
Grand Prix Auckland 2008
Lo Reaches New Heights in Auckland
December 6-7, 2008
Grand Prix Auckland 2008
Dominic Lo of Sydney, Australia plowed through the field on day one, and did the same again on day two, finishing at the top of the field going into the playoffs. This morning I speculated that there would be a bloodbath today, with several well-known Pros sitting at X - 1 just waiting to take on the local players. However, when the smoke cleared, only Olivier Ruel remained, and even he was dispatched by Auckland's Nick Tung in the quarterfinals. Lo and Tung squared off in the finals, with Lo's Bant deck finally flying in to win game three and the title of Grand Prix: Auckland Champion 2008.
TOP 8 BRACKET
Quaterfinals
(1) Hay, Chris
(8) Cheung, Justin
(4) Tung, Nick
(5) Ruel, Olivier
(2) Tabet, Basam
(7) Lo, Dominic
(3) Combs, Joseph
(6) Chung, Jason
Semi-finals
Cheung, Justin 2-0
Tung, Nick 2-0
Lo, Dominic 2-0
Chung, Jason 2-0
Finals
Tung, Nick 2-1
Lo, Dominic 2-1
Champion
Lo, Dominic 2-1
EVENT COVERAGE
- 8:03p.m.:Finals - Nick Tung vs Dominic Lo
by Ray "blisterguy" Walkinshaw
- 7:10p.m.: Top 4 - Jason Chung vs Dominic Lo
by Ray "blisterguy" Walkinshaw
- 6:37p.m.: Top 8 - Nick Tung vs Olivier Ruel
by Ray "blisterguy" Walkinshaw
- 6:34p.m.: Top 8 - Decklists
by Russell "Ralphey" Alphey
- 6:18p.m.: Top 8 - Draft with Olivier Ruel
by Ray “blisterguy” Walkinshaw
- 6:07p.m.: Top 8 - Player Profiles
by Ray “blisterguy” Walkinshaw
- Day 2 Blog Archive: Featured Matches, Quick Questions, Drafting with Dominic Lo, Justin Cheung, Shuuhei Nakamura and LSV and more!
by Event Coverage Staff
- Day 1 Blog Archive: If you missed Day One of the Auckland Grand Prix, you can find it all here!
by Event Coverage Staff
- Info: Fact Sheet
by Event Coverage Staff
INFORMATION
1. Lo, Dominic | $3,500 |
2. Tung, Nick | $2,300 |
3. Cheung, Justin | $1,500 |
4. Chung, Jason | $1,500 |
5. Ruel, Olivier | $1,000 |
6. Combs, Joseph E | $1,000 |
7. Tabet, Basam J | $1,000 |
8. Hay, Chris | $1,000 |
pairings, results, standings
Sunday, December 07: 6:07p.m. - Top 8 profiles

Name: Jason Chung
Age: 16
Home town: Auckland, New Zealand
Occupation: Student
What was your record on Saturday and what was the best card in your deck?
6-1 Broodmate Dragon.
What was your record today what was the best card in each of your draft decks?
2-1, 2-0-1 Branching Bolt, Cruel Ultimatum
What is the most underrated card in Shards of Alara Draft?
Island

Name: Justin Cheung
Age: 27
Home town: Sydney, Australia
Occupation: Administration
What was your record on Saturday and what was the best card in your deck?
7-0 Titanic Ultimatum
What was your record today what was the best card in each of your draft decks?
3-2-1 Violent Ultimatum, Grixis Charm
What is the most underrated card in Shards of Alara Draft?
Algae Gharial

Name: Nick Tung
Age: 29
Home town: Auckland, New Zealand
Occupation: Pharmaceutical Chemist
What was your record on Saturday and what was the best card in your deck?
5-1-1 Goblin Assault.
What was your record today what was the best card in each of your draft decks?
5-1 Broodmate Dragon, Undead Leotau
What is the most underrated card in Shards of Alara Draft?
Corpse Connoisseur

Name: Joe Combs
Age: 20
Home town: Rochester, New York, U.S.A.
Occupation: Student, Georgetown University
What was your record on Saturday and what was the best card in your deck?
5-1-1 with 1 bye. Call to Heel or Wild Nacatl, both of which were duplicates. I was fairly lucky to get this record.
What was your record today what was the best card in each of your draft decks?
5-0-1 Draft 1 my deck was insane, probably Sharuum the Hegemon or Scourglass. Draft 2 my best card was Savage Lands
What is the most underrated card in Shards of Alara Draft?
All of the lands, especially the uncommon ones. Don't take my word for it though, I barely trust myself about that.

Name: Chris Hay
Age: 27
Home town: Auckland, New Zealand
Occupation: Systems Analyst, ASB Bank
What was your record on Saturday and what was the best card in your deck?
5-1-1 Broodmate Dragon (Elspeth, Knight-Errant a close second!)
What was your record today what was the best card in each of your draft decks?
5-1 Kederekt Leviathan, Sharuum the Hegemon
What is the most underrated card in Shards of Alara Draft?
Corpse Connoisseur. With just a couple of unearth guys, it's pure card advantage!

Name: Basam Tabet
Age: 28
Home town: Mullumbimby, Australia
Occupation: Carer
What was your record on Saturday and what was the best card in your deck?
5-2 Dragon Fodder (no, I'm not joking) thankfully, I had 3 byes.
What was your record today what was the best card in each of your draft decks?
3-0 Cruel Ultimatum/Broodmate Dragon, 2-0-1 Ajani Vengeant.
What is the most underrated card in Shards of Alara Draft?
Welkin Guide/Necrogenesis.

Name: Olivier Ruel
Age: 27
Home town: Lille, France
Occupation: Chasing Shuuhei Nakamura
What was your record on Saturday and what was the best card in your deck?
6-1, Empyrial Archangel by far, but I had to splash White and Green to run it.
What was your record today what was the best card in each of your draft decks?
3-0 Sharuum the Hegemon (though Sphinx Sovereign, 2x Infest, Scourglass, 2x Sanctum Gargoyle, Master of Etherium etc weren't bad.) 1-0-2 Jungle Shrine (Yes, I'm being serious.)
What is the most underrated card in Shards of Alara Draft?
Kederekt Leviathan. That card is one of the best rares in the set and it sometimes wheels, somehow... As I can see I have some space left. I'd love to say 'hi' to my dad (he always complains about me saying 'hi' to everyone but him), and to send a huge kiss to Poupette and MP.

Name: Dominic Lo
Age: 25
Home town: Sydney
Occupation: Uni Admin
What was your record on Saturday and what was the best card in your deck?
7-0 Jungle Shrine
What was your record today what was the best card in each of your draft decks?
2-1 Savage Lands, 1-0-2 Hindering Light or Rafiq of the Many
What is the most underrated card in Shards of Alara Draft?
Guardians of Akrasa
Sunday, December 07: 6:18p.m. - Top 8 Draft with Olivier Ruel
To say that Olivier Ruel is an experienced mage is quite frankly, putting it lightly. He's played in more Grand Prix's than the entire New Zealand population alone. Well, before this weekend, that is.
He tore a Sarkhan Vol out of his first pack, but passed a Naya Charm, a Wild Nacatl, Dragon Fodder and an Executioner's Capsule downstream. He followed that up with a Rip-Clan Crasher, a Soul's Fire and a 6th pick Wild Nacatl. By the end of pack one, Ruel seemed quite confident with his Green/Red deck.
Pack two gave him a Branching Bolt with a pump of the fist, over a Stoic Angel, a Woolly Thoctar, a Mosstodon and a Jungle Weaver. I know some of those aren't anywhere near as good as the Bolt, I only mention it because the only card that made it back to him from that pack was the Weaver. Ruel was far from the only Green drafter at the table. Pick two was a Hissing Iguana, but the third pick had nothing, and Ruel was forced to hate-draft a Fire-Field Ogre. Pick four was also quite underwhelming, a Gift of the Gargantuan, followed by a Rockslide Elemental, a Jungle Weaver and another Gift. Ruel's confidence in his draft was dropping quickly as he thumbed through the playables during the second review period.
The third pack brought Ruel a second Branching Bolt, an Algae Gharial and a Drumhunter, but he was also forced to dip into Black for a Sprouting Thrinax to go with his Thorn-Thrash Viashinos and a Thunder-Thrash Elder he'd picked up earlier.
"My deck is missing one card to be really good, a second Dragon Fodder," Ruel explained as he built his deck. "I have these devour guys to go with Sarkhan Vol, but I really need another Dragon Fodder to tie them together. I don't think I can win the whole thing with this, but probably my quarterfinals match at least. The problem with my first pick (Sarkhan Vol) is that I passed too many good Green from that pack."
Sunday, December 07: 6:34p.m. - Top 8: decklists
Creature (14)
1 Esper Battlemage 1 Fatestitcher 1 Blister Beetle 1 Dregscape Zombie 1 Grixis Battlemage 1 Puppet Conjurer 1 Viscera Dragger 2 Bloodpyre Elemental 1 Hissing Iguanar 1 Predator Dragon 1 Fire-Field Ogre 1 Sedris, the Traitor King 1 Tidehollow StrixSideboard (19)
1 Seaside Citadel 1 Relic of Progenitus 1 Dispeller's Capsule 1 Guardians of Akrasa 1 Sanctum Gargoyle 1 Sigiled Paladin 1 Etherium Astrolabe 1 Filigree Sages 1 Resounding Wave 1 Steelclad Serpent 1 Tezzeret the Seeker 1 Tortoise Formation 1 Archdemon of Unx 1 Glaze Fiend 1 Resounding Scream 1 Skeletal Kathari 1 Lightning Talons 1 Hindering Light 1 Kederekt CreeperBlue (9)
1 Esper Battlemage 1 Fatestitcher 1 Call to Heel 1 Etherium Astrolabe 1 Filigree Sages 1 Resounding Wave 1 Steelclad Serpent 1 Tezzeret the Seeker 1 Tortoise FormationBlack (11)
1 Blister Beetle 1 Dregscape Zombie 1 Grixis Battlemage 1 Puppet Conjurer 1 Viscera Dragger 1 Bone Splinters 1 Executioner's Capsule 1 Archdemon of Unx 1 Glaze Fiend 1 Resounding Scream 1 Skeletal KathariRed (7)
2 Bloodpyre Elemental 1 Hissing Iguanar 1 Predator Dragon 1 Skeletonize 1 Volcanic Submersion 1 Lightning TalonsMulti colored (7)
1 Fire-Field Ogre 1 Sedris, the Traitor King 1 Tidehollow Strix 1 Agony Warp 1 Cruel Ultimatum 1 Hindering Light 1 Kederekt CreeperColorless (21)
5 Island 7 Mountain 5 Swamp 1 Jund Panorama 1 Obelisk of Esper 1 Seaside Citadel 1 Relic of Progenitus2 (9)
1 Blister Beetle 1 Dregscape Zombie 1 Puppet Conjurer 1 Tidehollow Strix 1 Call to Heel 1 Agony Warp 1 Sigiled Paladin 1 Glaze Fiend 1 Hindering Light3 (10)
1 Esper Battlemage 1 Grixis Battlemage 1 Hissing Iguanar 1 Obelisk of Esper 1 Guardians of Akrasa 1 Etherium Astrolabe 1 Resounding Wave 1 Resounding Scream 1 Lightning Talons 1 Kederekt Creeper4 (6)
1 Fatestitcher 1 Viscera Dragger 1 Fire-Field Ogre 1 Sanctum Gargoyle 1 Filigree Sages 1 Tortoise Formation5 (6)
2 Bloodpyre Elemental 1 Skeletonize 1 Volcanic Submersion 1 Tezzeret the Seeker 1 Skeletal KathariCommon (44)
5 Island 7 Mountain 5 Swamp 1 Jund Panorama 1 Blister Beetle 1 Dregscape Zombie 1 Viscera Dragger 2 Bloodpyre Elemental 1 Hissing Iguanar 1 Tidehollow Strix 1 Obelisk of Esper 1 Call to Heel 1 Bone Splinters 1 Executioner's Capsule 1 Skeletonize 1 Volcanic Submersion 1 Relic of Progenitus 1 Dispeller's Capsule 1 Guardians of Akrasa 1 Sanctum Gargoyle 1 Resounding Wave 1 Steelclad Serpent 1 Tortoise Formation 1 Glaze Fiend 1 Resounding Scream 1 Skeletal Kathari 1 Lightning Talons 1 Hindering Light 1 Kederekt CreeperUncommon (10)
1 Esper Battlemage 1 Fatestitcher 1 Grixis Battlemage 1 Puppet Conjurer 1 Fire-Field Ogre 1 Agony Warp 1 Seaside Citadel 1 Sigiled Paladin 1 Etherium Astrolabe 1 Filigree SagesPlaneswalker (1)
1 Sarkhan VolCreature (15)
1 Hissing Iguanar 1 Fire-Field Ogre 1 Ridge Rannet 1 Rockslide Elemental 1 Scourge Devil 1 Thorn-Thrash Viashino 1 Thunder-Thrash Elder 1 Algae Gharial 1 Court Archers 1 Druid of the Anima 1 Drumhunter 2 Jungle Weaver 1 Wild Nacatl 1 Rip-Clan CrasherSideboard (17)
1 Gift of the Gargantuan 1 Naya Panorama 1 Obelisk of Grixis 1 Sighted-Caste Sorcerer 2 Cancel 1 Etherium Sculptor 1 Filigree Sages 1 Outrider of Jhess 1 Resounding Scream 1 Shore Snapper 1 Bloodthorn Taunter 1 Goblin Mountaineer 2 Viashino Skeleton 1 Naturalize 1 SwerveWhite (1)
1 Sighted-Caste SorcererRed (12)
1 Hissing Iguanar 1 Ridge Rannet 1 Rockslide Elemental 1 Scourge Devil 1 Thorn-Thrash Viashino 1 Thunder-Thrash Elder 1 Dragon Fodder 1 Soul's Fire 1 Bloodthorn Taunter 1 Goblin Mountaineer 2 Viashino SkeletonGreen (12)
1 Algae Gharial 1 Court Archers 1 Druid of the Anima 1 Drumhunter 2 Jungle Weaver 1 Wild Nacatl 4 Gift of the Gargantuan 1 Naturalize2 (8)
1 Druid of the Anima 1 Rip-Clan Crasher 1 Dragon Fodder 1 Sighted-Caste Sorcerer 1 Etherium Sculptor 1 Bloodthorn Taunter 1 Naturalize 1 Swerve3 (16)
1 Hissing Iguanar 1 Rockslide Elemental 1 Thunder-Thrash Elder 1 Court Archers 1 Soul's Fire 4 Gift of the Gargantuan 2 Branching Bolt 1 Obelisk of Grixis 2 Cancel 1 Resounding Scream 1 Shore Snapper4 (9)
1 Fire-Field Ogre 1 Thorn-Thrash Viashino 1 Algae Gharial 1 Drumhunter 1 Sarkhan Vol 1 Filigree Sages 1 Outrider of Jhess 2 Viashino Skeleton5 (1)
1 Scourge DevilCommon (48)
8 Forest 7 Mountain 1 Swamp 1 Jund Panorama 1 Hissing Iguanar 1 Ridge Rannet 1 Thorn-Thrash Viashino 1 Court Archers 1 Druid of the Anima 2 Jungle Weaver 1 Wild Nacatl 1 Rip-Clan Crasher 1 Dragon Fodder 1 Soul's Fire 4 Gift of the Gargantuan 2 Branching Bolt 1 Naya Panorama 1 Obelisk of Grixis 1 Sighted-Caste Sorcerer 2 Cancel 1 Etherium Sculptor 1 Outrider of Jhess 1 Resounding Scream 1 Shore Snapper 1 Bloodthorn Taunter 1 Goblin Mountaineer 2 Viashino Skeleton 1 NaturalizeUncommon (8)
1 Fire-Field Ogre 1 Rockslide Elemental 1 Scourge Devil 1 Thunder-Thrash Elder 1 Algae Gharial 1 Drumhunter 1 Filigree Sages 1 SwerveMythic (1)
1 Sarkhan VolCreature (17)
1 Blister Beetle 1 Death Baron 1 Dregscape Zombie 1 Grixis Battlemage 1 Undead Leotau 1 Vein Drinker 1 Viscera Dragger 1 Bloodpyre Elemental 1 Ridge Rannet 1 Elvish Visionary 1 Mosstodon 1 Topan Ascetic 1 Blood Cultist 3 Carrion Thrash 1 Sprouting ThrinaxArtifact (1)
1 Executioner's CapsuleSideboard (18)
1 Arcane Sanctum 1 Knight of the Skyward Eye 1 Marble Chalice 1 Sphinx's Herald 1 Demon's Herald 2 Dreg Reaver 1 Resounding Scream 2 Skeletal Kathari 2 Goblin Mountaineer 1 Incurable Ogre 1 Thorn-Thrash Viashino 1 Thunder-Thrash Elder 1 Volcanic Submersion 1 Savage Hunger 1 Tidehollow StrixBlue (1)
1 Sphinx's HeraldBlack (16)
1 Blister Beetle 1 Death Baron 1 Dregscape Zombie 1 Grixis Battlemage 1 Undead Leotau 1 Vein Drinker 1 Viscera Dragger 1 Bone Splinters 1 Executioner's Capsule 1 Infest 1 Demon's Herald 2 Dreg Reaver 1 Resounding Scream 2 Skeletal KathariRed (9)
1 Bloodpyre Elemental 1 Ridge Rannet 1 Resounding Thunder 2 Goblin Mountaineer 1 Incurable Ogre 1 Thorn-Thrash Viashino 1 Thunder-Thrash Elder 1 Volcanic SubmersionMulti colored (7)
1 Blood Cultist 3 Carrion Thrash 1 Sprouting Thrinax 1 Branching Bolt 1 Tidehollow Strix1 (6)
1 Bone Splinters 1 Executioner's Capsule 1 Sphinx's Herald 1 Demon's Herald 2 Goblin Mountaineer2 (5)
1 Blister Beetle 1 Dregscape Zombie 1 Elvish Visionary 1 Knight of the Skyward Eye 1 Tidehollow Strix3 (13)
1 Death Baron 1 Grixis Battlemage 1 Topan Ascetic 1 Blood Cultist 1 Sprouting Thrinax 1 Infest 1 Resounding Thunder 1 Gift of the Gargantuan 1 Branching Bolt 1 Marble Chalice 1 Resounding Scream 1 Thunder-Thrash Elder 1 Savage Hunger5 (10)
1 Bloodpyre Elemental 1 Mosstodon 3 Carrion Thrash 2 Dreg Reaver 2 Skeletal Kathari 1 Volcanic Submersion7 (1)
1 Ridge RannetCommon (47)
5 Forest 5 Mountain 6 Swamp 1 Jund Panorama 1 Blister Beetle 1 Dregscape Zombie 1 Undead Leotau 1 Viscera Dragger 1 Bloodpyre Elemental 1 Ridge Rannet 1 Elvish Visionary 1 Mosstodon 3 Carrion Thrash 1 Bone Splinters 1 Executioner's Capsule 1 Resounding Thunder 1 Gift of the Gargantuan 1 Branching Bolt 1 Knight of the Skyward Eye 1 Marble Chalice 2 Dreg Reaver 1 Resounding Scream 2 Skeletal Kathari 2 Goblin Mountaineer 1 Incurable Ogre 1 Thorn-Thrash Viashino 1 Volcanic Submersion 1 Savage Hunger 1 Tidehollow StrixUncommon (9)
1 Grixis Battlemage 1 Topan Ascetic 1 Blood Cultist 1 Sprouting Thrinax 1 Infest 1 Arcane Sanctum 1 Sphinx's Herald 1 Demon's Herald 1 Thunder-Thrash ElderCreature (15)
1 Gustrider Exuberant 1 Welkin Guide 1 Exuberant Firestoker 1 Jund Battlemage 1 Cavern Thoctar 1 Court Archers 1 Druid of the Anima 1 Drumhunter 2 Jungle Weaver 2 Mosstodon 1 Qasali Ambusher 1 Rakeclaw Gargantuan 1 Woolly ThoctarArtifact (1)
1 Obelisk of NayaSideboard (18)
1 Lich's Mirror 1 Obelisk of Bant 1 Akrasan Squire 1 Angel's Herald 1 Angelsong 1 Bant Battlemage 2 Soul's Grace 2 Sunseed Nurturer 1 Cancel 1 Outrider of Jhess 1 Bloodthorn Taunter 1 Volcanic Submersion 1 Jhessian Infiltrator 2 Sangrite Surge 1 Windwright MageWhite (12)
1 Gustrider Exuberant 1 Welkin Guide 1 Excommunicate 1 Oblivion Ring 1 Akrasan Squire 1 Angel's Herald 1 Angelsong 1 Bant Battlemage 2 Soul's Grace 2 Sunseed NurturerRed (6)
1 Exuberant Firestoker 1 Jund Battlemage 1 Soul's Fire 1 Where Ancients Tread 1 Bloodthorn Taunter 1 Volcanic SubmersionGreen (9)
1 Cavern Thoctar 1 Court Archers 1 Druid of the Anima 1 Drumhunter 2 Jungle Weaver 2 Mosstodon 1 Gift of the GargantuanMulti colored (9)
1 Qasali Ambusher 1 Rakeclaw Gargantuan 1 Woolly Thoctar 1 Naya Charm 1 Sigil Blessing 1 Jhessian Infiltrator 2 Sangrite Surge 1 Windwright MageColorless (20)
7 Forest 4 Mountain 5 Plains 1 Naya Panorama 1 Obelisk of Naya 1 Lich's Mirror 1 Obelisk of Bant2 (7)
1 Druid of the Anima 1 Sigil Blessing 1 Angelsong 2 Soul's Grace 1 Bloodthorn Taunter 1 Jhessian Infiltrator3 (18)
1 Gustrider Exuberant 1 Exuberant Firestoker 1 Jund Battlemage 1 Court Archers 1 Qasali Ambusher 1 Woolly Thoctar 1 Obelisk of Naya 1 Excommunicate 1 Oblivion Ring 1 Soul's Fire 1 Gift of the Gargantuan 1 Naya Charm 1 Obelisk of Bant 1 Bant Battlemage 2 Sunseed Nurturer 1 Cancel 1 Windwright Mage5 (7)
1 Welkin Guide 2 Mosstodon 1 Rakeclaw Gargantuan 1 Where Ancients Tread 1 Lich's Mirror 1 Volcanic Submersion7 (2)
2 Jungle WeaverCommon (41)
7 Forest 4 Mountain 5 Plains 1 Naya Panorama 1 Gustrider Exuberant 1 Welkin Guide 1 Cavern Thoctar 1 Court Archers 1 Druid of the Anima 2 Jungle Weaver 2 Mosstodon 1 Rakeclaw Gargantuan 1 Obelisk of Naya 1 Excommunicate 1 Soul's Fire 1 Gift of the Gargantuan 1 Obelisk of Bant 1 Akrasan Squire 1 Angelsong 2 Soul's Grace 1 Cancel 1 Outrider of Jhess 1 Bloodthorn Taunter 1 Volcanic Submersion 1 Windwright MageUncommon (15)
1 Exuberant Firestoker 1 Jund Battlemage 1 Drumhunter 1 Qasali Ambusher 1 Woolly Thoctar 1 Oblivion Ring 1 Naya Charm 1 Sigil Blessing 1 Angel's Herald 1 Bant Battlemage 2 Sunseed Nurturer 1 Jhessian Infiltrator 2 Sangrite SurgeRare (1)
1 Where Ancients TreadMythic (1)
1 Lich's MirrorCreature (15)
1 Akrasan Squire 2 Guardians of Akrasa 1 Knight of the Skyward Eye 1 Cloudheath Drake 1 Dawnray Archer 1 Kathari Screecher 1 Elvish Visionary 1 Naya Battlemage 1 Rhox Charger 1 Jhessian Infiltrator 1 Rhox War Monk 2 Steward of Valeron 1 Waveskimmer AvenArtifact (3)
3 Courier's CapsuleEnchantment (1)
1 Oblivion RingSideboard (17)
1 Call to Heel 1 Relic of Progenitus 1 Angelsong 1 Yoked Plowbeast 1 Gather Specimens 1 Jhessian Lookout 2 Outrider of Jhess 1 Resounding Wave 1 Resounding Scream 1 Bloodthorn Taunter 1 Dragon's Herald 1 Lush Growth 1 Naturalize 1 Savage Hunger 1 Soul's Might 1 Naya CharmWhite (7)
1 Akrasan Squire 2 Guardians of Akrasa 1 Knight of the Skyward Eye 1 Oblivion Ring 1 Angelsong 1 Yoked PlowbeastBlue (14)
1 Cloudheath Drake 1 Dawnray Archer 1 Kathari Screecher 2 Call to Heel 3 Courier's Capsule 1 Spell Snip 1 Gather Specimens 1 Jhessian Lookout 2 Outrider of Jhess 1 Resounding WaveBlack (1)
1 Resounding ScreamGreen (7)
1 Elvish Visionary 1 Naya Battlemage 1 Rhox Charger 1 Lush Growth 1 Naturalize 1 Savage Hunger 1 Soul's MightMulti colored (8)
1 Jhessian Infiltrator 1 Rhox War Monk 2 Steward of Valeron 1 Waveskimmer Aven 1 Bant Charm 1 Sigil Blessing 1 Naya Charm2 (15)
1 Knight of the Skyward Eye 1 Elvish Visionary 1 Jhessian Infiltrator 2 Steward of Valeron 2 Call to Heel 3 Courier's Capsule 1 Sigil Blessing 1 Angelsong 1 Jhessian Lookout 1 Bloodthorn Taunter 1 Naturalize3 (13)
2 Guardians of Akrasa 1 Dawnray Archer 1 Kathari Screecher 1 Naya Battlemage 1 Rhox War Monk 1 Oblivion Ring 1 Spell Snip 1 Bant Charm 1 Resounding Wave 1 Resounding Scream 1 Savage Hunger 1 Naya Charm6 (1)
1 Gather Specimens7 (1)
1 Yoked PlowbeastCommon (45)
5 Forest 6 Island 5 Plains 1 Akrasan Squire 2 Guardians of Akrasa 1 Knight of the Skyward Eye 1 Cloudheath Drake 1 Kathari Screecher 1 Elvish Visionary 2 Steward of Valeron 1 Waveskimmer Aven 2 Call to Heel 3 Courier's Capsule 1 Spell Snip 1 Relic of Progenitus 1 Angelsong 1 Yoked Plowbeast 1 Jhessian Lookout 2 Outrider of Jhess 1 Resounding Wave 1 Resounding Scream 1 Bloodthorn Taunter 1 Lush Growth 1 Naturalize 1 Savage Hunger 1 Soul's MightUncommon (11)
1 Jungle Shrine 1 Dawnray Archer 1 Naya Battlemage 1 Rhox Charger 1 Jhessian Infiltrator 1 Rhox War Monk 1 Oblivion Ring 1 Bant Charm 1 Sigil Blessing 1 Dragon's Herald 1 Naya CharmRare (1)
1 Gather SpecimensCreature (16)
1 Dregscape Zombie 1 Hissing Iguanar 1 Incurable Ogre 1 Jund Battlemage 1 Ridge Rannet 1 Thorn-Thrash Viashino 2 Vithian Stinger 1 Cavern Thoctar 1 Court Archers 1 Cylian Elf 2 Topan Ascetic 1 Wild Nacatl 1 Broodmate Dragon 1 Woolly ThoctarEnchantment (1)
1 NecrogenesisSideboard (18)
1 Thorn-Thrash Viashino 1 Esper Panorama 1 Bant Battlemage 1 Knight of the Skyward Eye 1 Marble Chalice 1 Metallurgeon 1 Welkin Guide 1 Jhessian Lookout 1 Spell Snip 1 Vectis Silencers 1 Shore Snapper 1 Lightning Talons 1 Lush Growth 1 Mighty Emergence 1 Naturalize 1 Clarion Ultimatum 1 Goblin Deathraiders 1 Sigil BlessingWhite (5)
1 Bant Battlemage 1 Knight of the Skyward Eye 1 Marble Chalice 1 Metallurgeon 1 Welkin GuideRed (9)
1 Hissing Iguanar 1 Incurable Ogre 1 Jund Battlemage 1 Ridge Rannet 2 Thorn-Thrash Viashino 2 Vithian Stinger 1 Lightning TalonsGreen (10)
1 Cavern Thoctar 1 Court Archers 1 Cylian Elf 2 Topan Ascetic 1 Wild Nacatl 1 Resounding Roar 1 Lush Growth 1 Mighty Emergence 1 NaturalizeMulti colored (8)
1 Broodmate Dragon 1 Woolly Thoctar 1 Blightning 1 Jund Charm 1 Necrogenesis 1 Clarion Ultimatum 1 Goblin Deathraiders 1 Sigil BlessingColorless (19)
6 Forest 5 Mountain 1 Plains 4 Swamp 1 Naya Panorama 1 Obelisk of Naya 1 Esper Panorama2 (10)
1 Dregscape Zombie 1 Cylian Elf 1 Resounding Roar 1 Necrogenesis 1 Knight of the Skyward Eye 1 Metallurgeon 1 Jhessian Lookout 1 Naturalize 1 Goblin Deathraiders 1 Sigil Blessing3 (18)
1 Hissing Iguanar 1 Jund Battlemage 2 Vithian Stinger 1 Court Archers 2 Topan Ascetic 1 Woolly Thoctar 1 Obelisk of Naya 1 Blightning 1 Jund Charm 1 Bant Battlemage 1 Marble Chalice 1 Spell Snip 1 Vectis Silencers 1 Shore Snapper 1 Lightning Talons 1 Mighty Emergence5 (1)
1 Welkin GuideCommon (45)
6 Forest 5 Mountain 1 Plains 4 Swamp 1 Naya Panorama 1 Dregscape Zombie 1 Hissing Iguanar 1 Incurable Ogre 1 Ridge Rannet 2 Thorn-Thrash Viashino 2 Vithian Stinger 1 Cavern Thoctar 1 Court Archers 1 Cylian Elf 1 Wild Nacatl 1 Obelisk of Naya 1 Bone Splinters 1 Executioner's Capsule 1 Resounding Roar 1 Esper Panorama 1 Knight of the Skyward Eye 1 Marble Chalice 1 Welkin Guide 1 Jhessian Lookout 1 Spell Snip 1 Vectis Silencers 1 Shore Snapper 1 Lightning Talons 1 Lush Growth 1 Naturalize 1 Goblin DeathraidersUncommon (11)
1 Jund Battlemage 2 Topan Ascetic 1 Woolly Thoctar 1 Blightning 1 Jund Charm 1 Necrogenesis 1 Bant Battlemage 1 Metallurgeon 1 Mighty Emergence 1 Sigil BlessingCreature (15)
1 Sunseed Nurturer 1 Welkin Guide 2 Yoked Plowbeast 1 Bloodthorn Taunter 1 Hell's Thunder 1 Incurable Ogre 1 Scourge Devil 1 Mycoloth 1 Skullmulcher 1 Bull Cerodon 2 Rakeclaw Gargantuan 1 Rip-Clan Crasher 1 Woolly ThoctarArtifact (1)
1 Obelisk of NayaEnchantment (1)
1 Angelic BenedictionLand (17)
5 Forest 5 Mountain 3 Plains 1 Bant Panorama 1 Jund Panorama 1 Naya Panorama 1 Seaside CitadelSideboard (15)
1 Obelisk of Bant 1 Relic of Progenitus 1 Akrasan Squire 1 Angelsong 1 Outrider of Jhess 1 Banewasp Affliction 2 Thorn-Thrash Viashino 1 Behemoth's Herald 1 Godtoucher 2 Savage Hunger 2 Soul's Might 1 Carrion ThrashWhite (7)
1 Sunseed Nurturer 1 Welkin Guide 2 Yoked Plowbeast 1 Angelic Benediction 1 Akrasan Squire 1 AngelsongBlue (1)
1 Outrider of JhessBlack (1)
1 Banewasp AfflictionRed (7)
1 Bloodthorn Taunter 1 Hell's Thunder 1 Incurable Ogre 1 Scourge Devil 1 Dragon Fodder 2 Thorn-Thrash ViashinoGreen (9)
1 Mycoloth 1 Skullmulcher 1 Gift of the Gargantuan 1 Behemoth's Herald 1 Godtoucher 2 Savage Hunger 2 Soul's MightMulti colored (10)
1 Bull Cerodon 2 Rakeclaw Gargantuan 1 Rip-Clan Crasher 1 Woolly Thoctar 2 Branching Bolt 1 Naya Charm 1 Titanic Ultimatum 1 Carrion ThrashColorless (20)
5 Forest 5 Mountain 3 Plains 1 Bant Panorama 1 Jund Panorama 1 Naya Panorama 1 Seaside Citadel 1 Obelisk of Naya 1 Obelisk of Bant 1 Relic of Progenitus3 (11)
1 Sunseed Nurturer 1 Hell's Thunder 1 Woolly Thoctar 1 Obelisk of Naya 1 Gift of the Gargantuan 2 Branching Bolt 1 Naya Charm 1 Obelisk of Bant 2 Savage Hunger4 (6)
1 Incurable Ogre 1 Angelic Benediction 1 Outrider of Jhess 2 Thorn-Thrash Viashino 1 Godtoucher5 (9)
1 Welkin Guide 1 Scourge Devil 1 Mycoloth 1 Skullmulcher 2 Rakeclaw Gargantuan 2 Soul's Might 1 Carrion Thrash6 (1)
1 Bull CerodonCommon (43)
5 Forest 5 Mountain 3 Plains 1 Bant Panorama 1 Jund Panorama 1 Naya Panorama 1 Welkin Guide 2 Yoked Plowbeast 1 Bloodthorn Taunter 1 Incurable Ogre 2 Rakeclaw Gargantuan 1 Rip-Clan Crasher 1 Obelisk of Naya 1 Dragon Fodder 1 Gift of the Gargantuan 2 Branching Bolt 1 Obelisk of Bant 1 Relic of Progenitus 1 Akrasan Squire 1 Angelsong 1 Outrider of Jhess 1 Banewasp Affliction 2 Thorn-Thrash Viashino 1 Godtoucher 2 Savage Hunger 2 Soul's Might 1 Carrion ThrashUncommon (8)
1 Seaside Citadel 1 Sunseed Nurturer 1 Scourge Devil 1 Bull Cerodon 1 Woolly Thoctar 1 Angelic Benediction 1 Naya Charm 1 Behemoth's HeraldCreature (11)
1 Cloudheath Drake 1 Etherium Sculptor 1 Master of Etherium 4 Glaze Fiend 1 Tidehollow Sculler 3 Windwright MageSorcery (2)
2 Kiss of the AmeshaArtifact (7)
1 Obelisk of Bant 1 Obelisk of Naya 1 Quietus Spike 1 Relic of Progenitus 1 Scourglass 1 Courier's Capsule 1 Onyx GobletLand (17)
3 Island 1 Mountain 4 Plains 5 Swamp 1 Crumbling Necropolis 1 Esper Panorama 2 Grixis PanoramaSideboard (15)
1 Obelisk of Jund 1 Dispeller's Capsule 1 Guardians of Akrasa 1 Cancel 1 Steelclad Serpent 1 Ad Nauseam 1 Cunning Lethemancer 1 Dreg Reaver 1 Clarion Ultimatum 2 Deft Duelist 2 Kederekt Creeper 1 Stoic Angel 1 Waveskimmer AvenBlue (7)
1 Cloudheath Drake 1 Etherium Sculptor 1 Master of Etherium 1 Courier's Capsule 1 Resounding Wave 1 Cancel 1 Steelclad SerpentRed (1)
1 Resounding ThunderMulti colored (14)
1 Tidehollow Sculler 3 Windwright Mage 1 Esper Charm 2 Kiss of the Amesha 1 Clarion Ultimatum 2 Deft Duelist 2 Kederekt Creeper 1 Stoic Angel 1 Waveskimmer AvenColorless (22)
3 Island 1 Mountain 4 Plains 5 Swamp 1 Crumbling Necropolis 1 Esper Panorama 2 Grixis Panorama 1 Obelisk of Bant 1 Obelisk of Naya 1 Quietus Spike 1 Relic of Progenitus 1 Obelisk of Jund3 (17)
1 Master of Etherium 3 Windwright Mage 1 Obelisk of Bant 1 Obelisk of Naya 1 Quietus Spike 1 Resounding Wave 1 Onyx Goblet 1 Resounding Thunder 1 Esper Charm 1 Obelisk of Jund 1 Guardians of Akrasa 1 Cancel 1 Cunning Lethemancer 2 Kederekt Creeper4 (1)
1 Stoic Angel7 (1)
1 Clarion UltimatumCommon (44)
3 Island 1 Mountain 4 Plains 5 Swamp 1 Esper Panorama 2 Grixis Panorama 1 Cloudheath Drake 1 Etherium Sculptor 4 Glaze Fiend 1 Tidehollow Sculler 3 Windwright Mage 1 Obelisk of Bant 1 Obelisk of Naya 1 Relic of Progenitus 1 Courier's Capsule 1 Resounding Wave 1 Onyx Goblet 1 Resounding Thunder 1 Obelisk of Jund 1 Dispeller's Capsule 1 Guardians of Akrasa 1 Cancel 1 Steelclad Serpent 1 Dreg Reaver 2 Deft Duelist 2 Kederekt Creeper 1 Waveskimmer AvenRare (7)
1 Master of Etherium 1 Quietus Spike 1 Scourglass 1 Ad Nauseam 1 Cunning Lethemancer 1 Clarion Ultimatum 1 Stoic AngelSunday, December 07: 6:37p.m. - Top 8: Nick Tung vs Olivier Ruel
"High roll?" Ruel asked, frowning as he rolled a 7 on three die. Tung scored 11 and chose to play
Tung kept and led with a Forest and a Swamp into Necrogenesis, followed by a Vithian Stinger. Ruel made a Druid of Anima, and fed it to a Thorn-Thrash Viashino before the Stinger could have its way with it. Tung made an Executioner's Capsule and a Court Archers, taking 4 from the Thorn-Thrash before Ruel played his Algae Gharial. The Court Archers swung in for 2, and Tung wondered how big that Gharial might get before Necrogenesis would run out of steam. The Capsule took out the Thorn-Thrash, and the Gharial came in for 2. Ruel then played his Sprouting Thrinax and sent the turn back, his face becoming a regular target for the Stinger. Tung had four colors of mana in play now, and dropped a Woolly Thoctar onto the table.
"That's good, that's good," Ruel muttered under his breath, and ended without play. Tung cycled a Ridge Rannet and continued to peck away at his opponent with the Stinger. The Thrinax chumped the Thoctar, and Tung made another Stinger while Ruel finished the Thoctar with a Branching Bolt. The 4/4 Gharial now swung in unblocked, Tung saving his Saprolings to attack back, knowing that his Stingers would help him win the race. Ruel let it through, dropping to 11 against Tung's 10 life. Tung then played a Broodmate Dragon.
"Yes," was all Ruel could say as he untapped and played a bomb of his own, Sarkhan Vol, which promptly stole the real Dragon of the two. The Dragon and the Gharial attacked Tung down to 6, but Ruel had to let the Dragon return, having nothing he could devour it with. Tung's Dragons took Game 1 on the return. Apparently during the space of that game, Dominic Lo had already dispatched Basam Tabet 2 - 0, and Justin Cheung and Jason Chung were both up a game each.
Ruel threw back his first hand in Game 2, and shook his head unbelievably before sending the next one back as well. He kept his five, and Tung kept his seven. Tung made the first play with a Cylian Elf, while Ruel faked being short on mana, cycling a Jungle Weaver before playing his third land. Tung made a Dregscape Zombie while Ruel summoned a Court Archers to his defense. Tung just made a Necrogenesis, causing Ruel to sigh, again playing his Algae Gharial. Thanks to the cycled Weaver, Tung got a head start on his Saproling army. The Archers blocked and killed the Dregscape Zombie, while the Elf and the Saproling token dropped Ruel to 15. Ruel made a Scourge Devils and sent in his Gharial for 4. Tung pumped his fist as he drew his next card.
"Cards in hand?"
"Still two," Ruel replied, staring in disbelief as Tung again summoned his Broodmate Dragon.
"Topdeck," Tung explained, as if the fist pump hadn't given it away.
Ruel again made his Sarkhan Vol, but this time increased the loyalty count to send his Scourge Devils in for 5. A Saproling chumped, and then Tung Bone Splintered the Archers, his Dragons dropping Ruel from 15 to 7. Ruel untapped, and stole the Dragon Token with Sarkhan Vol, and attacked back with his 5/5 Gharial, the Devils and his misappropriated Dragon. Saprolings calmly chumped the ground pounders, and Ruel then devoured the Token with this Thunder-Thrash Elder. Tung swung back with his remaining Dragon, and had the Resounding Roar to finish it. Ruel could barely believe it.
Nick Tung defeats Olivier Ruel 2 - 0 and no more than a minute later, Justin Cheung finished off Chris Hay 2 - 0 and Jason Chung rounded out the Quarters, beating Joe Combs 2 - 0.
Sunday, December 07: 7:10p.m. - Top 4: Jason Chung vs Dominic Lo
Dominic Lo finished at the top of the swiss this weekend, was undefeated day one and stayed ahead of the field all the way. Jason Chung finished 3rd at the New Zealand National Champs earlier this year, so is certainly no slouch himself.
Lo got in early with a Jhessian Infiltrator, while Chung tried to make mana with Druid of the Anima to make up for missing his third land drop. Lo Oblivion Ring'd the Druid, but Chung merely ripped a land and replaced it with an Obelisk of Naya the following turn. Lo followed the Ring up with a Rhox War Monk, which Chung had a Ring of his own for. Chung continued to take 2 from Infiltrator however, while Lo made a Cloudheath Drake. Chung played a Where Ancient Treads, while Lo beat him down to 9. A Mosstodon looked like it might take out the Drake, but Lo caught it with a Spell Snip, attacked Chung down to 4 and added a Waveskimmer Aven to his team. Chung shook his head and scooped up his cards.
Lo 1 - Chung 0
Chung started Game 2 with a turn three unassisted Woolly Thoctar. Lo made a turn three Rhox Charger with the help of a Steward of Valeron, and after swinging back for 5 of his own, made a Cloudheath Drake. Chung ramped up to a Cavern Thoctar with an Obelisk of Naya, while Lo made an Akrasan Squire and an Aven Waveskimmer, attacking in the air for 6 with his Drake. Chung, now on 9 life and facing Lo's 10, played a Mosstodon and sent in the Thoctars. The Cavern Thoctar trampled Lo down to 1 life at the cost of a Squire, and Lo peeled the top card off his deck with a sigh, "not one of the bombs." He dug with a Courier's Capsule, but still couldn't find anything. They were off to Game 3.
Lo 1 - Chung 0
On the table behind them, Nick Tung was down a game against Justin Cheung.
Lo made the first play of the last game with a turn two Steward of Valeron, which Chung Excommunicated. Lo instead made a Naya Battlemage, and Chung a Drumhunter, which could definitely spell some bad news for Lo if allowed to power up unopposed. The Battlemage attacked unblocked, and Lo replayed his Steward and passed it back to see what 5 power beast Chung might have. Instead, Chung made to Oblivion Ring the Battlemage, which was saved by a Call to Heel. Lo replayed the Battlemage and added a Jhessian Infiltrator to his team. Chung got there with a Jungle Weaver and passed it back. Lo played his own Oblivion Ring, taking out the Spider and attacking Chung down to 6 with the help of a Sigil Blessing. Chung played a Sunseed Nurturer, and took down the Naya Battlemage with a Charm of the same name. The Infiltrator was still unanswered however, so Chung played Gift of the Gargantuan, netting a Mosstodon to power up the Nurturer. Lo ripped a Guardian's of Akrasa off the top to allow the Infiltrator to attack past the life gain for the win.
Dominic Lo defeats Jason Chung 2 - 1, while in the background, Nick Tung comes back to defeat Justin Cheung 2 - 1
Sunday, December 07: 8:03p.m. - Finals: Nick Tung vs Dominic Lo
It comes down to this. Dominic Lo kept the rest of the field at his feet all weekend. Undefeated day one and sitting at the top of the standings going into the top 8. Nick Tung was playing catch up, having to win the last round to make the playoffs, but catch up he has. Crushing Olivier Ruel in the quarterfinals and Justin Cheung in the semis. Lo currently hails from Sydney, Australia, but has lived in Wellington, New Zealand from time to time. Tung, despite claiming on his Top 8 profile that he was from Taipei, has lived in Auckland for years.
Lo won the roll, and chose to draw, making the first play of the finals, a turn two Knight of the Skyward Eye, to which Tung replied with a Cylian Elf on turn three. Dawnray Archers allowed the Knight to swing past, but couldn't stop the Elf returning the favor before being joined by a Vithian Stinger. Lo drew his card and sank into thought. He sent the Knight in for another 3 and played a Rhox War Monk, leaving the Archer to die to the Stinger. Tung then sent the Elf in, representing a trick, which Lo respected, letting it through. Tung then fed the Elf to a Thorn-Thrash Viashino. Lo made a Rhox Charger, and the War Monk dropped Tung to 10 and returned Lo to 20. Tung returned fire with his Thorn-Thrash, shot the Charger and then cleared it, the Stinger and the Knight out with a Jund Charm. Only the Thorn-Thrash and the War Monk remained. Lo attacked Tung down to 7 and refilled his hand with a Courier's Capsule, while Tung finally took out Lo's last attacker with an Executioner's Capsule. Lo replaced it with a Cloudheath Drake, and then dropped to 11 from the Thorn-Thrash. Lo teamed a Guardian's of Akrasa with the Drake to drop Tung to 3, then played a Jhessian Infiltrator and an Oblivion Ring on the Viashino. It was definitely a good Courier's Capsule, and Tung agreed, reaching for his sideboard.
Lo 1 - Tung 0
Tung elected to play, while Lo took a mulligan, settling on his six. Tung opened hostilities with a turn three Topan Ascetic off of Forest, Swamp and Mountain. Lo's third land came into play tapped, so he was still without play when Tung dropped a Jund Battlemage. Lo rallied with a Rhox Charger, but the Battlemage made a sacrificial Saproling that powered out a Bone Splinters to remove the blocker. Lo replaced it up with a Dawnray Archer and a Steward of Valeron. Tung swung in again, dropping Lo to 11 before playing a Goblin Deathraiders. Lo finally attacked back for 3 with the Steward, but had no play with his six mana and three cards in hand. Tung again sent in his Topan Ascetic, the Jund Battlemage powering out critters to let the Human Monk land for 5. After combat, Tung made a Thorn-Thrash Viashino, sacrificing a single Saproling only, in case Lo had something to bounce it back. When Lo's draw revealed no answers, he picked up his cards and said, "let's go to the next game."
Lo 1 - Tung 1
For the decider, Lo again chose to draw, with both players keeping their hands this time. Lo cantrip'd through his second turn with an Elvish Visionary, while Tung found a Mountain with his Naya Panorama, playing his trusty Topan Ascetic on turn three. Lo sent his Visionary in at the Ascetic, but Tung let it through. Lo then played a Naya Battlemage. Tung swung back, holding a Hissing Iguana in reserve. Lo played a Guardians of Akrasa and sent his Elf in for 2, with White mana up for the Battlemage to tap down one of Tung's men. Settling in for the long game, Tung made a Jund Battlemage, and attacked his Iguana into Lo's wall, but a Resounding Roar ensured the combat step had only one survivor. Lo simply upgraded his position with a Rhox Charger and sent the Elf in for 2 again. The Naya Battlemage tapped down the Ascetic, but the Charger wasn't feeling up to blocking the Iguana, and Lo dropped to 14. Tung then played Necrogenesis and passed it back.
"Cards in hand one?" Lo confirmed while he pondered his options before sending in the Charger for 4, taking Tung down to 11 and playing a Cloudheath Drake. Meanwhile, the Necrogenesis and the Jund Battlemage were getting a posse together. Tung swung in with his Topan Ascetic while Lo was tapped low, beefing it up with his Iguana and Battlemage. Lo fell from 14 to 10, and Tung tapped out himself for a Ridge Rannet, his army practically spanning the table. Lo lapsed into thought, before playing a Dawnray Archer and sending the Drake in for 5, dropping Tung to 6. When Tung went to attack back, the Naya Battlemage tapped down the 6/4, and it was Tung's turn to go into the think tank. Trying to figure out how many guys to send in, how many to pump the Ascetic with and how many to try and defend with, eventually deciding to send in a pair of Saprolings alongside the 3/3 Ascetic. The Charger ate a Saproling while in turn, the Ascetic ate the Elvish Visionary. Tung had one card in hand to Lo's four, Tung on 6 life and Lo on 7. Lo untapped and played an Akrasan Squire, and entered his attack step.
"Can I attack?"
"Yeah," Tung replied.
Lo turned his Drake sideways, three exalted triggers went on the stack and Tung simply offered his hand in congratulations with a smile.
Dominic Lo defeats Nick Tung 2 - 1