TCO: Jim, thanks for taking the time to sit down with us today. I really appriciate it. For those readers, who do not know you, or how you came to compete for this year`s world championship, tells us your story.

Kandyman:  I qualified at the New York qualifier playing Andre.  Andrew Trebing, Blair Thompson, and numerous other people helped me work on the Andre Heat build.  At the time, that was the best deck to play, in my opinion, for the Afterburn format.

TCO: We are now just two weeks before the World Championships, do you know who you are going to use?

Kandyman:  I now have decided on what decks I am going to play.  From here on out it is just tweaking.  That is the formula that has helped me have success in Raw Deal thus far.  Decide on your deck well ahead of time and keep working on it.

TCO: What decks do you feel are your biggest threat?

Kandyman:  My biggest threats are all very weird matchups where people have to be packing so many different things to have a good chance.  I know that sounds very vague, but I don’t want to reveal my choices for Afterburn and Access right now.

PSYCHO: Hey... can I have $5?

Kandyman:  I’m sorry.  I don’t have $5 Canadian to give to you.

PSYCHO: But... I`m from Florida! I...

TCO: ::Cuts off Psycho:: Evan - go back to your padded room! ::Turns back to Kandyman:: Sorry about that Jim, getting back to the interview... If you win the World Championship, you get to make your own card. Do you have plans already for what card you’re going to make? Are you willing to share it with us?

Kandyman:  Revolution Two!
Reverse any non-Unique card.
Draw 2 cards.
Unique
F: 2       D: 2

TCO: Having been to the world championships before, how is that impacting your preparation?

Kandyman: I have been to the last two World Championships.  Each one has had a different feel.  I just make my decisions around what players are in the competition and their play styles.

TCO: Has the late announcement of the formats for the worlds impacted your preparation at all?

Kandyman:  Not really.  I had a Revolution deck ready for whatever reasons.  You just have to be prepared for whatever comes next from other people.  If you don’t anticipate things, you end up on the ground.

TCO: Raw Deal seems to be becoming more political over the last year. Has this impacted you at all, do you see this impacting you at all?

Kandyman:  I have always done what I believe to be the right thing.  Every person we spend time with no matter what amount of time impacts our lives on so many levels.  As long as you do the right thing and be true to yourself, those impacts do not make us who we are.  When you aren’t true to yourself, you become those people.

TCO: Wow... with that said, what are your feelings on Revolution?

Kandyman:  This Raw Deal game sure is fun.  Isn’t it?

TCO: It sure is. Speaking of fun... The Mark Laroche Xperience – a great party, or the greatest party?

Kandyman:  A great party.

TCO: Besides yourself, is there someone that you’re cheering for this year at the World Championships?

Kandyman:  I am cheering for Mark Laroche and Andrew Trebing.  I wish them both the best of luck at Worlds.

TCO: What are your plans for the future?

Kandyman:  Besides running Dark Tower Games, I am in the process of writing a book, preparing for World of Warcraft Nationals ( The card game.  I don’t play the online game. ), and drinking with many friends.

TCO: Which is better, Cake or Pie?

Kandyman:  Pie!

TCO: Will the Saints make it to the Superbowl next year?

Kandyman:  Patriots will make it to the Superbowl next year.

TCO: One last question. How much are you thinking about repeating as Raw Deal World Champion, and does that put any additional pressure on you?

Kandyman: It has passed my mind, but I don`t really think about it.  It would be nice to repeat, but I am not as serious about this year as I was in previous years about trying to win.  Don`t get me wrong.  I will be prepared.  There are too many things going on in my life right now to really put 100% effort into this.

TCO: The soapbox is yours. Are there any parting comments you`d like to share?

Kandyman:  I can’t wait to share some time with the people who have been around all these years.

TCO: Thank you for taking the time to chat with us today.