Andrew Huska
Hometown: Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
Occupation: Machinist
Previous Magic Accomplishments:
PTQ win, Grand Prix Top 32
What deck did you choose to play this weekend, and why did you play it?
I played Jund for mostly 50/50 match ups, and Calcano and Ben told me to.
What card has been your MVP this weekend and why?
Tarmogoyf (#bigdumbidiot). He allows you to close out games in a swift manner.
What Journey into Nyx card are you the biggest fan of and why?
Mana Confluence which allows aggro decks to compete.
What was the hardest part of making the Top 8 for you this weekend?
Rallying from not killing and opponent with Rakdos Charm and dying.
Taylor Laehn
Age: 26Hometown: Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA
Occupation: Motivational Speaker
Previous Magic Accomplishments:
Top 8 Grand Prix Minneapolis 2012, Top 32 Pro Tour Pairs 2011
What deck did you choose to play this weekend, and why did you play it?
RUG Twin. Brett Yost and Sam Karls were winning games with it, so it must have been good.
What card has been your MVP this weekend and why?
Mizzium Skin. Some people thought it was in my deck.
What Journey into Nyx card are you the biggest fan of and why?
I don’t think I know any by name.
What was the hardest part of making the Top 8 for you this weekend?
Punting all of my matches on camera.
Brian Braun-Duin
Age: 27Hometown: Roanoke, Virginia, USA
Occupation: Content Producr, StarCityGames.com
Previous Magic Accomplishments:
Winner of Grand Prix Louisville. Beat Brad Nelson in a casual draft.
What deck did you choose to play this weekend, and why did you play it?
Melira Pod. It is powerful and consistent, exactly what you want in a long event.
What card has been your MVP this weekend and why?
Phyrexian Metamorph. It does everything, almost literally.
What Journey into Nyx card are you the biggest fan of and why?
Gluttonous Cyclops with honorable mention to Master of the Feast. Can’t top that artwork.
What was the hardest part of making the Top 8 for you this weekend?
I had to Top 8 this event to qualify for the next Pro Tour, Pro Tour Journey into Nyx in Atlanta, by hitting Silver. The hardest prt was convincing myself to not dwell on it and just play Magic.
Nathan Holiday
Age: 23Hometown: Santa Cruz, California, USA
Occupation: Student
Previous Magic Accomplishments:
Winner of Grand Prix San Diego 2013. Finals of Grand Prix Phoenix. Top 32 Pro Tour San Diego.
What deck did you choose to play this weekend, and why did you play it?
Melira Pod. It’s the best!
What card has been your MVP this weekend and why?
Reveillark, comboing off with Phyrexian Metamorph was sweet. (Actually Birthing Pod - card’s insane.)
What Journey into Nyx card are you the biggest fan of and why?
Hypnotic Siren. “Gimme dat!”
What was the hardest part of making the Top 8 for you this weekend?
Not punting too many times. Also having to 6-0 Day 2.
Shaun McLaren
Age: 26Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta
Occupation: Powerful Magician (shoutout to MTGCanada.com)
Previous Magic Accomplishments:
Won Pro Tour Born of the Gods, played in the 2012 MOCS Championship, 2nd 2007 Canadian Nationals
What deck did you choose to play this weekend, and why did you play it?
UWR Kiki. Has lots of value cards. It will trick opponents who think I’m running my list from the Pro Tour.
What card has been your MVP this weekend and why?
Wall of Omens. It draws a card, it’s an 0/4…what more could you want?
What Journey into Nyx card are you the biggest fan of and why?
Nyx-Fleece Ram. 0/5 has got to be better than 0/4, right? Prepare for savage bleatings…
What was the hardest part of making the Top 8 for you this weekend?
Having three Kiki-Jikis in my hand, nine mana, and topdecking a Restoration Angel the turn before I died.
Gregory Orange
Age: 21Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Occupation: Student
Previous Magic Accomplishments:
I won a PTQ.
What deck did you choose to play this weekend, and why did you play it?
I played WUR Control because I always play control.
What card has been your MVP this weekend and why?
Electrolyze has been sweet!
What Journey into Nyx card are you the biggest fan of and why?
I’m a fan of the 0/5 guy that gains one life (Nyx-Fleece Ram) because it seems durdly.
What was the hardest part of making the Top 8 for you this weekend?
Winning a lot.
Nick Bonham
Age: 39Hometown: Denver, CO
Occupation: Telecommunications Project Manager/Magic Podcaster for Djinn’s Playground
Previous Magic Accomplishments:
National Championships 2004, 2008; Pro Tour Washington DC 1999, Pro Tour New York 2000
What deck did you choose to play this weekend, and why did you play it?
WUR Control. It has great game against most decks in Modern, but mainly because it’s a hoot.
What card has been your MVP this weekend and why?
The miser’s Shadow of Doubt ;)
What Journey into Nyx card are you the biggest fan of and why?
The Temples and Mana Confluence. Having good mana to cast your spells seems good.
What was the hardest part of making the Top 8 for you this weekend?
My opponents. All of them were very good and their attitudes were top shelf.
Jun Young Park
Age: 29Hometown: Republic of Korea
Occupation: Company Employee
Previous Magic Accomplishments:
2 GP Top 8s
What deck did you choose to play this weekend, and why did you play it?
Scapeshift. This deck is good in the metagame right now. Lee Shi Tian gave me the decklist and taught me how to sideboard.
What card has been your MVP this weekend and why?
Repeal. This card helped me many times against critical permanents.
What Journey into Nyx card are you the biggest fan of and why?
Brain Maggot. It can control an opponent with Thoughtseize.
What was the hardest part of making the Top 8 for you this weekend?
When I lost to a good matchup on Day 2.