“You are expected to be clean when you enter a tournament. Neglecting to wash or put on clean clothes contributes to an unpleasant atmosphere at the event, as the tournament can be crowded and the day can be long,” reads a 2019 Yu-Gi-Oh tournament rule change. “Persons who neglect self-care to the point that they are negatively impacting the tournament may be asked to correct the issue in order to continue in the event.”
The change was made as a rise in smelly players began to invade tournaments, or at least it became more socially acceptable to call out their bad hygiene.
For seven years, those rules were seemingly observed and respected by players; however, organizers of a recent tournament have been forced to strictly enforce them as an overwhelming number of players with bad hygiene descended on their event.
An Oregon Yu-Gi-Oh Tournament Was Just Canceled Because Of An Overwhelming Stink
First reported by IGN, Chronos Games & Gifts, an independent TCG store in Beaverton, Oregon, has recently hit the headlines for issuing a one-week suspension on local Yu-Gi-Oh events.
In a statement posted in its Discord server, the store stated that it has had issues with people using the bathroom and poor hygiene, leading to bad reviews.
“We regret to inform you that there will be a one week suspension on our local events,” the message began. “We have had issues with people mistreating the restrooms and multiple bad reviews because of poor hygiene.
“As a reminder, we encourage players to follow Konami guidelines and report anyone who does not.”
In 2024, in a not too dissimilar turn of events, a female Yu-Gi-Oh player walked out of a tournament because her opponents smelled too bad.
The problem is also prevalent in both Magic: The Gathering and Pokemon. IGN reports that Nebraska’s Pokemon Organized Play group added a new rule to its community. It states that “Individuals are also required to maintain a socially acceptable level of hygiene during the event,” and “Depending on the attire or level of hygiene, the Tournament Organizer may allow for a tournament participant to change or update their personal hygiene and attire and return to the venue.”
- First Film
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Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie
- First TV Show
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Yu-Gi-Oh
- First Episode Air Date
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April 18, 2000
- Latest Episode
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2004-04-29
