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!
Article
March 23 2014
TOP 5 CARDS
by Corbin Hosler
5. 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...
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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.
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.
Article
March 22 2014
BURSTING THE BUBBLE
by Corbin Hosler
While 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...
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