After fifteen rounds of Limited, only eight competitors could continue on. Meet your Grand Prix Sydney Top 8 players!
Name: Teruya Kakumae
Age: 32.
Occupation: Pro Player.
Where do you live: Osaka, Japan.
How long have you been playing Magic? 7 years.
Best finish at a Magic event: GP Champion.
What was the best card in your Day 1 Deck, what color combination did you play, and what was
your record? Hydoid Krasis, Simic, 8-1.
What was the best card in your first Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record? High Alert, Azorius, 2-1.
What was the best card in your second Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record? Sharktocrab, Simic, 3-0.
What is your preferred draft strategy for this set? Aggro!
Name: Prads Pathirana
Age: 30.
Occupation: Student.
Where do you live: Sydney, Australia.
How long have you been playing Magic? Since Time Spiral.
Best finish at a Magic event: Top 4 GP Melbourne 2018.
What was the best card in your Day 1 Deck, what color combination did you play, and what was
your record? High Alert, Azorius, 8-1.
What was the best card in your first Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record? Gateway Sneak, Gruul splash Black and Blue.
What was the best card in your second Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record? Bedeck // Bedazzle, Rakdos, 1-0-2.
What is your preferred draft strategy for this set? Wing it with whatever's open!
Name: Joseph Sclauzero
Age: 27.
Occupation: Data Scientist.
Where do you live: Adelaide.
How long have you been playing Magic? 10 years.
Best finish at a Magic event: Winner GP Manila 2015.
What was the best card in your Day 1 Deck, what color combination did you play, and what was
your record? Light up the Stage, Temur, 8-1.
What was the best card in your first Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record? Pestilent Spirit, Rakdos, 3-0.
What was the best card in your second Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record? Thrash // Threat, Gruul, 1-1-1.
What is your preferred draft strategy for this set? Open lots of oranges.
Name: Jarron Puszet
Age: 35.
Occupation: Corporate Finance.
Where do you live: Melbourne, Australia.
How long have you been playing Magic? 20+ years.
Best finish at a Magic event: This GP Top 8 and a couple of other GP Top 8's.
What was the best card in your Day 1 Deck, what color combination did you play, and what was
your record? 2 Rakdos Freewheelers, Rakdos, 9-0.
What was the best card in your first Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record? Sharktocrab, Simic, 2-1.
What was the best card in your second Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record? Dovin, Grand Arbiter, Azorius, 1-1-1.
What is your preferred draft strategy for this set? Draft synergy (or power).
Name: Ivan Schroder
Age: 29.
Occupation: Geoscientist.
Where do you live: Canberra, Australia.
How long have you been playing Magic? Since Onslaught?
Best finish at a Magic event: GP Sydney 2017 Champion.
What was the best card in your Day 1 Deck, what color combination did you play, and what was
your record? Biogenic Ooze, Simic splash White and Red, 9-0.
What was the best card in your first Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record? 2 Mortify, Orzhov, 1-2.
What was the best card in your second Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record? 2 Basilica Bell-Haunt, Orzhov, 2-1.
What is your preferred draft strategy for this set? Whatever is open, it's very even.
Name: Dominic Z
Age: 32.
Occupation: Public service.
Where do you live: Melbourne, Australia.
How long have you been playing Magic? 20+ years.
Best finish at a Magic event: Top 4 GP Sydney 2017.
What was the best card in your Day 1 Deck, what color combination did you play, and what was
your record? Applied Biomancy, Bant, 7-2.
What was the best card in your first Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record? Judith, the Scourge Diva, Jund, 2-1.
What was the best card in your second Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record? Growth-Chamber Guardian, Temur, 3-0.
What is your preferred draft strategy for this set? Simic splash White or Red.
Name: Shuhei Nakamura
Age: 37.
Occupation: House Husband.
Where do you live: Somewhere, Japan. (literally what he wrote, I promise!)
How long have you been playing Magic? 20+ years.
Best finish at a Magic event: Silver showcase lost in Quarterfinals.
What was the best card in your Day 1 Deck, what color combination did you play, and what was
your record? Hydroid Krasis, Temur, 7-2.
What was the best card in your first Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record? 2 Savage Smash, Gruul, 2-1.
What was the best card in your second Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record? 3 shocklands, Temur, 3-0.
What is your preferred draft strategy for this set? Just play aggro, nothing too special.
Name: Davide Marcotti
Age: 28.
Occupation: Management consultant.
Where do you live: Sydney, Australia.
How long have you been playing Magic? 10+ years, in and out.
Best finish at a Magic event: Top 12 GP Florence 2015, Top 12 GP Rotterdam 2016.
What was the best card in your Day 1 Deck, what color combination did you play, and what was
your record? Gruul, 7-2.
What was the best card in your first Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record? If I really had to name one, I'd say Zhur-Taa Goblin, 3-0.
What was the best card in your second Booster Draft deck, what color combination did you play, and what was your record? Same as above, 2-1.
What is your preferred draft strategy for this set? Didn't practice and don't know the set well enough, that's why I played Gruul all weekend long.