Guest: Randall Robertson - TO for Murfreesboro, TN Pokémon LeagueGuest: Randall Robertson - TO for Murfreesboro, TN Pokémon League
The Payoff with Pete
Conversation with league leader and judge Randall Robertson about building a Pokémon TCG community in Murfreesboro and how official organised play works. He shares stories from league nights and regionals, plus practical thoughts on mistakes, formats and starting a local league.
51:58•22 Feb 2024
From Player to Pokémon Professor: Randall Robertson Builds a League Community
Episode Overview
- Starting a local league often begins with one player deciding to stop travelling long distances and instead build something nearby.
- The Pokémon Professor Programme is the entry point for becoming a judge, tournament organiser or league leader, each with separate certifications.
- Common high-level mistakes include using abilities while Path to the Peak is in play and accidentally shuffling a hand into the deck after Iono.
- Running a league can be volunteer-based, with stores benefiting from foot traffic and product sales while organisers gain freedom to shape the environment.
- Simple incentives like a weekly 3–0 leaderboard can keep regulars engaged and make competitive play feel rewarding and fun.
“Someone’s got to take that step and make it happen.”
What happens when a long-time Pokémon fan decides driving nearly an hour to play every week is one trip too many? For Randall Robertson, it meant starting a league of his own—and that decision now shapes an entire community in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This chat with hosts Corey and Jared sits right in the sweet spot between laid-back card talk and behind-the-scenes education.
You’ll hear how Randall went from casually playing with his wife and co-workers to becoming league leader, judge and tournament organiser at Grand Adventures, all under the official Pokémon Professor Programme. He breaks down the different roles—professor, league leader, judge and tournament organiser—in plain language, making the organised play system far less mysterious for anyone curious about stepping up.
There’s plenty for competitive players too: Randall shares the most common mistakes he sees at regionals, including players using abilities under Path to the Peak and shuffling their hands into their decks after Iono.
As he puts it, “If you don’t mess up, we don’t have to make any rulings on why you messed up.” League night structure, prize support, and the economics of running weekly events all get covered, along with his inventive leaderboard system that keeps regulars hungry for that coveted 3–0 finish.
He also talks about balancing his passion for judging with still wanting to play regionals himself, and why this current meta—full of Charizard, Gardevoir, Giratina, Chien-Pao, Palkia and friends—has stayed fun longer than most. The heart of the episode comes when Randall encourages players who travel long distances for events to “be the change you want to see” and talk to their local game store about starting something new.
If you’ve ever wondered what it would take to build a healthier, more welcoming play space in your town, this conversation might have you asking: what’s stopping you from running the league you wish you had?
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.
Related Episodes
Similar episodes from other shows in the catalogue.