WE ARE BACK! Interview with Kyle Sabelhaus! Worlds, New Season, and NAICWE ARE BACK! Interview with Kyle Sabelhaus! Worlds, New Season, and NAIC
The Payoff with Pete
Jared and Corey talk with Kyle Sablehouse about casting Worlds in Yokohama, the booming competitive Pokémon TCG scene, and his strong NAIC run with Lost Tina. They touch on prize increases, meta shifts like Mew VMAX and Charizard, and what makes today’s tournaments feel bigger and more intense than ever.
43:09•8 Sept 2023
Cards, Championships and Comebacks with Kyle Sablehouse
Episode Overview
- Pokémon TCG events are growing fast, with registrations selling out quickly and regional-level attendance reaching new highs.
- Prize money has increased across Regionals, Internationals and Worlds, making a single big finish far more rewarding for competitive players.
- Mew VMAX’s win at Worlds shows that well-known decks can still succeed when piloted precisely and tuned with smart tech choices.
- Time rules in finals can leave fans and players feeling short-changed, sparking debate about letting championship matches fully play out.
- Lost Tina built around Jet Energy, Path to the Peak and a clear game plan can be a powerful choice in a high-level tournament field.
“280 on turn two, knock out anything you want on turn three, and then Sableye for the rest of the game is broken.”
Get ready to be moved by real-life accounts of competitive play, because this chat is all about chasing big goals with a deck of cards and a lot of nerve. Aimed at Pokémon TCG fans who want to sharpen their skills, follow the competitive scene, or just hear from someone who’s been around the block, this episode packs plenty of strategy talk and behind-the-scenes stories.
Hosts Jared and Corey Dickman are buzzing about a fresh season of events, new prize structures and a regional schedule that’s filling up fast. Their excitement is infectious, especially for anyone who loves having something healthy, nerdy and structured to pour energy into. They joke about quitting their day jobs to “just play professionally”, while keeping it real about travel costs and the grind of big tournaments. The spotlight, though, is firmly on guest and long-time pro player–turned–commentator Kyle Sablehouse.
Fresh off casting the World Championships in Yokohama, he paints a vivid picture of Pokémon’s place in Japanese culture and the sheer scale of the event: “There was Pokémon everywhere you looked… it was such a great time.” He breaks down the high-level play on show, from Mew VMAX’s “Cinderella run” to Tord Reklev’s heart-breaking finals appearance and the frustration of a game three cut short by time rules.
Kyle also walks through his own “EPIC run” at the North American International Championships, piloting Lost Tina to a strong finish and sharing the testing grind with his brother-in-law: “280 on turn two, knock out anything you want on turn three, and then Sableye for the rest of the game is broken.” If you’re someone who likes structure, competition and card-slinging more than bar-hopping, this episode might give you ideas for where to point that energy next.
What kind of goals could you chase if you treated your hobbies with this much passion and care?
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