TOP EIGHT PREDICTIONS FOR RICHMOND

[forests failed you]

So every big name in Vintage is going to be at this thing.  What are your day one predictions for who will be banging down the door of the top eight?  Please don't put yourself on your own lists:  If you are taking the time to drive/fly all the way out it is implied that you think you can make top eight.

Here is my list in no specific order:

Roland Chang
Travis Laplante
Paul Nicolo
Robert Vroman
Justin Droba
Jeff Anand
JR
Mark Biller

[Lou]

Looks like me and Bob won't be making it, so that frees up two top 8 slots for both days.

Here is my list, assuming they make top 8 at least one of the days and in no particular order:

Jim Gaffney
Randy Beuhler
Roland Chang
Robert Vroman
Stephen Menendian
Ben Kowal
Andy Probasco
Brian Demars

[Juggernaut GO]

don't count on me making it, I'm running wee dragonaut gifts combo.

Top 8 is way too much like work for real, I'll be happy with some russian 9th when I get paired against randy beuhler

[forests failed you]

Haha!  YOu playing Wee Dragonauts scares me a lot more than you playing a net deck.  YOu seem to have a way of working magic with cards taht other people couldn't steal a game with.

[Harlequin]

That must be his new Richmond Secrete Broken Laplante Tech.

Mind's Desire, Dragonaught, Fling!!


... that would make an interesting playmat.

[Cross]

In an unexpected turn of events, with only 2 people going, the GGs will take all top 8 spots.

Kowal will be 9th.

[Komatteru]

Ok, rather than list infinite members from my team, I'm going to be pretty generic on that and just put "Meandecker," since I can't really decide exactly who on the team is going to make it.  I won't be biased and list my entire team, as tempting as that is.

In no order,

Randy Buehler
Brian "The Kabuto Moth" Demars
Teh Brass Man
Eric Becker
Jacob Riehm (he's gonna get his first one FINALLY)
Robert Vroman
Meandecker
Meandecker

[Lost In Admiration]

Eric Becker
At least one more person playing his deck
Another guy from GWS
4 Other people playing decks we've seen before
One of the big names in MWS Aggro not playing MWS Aggro

[PucktheCat]

Jacob Riehm (he's gonna get his first one FINALLY)

Jacob's not going to be there.

The real key to the T8s is going to be how well those that are playing well known archetypes (Gifts, Stax, etc.) are prepared for the emerging threats.  The meta is shifting, and those who recognize it and adapt will do well.

[pyr0ma5ta]

I predict that Buehler will make good on his threat to win power and do so in convincing fashion.  I predict he either takes home a Lotus or a 2nd pick Ancestral/Sapphire.

[MuzzonoAmi]

Buehler will probably take top 16, but if he t8's I'll be quite suprised. Remember when everyone said Zvi would win power?

[Smmenen]

Eric Miller is a lock.  He has made top 8 at every single Richmond tournament he played in and won three of them.  As long as he plays, he'll be top 8.
I think there will be 3-4 Meandeckers in top 8
Travis Laplante
a team ogre player that is not vroman
a northeasterner that is not Brassman
Jed from Short Bus

[Lou]

Buehler will probably take top 16, but if he t8's I'll be quite suprised. Remember when everyone said Zvi would win power?

One problem with your logic.  Zvi doesn't, or at least didn't, know the metagame.  Buehler does.  He has won recent power events in the Northwest.  Do not doubt that he will do very well.

[Moxlotus]

Buehler playing whatever the hell he feels like playing--probably something with Dark Ritual
Eric Becker playing his deck
Another GWS member playing Becker's deck
Vroman playing his deck
Chang playing his deck
Brassman (who will get 2nd place) playing his deck
Eric Miller playing something with Shops and at least 3 completely random cards
Someone I've never heard of playing either Oath or something weird like Dawn of the Dead.

[Klep]

I predict that in a surprise, come-from-behind victory, the New York Mets will put at least 2 people in the Top 8.

[Dante]

I predict that in a surprise, come-from-behind victory, the New York Mets will put at least 2 people in the Top 8.

Yes, but it will cost them $146 million to do it.  At least Isiah Thomas isn't running that team.

[Godot]

I hate to break it to all y'all that are picking Roland, but he will not be there.  In honor of Roland and Bob, since they can not attend, I will be playing 5c Stax, pronouncing all my Rs as Ls, and putting soy sauce on everything.  There will at least be a Wannabe Asian Stax Player in the Top 8.  Dont worry guys, I'll do you proud.

My prediction:
Jim Gaffney
7 other people that dont matter

I am so fucking geeked for this event, by the way.

[Komatteru]

I hate to break it to all y'all that are picking Roland, but he will not be there.  In honor of Roland and Bob, since they can not attend, I will be playing 5c Stax, pronouncing all my Rs as Ls, and putting soy sauce on everything.  There will at least be a Wannabe Asian Stax Player in the Top 8.  Dont worry guys, I'll do you proud.

I can speak Asian.  Does that count?

[MoxMonkey]

A Meandecker with Smmenen's Deck
Travis Laplante   Do you think you can take a Wee Drag?  I didn't think so.
Outlaw
Brassman
I think someone from Team Orge but not Vroman
ForceFieldyou
Eric Miller - I don't no how or why but he seems to just dominate Richmond
Smmenen - if he shows he will make it

I think Buehler will make top16 and be high placing but not Top 8.  If I make it I'll definitely make at least top 16.

[Kowal]

I think Buehler is going to end up somewhere around 3-2 drop.

T8 predictions are silly.  For between 2 and 4 slots, there is a pool of around 30 viable people.  The rest of those slots are almost invariably locals that haven't emerged as name players in the scene yet.

Also, keep in mind to be truly accurate, you need to guess twice.  It's two days, remember folks?  :p

I'll make t8 at least once.

[Smmenen]

I've got TOP SECRET TECH for everyone going to this tournament.  You know Ben Kowal, Andy Probasco and Brian Demars!? (AKA Kowal, Brassman, and Forcefield you)?  I KNOW WHAT THEY ARE PLAYING!!

Kowal and Brassman will play a deck that is only a card or two different from this list.

http://sales.starcitygames.com/deckdatabase/displaydeck.php?DeckID=15603

And everyone and their mother knows that Brian Demars (Forcefieldyou) is going to play a deck that is only a few cards different from this:
http://sales.starcitygames.com/deckdatabase/displaydeck.php?DeckID=15614

That means, people, you need to be sure to pack Red Elemental Blasts and PLENTY Of Null Rods for these players or you will get Kowal/Brassy/Demars owned!

In other words, DON"T BE STUPID - TEST against those decks.

If you lose to Kowal, or Brassy, or Brian - it's your own fault.

you have no excuse.  Test, test, and test some more.

Do you want to reward these people for playing the same deck in tournament after tournament?  Of course not!  Show them that you don't suck and kick their asses!

[Juggernaut GO]

I think I will have to make merchant scroll proud both days.

[Harkius]

I hate to break it to all y'all that are picking Roland, but he will not be there.  In honor of Roland and Bob, since they can not attend, I will be playing 5c Stax, pronouncing all my Rs as Ls, and putting soy sauce on everything.  There will at least be a Wannabe Asian Stax Player in the Top 8.  Dont worry guys, I'll do you proud.

I can speak Asian.  Does that count?

That may be the funniest unintentional thing that I have read in a LONG time. I know that you do, JDizzle, but your referring to it as "speak[ing] Asian" is AWESOME.

Harkius

[Clown of Tresserhorn]

Sucks I'm not going, but I figure:

Jim Gaffney
Doug Linn
Mat Endress
Randy Buehler
Robert Vroman
Jacob Orlove
Ben Kowal


will T8 atleast one between the two days.

I'm really tempted to put Eric Miller up there, but this Richmond will be so different than any others.

[The M.E.T.H.O.D]

noone thinks i'll make t8? ok then....

[forests failed you]

And everyone and their mother knows that Brian Demars (Forcefieldyou) is going to play a deck that is only a few cards different from this:
http://sales.starcitygames.com/deckdatabase/displaydeck.php?DeckID=15614

That means, people, you need to be sure to pack Red Elemental Blasts and PLENTY Of Null Rods for these players or you will get Kowal/Brassy/Demars owned!

In other words, DON"T BE STUPID - TEST against those decks.

Haha, Steverino.  I'm stealing your Tendrils list from the Ohio Tourney and playing that.  I can't wait to pwn you in the mirror match!!!  This tourney is going to be a blast, everyone with a car, private jet, or personal train should def come down to watch this clash of the titans.

[pyr0ma5ta]

I predict that in a surprise, come-from-behind victory, the New York Mets will put at least 2 people in the Top 8.

I lol'd.

I'm pretty sure that Buehler is one of the best players ever to play the game, and is definitely among the top 10 still interested in slinging spells, even if he doesn't get to do so very often.  He will t8 at least one of the 2 days.

[orgcandman]

I've got TOP SECRET TECH for everyone going to this tournament.  You know Ben Kowal, Andy Probasco and Brian Demars!? (AKA Kowal, Brassman, and Forcefield you)?  I KNOW WHAT THEY ARE PLAYING!!

Kowal and Brassman will play a deck that is only a card or two different from this list.

http://sales.starcitygames.com/deckdatabase/displaydeck.php?DeckID=15603

And everyone and their mother knows that Brian Demars (Forcefieldyou) is going to play a deck that is only a few cards different from this:
http://sales.starcitygames.com/deckdatabase/displaydeck.php?DeckID=15614

That means, people, you need to be sure to pack Red Elemental Blasts and PLENTY Of Null Rods for these players or you will get Kowal/Brassy/Demars owned!

In other words, DON"T BE STUPID - TEST against those decks.

If you lose to Kowal, or Brassy, or Brian - it's your own fault.

you have no excuse.  Test, test, and test some more.

Do you want to reward these people for playing the same deck in tournament after tournament?  Of course not!  Show them that you don't suck and kick their asses!

I hate to sound like a broken record but there IS a certain R/W hate deck that smacks these two decks silly when played correctly...

[LordHomerCat]

So uhhhhh.... I'm guessing you aren't planning to run a Gifts variant, eh Smemmen?  And "I speak Asian" is quite hilarious.

[MuzzonoAmi]

I think Buehler is going to end up somewhere around 3-2 drop.

T8 predictions are silly.  For between 2 and 4 slots, there is a pool of around 30 viable people.  The rest of those slots are almost invariably locals that haven't emerged as name players in the scene yet.

These are the two truest things anyone has said here, closely followed by Steve's observation about Eric Miller. The upper eschelon of TMD'ers is very comperable, and it's going to come down to [generally] unknown factors, like pairings and who guesses at the meta the best (and we're all guessing, given how screwed up the metagame will be).

I will predict that I'm going to beat Smmenycakes with a terrible deck, possibly budget, and that Team Chewie Nips will put at least 1 player in the top8 each day.