, players would be given the Gold Invitation, and then at a later date would be mailed a letter and player information packet. Those who were the top winner at each tour location also won a trip for 2 to the STS location.

*Exterior of Gold Invitation booklet, courtesy of pokemon aah!*

*Interior of Gold Invitation booklet, courtesy of pokemon aah!*

*Cover from STS East Coast information book, courtesy of thunder_moo*

*East Coast Invitation letter mailed to Gold Invitation winners, courtesy of pokemon aah!*

*West Coast Invitation letter mailed to Gold Invitation winners, courtesy of Jon Brooks (theblastoisekid)*

Tournament Structure

Both the West Coast & East Coast tournaments had similar tournament structures, known as “Swiss-draw”. This structure was commonly used in other Wizards of the Coast tournaments that it had previously held for its Magic: the Gathering card game.

Players were divided into 3 age divisions: 10 and Under, 11 – 14, and 15 and Over.

Swiss-draw Tournament

*Tournament rules from STS East Coast information book, courtesy of thunder_moo*

At the start of the tournament, all players were randomly paired against another person. They would then play a single game with a full 60-card deck, 6 prizes, and a 25 minute time limit.

After 25 minutes, players were awarded points based on their record:

3 points for a decisive win: Take all your prizes or opponent decks out
2 points for an adjudicated win: Take more prizes than your opponent when time is called
1 point for a draw: Same number of prizes when time is called
0 points for a loss.

This would repeat after each match, with players being paired up in subsequent rounds with other players with similar point totals.

After 6 – 8 rounds (varied depending on attendance in each age division), the top 8 players in each age division based on total points would advance to the finals. If there was a tie for point totals, a “resist” score would be calculated by summing up all the points earned by a given player’s opponents. Players with a higher “resist” score would be placed above those with lower ones, since they had faced “stronger” opponents.

The top 8 players would then play in a single-elimination tournament to determine the top 8 placement order.

Allowed Cards

Since the TCG was so new in America, there was no real ban list. All cards produced by Wizards of the Coast were allowed, with the except of a few promotional cards. The following card sets were legal to use:

Base Set
Base Set 2
Jungle
Fossil
Team Rocket
Gym Heroes
Gym Challenge (only added for the East Coast tournament)
All Wizards Black Star promos that had currently be released

The Ancient Mew promo card from Pokemon the Movie 2000 theatrical release, as well as the multilingual cards from the Pikachu World Collection were not allowed.

Ancient Mew (The Power of One theatrical release 2000) (Unnumbered)

Prizes

Winners from each age group received a variety of exclusive prizes. Even those who did not place highly won booster packs as prizes, which were a mix of Base Set, Base Set 2, Jungle, Fossil, Team Rocket, and Gym Heroes boosters. Wizards of the Coast staff also gave out a variety of promotional and special release cards at the venue. Multiple people reported getting promo cards like Cool Porygon or Prerelease Clefable.

Cool Porygon (15/Wizards Black Star English Promo)

Clefable (1/64 Jungle Prerelease Special Print)

All participants received an event T-Shirt featuring a special graphic on the front, and event dates on the back.

The top 4 winners at the event came in bronze, silver, and gold. They all featured the same Machamp design on them.

*11 – 14 top 4 winners at East Coast STS 2000 with medals*

The top 4 winners also each received a special denim jacket with Super Trainer Showdown emblazoned across the back. The Pokemon League logo and winner’s name were stitched into the front.

The top 8 winners received a special baseball cap and a card binder.

Finally, all participants received a Super Trainer Certificate.

West Coast Super Trainer Showdown 2000

The West Coast Super Trainer Showdown 2000 was held in Long Beach, California on a historic cruise-ship-turned-hotel, the Queen Mary on July 22, 2000. The free-to-attend event drew over 7,000 fans from around the world.

*The Queen Mary during normal operation*

Multiple reports criticized Wizards of the Coast’s organization of the West Coast STS. Since there was no pre-registration, many families had travelled a long distance to attend with their children, only to be greeted with massive lines. After waiting for several hours, many were turned away since the venue reached capacity, with a consolation prize of a Team Rocket booster pack and a free ticket to explore the Queen Mary‘s haunted boat tour.

*An event report from Beckett Collector Magazine*

*Beckett Collector magazine coverage on the main tournament*

For those who did manage to get into the event the main tournament was conducted smoothly. Much of the metagame was aggressive beatdown, Blastoise Rain Dance, or Wigglytuff decks.

*Attendees play on the floor as they wait to get in*

*Main “Swiss-draw” tournament underway. A staff member can be seen in white.*

*Finals area with surrounding onlookers*

West Coast STS 2000 Top 8

Click on each player’s name to view their decklist.

10 and Under

Champion

Joseph Viray

Pokémon (14)
3 Blastoise
4 Squirtle (Base Set)
3 Lapras
4 Articuno

Trainers (27)
2 Defender
4 Bill
3 Pokémon Breeder
4 PlusPower
4 Rocket’s Sneak Attack
4 Professor Oak
4 Computer Search
2 Pokémon Trader

Energy (19)
19 Water Energy

Rank	Name	Points	Resist
1	Viray Joseph	16	106
2	Bartlett Dean	21	90
3-4	Christianson Brock	18	85
3-4	Morris Mitch	18	90
5-8	Diamond Devin	18	97
5-8	Graham Chris	18	86
5-8	Knight Ken	18	104
5-8	Marquez Gilbert	16	82
9	Bartlett Wesley	15	114
10	Knight John	15	88
11	Howell Steven	15	88
12	Tapia Stasha	15	81
13	Marshall Steven	15	79
14	Wong Timothy	15	79
15	Tapia Michael	15	79
16	Johnson Jack	15	79
17	Schiller Erik	15	78
18	Arriola Gabriel	15	78
19	Norstrom Gavin	15	78
20	Madrid Alex	15	76
21	Thurner Nick	15	74
22	Powell Billy	15	70
23	Sanchez Paul	15	64
24	Mautino Chris	14	95
25	Turkawski Katherine	14	84
26	Khodar Sylvie	14	76
27	Johnson Rachel	14	72
28	Kamm BJ	13	86
29	Thompson Jerrall	13	83
30	Aquino Julie	13	80
31	Hopfer Stephen	13	74
32	Luong, Michelle	13	61
33	Her Jim	12	91
34	Leutenegger Alex	12	89
35	Kozeniesky Kevin	12	87
36	Bays Tim	12	85
37	Chase Patrick	12	82
38	Mansfield Selene	12	81
39	Castillo Jennifer	12	81

Rank	Name	Points	Resist
1	Savage, Jack	20	117
2	Barret, Kody	20	125
3-4	Froelich, Zach	18	138
3-4	Nino, Daniel	20	117
5-8	Bowling, Derek	21	126
5-8	Ferguson, Ben	21	105
5-8	Pratt, John	21	119
5-8	Townend Matthew	24	131
9	Munch, Mike	18	133
10	Johnson Jeremiah	18	131
11	Gonzales Adam	18	121
12	Shoulder, Cade	18	119
13	Williams, David	18	112
14	Beacham, Fritz	18	107
15	McCown, Eric	18	105
16	Ferrel Tim	18	104
17	Ramirez, John	18	103
18	Smith Kelly	18	102
19	Platta, Andy	18	101
20	Lopez, Francisco	18	99
21	Nguyen Knoa	18	92
22	Peditto, Christopher	18	92
23	Cuajunco Gabriel	18	91
24	Bennett, Michael	18	89
25	Martinez, TJ	17	116
26	Falah, Sami	17	113
27	Beacham, Lloyd	17	109
28	Mantino Richard	17	105
29	Low, Jeffrey	16	102
30	Turkawski, Alex	16	100
31	Murphy, Andrew	15	135
32	Goldstein, Josh	15	123
33	Chiang Tim	15	121
34	Tamblyn, Mitchell	15	120
35	Bork, Joshua	15	120
36	Poestkoke, Sean	15	119
37	Tran, Howard	15	118
38	Luong, Brian	15	116
39	Ramos, Charlie	15	114

Rank	Name	Points	Resist
1	Andrew Marshall	21	116
2	William Lieu	18	112
3-4	Chris Neathery	20	118
3-4	Alvin Osborn	18	118
5-8	Marcus Abreu	21	130
5-8	Darren Guiao	19	93
5-8	Jared Stein	19	112
5-8	Jay Yu	21	120
9	Tymon Martindale	18	108
10	Kevin Yee	18	103
11	Beth Neathery	18	98
12	Ben Serr	18	92
13	Bo Vu	17	114
14	Scott Gerhardt	17	112
15	Tsukasa Kitahara	17	107
16	Chad Mills	17	105
17	Jojo Javier	17	102
18	Rob Thayer	16	127
19	Bob Bickel	16	120
20	Todd Brock	16	109
21	Rey Berrones	16	107
22	Mark Coder	16	103
23	Devon Bowling	16	99
24	Geoffrey Hom	16	82
25	Chris Schroeder	15	121
26	Chris Dayley	15	117
27	Glenn Pearman	15	114
28	Israel Quiroz	15	106
29	Matthew Turner	15	105
30	Curtis Golsch	15	104
31	Ryan Crimo	15	101
32	Ralph Kunkle	15	101
33	Michael Laursen	15	97
34	Fred Najera	15	97
35	Alex Nastuk	15	86
36	David Jennings	15	84
37	Rudy Rodriguez	15	83
38	Paul Yu	15	82
39	Corey Green	15	76

Rank	Name	Points	Resist
1	Brooks, Jonathan	21	96
2	Schosse, Jerome	18	99
3-4	Santos, David	18	92
3-4	Bailey, Christopher	17	84
5-8	Freidmann, Elliot	21	106
5-8	Sylvester, Glen	18	99
5-8	Scotland, Malcolm	18	95
5-8	Mends, Gabriel	18	90
9	Sparacino, Joseph	18	97
10	Vargas, Andy	16	92
11	Yue, Michael	16	78
12	Knight, Ken	15	100
13	Bohnam, Bryson	15	100
14	Mancini, Devon	15	99
15	Chance, Robbie	15	95
16	Mavleos, Cory	15	92
17	Rao, Amit	15	92
18	Curry, Aaron	15	90
19	Caro, Chris	15	89
20	Rumford, Bryce	15	89
21	Bayne, Bobby	15	89
22	Crow, Robbie	15	88
23	Kenny, Bobby	15	87
24	Campbell, Gary	15	85
25	Moore, Sean	15	80
26	Cordeiro, Mark	15	79
27	Sharp, Dean	15	78
28	Toeniskoetter, Clare	15	78
29	Boyd, Trai	15	77
30	LaMancusa, Paul	15	77
31	Knight, John	15	73
32	Craig, Miranda	14	81
33	Kendle, Kevin	14	64
34	Singh, Dhiran	13	88
35	Hodgson, Johnny	13	86
36	Burton, Bonnie	13	83
37	Flick, Jonas	13	71
38	Ferguson, Steven	13	69
39	Olmo, Billy	13	66

Qualification

Gold Invitation

Tournament Structure

Swiss-draw Tournament

Allowed Cards

Prizes

West Coast Super Trainer Showdown 2000

West Coast STS 2000 Top 8

10 and Under

11 – 14

15 and Over

West Coast STS 2000 Final Standings

10 and Under

11 – 14

15 and Over

East Coast Super Trainer Showdown 2000

East Coast STS 2000 Top 8

10 and Under

11 – 14

15 and Over

East Coast STS 2000 Final Standings

10 and Under

11 – 14

15 and Over

Side Events and Activities

League Zone

Lt Surge’s Challenge: Battle for the Hill

Erika’s Challenge

Brock’s Challenge

Create Your Own Pokemon Card

Photo Zone

Pokemon Cars

Legacy

Sources

Card Name

Language

Card Type

Owner's or Modifier

Suffix (EX, GX, SP, etc)

Promo Set

Holofoil treatment

Artist

Release Year

Promo release type

Release Event

Additional attributes

Missing Image / Uploader