Chronos Games & Gifts, an independent game store in Beaverton, Oregon, recently made headlines for an unexpected reason: player hygiene. After racking up multiple complaints and negative reviews, the shop announced a one-week suspension of its Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments, citing issues with some players' body odor and restroom usage.
"We've had issues with improper restroom use, and we've received several negative reviews due to poor hygiene. As a reminder, we encourage players to follow Konami's guidelines and report anyone not adhering to them," the store stated on its public Discord channel. 
Turns out, Konami was ahead of the curve! Back in 2019, the company added a hygiene clause to its official Yu-Gi-Oh! tournament rules, requiring both participants and staff to be clean and wear fresh clothes, or risk penalties. The official tournament guide explicitly states: "When you enter an event, you should be clean. Neglecting to wash or wear clean clothes can create an unpleasant atmosphere at the event, as tournaments can be crowded and last for extended periods."
The guide further adds: "If someone neglects self-care to the point of negatively impacting the tournament, the organizer may ask them to address the issue before continuing to participate." This policy garnered player support back then, and Chronos Games & Gifts' firm enforcement this time around has also earned praise from some local players.
And it's not just Yu-Gi-Oh! In approximately 2025, Pokémon Organized Play in Nebraska also reminded players to adhere to its official handbook, stating: "Individuals must also maintain a socially acceptable level of hygiene during the event." Refusal to comply could lead to removal from the tournament and venue, with the participant required to return their ID badge to event staff.
via： IGN