Written by Rotstejn on October 31, 2006
Champs Torhout 2006 Report: *2nd*
by Rotstejn
Hello everybody, my name is Jonathan Rotstejn, I'm fifteen years old, and I study Technic Siences at VLTI in Torhout, Belgium. This article is my report of the 2006 Standard (type 2) champs in Torhout. After testing a whole week on magic-league I decided to play UW Control, but there was one small problem: I didn't have all the cards. I sent an e-mail to Darth_Unkel and ask him if I could borrow some cards from him. I'm lucky that Darth_Unkel is a nice person, and he even wants to pay my entree, giving me all the cards I need in exchange for my prizes. I'm happy with that deal because some students like me don't have much money and are really happy with free tournaments with cards that you don't need to pay for!
Croak Croak Croak ... that’s how my alarm went that Sunday morning. I noticed the time change, but I thought the time went forward instead of backwards. So I'm awake 2 hours to early and get bored after my breakfast and don't want to wait another two hours, so I decide to get my training pack on and run for some hours (I just started soccer so I can use some extra training). After my training I went to take a nice hot shower, but the boiler was broken, so no hot shower. After that terrible morning I can finally leave home and go to the tournament place. Darth_Unkel is the judge that day and he gives me the cards I asked for and give me a paper to write my decklist on, this was my decklist:
| UW Control | ||
|---|---|---|
| Main Deck | Sideboard | |
| 1 Boreal Shelf 4 Island 3 Plains 4 Urza's Factory 4 Azorius Chancery 4 Adarkar Wastes 4 Hallowed Fountain 2 Akroma, Angel of Wrath 1 Sacred Mesa |
3 Faith's Fetters 4 Repeal 2 Tidings 4 Condemn 4 Wrath of God 4 Remand 4 Mana Leak 4 Cancel 4 Compulsive Research |
1 Faith's Fetters 3 Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir 3 Spell Snare 2 Rewind 2 Shadow of Doubt 4 Circle of Protection: Red |
After some nice talk with some local guys (just like me), pairings go up and I notice there are only seventeen people, so it’s going to be a nice tournament.
Round 1: Brecht ??? (Black/Green Control)
I win the dice roll and I obviously decide to play. We are both happy with or hands and begin. I start with a tapped Hallowed Fountain, and he put down a forest and passed his turn (at that
moment I thought he played some Mono Green deck). I keep drawing nice counters and just say go (that’s the thing this decks most of the time does, saying go). Brecht plays a Swamp and plays a Ravenous Rats, which is no problem for me because I have many lands in my hand, and just discard a Plains. I still don't know what he was playing, but I was not afraid of him because he only played basic lands and colors that aren't very metagame, so I can play a Compulsive Research that gives me double Wrath of God and another land. I just discard the land and say go. But now my opponent does something I didn’t expect: he taps three mana and plays a Moldervine Cloak that made the Rats into a 4/4, and my life goes down to sixteen. I'm not really worried about the Rats, and I draw a card and say go. My opponent is happy with the rat and keeps beating without doing anything else, and after two turns I’m at eight life. Then he plays some random creature, so now it was time for a Wrath of God. I kept two mana open for a counter. He plays another creature that ran into a Mana Leak. I wasn't smart because I only played three win conditions (and only ONE Sacred Mesa), but of course I'm lucky and draw my Akroma, Angel of Wrath. My opponent doesn’t do anything anymore and Akroma finish the game. Sideboard:
-4 Condemn, -2 Repeal (I didn't see many creatures so I didn't expected much), +2 Rewind, +3 Spell Snare, +1 Faith's Fetters (I expected some big monsters)
He chooses to start and makes a play I don't expect at all: two Leyline of Lifeforce. I had a decent hand, but I had too many counters (useless counters I feared). On turn two he played a Golgari Signet, but I Spell Snared it and he didn't draw any lands the next two turns, so that gave me time to get control over the match. But that didn't work out because he drew a land and started to play creatures and after a couple of turn it was 1-1.
I really was surprised about the Leyline, and I was a bit afraid for the next game. I sideboarded some counters out and putted my creature removal in (Condemn). We were both unhappy about our hands and we went to six, but no Leyline came down this time, so I was happy. He started very slowly because there wasn't any spell to play on his side on turn three, and I just kept on drawing all my
counters. Then he starts to play a suspend creature that give you a card if he comes into play if you have no tapped permanents or something. But I Remanded it after he lost all his suspend counters (Remand is so insane if you play against some suspend stuff). Then he played two new creatures via suspend that can give me some problems, so I counter both. Then he started to play new creatures, one which I Faith's Fettered and one which I Repealed, but now I had lost a lot of my counter-magic and kept on drawing useless cards (to much lands). He starts to beat with his creatures, but I topdeck a Wrath of God that give me time to take control over the game. I'm only at nine or something, and he kept on playing creatures I couldn't counter. I needed to draw some removal or a win condition, but I start drawing all of my counters that are now useless. I'm at three or so, and Faith's Fetters comes to the rescue, followed by a topdecked Akroma, Angel of Wrath. My opponent stops attacking because he is afraid of my Akroma (stupid choice because he can win if he had attacked me for two turns), and I topdeck an Urza's Factory that gives me a 2/2 token each turn. He keeps on playing creature's but doesn't dare to attack, so we both start to create our army, but I needed some perfect cards to get out off this game because a Wrath of God will not work because my opponent would then get a black spider that would finish me. I play Compulsive Research, which yielded me Wrath of God and two other Compulsive Researches. I keep on playing my Compulsive Research and I draw an Akroma, Angel of Wrath. Now I only need a Repeal for the win. He passes his turn and I topdeck Repeal! Because I didn't know that the token of the Spider is black, I played Wrath of God followed by an Akroma and a Repeal that killed the copy and some turns later my opponents scoop up his cards. 2-1 (Total: 1-0)
Round 2: Branco Neirynck (Solar Flare)
Branco is also a member of the Woodland Mages (that's the club in Torhout) and he really wants to beat me. This round isn't that exciting; my opponent was just lucky and kept on playing fatties that I counter, and he reanimated them with his Zombifies. At the moment I was manascrewed and he simply beats me.
Game two is almost the same; he played two fatties with two copies of Zombify in his hand.
0-2 (Total: 1-1)
Darth_Unkel came around and he looked surprised that I lost.
Round 3: Cas Vanwalleghem (Dragonstorm)
Cas Vanwelleghem is also a member of the Woodland Mages, but he didn't want to beat me. He just played in a relaxed manner and tells me I couldn't win post-sideboard. I just ignore him and laugh a bit.
I start the game and just say go until he tries to go off, but I counter his Seething Song twice and he only had mana left for a Hunted Dragon. I get the tokens and Faith's Fetters the dragon. He doesn't draw any good cards, and I finish him with the tokens he gave me.
Sideboard: +2 Shadow in Doubt, +4 COP: Red, -4 Wrath of God, -2 Tidings (I don't want to tap out against him, but it was really stupid from me to sideboard the WOG's out)
He just starts powerfully with two Lotus Blooms, and on turn four he got his Tron and just goes off.
This next game is funny because he plays a turn one Hunted Dragon but loses the game because there was a card under his chair, so he played with a 59 card deck. He received a game loss, lucky me.
2-1 (Total: 2-1)
Round 4: Dennis Stone (Mono Black Smallpox)
Dennis is a new player and does pretty well for a new player with such a cheap deck.
I win the roll and he starts well with a Blackmail that hits a Remand. He then wanted to discard my hand with some discard spells, but they always run in a counter. Phyrexian Arena wants to come in, but I counter it. Dennis then has an empty hand, and I start to make tokens with my Urza's Factory, but Dennis can play a Phyrexian Totem that starts beating and my tokens keep on blocking him, and he keep losing permanents. He ends up with fewer permanents, so an Akroma finish the game.
Game two is another story: he makes me discard my hand and plays two Phyrexian Totems that take the game.
Game three is again very good for me; this matchup relies on who opens. Game three is the same as game one, and Akroma finishes the game again.
2-1 (Total: 3-1)
Round 5: Ruben Yde (Mono Green Saproling deck)
I win the roll, and he starts making Saprolings. I repeal some tokens that are enchanted with Cloak and draw some Wrath of Gods, which clean the board. Faith's Fetters keeps my life total high and make his creature's useless. Akroma hits the board and beats my opponent.
Game two is just the same; I boarded Spell Snare in, and Repeal and Wrath of God are again the key cards that give me control. Akroma hits the table again, and that beauty of an angel earns me the second place title for champs!2-0 (Total: 4-1)
So I placed second, winning six boosters and the promo cards, and I give all of my prizes to Darth_Unkel. However, Darth_Unkel was a nice guy and gave me two boosters because I did so well. I give him his cards back.
Top 4 decks:
1st: Zoo - Eric Delaere
2nd: UW Control - Jonathan Rotstejn
3rd: Solar Flare - Branco Neirynck
4th: Solar Flare - Matthias Verbeeck
So this was my report of champs; I hope you all enjoyed it! Sorry for my bad English, and I’ll see you around!
Greets,
-Jonathan Rotstejn
Rotstejn on 2006-10-31 05:44 MDT wtf my English is bad, sorry !
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Royalty on 2006-10-31 05:54 MDT I think you forgot to write a report of the T8 games :p only 5rounds? woah, it was 7 here :o
well, good article, I dont like U/W control tho :/
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Rotstejn on 2006-10-31 06:28 MDT well there wasn't a top 8 .. I dunno why (maybe because they were only 17 players or something)
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Rotstejn on 2006-10-31 06:28 MDT double post
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Rotstejn on 2006-10-31 06:28 MDT Thx to magic-league for the correction ... but why did you cut some important parts out of my report ?
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PV on 2006-10-31 07:40 MDT "But I Remanded it after he lost all his suspend counters (Remand is so insane if you play against some suspend stuff). "
after he lost ALL of them? :P
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SteveOB on 2006-10-31 08:04 MDT Don't be a hater PV :) he prob dropped the counters and couldn't find them
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DvK on 2006-10-31 08:24 MDT double
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DvK on 2006-10-31 08:24 MDT well you can remand a spell only if it is played. and because suspend plays a card upon removing the LAST suspend counter, he could only do it after he lost ALL of them.
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DESTRUCTOR on 2006-10-31 09:10 MDT he mean when the last suspend counters was removed (is when he plays the card) he countered
Well you should at least have a top-4 or something...i dont like using 4 urza's factory (3 is enough), 2 akroma....may be 1 but 2 is also ok...1 sacred mesa WTF!!! that card is just insane men you need 3 of them because sacred mesa rocks!!!
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WasD on 2006-10-31 10:03 MDT u play no top8??? this is kinda LOW skilled!
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RemiX on 2006-10-31 10:49 MDT no top 8 cause 17 ppl as he said.. whats the use in top8 ing with a 17 person tourney? half the players almost would be top 8
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RemiX on 2006-10-31 10:50 MDT and btw for the record i think wizards says u have to have 18 people for u to even attempt a top 8
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Rotstejn on 2006-10-31 10:55 MDT Well after the champs I also noticed that Sacred Mesa is insane and that I need to play 3 copies of them, but the Urza's Factory is just nuts I really want 6 of them in my deck ...
My new version play 3 Sacred Mesa's now and none Akroma's and it runs like a sex machine :p
RemiX I also think we need to have 18 people or something ...
Well anyway I'm happy with my second place :-)
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Atatator on 2006-10-31 12:00 MDT LOL...man...you just beated out some random shit decks snd got a prizes :) but also congrats:)
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cernicolo on 2006-10-31 12:10 MDT turn 1 hunted dragon what?! how the heck does that happen?
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AKim on 2006-10-31 12:27 MDT um.... No offence, but getting 2nd at a 17 person event isnt that great of an accomplishment.. and 6 packs of prize is a joke.. kinda like the prize was at our states hehe
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zainquelrus on 2006-10-31 13:42 MDT We here in Florida had 9 rounds, 4 people short of making it 10 rounds lol
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DESTRUCTOR on 2006-10-31 13:46 MDT cernicolo:
1º turn play mountain, play rite of flame (RR in pool), play another rite of flame (RRRR mana pool), sething song (6 red mana in pool) and play hunted dragon...it's possible really really really hard to do but possible
it also work with another rite of flame but playing dragonstorm and winning in the 1º turn
Rotstejn: how did compulsive research and tidings work out for you? i preffer using think twice and whisper of the muse because i dont like to tap out and face something awfull later
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Rotstejn on 2006-10-31 14:13 MDT I didn't liked the Tidings (I dunno why, but I just didn't liked them) but I really prefer the Compulsive Research over Think Twice they are just the bomb ...
DESTRUCTOR is also right about the Hunted Dragon thing ...
@ Atatator & AKim: I know that playing a 17th men tourney is nothing (especialy if there are so many rogue decks), I just wanted to entertain some people and give them some read stuff ;-)
greets jonathan r.
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Peter_Akeley on 2006-10-31 15:54 MDT I played a UW deck almost like this and i got 123 of 197 in NC... I faced 3 of the 7 LD decks and only got to cast 2 Wraths. Tidings makes you tap out on your turn not a good thing for the deck. swap it for something id say and you need disenchants in the SB.
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pG on 2006-10-31 16:07 MDT So you played me and kaesh's extremly old list and did well?
GOOD JOB
CUT AKROMA SHES GARBAGE!
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Ith- on 2006-10-31 18:28 MDT At my Champs we had over 300 people and 9 rounds. They considered only allowing 200 in because of "fire hazards."
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Void06 on 2006-10-31 21:46 MDT i gotta poop
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RemiX on 2006-10-31 22:23 MDT lol ... 10 rounds of magic.... omg id be in heaven
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P_P4E on 2006-11-01 17:41 MDT Better than other articles mostly, even if it is quite pathetic.... GJ
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Ninja87 on 2006-11-02 06:15 MDT lol oh well.. gj tho.. when i was 15 i was never close to even having a proper tournament deck.. haha
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Buffalo-Wing on 2006-11-03 05:26 MDT very nice article, you make a good change to win this contest !
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Rotstejn on 2006-11-03 05:27 MDT nice
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MaksymG on 2006-11-04 20:19 MDT woaw whats up with all of these small tournaments we have 190! people giving us 8 rounds and 3 rounds fo top 8
