City Champs LIVE Coverage

Snowden · City Champs LIVE Coverage

Live from Critical Hit Games in Iowa City, Iowa, Blake, Drob, and Andy will be bringing you round by round coverage of the 2008 Iowa "City" Championships. Here are you competators:

Blu McFarlane Battlezone Games IA
Roger Milos Battlezone Games IA
Curtis Cole Comic World IA
Jordan Weber Comic World IA
Gregory Havlik Critical Hit Games IA
Raine Lourie Critical Hit Games IA
Brad Reddick Epic Games IA
James Thomas Epic Games IA
Justin Elliott Now & Then IA
Kenny Marguard Now & Then IA
Clayton Mooney Spud's Emporium of Comics IA
Kyle Turner Spud's Emporium of Comics IA

The format is Standard, with four rounds of swiss cut to a top eight. Last year, Clayton Mooney too the Iowa championship all the way to a 9-5 showing at Nationals, including an 11th place finish in Constructed with his pet Project X deck. Will he defend his title this year? Will another player get a first shot at nationals? Or will a guy who's already seen the tour, like Jordan Webber, find a way to jump on through City Champs? Stay tuned to find out.

Drob

Name: Blu McFarlane
Age: 35
City: Cedar Falls
Occupation: Work for the City of Cedar Falls
Magic experience: Wins a lot of FNMs, sometimes.
Top decks in standard: Faeries, Reveillark, Elf Explosion

Name: Kenny Marguard
Age: 19
City: Mason City
Occupation: Full time student
Magic experience: FNMs for about 5 years
Top decks in standard: Definitely Reveillark, probably faeries or rogues or somthing like that. I'm worried about Bitterblossom.

Name: Justin Elliot
Age: 26
City: Mason City
Occupation: Quality Engineer
Magic experience: Multiple PTQs, 2 GPs, but no top 8s.
Top decks in standard: Reveillark, Faeries, and Green/Red Mana Ramp

Name: James Thomas
Age: 32
Occuption: Sales
City: Davenport
Magic experience: Been playing about a year and a half, maybe two? No PTQs.
Top decks: Let's see... Merfolk, Goblins, Treefolk?

Name: Jordan Weber
City: Dubuque
Age: 23
Occupation: Interior Displacement Assisance
Tournament Experience: 4 PTQ top eights, Day two GP Dallas, Attended PT Yokohama
What are the 3 best decks in Standard: Faeries, Fish, Reveillark

Name: Curtis Cole
City: Dubuque
Age: 18
Occupation: Ski Resort
Tournament experience: FNM, Regionals, PTQs
What are the three best decks in standard: Reveillark, Faeries, Merfolk

Name: Clayton Mooney
City: Ottumwa
Age: 20
Occupation: College Student (JSS Champ!)/Poker
Tournament experience: PTQ 3, Reigning City Champion, FNM Master
What are the best decks in Standard: Reveillark, Faeries, Fish

Name: Kyle Turner
City: Ottumwa
Age: 21
Occupation: College Student
Tournament experience: PTQs, FNMs
What are the best decks in Standard: 4color Reveillark, Faeries, RG Big Mana

Name: Roger Milos
City: Cedar Rapids
Age: 21
Occupation: Factory Assembly
Tournament experience: PTQs, FNMs
What are the 3 best decks in Standard: Doran, Faeries, Warriors

Name: Raine Lourie
City: Iowa City
Age: 23
Occupation: Student
Tournament experience: FNM, JSS, PTQ
What are the three best decks in Standard: Faeries, Elves, RG Aggro

Name: Brad Redddick
City: Davenport
Age: 19
Occupation: Chef
Tournament experience: Limited PTQs
What are the three best decks in Standard: Reveillark, Faeries, Doran

Name: Greg Havlik
City: Iowa City
Age: 20
Occupation: Student
Tournament Experience: FNM
What are the three best decks in standard: Reveillark, Faeries, Doran

admin

The tournament has begun! We also have an 8-man draft pod going.

Drob

Round 1 Pairings:

1 RJ Milos Vs Kyle Turner
2 Kenny Marguard Vs James Thomas
3 Raine Lourie Vs Brad Reddick
4 Jordan Weber Vs Justin Elliot
5 Gregory Havlik Vs Blue McFarlane
6 Clayton Mooney Vs Curtis Cole

Drob

Round One Feature Match:

Jordan Weber vs Justin Elliot

Straight to business, Justin wins the die roll and elects to play.

Game 1:

Both players keep and Justin starts with a Gilt-Leaf Palace into Boreal Druid, while Jordan Ponders his options. The elf gets in for one and is joined buy a Wren's Run Vanquisher and a revealed Imperious Perfect. Jordan continues laying lands and taking beats, going down to 15, and then 8 from a Treetop Village.

Jordan finally plays a Lord of Atlantis on his fourth turn, but the Vanquisher still gets in for 3. A Mutavault and second Lord join the table on Jordan's side. Justin attempts to Nameless Inversion on the endstep, but Jordan has a Sage's Dousing ready.

The Perfect finally hits play for Justin, as Jordan ponders his blocks from an attack by Vanquisher and Boreal. Finally settling on putting a Lord in front of the Druid, Jordan goes to a possibly dangerous 1. Doing some math on his turn, he attacks with both Lords and the Mutavault for a whopping 10 points of damage. At the start of Justin's attack phase Jordan taps out for a Cryptic Command, tapping creatures and bouncing the Treetop, but a Profane Command seals the deal.

Justin 1 - Jordan 0

Game 2:

Both players sideboard silently, trying to decide what to do. Jordan quickly decides to keep his opener, while Justin decides six lands may be a bit much.

Jordan opens with an Adarkar Wastes into another Ponder, while Justin has a lone Mutavault. This game Jordan takes a more aggressive role, playing a Silvergill Adept, Merrow Reejery, and a pair of Lords of Atlantis on consecutive turns. Justin, meanwhile, plays another Mutavault. Eventually he finds a forest for Wren's Run Vanquisher, but 4 4/4 Merfolk take it home.

Justin 1 - Jordan 1

Game 3:

Friendly banter comes out before game three, "Way to not play, deck." The two guys exchange mtgia handles (Justin doesn't have one, but he reads, it turns out).

"You're pretty good at cutting, Jordan." They both decide to keep, though, and Justin opens with a mana elf once more. Jordan has the ponder for the third time in as many games, but Justin casts another Lanlowar Elves, and a Bramblwood Paragon.

Silvergill Adept revealing his twin comes down, but Justin crashes in with a newly cast Obsidian Battle Axe and Wren's Run Vanquishers. A Nameless Inversion inverts a fresh Reejery, and axe weilding elves come in once again. Jordan casts two more Silvergill Adepts, hoping to draw an answer, but a topdecked Profane Command for 2 gives Justin the match.

Justin 2 - Jordan 1

Snowden

Round One
Clayton Mooney vs. Curtis Cole

Clayton sets out to defend his title against Curtis Cole out of Galena, Ill. He said it was alright if I called him a carpetbagger, so I’m doing it. Carpetbagger. Some friendly chit-chat kicked things off between the two as shuffling commenced. The champ won the roll and kicked things off.

Game One

Both players kept and Clayton led with Llanowar Elves. Cole came back with Conclave, setting up elves vs. Faeries. The turn two Bitterblossom came down to crank out tokens, only to be met by a turn 3 Chameleon Colossus from Mooney. The Colossus crashed in the next turn for 8, putting Curtis to 10 quickly, clocked by his own Blossom. He flashed out Scion in an attempt to stay up, and even had the Clique the next turn to tap Mooney’s lands during his upkeep. Clayton pumped Colossus in response, and evoked a Shriekmaw to kill the Scion. Colossus crashed in, and Mistbind took one for the team in the face of one nasty 8/8. Mooney took a moment to think before animating a Mutavault. Pestermite tapped Colossus, and Mooney activated a second Vault to send both in. Pestermite traded with a Vault, and Claytaon added a Treetop Villiage, threatening with his man lands. Another Mistbind kept things annoying, as he championed his Bitterblossom. The Click chumped again, and Curtis fell to four on his upkeep, with his Blossom applying almost as much of a clock as the Colossus. Stuck on four lands, he just passed the turn back. Inversion on the Treetop and a chumping Spellstutter continued to buy time. Another turn, another missed land drop for Curtis. Trying to end the stalling, Clayton lead with Thoughseize, only to meet Cryptic Command, countering Seize and bouncing Colossus. Man lands, however, put him to lethal and both players went to their boards.

Game two

With Curtis on the back foot for all of game one, he went to his sideboard hoping to keep up the tempo-oriented reputation the Fae enjoy. Curtis chose to play and was visibly less than thrilled by his first hand. I should note, that one table down, Blu was battling Greg in ELVES! Vs. Warriors, which has a large contingient of its own elves. As I type, things are getting crazy with a Coat of Arms.

Back to this match, Curtis kept 6 and Clayton seven. Curtis lead with Visions and Clayton Treetop Village. No turn two Bitterblossom, but a Mutavault came down for Curtis, which was met by a ‘Goyf from Mooney. A less than scary 0/1 at the moment. Clayton actually had to pause and think before casting a Civic Wayfinder, which resolved, and was met by a Scion of Oona EOT. Scion crashed in and Curtis passed back. Mooney tried to inversion the Scion during combat with Goyf and Wayfinder coming in. Cryptic countered and bounced Treetop, but a second Inversion put the Goyf to 3/4 just like that. Visions came unsuspended, looking to help stem the tide. Thoughtseize took Goyf with Profane and lands left in hand. Pestermite took down a land on upkeep, but left a very angry 4/5 Goyf. Command killed the ‘mite and left Curtis at 5 and on his back foot once again. A suspended Visions wasn’t likely to fire off as Curtis flipped two cards in his hand against a ‘Goyf and Wayfinder still on the board. Pestermite tapped down the ‘Goyf for a turn and traded with the Wayfinder, only to be followed by an Imperious Perfect and a Treetop, threatening lethal next turn, even through Curtis’ two Mutavaults and Conclave. A Mistbind came down, hoping to champion a Mutavualt, and Mooney made an elf in response. A Goyf swing put Curtis at a very precarious one life while Clayton sat at a relatively safe 18. Treetop, ‘goyf and the token came in. Curtis flashed in Scion, and everyone died. A Profane Command took the last few points.

Clayton Mooney 2 - Curtis Cole 0

Drob

Metagame Analysis and Round 1 results - by Andy Hanson

Walking around the room during round one, it became immediately apparent that people were here to beat down. There were at least seven decks playing forests and creatures, including three copies of BG Elves (one Warriors), Doran, Mana Ramp, RG Elf Warriors, and Coat Elves. Rounding out the top eight were two Bitterblossom Faeries decks, one Fish, Mono Black Control, and UB Control.

I spoke with Jordan Weber after round one, who is playing Fish, and he felt that this event was going to be difficult for him to play through. Fish is excellent against Faeries and Reveillark, but struggles against the bashing green decks. Despite a round one loss, he still remains optimistic about his chances.

It's still early to say who has the advantage here, but the odds seem to be against the blue decks, with only one of the four winning their first match. Here are the results for round 1:

Round 1 Results:

1 RJ Milos - Doran (winner) Vs Kyle Turner - BG Elves
2 Kenny Marguard - Mono Black Control Vs James Thomas - RG Mana Ramp (Winner)
3 Raine Lourie - UB Faeries (Winner) Vs Brad Reddick - UB Control
4 Jordan Weber - Fish Vs Justin Elliot - BG Warrios (Winner)
5 Gregory Havlik - RG Warriors (Winner) Vs Blue McFarlane - Coat Elves
6 Clayton Mooney - BG Elves (Winner) Vs Curtis Cole - UB Faeries

And here are the round 2 pairings:

Round 2 Pairings

1 Clayton Mooney vs James Thomas
2 Roger Milos vs Greg Havlik
3 Justin Elliot vs Raine Lourie
4 Blu McFarlane vs Jordan Weber
5 Kenny Marguard vs Kyle Turner
6 Brad Reddick vs Curtis Cole

Snowden

Round 2

Clayton Mooney vs. James Thomas

With only 12 people in a 4-round cut to top 8 tournament, round two was especially important, as two wins would almost certainly get you into the elimination rounds. Here Mooney (I swear I’m not following him, it just sorta happened) faces off against Davenport native James Thomas. James takes the roll and the first turn.

Game one

James, playing RG big mana, shipped back his initial seven only to be greeted by an even worse six. Mooney quipped on his patented “Mooney Cut,” and expounded on the possibilities of mulling to three. James wouldn’t go that far, but five was still less than optimal. Mooney, for his part, kept.

Forest met “Forest, Elf” into Perfect for Mooney. James answered with Into the North for Weald, finding the red source his hand lacked. One “Mooney Cut” later and a Llanowar crashed into the red zone to be followed by another from hand. Mooney was looking to build an Elf army and likely hoping no Sulfurous Blast came out of James mulligan-weakened hand. Incinerate took down Perfect, which made an elf in response. Thoughtseize took Harmonize and revealed two Skreds and a Siege Gang that looked like it wouldn’t be seeing any action as another Perfect hit the board, though Skred took it next turn. Profane brought back yet another Perfect, and allowed Mooney to put James to five. Into the North and Skred on the Perfect were all James had before passing back. Three 1/1 elves put James to two, and a Vanquisher came out to, um, Vanquish James, as Siege Gang was no longer enough. James hung on at one for a turn before scooping.

Game two

James once again elected to play, but this time avoided the “Mooney Cut” mulligan. He led with Treetop, while Mooney used Thoughtseize to remove a Void, leaving two Wealds, a Forest, Skred and Incinerate. A drawn Into the North gave James a mana boost and his splash in a Tresserhorn Sinks. Mooney only had Treetop for an anwer which looked pretty bad in the face of Skred and Incinerate. Treetop from James came in, and Mooney had a Civic Wayfinder for some hot, hot Unglued Swamp action. Garruk from James made a Beast and looked to get nasty for the defending champ, who was behind on mana and board position. Untapped Highland Wield meant Skred had to be a worry. Imperious Perfect. Meet Skred. Skred, meet Imperious Perfect. The Beast and Treetop came across the next turn, leaving Clayton at 9 before the Planeswalker (Garruk, not James) made another 3/3 beast. Clayton shook his head and inquired how many cards were in his opponent’s hand, while holding nearly a full grip himself. Inversion took out the now not so much a beast, and Wayfinder went after Garruk before meeting the wrong end of an Incinerate (is there a right end?). Chameleon Colossus looked dangerous, even as Treetop Villages traded. The beast got in to put Mooney to six, and his draw step yielded nothing useful but a move on to game three.

Game three

Clayton had a quick keep (does this kid ever mull?), and so did James. Both players had Treetops, and Mooney quickly showed a Vanquisher to play a Vanquisher. The first met an Incinerate, and Mooney rebuilt with a Wayfinder and a Mutavault. Into the North fished out a Wield, representing either Swamp in hand or a need for green mana to go with his forest and Treetop. Clayton, looking to mount an offense, brought with his own Mutavault and Wayfinder before dropping a Goyf at 3/4. James dropped his own Goyf before passing back. With his burn, he looked to hold at least a slight Goyf advantage. Clayton kept up his aggression with a Profane Command giving his two men fear and returning Vanquisher, putting James to 12, which felt less secure with every monster added to Clayton’s board. Garruk stepped in to offer some beastly assistance before passing back.

Yet another Wayfinder did some finding for Mooney’s third green source. Inversion made another non-beast and made the Goyfs 4/5 before combat. Goyf and Vanquisher went to James and Goyf and Wayfinder went to Garruk. James took the Vanquisher damage, and killed Goyf with Skred, eating a Wayfinder with his own broken two-drop. At 5/6 Goyf, thanks to a sacrificed Mouth of Ronom, took Clayton to 15, while another Beast made an appearance hoping to trade with the Vanquisher. Clayton’s Primal Command put him back up to 22 and found a very important Shriekmaw. James had one more unmolested ‘Goyf-fueled turn, and looked to take advantage of it by Skredding the Vanquisher and bashing with Goyf, Treetop and a Beast, dropping Mooney to 16 after an elf chumped the Goyf.

As the match continued to see-saw back and forth, Mooney returned some of the momentum his way with a Shriemaw and another Llanowar Elf. Yet ANOTHER Skred (that’s three) took out the Shriekmaw and cleared the way for the beast and Treetop to come in. another beast joined the party and Clayton was behind again. Counting with his fingers, Clayton tapped out to Profane Command for Shriekmaw and killing a beast, effectively wrathing his opponent. Pyrohemia (!) was James’ next answer in a long line of answers, but it left him without red mana to activate when Garruk sacrificed himself to make a beast. Shriekmaw cracked back to put James to six, making Pyrohemia a risky proposition. He then dropped another Vanquisher, revealing a Llanowar elf as his only card in hand to combat the Pyrohemia should James “wrath” the board. Mooney crashed in with Shriekmaw, which met the requisit Pyrohemia pings, leaving totals at 8-4 in Mooney’s favor. Primal Command (only the 2nd best command when your opponent is at 4 life) gained seven and searched again, leaving Mooney at a much better 15 life. The Shriekmaw he found promised to make things even harder on James, whose beast token was holding down the fort alongside a Mutavault and Village. Search for Tomorrow was able to search up the third Mountain, making Pyrohemia that much more dangerous…to Clayton’s creatures and James’ own life total. Shriekmaw came down to blow up the beast, leaving Clayton empty handed, but swinging with Vanquisher. Pyrohemia wiped the board of creatures and left James at a precarious one life. Mountain off the top wasn’t much help, but he still had his own Vault and Village facing down the same from Mooney. Still, it wasn’t enough and James scooped after surveying his hand.

Clayton Mooney 2 - James Thomas 1

Drob

Round 2

Justin vs Raine

Both players joked about Raine's homefield advantage as he won the die roll, and the guys begin thirty seconds before the judges tell them they can.

Game 1
Raine opens with an Ancestral Vision and lands, while Justin plays out a Bramblewood Paragon and crashes in for two. Raine has a Faerie Conclave on turn 4, but Justin trumps it (maybe) with a Treetop Village on his own turn. Vanquisher comes into play, and attacks courtesy of the Obsidian Battle-Axe played last turn.

Raine plays an end of turn Spellstutter and draws a bunch of cards for his now resolving visions. His face alternates from confustion to surprise to possibly worry as he scans the board and his hand, but he eventually suspends another Visions, and casts Mistbind Clique with a sigh on his second main phase.

Justin casts an Imperious Perfect, equips the Axe, makes a token, equips the Axe, and attacks. The Clique step in front of the 5/4 token elf, while Raine takes more Vanquisher beats. Raine plays a land and passes the turn, electing to attempt a Mistbind Clique on Justin's upkeep. Justin has a Nameless inversion for the Sprite, but a Faerie Conclave activation saves the Mistbind. After confirming that Raine is at 5, Jusitn attacks with the team and takes the game.

Justin 1 - Raine 0

Game 2

Raine opens with a Conclave, while Justin's first play is a Paragon. It gets Flashfrozen, so he tries again on turn three and that one sticks.

Raine casts a Bitterblossom and suggest that his opponent Krosan Grip it. Justin agrees, but instead casts a 5/5 Chameleon Collossus. Raine misses his fourth land drop, and passes with a Faerie token in play. Justin accidentally activates his Village after declaring attacks causing some confusion and a judge summon. Eventually, he ends up only hitting with the changeling and Paragon. Raine makes Scion of Oona on the end step and goes into the tank on his turn, still on three lands. He attacks for two with a single token, and lays a Secluded Glen revealing Mistbind Clique.

Justin manages to activate the Treetop properly this time, adding a Mutavault into the mix as well. Raine gets to champion Bitterblossom and tap down two attackers all with one card, prompting Justin to simply pass the turn. Raine attacks with fliers and passes right back.

Raine brings down a Cryptic Command on Justin's turn, and attacks for the win on his own turn. Justin tries to stop the flying monsters with a Squall Line, but a second Flashfreeze evens the score.

Justin 1 - Raine 1

"It's the instant speed that did it for me, I should hae just cast it on my turn."

Game 3

Both players keep and open with their respective man-lands, Justing adding a Paragon into the mix, which gets Terrored on the second turn. The elf player still attempts to build pressure through Vanquishers and Llanlowar Elves, while a Mutavault and Ancestral Visions come down on the other side. Mutavault blocks a 1/1, and Raine takes 6 during Justin's attack step.

Raine lays another Mutavault, and a Scion of Oona on the end step. He casts a Mistbind Clique during Justin's upkeep, prompting a Squall Line for 2. The Scion dies, but a Mutavault takes its place as a Faerie to champion. Vanquisher gets in for three more, and Justin passes the turn. Raine goes into a long think, and eventually casts a Loxodon Warhammer on his turn. "Hope you've got something big" he suggests.

Soon an attacking Vanquisher trades with the Clique, and another one takes its place, revealing Imperious Perfect. A Spellstutter comes down at the end step, picks up the hammer and sets life totals to 13-10, still in Justin's favor. Ancestral Visions has Raine looking several turns down the road, while Justin casts Inversion on the Sprite and attacks for 3 more. Raine's Mutavault picks up the Hammer and attacks with five minutes left in the round. A Chamelion Colossus runs into a Flashfreeze, and Vanquishers elect to stay back. This time Mutavault trades with the 3/3, and life totals have changed to 17-5, now in Raine's favor. A Profane Command gets Vanquishers back, but Terror and a second Mutavault give Raine the undefeated record.

Justin 1 - Raine 2

Drob

Round 2 Results

Clayton defeats James
Roger defeats Greg
Raine defeats Justin
Jordan defeats Blu
Kyle defeats Kenny
Curtis over Brad

Round 3 Pairings

(6) Clayton vs (6) Raine
(6) Roger vs (3) Justin
(3) James vs (3) Curtis
(0) Blu vs. (3) Kyle
(3) Jordan vs. (3) Gregory

Snowden

Round three

Clayton Mooney vs. Raine Lourie

Clayton came here to play. So, even though they could technically draw into the top 8, Clayton proclaims he’s greedy with points. Gives me something to do, at any rate. Plus, Clayton’s pretty happy about this match-up, as he’s already stomped faeries once and boasts a pretty good game vs. the fae.

Game one

Clayton wins the roll and mulls for the first time on the day, maybe a victim of the “Raine Cut”? He leads with Village while Raine has Vision off a pain land. Another Village and a Llanowar elf is met by yet ANOTHER Ancestral. Perfect and a second Llanowar put the board squarely in Mooney’s favor as Raine misses his third drop. Mutavault gives Mooney three man lands, and seven attacking damage put Raine pretty far behind, still a turn away from his free three cards. As the Bitterblossom in his hand quietly mocks him (New Tarmogoyf my ass), Raine packs it in without ever resolving a spell.

Game two

One of the characteristics of a Clayton Mooney match is that there’s very little talking at the table. While other matches are often chatty, Clayton keeps his talk strictly in game. Add in Raine, one of the more serious Faeries players in the area, and there isn’t much room for banter at table one.

Both players mutter “keep,” and we’re off. Man lands take up both one-drops, and Raine finds the magical turn two Bitterblossom. Clayton matches with a Vanquisher, threatening to start the damage race quickly. The Vanquisher puts Raine to 15 before a Goyf meets a Rune Snag. Faeries start coming across the table, and the Vanquisher cracks back, representing a slightly faster clock than 1/1s. Raine throws said 1/1 in front to preserve his life total, then takes down a ‘Goyf with a Spellstutter, keeping him firmly in control. A Loxodon Warhammer promises to give him a potential advantage in a race, as Vanquisher keeps eating Bitterblossom tokens during the attack step. A second Rune Snag keeps a Colossus off the table, as Clayton’s threats keep meeting Raine’s counters. Hammer jumps on a token, and crash in alongside Mutavault and Spellstutter, putting Mooney to 10, but opening a window for him to resolve a spell. However, stuck on only one black source, a potentially harmful Profane Command doesn’t seem to be in the cards, even with Raine vulnerable at the moment. He does, however, play out a Vanquisher and kill the equipped token with an Inversion before passing back.

With totals at 12-9 in Raine’s favor, he equipped another token and swung for 5 before dropping a second hammer, threatening lethal with any single creature. Finding no help on his draw step, Mooney moves on to game three.

Game three

While Tyler figures out how to gamble in CHG (the answer: not), both players keep their first seven. Clayton has Goyf on the play, but it doesn’t seem particularly scary at the moment. But, given the number of counters Raine played out last game, that wouldn’t last long, as he soon grew to 2/3 when a Wayfinder found his way to the graveyard with a Flashfreeze. Raine’s turn three was sort of disappointing, with only a Warhammer and still no faeries on the board. This allowed Clayton to drop another Goyf and swing with the first and a Mutavault. The two Goyfs put Raine to 10, but a Spellstutter paired with a Conclave keep a potentially ruinous Vanquisher from resolving.

The next turn, said Spellstutter gets there for a big one, tilting the life totals slightly to 19-6 after some Goyf attacks the next turn. On his back foot, Raine gets in with a 4/1 lifelinked Sprite, which is met by the “trump” in Cloudthresher. With only three mana up, Raine has no answer and scoops it up.

Clayton Mooney 2 - Raine Lourie 1

Clayton moves to 3-0 and quickly turns down the draw from the other 3-0, R.J., even before de-sideboarding. The man came here to play. I, however, will not be covering him. I don’t care if literally no one else is playing. Because, god knows, we’ll be seeing him again in the top 8.

Drob

Round 3 Results

Clayton defeats Raine
Roger defeats Justin
Curtis defeats James
Kyle defeats Blu
Gregory defeats Jordan

Round 4 Pairings

(9) Roger vs. (9) Clayton
(6) Kyle vs. (6) Gregory
(3) Raine vs. (3) Curtis
(3) James vs. (3) Justin
(3) Kenny vs. (3) Jordan
(0) Blu - Bye

Snowden

Round 4

Jordan Weber vs. Kenny Marguard

With both players at 1-2, they had to win to get in. Both players complain about the odd green-centric metagame messing up their predictions of Faeries and Reveillark.

Game one

Jordan leads with Visions turn one off Wastes, while Kenny has a Festering Goblin. Continuing his awkward mana, Jordan has a Gemstoen mine and drops an Adept, revealing…another Adept. Kinda weak in the face of Festering Goblin, a forgotten “gem” of 10th edition. Some hot, hot banneret action nets another Adept as well. Kenny complains about doing it post-combat after he already traded his Goblin. Of course, the reason is revealed next turn, as a 3-mana Profane command takes down adept and brings back the 1/1 slaying Festering goblin.

However, Jordan rebuilds pretty quickly with another Banneret and Reejerey, followed by Ancestral the next turn. In a nice change from the “Clayton Quiet,” Kenny’s open about asking Visions to target his way. Of course, Jordan, the pro that he is, doesn’t fall for it. The Vision is pretty darn good, yielding another Reejerey, Banneret and Vision. Attacks put Kenny to 9. Damnation meets a Cryptic. Kenny claims he’s got the game “wrapped up,” though his Festering Goblin looks pretty feeble against a bunch of 3/3 Merfolk.

“In response to your attack phase, I’m going to choose to ignore you,” says Kenny, before scooping them up.

Game two

Jordan wonders aloud how Kenny’s deck wins, to which Kenny obliges by flashing Korlash and Profane Command, which both go “to the forehead” in most games. Meanwhile, Tyler swings by to remind me of how I lost to Clayton last year in the City Champs top 8. Thanks Tyler. Thanks.

We also determine between rounds that the winner is in, no fuss, no muss.

Anyway, Kenny elects to play and quickly tosses it back. Jordan keeps his and leads off with another Vision. Jordan’s decidedly more stable manabase nets him a Lord on turn two and a Ponder That Shuffles turn three to go with a Mutavault. Kenny starts flashing out 10th editions greatest hits, as Phyrexian Rager goes to town and is quickly followed by a Diabolic Tutor. Meanwhile, Jordan’s fancy expert-level cards get him nothing more than a 1/1 Banneret the following turn. Kenny tries to match with Shimian Spectre, but it falls to Dismis…er…Sages’s Dousing. Ancestral comes in and Jordan finds more fancy Merfolk action, before passing with Sage’s Dousing clearly represented.

Kenny answers with…Diabolic Tutor (cue dramatic music). Jordan has the Reejery to make his force one to be reckoned with, holding up Cryptic mana. Kenny untaps, ready to spring his ‘Diabolic’ trap and then…

“Go ahead.”

This sends Jordan into the tank. His only real guess is Sudden Spoiling, but he’s not really sure what to do with that guess. Instead, Kenny has…Sudden Death AND Nameless Inversion, which is even better.

Consume Spirit gets hit with a Cryptic Command, keeping Jordan relatively safe. A Lord of Atlantis allows two Mutavaults to do their best Treetop Villiage impressions and beat for six. Shimian Specre is met by Remove Soul, and Kenny packs it in.

Jordan Webber advances to the top 8.

Drob

Raine Lourie

2 Swamp
4 Secluded Glen
4 Fearie Conclave
4 River of Tears
2 Mutavault
4 Underground River
6 Island

4 Spellstutter Sprite
4 Bitterblossom
4 Rune Snag
4 Mistbind Clique
3 Vendilion Clique
4 Scion of Oona
4 Cryptic Command
4 Ancestral Vision

Sideboard:
4 Thoughtsieze
4 Flashfreeze
4 Peppersmoke
2 Terror
1 Slaughter Pact

Curtis Cole

4 Secluded Glen
3 Fearie Conclave
4 River of Tears
4 Mutavault
4 Underground River
2 Swamp
4 Island

4 Spellstutter Sprite
4 Scion of Oona
4 Mistbind Clique
4 Bitterblossom
4 Nameless Inversion
4 Cryptic Command
4 Ancestral Vision
4 Pestermite
3 Sower of Temtation

Sideboard:
4 Thoughtsieze
4 Remove Soul
2 Deathmark
2 Razormane Masticore
2 Pithing Needle
1 Tormod's Crypt

James Thomas
4 Snow-Covered Mountain
2 Mouth of Ronom
4 Highland Wield
1 Tresshorn Sinks
1 Mutavault
1 Snow-Covered Swamp
7 Snow-Covered Forest
4 Treetop Village

4 Into the North
2 Search for Tomorrow
2 Void
4 Wall of Roots
2 Garruk Wildspeaker
3 Tarmogoyf
3 Incinerate
4 Cloudthresher
4 Skred
4 Harmonize
4 Seige-Gang Commander

Sideboard:
3 Akroma, Angel of Fury
2 Pyrohemia
1 Void
3 Exripate
3 Chameleon Colossus
3 Sulfurous Blast

Kenny Marquard
24 Swamp

3 Consume Spirit
4 Tendrils of Corruption
4 Profane Command
2 Damnation
4 Phyrexian Rager
4 Korlash, Heir to Blackblade
3 Ravenous Rats
3 Nightmare
4 Sudden Death
3 Shimian Spectre
3 Festering Goblin
3 Diabolic Tutor

Sideboard:
2 Extripate
2 Sudden Spoiling
3 Ascendant Evincar
4 Plague Sliver
4 Nameless Inversion

Roger J. Milos III
4 Murmuring Bosk
2 Brushland
2 CAves of Koilos
3 Gilt-Leaf Palace
3 Llanowar Wastes
2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
2 Gemstone Mine
1 Forest
3 Treetop Village
1 Pendlehaven

3 Llanowar Elves
4 Birds of Paradise
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Doran, the Seige Tower
4 Orhan Viper
3 Shriekmaw
1 Cloudthresher
4 Thoughtsieze
3 Nameless Inversion
3 Profane Command
1 Damnation
3 Garruk Wildspeaker

Sideboard:
2 Krosan Grip
1 Primal Command
2 Cloudthresher
2 Oblivion Ring
2 MAgus of the Tabernacle
1 Nameles Inversion
3 Extripate
2 Damnation

Blu McFarlane
4 Mutavault
1 Pendlehaven
19 Forest

4 Boreal Druid
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Coat of Arms
4 Elvish Promenade
4 Bramble Wood Paragon
4 Gilt-Leaf Ambush
4 Hunting Triad
4 Heritage Druid
4 Overrun

Sideboard:
4 Harmonize
4 Squall Line
4 Door of Destinies
3 Krosan Grip

Gregory Havlik
1 Karplusan Forest
4 Treetop Village
9 Snow-Covered Forest
8 Snow-Covered Mountain

4 Boreal Druid
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Imperious Perfect
4 Bramblewood PAragon
4 Obsidian Battle Axe
3 Wren's Run Vanquishers
2 Civic Wayfinder
3 Keldon MArauders
2 Garruk Wildspeaker
2 Chameleon Colossus
4 Incinerate
2 Rhada, Heir to Keld

Sideboard:
3 Krosan Grip
4 Sulfurous Blast
4 Skred
2 Squall Line
2 Cloudthresher

Kyle Turner
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Pendlehaven
3 Mutavault
3 Swamp
4 Gilt-Leaf Palace
4 Llanowar Wastes
4 Treetop Village
3 Forest

3 Chameleon Colossus
3 Civic Wayfinder
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Imperious Perfect
2 Boreal Druid
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Wren's Run Vanquisher
3 Thoughtseize
4 Nameless Inversion
4 Profane Command
2 Shriekmaw

Sideboard:
1 Thoughtsieze
1 Hurricane
1 Squall Line
3 Cloudthresher
3 Primal Command
3 Creeping Mold
3 Extripate

Clayton Mooney
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Pendlehaven
3 Mutavault
3 Swamp
4 Gilt-Leaf Palace
4 Llanowar Wastes
4 Treetop Village
3 Forest

3 Chameleon Colossus
3 Civic Wayfinder
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Imperious Perfect
2 Boreal Druid
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Wren's Run Vanquisher
3 Thoughtseize
4 Nameless Inversion
4 Profane Command
2 Shriekmaw

Sideboard:
1 Thoughtsieze
1 Hurricane
1 Squall Line
3 Cloudthresher
3 Primal Command
3 Creeping Mold
3 Extripate

Justin Elliot
4 Llanowar Wastes
2 Mutavault
4 Gilt-Leaf Palace
4 Treetop Village
1 Pendlehaven
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Swamp
5 Forest

4 Chameleon Colossus
4 Nameless inversion
4 Bramblewood Paragon
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Wren's Run Vanquisher
1 Wren's Run Packmaster
4 Imperious Perfect
2 Primal Command
3 Profane Command
4 Obsidian Battle Axe
2 Boreal Druid
1 Rhys the Exiled
1 Elvish Champion

Sideboard:
4 Krosan Grip
3 Pithing Needle
2 Squall Line
2 Cloudthresher
2 Extripate
2 Tormod's Crypt

Jordan Weber
4 Wanderwine Hub
4 Adarkar Wastes
1 Gemstone Mine
4 Mutavault
8 Snow-Covered Island
2 Island

4 Lord of Atlantis
4 Merrow Reejery
4 Ancestral Vision
4 Ponder
4 Silvergill Adept
4 Stonybrook Bannaret
4 Cryptic Command
3 Sage Dousing
2 Remove Soul
4 Sower of Temptation

Sideboard:
2 Remove Soul
4 Teferi's Moat
4 Flashfreeze
2 Magus of the Moat
1 Plains
2 Reveillark

Brad Reddich
1 Tolaria West
3 Underground River
2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
12 Island
5 Swamp

4 Remoive Soul
4 Delay
4 Muldrifter
3 Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
3 Cryptic Command
3 Sower of Temptation
3 Sudden Death
2 Shriekmaw
1 Magus of the Future
2 Profane Command
2 Damnation
2 Tendrils of Corruption
2 Mystical Teachings
3 Mind Stone
1 Prismatic Lens

Sideboard:
1 Tendrils of Corruption
2 Shriekmaw
2 Trickbind
1 Sudden Death
2 Vesper, Shaper Saant
4 Negate
3 Extripate

Snowden

Top 8

Clayton vs. Jordan

James vs. Kyle

Curtis vs. Raine

Gregory vs. Roger

Snowden

Top 8 Round 1

Clayton vs. Jordan

Jordan comes in knowing just how horrendous this match-up is for Merfolk. Coyly, he asks Clayton if he can make nationals this year. “Ummm…I think I can make it,” Clayton answers back.

Jordan wins the roll and elects to play.

Game one

The Mooney Cut doesn’t do it, as Jordan leads with a turn one Vision off his hand of seven, followed by a turn two Lord. Mooney shoots back with an Inverions and elf attack, but Jordan doesn’t have any follow-up. Thoughtseize reveals lots of action, but without the mana to effectively use it, before cracking with Treetop and Llanowar Elf.

Vision unsuspends and brings some hope and some Pondering. Banneret leads to Banneret leads to a board chock full of 1/1s. It’s like a cripple tribal fight, where everyone brings their scrubs to the table first. In the land of the 1/1, Treetop is king, and acts like it when knocking Jordan to 10. Lord of Atlantis shows up to try and make blocking feasible, which sends Mooney into the tank for a few minutes. He finally opts to Profane Command for two (leaving 3 open), to kill Lord and hit Jordan for three. Jordan fires back his one-mana Sage’s Dousing, daring Mooney to tap out, which he does, sending the Lord to the bin and leaving Jordan at seven.

…which gives him room to drop yet another Lord of Atlantis, Blue’s Best Bear. Of course, this turns on Mooney’s Mutavault as a 3/3 Islandwalker. Tarmogoyf lands on the table and is much, much bigger than anything else on the table. Jordan plays a 2-mana Sower of Temptation, then takes a Mutavault-sized bite out of Clayton’s life. Clayton takes one back, then Profane Commands for one to take the first.

Game two

There was a conversation involving, I think, kidnapping women before the game begins, but I suppose I shouldn’t elaborate.

Anyway, back to the game.

Jordan plays first and both players keep their hands. The first play of the game is Tarmogoyf, followed by a Reejerey that get’s Shriekmawed. ‘Goyf gets its ½ beats on, until a Thoughtseize gets Crypticed.

Jordan, however, resolves something of a trump in two Teferi’s Moats set to green, truly playing the control roll. Still, that doesn’t stop Mutavaults from crashing in. Reejery threatens to do…well, not all that much at the moment, but it lets Jordan leave up 4-mana for his one card…that does not counter Nameless Inversion. Two Mutavaults then put him to ten, then six, then two, then dead…while Thoughtseize reveals Moat and…Moat.

Snowden

Top 8 Breakdown

2 Faerie
2 BG 75-card matches
1 RG Big Mana
1 RG Warriors
1 Merfolk
1 Doran Rock

Snowden

Quarterfinal results:

Clayton defeats Jordan

RJ defeats Greg

Kyle defeats James

Curtis defeats Raine

Semifinal matchups:

Clayton vs. Kyle (75-card mirror)

RJ vs. Curtis

Drob

Top 8:

Raine vs. Curtis

After a quick check of the decklists, it looks like this is going to be a Faerie mirror match, and it looks like both players know it.

Game 1:

Curtis rolls a natural 20 and quikly keeps, but Raine decides to mulligan. Still not satisfied with his six, but he chooses to keep.

Curtis' Mutavault meets Ancestral Vision from Raine, to which Curtis responds with his own Visions. On turn three, Curtis casts a Bitterblossom, but Raine has a Loxodon Warhammer on his side. Curtis then lays a Secluded Glen revealing a Sower of Temptation before attacking with a token and Pestermite that came down the turn before. Raine attempts to deal with that Sower with his Vendillion Clique, only to have it Spellstutter Sprited. Visions resolves for Raine, and he finds a Bitterblossom, but it may be too late to matter.

When Curtis' Visions goes to resolve, Raine attempts a Spellstutter of his own, only to run into a Cryptic Command and get his hammer bounced back to his hand. Curtis then attacks for seven with faeries and a Mutavault, and Raine's upkeep Bitterblossom drops him to single digits at 9. Raine stops to consider his options before eventually settling on a Mistbind Clique while his opponent is tapped out. This doesn't phase Curtis, as he simply tempts the Clique away with his Sower and attacks Raine down to 3.

Raine recasts his Warhammer, but his lone token gets hit by a Nameless Invertion. Cryptic Command would forstall death for at least another turn, unless Curtis has a Cryptic Command of his own.

Curtis 1 - Raine 0

Game 2:

Curtis sideboards out his Sowers and Inversions for some Remove Souls and Thoughtsiezes, while Raine trades out cards that I didn't see for other cards that I missed.

Raine starts with a Conclave, and Curtis casts Ancestral Visions on his first turn. Both players Play Bitterblossom on their second turn, and then again on their third turn. Raine gets his own Visions sometime, too.

"Ha ha, this is the mirror match." Curtis laughs as Raine plays a whopping third enchantment, the fifth on the table. Most players would be at least a little worried, but not Curtis, he simply casts another Tribal Enchantment himself. Raine still appears to have the upper hand when he flashes out a Scion of Oona.

"Sadly, you have me." Curtis laments as he plays out his own Scion, but Raine's extra tokens from playing Bitterblossom first take it home.

Curtis 1 - Raine 1

Game 3:

Both players verbally replay the last game while shuffling for the benefit of the spectators that missed it, and again both players have a Bitterblossom each on turn two. Curtis has a Scion, but it gets Peppersmoked. Raine suspends Visions, but misses his second land drop, and gets Thoughtsiezed for Visions over Command, Warhammer, Rune Snag, Peppersmoke and Thoughtzieze. He quickly finds a swamp, however, and attempts a Thoughtsieze of his own, only to see a grip full of lands. "Shock!" Curtis exclaims, laughing at his own hand. Tokens attack back and forth, with another one getting Peppersmoked by Raine. Curtis continues laying lands and flashes out a Scion during combat to pump his guys and kill one of Raine's tokens, but a topdecked Peppersmoke later, that Scion's dead too. Curtis trades his Conclave for a token, while three others get in the red zone, bringing life totals to 8-4 in his favor. Raine's visions finally goes off and finds Peppersmoke #4.

Curtis activates Mutavault, and Raine flashes out Scion of Oona before attackers are declared. The Muta trades with a token while all of Curtis' flyers play defense for now, all while Bitterblossom ticks away a life point at a time. Raine thinks for the longest time before electing to do nothing at all, and Curtis attempts to Cryptic Command on his own turn to tap creatures and draw a card. Raine responds with his own Cryptic Command to tap and counter, but has to take a pain and bring himself to one to do it. He attempts to fix his mistake but the judges don't let him, and he dies in his upkeep.

Curtis 2 - Raine 1

Snowden

Clayton gets a free ride to the finals, as Kyle scoops the 75-card mirror. I can tell you, however, that he was screwed over by The Worst Subway in the World, when they didn't have BREAD.

GG

Drob

Top 4:

Curtis vs. RJ

Before the match the players discuss the lack of faeries in the tournament, the weather, and their swiss records before the judges suggest that perhaps the decks are randomized enough.

Game 1:

Curtis starts with Ancestral Visions, and RJ is quick with Thoughsieze on Pestermite on his own turn. The next play is an Orhan Viper from RJ, which meets a Pestermite on the other side.

The Viper attacks and draws a card, while Curtis attempts to attack with Pestermite and Mutavault only to run into a Nameless Inversion. The green player lays down a Garruk and Doran, while the blue mage resolves his Ancestral Visions and drops another Mutavault. Curtis then casts a Nameless Inversion on the Viper, black mana provided courtesy of his opponent's Urborg. RJ then makes a Beast token and casts a beefy 5/6 Tarmogoyf.

Curtis seems to have mana troubles, still stuck at three lands, and discards a Clique during clean-up. Pestermite taps Doran during combat and chumps on 'goyf. RJ still gets in for 4, and adds a counter to Garruk. Curtis finally finds another land, and uses it to Cryptic Command after RJ makes another Beast token. This series of events repeats itself as RJ makes a third beast, and Curtis Cryptics again.

"A little late," he muses, as he draws his card, and packs up his cards for game 2.

RJ 1 - Curtis 0

Game 2:

While shuffling we begin talking about SimCity, before the judges once again remind us why we're here. Curtis quickly keeps, and RJ equally quickly mulligains, and keeps 6.

Both players play nothing but lands for a few turns, and nothing else. Finally on turn three, RJ casts an Orhan Viper, but it gets countered by Remove Soul. Curtis, meanwhile, continues laying lands. At the end of RJ's fourth turn, Curtis attempts a creature of his own in Scion of Oona, but this one dies to a Nameless Inversion. A Mutavault comes down for Curtis, and he passes with a smile. RJ's fifth turn also features a land drop, and possibly something else. He taps four lands, untaps them, taps them again, rearranges them, untaps, and finally passes the turn without any plays. Curtis tries for Scion #2, but RJ has Nameless #2. Mutavault gets in for two. RJ attempts to play Doran, and Curtis tells him it sticks. It doesn't stick for long, though, as a main phase Deathmark makes short work of it.

Next turn, a Garruk runs into a Cryptic Command, but Extripate finds the other Cryptic Commands in the deck, leaving Curtis with Pestermite, Visions, and Clique in hand. Curtis suspends his Visions, and attacks with Mutavault bringing RJ to 12 thanks to various pain lands. RJ then Profane Commands up a Doran and takes a small chunk out of Curtis's life total. Mistbind Clique champions a Mutavault, but Doran still attack and evens up the life totals at 12 each. Clique and a second Mutavault attack back for 6. Doran and Clique trade beats over the next turns, setting life totals to 7-2 in Curtis' favor. RJ attacks with Doran and Treetop, but a Mutavault and surprise Spellstutter show up as blockers. A Visions resolves, but doesn't matter when Clique attacks for the win.

Curtis 1 - RJ 1

Game 3:

Curtis laments his lack of Bitterblossoms in this match, causing Raine to respond with "You used them all up against me today."

RJ mulligans again this game, and again to five, Curtis on the other hand, keeps.

RJ leads with a Birds of Paradise, and then a Thoughtsieze which gets hit by a Spellstutter Sprite. A Scion joins the Sprite, and they get in the red zone the next turn. Orhan Viper meets an Inversion, while Curtis continues attacking for three at a time. RJ attempts an evoked Cloudthresher, but Curtis has the Remove Soul to save his team. RJ attempts a Garruk, but Curtis Commands it away. Extripate gets Commands this game again, but Curtis can animate a Conclave and Mutavault and attack for enough to win.

Curtis 2 - RJ 1

Snowden

Finals are - Curtis vs. Mooney in a rematch of round one.

Snowden

Finals

Clayton Mooney vs. Curtis Cole

Aaaaand, we’re back to the first round match. Curtis battled back from his round one loss to Clayton, while Clayton remains undefeated. Will we have a repeat of round one AND last year, sending Clayton to nationals once again? Or will Curtis avenge his only loss so far and power “the best deck” to the win?

“I hate Chameleon Colossus,” said Curtis, complaining about his chances in this pairing, “he makes me his I <3 puppies.”

Game one

Curtis rolls a 12, and elects to play (of course) then quickly keeps. Mooney keeps as Jarrod lays the prizes on the table ala the World Series of Poker…only worth slightly less. Curtis starts with Visions to Mooney’s Llanowar Elves. Vanquisher and Boreal Druid quickly hit the table while Curtis looks to keep up with a Pestermite on the Vanquisher pre-combat, only to watch the dreaded Colossus hit the table…in Chinese form. Sower makes the oriental 4/4 switch sides, at least for now. Mooney, short on black mana, can’t quite muster the Profane Command needed to take the Sower, so instead bashes his Vanquisher into it, killing both. Wayfinder is able to find the second black source, but too late to do anything more than play a 2/3Tarmogoyf.

Vision comes in, but Curtis passes the turn, representing all kinds of faerie trickeries (though not Faerie Trickery). Pestermite halts any Goyf shenanegans, while Wayfinder takes Curtis all the way down to 17. Mooney then makes a rare mistake, casing Profane for only 2 when he could have hit for 3 and kept it out of Spellstutter range. Instead he has to “settle” for following up the countered command with a Goyf. Curtis hits for seven, taking Mooney to seven, and far from having lethal available to put enough pressure on. Clayton goes into the tank during his attack step, flipping creatures around while warning that “nothing’s final.” He finally decides on dealing 6 with 2 Goyfs and the Wayfinder, which Curtis readily takes. Mooney tries to give himself a turn with Inversion, but Cryptic forces the concession. Curtis already has won more games against Mooney than in round one. Only one more and he’s punched his ticket to Chicago…fitting for the only native Illinoisan at the tournament.

Game two

Clayton elects to draw for game two…

Obviously not. He plays first and begins with a mulligan to six and a Llanowar Elf. Curtis keeps and starts on Conclave while singing along to some song no one has ever heard outside of Guitar Hero.

Imperious Perfect on turn two threatens to get out of hand as Curtis only has another Conclave. Thoughtseize reveals lands, Sprite, Mistbind and Scion of Oona, and takes Mistbind. Meanwhile, Perfect starts making 2/2s like it’s his job (which it is). Little elves take Curtis to 14, then to 8, and Scion meets an Inverted death on Clayton’s end step. Cryptic buys some time, but Thoughtseize takes Curtis’ only non-land in hand (Remove Soul), potentially threatening lethal next turn. He takes Curtis to 3 on his next attack, possibly playing around some of the many tricks Faeries has. When Curtis scoops, it’s entirely due to the second turn Perfect backed up by Thoughtseize.

Game three

For all the marbles. The whole shebang. All that and a bag of chips…wait…no…that one doesn’t work.

Anyway, one game for a trip to nationals. And for it, Curtis plays and keeps. Clayton also holds his seven and Curtis has the Visions opening. A Sprite hit’s a Llanowar Elf, and Mooney misses his 2nd land drop, sitting with one Village for mana. He hits his next one and drops Vanquisher…to another Sprite, falling way behind with Vision going off next turn. An upkeep Mistbind puts him even further back, and Curtis is visibly excited, moving quickly through his upkeep. Scion of Oona puts Clayton to seven, almost before he knows what hit him. Shriekmaw takes out Scion, and an elf steps in for chumping duty, but Pestermite ends any hopes, and Clayton extends his hand.

Curtis Cole is the 2008 Iowa “City Champion”!

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