Posted on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 10:25 AM EST by Trent |
|
Cubists writes: Eight participants battle it out in the Zajdner basement for the three open slots. Who will rise to the top?
Round One Pairings:
Steve vs Josh
Lee vs Jamie
Kyle vs Shawn
Rich vs Mike
Round One Feature Match: Steve Vs Josh Coverage by Christian Antonescu
It's really unfortunate to see these two play in the first round, as they both deserve the spot, finishing in a tie for 5th in ratings on the season.
Steve wins the rolls and opts to play first. He leads with an Island. Josh chooses not to play a land and goes straight to his end step, this can’t be good for the Wolf. Josh discards his Ruhk egg. 4/4 flyer on turn one for Josh! Steve casts his first spell on turn 3, a Frenetic Efreet and then finally deals with the Mama Rukh on turn 4 with a FTK. The Rukh has done some damage as Wolfman finds himself rapidly down to 12 life.
Josh plays an Erhnam Djinn on his 5th turn. Steve announces a Mystical Tutor on Josh’s end step. This could be trouble. Steve finds his Ancestral Recall! He casts in on his 5th turn and then plays a Deep Analysis. Before Josh knew what hit him Steve had a full hand. He passes the turn with no attack from the Efreet. Josh gives the Efreet forestwalk during his upkeep. On his main phase he drops Stormbind, smirks and asks Steve if he had the Force knowing full well that it was sitting in his board. Josh then attacks with Erhnam. Steve blocks with the Frenetic Efreet and then wins the roll to keep it alive. Both players are sitting at 12 life. Josh passes the turn.
On Steve’s next turn he attacks with both FTK and the Effreet. There is a long pause as Josh contemplates his options. Josh is notorious for being the world’s biggest staller. In fact he is so persistent that he even stalls in untimed events such as this one. Steve tells him “He’s taking the 6 to try and hurry his decision. But there would be no hurrying Josh, and after another 5 to 10 minute pause decides to Stormbind the Kavu before damage. He discards a Skyshroud Elf. Steve then plays an Icy and passes the turn.
On Josh’s turn he declares his attack, Erhnam is tapped and then Josh casts an Artifact Mutation on the Icy! 4 1/1’s join Josh’s side. Steve doesn’t look fazed and attacks Josh with the Effreet putting him at 8. Steve then flashes back his Deep Analysis, going to 9. Josh, being the smart ass that he is, asks Steve if he is going to cast Earthquake, another card in his Sideboard. Steve thinks. Then out of nowhere Steve casts a 6-point Firestorm doing 6 to each of Josh’s men and Josh. Steve then Lightning Bolts Josh with the last card in his had for the final blow.
Steve 1 - Josh 0
Josh was dumbfounded after the first game. He kept commenting on how he was sure he had that one. “Wow” etc…
Game 2
Josh chose to play first and keeps his hand. Steve mulligans showing me a hand of 6 lands and the Frenetic Efreet. He draws 6 and after thinking for a minute mulligans down to 5. Steve shrugs and keeps his 5-card hand of 4 lands and a Deep Analysis.
Josh leads aggressively with a Jackal Pup and beats Steve to 16 before Steve draws the Shock putting Josh at 18. Josh plays Erhnam on turn 4. Steve replies with Deep Analysis. Steve takes a hit from Erhnam and Josh passes the turn. Steve plays his Icy Manipulator. On Steve’s end step Josh plays a Beast Attack. Josh attacks with his fatties and says go. Steve goes down to 5 life from flashing back the Deep Analysis. Josh plays the next Beast. Steve tries to save himself with Firestorm, but Josh shows Steve a Kaervek’s Torch. Steve being tapped out and at a low life total scoops it up.
Steve 1 - Josh 1
Game 3
Steve chooses to play and both players keep. The first play of the game is Josh’s turn 2 Wild Mongrel. Steve answers with a Frenetic. Josh casts Stone Rain on Steve’s only Mountain the next turn. They exchange some beats and Josh then drops a Jackal Pup and a River Boa. Steve stalls out on 3 lands - 2 Islands and a Stalking Stones. Josh attacks with everything and Steve chumps the Mongrel with the Efreet. Steve loses the die roll and the Efreet hits the trash bin. Josh continues to attack and Steve continues to not play lands. Josh then casts a Creeping Mold on another land with Steve at 4 life to seal the deal. Josh Rider takes down the Steve Wolfman in Round One.
Steve 1 - Josh 2
Other Results from Round One:
Rich Hoaen with his UGw beatdown deck takes down Mike Fernyhough’s 4 colour black deck.
Kyle Reid with his RBU beats deck takes down Shawn’s U/G control deck.
Lee’s B/G deck defeats Jamie’s B/U deck.
Round Two Pairings:
Rich vs Lee
Josh vs Kyle
Shawn vs Steve
Jamie vs Ferny
Round 2 Feature Match: Lee vs Rich Coverage by Christian Antonescu
Lee wins the die roll 7 - 3 on a d20 and opts to play first. Lee has the same look of determination on his face that he has when he is hopelessly trying to pick up bartenders at a local bar or club. Richard’s opening hand contains no lands and he throws it back. His six-card hand looks much better and he decides to keep. Lee leads with Spawning Pool. Rich starts with the much stronger Island, Sol Ring. Sol Ring is considered to be one of the best cards in cube, potentially only being surpassed in power level by Mind Twist and Ancestral Recall.
On turn 2, Rich drops a Skywing Aven and Krosan Verge. Lee’s first spell is a Diabolic Edict in response to Rich casting a Birds of Paradise on the following turn. Rich returns and plays the Aven again. Lee casts a Vampiric Tutor end step. Lee then Stupors away the two cards in Rich’s hand on his turn.
Rich sacs his Verge during his upkeep to help thin his library and proceeds to the ever-popular Draw Step. Rich attacks with the Aven putting Lee to 14 and passes the turn back. Lee’s next turn was a strong one, as he playes Volrath’s Stronghold and then a Black Lotus. He sacs it and drops the massive Spiritmonger. Rich continues to beat with Skywing Aven. Lee hits back with the Monger and the Spawning Pool. Lee then casts a Pherexian Scuta with no kicker. Rich has an Absorb for it. He swings and then casts a Kavu Titan avec le kicker.
Current life totals Lee 8 - Rich 10. Lee untaps and then places his hand down and begins to gingerly stroke his 4 chin hairs. He casts Hurricane for 2. Rich drops the Island from his hand and returns the Aven. Lee passes the turn. Rich plays the Aven and passes the turn. Lee untaps and attacks. Rich tries to block with the Aven. Lee casts Berserk on the Mongler leaving both the Aven and Richard as nothing more than a bloody pulp. Game one goes to Lee.
Former Canadian National Star Wars Champion Colin D McCann will be taking over coverage of this match at this point as my McDonalds just walked in the door and I think it’s about time for a Beezy.
Lee 1 - Rich 0
Game 2
Hoaen drops a Bird off a pain land, Lee answers with a swamp. Rich then drops a Kavu Titan without kicker and Lee answers back with a Hymn To Tourach. Rich rolls his eyes, and asks, “Do you have a Stupor too?” Lee answers with a “it’s not a Stupor but,” and Coercions Rich for his Upheaval (over Balance). Rich’s board is 4 lands, Kavu Titan and Birds, to Lee’s 4 land (one Mishra’s Factory).
Lee plops down a Lotus, Spiritmonger and Rich attacks into it, setting up the Balance. Lee drops a Mind Stone and a Volrath’s Stronghold and attacks into Rich’s Bird. At this point, Rich takes a moment to think. Rich then decides to cast Armageddon floating a white and a colourless in his pool, and then Balances. They go down to no land, no hand, with Lee having only a Mind Stone.
Lee is this first to act after dropping a Swamp and Vampiric Tutoring for a Thawing Glaciers! Hoaen is grumbling after missing 5 land drops, but soon top decks a land to go with his Sol Ring. He then drops a Skywing Aven, and Lee answers back with a Juzam Djinn. The life totals stand at 13-13 after Lee swings with his Juzam. Rich has two lands and his Sol Ring, to Lee’s 4 lands and a Mind Stone. Rich then mulls his options…
Lee is then given a warning, due to his blatant mising, as he tries to look at the computer screen this reporter is typing on. Rich then taps out to drop a Questing Phelddagrif, which Lee Banishes. Lee then Chainer’s Edicts Hoaen’s only creature and swings through for another 5. Not to be outdone, Rich then Regrows the Balance and Balances. Life totals are at 12-6 after Lee swings with his Spawning Pool.
Rich then drops Sylvan Safekeeper and a Call of the Herd Token, drastically swinging the game. Lee responds with a demoralized "Go ahead". Rich then continues the pressure with another Call Token and a Werebear. Lee decides to mull his options. Rich quips, “I can’t believe the board looks like this” and then drops a Deranged Hermit and Lee scoops it up.
Lee 1 - Rich 1
Game 3
Both players keep their hands and Rich drops a Sylvan Safekeeper, and Lee responds with Hymn. Lee then Coercions and sees a hand of Fact or Fiction, Armageddon, Werebear and Balance. He thinks… thinks… and takes the 'geddon. Rich drops the Werebear, swings and passes the turn. Lee Ch’Edicts the Safekeeper, with Rich stuck on 2 lands to Lee’s 5.
Lee drops a random Bosium Strip, a card not really ideal for his deck, but one that looks very good right now (with Ch’Edict, Coercion and Hymn in his graveyard). Lee decides foolishly to trash talk Rich’s slow play. He gets burned by various members of the crowd and sits back to wait. Rich then swings with the Werebear and Balances, screwing up Lee’s Bosium strip. Lee discards 3 lands, and says go, and Rich responds with a Regrowth on his Werebear, which he plays the following turn. It is immediately Edicted by Lee, who follows with his super combo Lotus, Spiritmonger.
Life totals stand at 16-10, Rich-Lee. Lee decides for a crippling Yawgmoth’s Will, bringing back the Lotus and Hymning Rich. Rich responds with a “how lucky” and Facts in response. Rich takes the pile with Skywing, Absorb, Forest, over the Seal of Cleansing and Questing 'grif. Next turn, Lee Ch’Edicts and swings in with his 'monger. Rich: “Go down to four”, Lee: “Berserk” The crowd goes wild… Lee makes the Pro Tour? LEE MAKES THE PRO TOUR!!!
Thank you Mr McCann. In the other round 2 matches, Josh takes down Kyle Reid to secure his slot. Shawn lost to Wolfman. And Ferny beats Jamie.
Standings:
Josh 2-0 - X
Lee 2-0 - X
Kyle 1-1
Rich 1-1
Steve 1-1
Ferny 1-1
Jamie 0-2 - Y
Anks 0-2 - Y
X - Qualified
Y - Eliminated
Round 3 Pairings:
Josh vs Lee
Kyle vs Ferny
Rich vs Wolfman
Jamie vs Anks
Round 3 Feature Match: Mike Fernybro vs Kyle Reid by Christian Antonescu
2 Spots have been claimed with Lee and Josh securing their spot on the tour. Jamie and Anks have fallen out of contention with no points thus far in the tournament. That leaves 4 people vying for the final qualification spot on the tour. Things are really heating up!
Everybody’s favourite MTG Ontario arrogant writer, Kyle “Sporto” Reid, finally gets a round 3 feature match and boy is there a lot on the line. The winner gets to play for the final slot in next round’s feature match. The loser gets to go home in tears.
Kyle, my team mate for PT Boston, has numerous achievements in his career although some, like Louis Boileau, just consider him to be a “lucky piece of sheet”. Mike Fernybro, is a two time Canadian Nationals competitor and also has a couple PTQ Top 8’s to add to his resume, but has never been qualified for the tour. This is his big shot, you can see his eyes gleaming with excitement.
Kyle won the roll and played 1st. He leads with Rocky Tar Pit. Ferny’s turn one consists of a Mox and a Tundra. Turn 2 Kyle sacs the Tar Pit for a Swamp and plays a Badlands. He then casts a Demonic Tutor for MIND TWIST! Mike casts end step Impulse.
On Mike’s turn 2 he casts a Mox Jet, drops a Plateau, and puts a Nightscape Familiar into play. Sporto smirks and shows me the Karn, Silver Golem in his hand. It looks like Kyle is going to lay a beating on the pair of Moxes Ferny has in play. Sporto always has all the answers. Kyle draws Library of Alexandria on turn three. He plays it and casts a Mind Twist for 2. Mike loses a Hypnotic Specter and a Time Twister.
Ferny casts Thunderscape Battlemage with the black kicker, forcing Kyle to lose a Phyrexian Negator and a Swamp. Kyle casts an Avalanche Rider on his turn and sends it into the red zone. Ferny blocks with the Familiar and regenerates it.
Kyle plays his Karn on the next turn and announces “Armageddon!!” Ferny laughs as he has an answer and Swords to Plowshares it before Kyle gets an opportunity to activate it. Ferny attacks and passes the turn again. Kyle casts Braingeyser for 4 loading up his hand and passes the turn back. Ferny casts Phyrexian Arena, attacks with his Familiar and passes the turn.
Kyle untaps and draws, then draws again with his Library. How Unfair! He then casts a Blazing Specter and swings with it. Ferny places an Ophidian in the graveyard. Ferny untaps, casts a Land Tax then attempts to Void away the Specter. The always-crafty Super Sporto Spiff had other ideas as he casts a Mana Leak targeting the Void. On Kyle’s next turn he attacks and Ferny loses a Firebolt. He then passes the turn. Ferny Rages the Spectre and then casts a 6 card Windfall - OUCH! Kyle, for some odd reason decides to discard his Terminate instead of casting it on the Familiar. Oh oh, Ontario’s Pride doesn’t seem to be in top form today. I didn’t even know Kyle made mistakes!
Ferny plays a land and says go. Sporto untaps, draws and drops Crosis, the Purger! Ferny plays a Nantuko Shade on his turn and says go. Kyle untaps and swings with the Dragon, putting poor Ferny to 7. He activates the Dragon’s ability and calls blue. Ferny shows him a whack hand of 5 lands and a Juggernaut. Kyle then casts Sol’kanar the Swamp King and passes the turn. Ferny is in big trouble staring down the two monsters on Sporto’s side. Ferny untaps and draws 2 taking one point from Area. He is now is at 6. Ferny casts Probe with the kicker, looks over his options and scoops it up.
Sporto 1 - FernyBRO 0
Game 2
Ferny chooses to play. Both players keep their opening hands. Ferny comes out extremely aggressively as he drops a Mox Jet, a Caves of Koilos and turn one Shade! Kyle just plays a Bad River and passes the turn. Ferny attacks and pumps once. Kyle sacs for a Badland upkeep and Ferny Ices (Fire/Ice) it in response. Kyle casts a Chromatic Sphere and passes the turn. Ferny swings for 4 with the Shade putting Sporto at 13. Kyle’s next spell, Phyrexian Rager, is Mana Drained. Ferny then attacks for 4 more and casts a Juggernaut. Kyle responds with Control Magic on the Jugs the following turn.
Ferny casts an Arena and passes the turn with no attack from the Shade. On Kyle’s turn he Terminates the Shade and attacks. All Ferny has is a Nightscape Familiar on his turn. Kyle swings with the Juggernaut, Ferny blocks and regenerates. Kyle then plays an Avalanche Rider destroying Ferny’s Caves. Ooops should have done that first so Mike couldn’t regenerate his Familiar. Sporto makes a NEXT MISTAKE, STOP THE PRESSES!
Ferny doesn’t do much on his next turn and after Kyle drops his Crosis, Ferny has seen enough to scoop it up! Sporto may be on his way back to the PT! Ferny may be on his way back to the fridge.
Sporto 2 - FernyBRO 0
Other Round 3 Results:
Josh and Lee draw their way into the Pro Tour.
In a nail biter (trust me I watched Rich chew on his fingers enough!) Richy Rich loses to Steve Wolfman.
Jamie Malkin sneaks a win past the Anks!
Playoff for the Last Slot Feature Match Coverage by Josh “JoshR” Rider
Kyle “Sporto” Reid vs. Steve “The Pedophile” Wolfman
Kyle wins the roll and we’re off to the races. Turn 1 Library of Alexandria from Kyle means bad news for Steve. Not one to be outdone, Steve end step Mystical Tutors for Ancestral Recall. On Kyle’s next turn, he casts a Demonic Tutor. Steve responds with Ancestral and Kyle kicks him in the teeth with a Misdirection.
“What did you tutor for?” - Steve
“Mind Twist” - Ontario’s Pride
*** Every spectator shakes their head.
Twist hits Skizzik and Icy Manipulator and Steve can do nothing but play a land. Blazing Specter hits the table on Kyle’s side followed by Sol’Kanar and Steve puts out the biggest frown I’ve seen in a while...
Steve does nothing for the next few turns except use a Ring of Gix to neutralize Sol’kanar while Avalanche Riders drop elbows on him at the rate of 2 a turn. Steve looked poised for a comeback when he topdecked Treachery for Sol’kanar, but a Control Magic from Kyle a turn later and it was all over except the whining.
Game 2
Kyle starts the game with a mulligan and Steve tries to swing the game even further by Tutoring for Ancestral yet again. After an Ancestral, Steve has nothing to do except throw a Shock Kyle’s way as he misses his 4th land drop..
Down comes Avalanche Rider for Kyle and Steve’s problems are multiplied. Steve finds an Island on turn 6, but by that time he’s already been Prophetic Bolted and is facing down a 3/3 Sedge Troll. Steve buys some time Bolting Sedge Troll and hits his next 2 land drops getting to Treachery Kyle’s newly cast Crosis and hit Kyle for 5 with a fresh Skizzik.
“Got the Control Magic?” - Steve Wolfman
“Yup.” - Ontario’s Pride (“Always 2 steps ahead of the metagame” - Jmbabin)
(A side note: KYLE REID ALWAYS HAS THE 1 CARD HE NEEDS EVERY SINGLE TIME).
A Blazing Specter seals the deal and Kyle Q’s for YET ANOTHER PRO TOUR. HE’S SO GOOD FALEIJFLAIGHLAHFDLA;KJHF.
Ontario’s Pride defeats Wolfman 2-0
Next up the Cube Pro Tour Begins!
|
|
Related Links
|
|
| Article Rating
|
|
Average Score: 4.33
Votes: 6
|
| Options
|
|
|
