Lots of experienced Duelists are in attendance this weekend, but not all of them are Dueling experts. Tons of them came here to try their luck in their first big event, and mostly just have a good time. Take a look at some YCS first-timers in San Jose!

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Eric Clymer is 12 years old from Gilroy, California. This is his first YCS. “I think it’s amazing,” he told me. “I’m just having a good time with a bunch of friends. I like meeting new people who like the game as much as I do.” Clymer is running a Naturia Plant Deck. His favorite monster in the Deck is Naturia Bamboo Shoot. “Once I get it out, they can’t really run over it unless they have a Cyber Dragon or something.”

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Alex Kogan is 13 years old from Gilroy, California. “The event’s really awesome,” he said. “There are a lot of great players, a lot of trades, and really good vendors.” Kogan is running a Fabled Dark World Deck. “I think it’s really good. It eats up X-Sabers, and I saw a lot of X-Sabers.” Check out Kogan holding up his favorite Fabled Monster, Fabled Raven!

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Noah Price is 14 years old from Santa Cruz. “The event is really awesome and I’m happy to be here,” he told me. Price is running Cloudians “because they’re cool,” but his favorite card is Oshaleon “because it’s colorful.” (Not many people know that Oshaleon also means a fashionable or stylin’ chameleon, in Japanese.) Behold the colorful (and stylin’) Oshaleon!

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Kyler McDaniel is 14 years old from Belmont, California. When I asked him about the event on Saturday morning, he said, “It’s going to be fun. I’ve already met some good people here, and already finished my Deck.” McDaniel is running Gladiator Beasts. “My favorite Gladiator is Gladiator Beast Retiari,” he told me. “I like the trident dude. And he’s some cool alligator guy, so that’s awesome. He doesn’t just kill them, he sends them away forever.” McDaniel is right – Gladiator Beast Retiari is awesome!

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Mitchell Martin is 13 years old from Redwood City, California. “This event is huge and amazing! I’ve never been to one before! I hope I top,” he told me. Martin is running a Dimensional Eatos Deck in the tournament. “It’s anti-meta, and you can get Eatos out easily,” he said. A Day 2 finish for Martin will make Rafael proud!

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Giovanni Dito is 20 years old and from El Sobrante. His first impressions of the event were that “it’s huge.” He’s running a Dragon Deck, with his favorite monster being the Blue-Eyes White Dragon. When I asked him about the event, he said, “It’s exciting. There are a lot of people.” Check out Dito holding up his vintage DDS Blue-Eyes White Dragon from 2002!

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Cory Wong is 21 years old and from San Francisco. “It’s a really big turnout,” he commented. “I’ve only been to one Regional.” Wong is running a Disaster Dragon Deck. His favorite card in it is Yamata Dragon. “My Deck is a control Deck that lacks Draw Power. That’s why I like Yamata Dragon.” Good luck at your first event!

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Alvin Carlos is 26 years old from San Francisco. “The event is awesome! I’ve only been to 5 Regionals and they’re not this big.” Carlos is a returning player to Yu-Gi-Oh!, who started playing 8 years ago and came back about a year ago. Carlos is running an Amazoness Deck. His favorite card in it is Amazoness Village, the heart of the Deck.

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Every Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series is a huge event, and it’s about a lot more than the main event. Even if you don’t place in the top of the main event, there are still Dragon Duels, Regional Qualifiers, and lots of other events to play in. Plus you can meet hundreds of other Duelists, trade cards, and get tips on your Deck!

So be sure to stop by when a Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series comes near you.