Top Four Split *1st*- Black and Gold - April 13 - w/ Pics!

[Lou]

The weekend begins with most of the Colorado Crew assembling at my house for some gaming, smoking and drinking.

Travis Spero is the first to show up. Travis schools me on Dragon Warrior 2, and we progress my game in half an hour what would have taken me at least a day by myself. He’s a Nintendo master.

Trav’s brother Josh Marcella is next to drop in. Josh and his wife are leaving for Oregon in the next few months, and this would be his last weekend free to kick it with the gang. I’m going to miss the fuck out of you brother!

Josh brings over a bottle of Sammy Hagar’s tequila, Cabo Wabo. He swore the shit was smooth, but I think he’s a fucking retard. Hard core shit.

My soul brother Mangina rides his girlfriend’s scooter over, and we have four to play Risk. I rode the scooter in a parking lot by my house, and I hadn’t felt so happy in a long time. It was my first time on anything like it. No motorcycle experience whatsoever. It was fucking bad ass, for sure.

The first game of Risk was bullshit. Josh has no idea how to play, so he basically put me all in to fight him in one epic battle to start the game, basically neutering the both of us in the process. Trav conquered all of North America, and the game was over in short fashion.

Game two was more interesting. Brennen Cook made it over, and became our fifth. It was a classic game of Risk. Tons of bullshitting and yelling and arguing.  There were multiple threats of quitting. In the end, my superior skills prevailed, and I took it down. Set sizes became the most important factor in the end. Josh and Mangina were my final two opponents. They were dead set on taking each other out after a few minor skirmishes,  and while they were busy playing grab ass, I was able to amass a huge force for the victory.
Risk is one of the best games I have ever played. There is something very evil about the game though. It always brings out the worst in me, and I think in some of the people that I play with, as well. I’m surprised to have never been involved in a fist fight playing Risk. I’ve heard of it, but never experienced it.

The night quickly degenerated as we consumed too much alcohol and not enough food and water.

Jim Gaffney was the next to show up. Risk was put away and Guitar Hero and Magic were broke out.

Scotty Limoges and Bob Yu rounded out the crew.

We ended up testing some and discussing the format and where it is and what is good. Flash was definitely the most discussed deck.

I ended up getting a hangover that night, from the afternoon and evening drinking. Too much food and too much booze ended up being my downfall, and in the end I was left with neither. I passed out feeling terrible.

In the morning I awoke to Trav and Josh and a big mess at my house. These inconsiderate bastards never clean up behind themselves. Jimmy maybe. No one else. Fucking slobs.

The tournament is at 11, and we wake up with plenty of time to brew some coffee and catch some fresh air. Lists are finished we prepare for battle.

This would be my weapon today:

Bob Long

4 Dark Confidant
1 Tendrils of Agony

4 Brainstorm
3 Ponder
2 Sensei’s Divining Top

1 Ancestral Recall
1 Time Walk
1 Timetwister
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Necropotence
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Imperial Seal

4 Force of Will
2 Pact of Negation
3 Thoughtseize
2 Duress
1 Chain of Vapor
1 Hurkyl’s Recall

4 Dark Ritual
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mana Crypt
1 Lotus Petal
3 Polluted Delta
2 Bloodstained Mire
1 Flooded Strand
3 Underground Sea
3 Island
1 Swamp

Sideboard:

1 Island
1 Swamp
1 Volcanic Island
4 Red Elemental Blast
1 Pyroblast
1 Tinker
1 Darksteel Colossus
1 Thoughtseize
1 Duress
3 Extirpate

My notes aren’t the best, but they are decent.

Round 1 – Jay playing Flash

I have found Flash to be as good a match-up as you could expect. The hand disruption can be brutal on them, and we have a pretty fast clock as well.

Jay won the die roll, and would be on the play. I Thoughtseize after FoW on his FoW for the Thoughtseize. He Merchant Scrolled for Ancestral Recall. I get Bob next turn and ride him to victory. Sensei’s Diving Top won me this game, after Imperial Seal found me Will.

Game two was a breeze, with I believe a turn 2 Necropotence after a turn one Thoughtseize.

To Jay’s defense, he did have to mulligan to five both games. Bad beats.

1-0

Round 2 – Mike playing Goblins

This was a really amazing match for me.

Game one I play land, Black Lotus, Mox Sapphire, Dark Ritual, Demonic Tutor for Dark Ritual, Dark Ritual, Yawgmoth’s Will, Black Lotus, Dark Ritual x2, Demonic Tutor for the Tendrils and the turn one win.

Game two is just as silly, with a turn two into Tinker for Darksteel Colossus. I had FoW as well for any threats/bounce.

2-0

Round 3 – Duncan playing Tyrant Oath

Duncan beat me at the last tournament, with Flash. They were stupid kills, and I didn’t feel good about them. I really wanted to beat Duncan. I scouted earlier, and knew he was playing Oath.

Game one was intense. Duncan had an early Fastbond and I believe all his Gushes very fast. I FoWed something critical, and a few turns of draw go happened, in which Duncan found Yawgmoth’s Will with a disadvantage tutor. He had used all his Gushes earlier, and thus had to pass the turn. I draw and lay a land. I have two cards in hand. Duncan doesn’t put me on FoW as he casts Will. He was right. I had Pact of Negation. This was the only time I used it all day, expect to pitch to FoW. It won me this game one. I did have to burn a Dark Ritual to pay for it, but it saved me the game. I drew better and won shortly after.

Game two was rather shitty, as Duncan had the turn one Fastbond followed by many Gushes and a Tendrils for the win on turn one.

Game three went to time, as we battled back and forth for many turns before time was eventually called and the game ended in a stale mate, and thus a draw.

Duncan is a good player, and he has been putting up solid results at Carl’s for a while now.

2-0-1

Round 4 – Eric playing manaless Ichorid

Game went as expected. I almost pulled out the win though, with six chances to see a Dark Ritual out of three remaining for the win. I didn’t, and lost game one to zombie tokens on turn three. His Chalice/Leyline/Bazaar were too much to fight turn one.

Game two was fucking brilliant.

Eric all but has the game wrapped up. He had the Leyline again, and I had nothing to power through with. I sided in Tinker/Darksteel Colossus on the hopes of getting it early and riding it to victory. I see Tinker off Top, and decide to go for it.

I Tinker, and as I am searching my library, I ask Eric if he had the answer to Platinum Angel. He said no, that he sided out his Angel of Despair. I ask him if he wants to move on to game three, and he agrees. I had the DSC in hand ready to put it into play.

Game three was not very exciting. Eric realized that I Jedi mind fucked him, and I think it put him on tilt.

Eric, if you read this, I don’t mean any disrespect or anything like that. You are always a great opponent, and most of our matches are epic.

3-0-1

Round 4 – Steve playing Fish

ID

3-0-2

I finish the swiss as the number one seed. Four of my opponents are in top 8, so my breakers are pretty tasty.

Top 8 – Josh playing MUD

Bob and a few bad decisions by Josh let me pull out a victory game one. I forced a Dupes, and he got down a Smokestack. Bob beats Smokestack though, and the card advantage was enough to overcome saccing permanents.

Game two was also about Bob. Two Bobs. They beat MUD.

Also, two extra basics are might tasty.

4-0-2

Top 4 – Brett playing manaless Ichorid

We decide to top four split, as Brett, Steve and I are all in top four. Duncan rounded us out. I prize split with Josh before our match, so I ended up with $26 for my efforts.

After the event, we went to The Draft, a sports bar right by the tournament site. This is something we always do. This time, since the event was over fairly quickly, we decided to play in a poker tournament the bar holds every Sunday as part of the Denver Poker Tour. Brett scrubbed early, but Steve and I made the final table. I ended up losing after a three way pot was called down in which I had AQ of diamonds. Pre-flop I knew I was going in against 66 and KQ of spades. The KQ hit another K, and I ate shit.

Good times though.

Here are some pics, as well, for your viewing pleasure.

All events in this tournament report are subject to change at any time, as I might have mixed up a detail or two. Possibly.

No props or slops, just some shout outs.

Matt Guzzo, good luck brother. The fucking Navy man. You have no idea. Keep your head up. I’m sure I’ll see you again.

Josh, good luck to you as well. You’re my brother, and I hope your new life in Oregon is as beautiful as you are.

For those interested, the top 8 was 2x Flash, 2x Oath, 1x MUD, 1x Ichorid, 1x Fish, 1x Bob Long

edit: Here are all the lists:

6th Vintage Proxy (4/13/08) Top 8 Decklists

26 Participants
 
Lou Christopher  1st  Place  Bob Long

Main Deck
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Lotus Petal
1 Mana Crypt
2 Sensei's Divinng Top
4 Brainstorm
3 Ponder
3 Thoutseize
2 Duress
4 Force of Will
2 Pact of Negation
4 Dark Confidant
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Tendrils of Agony
1 Time Walk
4 Dark Ritual
1 Imperial Seal
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Chain of Vapor
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Timetwister
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Necropotence

Land
3 Polluted Delta
2 Bloodstained Mire
1 Flooded Strand
3 Island
1 Swamp
3 Underground Sea

Sideboard
4 Red Elemental Blast
1 Pyroblast
1 Volcanic Island
1 Swamp
1 Island
3 Extirpate
1 Tinker
1 Darksteel Colossus
1 Thoughtseize
1 Duress
 
Duncan Anderson  2nd Place  Tyrant Oath

Main Deck
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
4 Force of Will
2 Duress
1 Brainfreeze
1 Chain of Vapor
4 Oath of Druids
1 Krosan Reclamation
2 Tidespout Tyrant
1 Flash of Insight
2 Thoughtseize
3 Merchant Scroll
3 Ponder
4 Gush
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Demonic Tutor
4 Brainstorm
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Time Walk
1 Fastbond
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Ancestral Recall

Land
4 Forbidden Orchard
2 Polluted Delta
3 Flooded Strand
3 Underground Sea
1 Volcanic Island
2 Tropical Island
1 Island

Sideboard
2 Trickbind
1 Rebuild
1 Hurkyl's Recall
2 Rd Elemental Blast
1 Goblin Bombardment
1 Tendrils of Agony
1 Empty the Warrens
4 Leyline of the Void

Steve Golenda  3rd Place  U/W/B Fish

Main Deck
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Sapphire
4 Dark Confidant
4 Meddling Mage
3 Jotun Grunt
3 Aven Mindsensor
3 Thoughtseize
4 Brainstorm
4 Force of Will
3 Swords to Plowshares
1 Ancestral Recall
4 Stifle
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Time Walk

Land
1 Plains
1 Scrubland
2 Tundra
2 Underground Sea
1 Strip Mine
4 Wasteland
1 Swamp
1 Island
3 Flooded Strand
3 Polluted Delta

Sideboard
2 Duress
1 Yawgmoth's Will
2 Ronom Unicorn
2 Kami of Ancient Law
2 Umezawa's Jitte
4 Kataki, War's Wage
2 Yixlid Jailer
 
Brett Piazza  4th Place  Ichorid

Main Deck
1 Angel of Despair
4 Golgari Grave-Troll
4 Ichorid
4 Unmask
2 Flame-Kin Zealot
4 Serum Powder
4 Leyline of the Void
4 Bridge From Below
4 Narcomoeba
4 Dread Return
4 Stinkweed Imp
3 Emerald Charm
4 Cabal Therapy
2 Cephalid Sage
4 Golgari Thug

Land
4 Bazaar of Baghdad
4 Dryad Arbor

Sideboard
4 Chalice of the Void
1 Platinum Angel
2 Reverent Silence
3 Contagion
1 Emerald Charm
4 Bayou
 
Brennan Cook   5th Place   Tyrant Oath

Main Deck
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Jet
4 Oath of Druids
3 Tidespout Tyrant
1 Fastbond
1 Krosan Reclamation
1 Ancestral Recall
4 Brainstorm
4 Force of Will
1 Brain Freeze
1 Chain of Vapor
4 Gush
1 Vampiric Tutor
2 Thoughtseize
3 Merchant Scroll
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Time Walk
4 Ponder
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Duress
 
Land
1 Island
2 Polluted Delta
3 Flooded Strand
4 Forbidden Orchard
2 Tropical Island
1 Volcanic Island
3 Underground Sea

Sideboard
2 Red Elemental Blast
1 Island
1 Tendrils of Agony
1 Empty the Warrens
4 Leyline of the Void
2 Tormod's Crypt
1 Rebuild
3 Duress
 
Nicholas Goodman    6th Place    Flash

Main Deck
1 Black Lotus
1 Lotus Petal
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Body Double
1 Body Snatcher
1 Carrion Feeder
1 Mogg Fanatic
4 Protean Hulk
1 Reveillark
1 Ancestral Recall
4 Brainstorm
1 Chain of Vapor
4 Flash
4 Force of Will
1 Misdirection
1 Mystical Tutor
4 Pact of Negation
2 Summoner's Pact
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Demonic Tutor
4 Merchant Scroll
2 Ponder
2 Thoughtseize
 
Land
3 Island
3 Flooded Strand
3 Polluted Delta
2 Tropical Island
2 Underground Sea
   
Sideboard
1 Heart Sliver
4 Virulent Sliver
4 Leyline of the Void
1 Hurkyl's Recall
2 Rebuild
3 Revernt Silence
 
Jay Trojan    7th Place    Flash

Main Deck
1 Black Lotus
1 Lotus Petal
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Body Double
1 Body Snatcher
1 Carrion Feeder
1 Mogg Fanatic
4 Protean Hulk
1 Reveillark
1 Ancestral Recall
4 Brainstorm
1 Chain of Vapor
4 Flash
4 Force of Will
1 Misdirection
1 Mystical Tutor
4 Pact of Negation
1 Summoner's Pact
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Demonic Tutor
4 Merchant Scroll
1 Abeyance
2 Thoughtseize

Land
1 Island
1 Tundra
2 Tropical Island
2 Underground Sea
4 Polluted Delta
3 Flooded Strand

Sideboard
2 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Rebuild
4 Leyline of the Void
3 Reverent Silence
3 Chalice of the Void
1 Tinker
1 Darksteel Colossus
 
Joshua Marcella  8th Place  MUD

Main Deck
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Jet
1 Mana Vault
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
4 Tangle Wire
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Sphere of Resistance
3 Thorn of Amethyst
1 Trinisphere
4 Metalworker
2 Triskelion
1 Duplicant
1 Sundering Titan
2 Karn, Silver Golem
1 Memory Jar
 
Land
4 Mishra's Workshop
4 Wasteland
2 City of Traitors
4 Ancient Tomb
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Strip Mine
3 Ghost Quarter

Sideboard
4 Leyline of the Void
2 Triskelion
4 Pithing Needle
3 Tormod's Crypt
2 Duplicant

This is Mike, my round 2 opponent. He wasn't so stoked to have taken three total turns.


Josh Marcella playing MUD


Brennen lost after casting all four of these FoW. And a Thoughtseize in the middle.


Brennen Cook playing Tyrant Oath with Crazy Carl in the background


Misty. I don't know what she was playing


Steve Golenda playing Fish against Control Slaver


Brett Piazza playing manaless Ichorid, about to face a Tormod's Crypt.


manaless Ichorid laughing at Orb of Dreams


Nice board against Stax.

[pierce]

i dont have the ability to create my own posts.

4x dark confidant
4x meddling mage
3x Aven Mindcensor
3x Grunt

4x Brainstorm
4x Force of Will
4x Stifle
3x Swords to Plowshares
3x Thoughtseize
1x Demonic tutor
1x vampiric tutor
1x mystical tutor

1x black lotus
1x mox sapphire
1x mox pearl
1x mox jet

3x polluted delta
3x flooded strand
2x tundra
1x scrubland
2x undergroud sea
1x strip mine
4x wasteland
1x swamp
1x plains
1x island

SB:
4x kataki
2x jailer
2x Kami of Ancient Law
2x Random Unicorn
2x Duress
2x Jitte
1x Yawgmoth's Will


I get there late, because I showered.

I finish sleeving while my Rd 1 opponnent graciously waits.

RD 1 Some sorta slaver.

He wins the roll. I have a recall based hand, and keep.

He drops chalice at zero, nuking my white source. In response to Magnus of the Moon, I recall off Underground Sea. No FOW. I discard my white source on my next turn, as I have eight after just a mountain land drop.
He play welder. He welds out his own chalice, and I'm stuck glaring ay my swords to plowshares. Pitching the dead card may have been the intuitive play, but all my cards are dead. Unless I rip a basic plains, I lose. This way, if he misplays and welds out his chalice, I can pull out of the position I'm in.

-1 Mystical Tutor
-1 Stifle
-1 Demonic Tutor
-1 Jotun Grunt
+2 Jitte
+2 Kataki

G2 I win on Meddling mage, grunt, and jitte.

G3 I have to fight through a Pentavus   I wind up stifling my own confidant to survive at two, to swing for lethal. GGs.

RD2 Flash
Win the Roll
G1 I Play Bob, stifle some fethlands, and waste some duals. Get there 2006 style, I have no idea what he's playing.

-1 Grunt
-1 Demonic Tutor
+ 2 Duress

G2
I Force through a Thoughtseize, taking his flash. I Drop a Med Mage on that shit. I Drop Aven Mindcensor. GGs.

RD 3 Oath
Lose the Roll
I have no enchantment answers g1. Lose in quick form, as I kept a no FOW hand.

-1 Grunt
-1 Demonic Tutor
-1 Swords to Plowshares
-3 Mindscensor
+2 Duress
+2 Kami
+2 Unicorn

G2
I thoughtseize. He has lands and ancestral, and brainstorm. Take your ancestral.
He plays land and passes.
I play Meddling Mage.
"On Oath I Presume?"
"Brainstorm."

G3

I lead with Duress. I dont have my notes on what was in his hand. Srry. What I can recall is that He played his second, of two lands, next turn. It was a flooded strand. I get to untap. Stifle rocks his world. GGs

Rd 4 Manaless Ichorid
My roomate and I draw.

Rd 5 Bob Long
Lou and I draw in.

Top 8 Flash
I lose the roll.
He wins turn one or two. I needed to be on the play.

-1 Demonic Tutor
-1 Grunt
+2 Duress

G2 I open with Thoughtseize. He Force of Wills it. I have Force in my Hand. I Declare Force as a spell quickly, and take about a full minute to figure out what to pitch. the options are meddling mage, brainstorm, and mystical tutor. These are the only non land cards left, however. What is the play?
Pitch the brainstorm, since I have a sea, I can tutor up recal and win like it's a game of limited. Chances are his hand is super fragile.
It's ancestral and lands.
My second land is a waste, and I take his source of black. tutor up ancestral. It resolves and I pull ahead. Mages and Mindcensor lock him down.

G3
I have the following hand, on the draw. Plains, Wasteland, Meddling Mage, Force of Will, Brainstorm, Duress, Thoughtseize.
Do you keep this? The odds of me drawing a blue source, in two turns--is one in three. So I get two tries at one and three odds. It's like chasing a flush draw, but better.
I did, and I think it might have been a mistake. He doesn't have anything other than a ponder. Still in it, just need a blue source.
I rip Mox Sapphire. I Drop the Mage, Force of Will eats a brainstorm. Name Flash.
I Rip Black Lotus. Take out your hand and land.

Sometimes Runner Runner is better than anything the other guy can muster, huh?
It was definately a loose call to keep, but it managed to work out for me.

Top 4 split.

Poker tournament afterwards was awesome. We had 9 full tables, because it was free. I play nearly perfectly on the night, battling back from severly short stacked positions on bad beats six times. I go into the Final table as the chip leader, and knock out the two short stacks on the first hand. I call a suspicious all in, chasing a flush, with the second stack and my tournament gets crippled by the one in four chance, twice, missing. But mathmatically, my call is a mistake.

I got punished for it once today. Fair enough.

Props
Me, for writing a report. This'll be by seventh t8 or better--so I finally decided to boast a little.
Lou, for high times and good cards.
Brett, for powering through to prize with manaless ichorid for three tournies in a row.
Duncan, for consistantly doing well with different decks.
Guzzo and Josh. Peace guys.
Free Poker tournaments for cash
People who lent me cards
carl for hosting tournaments

Slops
bob yu. where you at?
duress, taking ancestral instead of oath of druids when jewlighting has an orchard.
me, for the greediness of demonic and the third grunt at the expense of my oath matchup.
lou. cause that guy owes me money 
mall cops



EDIT: Grammer, spelling, and general accuracy.

[Tha Gunslinga]

So your top 4 then was Bob Tendrils, Fish, Tyrant Oath, and Manaless Ichorid?  Very nice.  Glad to see Flash get shut out of top 4.

[aosquirrels]

@Lou

Yeah, Eric was not too happy about your mind tricks.  He realizes that it was gamesmanship but he was still pissed.  Eric decided to play again after taking about 1 year off.  I don't think he wants much to do with Magic anymore.  Now I have to find someone else to help run the store while these events are going on.  These tournaments have become more trouble than they are worth.

[Troy_Costisick]

Heya,

I'm looking at your first picture and uh...I gotta ask, someone was playing Dark Confidant and Darksteel Colussus in the same deck???  Ballzy!

Peace,

-Troy

[Clown of Tresserhorn]

bob yu. where you at?

Sorry guys, I was occupied with the lady. It was good seeing everyone at Lou's though.

Matt Guzzo is leaving for the Navy coming up? Damn son, best of luck to you, and I'm sure I'll see you when you get back (and maybe play a game of pirates)

Josh, good luck with everything in Oregon man, you'll be missed for sure.

@Lou

Yeah, Eric was not too happy about your mind tricks.  He realizes that it was gamesmanship but he was still pissed.  Eric decided to play again after taking about 1 year off.  I don't think he wants much to do with Magic anymore.  Now I have to find someone else to help run the store while these events are going on.  These tournaments have become more trouble than they are worth.

Honestly, do you expect any different? I mean, Lou's my home-slice, but you can't put anything past him. We are talking about the same person who dicked over Pierce, who's Lou's good friend. Sounds to me like Lou just pulled one hell of a mind trick. I hope his shenanegans doesn't make you stop running these awesome tourneys.


Oh yeah, and congrats to everyone who made T8!

[Wobbles]

First, because it Carl didn't link to it in his post, top 8 deck lists are here: http://www.blackgoldsports.com/6th%20Vintage%20Proxy.htm.

Up until Saturday night, I was pretty set on playing the new ICBM goblines list, as I love attacking with little red men, however more testing with Jay showed the deck really fell apart as soon as the oath/flash player aggressively searched for a FoW for the Squads, as they were the only real threat in the deck. While the testing was disheartening, at least it gave me some more practice with Oath. Talking with Carl Saturday, he made a comment about how Oath was so much more difficult to play than Flash or Ichorid, that it would be far less represented at the tourniment. I think it's easy for players to psych themselves out of playing blue/heavy tutor decks in vintage because they appear dauntingly complicated, but what I really discovered in testing was that even though Oath has countless play decisions, your game plan is so much more resiliant that you can play alot looser and get away with it. Workshop and goblins, while powerful, actually take significantly more skill to play just because they are so much weaker than other options in the field. Maybe. Anyway

Round 1: Nicholas Goodman (flash)

A lot of the testing Jay and I did was based around this matchup. While game 1 can really either way depending on the coin flip, the ability of discard out of oath to just dismantle Flashes hand is brutal. This playes out game 1 as I start out with a turn one thoughtseize, follow it up with two more duresses, and yet still need to have double force a flash before getting oath to trigger. Game two, the transformation into a storm deck with an utterly ridiculous anti-flash package goes largely according to plan. Nicholas beats down with a virulent sliver for 6 turns, while I have a leyline in play. Nicholas was able to remove the leyline and cast flash with counter back up, but once again I have the double counterspell to buy myself enough time to get down fastbond and tendrils.

Round 2: Carl (Mono-red Workshop aggro)

As I'm sure you'll here in Carl's report, this entire match was completely ridiculous. Last month, I played a flash deck that transformed into plat oath to have a better game against workshop, but I'm still fairly sure that Workshop is an incredably difficult matchup for oath, and far more worthy of sideboard slots than I gave it credit for. There is virtually no reason for me to have won this match at all. Game one, Carl opens with a turn one ancient tomb, mana crypt, sphere. He proceeds to play out two more spheres over the next several turns and a SoFI, while I am stuck slowly developing my mana base and Vamp tutoring for black lotus. While I do nothing, Carl is losing crypt flips and taking more damage until he eventually is at 3 life when he finally gets a solemn simulacrum into play, finding his first mountain. I take another uneventful turn, pass it back where Carl loses what must be his 5 crypt filp. He dies with a gorilla shaman in hand. Game 2, Carl opens with ancient tomb, black lotus, thorn (which I force), and a magus which resolves. I play mountains for several turns, hoping to hit the lotus or the emerald to cast the oath in my hand, but instead I die. Game 3 is almost as stupid as game 1, as I have empty the warrens, fastbond, gush gush in my opening hand with plenty of lands. I make 13 goblins turn one because Carl doesn't get a chance to play. Magic is stupid.

Round 3: Lou (Bob long)

This was fairly well summerized above, although it bares stating that I utterly misplay game 1 ftl. As lou states, I go for Yawg will after correctly putting him on not having the FoW. When he manages to pack the Yawgs, I lose. I put him on not having the counterspell, because I know that he should counter the tutor so I don't go get the forbidden orchard to make my oath work. Then of course I don't go grab the orchard because he doesn't have the counterspell. Doh.

Round 4: Marcus Knox (Metalworker Shop)

Marcus is another good player I've had the pleasure of playing at several Black Gold tourniments. Game one I manage to get down an oath after getting slowed down by a tangle wire and countering a metal worker. As soon as oath triggers, I combo off. Game 2, Marcus has significant board advantage when he activates a memory jar. The Jar draws me into a rebuild, which I cast in his end step, which wrecks him. I even had the yawgmoth's will in my original hand, which means he never has a chance to recover.

Round 5: Brett Piazza (Ichorid)-ID

Kinda wish we had played at least for fun, as I'm really not sure how good a matchup Oath has against Ichorid despite the amount of hate I can bring in.  Having lost to Brett in the last tourniment, I was eager to play something that would have a better matchup.

Top 8: Jay Trojan (Flash)

Of course, we play each other for the top 4. Having agreed to prize split reguardless, I go for a largish brain freeze for 36 game 1 and manage to snag all his Flashes game one and win shortly after. Game 2, it's getting late and it seems obvious that I probably have better matchups against the top 4 if I proceed. So when Jay pacts one of my spells, then forgets to pay for it the next turn, we agree to just call it a night.

So, for those playing at home, that makes it at least 2 turn one kills over the course of the day. One of the most important things about playing this deck is to remember that ultimately it isn't an oath deck at all, it's a Storm deck that comes preboarded against Workshop with the oath plan. For those looking to play oath in the future, I highly recomend finding room for an empty the warrens/tendrils in the main deck, as well as dropping your sac outlet in the sideboard. I really can't imagine bringing it in even in the mirror, as I'm pretty sure both decks should board out their oaths for more disruption while leaving a tyrant or two in the main deck, just in case.

Thanks again to Carl for hosting. I'm pretty sure neither I nor any of my friend would be playing this format at all if it weren't for the tourniment support Black Gold provides.

[Fall-Titan]

Slightly dissapointed that I missed this tourney. Unfortunately, I ended up in the hospital all weekend with Kidney Stones (yes they suck as much as you have heard). Tournament sounded like it went fairly well past whatever situation arose with Eric/Lou, but I don't have enough info to comment on that so I'll just let it be and say that Eric besta not be throwing in the towel as he has been one of the best people to play magic with that I've ever met.

O well, thanks Carl for running a tournament without me... I know it must have been painful not to read my name on the pairings list each round. I'll be back though

Conley

[Xyre]

Sad I missed this. Next time, next time.

[Mental Extirpation]

I can tell you honestly that losing a MATCH in 3 turns sucks more than having your fucking eyelash turn white on you over night. and I would know... I am that teabagger in the picture with the white eyelash.

I am also the teabagger who instead of Extirpating my opponent's graveyarded Virulent Sliver in my last match, decided to gloriously keep it in my hand and save the three black mana that I had available just in case I wanted to cast the Bloodstained Mire that I was also holding, thus sealing my defeat and my inevitable place in the "Dickbrain Hall of Fame". 9th place just means best loser...

"It sucks to be me right now!" - Nacho Libre

[aosquirrels]

We have to give a special props to Paetyn Parriott who will be the 2018 Vintage World Champion. 

Someone at the tournament took pictures of her.  Misty??  Please post them if you got'em.

She is only 8 years old and won her first Vintage match in the 1st round!!!!!      This is only her third tournament ever!  She beat FLASH of all decks.  I don't know how she won the first game but she won the second game by dropping a Pernicious Deed and having her opponent put his Slivers in harms way.  She was smart enough to know to activate the Deed.  GREAT JOB PAETYN.  For her success, there is a minty fresh Polluted Delta waiting for her at the store. 

Her second round opponent (Brett Piazza) had to be revived off the floor when she dropped a turn one Vinelasher Kudzu Vulturous Zombie on turn 1 in the second game of their match.  Brett was playing Ichorid.  It took about 10 minutes for the laughter to die down.  Brett did manage to compose himself and win the match 2-0. 

Here is her decklist that her dad (who also played) put together for her....

4 Dark Ritual
1 Plague Sliver
1 Juzam Djinn
4 Pernicious Deed
4 Bayou
1 Chrome Mox
1 Sol Ring
2 Culling the Weak
4 Vulturous Zombie
3 Rancor
4 Spiritmonger
2 Windswept Heath
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Emerald
2 Swamp
4 Night's Whisper
1 Black Lotus
1 Lotus Petal
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Demonic Tutor
4 Birds of Paradise
2 Polluted Delta
1 Wooded Foothills
2 Overgrown Tomb
2 Fyndhorn Elves
4 Llanowar Elves
2 Forest

NO SIDEBOARD

Needless to say, everyone paired up against Paetyn had that "deer with the headlights" look on them.

EDIT: Vulturous Zombie instead of Vinelasher Kudzu.  Thanks for the correction.

[Wobbles]

Her second round opponent (Brett Piazza) had to be revived off the floor when she dropped a turn one Vinelasher Kudzu Vulturous Zombie on turn 1 in the second game of their match.  Brett was playing Ichorid.  It took about 10 minutes for the laughter to die down.  Brett did manage to compose himself and win the match 2-0. 

I may be misremembering, but I believe that the final count on the Zombie was that it was at least a 40/40 creature before being cruelly chump blocked by a narcomoeba. It was an awesome sight reguardless.

[Tobi]

Someone at the tournament took pictures of her.  Misty??  Please post them if you got'em.

Is it the little person in the background on that same picture showing Misty?


I just published the lists on www.morphling.de
Duncan's list misses 2 sideboard cards
Jay's list misses 1 maindeck card
Joshua's list misses 5 maindeck cards

[JewLightning]

I have the pictures from Misty's camera and I will try to post them tonight if I can. I will have to hog Lou's report because I don't think I have the option to post my own yet because I made a new account. Yes that is Paetyn in the background with Misty. She definitely deserves a huge shout out, and she ran one of my favorite creatures: Spirit Monger. I will try to post when I get home from work and finish my project for school.

Brennen

[aosquirrels]

@Tobi

Duncan's sideboard should have +2 Tormod's Crypt
Jay's maindeck should have +3 Ponder and -2 Thoughtseize
Joshua's maindeck should have +2 Crucible of Worlds and +3 Smokestack

Thanks for noticing the errors.

Carl

[JewLightning]

Before I get to the pictures I would like to give some props and shout outs for damn sure. This was a great tournament, and the last chance to play some vintage with some great people I have met over my years of playing this format. I don't want to write a report because I feel that top 8 just isn't good enough anymore, I really had my eyes on the prize and got paired against Ichorid... Needless to say this is the second time I have been beaten out of top 8 by the same man playing the same deck, but I have no hard feelings, Brett is a great guy, but I will get the best of him eventually.

Props:

Nicholas Goodman for top 8ing at his second ever vintage event.
Paetyn for crushing Flash which was savage.
Saabs for being the most ridiculous cars ever.
Becca for driving the Saab very well.
Trevor for being the cutest, and most chill baby I have ever seen.
The green deck for being the most savage deck ever.
The lady who cut my hair did a great jobs. It has all the ladies looking. Thanks!
Jim Gaffney for always having relevant information on the format even though you don't play.
Scott Limoges it was good kicking it again, but I miss playing Magic with you.

Slops:

Me for not top 4ing, but mark my words Brett I will come for you one of these days.
Fucking wicked slops to the skeezy 41 year old who hit on my lady, and the creepy lady who wouldn't leave little Trevor alone.
Police for ruining my dream of going really fast in a luxury car.

Shout outs:

Matt Guzzo, you're my good friend and I will miss testing countless games against you at FNM and talking strategy with you. The two best games of Magic I have played have been with you. I am glad our testing came down to mana burn after drawing a million cards... You will be missed, but I have no doubt I will see you again.

Josh Marcella, I love you man it's not going to be the same without you, and I am glad to have met you and got to know you a little bit. I am sure I will see you again, and even though you are in Oregan you are still Colorado Crew!

Now for some pics:



Paetyn's grip against Dredge. Go go Vulturous Zombie.



Brett's reaction to first turn Vulturous Zombie



That's a huge bitch!



There's no hard feelings.



Some ridiculous hand that I had with Oath on the board.



That's how I roll these days.



The 2018 Vintage World Champion and the 2006 Vintage World Champion



Fuckin' Lou fighting Leyline and some Zombies.



Another ridiculous hand I had.



Fetus and some slivers.



Some Stax shenanigans.

Well another great vintage tournament, and I can't wait 'til the next one. Thank you Carl for being a gracious host, I wish I could say a good opponent, but to my knowledge we have never played.

Brennen

[CodeRedrum]

Finally checking the drain on a Thursday after a Sunday Tourney, dang I am slacking.  Thanks for the props, I hope to keep competing with you guys.  Josh and Matt I am gonna be and am hella sad to see you guys go.  Josh I never got to know you that well but playing with you was always great.  Matt the Navy and the US is lucky to have you serving, you will be missed, thanks for sharing as much Magic knowledge as my pea brain could absorb. 
Props
Paetyn, for savageness I can't even reproduce in words, I mean come on a 59/59!!!
Carl, for hosting, I appreciate it!
Brennan, for top eighting even though you don't think its good enough.
Everyone else in top eight, Congrats!
Pierce, for the pink shirt, which was a part of his "blind my opponent strategy"
Everyone from the Mile High FNM crew for play testing with me and for patience as I learned the format.

Slops
Pierce, for the pink shirt.
Brett, for beating a 59/59 and a little girl, you meanie!

I look forward to seeing you all at the next tourney!

[andrewpate]

It's actually a 62/62; don't forget it starts out at 3/3!

Looks like a great meta.  Wish I lived close enough to hit one of these.

@Lou
What's your advice on the Oath matchup for Bob Tendrils?  You seem to be better at winning this than I am.  For me it's around a 50-50, and that's assuming no mistakes (which, as the Tendrils player, hurt me much more than the Oath player).  What's your approach there?

[senpai]

Congratulations to everybody that did well, it was definitely one of the most fun events in a while.

Still though, what is your problem Lou? I mean seriously.

[Lou]

@Lou
What's your advice on the Oath matchup for Bob Tendrils?  You seem to be better at winning this than I am.  For me it's around a 50-50, and that's assuming no mistakes (which, as the Tendrils player, hurt me much more than the Oath player).  What's your approach there?

I brought in Rebs, more hand disruption and Extirpate.

Its a very hard match-up, for sure. Not easy. Prob 50/50, but its hard. I agree they probably have a little more wiggle room than us.

Still though, what is your problem Lou? I mean seriously.

I'm not sure who I am responding to, so I'm not sure where to go with this. I assume you are talking about my Tinker against Eric.

Seriously, it was one of the best mind tricks I have ever done. Against a good opponent, who had the game locked up.

I get super stoked about things like that.

This is a game. I play it for the excitement of playing tough opponents and trying to play better Magic than them. For the competition.

The mind game is a very important part of my game. Some people might say I talk too much shit, or I'm just a douche bag. To me, that's part of the game.

[pierce]

What's your advice on the Oath matchup for Bob Tendrils?  You seem to be better at winning this than I am.  For me it's around a 50-50, and that's assuming no mistakes (which, as the Tendrils player, hurt me much more than the Oath player).  What's your approach there?

like lou's the expert 

once they drop oath, you have to win on your turn. it really comes down to that. ALSO, you are the beatdown in the matchup, and if you play as such, you can get it up to 75/25 in your favor.

[senpai]

This is a game. I play it for the excitement of playing tough opponents and trying to play better Magic than them. For the competition.

To me, tricking people into conceding can never be defined as outplaying and opponent. Its just extremely questionable sportsmanship.

[diopter]

This is a game. I play it for the excitement of playing tough opponents and trying to play better Magic than them. For the competition.

To me, tricking people into conceding can never be defined as outplaying and opponent. Its just extremely questionable sportsmanship.

A huge aspect of Magic is imperfect information. That's why skills such as reading one's opponent are so highly valued. In the same vein, being able to deceive one's opponent is also a skill, one that is as valuable as reading the opponent.

[LordHomerCat]

@Lou
What's your advice on the Oath matchup for Bob Tendrils?  You seem to be better at winning this than I am.  For me it's around a 50-50, and that's assuming no mistakes (which, as the Tendrils player, hurt me much more than the Oath player).  What's your approach there?

I brought in Rebs, more hand disruption and Extirpate.

Its a very hard match-up, for sure. Not easy. Prob 50/50, but its hard. I agree they probably have a little more wiggle room than us.

Still though, what is your problem Lou? I mean seriously.

I'm not sure who I am responding to, so I'm not sure where to go with this. I assume you are talking about my Tinker against Eric.

Seriously, it was one of the best mind tricks I have ever done. Against a good opponent, who had the game locked up.

I get super stoked about things like that.

This is a game. I play it for the excitement of playing tough opponents and trying to play better Magic than them. For the competition.

The mind game is a very important part of my game. Some people might say I talk too much shit, or I'm just a douche bag. To me, that's part of the game.

It may be the gentleman's format, but that doesn't mean there is no room to outplay people off the board.  From the sounds of it, that was an insane trick and I only wish I could have been there to witness it.  There is 100% nothing against the rules to what you did and I support parts of the game like that wholeheartedly.  After the tournament, we can all be friends, but when I'm paired with someone we are opponents for 50 minutes so this stuff seems like fair game.

Nice job Lou, glad to see you're still Tendrils-ing people out even with Flash around.

[JewLightning]

I agree with Jimmy. Mind tricks are just another aspect of the game. Steve mind fucked me in a tournament. He Demonic Consulted for Yawgmoth's Will and flipped over the last Tendrils in the deck. I scooped because his graveyard is stacked, and because he was playing Ill Gotten Gains I figured he had multiple Tendrils in his deck, but he remained cool and used it to his advantage.

Brennen

[pierce]

I agree with Jimmy. Mind tricks are just another aspect of the game. Steve mind fucked me in a tournament. He Demonic Consulted for Yawgmoth's Will and flipped over the last Tendrils in the deck. I scooped because his graveyard is stacked, and because he was playing Ill Gotten Gains I figured he had multiple Tendrils in his deck, but he remained cool and used it to his advantage.

Brennen

that was for top four, nonetheless--not just some random swiss pairing.    and while I did IMMEDIATELY tell lou's opponent he had been hustled, I still congratulate lou for finding a way to win when there were no physical options. it's not his fault that the other guy scooped. lou has been responsible for his action, he's admitted to it, and is willing to live in the moral ambiguity that follows with his actions. If you lose to such a trick, whining and bitching about it is downright pathetic. At what point do you shrug it off, laugh about it, and never make the mistake again? I see here nothing but oppertunity for the future, not regret for the past.

[JewLightning]

How was Pact of Negation? That card kind of scares me in a lot of ways. Would Cabal Ritual be better in that slot?

Brennen

[Lou]

How was Pact of Negation? That card kind of scares me in a lot of ways. Would Cabal Ritual be better in that slot?

Brennen

It won me one game on the day, countering a Yawgmoth's Will that would have won the game. I had to use a Dark Ritual to pay for it.

It would probably be better as -2 Pact of Negation, +1 Duress and +1 Misdirection.

[yespuhyren]

This is a game. I play it for the excitement of playing tough opponents and trying to play better Magic than them. For the competition.

To me, tricking people into conceding can never be defined as outplaying and opponent. Its just extremely questionable sportsmanship.

I don't know the situation, but I'll give an example.  If someone plays Tinker, and says I'll grab Colossus, GG?  I would never pack it up and say sure.  I make them show me the DSC first and then I'll concede.  Same with flash.  Only an idiot will concede to on opponent flashing in a Hulk without first seeing if they A) don't have any combo pieces in hand and B) FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE PLAYING.  You can SB differently depending on if its slivers or Reveillark.

Long story short anyone who concedes to mind games is a poor player.  The best players will not concede unless they know what they are condeding to without any uncertainty.

[senpai]

I'm sorry, but I really have to disagree. Mind tricks may be a part of the game, but only to a certain extent. And I truly believe that in this situation it was really dishonest and wrong to do such. I'm sorry that you all seem to believe cheating is good.