GRAND PRIX LAS VEGAS 2015 (MAIN EVENT #1)

Aaron Lewis outlasted the competition in one of the two Grand Prix in Las Vegas over Modern Masters Weekend.

GRAND PRIX LAS VEGAS 2015 (MAIN EVENT #1)

TOP 8 COVERAGE

Modern Masters Weekend was every player’s opportunity to make Magic history. Aaron Lewis did just that, defeating Lucas Duchow in the finals of Grand Prix Las Vegas.

True to its billing, history was made with two of the largest Grand Prix ever occurring simultaneously in Las Vegas. Event 1, to plainly keep things straight, started at a behemoth 3,687 players on Saturday. It became a returning 366 on Sunday before a Top 8 emerged, packed with the likes of Pro Tour Born of the Gods winner Shaun McLaren and others.

It was a weekend full of community, grandeur, and awe. While Lewis, like his counterpart Scott Markeson in the other Grand Prix Las Vegas, rose up to represent the Madison drafters as a winner, so many more in attendance around the world walked away with an experience unlike anything before it in Magic.

Congratulations again to Aaron Lewis, champion of one of the Grand Prix in Las Vegas on Modern Masters Weekend!

This is the tournament coverage for the first GP Vegas main event. For information on the second GP Vegas main event, head over to the Main Event #2 coverage page.

Article

June 1 2015

Top 4 Cards of Modern Masters Weekend by Mike Rosenberg, Tobi Henke, and Adam Styborski

Rather than bring you one Grand Prix's Top 5 Cards, we are instead bringing you the Top Four Cards—covering the key cards that earned the eventual champions their trophy—of Modern Masters...

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Article

June 1 2015

Finals – Aaron Lewis vs. Lucas Duchow by Marc Calderaro

Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world . . . two Wisconsin residents meet in the Finals of Grand Prix Vegas 1. Two-time Grand Prix Top 8 finisher Aaron Lewis, living in Madison,...

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Article

June 1 2015

Top 8 Decklists by Adam Styborski

Want to see what rose to the top of Grand Prix Las Vegas? Then take a look at the Top 8 competitors' decklists! ...

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Jun 01 2015

Article

Semifinals Round-Up

by Marc Calderaro

In the Quarterfinals we saw some crazy shenanigans, and some solid decks going into the Semifinals. Two Wisconsin players, Aaron Lewis and Lucas Duchow advanced; Pascal Maynard, breaking his...

Jun 01 2015

Article

Quarterfinals Round-Up

by Marc Calderaro

It's been a long hard road to the Top 8. There are a monumental amount of players, and the Grand Prix Vegas 1 had its fair share of ups and down. Even the eventual #1 seed Aaron Lewis went into...

Jun 01 2015

Article

TOP 8 PLAYERS

by Marc Calderaro

Learn more about Grand Prix Las Vegas #1's Top 8 competitors by taking a look through their profiles! Ben Stark Age: 31 Hometown: Davie, Florida Previous Magic Accomplishments: 15...

DAY 2 COVERAGE

Making Magic history continues through Modern Masters Weekend with continuing coverage of Grand Prix Las Vegas! 3,687 players started in one half of the mammoth event here, and 366 have returned Day 2 for their chance at taking one of the titles home.

Among those that rose to the top of the thousands include Connor Kirk, Chris Fennell, Andrew Lozano, Aaron Boyce, Brian Tidwell, Sammy Batarseh, Easton Henrie, Ethan Myrick, Aaron Lewis, Matthew Dickel, and Pascal Maynard, though many more such as Hall of Fame members Luis Scott-Vargas and Ben Stark follow close behind. It will be a race from start to finish as one of Magic’s biggest events wraps up Magic’s biggest weekend.

This is the tournament coverage for the first GP Vegas main event. For information on the second GP Vegas main event, head over to the Main Event #2 coverage page.

Article

June 1 2015

Cash Turner – Answering His Questions One Game at a Time by Marc Calderaro

Cash Turner is battling Ben Stark in the feature match area. Just playing under the lights and cameras can be intimidating for any non-veteran—but also against a Pro Tour Hall of Fame member and...

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Article

May 31 2015

“You’re the Real Winner Here” A World Player Check-In by Marc Calderaro

Yesterday, we looked at a groups of travelers and talked about the group journeys. Today, we’ll get a little more personal, and look at the players and their individual quests often halfway...

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Article

May 31 2015

Drafting with… by Blake Rasmussen

The Funnyman (Graham Stark) | The Need-Be-Champion (Pascal Maynard) The Big Picture Guy (Alexander Hayne) What would you take if it was Day 2 of a Grand Prix? It was a question hundreds of...

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May 31 2015

Article

A Fine Vintage

by Blake Rasmussen

Things to Do In Vintage For Fun and Ponder | Decklists Modern Masters Weekend might have made Magic history by the sheer size of the main event, but, if you’ve been following along, there’s...

May 31 2015

Article

Around the Multiverse: Grand Prix Vegas Edition

by Marc Calderaro

This weekend is historic for the Magic community. And though the Modern Masters 2015 event itself here in Las Vegas is a monumental triumph, it’s not actually a single “thing.” Grand Prix...

May 31 2015

Article

The Ringer, The Grinder, and The King

by Blake Rasmussen

The Ringer | The Grinder | The King | The KotH Recap Statistically, a ton of people have to go undefeated at a pair of 3,500-plus player tournaments. The sheer volume of the tournament demands...

DAY 1 COVERAGE

The time to make Magic history in Las Vegas took place over 1 long weekend. 3,687 players started in one half of the mammoth Modern Masters Weekend, and 369 will return for Day 2 to share more of the amazing weekend.

Among those that rose to the top of the thousands include Connor Kirk, Chris Fennell, Andrew Lozano, Aaron Boyce, Brian Tidwell, Sammy Batarseh, Easton Henrie, Ethan Myrick, Aaron Lewis, Matthew Dickel, and Pascal Maynard, though many more such as Hall of Fame members Luis Scott-Vargas and Ben Stark follow close behind to fight for their own shot at the historic title.

This is the tournament coverage for the first GP Vegas main event. For information on the second GP Vegas main event, head over to the Main Event #2 coverage page.

Article

May 31 2015

Grand Prix Las Vegas Undefeated Decklists by Marc Calderaro

A record amount of players will usually generate a record amount of 9-0 decklists after the first day is done. Below are all the undefeated Modern Masters 2015 Sealed decklists from Grand Prix Las...

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Article

May 31 2015

Traveling With Friends – No Matter How Far Away by Marc Calderaro

Magic binds us together regardless of distance. The game is about connections on every level, and that fact is on display in spades here at Grand Prix Vegas. My last article was about a man who...

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Article

May 31 2015

Busting Sealed by Marc Calderaro

There were more Sealed pools opened today in Las Vegas than any other sanctioned Magic event in history. Most of us fantasize about the dream pool, but here, someone must have made it happen. I...

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May 31 2015

Article

Magic, Personalized

by Blake Rasmussen

I found Josh Bishop patiently poised in line to meet Jung Park, the artist behind cards such as City of Brass, Inkmoth Nexus, and the Return to Ravnica version of Hallowed Fountain. Other players...

May 31 2015

Article

The Malta Ambassador

by Marc Calderaro

With all the travelers here at Grand Prix Vegas, there are some who pack up, and travel in groups, but there are many who go it alone. The environment is amazing for meeting people, gaming out,...

May 30 2015

Article

Cosplaying Modern Masters Weekend

by Blake Rasmussen

It’s not the most obvious of connections, but Las Vegas and Magic share more than just three memorable Grand Prix Weekends. They also share a love of cosplay. Cosplay, for the uninitiated, is...

May 30 2015

Article

Making Magic History, the First Time Around

by Blake Rasmussen

“It took on a life of its own. It wasn’t just a Grand Prix. It wasn’t just a Grand Prix in Vegas. It was something people wanted to be a part of.” —Scott Larabee, manager of Organized...

May 30 2015

Article

Modern Masters Weekend Drawn to Scale

by Mike Rosenberg

Modern Masters Weekend is set to be one of the most memorable Magic events to take place worldwide. In fact, it's so special that words can't summarize what you can expect from this weekend on...

May 20 2015

Article

FACT SHEET

by Wizards of the Coast

TOP 8 DECKLISTS

Select a Deck

David Jetha – Top 8 Booster Draft

GRAND PRIX LAS VEGAS 2015 (MAIN EVENT #1)

Decklist Stats Sample Hand

Creature (14)

1 Scavenger Drake 1 Nest Invader 2 Scion of the Wild 1 Root-Kin Ally 1 Kozilek's Predator 1 Dread Drone 2 Kavu Primarch 1 Karplusan Strider 1 Bloodthrone Vampire 1 Aquastrand Spider 1 Cytoplast Root-Kin 1 Gnarlid Pack

Sorcery (4)

1 Bestial Menace 2 Bone Splinters 1 Overwhelm

Instant (4)

1 Vines of Vastwood 2 Grim Affliction 1 Scatter the Seeds

Artifact (1)

1 Tumble Magnet

Land (17)

10 Forest 7 Swamp

40 Cards

Sideboard (20)

1 Sunlance 1 Narcolepsy 1 Wrap in Flames 1 Otherworldly Journey 1 Plummet 1 Vampire Outcasts 2 Instill Infection 1 Æthersnipe 1 Smokebraider 2 Thief of Hope 2 Tukatongue Thallid 1 Simic Initiate 1 Wings of Velis Vel 1 Thrummingbird 1 Everflowing Chalice 1 Court Homunculus 1 Vigean Graftmage

Deal Another Hand

Peter McGinnis – Top 8 Booster Draft

GRAND PRIX LAS VEGAS 2015 (MAIN EVENT #1)

Decklist Stats Sample Hand

Creature (15)

1 Blinding Souleater 1 Gorehorn Minotaurs 1 Ashenmoor Gouger 1 Sickle Ripper 1 Precursor Golem 1 Stormblood Berserker 3 Duskhunter Bat 2 Vampire Lacerator 1 Blood Ogre 1 Dragonsoul Knight 1 Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder 1 Soulbright Flamekin

Sorcery (4)

1 Bone Splinters 1 Sign in Blood 1 Tezzeret's Gambit 1 Tribal Flames

Instant (2)

1 Apostle's Blessing 1 Burst Lightning

Artifact (2)

1 Flayer Husk 1 Mortarpod

Land (17)

9 Swamp 8 Mountain

40 Cards

Sideboard (22)

1 Ant Queen 1 Gust-Skimmer 1 Skarrgan Firebird 2 Gut Shot 1 Flashfreeze 1 Copper Carapace 1 Court Homunculus 2 Waking Nightmare 2 Deathmark 1 Reassembling Skeleton 1 Restless Apparition 1 Thoughtcast 1 Blades of Velis Vel 1 Conclave Phalanx 1 Bloodthrone Vampire 1 Terashi's Grasp 1 Death Denied 1 Vapor Snag 1 Rusted Relic

Deal Another Hand

Aaron Lewis – Top 8 Booster Draft

GRAND PRIX LAS VEGAS 2015 (MAIN EVENT #1)

Decklist Stats Sample Hand

Creature (13)

1 Mulldrifter 1 Mirran Crusader 1 Æthersnipe 1 Ethercaste Knight 1 Sunspear Shikari 2 Kami of Ancient Law 1 Air Servant 1 Water Servant 1 Indomitable Archangel 1 Gust-Skimmer 1 Cloud Elemental 1 Moonlit Strider

Sorcery (1)

1 Spectral Procession

Instant (4)

1 Repeal 1 Vapor Snag 1 Remand 1 Mana Leak

Artifact (3)

1 Tumble Magnet 2 Sickleslicer

Enchantment (2)

2 Arrest

Land (17)

1 Azorius Chancery 8 Island 8 Plains

40 Cards

Sideboard (19)

1 Skyhunter Skirmisher 1 Sundering Vitae 1 Otherworldly Journey 1 Mighty Leap 1 Tezzeret the Seeker 1 Myrsmith 1 Hurkyl's Recall 1 Faerie Mechanist 1 Rusted Relic 1 Matca Rioters 1 Thrummingbird 1 Helium Squirter 1 Tukatongue Thallid 1 Somber Hoverguard 1 Fortify 1 Terashi's Grasp 1 Waxmane Baku 1 Root-Kin Ally 1 Thoughtcast

Deal Another Hand

Lucas Duchow – Top 8 Booster Draft

GRAND PRIX LAS VEGAS 2015 (MAIN EVENT #1)

Decklist Stats Sample Hand

Creature (15)

1 Lodestone Golem 1 Spitebellows 3 Ghostly Changeling 2 Smokebraider 2 Inner-Flame Igniter 1 Soulbright Flamekin 1 Incandescent Soulstoke 1 Gorehorn Minotaurs 1 Vampire Outcasts 2 Sickle Ripper

Sorcery (1)

1 Profane Command

Instant (5)

1 Gut Shot 1 Dismember 1 Burst Lightning 1 Smash to Smithereens 1 Fiery Fall

Land (18)

9 Mountain 9 Swamp

Tribal instant (1)

1 Nameless Inversion

40 Cards

Sideboard (22)

1 Flayer Husk 1 Pillory of the Sleepless 1 Taj-Nar Swordsmith 1 Moonlit Strider 1 Death Denied 1 Raise the Alarm 1 Telling Time 1 Sylvan Bounty 1 Everflowing Chalice 1 Vampire Lacerator 1 Sunspear Shikari 1 Myr Enforcer 1 Goblin Fireslinger 1 Frogmite 1 Vigean Graftmage 1 Plagued Rusalka 1 Splinter Twin 1 Thrummingbird 1 Glint Hawk Idol 1 Drooling Groodion 1 Inexorable Tide 1 Thrive

Deal Another Hand

Pascal Maynard – Top 8 Booster Draft

GRAND PRIX LAS VEGAS 2015 (MAIN EVENT #1)

Decklist Stats Sample Hand