Team CGC Trading Cards Placed Top 16 in the Pokémon San Diego Regional Championships!

Team CGC Trading Cards continues its Top 16 streak, with both Caleb Gedemer and Azul Garcia Greigo making it to day two of the tournament. With a total of 846 Master-level competitors at the Pokémon San Diego Regional Championships on January 6-8, the team held a steady command over their competition.

Representing Team CGC Trading Cards, Caleb Gedemer placed 9^th (10/2/3), Azul Garcia Griego placed 13^th (10/2/3) and Kidd Starck placed 269^th (4/3/2). Daniel Altavilla was unable to attend the event, but we look forward to cheering him on in Orlando!

Before each tournament, the team reevaluates their deck strategy to see what could provide the best outcome based on previous tournament performances. At the Arlington Regionals, using 10 Energy cards proved to be too few, so a Water Energy replaced a Boss’s Orders this time around. Available Energy cards aside, the team also needed a strong counter to competitive cards like Duraludon VMAX, Arceus VSTAR, Lugia VSTAR and Regigigas.

Azul presented the easier solution of using Dragonite V, over other options like an Amazing Rare Zacian from Vivid Voltage or the Drapion V used previously. The HP level of Dragonite V allows it to endure multiple hits, as well as potentially attacking turn one with the right starting hand. Dragonite V can further combo with a Choice Belt card to swing for 280 damage.

Team CGC Trading Cards was assembled by Danny Oesterreich in 2022, and is comprised of seasoned players Daniel Altavilla, Azul Garcia Griego, Caleb Gedemer and Kidd Starck. The team will compete next at the Orlando Regional Championships, at the Orange County Convention Center, in Orlando, Florida on February 3-5.

Please join us in wishing the team the best of luck throughout the season and keep an eye out for new updates on the team’s performance by following CGC Trading Cards social channels, @CGCcards. You can also watch the events live on the Pokémon YouTube and Twitch channels to see players do battle.

To learn more about Team CGC Trading Cards, click here.