TOP 8 COVERAGE
To say that John Seaton crushed the field this weekend would be putting it lightly. Armed with only a single bye, Seaton then rattled off 8 straight wins, losing only 2 games all day to finish Day 1 at the top of the Swiss standings. Not content to leave it at that, he kept winning on Day 2 as well, entering the Top 8 as first seed, and as you can no doubt tell from the headline, he just kept going.
A long standing member of the New Zealand Magic community, Seaton has been playing for as long as I can remember, and even taught me how to riffle shuffle back in 1997. Time constraints meant that he also hadn't been able to practice a single Battle for Zendikar draft before this morning, so his current win record in the format is probably one of the highest in the world. Oh, and today was his 7th wedding anniversary, too. His wife Traci was cheering on from the sidelines, and she'll no doubt join him in Atlanta for Pro Tour Oath of the Gatewatch in February 2016.
Facing Seaton in the finals was Ireland's Alex Ball, who was also fortunate enough to draft an Expedition Hallowed Fountain in the first draft this morning. Ball's lightning fast Red-White deck looked like it might have been well matched against Seaton's Blue-Black ingest deck, but Seaton ground out the victory 2-1.
Also in the Top 8 were locals Prads Pathirana and Chester Swords, and New Zealand's Zen Takahashi. From further afield came Singapore's Kelvin Chew, Japan's Sugaya Hironobu, and Paul Costentin from France.
With a regional record breaking turnout of 996 players (so close!) and unprecedented side event attendance, this was most definitely a weekend for all to remember, and there's definitely no way John Seaton will forget his wedding anniversary now.
Join us next week from Pro Tour Battle for Zendikar in Milwaukee, USA!
DAY 2 COVERAGE
The weather forecast for today is another, sunny beautiful morning – this is Australia, after all – but there might be a thunder storm rolling this in afternoon for the Grand Prix Sydney Top 8. That sounds about right. It’s probably the Eldrazi coming over the horizon, or something. 70’s megaband Kiss played the stadium next door last night, otherwise you could have told me it was their soundcheck and I would have believed you.
The Battle for Zendikar raged fierce yesterday, with 996 competitors being cut down to less than a tenth of that. A hush fell upon the hall this morning as the remaining players drafted their decks to kick off Day 2.
Leading our field after Day 1 were locals Daniel Rowe and Gautier Lam, and John Seaton from Christchurch, New Zealand. However, there are plenty of other well-known players right behind them, also craving a shot at the Top 8. Meanwhile, the players who failed to make Day 2 are afforded the opportunity to enjoy the many side events on offer here this weekend, like the popular Sunday Super Series, Two-Headed Giant, and a bunch of Constructed events.
We’ll continue bringing you the stories and results of the weekend, and I promise not to spend too much time buying myself ice cream.
DAY 1 COVERAGE
The highest turnout we've ever had in Australia before today was 901 in Melbourne last year. We beat that today without question, reaching 996, but maaaan. If anyone out there decided at the last minute that they didn't want to play any sweet Battle for Zendikar sealed? Shaking my head, that's all I can say.
Anyway, 9 rounds of stiff competition saw 3 lone battlers left undefeated. Gautier Lam, Daniel Rowe, and leading by opponent's match win percentage in first place, from my home town, someone I've known and considered a friend since the turn of the century, *sniff* John Seaton *wipes tear from eye*. Guys, that almost makes up for the 4 of you out there who kept us from 1,000 players. Cough.
Sorry, I'm better now.
So the 996 players *fumes* have been cut down to just 97 going into Day 2, where they'll set aside their Battle for Zendikar sealed pools for draft packs. Other names making the cut are Jack Ding, Chester Swords, Kelvin Chew, Dan Bretherton, Sugaya Hironobu, Paul Jackson, Yifan Wei, Maitland Cameron, Aaron Nicastri, Jason Chung, Zen Takahashi, Adam Witton, and Garry Wong.
Check in tomorrow as we bring you the Top 8 of Grand Prix Sydney 2015!
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