Simon Moore

Simon Moore was a UK Grand Slam Champion. Trandosite interviewed him on 8 April 2000.

This page is a fan encyclopedia stub. Facts below are from published SWCCG sources (Trandosite interview and, where noted, Squadron Member tables). It does not add unsourced biography.

Interviews

Trandosite, 8 April 2000

Interview conducted by Rod Latham on Trandosite.

1. How long have you been playing SWCCG and how did you get involved?

I have been playing SWCCG for about 2 years, I started around the time Cloud City came out. Before that I played Trek, but found it not interactive enough, as everyone knows SWCCG is nothing if not interactive!!

2. What did you think of your first tournament? How do your feelings differ now?

My first tournament was held in Fratton, Portsmouth. I found it a bit mind blowing I must confess, there were about 10 other people, and they were all good (about 4 or 5 of the UK top 10 were there!) Still, after losing badly in the first 2 rounds, I pulled my act together and came away with 6 points albeit with the help of a bye. Still I found everyone helpful on advising me on my decks, and this really encouraged me to come back.

Now I approach tournaments without so many nerves (though I found winning a tournament did put a bit more pressure on me as I wanted to keep doing it). It is nice to see friends again, and I try to enjoy myself at the same time. Against a less experienced opponent I even point out mistakes during games - though if they keep doing it I let them. Maybe the only way they will learn is if I rub it in?

3. What were your expectations going into the Grand Slam?

My expectations... to have fun and meet friends, and play in my first major tournament. Even when I was in fourth place, with a chance of getting into the final it never really occurred to me and I never expected to win it. All my previous games against Nick Rice had ended with him winning comfortably, and I never truthfully expected to win, despite my jokes about getting the Stanley knife out to cut out the rares :-)

4. You played This Deal and Nudj-Revo - why did you pick these decks?

Why these decks, good question! The Nudj - Revo was because it had just had an appalling tournament at St Albans, and I was convinced that it COULD work. I should point out though that I had no revolutions in this deck, not owning any at the time, the idea was just to play mains, with the Nudj start, I would be in trouble against space drain decks, but not many of those about for the dark side! Also apart from reverting back to a Hidden Base X-wing swarm, I didn't know what to do.

This Deal was done because it looked fun. I wanted to get people with All Too Easy, and I know from experience how devastating a few Dark Deal drains can be. In the end it was the drains that won my dark games, I never did get to chop someone in the Carbonite Chamber.

5. What was the highlight of your victory?

I think the highlight of the day was in my first game, having Bossk with gun capture Ben and beat up Mowmaw. I think that is a moment I will never forget. The other highlight would be my last game verses Nick, the perfect opening hand, and my biggest EVER tournament win!

6. Do you feel any pressure being the Grand Slam champion?

See above. But seriously, there was pressure in the first couple of tournaments I played after the Grand Slam, but now having had a couple of bad tournaments, I don't feel it, it might be intimidating to my opponents (in fact I sometime wish it would), but I don't feel it.

7. What advice would you give to players entering into major tournaments?

DON'T PANIC! In your first major tournament, especially if you are a new player, you can expect to have a big loss or two, but don't forget that's due to the Swiss system, after a few games you should be playing people of your skill level. Another thing to bear in mind is not to take totally untried decks (I know I do, but then I'm mad) unless you really don't care if you win or lose. Above all, enjoy yourself, fun decks are better than boring decks that neither win you the tournament, nor are fun to play.

8. If you could play any player in the world, who would you most want to play?

I think, your brother, Scott Latham. Despite sharing a house at university for 2 years, we seem to avoided each other at tournaments we have both been to, we cannot have played more than a couple of times in the last year in tournament, and I enjoy playing him, and am interested to see whether I could beat him, having been unsuccessful in about the last 5 to 6 tries before that.

9. Where do you see the game of SWCCG going in the next year?

This is difficult. I can see it carrying on quite well until after Death Star II, but I think they will have to be careful if they introduce a LS Anakin Skywalker, personally I hope they don't. After that it will be difficult, as the Empire is as good as gone, and who will be the main enemies? If they carry it too far into the books, it will be strange to see GM Tarkin, and Vader verses a LS Mara Jade, and Anakin Skywalker (Son of Han and Leia). I think a new, separate game though might put off people as they have to start again, and all the old cards become useless. This is a problem I am sure Decipher are looking at, and I hope they find it, I can't!

10. Any other comments for the Naboo Region and Trandosite readers?

None really, just keep on playing the game and enjoying yourself. Also if you ever play me, try and quake in your shoes enough that it puts me off, you never know it might work :-)

Many thanks!

See also

• Trandosite · Interviews
• DeckTech · GamePlayers Network

Sources

• Simon Moore interview on Trandosite (8 April 2000; Wayback)
• Interviews index (Wayback 5 April 2005)