Yu-Gi-Oh Tournament Delayed Due to Unpleasant Odors from Players

Once again, event organizers for card games are reminding attendees to please shower and wear clean clothes to keep the venue pleasant for everyone.

Recently, Chronos Games & Gifts, an indie card and game shop in Beaverton, Oregon, had to pause a Yu-Gi-Oh tournament for a week due to numerous complaints about players’ hygiene. This announcement was made in the shop’s official Discord server. Here’s the full message:

“Attention, we regret to inform you that there will be a one-week suspension on our local events. 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. Thank you, everyone, for understanding. Sincerely, the Chronos Team.”

The Konami guidelines referenced in the message, which have gained traction online, were established in 2019 and clearly state that players in Yu-Gi-Oh tournaments must maintain cleanliness. “If you or your clothing is excessively dirty or bad-smelling, you can be penalized,” the rule states, introduced in response to a noticeable issue with hygiene at anime tabletop events. Players may be asked to address the situation immediately or risk being asked to leave.

Despite these guidelines, the issue of unpleasant odors at card tournaments persists. In 2024, a woman left a Yu-Gi-Oh tournament because the smell from other players was so overwhelming that she couldn’t stay in the area for long. When her comments were dismissed as a joke online, she clarified that the odor was indeed a serious concern. So, once again, let’s remind everyone to take a shower before heading to their local card or game store. And please, use soap. Deodorant is a must, too—body spray doesn’t count.