Utrecht Results, Tord's Wild Deck, and What Are Your Thoughts on Judging??Utrecht Results, Tord's Wild Deck, and What Are Your Thoughts on Judging??
The Payoff with Pete
Corey and Jared break down the Utrecht Pokémon Special Event, from a straightforward Mew win to Tord Reklev’s chaotic Charizard list. They then focus on judging, sharing real tournament stories and discussing when and why players might need to call a judge.
59:56•8 Mar 2024
Wild Charizard Lists, Tournament Pressure and When to Call a Judge
Episode Overview
- Mew remains a highly flexible, tournament-winning deck, even when its core list changes very little.
- Roaring Moon and Chien-Pao are highlighted as strong picks to invest in for a post-rotation format.
- Tord Reklev’s Charizard build uses Pidgeot ex and numerous one-of techs to create powerful, situational options.
- Players are encouraged to involve judges for issues like suspected cheating, slow play, or unclear game states.
- Calling a judge at local league is framed as the best way to learn rulings with minimal pressure.
“If you’re not sure, call a judge. Call a judge. That’s what they’re there for.”
What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? On The Payoff with Pete, the usual focus is life after alcohol, but this time the feed features a very different kind of obsession: competitive Pokémon. Corey and Jared from Teach Me Pokémon break down the Utrecht Special Event, showing how strategy, pressure and fair play all collide at high-level tournaments.
You’ll hear them walk through the headline result: a repeat European champion piloting a straightforward yet brutally consistent Mew deck, plus why Mew still “does it all” even when everyone is teching against it. They then geek out over Roaring Moon and Chien-Pao, talking about big-damage decks, post-rotation plans, and what makes certain lists feel amazing on Pokémon Live but shaky in long events.
The real heart of the chat comes when they unpack Tord Reklev’s “situational Charizard” list – a wild 22-Pokémon build with an absurd number of one-ofs. They debate whether this kind of creativity shows how strong Charizard is, or just how gifted players like Tord are at turning chaos into wins. From there, the tone shifts into something any competitive player will recognise: awkward judge calls, slow play accusations, mis-sequenced actions and honest mistakes.
Corey shares stories of being time-policed, accidentally gaining a game loss, and even making a kid cry by enforcing a misplay. Jared keeps stressing one simple rule: “If you’re not sure, call a judge. Call a judge.
That’s what they’re there for.” If you’re someone who knows what it’s like to obsess over a hobby the way others obsess over alcohol, this episode offers a light-hearted but very real look at pressure, ethics and learning to play by the rules – on and off the table. How would you handle calling a judge when the whole room is watching?
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