After sixteen rounds of Modern, only eight players remained in the running for the title of Grand Prix champion. About time to get to know them a little better, isn't it?
Tzu-Ching Kuo
City: Taipei
Age: 33
Occupation: Globetrotter
Score for Day One: 8-1 (2 byes)
Score for Day Two: 4-1-1
Pro Tour and Grand Prix Top 8s: 11 GP Top 8s
Other Achievements: Won 2012 World Magic Cup, National Champion 2002, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014
What deck are you playing today and why?
Abzan Midrange, because Cheng Tung-Yi told me this deck is good (built by Chen Liang)
What is your MVP this weekend?
Maindeck End Hostilities
Lee Shi Tian
City: Hong Kong
Age: 27
Occupation: Accountant
Score for Day One: 8-1 (3 byes)
Score for Day Two: (4-0-2)
Pro Tour and Grand Prix Top 8s: 3 Pro Tour Top 8s, 5 GP Top 8s (including this one!)
Other Achievements: Last place in Worlds Championship 2014. Hong Kong Captain for 2009, 2013 and 2014.
What deck are you playing today and why?
Umbrella Revolution, with only a couple of cards different from my PT Honolulu Top 8 list. Sometimes we just need to persist until the day we succeed! (PS. Cheep up Yui!!)
What is your MVP this weekend?
Jeskai Ascendancy. Yet I was a fool for not playing maximum Tormenting Voice before.
Dae-Hoon Won
City: Seoul
Age: 35
Occupation: Game Designer
Score for Day One: 7-2 (2 byes)
Score for Day Two: 6-0
Pro Tour and Grand Prix Top 8s: Zero
Other Achievements: I’m a newbie.
What deck are you playing today and why?
4 colour Midrange (Sidisi plus Abzan) - THIS IS SPARTA!
What is your MVP this weekend?
Soul of Theros
Martin Jůza
City: Plzen
Age: 27
Occupation: Tourist
Score for Day One: 7-1-1 (3 byes)
Score for Day Two: 5-0 and ID
Pro Tour and Grand Prix Top 8s: 2 Pro Tour Top 8s and now 20 GP Top 8s.
Other Achievements: Won 4 GPs.
What deck are you playing today and why?
Abzan Whip, because it’s great.
What is your MVP this weekend?
Wingmate Roc
Mihara Makihito
City: Chiba-Ken
Age: 32
Occupation: Company Employee
Score for Day One: 9-0 (3 byes)
Score for Day Two: 3-2-1
Pro Tour and Grand Prix Top 8s: Many!
Other Achievements: See above
What deck are you playing today and why?
B/G Devotion, as Abzan is a good matchup.
What is your MVP this weekend?
See the Unwritten
Joseph Sclauzero
City: Adelaide
Age: 23
Occupation: Student
Score for Day One: 8-1 (1 bye)
Score for Day Two: 4-1-1
Pro Tour and Grand Prix Top 8s: 1 - today.
Other Achievements: Multiple GP cashes and PTQ Top 8s.
What deck are you playing today and why?
Mardu, because I had the cards for it.
What is your MVP this weekend?
Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
Christian Calcano
City: New York
Age: 26
Occupation: Play the game, see the world!
Score for Day One: 9-0 (3 byes)
Score for Day Two: 3-1-2
Pro Tour and Grand Prix Top 8s: 4 GP Top 8s.
Other Achievements:
This is my 100th GP!!! Also I’m BFFs with Miguel Gatica, Eric Kreiter and Dan Gardner :)
What deck are you playing today and why?
Abzan Whip. Raymond Perz Jr and Oliver Tomajko have been playing it a lot the past few weeks with a lot of success. They helped me a lot and I owe this Top 8 to them!
What is your MVP this weekend?
Nikki Jimenez, not close!
Arnulfo Taghoy Jr.
City: Davao City
Age: 22
Occupation: QA Tester
Score for Day One: 7-2 (2 byes)
Score for Day Two: 5-0-1
Pro Tour and Grand Prix Top 8s: None
Other Achievements: Won 2 byes from GPT Manila from Davao
What deck are you playing today and why?
Temur Aggro. I have more experience with this deck and I know that the meta will be Abzan and Sidisi Whip.
What is your MVP this weekend?
Savage Knuckleblade