The field of 1,076 players has been narrowed down to 8. You can learn more about Grand Prix Memphis 2015's Top 8 players below.
Brad Nelson
Age: 28
Hometown: Roanoke, VA
Previous Magic Accomplishments: Standard!
What did you play this weekend, and why?
Abzan Control
What did you expect to play against? Did you play what you expected to see?
White-Red, Jeskai, and Abzan Aggro
What was the best card in your main deck and sideboard, and why?
Fleecemane Lion. Jacob Van Lunen put a few copies in the sideboard earlier this week and I been sideboarding them in every matchup.
How will you travel through time: Back to the Future or Time Cop?
Back to the Future!
Alex Majlaton
Age: 30
Hometown: Lanham, MD
Previous Magic Accomplishments: Seven other Grand Prix Top 8s; first Standard Top 8!
What did you play this weekend, and why?
Abzan Control designed by Steve Rubin. It’s very robust and had a great plan versus every other deck.
What did you expect to play against? Did you play what you expected to see?
I expected to play against other Abzan decks, Blue-Black Control, and White-Red/Jeskai decks. I didn;t play against very much Jeskai but otherwise everything was normal.
What was the best card in your main deck and sideboard, and why?
Main deck: Ugin, the Spirit Dragon got me out of some tough spots.
Sideboard: Fleecemane Lion - The aftr board plan versus basically every deck.
How will you travel through time: Back to the Future or Time Cop?
Back to the Future. I’d be Doc and Ben Friedman would be Marty.
Jack Fogle
Age: 24
Hometown: Lexington, KY
Previous Magic Accomplishments: Two PTQ wins this year; multiple Grand Prix cash finishes
What did you play this weekend, and why?
Sultai Control “sans clans”. I have an unhealthy affinity for Planar Cleansing effects.
What did you expect to play against? Did you play what you expected to see?
Abzan, Jeskai, White-Red, and Red-Green, although way more Abzan than expected
What was the best card in your main deck and sideboard, and why?
Dig Through Time: It’s the card you hope to draw every game and gives you the tools to wins.
How will you travel through time: Back to the Future or Time Cop?
Back to the Future
Patrick Cowe
Age: 24
Hometown: Evansville, IN
Previous Magic Accomplishments: Finalist SCG Indy, Preliminary PTQ winner
What did you play this weekend, and why?
Abzan Control. I know the deck well and believed it was good against the opposing midrange strategies.
What did you expect to play against? Did you play what you expected to see?
Abzan Aggro, White-Red, and Red-Green Devotion. I expected to see that.
What was the best card in your main deck and sideboard, and why?
Siege Rhino. It swings games too easily in multiples.
How will you travel through time: Back to the Future or Time Cop?
Back to the Future
Eric Rath
Age: 27
Hometown: Coralville, IA
Previous Magic Accomplishments: 3-1 a Modern Daily Event with a four-of Seeance in my deck
What did you play this weekend, and why?
White-Red Aggro. It had pretty even matchups across the board, and I get ot attack people with big, hastey Dragons.
What did you expect to play against? Did you play what you expected to see?
I expected a lot of mirror matches and Abzan Aggro. 3-0 versus the mirror and 5-0 versus Abzan Aggro.
What was the best card in your main deck and sideboard, and why?
Main Deck: Heliod’s Pilgrim. Northing better than Chained to the Rocks number five with a body.
Sideboad: Evolving Wilds. The deck really wants 25 lands in the postboard games with six 5-drops. Also lets me cut the Mana Confluence in the mirror.
How will you travel through time: Back to the Future or Time Cop?
Time Cop; Jean Claude Van Damme can’t be stopped!
Chris Fennell
Age: 32
Hometown: Tampa, FL
Previous Magic Accomplishments: Seven Limited Grand Prix Top 8s; Top 8 Pro Tour Born of the Gods
What did you play this weekend, and why?
Abzan Control because it had all the answers, and Steve Rubin and Brad Nelson broke the sideboard.
What did you expect to play against? Did you play what you expected to see?
Midrange decks, then White-Red and Jeskai, and Abzan Aggro
What was the best card in your main deck and sideboard, and why?
Elspeth, Sun’s Champion in the main deck. It lets you play both offense and defense, and handles problems.
Fleecemane Lion in the sideboard because people board out Lighting Strike and Bile Blight.
How will you travel through time: Back to the Future or Time Cop?
Time Cop
Steve Rubin
Age: 22
Hometown: Pittsburg, PA
Previous Magic Accomplishments: One Grand Prix Top 8
What did you play this weekend, and why?
Abzan Midrange with Fleecemane Lions in the sideboard
What did you expect to play against? Did you play what you expected to see?
White-Red-something Aggro, and Blue-Black-something Control, and Abzan
What was the best card in your main deck and sideboard, and why?
Courser of Kruphix since it lets you play more Magic than your opponents.
How will you travel through time: Back to the Future or Time Cop?
Back to the Future
Ben Stark
Age: 31
Hometown: Tamarac, FL
Previous Magic Accomplishments:
Pro Tour Hall of Fame, winner Pro Tour Paris, winner Grand Prix Indianapolis, four Pro Tour Top 8, fourteen Grand Prix Top 8s
What did you play this weekend, and why?
White-Red Midrange - Lots of good cards, close games, removal.
What did you expect to play against? Did you play what you expected to see?
White-Red, Abzan, Blue-Black Control. That was mostly what was here.
What was the best card in your main deck and sideboard, and why?
Outpost Siege. Four mana almost unkillable win condition.