Wang Weaves a Win!

TOP 8 COVERAGE

It looked like third-ranked Seth Manfield was on yet-another unstoppable streak, but then Wang Yichen took both games from him in the finals, in two delirious games.

Despite the White-Blue Flash–filled second day, it was a Delirium-skewed Top 8, and aBlack-Green Delirium mirror match in the finals. This contrasts a fair amount from the weekend-simultaneous Grand Prix Kuala Lumpur, which saw a bit more Thraben Inspectors in the final tables.

It was a weekend of tinkering more than it was of inventing. People saw what had happened in Hawaii at Pro Tour Kaladesh last week and they adjusted their designs to calculate for the direction shift. Nary was there a Torrential Gearhulk in the Top 8. Perhaps next week for the biggest, baddest Snapcaster Mage, but not today.

Wang read the wind and rode it all the way to victory.

What tinkering will we see next time? What inventions are there left to invent? The plane of Kaladesh is full of surprises, as is the format. We'll see at the next Grand Prix what's in store at the next inventor's fair.

DAY 2 COVERAGE

Let the second round of the competition begin!

Grand Prix Kaladesh Standard format enters its second leg in Providence, Rhode Island! 1,185 inventors came yesterday, with 344 returning to fight again today.

Andrew Cuneo, Ari Lax, Zachary Kiihne, and No. 3–ranked Seth Manfield were the only 9-0s. Craig Wescoe is set to catch them with the lone 8-0-1. But big-name pros like Jon Stern, Dan Lanthier, (6) Steve Rubin, Osyp Lebedowicz, Joe Demestrio, Andreas Ganz and Dave Shiels are still quite in contention for the Top 8. And are looking to dethrone those big guys at the top.

The name of the game today seems to be “tinkering.” The people who’ve taken what we’ve learned from Pro Tour Kaladesh last week, and adjusted strategies appropriately are the ones rising to the top. No doubt, this will continue throughout the rest of the day, and shape the Standard format for the coming weeks.

The action is already streaming live at www.twitch.tv/magic! Come have some fun and join these artisans at this inventor’s fair.

DAY 1 COVERAGE

The first day of the new Grand Prix Kaladesh Standard format is finished here in Providence, Rhode Island! 1,185 inventors came to the fair with their shiny designs in tow and showed their might for the judgment of Tezzeret (and their opponents).

After nine rounds, only four perfect scores remain: Andrew Cuneo, Ari Lax, Zachary Kiihne, and—surprise, surprise—(3) Seth Manfield. Craig Wescoe was right behind them with the lone 8-0-1 score. (How Craig ever managed to get a draw with his White-Black Aggro deck is anyone’s guess.)

However, there are plenty of well-known competitors with high marks going into the next day looking to topple the leaders. Players like Jon Stern, Dan Lanthier, (6) Steve Rubin, Osyp Lebedowicz, Joe Demestrio, Andreas Ganz and Dave Shiels still have the judge’s favor—with only one strike against them so far.

We’ll have to see what tomorrow will bring for these designers, these tinkerers, these competitors who want to be the last person—or aetherborn—standing.

Plenty of card-slinging action continues tomorrow at 9 am EDT at twitch.tv/magic!