Jake Quinsee from Huddersfield in England travels the world competing in Yu-Gi-Oh! events. Now he’s here at YCS Pasadena, about to Duel in the Top 32 after finishing the Swiss Rounds with a 9-2 record. Quinsee has made the Top Cut in 16 YCS events and took 5^th place at the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME World Championship in Berlin this year. What’s his secret to success?

“I want to win,” he said. Quinsee is determined and says he works hard on the game. “I build all of my own Decks. Every Deck I play, I build myself. I mentally prepare myself for each event. I work out, drink water, and go to the gym.” Playing in an event can be exhausting, and some preparation for a long tournament can help.

Quinsee used a Chaos Dragon Deck that he built in this weekend’s tournament, with Cynet Mining, Allure of Darkness, and The Melody of Awakening Dragon in it. He aims to end his turn with an unbreakable field while playing through his opponents’ card effects.

I asked Quinsee how he decides which Deck to use.

“I consider where I’m going, and what’s currently popular. I work out percentages of which Decks are played in each YCS and build my Deck accordingly to beat the field.”

Quinsee said he prepares his Deck differently for European events. He likes to play higher-impact cards in European events, trading off consistency for power. In the United States, Quinsee aims to play a more consistent Deck, even if it means trading away power.

I asked Quinsee if he had any advice for new players or players trying to improve their game. He answered.

“Travel. You make your own opportunities. If you travel to a YCS you wouldn’t have traveled to, you got another chance to make the Top Cut.”

Quinsee will be starting his Top 32 Match soon. Follow the coverage to see how far he makes it here at YCS Pasadena!