The stereotype of the card player who avoids soap and deodorant is a running joke in the otaku community, but when the problem reaches the point of ruining others’ experience, the joke stops being funny. Going to a duel and getting dizzy from the opponent’s smell is something no shop is willing to tolerate.

The store Chronos Games & Gifts, located in Beaverton, Oregon, announced via its official Discord server the total suspension of its local Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments for a full week. The real reason? A recent wave of complaints and negative reviews pointing to poor personal hygiene of several attendees, coupled with constant abuse of the bathroom facilities. The store’s administration decided to temporarily halt the issue, reminding duelists that they must report anyone not meeting basic conduct standards.

Although the establishment maintains a fairly positive rating on review platforms, it had previously dealt with occasional comments about bad smells. In June, the store had to publicly apologize for a similar complaint, reminding that procedures already exist to address such incidents directly with those involved.

The official rules show no mercy

For those who think this is just a tantrum from the store, it’s worth noting that the official guidelines of the card game organizers are quite clear on this matter. The rules strictly require competitors to maintain an acceptable level of cleanliness when attending events. In fact, if a player’s lack of hygiene is so severe that it negatively impacts the tournament, judges have full authority to demand they resolve the issue on the spot to continue participating.

Such odor-related incidents aren’t exclusive to the West. Just in April 2024, the Japanese community of the franchise experienced a very similar scandal when a player decided to completely abandon an official competition in Japan due to unbearable smells coming from other participants.

Suspending events for a full week seems like a drastic but necessary measure to protect the business and the community. Do you think stores should be even stricter and expel those in such conditions without mercy, or do you consider canceling the entire tournament an unfairly harsh punishment for those who do have the decency to shower?