Markus Wüst

Markus Wüst was European Champion 1999. Trandosite interviewed him on 9 June 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, 9 June 2000

Interview conducted by Rod Latham on Trandosite.

Site player profile:

Markus Wüst is part of the Alderaan Gunning Crew, which is one of the strongest SWCCG teams in Europe - finishing second at the Essen Games Fair Team Championships last year. He has been in the Ralltiir Top Ten for over a year, won the Antwerp Open 1999, finished 3rd at the UK Grand Slam 2000 and has had a series of major placings at Germany's reknowned Bochum tournaments. In 1999, as a result of his Open victory, he travelled to DecipherCon for the World Finals where he finished 14th - just missing out on making it into the second day.

1. How did you get involved in SWCCG, and what do you enjoy most about the game?

I started when Hoth came out. A guy from our role playing gang introduced me to the game. When i started i played horrible, because it was the first card game i played. After a year or something, we started to play more frequently and setup the Alderaan Gunning Crew just before the first Team Tournament at Thiel, Netherlands. After that point and with the help of Bastian our (Karsten, Martin and me) play improved a lot. I dont know exactly what i enjoy the most playing the game. Its just fun to play. One point that is important for SW is that skill determines the winner, not just pure luck.

2. If you could change one thing about SWCCG, what would it be?

Thats a hard one. But i think i wouldn´t change anything - i just like the way it is at the moment.

3. 1999 saw you play in some major events - such as the Antwerp Open and World Finals. How did you feel about your experiences at these major events? Any highlights? Have they affected how you play the game?

1999 gave me the best time i ever had playing the game. My surprising victory at Antwerp gave me boost. Antwerp, the only tournament i won, was THE highlight of the year. I met some really great guys like Peter, Derek, and all the other Brits and Martin Akesson. It was fun!! Then worlds came - the chance of a lifetime!! Bastian went with me (along with some other Germans like Martin Falke), after winning the Regional, which was great. I just had the time of my life. After i was anxious before and during the first game (i forgot to put a Hidden Base marker under the Obj!) i got in the flow and won my next three games. My confidence was rising that i could make the top twelve, but then i lost my last game to Martin A., you know the story - anyway it was a great experience. Meeting players from all over the world, talking tech with them and just exchanging star wars experience gave me lot! Thats what this tournament is all about (okay, its the world championship and everybody wants to win it)

How did it affect my game? I think i play with more confidence, i just believe in what i do. After meeting Gary and seeing the way he played, i have a different attempt to the game. "Take the initiative, put the pressure on your opponent asap." I believe, thats the way my game changed - more confidence.

4. Has your success at these events put pressure on you as a player to perform?

In a way it has put some pressure on me, but i think this is a very positive thing if you are a competitive guy. The other players excpect you to play at the highest level. And if you take on the pressure then you take more time to prepare yourself for a tournament, you take your time thinking about the decks you want to play and the way you want to play them. And if i loose a game im trying to recollect the game and find my mistakes and to avoid them in the next game. Pressure in that way is a positive thing and i like that kind of pressure.

5. Earlier this year you took part in the UK Grand Slam - what did you think of your time in the UK and the SWCCG you played? Do you have any plans to return to England?

My time in the UK was great. It was a very relaxed atmosphere at Bristol. It was great to see Gary again and all the other players i first met at Antwerp. All in all it was a great event. The SWCCG i saw in britain was as i expected. Very tight competition and the decks i saw could have been from germany. I mean, all europeans seem to have the same approach on the game. I played a good tournament in the UK, finishing third. I played a lot of ralops decks - i hadn't expected it to be that popular in the uk, but i was playing speeder ops that day, so it was nothing to worry about! I, or should i say we (the crew) will definitly attempt comming back to the uk to play some big tournament, because it was such a good time hanging with you guys. (and very competitive aswell!!)

6. Do you have any hints for players aspiring to play in a big tourney like Antwerp? Any secret tips - how do you manage to get to the top and stay there?.

I don't think i have any real secret tip for going into a big tournament. Maybe that it's best to stay relaxed - dont push it! Play the decks you're are familiar with, know their strengths and weaknesses. And if everybody tells you not to play mains for the light side (because of duelling and stuff - cheers to Martin) - PLAY MAINS - do the unexpected - be inventive !

7. "From what I saw and heard, there are three 'major' playing groups in Germany... The 'Winkelhaus' group (with Bastian, Martin Schumacher, Markus Wuest), the 'Falke' group and lastly the 'Savron' group." - J Van Der Meer

Is this an accurate assessment of top-level competition in the Ralltiir region?

I think what Johann said is a little bit outdated. From what i know the only real top-level playing group is the "Winkelhaus"-group aka the alderaan gunning crew. There are some other groups, but i wouldnt call them top-level. Martin Falke always practices with Sören Kaiser, but Martin joins our sessions from time to time, i just wouldn´t call it a group, but its top-level mos def. Jan Savron took a break from Wars due to some exams at school. The guys from Duisburg, which were once know as the Death Squadron (back in the days with Rainer Zetsche, WC Finalist) still are a strong group of players with the reigning German Champ Oliver Schouren, who has been around since the begining of SW in Germany and is one of the coolest guys around!! I think there are some local groups in Bochum which play frequently, but i just dont know to much about them to give any comment on them.

8. If you could play any player in the world, who would it be?

Hmmm, i dont know. Some Americans maybe to boost my rating - jk. I think James Lafferty would be a great matchup. I played him on worlds on the first game (thats where i forgot my HB marker). His decision that i could put my HB marker under the obj (after 3 or 4 turns) showed his good sportmanship, one thing that i will always remember.

9. Where do you see the game of SWCCG going in the next year? What are your expectations of Death Star II?

Its difficult to say where SWCCG is going. I think it will be around for at least 2 or 3 years, just because there are so many players who want to keep on playing the game. Im really looking forward to DS II (the first real expansion in a year). We will see new stuff like admiral orders (which im not quite sure about, but if they change the game like the Objectives it will be a good deal). I hope Big D. will be a little more inventive than Endor, which has proved itself of beeing the most boring expansion to ever be in the stores.

10. Any other comments for Trandosite readers? Will Markus Wuest be back at DecipherCon this year?

I will be back at DecipherCon! I just got a phone call from Bastian and we are planning to go the way to Orlando, FL to be there, even if we dont qualify for Worlds. I would be great to qualify again, but i dont think i can make an surprise assault at the title once more......we´ll see natch natch !!

Many thanks!

See also

• Trandosite · Interviews
• DeckTech · GamePlayers Network

Sources

• Markus Wüst interview on Trandosite (9 June 2000; Wayback)
• Interviews index (Wayback 5 April 2005)