GRAND PRIX KYŌTO 2015

Hearty congratulations to Yuuta Takahashi, Champion of Grand Prix Kyoto! Not christened “King of the Faeries” for no reason, he dealt the killing blow in the finals with Vendilion Clique, making it his third out of three Grand Prix victories with Faeries by his side!

Grand Prix Kyōto 2015

TOP 8 COVERAGE

Hearty congratulations to Yuuta Takahashi, you are the Grand Prix Kyōto 2015 Champion!

Takahashi cruised through the field of 1943, before steamrolling past quarterfinalist Yukihiro Satake, semifinalist Kenta Harane and then Kazuya Murakami in the finals take home the trophy.

Takahashi is not christened the "King of Faeries" for no reason. This win marks his third Lifetime Grand Prix victory, all of which were secured with faeries by his side. In the finals, he dealt the killing blow with Vendilion Clique, which also happens to be his Twitter handle.

Shota Yasooka was also one of the greatest stories of the weekend. Hot on his heels from a finals appearance at Pro Tour Dragons of Tarkir last weekend in Brussels, this Top 8 appearance at Kyōto pretty much locks him up for Platinum. Despite falling to the quarterfinals, Yasooka should be rejoicing in the fact that he is only one more Grand Prix Top 8 away from hitting the big 20!

Rounding off the Top 8 are are Kai Thiele, Yusuke Morinaga and Grand Prix Yokohama 2012 Top 8 competitor Kei Umehara, who also did splendidly this weekend and are undoubtedly thrilled to be qualified for Pro Tour Magic Origins in Vancouver (7/31 – 8/2).

For the first time ever, a Legacy Grand Prix has made its way to Asia and Yuuta Takahashi's victory ensures that he will be remembered for a long time to come, especially amongst the passionate Legacy community! Congratulations once again!

Article

April 19 2015

TOP 5 CARDS by Chapman Sim

These were the cards that shaped the tournament, that sparked discussions and were the most debated, the cards that won games and turned Grand Prix Kyōto into an event to...

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Article

April 19 2015

Finals: Yūta Takahashi (Miracles) vs Kazuya Murakami (Miracles) by Ben Swartz

For making the finals in his first Grand Prix top 8, Kazuya Murakami seemed surprisingly calm as he sat down to the table. He had reason to be calm. He ran the tables with a Miracle deck of his...

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Apr 19 2015

Article

Top 8 Profiles

by Ben Swartz

Kazuya Murakami Age, Hometown, Occupation: 23, Aichi Prefecture, student Previous Accomplishments: none Where do you normally play Magic? Table Game Square “Draw” What deck did you play?...

Apr 19 2015

Article

Top 8 Decklists

by Event Coverage Staff

Here are the top 8 decklists from Grand Prix Kyōto 2015. Kai Thiele ...

Apr 19 2015

Article

Semifinals: Kai Thiele (Ad Nauseum Combo) vs. Kazuya Murakami (Blue White Miracles)

by Chapman Sim

Murakami thought he was doing fine when he managed to resolve both Counterbalance and Monastery Mentor. The problem was, he would not live to see his next untap step. Using Lion's Eye Diamond to...

Apr 19 2015

Article

Semifinals: Yuta Takahashi (Miracles) vs. Kenta Harane (OmniTell)

by Ben Swartz

Both players played a grueling quarterfinals match to make their way to the semifinals. Kenta Harane had to face off against Shota Yasooka in the OmniTell mirror. After barely edging it out...

Apr 19 2015

Article

Quarterfinals: Shota Yasooka (Omni Tell) vs. Kenta Harane (Omni Tell)

by Chapman Sim

It is sometimes said that in the mirror, the player who casts Show and Tell loses. It was the absolute worst card in the mirror and is often sideboarded out in exchange for Through the Breach or...

Apr 19 2015

Article

Quarterfinals: Kei Umehara (Temur Delver) vs. Kazuya Murakami (Blue White Miracles)

by Chapman Sim

Three years ago, Kei Umehara made his first Top 8 at Grand Prix Yokohama. Today, marks his second Top 8 appearance and Temur Delver was his weapon of choice. Clearly, Nimble Mongoose and Tarmogoyf...

Apr 19 2015

Article

Quarterfinals: Yuta Takahashi (Miracles) vs. Yukihiro Satake (UWR Stoneforge)

by Ben Swartz

This Grand Prix marks Yuta Takahashi's 8th top. It's been nearly 7 years since his last Grand Prix victory, and Takahashi is hungry for another one. Takahashi quietly made his way to the top 8...

Apr 19 2015

Article

Quarterfinals: Kai Thiele (Ad Nauseam Storm) vs. Yosuke Morinaga (Grixis Delver)

by Ben Swartz

Both players had achieved their first top 8 this weekend in Kyōto. Kai Thiele, the half-Japanese half-German player who moved to Japan only two months ago, made it in with his Ad Nasueam Storm...

DAY 2 COVERAGE

After nine rounds of Legacy, the field of 1934 has been reduced to just 222. 5 players remain with a pristine 9-0 record: Shota Yasooka, Ryuichi Shirakihara, Shohei Yamamoto, Ujimasa Yasuhiro, and Kenta Harane.

Hot on their heels are players such as Tomoharu Saito, Kentaro Yamamoto, Yuta Takahashi, and Yuuya Wantanabe, Chikara Nakajima, Olivier Ruel, Akio Chiba and Teruya Kakumae.

As we speak, players shuffling up and getting ready to play 6 more rounds before the Top 8 is determined. Who will be the Grand Prix Kyoto Champion? We'll know by the time the sun sets in the land of the rising sun!

Article

April 19 2015

Grand Prix Kyoto Round 15 Feature Match: Shota Yasooka (OmniTell) vs Ryoichi Tamada (Temur Delver) by Ben Swartz

After 14 swiss rounds, it all came down to this. Both Players, Shota Yasooka and Ryoichi Tamada, wanted a spot in the Top 8, but only the winner of this match would get it. For Shota Yasooka this...

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Article

April 19 2015

Quick Questions #4: What are you playing today and what would your second deck choice be? by Chapman Sim and Ben Swartz

What are you playing today and what would your second deck choice be? Two-Time Pro Tour Top 8 Competitor, Chikara Nakajima: Elves! My second choice is Sultai Delver. Two-Time Player of the Year...

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Apr 19 2015

Article

Day 2 Metagame Breakdown

by Ben Swartz

With nearly every Magic card ever printed legal, Legacy is the format where you can play almost anything. It is no surprise, therefore, that so many decks are well represented in day 2 at Grand...

Apr 19 2015

Article

Round 12 Feature Match: Yoshitaka Iwaide (Death and Taxes) vs. Kenta Harane (OmniTell)

by Chapman Sim

It's lonely at the top, they all say. Kenta Harane remains the lone undefeated player in the entire tournament. Piloting OmniTell, he was able to steamroll through the competition to rise to the...

Apr 19 2015

Article

Round 10 Feature Match: Shota Yasooka (OmniTell) vs Tomoharu Saito (Blue-Red Delver)

by Ben Swartz

While over 200 players made the second day of competition in Kyoto, it is no surprise that many well known Japanese players found their way to the top. Hot off his second place finish at Pro Tour...

Apr 19 2015

Article

"Dack Tech"

by Chapman Sim

Unlike what his last name suggests, Akio Chiba is a Japanese player from Hokkaido. His notable performances are a Top 50 finish at the 2010 World Championships, and most recently at 29th place...

Apr 19 2015

Article

Quick Questions #3: What kind of metagame were you expecting this weekend?

by Chapman Sim and Ben Swartz

What kind of metagame were you expecting this weekend? Pro Tour San Diego 2007 Finalist, Yuuta Takahashi: I expected a lot of creature and combo decks and that's why I'm playing cards like...

Apr 19 2015

Article

9-0 Decklists

by Chapman Sim

Of the 1934 players to attend Grand Prix Kyoto, only five players managed emerge unscathed. Pro Tour Dragons of Tarkir Finalist Shouta Yasooka leads the pack with OmniTell, a powerful combo...

DAY 1 COVERAGE

After nine rounds of Legacy, 5 players remain with a perfect 9-0 record: Shota Yasooka, Ryuichi Shirakihara, Shohei Yamamoto, Ujimasa Yasuhiro, and Kenta Harane. They have their work cut out for them, however. Hot on their heels are players such as Tomoharu Saito at 8-0-1 and Kentaro Yamamoto, Yuta Takahashi, and Yuuya Wantanabe at 8-1. Still in contention with a 7-2 record include players such as Chikara Nakajima, Olivier Ruel, and Akio Chiba. Teruya Kakumae also made it in to Day 2 with a 7-2 record; can he continue his reign over the GP circuit this season?

The Legacy format has been well represented here in Kyōto. In a format where nearly any type of deck is viable, nearly every one showed up today. OmniTell and Delver decks are among the most popular at the top tables, but mixed in are many others including Miracles, Infect, Death and Taxes, and Elves. Even 9-0 player Ryuichi Shirakihara ran the tables with Charbelcher today.

As the sun sets over the city, players are headed back to get some rest before the second day of competition. Can Shota Yasooka continue his streak from Pro Tour Dragons of Tarkir and come up with another top finish tomorrow? Can Olivier Ruel make it into his 28th Grand Prix Top 8? In less than 24 hours one player will be the first Japanese Legacy GP Champion. Check back tomorrow for continuing coverage of Grand Prix Kyōto!

Article

April 18 2015

Round 9 Feature Match: Teruya Kakumae (OmniTell) vs. Takafumi Nakamura (Temur Delver) by Chapman Sim

Teruya Kakumae has gone from zero to hero in the current season. After winning Grand Prix Kobe (Modern) and Grand Prix Auckland (Limited), he has now trying to clinch a victory at Legacy. It...

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Article

April 18 2015

Catching Up with Olivier Ruel by Chapman Sim

"So what brings you to Japan? Did you come solely to play the Grand Prix?" That was the question on everyone's minds. Considering there was a Grand Prix in Krakow this very same weekend, many...

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Apr 18 2015

Article

GP Kyoto Round 7 Feature Match: Kentaro Yamamoto (OmniTell) vs Yuta Takahashi (Miracles)

by Ben Swartz

Teammates Kentaro Yamamoto and Yuta Takahashi sat down to play during round 7 at Grand Prix Kyoto. While it was once the case that Kentaro Yamamoto was the lesser known member of the 2nd place...

Apr 18 2015

Article

Quick Questions #2: What decks are great in Legacy now that Treasure Cruise is banned?

by Chapman Sim and Ben Swartz

Hall of Famer and Player of the Year, Kenji Tsumura: Sultai and Jund! Pro Tour Champion and Player of the Year, Shouta Yasooka: Omni Tell, because the Delver decks have weakened. Pro Tour Avacyn...

Apr 18 2015

Article

Round 5 Feature Match: Olivier Ruel (Elves) vs. Kenji Tsumura (Sultai Delver)

by Chapman Sim

While it might not be surprising for 800 Pro Points to be assembled at a Draft Table, it's very rare for nearly 800 Pro Points to be seated at a Feature Match table. With Olivier Ruel at 512...

Apr 18 2015

Article

Round 4 Feature Match: Shota Yasooka (OmniTell) vs. Hayato Kawachi (Death and Taxes)

by Ben Swartz

Hot off of his second place finish at the Pro Tour Dragons of Tarkir last weekend, Shota Yasooka is looking to keep his hot streak alive at Grand Prix Kyōto. Although Legacy is not a format he...

Apr 18 2015

Article

Quick Questions #1

by Chapman Sim and Ben Swartz

What's your favorite Legacy card that you're NOT playing today? Pro Tour Avacyn Restored Top 4 Competitor and Gold Pro, Ken Yukuhiro: Exploration. Five-Time Pro Tour Top 8 Competitor and Pro...

Apr 18 2015

Article

Flavors of Delver

by Chapman Sim

With almost all the cards in Magic's history at your disposal, Legacy is an extremely diverse format with more archetypes than you can imagine. Despite the power level being higher than Standard...

Apr 18 2015

Article

Grand Prix Kyōto 2015 Photo Journal

by Ben Swartz

By Seo Asako and translated by Ben Swartz During Spring in the ancient capital of Japan many Legacy decks have bloomed here at Grand Prix Kyōto 2015. Join us, won't you? The tournament is held...

Apr 18 2015

Article

Grand Prix Trial Decklists

by Ben Swartz

As always, on the Friday before a Grand Prix there are last chance Grand Prix Trials offering byes for the following day's event. Grand Prix Kyōto was no different; there were 17 Legacy Grand...

Apr 14 2015

Article

Fact Sheet

by Wizards of the Coast

Top 8 Decklists

Select a Deck

Kai Thiele

Decklist Stats Sample Hand

Sorcery (23)

4 Gitaxian Probe 4 Ponder 3 Cabal Therapy 3 Duress 2 Preordain 4 Infernal Tutor 2 Past in Flames 1 Tendrils of Agony

Instant (14)

4 Brainstorm 4 Dark Ritual 1 Rain of Filth 4 Cabal Ritual 1 Ad nauseam

Artifact (8)

4 Lion's Eye Diamond 4 Lotus Petal

Land (15)

1 Island 1 Swamp 2 Underground Sea 1 Tropical Island 1 Volcanic Island 1 Bayou 4 Misty Rainforest 3 Polluted Delta 1 Flooded Strand

60 Cards

Sideboard (15)

2 Xantid Swarm 3 Dread of Night 2 Chain of Vapor 2 Flusterstorm 4 Abrupt Decay 1 Krosan Grip 1 Empty the Warrens

Deal Another Hand

Shota Yasooka

GRAND PRIX KYŌTO 2015

Decklist Stats Sample Hand

Creature (2)

2 Emrakul, the Aeons Torn

Sorcery (16)

4 Gitaxian Probe 4 Ponder 4 Preordain 4 Show and Tell

Instant (20)

4 Brainstorm 4 Spell Pierce 1 Impulse 3 Cunning Wish 4 Force of Will 4 Dig Through Time

Enchantment (4)

4 Omniscience

Land (18)

5 Island 2 Volcanic Island 4 Flooded Strand 4 Polluted Delta 1 Misty Rainforest 2 City of Traitors

60 Cards