So recently Magic:the Gathering held their latest Pro-Tour event in Berlin. Besides the fact that I would love to qualify to participate in one of these events, i would really just like to see one.
but that is not really what i am going to talk about today. I want to congratulate all the American born Magic players with their outstanding accomplishments this year.
With only the World Championship left this year, which is being held in Memphis, TN. The United States put up a dominating show this year. After a few years of European, followed by Japanese dominance at the pro-tour level, The US put up three huge victories this year.
It all started in February, in Kuala Lumpur, when a household name came back to crush the competition. John Finkle, aka Johny Magic, took down a huge field in a format that he excels in. Some claim booster draft is what seperates the good players from the great players, and Johny Magic does it better than most.
In May it was off to Hollywood, CA where 22 year old Charles Gindy took the title in my favorite format, Standard. With a card pool the size never seen since the official formatting, the decks where as varried as the people that played them.
Then finally, it started Halloween Night, an Extended tournament shortly after a cycle of cards left the format, and a small number entering to replace them. The format was ripe for the breaking. Unfortunately the deck that would come to break the format, was the worst kept secret in Magic. with nearly one-fourth of the field playing some form of the deck commonly known as "Elfball", and Three-fourths of the final 8 wielding the deck. It was almost assured that it would win. What was not certain, was which version had the muscle to top the rest. Luis Scott-Vargas piloted his superfast (with potential turn two kill) version past his worst matchup to advance to the semi-finals but then in the finals to muscle past one of the few "Elfball" decks with answers to the mirror match.
Gratz to all three and to all the US players, and good luck at Worlds.
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2 comments:
I always thought Magic was pretty cool I just never had the time or the resources to really get into it. I do respect these guys they're pretty hardcore and Magic is fun. Lastly I agree it would be cool to watch a match sometime!
-Dan
It is amazing to watch the webcasts. you get to hear the crowd that is watching a simulcast, and to hear their reaction when they guy they are rooting for draws the card they need is amazing. The competitors can't hear them though which is good, cause it could be discouraging for the other player. Check out this video for some excitement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t0pzLnSWw0
as refrence, the life totals are Jones 6, and Ruel 7. Char does 4 damage to an opponent and 2 damage to you. and Lightning Helix does 3 damage to an opponent and you gain 3 life. Both players played the match perfectly. despite what the announcer was saying. The match was won completely do to the fact of the 'top deck' any other card in Jones' deck and he looses the game and the match.
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