After fifteen rounds, with a total of 1,971 others eliminated, only eight players remained in the running for the fame and the fortune, the title and the trophy. Find out more about these people here!
Name: Marcelino Freeman
Age: 31
Occupation: Transfer pricing manager at Kreston
Hometown: Puebla, Mexico
Previous Magic accomplishments:
Two Grand Prix Top 8s.
What was the best card in your Sealed Deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
Black-red, Rekindling Phoenix, 8-1, and Ravenous Chupacabra!
What was the best card in your first Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
Blue-black, 3-0, Kitesail Corsair.
What was the best card in your second Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
Green-blue, 2-0-1, two Kitesail Corsair!
Name: Steve Rubin
Age: 25
Occupation: Magic, writing, gaming
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Previous Magic accomplishments:
Eight GP Top 8s, three consecutive Platinum years, two PTQ wins, two SCG wins, one PT win.
What was the best card in your Sealed Deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
Green-blue. Hadana's Climb.
What was the best card in your first Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
2-1. Black-Red Pirates.
What was the best card in your second Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
2-1. Blue-Red Pirates splashing black.
Name: Seth Manfield
Age: 27
Occupation: Magic pro
Hometown: Columbia, MD
Previous Magic accomplishments:
Five Grand Prix wins, Pro Tour Ixalan winner.
What was the best card in your Sealed Deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
Ravenous Chupacabra, was better than Impale. Blue-black splash green.
What was the best card in your first Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
Red-Green Dinos. Two Charging Monstrosaur and The Immortal Sun.
What was the best card in your second Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
White-Black Vampires. Forerunner of the Legion.
Name: Alexander Kreuz
Age: 28
Occupation: Finance/insurance consultant
Hometown: Koblenz, Germany
Previous Magic accomplishments:
Played in six Pro Tours, cashed some, and played one bubble match at GP Amsterdam.
What was the best card in your Sealed Deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
Tetzimoc, Primal Death, 8-1.
What was the best card in your first Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
There was no one best card, Green-Blue Merfolk, 2-1.
What was the best card in your second Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
White-blue. There was no best card again, 3-0.
Name: Brad Nelson
Age: 31
Occupation: Magic
Hometown: Roanoke, VA
Previous Magic accomplishments:
Many.
What was the best card in your Sealed Deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
The Immortal Sun, white-black splash green, 9-0.
What was the best card in your first Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
Two Ravenous Chupacabra, 3-0.
What was the best card in your second Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
Curious Obsession, green-blue, 1-1-1.
Name: Alexander Hulten
Age: 25
Occupation: IT specialist
Hometown: Arvika, Sweden
Previous Magic accomplishments:
Top 20 GP Stockholm.
What was the best card in your Sealed Deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
Profane Procession was the best card in my white and black deck. 7-1-1.
What was the best card in your first Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
Zacama, Bant, 3-0.
What was the best card in your second Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
Twilight Prophet. White-black. 3-0.
Name: Mark Jacobson
Age: 27
Occupation: Hardware engineer
Hometown: Philadelpthia, PA
Previous Magic accomplishments:
12th at Pro Tour Magic Origins, 11-5 at Pro Tour Kaladesh, Top 4 at Grand Prix Toronto 2015 and Grand Prix Houston 2016.
What was the best card in your Sealed Deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
8-1, starting on red-white. Boarded into five different color configurations depending on the matchup. Best card was Arch of Orazca.
What was the best card in your first Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
2-1 with Blue-Red Aggro and Storm Fleet Sprinter.
What was the best card in your second Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
3-0 Green-Blue Merfolk and two Merfolk Mistbinder. Honorable mention goes to sideboard Plummet. On the penultimate turn of my win-and-in, my opponent put One With the Wind on a 3/3 Dino token and then attempted to Hunt the Weak ...
Name: Eduardo Sajgalik
Age: 30 this weekend
Occupation: Community consultant
Hometown: Montreal, Canada
Previous Magic accomplishments:
Two Pro Tour Top 8s (Return to Ravnica/Aether Revolt). Multiple national teams (UK/England/Canada). Fifth Grand Prix Top 8.
What was the best card in your Sealed Deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
Black-red. Charging Monstrosaur was best, Dark Inquiry was MVP. 7-2, or 4-2 plus three byes.
What was the best card in your first Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
Black-Red Aggro Pirates. Deck was a team effort, but Dire Fleet Poisoner was best.
What was the best card in your second Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record?
White-Blue Fliers with three Expel from Orazca. MVP was Snubhorn Sentry, 3/3s for 1 are great.