Michael Hron (33, consultant from Madison WI)
Alex Hayne (25, magician from Montréal, Canada)
Rich Hoaen (28, management consultant from Toronto, Canada)
Where do you usually play Magic?
Alex: Face to Face Games in Montréal—the best store for Magic in Canada!
Rich, Michael: Magic Online
How did you form your team?
I met Alex in the finals of Grand Prix Montréal—he really likes team sealed. Mike and I were in the Philippines, so we were close anyway, and decided to come.
What was your record for Day 1 (Sealed)?
Record: 9-0
Colors: GR / UW / UB
What were your key cards/memorable combos?
We had 5 mythic rares.
What was your record for Day 1 (Sealed)?
Record: 3-2
Colors: BG / UR / WW
What were your key cards/memorable combos?
Dragon, Boulderfall, Hythonia, Whip of Erebos, 3 Ordeals and Favored Hoplite.
What is your strategy for the draft?
Hook people.
Who is your favorite artist (if any)?
Rob Alexander—love the lands.
What do you recommend people do to get better at Magic?
Practice, practice, practice.
How did you start playing Magic?
Through friends. Rich: "I was neighbors with Gab Tsang."
Jun'ichiro Bando (34, prep school lecturer)
Makihito Mihara (30, salaryman)
Kentaro Yamamoto (worker)
How did you form your team?
Bando and Yamamoto: We were looking for a third teammate, and we found out that Mihara was available. Lucky!
Where do you usually play Magic?
Magic Online
What was your record for Day 1 (Sealed)?
Record:
Colors: WR (Yamamoto) / RG (Bando) / BG (Mihara)
What were your key cards/memorable combos?
Yamamot won 9 in a row (18-1 in games)
What was your record for Day 1 (Sealed)?
Record:
Colors: WG (Yamamoto) / UR (Bando) / WUB (Mihara)
What were your key cards/memorable combos?
Yamamoto turned a loss around in the match that the Top 4 was riding on.
What is your strategy for the draft?
None in particular.
Who is your favorite artist (if any)?
John Avon.
What do you recommend people do to get better at Magic?
Bando: Practice with someone better than you.
How did you start playing Magic?
Yamamoto: A friend got me into it.
Toshinori Shigehara (27, salaryman from Yamaguchi)
Takayuki Kadono (20, salaryman from Yamaguchi)
Hiroki Furukawa (31, salaryman from Yamaguchi)
How did you form your team?
We put it together at the last minute following cancellations from the people who were supposed to be on our team.
Where do you usually play Magic?
Chameleon Club Ube Nishi-kiwa.
What was your record for Day 1 (Sealed)?
Record:
Colors: UG / UB / WR
What were your key cards/memorable combos?
We won the 6th round after all of us starting off at 0-1.
What was your record for Day 1 (Sealed)?
Colors: UG / WB / WR
What were your key cards/memorable combos?
Grey Merchant of Asphodel is strong!
What is your strategy for the draft?
Shigehara: I don't think we stand much of a chance against the other teams. We'll do our best.
Furukawa: I hope we can make the last train.
Kadono: We didn't practice much for the draft, but we'll give it our all.
Who is your favorite artist (if any)?
>Rob Alexander.
What do you recommend people do to get better at Magic?
We don't think we're good enough to tell people that. Just have fun!
How did you start playing Magic?
Shigehara: I played with my older brother a lot. I started playing in tournaments after going to the World Championships (which I qualified for through Magic Online).
Kadono: When I was in middle school, my younger brother brought back some Mirage tournament packs from a game shop. We didn't really understand the rules, but still had fun playing with the cards.
Shota Yasooka
Tomoharu Saito (30, owner of Card Shop Hareru-ya in Tokyo)
Katsuhiro Mori (30, owner of Card Shop Kateru-ya in Tokyo)
How did you form your team?
Tomoharu took the lead.
Where do you usually play Magic?
At our stores or Magic Online.
What was your record for Day 1 (Sealed)?
Record:
Colors: UG / UB / RB
What were your key cards/memorable combos?
The equipment that gives flying that we put in the sideboard of the green deck came in very handy.
What was your record for Day 1 (Sealed)?
Colors: WU / RG / UB
What were your key cards/memorable combos?
We talked a lot on the video coverage. We really appreciated Yasooka promoting our stores.
What is your strategy for the draft?
1-2-3!
Who is your favorite artist (if any)?
Scott M. Fischer, Chris Rahn.
What do you recommend people do to get better at Magic?
Play to have fun.