After fifteen rounds of play, the Standard field at Grand Prix Seattle has been narrowed down to just the Top 8. Below are the GP Seattle Standard Top 8 profiles!
Hometown: Norcross, GA
Occupation: middle school math teacher
Previous Magic Accomplishments:
Top 8-ed a PPTQ at Da Planet
What deck are you playing and why?
Mardu Vehicles, because I like to go fast. Its aggressive nature and mana sinks make it hard for a deck to ever turn the corner.
What was your best card this weekend and why?
Rekindling Phoenix. It was traded to me by one of my students and its recursive ability and evasion proved to be game changing.
What do you enjoy most about Standard?
It is very inexpensive and I can play it with my students.
What would winning the Grand Prix mean to you?
Honestly, I'm just glad I did better than 0-2 drop.
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Occupation: professional slacker
Previous Magic Accomplishments:
Two-time Game Day Champion
What deck are you playing and why?
RB Aggro - recursive threats and a quick clock
What was your best card this weekend and why?
Doomfall - split card Duress/removal spell is pretty good in a lot of situations
What do you enjoy most about Standard?
It's extremely interactive, lots of good threats and answers.
What would winning the Grand Prix mean to you?
A great story and motivation to keep getting better.
Hometown: Austin, TX
Occupation: Programmer
Previous Magic Accomplishments:
Top 4 GP San Antonio 2015
Win GP Santa Clara 2018
What deck are you playing and why?
UR God-Pharaoh's Gift because my friend Mischa convinced me to and let me borrow the deck.
What was your best card this weekend and why?
God-Pharaoh's Gift. It kills people.
What do you enjoy most about Standard?
I enjoy how back and forth the matches are. Nothing is too one-sided.
What would winning the Grand Prix mean to you?
It would mean I lock up Silver in Pro points. Basically it would mean I can keep playing the game I enjoy at a high level.
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Occupation: student
Previous Magic Accomplishments:
Top 64 Grand Prix Omaha
Top 8 TCG Standard States 2012
What deck are you playing and why?
UR Gift, because on Friday it looked cool.
What was your best card this weekend and why?
Champion of Wits, it digs for Gate and fills the yard
What do you enjoy most about Standard?
Until UR Gifts, no turn four kills
What would winning the Grand Prix mean to you?
It would prove to my friends that Magic is not a waste of time.
Hometown: Renton, WA
Occupation: podcaster @thegampodcast
Previous Magic Accomplishments:
Hall of Fame Class of 2038
What deck are you playing and why?
RB Inventor's Apprentice, Nathan Smith always has the best decks
What was your best card this weekend and why?
Arguel's Blood Fast (never actually got to cast it)
What do you enjoy most about Standard?
Attacking with Hazoret
What would winning the Grand Prix mean to you?
Another sweet podcast episode
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Occupation: financial analyst
Previous Magic Accomplishments:
11-5 PT Aether Revolt
13-2 GP Vegas 2017 Limited
Magic Online PAX Champion 2009 (beating GP Seattle Legacy winner Daniel Duterte in the finals)
What deck are you playing and why?
UR God-Pharaoh's Gift. I heard it was good so I put it together the night before the GP.
What was your best card this weekend and why?
Bomat Courier. It just does everything.
What do you enjoy most about Standard?
I haven't played Standard since PT Albuquerque, so no opinion.
What would winning the Grand Prix mean to you?
I just maxed my Roth IRA for '17 and '18 so it would be nice to have some spare cash. Deadline is April 17th people.
Hometown: Shenzhen, China
Occupation: student
Previous Magic Accomplishments:
GP Houston PTQ 1st
What deck are you playing and why?
Mono-Red (by Zirui Zhou)
It's good to beat GPG/GR Monsters.
What was your best card this weekend and why?
Rekindling Phoenix, sometimes you just need to play multiple Phoenix and win
What do you enjoy most about Standard?
Standard meta will change each week
What would winning the Grand Prix mean to you?
A dream? haha
Hometown: Palermo, Maine
Occupation: 3D designer
Previous Magic Accomplishments:
qualified for PT Ixalan via RPTQ
What deck are you playing and why?
Sultai Snek because Nathan Steves said this deck was going to win this weekend
What was your best card this weekend and why?
Hadana's Climb, not close. It stole otherwise unwindable games.
What do you enjoy most about Standard?
Format is pretty open right now, can play what you want
What would winning the Grand Prix mean to you?
A dream come true.