On the debate of the merits of Black Lotus is Gay/r, well, I really don't see any.

Just because a Black Lotus is a Black Lotus doesn't essentially mean that it belongs in every deck. Gay/r is a deck that requires a constant flow of mana. It really doesn't benefit from one-shot mana sources. It is a deck that requires a constant flow of mana. You will always be popping up new critters a turn and always dumping mana into manlands. You also have the Voidmage Prodigies to worry about. A basic Island, I believe, is much better suited to handle such a thirst for mana.

I would put FBB Volcanics at $40 a piece also. Seems pretty much on the ball. :p

Heh.

I sometimes hate being a whore for Foils. Kev Walker is also my favourite Magic artist.

I was really debating whether or not I should replace the Beta Balance in my Keeper deck with this one, but then I soon remembered...

Beta > Foil

Beta Balances are so much harder to find anyway.

Strange.

I was watching Billy Madison when I read that.

But then again, I always watch Billy Madison.

Yeah. I got a headache too.

Some people should really just stop to think. The gaming room is situated right by a tutoring center and a music school.

Although having the place by the music place is pretty awesome. Sometimes you can hear awesome Chopin through the walls.

Good Gawd.

A syrup chugging competition? I SO wish I was there. I'm a champ when it comes to chuggin'.

SuperTroopers 4L!!! <3

57) Because it's not Tog or Slaver

I usually average it third turn. Second happens sometimes, but third is what I usually pull-off.

Of course, I'm prone to the second turn combo of Lackey + Siege-Gang

lol

Metagaming is absolutely key. Pretty much everything I would want to add has already been said. A netdecked Keeper may not really stand a chance, but a finely tuned, in regards to the local metagame, version is a competitor. Level of skill is also an critical factor.

Yeah, those kids are the worst. Especially when I had to bust my balls in that factory all summer long eight hours a day, everday, for eight dollars an hour in pretty crap working conditions. Ugh. Sanding pipes was the worst.

Well, enough of my ranting, good report and congrats!  

The tournament was a blast and it was great playing against you. Hopefully next time I'll bring my A-game.

I'm just bummed about not being able to entertain the entire crowd on that piano in the judge's booth.

hehehe

Awesome! Added the link to the report.

Dueling-Grounds is lacking Petko pics though...

That was a pretty goofy call!

Congratulations on your performance, and nice report!

Oh, I'm Phoenix_Online from MOTL (thanks again for those Beta Moxen! )

Because Balance and Mind Twist are legal in such a format!

Thanks!

Yeah, it really sucks, but shits happens. What really made me mad was the fact that they were both NM/M. I can easily replace them, but it's always finding them in pristine condition which is a bitch.

The fourth Stifle and Null Rod? I can't really say I've had much problems running four of each, although I had no Time Walk for the tournament, which would have taken the fourth Null Rod slot.

In regards to countermagic in Fish, the only options you have is Force of Will, Daze, Misdirection, and Stifle. I really don't like Daze at all, and Misdirection really just proves to be stellar against Suicide Black and Sligh here in Ontario. Suicide Black really isn't a problem anyway. That really just leaves Stifle. I really don't see running four as a problem in a metagame packed with Nevinyrral's Disks, Worldgorger Dragons, Madness, Pernicious Deeds (although Hulk was a bit underrepresented at the tourny), etc.

On Faerie Conclave, there were some times where I wished it were another land due to the come into play ability, but I haven't been displeased with the slot. It could have just as easily been an Island, but the deck ran pretty smooth for me just running three of each.

Hehehe, I was just joking around, but I do want that coverage up!

Dueling Grounds Type One Championship Tournament Report
TOP 8
Report by Andrew Petkovics

Where should I begin?

Of course, I could go straight to the decklist and the subsequent tournament report, but that would mean that I’ll be cutting you short of the events prior to tournament. I’m quite sure that many of you don’t really care about my personal life but what happened that Friday night led to somewhat poor playing the next day.

Here we go.

I was asked by one of my classmates if I wanted to come to his bash on Friday night. Considering I had a really rough week at school, which obviously includes writing an algeo and calculus test on the same freakin’ day, I thought that it would be a well-deserved break from my hectic life. Besides, who says no to free juice?

The bash was nothing too special. The music was just okay and there was more beer than liquor, which is a bad thing. Really, it was only a matter of time until people had too much to drink and pick a fight, which was exactly what happened. My dancing with the ladies was interrupted when a barrage of punches were exchanged by some Italians and Hispanics. Everyone crowded around to see what was going on but that crowd quickly dispersed once a couple gun shots went off. The police sirens that shortly ensued didn’t help either. Everyone raced for the back door, including myself. I was about to jump the fence but looked back to see some drunks barely able to stand trying to get out too – some where even crawling. How could I forget?! I ran back into the house and grabbed a couple forties and a bottle of Jack Daniels, then quickly dashed out with the bottles clanging in my jacket pockets and JD in hand. Mise!

Talk about priorities, eh?

Well, I woke up the next morning in my boxers surrounded by several empty bottles. The details are a bit hazy; I had a fucking massive headache. Those like twelve glasses of water were undoubtedly my hero that day, although I had to piss like a race horse shortly after.

I get on the computer for my morning dose of lesbian action with a side of www.mtgontario.com and www.themanadrain.com surfing. I see a thread on the Dueling Grounds Type One tournament and I remember it was something that I was talking to Richard and Lam about going to. My taskbar clock reads something like 7:00 am. Awesome! The tournament is scheduled to start at 1:00 pm, so I have plenty of time to take a shower and enjoy a nice coffee and banana.

So I arrive at the Royal Canadian Legion. It turns out there’s a pub in the basement! Mise! I look around the tournament site and find Paul having some fun games against IsoKeeper using his Charbelcher deck. Jean-Marc Babin and I play a round of mental magic. Easy to say I got my ass handed to me as Petko is in hangover mode.

I also spotted Elijah Pollock, but he wasn’t going to playing in the tournament. So he couldn’t share his immense amount of Vintage points with us! Grr!

Soon enough, the crew begins to show up. Al was even nice enough to lend me Gay/r! Of course, I lent out all the pimpin’ Beta power out to friends as well because I’m such a super person. After getting the missing pieces of the deck from Lam and Cyril, as Al was playing UW Standstill and needed some of the cards, I was all set to fill out the deck registration slip.

I suppose this is the part where I post the decklist.

Gay/r (en français)

1 Ancestral Recall
4 Cloud of Faeries
4 Curiosity
4 Force of Will
4 Spiketail Hatchling
4 Standstill
4 Stifle
3 Voidmage Prodigy
4 Grim Lavamancer
4 Null Rod

3 Faerie Conclave
3 Island
1 Library of Alexandria
4 Mishra’s Factory
4 Polluted Delta
1 Strip Mine
4 Volcanic Island
4 Wasteland

SB: 2 Sigil of Sleep
SB: 3 Rack and Ruin
SB: 3 Red Elemental Blast
SB: 2 Fire/Ice
SB: 2 Tormod’s Crypt
SB: 3 Maze of Ith

Nothing really out of the ordinary, I would say. Four Null Rods are a real beating!
I spotted a piano on the tournament site! Mise! At least I knew if I scrubbed out I would be able to whip out the Chopin. Awesome!

Enough blather! On to the tournament!

Just to let you know, I took no notes whatsoever because I’m a lazy French fuck. Prepare yourself for some crazy memory action!

Interesting enough I get paired up against Jean-Marc Babin Round One. His name rang a few bells and I recalled that he was the Ontario Provincials champion last year. I was a bit surprised to see him playing Vintage. We talk for a bit and then start rumbling.

Round One – Jean-Marc Babin, playing wMUD with Trinispheres.

Game One
He tries for an early Tangle Wire which meets my Force of Will. This does not look good for Babin as I quickly go into beatdown mode. He really doesn’t have much gas, but he has a shitload of mana. We’re talking like three Workshops and a Tolarian Academy. My Wastelands aren’t so good but it doesn’t really matter, as he become quickly overwhelmed. He drops a Smokestack sometime during the game, but it was way too late to make any sort of impact.

Game Two
I bring in some Fire/Ice and Rack and Ruins. Rack and Ruin is so hardcore. Babin starts off strong again, but this time it’s with a first turn Trinisphere! Who does that? I groan, but then I draw and cream my pants. What a miser! Library of Alexandria! I’m in the money. I Wasteland his Mishra’s Workshop, I believe. I then start dropping down manlands like no one’s business. He has a Rishadan Port halting down my dudes a bit but I’m picking away at his life. I manage to keep his threats off the table (including a Platinum Angel! WTF?!). Things look good until he sneaks out a Goblin Welder. I topdeck a Grim Lavamancer a turn after it becomes active, so by the time I send that dude packing, he has a Platinum Angel and Smokestack out. I do manage to get him down to zero life, but that Angel is a beating. My savage mising kicks in and I draw a second Grim Lavamancer to deal lethal damage to that Platinum Angel to win the game.

1-0-0 (2-0)

Most of the boys did alright. Paul lost to Al, but the games were tight. Sucks to have buddies paired against each other, especially first round. Richard also lost. Boo! If I remember, Lam, Arend, and Cyril all won their first games. Ray drew methinks. I head to the front to see if some ivory tickling is possible, but the judges have that area cut off. Boo! Anyway, me, Paul, and Al go downstairs and hit the pub. A beer was enjoyed. I spot another piano downstairs. This place is paradise! However, I don’t have time to play this round. I head back upstairs for the round two pairings.

I’m up against a regular at my local store. I’m quite sure his name was Andrew Chan. I lost my life total notepad, so names are pretty hazy as well as details. Well, I’ve only seen him play Suicide Black, and I didn’t expect today to be much different.

Round Two – Andrew Chan, playing Suicide Black

Game One
There was really nothing too fascinating about this game. His first turn Phyrexian Negator was matched by my first turn Grim Lavamancer off a Polluted Delta. Things went pretty much downhill from there as I kept on popping out threats. He had maindeck Tsabo’s Webs, which took good care of my manlands, but it really only delayed the inevitable.

Game Two
We both went into beatdown mode early off in the game. We were racing, and things were pretty good after a Fire/Ice, but he had a killer Hymn to Tourach. To make things even worse, he dropped a  Masticore, which took ample care of my side of the table.

Game Three
Again, we both were popping out critters like mad early game and were racing again; quite literally in fact as there was less than ten minutes left in the round and none of us wanted a draw. Things looked pretty bad as he dropped a Necropotence as well as a Zuran Orb. The Orb was quite scary at this point, as he was pretty close behind me in the damage race. Of course, I mised a Null Rod off the top which left him sacrificing a few lands in response to stay alive for a bit. We soon entered a stalemate, with him at one life. Soon enough, I drew a Grim Lavamancer and that was game.

2-0-0 (2-1)

Things were going pretty good so far. Too bad I couldn’t say the same for Richard. Today just wasn’t his day at all. Al, Lam, and yours truly were all 2-0 at this point, so I went down to the pub to celebrate. I also treated the crowd down there to a little Rachmaninoff.

I go back upstairs to get some trades in until the pairings for the third round were posted.

Turns out I was paired against Kitchener’s very own Wayne Oikle, who by the way seems to have developed a habit of drawing the gassiest hands ever against me. Boourns!

Round Three – Wayne Oikle, playing UBR Mask

Game One
Like I said, the gassiest hands ever. A first turn Illusionary Mask, which was followed by a Phyrexian Dreadnought did not bode well for the valiant French hero.

Game Two
I sided in the Rack and Ruins as well as the Maze of Iths. I kept a pretty good hand seeing both a Rack and Ruin and a Maze of Ith. I start off with a Polluted Delta, but he starts off a Duress nabbing my Rack and Ruin. I Wasteland his Underground Sea but he simply shrugs and brings down a Black Lotus for an Illusionary Mask and TWO facedown Dreadnoughts. Like, who does that? I had a Maze for one, but TWO?! Jesus. I get smashed. Wayne Oikle is officially the luckiest Magic player ever!

2-1-0 (0-2)

I was pretty bummed about my first match loss of the day. But it that was absolutely nothing when I soon discovered that one of Lam’s brothers couldn’t find their deck. A deck that just so happened to have my Beta Mox Jet and Beta Mox Ruby. Time for a paragraph break.

FUCK!

We looked around frantically but couldn’t find it. The tournament organizer, Wayne Mittlestead, made announcement concerning the lost deck, but as time progressed, it became more and more evident that the ‘lost’ deck, was in fact, stolen. Who the fuck swipes a deck from a kid?

At this point, time was spent trying to figure out who might have been responsible for stealing the deck. It was noticed that two guys who drove all the way down from Montreal ‘just to watch’ the tournament disappeared from the tournament site. It was rather suspicious, as who drives all the way down from Montreal to come to a tournament for only two around, then vanish like a fart in the wind right after?

I talked to Al and Arend about it and they also thought it had to definitely be them, as they said those two individuals were banned from Carta Magica for stealing infractions or something. I even traded with them prior to the tournament.

Let me just take the time to say,

GAH! MOTHERFUCKING FRENCHIES! BASTARDS! AHHH!!!!

Phew…

Damn, shifty Frenchmen. Heck, I’m French myself, so if anyone knows how shifty the French can be, it’s me. I was really pissed off, but I can just imagine how pissed Lam and his brother were.

Well, it’s just cardboard right?

I spent the rest of the time in the pub until the pairings for the next round were posted. The first prize for the tournament was a Mox Jet, so I was really looking to have it replaced by the end of the day (although it was fugly white bordered).

Round Four – Tony Yip, playing GaT

Game One
I start off very strong this game. I counter his Quirion Dryad, I believe, and resolve an Ancestral Recall. I then dropped down a Cloud of Faeries and a Standstill. It was pretty grim for Tony from that point on. I bring on the manlands and go to town.

Game Two
I side in the Red Elemental Blasts and Sigils of Sleeps for this game. He starts off pretty strong with a Psychatog but it’s not quite a Moat when all your creatures fly. Sometime during the game, I Blast his Psychatog and drop a Standstill, which meets its own Red Elemental Blast. I still keep on the offensive and Tony’s life is looking dangerously low. He Vampiric Tutors for a Pernicious Deed, but it really doesn’t matter as I have the Stifle.

3-1-0 (2-0)

I don’t exactly remember what I did between this round and the one after, but I most likely would have been in the pub. Yes, again.

Round Five – Adrian K. (Sorry, forgot the last name), playing BG Void

Game One
This game was pretty interesting. He was a bit mana screwed for Black, but managed to draw all four Mishra’s Factories. His attempt to resolve a Nether Void was thwarted by my Force of Will. I managed to draw some more Wastelands to take care of some of his Factories, but what was really cool was that I was able to bring out all three Voidmage Prodigies. I then went into Kai beatdown for the game.

Game Two
He mulled down to four, I believe. Ouch. He starts off with nothing and passes the turn. OUCH! That really sucks. This game really was no contest, as when he drew a Swamp to Ritual out something, which met my Force of Will, I had the Strip Mine for that Swamp. I really hate winning like this but, it happens.

4-1-0 (2-0)

Things were going pretty well with respect to the tournament. I just needed to pull a win next round so I can draw my way into the top eight. When the pairings for the sixth round were posted, I saw that I was playing against another regular at my local store, Bryan Finch.

Round Six – Bryan Finch, playing UB Dragon

Game One
I have to say that I was a bit surprised to see Dragon making it this far in the tournament, as I saw quite a bit of Dragon hate. There’s not much I can say about this game as I kept a hand that I should have mulled. Me drawing pretty much shit didn’t really help too much either. He won a counter war over my Stifle on his Worldgorger Dragon. Too bad he already had the Ambassador in his graveyard so I couldn’t wait for him to drop to zero cards in hand if he were to use his Bazaar to mill for it. Meh.

Game Two
There’s really not much I can say about this game either, as I kept an opening hand consisting of three Stifles. He Duressed one of them early game, but the other two pretty much did him in as I went to town with Standstills and critters.

Game Three
I kept a nice hand for this game, so I was feeling pretty good. Too bad those were the only really good cards I saw all game. He Vampiric Tutored early on for what I presumed to be Bazaar. I let it through as I had Wasteland. He dropped the Bazaar and tried for Ancestral Recall, which I responded to with my own. I wasn’t too pleased with drawing three lands off the top. I still had my own Force of Will and a Blue card to pitch, so I did that. I Wasted his Bazaar and passed the turn. He tried to Intuition which was met by my Red Elemental Blast. He then dropped another Bazaar and tried for Animate Dead with a Worldgorger Dragon in the graveyard. I had no Force of Will. Boo!

4-2-0 (1-2)

Things were pretty scary now. I looked at the standings and saw that there’s it would be quite tough for me to make top eight at this point. There was only going to be one 5-2 who will be able to make it in. I had pretty decent tiebreakers but I was really depending on my previous opponents to kick ass.

Round Seven – Andy Kornet, playing IsoKeeper

Game One
I started off with a Grim Lavamancer which he dealt with a Swords to Plowshares. I dropped a Cloud of Faeries and Spiketail Hatchling the following turn. He resolved a Fact or Fiction, flipping over a Isochron Scepter, Swords to Plowshares, a Mox, and some other random stuff. He passed over the Isochron Scepter for the Swords pile, so I assumed he either has another Scepter in hand or nothing at all. Either way, a Null Rod came down on my side of the table. Things were going pretty good for me from that point on, especially with the help of Standstill.

Game Two
Things really didn’t go well for Andy this game. After countering both of my early attempts to drop down Null Rod, all he seemed to draw from that point on were lands. I went to town.

5-2-0 (2-0)

Turns out things went my way, as Bryan Finch won his seventh round game along with some of my other previous opponents. I was hoping that it would be enough to give me high enough tiebreakers to make it in.

It was quite an anxious time when the top eight standings were announced.

1. Frankson Lee, playing TnT
2. Bryan Finch, playing UB Dragon
3. Ian Smith, playing IsoKeeper
4. Wayne Oikle, playing UBR Mask
5. Matthew Kershaw, playing Red Deck Wins
6. Andrew Oyen, playing Food Chain Goblins
7. Wilson Kan, playing Sligh
8. ANDREW PETKOVICS, playing Gay/r

MISE!

It turns out that there was really no contest concerning the tiebreakers. Arend missed out on the top eight, as he finished in ninth place after facing David Rood, who was playing Neo Academy, in the last round of Swiss.

Quarter Finals – Frankson Lee, playing TnT

EDIT - The coverage for this match can be found here:
http://www.mtgontario.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=448

So I guess I couldn’t replace the Mox Jet that day. Meh. Bryan Finch ends up winning the whole thing.

Dragon still wins? WTF?!

Oh, well… Aside from my Moxen playset being broken, it was a pretty good day. I end up getting a Savannah for my troubles.

Savannah?! WTF?!

Lam also ends up paying me back for the Beta Jet and Ruby with assorted pieces of Power 10. He’s a real champ.

Wow. I really half-assed this report near the end. Better cram in the props and slops.

Props

- The pub downstairs! It had a piano too! OMG!
- Wayne Mittlestead, for running such a great tournament.
- Duncan McGregor and Allen Pengelly, for the awesome judging.
- Al Dubuc and Cyril Crocker, for lending me the missing cards.
- Lam Phan, for being a great friend. I’m sorry that ever had to happen.
- Arend Kraehling, for the good finish. Ninth place is still pretty good. Too bad my tiebreakers owned, nay, petkowned yours.
- Peter, for taking the time to come down. You have to play next time!
- Paul Shriar and Ray Mitchell, you guys are great too!
- Richard, for taking it like a man. You’re still my hero!
- Subway, for filling my tummy with food. Wait, you bastards raped my wallet. Into the slops you go!

Slops

- Subway, grrr!
- Those shadey Frenchies!
- Jason Chua, get off your fucking lazy ass and get that coverage up!
- Me, for being a total hypocrite and posting this report like a month after the tournament.

EDIT: Jesus. How could I forget about the most important part of the tournament report?! I came home to watch LOTS and LOTS of LESBIAN PORNOGRAPHY! Chasey Lain is my Godess!

Caron lost to SLIGH?! Explainations are indeed in order!

I like seeing Landstill perform well.

Congrats.

Scary!

Although the latter auction's high bid finish is due to a ton of positive feedback, still, it's quite scary to see it that high

If you catch me outside a time where I'm not working on mathematics, I'm up for a game!

MSN: andrew_petkovics@hotmail.com

Yeah. Gunmetals are hardcore.

I play in toploaders.

They're really not that hard to shuffle once you've gotten used to them. I really don't want to take any chances riffle shuffling a deck filled with with Beta Power and pimping Foils.

I like those Japanese sleeves too.

Dragon Shields are pretty tough, but I didn't really like them too much as I HATE short sleeves.

You can definately get Bazaars for a cheaper price than that. I'm sure people would sell Bazaars at around $100-110 US a pop. Of course, they may not necessarily be NM, but I'm quite certain you can find EX ones around that price.

Other than working eight hours a day every day in a factory during the summer (like I did), I would suggest building a competitive budget deck (I would highly recommend Gay/r) and play in Power tournaments.

I'm just quite amazed that he was able to win with such a shakey mana base! I'm trying to figure out how he could have played spells with such little coloured mana.

Null Rod and Masticore don't really have the best of synergy.

You suggested playing it in the Sideboard to use against Landstill. If you're bringing in Masticores into this matchup, that means you're taking Null Rods out. If this is the case, you really have no idea how important Null Rods are against Landstill; shutting down Nevinyrral's Disk is HUGE. This just leaves them with Fire/Ice to take care of your threats (albeit Fire/Ice is very strong against Fish, you take care of half of their removal right there).

Masticore is also a pretty big card for you in Gay/r. Getting up to four mana in this deck is not really an easy task; casting Masticore itself may be troublesome. Gay/r really tries to stary away from anything over two mana; it really wants to actively use Strip/Wastes, activate manlands, an on top of that, produce a constant stream of threats to overwhelm your opponent. Masticore is a card that requires such a mana investment each turn, which doesn't leave much possibility for popping out new threats.

Masticore is not all that invulnerable to Landstill. Most UR versions are running Chain of Vapour anyway. Don't forget that Teferi's Response also works against Masticore, and the can easily bait you with a Stifle in hand. Masticore does survive Nevinyrral's Disk, which is nice, but isn't Null Rod better anyway?

Masticore is also a Mana Drain target and a half!

Ha! Cute title. However, I don't think having a tournament on Valentines Day will pose a problem to most Magic players!  

Although it's a bit too far to commute for a Frenchie like myself, I hope you have a great tourny! Besides, I have plans of spending quality time with Jack Daniels that weekend.

I'm quite impressed, Razvan. Keep 'em coming, eh? I hope to see you at Untouchables tomorrow!  

$3 seems fair. It costs me $1.25 CAD International, plus +$1 for the bubble envelope if the trade is somewhat special.