N.Y.S.E. Open III - Official Tournament Report

Well, that was an event!

Year one we had 78 players. Year two we had 92 players. Year three we had 150 players. We had players from Montreal, Toronto, Texas, Hawaii, California, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, in addition to all the local area players. It was incredible. Thank you all for the support. I am honestly blown away by it.

An event this size is impossible for one person to pull off alone. I had a lot of help. Nick Coss, this event doesn't happen without you. Thank you for being the pillar of the community that you are. Paul Baranay, Brian Paskoff, Mani Cavalieri, Chris Rumore, Adam Shaw, Chris Connett, you guys were the best judge staff that I could ask for. A heartfelt thank you goes out to Evan Husney, for making video coverage possible, and to Mike Lupo and Vinnie Forino for their work on commentary on the day. Thank you to Visna Harris, for all your help with the local community, the trophies, and more. Thank you to Alan Paperin, for providing a venue for Vintage FNM on Friday, and the Vintage Workshop tournament on Sunday, in addition to helping with the prize support. My thanks to Mark Aronowitz, Dan Frazier, Richard Kane Ferguson, Melissa Benson, Jeff Menges and Bryon Wackwitz for adding the artist's touch to the weekend. Thank you to Greg Fenton for the incredible image used for NYSE Open III, and to Jackie Gran for the wonderful treats that she prepared. Thank you to Will Magrann for typing up list after list, in addition to making NYSE Open III dice a reality, and thank you to Jason Jaco for typing up the rest of the lists (which will be available in the near future on EternalCentral.com) and for the sweet shirts that you produced!

Finally, my sincere thanks to you, the players, for making it out to the event, supporting all of us, and making it a great day!

Complete Metagame Breakdown:

Workshops:

22 Martello Shops
4 Frobots
4 Terra Nova Hybrids
3 Espresso
1 5c Shops
1 Metalworker Shops

Bazaars:

6 Dredge

Mana Drains:

8 Fenton Oath
4 Omni Show & Oath
1 Rector Omni Show & Oath
1 Burning Oath
1 Oath Tezz
1 Brian Kelly Oath

7 Grixis Planeswalkers
2 URB Thoughtcast Tezz

5 UR Blood Moon Control

4 UWR Bomberman
2 UW Bomberman
1 UWB Bomberman
1 Blue Angels

6 UWR Landstill
3 UW Landstill
2 UR Landstill
1 BUG Landstill
1 Depthstill

Rituals (Combo):

2 Blue Belcher
2 TPS
1 UR Twin
1 Ad Nauseum Tendrils
1 Angel City Vault
1 Doomsday
1 Burning Long
1 Grixis Thoughtcast Stroke of Genius

Null Rods:

10 UR Delver
8 UWR Mentor
4 UWR Mentor/Delver

3 UWR Mentorblade
1 UW Cawblade
1 UWR Stoneblade
1 UWB Stoneblade

2 BUG Fish
1 Humanstorm
1 Fish Stew (4c Gurmag Angler)
1 UR Nivmagus Delver

5 Merfolk
1 BGW Hatebears
1 Survival
1 Jund

The biggest surprise (for me at least) was the incredible amount of Landstill variants that showed up. We have seen very, very little Landstill locally in the last few months, and while this event is bigger than any of the recent local events by several orders of magnitude, it was still surprising to see that nearly 10% of the field was a deck that hadn't shown up. Consider that Dredge was 4% of the field. It was surprising.

Workshops showed up en masse, and players seemed to be prepared for that. New York remains Shop Country, and everyone who came to play in Mishra's backyard knew that they needed to be ready to fight him.

Top Eight Pairings and Results:

1 JP Kohler vs. 8 Justin Beckert – Beckert wins 2-1
4 Christopher Hanson vs. 5 Sullivan Brophy – Brophy wins
2 Benjamin Marleau-Donais vs. 7 John Fisher – Marleau-Donais wins 2-1
3 Brian Ritter vs. 6 Tom Nelson – Nelson wins 2-1

Top Four Pairings and Results:

5 Sullivan Brophy vs. 8 Justin Beckert – Brophy wins 2-1
2 Benjamin Marleau-Donais vs. 6 Tom Nelson – Marleau-Donais wins 2-0

Finals:

2 Benjamin Marleau-Donais vs. 5 Sullivan Brophy – Brophy wins 2-0

My sincere congratulations to Sullivan Brophy, Benjamin Marleau-Donais, and all my top eight and top 16 competitors!

Top Eight Decklists:

1st - Sullivan Brophy
Dredge

4 Undiscovered Paradise
4 City of Brass
4 Petrified Field
4 Bazaar of Baghdad
1 Dakmor Salvage
4 Serum Powder

4 Golgari Grave-Troll
4 Stinkweed Imp
4 Bloodghast
4 Ichorid
4 Narcomoeba
3 Golgari Thug
1 Flame-Kin Zealot
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite

4 Cabal Therapy
4 Bridge from Below
4 Leyline of the Void
2 Dread Return

Sideboard:
3 Wispmare
4 Nature’s Claim
4 Ingot Chewer
4 Sudden Shock

2nd - Benjamin Marleau-Donais
Frobots

4 Mishra’s Workshop
4 Wasteland
4 Mishra’s Factory
4 Ancient Tomb
1 Strip Mine
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Black Lotus
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire

4 Lodestone Golem
4 Phyrexian Revoker
3 Triskelion
3 Arcbound Ravager
3 Porcelain Legionnaire

4 Tangle Wire
4 Thorn of Amethyst
4 Chalice of the Void
3 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Batterskull
1 Trinisphere

Sideboard:
2 Wurmcoil Engine
2 Duplicant
4 Grafdigger’s Cage
3 Crucible of Worlds
2 Dismember
2 Witchbane Orb

3rd - Thomas Nelson
Martello Shops

4 Mishra’s Workshop
4 Wasteland
4 Ancient Tomb
3 Cavern of Souls
1 City of Traitors
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Strip Mine
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Crypt

4 Lodestone Golem
4 Kuldotha Forgemaster
3 Phyrexian Revoker
2 Wurmocil Engine
2 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Steel Hellkite
1 Sundering Titan
1 Blightsteel Colossus

4 Chalice of the Void
4 Tangle Wire
4 Sphere of Resistance
3 Thorn of Amethyst
1 Trinisphere

Sideboard:
2 Homeward Path
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Duplicant
4 Grafdigger’s Cage
4 Dismember
3 Crucible of Worlds

4th - Justin Beckert
BUG Fish

4 Wasteland
4 Verdant Catacombs
3 Underground Sea
2 Tropical Island
1 Bayou
1 Swamp
1 Strip Mine
1 Polluted Delta
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Sapphire

4 Deathrite Shaman
3 Snapcaster Mage
2 Trygon Predator
2 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
1 Notion Thief

4 Force of Will
3 Mental Misstep
3 Abrupt Decay
3 Dig Through Time
2 Jace, the Mindsculptor
2 Thought Scour
1 Liliana of the Veil
1 Spell Pierce
1 Ponder
1 Brainstorm
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Flusterstorm
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Time Walk
1 Treasure Cruise

Sideboard:
1 Forest
1 Trygon Predator
4 Grafdigger’s Cage
3 Virulent Plague
3 Nature’s Claim
1 Darkblast
1 Abrupt Decay
1 Null Rod

5th - JP Kohler
Moonanites Revenge

5 Island
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Polluted Delta
2 Ancient Tomb
1 Volcanic Island
1 Mountain
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Sol Ring

3 Trinket Mage
2 Consecrated Sphinx
1 Aetherling

4 Force of Will
3 Mana Drain
3 Chalice of the Void
3 Blood Moon
2 Mindbreak Trap
2 Jace, the Mindsculptor
2 Dack Fayden
2 Engineered Explosives
2 Dig Through Time
1 Fire/Ice
1 Rolling Earthquake
1 Time walk
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Treasure Cruise
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Misdirection
1 Flusterstorm

Sideboard:
4 Ingot Chewer
4 Grafdigger’s Cage
2 Ravenous Trap
2 Aether Flash
2 Sudden Shock
1 Hurkyl’s Recall

6th - Brian Ritter
UWB Bomberman

4 Flooded Strand
3 Tundra
2 Island
2 Polluted Delta
2 Underground Sea
1 Cavern of Souls
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Plains
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Crypt
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Sapphire

3 Trinket Mage
3 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
2 Auriok Salvagers
1 Snapcaster Mage

4 Force of Will
3 Mental Misstep
2 Jace, the Mindsculptor
2 Dig Through Time
2 Swords to Plowshares
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Thought Scour
1 Time Walk
1 Ponder
1 Thirst for Knowledge
1 Brainstorm
1 Spell Snare
1 Flusterstorm
1 Mana Drain
1 Sensei’s Divining Top
1 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Engineered Explosives

Sideboard:
4 Containment Priest
2 Kataki, War’s Wage
2 Dismember
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Pithing Needle
1 Grafdigger’s Cage
1 Tormod’s Crypt
1 Illness in the Ranks
1 Energy Flux
1 Swords to Plowshares

7th - Chris Hanson
Landstill

4 Flooded Strand
4 Wasteland
3 Mishra’s Factory
3 Tundra
3 Island
1 Plains
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Strip Mine
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Pearl
1 Sol Ring

2 Monastery Mentor
1 Snapcaster Mage

4 Standstill
4 Force of Will
3 Swords to Plowshares
3 Mana Drain
3 Mental Misstep
2 Jace, the Mindsculptor
1 Misdirection
1 Remand
1 Flusterstorm
1 Spell Pierce
1 Spell Snare
1 Dig Through Time
1 Treasure Cruise
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Time Walk
1 Brainstorm
1 Echoing Truth
1 Crucible of Worlds
1 Balance
1 Decree of Justice

Sideboard:
2 Kataki, War’s Wage
3 Supreme Verdict
3 Containment Priest
3 Ravenous Trap
2 Stony Silence
1 Abolish
1 Energy Flux

8th - John Fisher
UR Landstill

4 Scalding Tarn
4 Wasteland
3 Mishra’s Factory
3 Island
3 Volcanic Island
1 Flooded Strand
1 Strip Mine
1 Mountain
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire

1 Keranos, God of Storms
1 Snapcaster Mage

4 Force of Will
4 Standstill
3 Mental Misstep
3 Lightning Bolt
2 Null Rod
2 Mana Drain
2 Jace, the Mindsculptor
2 Dack Fayden
1 Pyroblast
1 Misdirection
1 Spell Pierce
1 Spell Snare
1 Remand
1 Fire/Ice
1 Slice and Dice
1 Echoing Truth
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
1 Treasure Cruise
1 Dig Through Time
1 Time Walk
1 Crucible of Worlds

Sideboard:
3 Ingot Chewer
1 Viashino Heretic
4 Grafdigger’s Cage
2 Volcanic Fallout
2 Propaganda
1 Null Rod
1 Sudden Shock
1 Energy Flux

Top 16 Decklists:

9th-16th - Hunter Prendergast
Martello Shops

4 Mishra’s Workshop
4 Mishra’s Factory
4 Ancient Tomb
4 Wasteland
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Strip Mine
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring

4 Phyrexian Revoker
4 Lodestone Golem
4 Kuldotha Forgemaster
3 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Steel Hellkite
1 Sundering Titan
1 Duplicant

4 Tangle Wire
4 Thorn of Amethyst
4 Chalice of the Void
3 Sphere of Resistance
1 Trinipshere

Sideboard:
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Duplicant
2 Wurmcoil Engine
4 Tormod’s Crypt
3 Crucible of Worlds
2 Dismember
1 Witchbane Orb
1 Mindslaver

9th-16th - Vito Picozzo
UWR Mentor

4 Scalding Tarn
3 Volcanic Island
3 Tundra
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Polluted Delta
1 Flooded Strand
1 Island
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Jet
1 Black Lotus
1 Sol Ring

4 Monastery Mentor
2 Young Pyromancer

4 Force of Will
4 Gush
4 Preordain
4 Dig Through Time
3 Mental Misstep
3 Swords to Plowshares
2 Dack Fayden
2 Pyroblast
2 Flusterstorm
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Brainstorm
1 Treasure Cruise
1 Ancestral recall
1 Time Walk

Sideboard:
1 Mountain
1 Snow-Covered Island
3 Ingot Chewer
1 Containment Priest
2 Rest in Peace
2 Wear//Tear
2 Grafdigger’s Cage
1 Lightning Bolt
1 Shattering Spree
1 Ravenous Trap

9th-16th - Colin Enz
UWR Bomberman

3 Scalding Tarn
3 Flooded Strand
2 Tundra
2 Volcanic Island
2 Island
2 Cavern of Souls
1 Plains
1 Mountain
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Sol Ring
1 Mox Pearl
1 Black Lotus
1 Mana Crypt

4 Trinket Mage
2 Monastery Mentor
2 Snapcaster Mage
1 Auriok Salvagers

4 Force of Will
4 Mental Misstep
2 Dack Fayden
2 Jace, the Mindsculptor
2 Dig Through Time
2 Mana Drain
2 Swords to Plowshares
1 Spell Snare
1 Ancestral recall
1 Time Walk
1 Repeal
1 Pithing Needle
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Sensei’s Divining Top
1 Grafdigger’s Cage
1 Pyrite Spellbomb

Sideboard:
3 Containment Priest
2 Stoneforge Mystic
2 Serenity
2 Swords to Plowshares
2 Pyroblast
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Batterskull
1 Grafdigger’s Cage
1 Tormod’s Crypt

9th-16th - Mat Diliberto
UR Delver

4 Scalding Tarn
4 Volcanic Island
3 Polluted Delta
2 Island
1 Strip Mine
1 Tropical Island
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire

4 Delver of Secrets
4 Young Pyromacner

4 Lightning Bolt
4 Mental Misstep
4 Preordain
4 Force of Will
3 Dig Through Time
3 Gush
2 Dack Fayden
2 Gitaxian Probe
2 Spell Pierce
1 Ponder
1 Time Walk
1 Treasure Cruise
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
1 Ancient Grudge

Sideboard:
1 Mountain
4 Ingot Chewer
4 Grafdigger’s Cage
2 Ravenous Trap
1 Nature’s Claim
1 Pyroblast
1 Electrickery
1 Ancient Grudge

9th-16th - Steve Hancho
Martello Shops

4 Mishra’s Workshop
4 Ancient Tomb
4 Wasteland
2 Cavern of Souls
2 Mishra’s Factory
1 Strip Mine
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring

4 Lodestone Golem
4 Kuldotha Forgemaster
3 Phyrexian Revoker
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Steel Hellkite
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Blightsteel Colossus
1 Sundering Titan

4 Chalice of the Void
4 Thorn of Amethyst
4 Tangle Wire
3 Sphere of Resistance
2 Lightning Greaves
1 Trinisphere

Sideboard:
1 The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale
2 Duplicant
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
4 Grafdigger’s Cage
2 Dismember
2 Crucible of Worlds
2 Tormod’s Crypt
1 Pithing Needle

9th-16th - Matt Bevenour
Dredge

4 Bazaar of Baghdad
4 Mana Confluence
4 Undiscovered Paradise
2 City of Brass
1 Dakmor Salvage
4 Serum Powder

4 Golgari Grave-Troll
4 Stinkweed Imp
2 Golgari Thug
4 Narcomoeba
4 Bloodghast
3 Ichorid
4 Ingot Chewer
2 Fatestitcher
1 Sun Titan
1 Flamekin Zealot

4 Bridge from Below
4 Cabal Therapy
3 Dread Return
1 Darkblast

Sideboard:
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
4 Nature’s Claim
4 Chain of Vapor
4 Rending Volley
2 Serenity

9th-16th - Lucas Loysen
UWR Delver

3 Flooded Strand
3 Tundra
3 Volcanic Island
3 Polluted Delta
2 Island
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald

4 Delver of Secrets
3 Young Pyromancer
3 Monastery Mentor

4 Gush
4 Mental Misstep
4 Force of Will
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Preordain
2 Flusterstorm
2 Dig Through Time
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Dack Fayden
1 Time Walk
1 Treasure Cruise
1 Brainstorm
1 Ponder

Sideboard:
4 Ingot Chewer
2 Containment Priest
2 Wear/Tear
2 Rest in Peace
2 Pyroblast
1 Grafdigger’s Cage
1 Dack Fayden
1 Shattering Spree

9th-16th - Jeremy Beaver
Splinter Twin

4 Scalding Tarn
4 Volcanic Island
3 Polluted Delta
2 Island
1 Tundra
1 Black Lotus
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby

4 Deceiver Exarch

4 Splinter Twin
4 Preordain
4 Gush
4 Force of Will
3 Mental Misstep
3 Lightning Bolt
2 Misdirection
2 Dig Through Time
2 Impulse
2 Flusterstorm
2 Dack Fayden
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Time Walk
1 Brainstorm
1 Red Elemental Blast

Sideboard:
1 Mountain
4 Ingot Chewer
3 Containment Priest
2 Sulfur Elemental
3 Ravenous Trap
1 Red Elemental Blast
1 Wear/Tear

All Other 6-2 Decklists:

Rich Shay
Frobots

4 Wasteland
4 Mishra’s Factory
4 Ancient Tomb
4 Mishra’s Workshop
1 Strip Mine
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Jet
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring

4 Phyrexian Revoker
4 Lodestone Golem
3 Arcbound Ravager
2 Porcelain Legionnaire
2 Triskelion
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Wurmcoil Engine

4 Tangle Wire
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Thorn of Amethyst
2 Sword of Fire and Ice
2 Sphere of Resistance
1 Trinisphere

Sideboard:
3 Karakas
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Duplicant
1 Triskelion
4 Grafdigger’s Cage
3 Crucible of Worlds
1 Sphere of Resistance

Brian Pallas
Tezz

4 Seat of the Synod
3 Underground Sea
3 Volcanic Island
3 Scalding Tarn
1 Tolarian Academy
2 Mox Opal
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mana Vault
1 Sol Ring

1 Blighsteel Colossus

4 Thoughtcast
4 Force of Will
3 Sensei’s Divining Top
2 Flusterstorm
2 Mental Misstep
2 Voltaic Key
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
1 Repeal
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Thirst for Knowledge
1 Dig Through Time
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Time Walk
1 Timetwister
1 Tinker
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Dack Fayden
1 Jace, the Mindsculptor
1 Mana Drain
1 Tezzeret the Seeker
1 Time Vault

Sideboard:
1 Mountain
3 Ingot Chewer
1 Gorilla Shaman
2 Red Elemental Blast
2 Nihil Spellbomb
2 Ravenous Trap
1 Pithing Needle
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Thoughtseize
1 Toxic Deluge

Will Magrann
Martello Shops

4 Mishra's Workshop
4 Wasteland
4 Ancient Tomb
4 Homeward Path
1 Karakas
1 Strip Mine
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mana Crypt
1 Black Lotus
1 Sol Ring

4 Lodestone Golem
4 Kuldotha Forgemaster
3 Phyrexian Revoker
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Steel Hellkite
1 Sundering Titan
1 Duplicant
1 Wurmcoil Engine

4 Chalice of the Void
4 Tangle Wire
4 Thorn of Amethyst
4 Sphere of Resistance
1 Trinisphere

Sideboard:
2 Karakas
2 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Duplicant
1 Wurmcoil Engine
3 Crucible of Worlds
3 Relic of Progenitus
2 Dismember

Pictures!

Team Victors:

Congratulations to Will Magrann, Craig Berry and Rich Shay for winning the team competition! I enjoyed how Will and Craig managed to keep Rich in the picture after all!

Giveaways:

We had well over $1,000 in free giveaways go out on the day! Brainstorm playmats, deckboxes and sleeves, Christopher Rush Black Lotus playmats (autographed by Rush), Mark Poole playmats, eight draft sets of Modern Masters II, and much, much more. Congratulations to all the random victors!

In Conclusion:

Last year I ran a 92 man event, and it was the biggest event that I have ever run. This year, we had 150 players, which was more than a 150% increase in attendance. Incredible.

Again, my sincere thanks to all the people who were involved in making this event a success. While I can't name everyone here, I can tell you that I appreciated your help greatly. An event this size is not a success because of any one individual, and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to work with so many great people who were all committed to creating a great day of Vintage.

Thank you again to all the players who came out and supported the NYSE Open. It was incredible seeing you all there, and it was wonderful feeling that all the time, effort, and sacrifices that had been made in order to pull an event of this size off were justified.

I've been contacted by a fair number of people since the event, many of whom have indicated that they'd like to attend next year. Given the tremendous response that day, and the follow-up since then, I think it's probably time to look for a bigger venue (again). I didn't ever imagine this event being this well attended, and I'm somewhat hesitant to imagine the amount of effort required to handle a bigger event in 2016, but I don't want to be in a position where anyone is turned away.

With five months of preparation, and the month of June being madness incarnate, I'm going on a TMD and Facebook hiatus for a little while, but I look forward to seeing you all at Vintage Champs in August!

Until 2016...