Vintage For Cash 3 in Vacaville results/lists/pics, etc

[LotusHead]

16 people showed up for our tourney, 4 rounds of swiss and cut to top 8!
(Will probably be swiss +1, cut to top 4 in future. )

Top 4 was
Heinter Litz (Grixis control) vs Blaine Christiansen (Bob/Welder/Baleful Strix w/IZZET CHARM)
Stephen Menendian (Grixis Control) vs Frankie Mach (Grixis control).

Finals:
Frankie Mach vs Blaine Christiansen

Winner of 164ish dollars: Frankie Mach!
2nd Blaine Christiansen 82ish dollars
3rd/4th Stephen Menendian/Heiner Litz 40ish dollars each.
I got technical difficulties dealt with, and BEHOLD!
Vid of tourney that I linked elsewhere
The finals match vids were taken at super high HD big resolution (so 1gb and 700mb). Maybe I can eventually upload them to YouTube (say, at work).
Game 1 of Finals is up!
Game 2 of Finals is up!

1st Frankie Mach Bob/Snapcaster Grixis Control
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mana Crypt
1 Black Lotus
1 Time Walk
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Blightsteel Colossus
1 Sol Ring
1 Jace The Mindsculpter
1 Fact or Fiction
1 Tinker
1 Demonic Tutor
4 Dark Confidant
4 Force of Will
2 Spell Pierce
2 Mental Mistep
4 Snapcaster Mage
1 Voltaic Key
1 Time Vault
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Mystical Tutor
2 Mana Drain
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Duress
1 Lightning Bolt
1 Ponder
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Brainstorm
1 Flusterstorm
1 Hurkyll;s Recall
4 Polluted Delta
1 Scalding Tarn
2 Island
1 Samp
3 Underground Sea
2 Volcanic Island
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Library of Alexandria
SB
1 Steel Sabbotage
3 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Red Elemental Blast
1 Lightning Bolt
1 Surgical Extraction
1 Spell Pierce
1 Pyroclasm
1 Flusterstorm
1 Ravenous Trap
1 Duress
1 Mental Misstep
1 Echoing Truth
(If there is a card missing, it's a Misty Rainforest.

2nd Blaine Christiansen
4 Scalding Tarn
3 Pollluted Delta
3 Island
1 Mountain
2 Undedrground Sea
2 Volcanic Island
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Solr Ring
1 Mana Crypt
1 Time Vault
1 Voltaic Key
4 Dark Confidant
3 Goblin Welder
4 Baleful Strix
2 Snapcaster Mage
1 Myr Battlesphere
2 Jace, The Mind Sculpter
4 Force4 of Will
3 Izzet Charm
3 Mental Misstep
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Yawgmoths's Will
1 Brainstorm
1 Time Walk
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Tinker
SB
3 Flusterstorm
2 Ingot Chewer
3 Energy Flux
3 Nihil Spellbomb
2 Tormod's Cryupt
1 Pyroblast
1 Red Elemental Blast

3rd/4th Stephen Menenedian
4 Dark Confidant
4 jace, The Mind Sculptor
4 Force of Will
4 Flusterstorm
1 Tezzeret, The Seeker
2 Mana Drain
1 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Time Vault
1 Voltaic Key
1 Tinker
1 BlightSteel Colossus
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Brainstorm
1 Ponder
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Time Walk
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Thirst, for Knowledge
1 Goblin Welder
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Ruby
1 Black Lotus
1 Sol Ring
1 Black Lotus
 1 Lotus Petal
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Island
2 Volcanic Island
3 Underground Sea
4 Scalding Tarn
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Polluted Delta
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mana Vault
SB
4 Leyline of the Void
2 Yixlid Jailer
1 Red Elemental Blast
1 Pyroblast
4 Ingot Chewer
1 Mountain
2 Lightning Bolt

3rd/4th Heiner Litz
4 Force of Will
4 Dark Confidant
2 Snapcaster Mage
2 Mana Drain
1 Flusterstorm
3 Mental Misstep
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Time Walk
1 Brainstorm
1 Ponder
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Pithing Needle
1 Tinker
1 Blightsteel Colossus
1 Time Vault
1 Voltaic Key
1 Sensei's Divining Top
3 Lightning Bolt
2 Jace, The Mind Sculptor
1 BBlack Lotus
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Jet
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Crypt
4 Scalding Tarn
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Flooded Strand
2  Volcanic Island
3 Underground Sea
2 Island
1 Snow Covered Island
1 Tolarian Academy
SB
4 Ingot Chewer
1 Viashino Heretic
4 Leyline of the Void
1 Pithing Needle
1 Yixlid Jailer
1 Mountain
1 Red Elemental Blast
1 Flusterstorm
2 Pyroblast
Possibly the most expensive deck I've ever seen, as it's all alpha/beta when possible.

5th - 8th Galen Lemei
2 Griselbrand
1 Memory's Journey
1 Show and Tell
1 Mental Misstep
2 Tendrils of Agony
1 Mind's Desire
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Hawgmoth's Bargain
1 Necropotnce
4 Oath of Druids
3 Jace, The Mind Sculptor
1 Nature's Claim
1 Hurkyl;s Recall
2 Thoughtseize
4 Force of Will
1 Ponder
1 Time Walk
1 Brainstorm
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Demonic Tutor
4 Dark Ritual
1 Blask Lotus
1 Lotus Petal
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Sol Ring
1 Volcanic Island
2 Underground Sea
2 Tropical Island
1 Polluted Delta
4 Misty Rainforest
1 Island
4 Forbidden Orchard
SB
2 Flusterstorm
1 Duress
2 Pyroclasm
1 Forest
2 Nature's Claim
4 Leyline of the Void
2 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Nihil Spellbomb

5th-8th Adam Telleen
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Blightsteel Colossus
1 Voltaic Key
1 Time Vault
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
1 Time Walk
1 Nihil Spellb omb
1 Tinker
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Thirst for Knowledge
3 Dark Confidant
3 Snapcaster Mage
2 Jace, The Mind Sculptor
2 Lightning Bolt
1 Thoughtsieze
4 Force of Will
3 Mana Drain
2 Mental Misstep
1 Flusterstorm
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Strip Mine
1 Tolarian Academy
2 Island
2 Polluted Delta
4 Scalding Tarn
3 Underground Sea
2 Volcanic Island
SB
4 Ingot Chewer
1 Viashino Heretic
1 Mountain
2 Red Elemental Blast
1 Pyroclasm
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Lightning Bolt
1 Pihting Needle
1 Grafdiggers's Cage
1 Flusterstorm
1 Yixlid Jailer


5th-8th Monica Kawas
3 Triskellion
4 Tangle Wire
4 Metalworker
1 Sol Ring
4 Arcbound Ravager
2 Sword of Fire and Ice
4 Myr Retriever
3 SkullClamp
1 Mana Crypt
1 Memory Jar
4 Sphere of Resistance
1 Trinisphere
1 Mana Vault
4 Lodestone Golem
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Strip Mine
4 Wasteland
2 City of Traitors
1 Tolarian Academy
4 Ancient Tomb
4 Mishra's Workshop
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
SB
4 Etched Champion
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
4 Chalice of the Void
2 Phyrexian Revoker
2 Slash Panther
2 Grafdigger's Cage

5th-8th Jeff Neilson


// Lands
    4  Wasteland
    4  Mishra's Workshop
    1  Strip Mine
    1  Tolarian Academy
    4  Ancient Tomb
    4  Mishra's Factory (4)

// Creatures
    3  Phyrexian Metamorph
    4  Lodestone Golem
    3  Metalworker
    1  Duplicant

// Spells
    1 [BIN] Mana Crypt
    1  Mox Jet
    1  Sol Ring
    4  Tangle Wire
    1  Trinisphere
    1  Black Lotus
    1  Mox Sapphire
    1  Mana Vault
    2  Crucible of Worlds
    4  Chalice of the Void
    4  Smokestack
    1  Mox Emerald
    1  Mox Ruby
    1  Mox Pearl
    3  Trading Post
    4  Sphere of Resistance

// Sideboard
SB: 2  Grafdigger's Cage
SB: 3  Relic of Progenitus
SB: 4  Juggernaut
SB: 3  Null Rod
SB: 1  Phyrexian Revoker
SB: 2  Pithing Needle


The Meta:
Grixis Control
Empty Storm w/Gush
Grixis Control
Dredge
Baleful Strix/Bob/Welder Control
UW Bomberman
Grislebrand Oath
Sensei Sensei
Grixis Control
Baleful Strix control w/Izzet Charm
Grixis Control
Grixis Control
Rivers Affinity
Postal Worker MUD Stax
Bant Fish
Oath Storm

[Dr_Tongue]

I believe that the "3rd/4th Stephen Menenedian" list actually has a Blightsteel Colossus in it rather than a Darksteel variety like listed. I seem to recall my Hurkyl's Recall aimed at Steve to keep me alive G3 resulted in a Mana Drain moment.

Another lackluster performance for my cling on favorite deck. I'll brew some fresher cards maybe if there's another I can make though for sure

[LotusHead]

Good catch! I shoved SMOKESTACK in front of HEINER's face, and he drained it, DT'd for other combo piece, and won. If I hadn't been so presumptuous as to think "He can't always have good cards in hand", I might have gotten there. But Heiner packs his deck with ONLY good cards. :/

[Dr_Tongue]

Interesting to see 4x Vault/Key in the T4. It's a bus I'll have to get on I guess although I find the 2 card combo obnoxious myself but if it wins the game... Especially with so many ways to get it out (Tezz etc) or tutor up.

[Smmenen]

This is just the beginning!  It was great to meet all of the Cali folks, and I had a great time.   We are hopefully working on building a vibrant scene out here.

I had a wonderful top 4 match with Frankie Mach that was fascinating, entertaining, educational and great fun.   

I can hardly wait for more of these tournaments! 

[LotusHead]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjvNxVLXl-k&feature=youtu.be
Here are my pics for tourney. Making a YouTube video was easier than my usual way, because with new smartphone, I took so many pics!

Enjoy! Music by iVardensphere! Rest of top 8 lists later tonight, or tomorrow. Lemme know if list's numbers are off.

[Bill Copes]

After scouring Steve's list a couple times, I noticed that Black Lotus is listed twice.

Is 4 Flusterstorm working well?  You're the only person that seems to be maxing out on them at the moment.

[Smmenen]

I would play more if I could. 

[LotusHead]

After scouring Steve's list a couple times, I noticed that Black Lotus is listed twice.

Would you believe Stephen plays 2 Black Lotuses? It is indeed listed twice on his deck registration sheet.

[Dr_Tongue]

After scouring Steve's list a couple times, I noticed that Black Lotus is listed twice.

Would you believe Stephen plays 2 Black Lotuses? It is indeed listed twice on his deck registration sheet.

I believe his answer is probably "I'd play more if I could" poking in jest at the comment above your's Jeff

[LotusHead]

After scouring Steve's list a couple times, I noticed that Black Lotus is listed twice.

Would you believe Stephen plays 2 Black Lotuses? It is indeed listed twice on his deck registration sheet.

I believe his answer is probably "I'd play more if I could" poking in jest at the comment above your's Jeff

I actually wasn't kidding. I listed black lotus twice because it's listed twice on his deck reg!

[hitman]

With all the Goblin Welders in the top 4, why was there no Gifts Ungiven?

[LotusHead]

The last of the decklists have been posted in main post (and vid link put there too).
Lemme know if anything doesn't add up!

[aahz]

Wrong Adam in the Top 8. I was playing Bobs. 

[LotusHead]

Thanks, fixed!

[heiner]

This was a fun tournament and definitely worth the 4 hours drive. I had a awesome time seing Lotushead again and meeting new great people. I totally blew it against Blaine though in the Semis, I should have definitely won the game after resolving confi, Anc, Snap/Anc against nothing but a Battlesphere. I was one mana short of killing him with bolt, bolt, Snap/bolt and was so focused on this play that I didn't evaluate other options. He only had tempo while I had +7CA which should have won me the game if I hadn't played that aggressively.

[The Atog Lord]

This looks like an awesome Top Eight. Of course, I'm glad to see Ritual Oath making it to top eight. And BC's Neo Control Slaver build looks awesome. Blaine, how did you like Izzet Charm?

[LotusHead]

The original post is now complete with top 8 lists and meta breakdown.
BC listed his deck as "The deck formerly known as Control Slaver"

[LSD25]

i thought steve was a east coast person...  i would have made the 2 hour trek for this had i known the challengers i would be facing.

[LotusHead]

http://www.facebook.com/groups/267586756684840/
Here is the link to our Norcal Vintage Scene facebook group, so you can stay in the loop!

[BC]

i thought steve was a east coast person...  i would have made the 2 hour trek for this had i known the challengers i would be facing.

Steve now lives in East Bay.  He is but the most well-known quality player that you will find at Vacaville Vintage for Cash tournaments.  So far these tournaments have been a good mix of established Vintage players and people who are new to the format, who will hopefully stick with it.

This looks like an awesome Top Eight. Of course, I'm glad to see Ritual Oath making it to top eight. And BC's Neo Control Slaver build looks awesome. Blaine, how did you like Izzet Charm?

Izzet Charm was super fun, albeit a little slow sometimes.  My hope was that it would effectively take the place of Lightning Bolt, Mana Drain (or other counters), and Thirst for Knowledge (for the Welders), but would provide the flexibility to use it for the optimal purpose depending on the situation.  It succeeded satisfactorily.  I did cast it for each of the three modes at least once during the tournament.  I only used it to cycle cards once, because frankly the Welders were pretty ineffective and got sided out most of the time.  If I was playing this deck again tomorrow, I would probably take out the Welders and Strix in favor of more disruption and card draw, but I would keep the Izzet Charms.

[Jblaze4lif]

I think 4 Baleful Strix and 3 Welder is just too many slots. I would try 2 of each. This will free up 3 slots.

Ive run 2 of each with decent results. The 2 strix have helped me win games vs RUG and is awesome vs a Golem. The Welders are great if you expect Dredge or more Workshops.

[LotusHead]

I figured out how to get my 700mb and 1.1gb videos (6 and 8 minutes each) onto YouTube.  They are linked in original post!

Also lemme know if you are ok with the "Summary vid of tourney" of if you prefer the 50+pics with commentary.