Grand Prix Manila - Aug 30, 2008

Here we go. The moment we've all been waiting for. It was an amazing event attended by 640 players -- it could have been a lot more, if not for the play area limitations.



I used the same Doran Assassins deck that I used in the GPT, but put all the Firespouts on the main deck, and the 2 Crib Swaps in the board (for those pesky Demigods of Revenge). I also lowered the land count to 24, as I felt that I got mana flooded too often. Finally, I put a singleton Wickerbough Elder in the SB for those game-breaking Runed Halos set to Doran and/or Colossus:



// Lands
4 [MOR] Murmuring Bosk
4 [LRW] Gilt-Leaf Palace
2 [EVE] Twilight Mire
1 [SHM] Reflecting Pool
1 [EVE] Fetid Heath
4 [LRW] Vivid Grove
4 [LRW] Vivid Marsh
2 [UNH] Forest
2 [UNH] Swamp

// Creatures
4 [LRW] Treefolk Harbinger
4 [LRW] Wren's Run Vanquisher
4 [MOR] Scarblade Elite
4 [LRW] Doran, the Siege Tower
4 [MOR] Chameleon Colossus
3 [LRW] Cloudthresher

// Spells
4 [LRW] Nameless Inversion
2 [LRW] Crib Swap
4 [LRW] Profane Command
3 [SHM] Firespout

// Sideboard
SB: 1 [LRW] Cloudthresher
SB: 2 [LRW] Crib Swap
SB: 4 [LRW] Thoughtseize
SB: 4 [SHM] Kitchen Finks
SB: 3 [SHM] Faerie Macabre
SB: 1 [EVE] Wickerbough Elder


Round 1: vs. Kithkins (won)

I went to a very good start in the Grand Prix as I was able to do my "pro moves" of Harbinger-Harbinger-Doran in the first game. My opponent was chump blocking all game, and I killed off any remaining creatures to win it easily.

My deck was built against creature-based decks like Kithkin, having 3 MD Firespouts (as mentioned earlier) and the whole suite of Nameless Inversions, Scarblade Elites and 2 Crib Swaps. Therefore, my sideboard strategy for Kithkin is -- none.

In the second game, I mulled to a 1-land, 5-card hand, and lost with my opponent at 30 life (thanks to a couple of Knight of Meadowgrains). In the third game, my opponent and I were in a life race, with all-in attacks and no blocks. Unfortunately for him, Kithkin decks have no "burn" cards, while mine had a Profane Command ftw.

Game standing: 2-1
Match standing: 1-0


Round 2: vs. Kithkins (lost)

Winning the die roll and on the play, I made a crucial mistake in the first game by keeping a 2-land hand, with 2 Colossus and a Firespout. I didn't know my opponent's deck and paid the price for it -- losing quickly in the first game. In the second game, I thought for a while but still kept a hand that included 1 Colossus, 1 Nameless Inversion, 1 Firespout and 2 lands. I once again paid the price for keeping a bad hand, as I drew 2 more Colossus in the ensuing turns, as my second round ended in record time -- just at around 10 or 15 mins into the round.

Game standing: 2-3
Match standing: 1-1


At this point, I had some time to kill in the tournament, so I decided to have our Chameleon Colossus, Makeshift Mannequins and Dusk Urchins signed by artist Darrell Riche. :)



Round 3: vs. Kithkins (won)

I was up against the wife of a famous Magic player/entrepreneur... and her deck -- Kithkins again. Same as the first round, I was able to do my "pro moves" again, and easily won game 1. In game 2, my opponent and I traded damages for a while, up until when I was at 7 life, and she attacked with 3 Spirit tokens, and then Mirrorweaved my Vanquisher ftw. In game 3, I did a semi-pro move of just Harbinger to Doran, but it was enough to once again win against the Kithkin deck.

Game standing: 4-4
Match standing: 2-1


Round 4: vs. UG Merfolk (won)

Finally, a non-Kithkin opponent. In game 1, I won behind the back of just one Vanquisher, while removing all creatures that he was casting with Nameless Inversions and Crib Swaps.

SB: +3 Thoughtseize, -3 Cloudthresher

In game 2, I made a mistake in my SB (see above) by taking out the Threshers. I ran out of removal and lost to a crucial Sower of Temptation on my Colossus.

SB: +3 Cloudthresher, -3 Thoughtseize

Game 3 was so one-sided (I removed practically everything that my opponent cast), that my opponent was obviously pissed off at the end of the round, he didn't even want to talk to me while signing the result slip. Oh well, I was just happy I won. :)

Game standing: 6-5
Match standing: 3-1


Round 5: vs. Archon Toast (lost)

In game 1, my opponent cast some early Kitchen Finks, but after he used up both counters on his Vivid Meadow to counter some spells of mine, he practically became mana screwed, and he couldn't do anything and eventually lost the game.

SB: +4 Thoughtseize, -3 Firespout, -1 Scarblade Elite

In game 2, I went for the "pro move" but my first 2 Harbingers died to a Firespout. He then cast Runed Halo naming Doran, and I pretty much got nullified at that point. He proceeded in the game by digging up Oona, Queen of the Fae via Oona's Grace ftw.

Before game 3, having basically lost due to the card advantage generated by Oona's Grace, I did some serious thinking of putting in Faerie Macabres. However, after remembering that my opponent has never cast a single Makeshift Mannequin, I decided against it.

Game 3 was a classic -- easily one of the best sanctioned games I've ever played, period. It started with me attempting another "pro move". Unfortunately, my opponent had the Broken Ambitions in hand (he obviously didn't side it out) to counter my Doran. Afterwards, it was a blood bath. I would do some beats, then he would cast a Kitchen Finks. He would Oblivion Ring my Doran. He would Runed Halo for Chameleon Colossus. I would destroy the Runed Halo, but he would bounce it with Cryptic Command... and counter it when I attempt to cast it again. He would eventually win the game behind two cards -- Makeshift Mannequins (which he only cast on the third game), and Oona's Grace (once again). I knew I should have sided-in those Macabres...

Game standing: 7-7
Match standing: 3-2


Round 6: vs. Doran Shamans (lost)

The round didn't start so well, with me once again mulling to 5, with 1-land. I of course lost the first game very quickly. I was still quite confident with my deck on the mirror match though, as I was playing the Assassins version, which I believe was better than the Shaman version (featuring Leaf Crowned Elder and Wolf Skull Shaman). I just had to get a decent draw.

SB: -3 Cloudthresher, +2 Crib Swap, +1 Wickerbough Elder

Game 2 was, as expected, very close. At the end, here's what happened: with me at 12 life and him at 9 life, he attacked with a Colossus (with 7 mana open), with a Harbinger left behind as blocker. I also had a Colossus, and also had 7 mana open. He was probably expecting me to trade Colossi, but he was surprised when I didn't block. He pumped the colossus, putting me at 4 life. At EOT, I Nameless inversion his Harbinger. He was shocked. If I could just draw 1 land (to double pump the Colossus), or a Profane (I could pump the Colossus, and Profane for 1), I would win. I slowly peeked at my draw... and it was a land. :) Despite just being on the second game, my opponent had to shake my hand in congratulations. We were now at 1-1.

Game 3 was even better than the previous game. It started with me playing a Doran. My opponent then cast another Doran, to kill it off. On my turn, I played a second Doran. Guess what -- my opponent also cast a second Doran to kill it off. Eventually, my opponent was able put me down to 6 with various other beats and Profanes. Then, I stabilized and eventually got a Colossus online and put him down to 4 life -- when he finally Crib Swapped my Colossus. The shapeshifter was able to put him down two more points to put him at 2 life. Then, it was his turn to use a Colossus. Fortunately, I had a Crib Swap in hand, and he had to attack me with his Shapeshifter. We were both in top deck mode, as the changeling put me to 5... then 4... then 3... then 2... then 1. On the last draw, I once again slowly peeked at my draw... praying and wishing that something similar to game 2 would happen. In a way, I got what I wished for, as I drew just another land. I smiled and congratulated my opponent. :) See you in October in Bangkok! ;)

Game standing: 8-9
Match standing: 3-3


After the match, I had to drop out of the tournament, because we had a concert to watch. :)

All in all, the Grand Prix was a big success -- that one annual leave was definitely worth it. ;) I got to see some of the pros -- Levy, Saito, and Nakamura -- I was even able to see an actual Saito match (he didn't slap himself though), I got our Colossi and Mannequins signed, I played a really decent game of Magic the whole day (aside from that one round against the Kithkin, I actually had a shot at winning all the other rounds) -- and most of all, I had fun. :) I do hope that the Grand Prix, or even better, the Pro Tour, would come back here in Manila in the following years. :)

Grand Prix Manila Trial I - May 25, 2008

I was supposed to play in the regular standard tourney on Saturday, but due to a "medical emergency", I wasn't able to play. To feed my MTG addiction, I instead played on the Sunday Block Constructed tourney. Unprepared, I whipped up a deck (late in) the night before, and decided to go with the same BG Elves deck that I recently use in Standard, with some card replacements to make it legal for LRW/SHM Block:



// Lands
4 [LRW] Gilt-Leaf Palace
1 [SHM] Reflecting Pool
2 [MOR] Mutavault
1 [LRW] Vivid Grove
1 [LRW] Vivid Marsh
10 [UNH] Forest
4 [UNH] Swamp

// Creatures
4 [SHM] Devoted Druid
4 [LRW] Wren's Run Vanquisher
4 [LRW] Imperious Perfect
4 [SHM] Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers
4 [MOR] Chameleon Colossus
3 [SHM] Wilt-Leaf Liege
3 [LRW] Garruk Wildspeaker

// Spells
4 [LRW] Nameless Inversion
3 [LRW] Profane Command
4 [SHM] Shield of the Oversoul

// Sideboard
SB: 4 [LRW] Thoughtseize
SB: 3 [LRW] Cloudthresher
SB: 1 [SHM] Firespout
SB: 1 [LRW] Primal Command
SB: 2 [LRW] Spring Cleaning
SB: 3 [LRW] Eyeblight's Ending
SB: 1 [LRW] Final Revels

With no 1cc mana elf in block, I opted for the 2-drop Devoted Druid. The deck now plays more like a mini-ramp of some sort, hoping that at turn 3, I would have either one 4-drop (Liege or Colossus) or one 2-drop (Vanquisher) & one 3-drop (Perfect or Cavs).


Round 1: vs. 5-color Elementals (draw)

Our first game took a long time to finish, with him constantly killing my threats via Shriekmaw & Mannequin, and drawing more answers via Mulldrifter. I still won the long game though. With time running out, I knew I just had to delay the game and I would win the round. But then of course, I would make a HUGE mistake (I seem to be making this every week). I don't have the exact details, but my opponent was at 4 life, I was at 16 life, and I swung for what I thought was an alpha strike. Unfortunately, my opponent Mannequined 1 Cloudthresher, and hardcasted another Thresher, which blocked my attackers. On his turn, with all my creatures tapped, he swung for his real alpha strike of 2 Threshers and 1 Shriekmaw ftw. And the match draw... on the fifth and last turn.

Game standing: 1-1
Match standing: 0-0-1


Round 2: vs. WW Kithkins (lost)

My round 2 pairing was definite proof that I have the worst luck in matchups, as I was very unfortunately matched up against the defending Philippine Nationals champ. But when I saw that his deck was WW Kithkins, I knew I at least had a fighting chance (or so I thought). In game 1, he was deliberately baiting me to a race, with him swinging every turn, and with me also swinging every turn. I had him at 4 life (with me at 13 life), but then on his turn, he cast Wizened Cenn (still not enough to kill me), and with no blockers, he cast Mirrorweave on the Cenn. Ouch. In game 2, he was again on race mode. It was a pretty close game though, but in the end, I lost to a bunch of flying Spirit tokens, which I had no way of blocking.

Game standing: 1-3
Match standing: 0-1-1


Round 3: vs. GWu Aggro (won)

I was up against a player I wanted to play for a long time. I see him often in tournaments, but never got matched up against him. The cool thing is his age -- he was around 50+ years old (to my estimate). It was a sleeper though, as I easily won both games behind Garruk overruns.

Game standing: 3-3
Match standing: 1-1-1


Round 4: vs. WW Kithkins (won)

Wow. Another Kithkin deck. Where are the damn faeries??? Perhaps they were all in the winner's bracket. Anyway, this was another round that took the whole hour. I won a close game in game 1, and my opponent won a close game in game 2. I was actually on the way to winning that game 2, but I made a costly mistake of swinging with all creatures on a Garruk overrun, when I didn't have to. My opponent then casted Pollen Lullaby. Wtf. And swinging with his Kithkin army next turn ftw. Good thing, I easily won game 3 though (on another Garruk overrun). Otherwise, I would have been devastated by that Fog card.

Game standing: 5-4
Match standing: 2-1-1


Round 5: vs. BR Aggro (lost)

All I could remember was that game 1 was one-sided in favor of me. And games 2 and 3 were one-sided in favor of my opponent. I especially remember game 3, when he had answer after answer to my threats. Liege #1 - Flame Javelin. Colossus - another Flame Javelin. Liege #2 - Shriekmaw. Wow. Then Demigod of Revenge ftw.

Game standing: 6-6
Match standing: 2-2-1


Round 6: vs. BG Elves (lost)

I knew I won game 1 easily. And then my opponent came back from behind (at 3 life) to win game 2. And then in game 3, as expected, I made another mistake. Faced with a decision between killing a Shriekmaw and an Imperious Perfect, I chose to Profane the Perfect. And one turn later, Nameless Inversion on the Shriekmaw. That one turn turned out to be the difference, and I lost game 3. Learning point: Shriekmaw has FEAR and is unblockable even by an army of huge green elves.

Game standing: 7-8
Match standing: 2-3-1


Round 7: vs. UW Merfolk (won)

Here's another first. I was up against a woman Magic player. There's not very many of them in the local Magic scene (based on my count, there are only 4 of them -- and 3 of them were playing yesterday). Anyway, I won game 1 undamaged. Then perhaps, like many men out there, I became over-confident, and was shocked when I lost game 2, with my opponent undamaged. In game 3 though, it was all serious. Luckily, I found answers to her Reejereys in time, and I won a close game.

Game standing: 9-9
Match standing: 3-3-1


Despite another disappointing finish (when the hell will I ever be able to finish above .500???), I was just fine after the tourney. My excuses -- I wasn't able to plan on my deck (in fact, my sideboard was horrible, I wasn't able to play more than half of them the whole day), one of my losses was from the reigning nationals champ, and my 1 other loss and 1 draw were due to puny mistakes that I made late game. More learning points.

Grand Prix Manila

In less than 4 months...



Grand Prix Manila
August 30-31, 2008
SM Megamall Megatrade Hall 1
Lorwyn-Shadowmoor Block Constructed Format