March 23 2014
TOP 5 CARDS by Corbin Hosler5. Witchstalker As powerful as the black-based decks were in Cincinnati, Top 8 competitor Jacob Maynard found a way around them: play cards that don't interact. That was the basis of his...
Expertly maneuvering his Esper Control deck through a diverse field, Boggemes found his way into the finals against former Player of the Year and Standard Grand Prix Master Brad Nelson and came out as the victor!
TOP 8 COVERAGE
Prior to the finals, Kyle Boggemes lamented his tournament life constantly winning "steak knives" as he called them—the joke prize he said everyone who finished second should receive. He joked—well, half joked—that he had won a lot of steak knives in his time.
This time Boggemes was skipping the knives and taking home the trophy.
Expertly maneuvering his Esper Control deck through a diverse field, Boggemes found his way into the finals against former Player of the Year and Standard Grand Prix Master Brad Nelson playing, you guessed it, Esper Control. After two relatively short games—for an Esper mirror, anyway—Boggemes bested Nelson and finally claimed his first crown.
Before moving on, we need to take a moment to appreciate what Nelson did here. It seems like every time there's a Standard Grand Prix in the United States, Nelson finds himself in the Top 8 playing a variety of different decks—from the most aggressive lists to, well, Esper Control. He's clearly demonstrated his mastery and devotion to the format.
Speaking of Devotion, the Blue and Black Devotion decks were everywhere this weekend, mixing with Esper and Jund Monsters to really define what Grand Prix Cincinnati was all about. It's another in a long line of evolutions of the format that, without a doubt, will adapt again to the results this weekend.
But right now the tournament belongs to Kyle Boggemes and Esper Control. Congratulations to Kyle, champion of Grand Prix Cincinnati!
March 23 2014
TOP 5 CARDS by Corbin Hosler5. Witchstalker As powerful as the black-based decks were in Cincinnati, Top 8 competitor Jacob Maynard found a way around them: play cards that don't interact. That was the basis of his...
March 23 2014
FINALS - BRAD NELSON VS. KYLE BOGGEMES by Blake RasmussenSo, I hear this Esper deck is good? So far in this Top 8 Esper has only lost to Esper, as Brad Nelson endured one mirror match in the quarterfinals. Beyond that, both players have devoured the...
March 23 2014
SEMIFINAL 1 - CLYDE MARTIN VS. KYLE BOGGEMES by Corbin HoslerTo say there was a difference in experience in Sunday's semifinal would be quite the understatement. On one side sat Kyle Boggemes, who has a Pro Tour Top 8 to his name, while on the other side...
DAY 2 COVERAGE
1,734 entered, just 193 returned.
Plus some others to play in side events. But, come on, we're doing a thing here.
Among those 193 returning to vie for the Grand Prix trophy are a few who are no strangers to Sunday success. Headlining that crew is No. 11 Alexander Hayne, who leads a gang of 9-0 players that dominated the first day with careful play and winning strategies. Stu Somers, Nick Sefert, Kyle Boggemes, and Jeffrey Pyka round out the 9-0 club.
But there's a bevy of experience trailing just behind them ready to pounce on the slightest misstep, including No. 16 Josh McClain, David Ochoa, Brad Nelson, Ari Lax, Eric Froehlich, Pat Cox, Brian Kibler and Luis-Scott Vargas. They've all been there before, and it would surprise no one to hear any one of these names announced along with the rest of the Top 8.
The field as a whole has been diverse, with decks ranging from Jund Monsters to Boros Burn to Black Devotion to Esper Control to Blue Devotion to Bant Midrange all finding success. Plus about a million more archetypes. Standard is seriously wide open.
So pick your favorite deck, your favorite player, your favorite card, and strap in. We've got six rounds of Standard coming your way plus a tension-packed Top 8, all leading up to the crowning of the Grand Prix Cincinnati Champion.
March 24 2014
ROUND 13 FEATURE MATCH - DAVID OCHOA VS. JACOB MAYNARD by Corbin HoslerIt was a lively feature match area in Round 13, with a pair of matches going on that came complete with their own commentary. Grand Prix Columbus champ Jacob Maynard faced off against...
March 24 2014
QUICK QUESTION - WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BEST SIDEBOARD CARD? by Blake RasmussenWith such a diverse field and with the amount of tweaking being done looking to gain an edge on the field, sideboards take on a greater importance than normal. The right card in your final 15 can...
March 24 2014
DAY 2 METAGAME BREAKDOWN by Corbin HoslerComing into Grand Prix Cincinnati, one of the widespread beliefs was that the king of the format, Mono-Black Devotion, was dead. When one falls, another must rise. In this case, Esper Control. Of...
DAY 1 COVERAGE
This morning things seemed so new. Spring. Born of the Gods. The first Grand Prix in Cincinnati. A wide world of variations on multiple archetypes. Newness seemed to be in the air.
But then No. 11 Alexander Hayne came along and reminded us that he's actually an alien sent to Earth to dominate Grand Prix tournaments, and no matter how much we think we've moved on, he's going to be there 9-0ing Grand Prix Day 1s.
Playing his trusty Blue-White-based control deck—you know, the one he won Grand Prix Vancouver with just two short months ago—Hayne is joined by Stu Somers, Nick Sefert, Kyle Boggemes, and Jeffrey Pyka among the ranks of the 9-win club. Apparently, if you wanted to go 9-0 on Day 1, as these five demonstrated, you need to avoid playing Red or Green, as Mono Black, Esper, UW and nearly Mono Blue rule the roost after nine rounds.
Meanwhile, Ryan Lamb and Jacob Briselden finished juuuust short of the illustrious 9-0, taking a draw but still finishing with unblemished 8-0-1 records.
But 193 players are coming back tomorrow, all trying to push others off their perch and make a run at the Top 8. The undefeated players might be lockstep playing Black, Blue and/or White, but a diverse field stands behind them ready to pounce, including No. 16 Josh McClain, David Ochoa, Brad Nelson, Ari Lax, Eric Froehlich, Pat Cox, Brian Kibler and Luis-Scott Vargas.
Join us tomorrow for six more rounds of Standard and the Top 8 as we try and decide what seven other players will fall to Alexander Hayne as he makes his way toward another Grand Prix victory.
Kidding. Hayne could totally not make Top 8. Maybe. We're not entirely sure it's possible. Either way, tune in tomorrow to find out.
March 22 2014
BURSTING THE BUBBLE by Corbin HoslerWhile some big names moved into Day 2 of Grand Prix Cincinnati undefeated, several others were fighting for their tournament lives in the final round of the day. With more than 1,700 players...
March 22 2014
ROUND 9 ROUND-UP - THE UNDEFEATED by Blake RasmussenEight rounds and 1,734 players later and just 10 players were left vying for 9-0 at the end of a brisk Day 1. All 10 occupied the top five tables, so we checked in on each match to see who rolls...
March 22 2014
ROUND 8 FEATURE MATCH - ERIC FROEHLICH VS. ABEL JACOBY by Corbin HoslerRound 8 of the tournament, a match between a pair of players with 6-1 records. One will guarantee himself an opportunity to compete on Day 2, while the loser will face a bubble match in the last...
(1)Jared Boettcher, 2-1
(8)Jacob Maynard
(4)Brad Nelson, 2-1
(5)Bradford Grant
(2)Jeffrey Pyka
(7)Kyle Boggemes, 2-0
(3)Clyde Martin, 2-0
(6)Auston Tramper
(1)Jared Boettcher
(4)Brad Nelson, 2-0
(7)Kyle Boggemes, 2-0
(3)Clyde Martin
(4)Brad Nelson
(7)Kyle Boggemes, 2-0
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 23, 2014
by Corbin Hosler5. Witchstalker As powerful as the black-based decks were in Cincinnati, Top 8 competitor Jacob Maynard found a way around them: play cards that don't interact. That was the basis of his...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 23, 2014
FINALS - BRAD NELSON VS. KYLE BOGGEMES
by Blake RasmussenSo, I hear this Esper deck is good? So far in this Top 8 Esper has only lost to Esper, as Brad Nelson endured one mirror match in the quarterfinals. Beyond that, both players have devoured the...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 23, 2014
SEMIFINAL 1 - CLYDE MARTIN VS. KYLE BOGGEMES
by Corbin HoslerTo say there was a difference in experience in Sunday's semifinal would be quite the understatement. On one side sat Kyle Boggemes, who has a Pro Tour Top 8 to his name, while on the other side...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 23, 2014
SEMIFINAL 2 - BRAD NELSON VS. JARED BOETTCHER
by Blake RasmussenAfter the quarterfinals Brad Nelson just went through, you can't really blame him for needing a smoke. Heck, I don't smoke and I could use one. But having battled through an Esper Mirror, facing...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 23, 2014
QUARTERFINAL 1 - BRADFORD GRANT VS. BRAD NELSON
by Blake Rasmussen"Brad, I'm Brad." "This game is going to go very Brad." No, those quips didn't come from Brad Nelson, despite his proclivity for the pun "playing Bradly." They came from his opponent, Bradford...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 23, 2014
QUARTERFINAL 2 - CLYDE MARTIN VS. AUSTON TRAMPER
by Corbin HoslerClyde Martin and Auston Tramper have met before. Specifically, in Round 11 on Grand Prix Cincinnati, when Martin took the match in three tight games. The pair wished each other good luck and that...
article March 23, 2014
QUARTERFINAL 3 - KYLE BOGGEMES VS. JEFFREY PYKA
by Corbin HoslerKyle Boggemes is no stranger to competitive Magic. With a Pro Tour Top 8 to his name (at San Diego in 2010), he knows what it takes to compete at the highest level of the game. That's not what he...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 23, 2014
QUARTERFINAL 4 - JARED BOETTCHER VS. JACOB MAYNARD
by Blake RasmussenIf the name Jared Boettcher sounds just a little bit familiar, if it tickles the back of your mind and makes you think "I know that name," that just because you absolutely should know him....
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 24, 2014
by Corbin HoslerAuston Tramper Hometown: Cherokee, NCOccupation: Entertainer at Deer Clan productions Previous Magic accomplishments: Professional Scrub What deck are you playing this weekend and why? B/W...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 24, 2014
ROUND 13 FEATURE MATCH - DAVID OCHOA VS. JACOB MAYNARD
by Corbin HoslerIt was a lively feature match area in Round 13, with a pair of matches going on that came complete with their own commentary. Grand Prix Columbus champ Jacob Maynard faced off against...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 24, 2014
QUICK QUESTION - WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BEST SIDEBOARD CARD?
by Blake RasmussenWith such a diverse field and with the amount of tweaking being done looking to gain an edge on the field, sideboards take on a greater importance than normal. The right card in your final 15 can...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 24, 2014
by Corbin HoslerComing into Grand Prix Cincinnati, one of the widespread beliefs was that the king of the format, Mono-Black Devotion, was dead. When one falls, another must rise. In this case, Esper Control. Of...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 24, 2014
DECK TECH - ORZHOV WHITE WEENIE WITH PATRICK COX
by Blake RasmussenIt wasn't all that long ago that No. 4 Ben Stark made the Top 4 of Grand Prix Dallas/Ft. Worth with a mostly white Orzhov Aggro deck. Just four months, actually. And since then the deck has even...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 24, 2014
ROUND 12 FEATURE MATCH - ALEXANDER HAYNE VS. JEFFREY PYKA
by Blake RasmussenDo I really need to introduce No. 11 Alexander Hayne again? Look, I know he's in the feature match area again. As his native Canadians would say—"sorry." Except I'm not, really. Insane Hayne,...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 23, 2014
ROUND 11 FEATURE MATCH - NO. 11 ALEXANDER HAYNE VS. NICK SEIFERT
by Corbin HoslerIt's hard to pick a favorite in a field of more than 1,700 players, but from the start of Grand Prix Cincinnati the miracle man Alexander Hayne was near the top of that list. And by the time Day 2...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 23, 2014
ROUND 10 FEATURE MATCH - JEFFREY PYKA VS. STU SOMERS
by Blake RasmussenOf the five 9-0 decks heading into this round, fully four of them have registered some number of Thoughtseizes. Stu Somers, who made the trek from Pittsburgh despite being sick and had proceeded...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 22, 2014
by Corbin HoslerWhile some big names moved into Day 2 of Grand Prix Cincinnati undefeated, several others were fighting for their tournament lives in the final round of the day. With more than 1,700 players...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 22, 2014
ROUND 9 ROUND-UP - THE UNDEFEATED
by Blake RasmussenEight rounds and 1,734 players later and just 10 players were left vying for 9-0 at the end of a brisk Day 1. All 10 occupied the top five tables, so we checked in on each match to see who rolls...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 22, 2014
ROUND 8 FEATURE MATCH - ERIC FROEHLICH VS. ABEL JACOBY
by Corbin HoslerRound 8 of the tournament, a match between a pair of players with 6-1 records. One will guarantee himself an opportunity to compete on Day 2, while the loser will face a bubble match in the last...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 22, 2014
VARIATIONS ON STANDARD: MONSTERS
by Blake RasmussenIn the last part of our Variations series, we'll explore the RGx Monsters archetype, where two viable versions of the deck have emerged. Unless you ask Brian Kibler. Then there's only one. But...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 22, 2014
ROUND 7 FEATURE MATCH - CHRIS VANMETER VS. ERIC MADAJ
by Blake RasmussenChris VanMeter is one of the StarCityGames stalwarts, churning out weekly articles, winning Open events, and even getting a 1/1 Elemental token made in his likeness. He has yet to taste success on...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 22, 2014
ROUND 6 FEATURE MATCH - DAVID OCHOA VS. WILLIAM GREER
by Corbin HoslerAt any given Magic tournament, there are a number of unique stories walking around the room. From players at their first Grand Prix to the pro trying to earn a few more critical pro points,...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 22, 2014
by Corbin HoslerSteve Wise remembers vividly the first time it happened. "Four or five years ago, I had just moved to Omaha and had been playing some Commander there but nothing else," he said. "One night we...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 22, 2014
VARIATIONS ON STANDARD: BLUE DEVOTION
by Blake RasmussenWe could beat around the bush. We could talk to players who are still on the Mono Blue train. We could talk to players who swear their allegiance to Ephara, God of the Polis. We could cite recent...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 22, 2014
VARIATIONS ON STANDARD: B/X DEVOTION/MIDRANGE
by Blake RasmussenHall of Famer Patrick Chapin is playing Mono Black today, let's get that out of the way. But Chapin, like many others in the room, are aware of the deck's several variations and gave them their...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 22, 2014
ROUND 5 FEATURE MATCH - PATRICK CHAPIN VS. ROBERT HAYES
by Blake RasmussenIn Round 4, Hall of Famer, ace deck designer, and all around interesting guy to cover Patrick Chapin won so fast I didn't get a chance to talk to him after his feature match. What's a coverage...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 22, 2014
ROUND 4 FEATURE MATCH - LUIS SCOTT-VARGAS VS. DAN CATO
by Corbin HoslerFresh off his Top 8 performance at Grand Prix: Richmond in the largest Constructed event in Magic's history, Luis Scott-Vargas is seeking to continue the momentum in a different Constructed format...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 22, 2014
VARIATIONS ON STANDARD: WUX CONTROL
by Blake RasmussenIt seems these days you can show up to a Standard event with any number of archetypes and succeed with tight play, the right matchups, and a pinch of luck. In fact, there's a pretty good case to...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 22, 2014
ROUND 3 FEATURE MATCH - CHRIS PIKULA VS. KYLE HULETT
by Blake RasmussenKyle Huett, Michigan native and Brazilian steakhouse lover, is off to a fast start in his second Grand Prix. Now 2-0 with no byes, Hulett finds himself in the feature match area looking to make a...
article GRAND PRIX CINCINNATI 2014 March 22, 2014
TRIED AND TRUE OR TRY SOMETHING NEW?
by Corbin HoslerIt's a question that's permeated Magic circles since the game's inception: do you play the "best deck" or do you play a deck that you believe beats the best deck? A few months after Theros...