May 25 2014
TOP 5 CARDS by Event Coverage Staff5. King Macar, the Gold-Cursed With Black being back on the menu, after dropping in popularity in Born of the Gods, the Gold-making king is high on many wish lists for rares to open. We saw it...
Jon Stern bested a 1298 player field and finalist Tomoharu Saito to win his second Grand Prix trophy, showcasing the power of blue-green in both Sealed and Draft.
TOP 8 COVERAGE
For Jon Stern, Platinum appeared to be a hard-to-obtain goal. Going into this event, he was sitting at 32 Pro Points, and he would need a Top 16 finish or better in order to improve on his Pro Point total through a Grand Prix.
This weekend, facing down a field of 1298 players and two days of Theros block Limited here in Atlanta, Stern decided to go a few steps further and win the whole thing instead. After going undefeated in Day One and drawing into the Top 8 after two impressive drafts, Stern had to battle through three rounds in the Top 8, defeating No. 24 Ranked Player and Hall of Famer William Jensen along the way. After some epic matches, Stern dispatched Tomoharu Saito in two quick games, earning him his second Grand Prix title.
The top of the standings and the Top 8 was star-studded, featuring brilliant play and amazing performances from a plethora of pro players. In the end though, Atlanta's trophy is going home with Jon Stern to Canada, his goal of achieving Platinum status for this season now closer than ever.
May 25 2014
TOP 5 CARDS by Event Coverage Staff5. King Macar, the Gold-Cursed With Black being back on the menu, after dropping in popularity in Born of the Gods, the Gold-making king is high on many wish lists for rares to open. We saw it...
May 25 2014
TOP 8 PROFILES by Event Coverage StaffLearn more about the Grand Prix Atlanta 2014 Top 8 Competitors in the information below. Jon Stern Age: 36Hometown: Montreal, CanadaOccupation: Gamer What was the best card in your...
DAY 2 COVERAGE
It's Sunday here in Atlanta, and 167 players have returned after nine rounds of Sealed Pack. The format today is Theros block Booster Draft, and these players will have two drafts and six rounds to go before the Top 8 is decided.
Leading the pack are some big names such as No. 24 Ranked Player William "Huey" Jensen, Jon Stern, Nathan Holiday, and Alex Majlaton. Alongside these big names is John Esposito, who also finished undefeated alongside the other four. However, undefeated when there are six rounds only means something if these players can retain their solid records. There are plenty of players behind them with, at worst, only two losses, meaning anything could still happen today.
Who will be crowned the champion of Grand Prix Atlanta and Theros block Limited this weekend? Find out as we bring you live coverage of today's Limited rounds!
May 25 2014
DRAFTING WITH CHRIS FENNELL by Mike RosenbergFor No. 18 Ranked Player Chris Fennell, drafting is just another day. There are few players in the room more focused and on-target when he finds a signal than he is in drafts, proven by his...
May 25 2014
WIN AND INS AT GRAND PRIX ATLANTA by Olle RadeEight players entered the feature match area for the last round of Swiss in Atlanta. Four left as happy top 8 competitors and four left disappointed losing the last round barely missing the draft...
May 25 2014
ROUND 14: CHRIS FENNELL VS. BEN FRIEDMAN by Mike RosenbergFor No. 18 Ranked Player Fennell, one additional Pro Point will lock him into Platinum once he attends Pro Tour Magic 2015. However, a second-place finish or a win would do him even better,...
DAY 1 COVERAGE
Nine rounds of Theros block Sealed Deck have come and gone, and at the end of Day One here at Grand Prix Atlanta, only five players remain at the top of the standings with 9-0 records.
Alex Majlaton, William "Huey" Jensen, Jon Stern, Nathan Holiday, and John Espesito lead the way with undefeated records in Sealed Pack. It's quite a list of names when it comes to Magic accomplishments. Majlaton already had six Grand Prix Top 8s to his name, and is looking to add a win to that resume instead. Jensen, a Hall of Famer and Grand Prix champion already, is looking to add another to his resume along with some valuable Pro Points in an effort to lock up a World Championship slot. Grand Prix Atlantic City Champion Jon Stern hopes that a solid Grand Prix finish will bolster his chances at Platinum, and Nathan Holiday is seeking his second Grand Prix title. Espesito rounds out the undefeated players as the sole person in this group aiming for his first Grand Prix Top 8.
Will these players propel their already stellar start with a solid performance in tomorrow's Booster Drafts, or will the Top 8 instead be filled with those that made it through on the cusp at the end of today? Join us tomorrow starting at 9AM ET/6AM PT for live coverage of Day Two of Grand Prix Atlanta!
May 24 2014
ROUND 9 BUBBLE MATCH ROUND-UP by Olle RadeAlthough the Grand Prix is running late, most players were still hungry for victory. Especially those who has to win their last match to end the day with a 7-2 record and make it to Day Two. As it...
May 24 2014
ROUND 7: DENNIZ RACHID VS. JON STERN by Mike RosenbergSwedish pro Denniz Rachid has amassed 21 Pro Points going into this weekend, but at this stage, his chances of hitting Platinum are low. While he still has a couple of Grand Prix slots that could...
May 25 2014
QUICK QUESTIONS #2 by Mike RosenbergWhat is your color preference in Theros block Sealed? No. 1 Ranked Player Reid Duke: "I would say black, with my second choice being white. White is probably the best color in Draft, but Sealed...
(1)Jon Stern, 2-1
(4)Shaun McLaren
(3)Alex Majlaton
(2)William Jensen, 2-0
(7)Tomoharu Saito, 2-1
(6)Vidianto Wijaya
(8)Charley Murdock, 2-1
(5)Chris Fennell
(1)Jon Stern, 2-1
(2)William Jensen
(7)Tomoharu Saito, 2-1
(8)Charley Murdock
(1)Jon Stern, 2-0
(7)Tomoharu Saito
article GRAND PRIX ATLANTA 2014 May 25, 2014
by Event Coverage Staff5. King Macar, the Gold-Cursed With Black being back on the menu, after dropping in popularity in Born of the Gods, the Gold-making king is high on many wish lists for rares to open. We saw it...
article GRAND PRIX ATLANTA 2014 May 25, 2014
by Event Coverage StaffLearn more about the Grand Prix Atlanta 2014 Top 8 Competitors in the information below. Jon Stern Age: 36Hometown: Montreal, CanadaOccupation: Gamer What was the best card in your...
article GRAND PRIX ATLANTA 2014 May 25, 2014
by Mike RosenbergFor No. 18 Ranked Player Chris Fennell, drafting is just another day. There are few players in the room more focused and on-target when he finds a signal than he is in drafts, proven by his...
article GRAND PRIX ATLANTA 2014 May 25, 2014
WIN AND INS AT GRAND PRIX ATLANTA
by Olle RadeEight players entered the feature match area for the last round of Swiss in Atlanta. Four left as happy top 8 competitors and four left disappointed losing the last round barely missing the draft...
article GRAND PRIX ATLANTA 2014 May 25, 2014
ROUND 14: CHRIS FENNELL VS. BEN FRIEDMAN
by Mike RosenbergFor No. 18 Ranked Player Fennell, one additional Pro Point will lock him into Platinum once he attends Pro Tour Magic 2015. However, a second-place finish or a win would do him even better,...
article GRAND PRIX ATLANTA 2014 May 25, 2014
ROUND 13: JON STERN VS. YUUYA WATANABE
by Olle RadeWith both players at 11-1 this round 13 feature might just be the last win needed for either player to be able to draw into the prestigious Top 8. For Jon Stern, with four previous Grand Prix...
article GRAND PRIX ATLANTA 2014 May 25, 2014
by Mike RosenbergGoing into Round 12, the final round of the first Booster Draft for today, there are a few facts to keep in mind: -39 Points before Round 15 locks you in the Top 8 with this event size -Since...
article GRAND PRIX ATLANTA 2014 May 25, 2014
ROUND 11: JON STERN VS. JASPER JOHNSON-EPSTEIN
by Olle RadeRound 11 saw two players both with 10-1 records, but Jasper Johnson-Epstein had actually won his first match of the draft, where Jon Stern had lost his to Alexander Hayne. Coming into the...
article GRAND PRIX ATLANTA 2014 May 25, 2014
ROUND 10: NATHAN HOLIDAY VS. WILLIAM JENSEN
by Mike RosenbergAt just 15 Pro Points, Grand Prix mainstay Nathan Holiday needed the assist of another solid Grand Prix finish to lock up Silver, which would guarantee him entry into Pro Tour at Honolulu with his...
article GRAND PRIX ATLANTA 2014 May 25, 2014
HOURS OF NEED - DRAFTING WITH JON STERN
by Olle RadeNot only did Canadian Jon Stern end up Day One with a 9-0 record. He did it with a deck that on first sight didn't look spectacular. It was Green/Blue, looked a bit slow, and Stern opted to play...
article GRAND PRIX ATLANTA 2014 May 24, 2014
by Olle RadeAlthough the Grand Prix is running late, most players were still hungry for victory. Especially those who has to win their last match to end the day with a 7-2 record and make it to Day Two. As it...
article GRAND PRIX ATLANTA 2014 May 24, 2014
ROUND 7: DENNIZ RACHID VS. JON STERN
by Mike RosenbergSwedish pro Denniz Rachid has amassed 21 Pro Points going into this weekend, but at this stage, his chances of hitting Platinum are low. While he still has a couple of Grand Prix slots that could...
article GRAND PRIX ATLANTA 2014 May 25, 2014
by Mike RosenbergWhat is your color preference in Theros block Sealed? No. 1 Ranked Player Reid Duke: "I would say black, with my second choice being white. White is probably the best color in Draft, but Sealed...
article GRAND PRIX ATLANTA 2014 May 25, 2014
by Mike RosenbergHow has Journey into Nyx changed the Sealed format? No. 1 Ranked Player Reid Duke: "I think the format's a little more balanced, a little slower, and a little weaker since Theros was the...
article GRAND PRIX ATLANTA 2014 May 25, 2014
HITS AND MISSES FROM JOURNEY INTO NYX
by Olle RadeOne of the most interesting things about new limited sets is how people value the cards in it. You might think that the best players figure out all the secrets in their testing for the Pro Tour....
article GRAND PRIX ATLANTA 2014 May 24, 2014
ROUND 5: CONLEY WOODS VS. TOM ROSS
by Olle RadeThe players barely had time to enjoy their three byes as action started here in Atlanta. Fresh off a fourth round win each, round five saw friends Tom "the boss" Ross and brewmaster Conley...
article GRAND PRIX ATLANTA 2014 May 24, 2014
SEALED DECK BUILD EXERCISE WITH FRANK KARSTEN
by Olle RadeWhile different pro players might have the same view of how a sealed deck pool should be built, they certainly have different methods of getting there. If anyone is a thorough sealed deck builder...
article GRAND PRIX ATLANTA 2014 May 24, 2014
SEALED DECK BUILD EXERCISE WITH DENNIZ RACHID
by Olle RadeSwedish powerhouse Denniz Rachid might be known for making the top 8 at both Pro Tour Dark Ascension and Avacyn Restored a few years back. But what few people know is that his combined limited...
article GRAND PRIX ATLANTA 2014 May 25, 2014
TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS WITH DAVIN TAYLOR
by Mike RosenbergFor many players, including those on the Top 25 Rankings, a Grand Prix in Atlanta simply meant staying for an additional week after Pro Tour Journey into Nyx, which also took place in the peach...
article GRAND PRIX ATLANTA 2014 May 24, 2014
by Olle RadeAlthough the actual Grand Prix doesn't begin until Saturday morning, there is a lot going on in the halls the night before. Side events are running, vendors are making sales and Grand Prix hungry...
article GRAND PRIX ATLANTA 2014 May 24, 2014
GRAND PRIX TRIAL WINNING DECKLISTS
by Event Coverage StaffDavid Howard ...