
Drafting in a block that's all about time, Pro Tour-Geneva showcased a win years in the making. American Mike Hron defeated Takuya Osawa of Japan 3-2 in a thrilling final featuring huge life swings and haymaker punches, punctuated by a Spectral Force-Phthisis staredown.
In the fifth-game final against Pro Tour-Prague champion Osawa, Hron ran out his big brute, Spectral Force, with the championship on the line, despite knowing that Takuya had three Phthisis in his deck. What Hron didn't know is that at least the last two turns, Osawa had all three in his hand, just waiting for that seventh land to allow him to hardcast the massive removal spell. But Osawa's deck chose not to cooperate, and Hron captured the champion's trophy and the $40,000 first prize. With the win, Mike snapped a six-year drought for U.S. players in Limited Pro Tours, dating back to Mike Pustilnik's win at Pro Tour-Los Angeles 2001.
Hron, a Madison, Wisconsin native, hails from the same area as Hall of Famer Bob Maher and has been The Great One's draft guru. Coincidentally, Hron's debut on the Pro Tour came way back in Pro Tour-Chicago 1999 - an event that Maher happened to win.
Skiing, booster drafting with friends, witnessing an epic final - Pro Tour-Geneva won't soon be forgotten. Congratulations to Mike Hron, and we'll see you at Pro Tour-Yokohama on April 20!
VIDEO: TOURNAMENT CENTER
Randy Buehler and Brian David-Marshall close out Pro Tour-Geneva.TOP 8 DOWNLOADS
- Awards Ceremony and Wrap (9 MB zip)
- Final (113 MB zip)
- Semifinals 76 MB zip)
- Quarterfinals (84 MB zip)
- Top 8 Draft (29 MB zip)
- Prelude to a Championship (15 MB zip)
- French language Top 8 video archive
- Geneva Video Archive
- Wizards of the Coast on YouTube.com
top 8 bracket
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EVENT COVERAGE
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by Brian David-MarshallColumn:: Wait For It: An Interview with Mike Hron
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by Ted KnutsonFinals: "The Best Match I've Ever Seen"Takuya Osawa vs. Mike Hron
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by Tim WilloughbySemifinals: By Hook or by CrookclawTakuya Osawa vs Shingo Kurihara
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by Scott JohnsSemifinals: Irresistible ForceMike Hron vs. Kenji Tsumura
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by Ted KnutsonQuarterfinals: All-Out WarWilly Edel vs. Kenji Tsumura
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by Scott JohnsQuarterfinals: Dig Those Fancy SuspendersMarijn Lybaert vs. Mike Hron
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by Craig JonesQuarterfinals: Down With the SicknessJim Herold vs. Takuya Osawa
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by Tim WilloughbyQuarterfinals: Rough and Tumble in the Top 8Ervin Tormos vs. Shingo Kurihara
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by Event Coverage StaffFeature: Thoughts on the Top 8 Draft
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by Event Coverage StaffDecklists: The Top 8 Decks
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by Event Coverage StaffDraft Viewer: The Top 8 Draft
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by Event Coverage StaffThe Top 8 Draft: Complete Pack List
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by Event Coverage StaffFeature: The Top 8 Players
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by Scott JohnsRound 15: Go for the Throat!Mike Hron vs. Jim Herold
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by Tim WilloughbyRound 15: A Team PlayerKenji Tsumura vs. Sebastian Thaler
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by Hanno TerbuykenFeature: Iplaysevencreaturesindraft.dec
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by Event Coverage StaffDraft Viewer: Draft 5
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by Ted KnutsonRound 14: A Good Man, and ThoroughGuillaume Wafo-Tapa vs. Rogier Maaten
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by Tim WilloughbyRound 13: The Broken Mirror MatchOsyp Lebedowicz vs Quentin Martin
- Round 13: Pods
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by Scott JohnsRound 12: A Turkey, RubinBen Rubin vs. Olivier Ruel
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by Ted KnutsonRound 11: More Statuary than a Sculpture GardenJim Herold vs. Takuya Osawa
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by Tim WilloughbyRound 10: Dancing the Two-StepPierre Canali vs. Ben Rubin
- Round 10: Pods
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by Event Coverage StaffDraft Viewer: Draft 4
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by Scott JohnsRound 9: Taking the LossMike Hron vs. Takuya Osawa
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by Tim WilloughbyRound 8: "Ew…"Richard Hoaen vs. Johan Sadeghpour
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by Event Coverage StaffInfo: Day 2 Player List
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by Event Coverage StaffInfo: Day 2 Country Breakdown
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by Event Coverage StaffDecklists: 6-0 Drafters on Day One
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by Tim WilloughbyRound 7: Red All OverJon Sonne vs. Kenji Tsumura
- Round 7: Pods
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by Scott JohnsRound 6: "You Wouldn't!"Rasmus Sibast vs. Olivier Ruel
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by Ted KnutsonRound 5: The Melancholy BluesJon Sonne vs. Osyp Lebedowicz
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by Ted Knutson and Craig GibsonPhoto Essay: Magic, Slope Style
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by Tim WilloughbyFeature: Play the Game, Learn to Ski
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by Scott JohnsFeature: Important Changes to Rules and Penalties
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by Tim WilloughbyRound 4: Stop All the ClocksQuentin Martin vs. Luis Scott-Vargas
- Round 4: Pods
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by Scott JohnsRound 3: Down the DrainMakihito Mihara vs. André Coimbra
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by Ted KnutsonRound 2: No FriendliesQuentin Martin vs. Geoffrey Siron
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by Tim WilloughbyRound 1: Fly, My Pretties!Sam Gomersall vs. Olivier Ruel
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by Event Coverage StaffDraft Viewer: Draft 1
- Round 1: Pods
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by Brian David-MarshallPreview: Setting the Top 8 Table
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by Event Coverage StaffInfo: Day 1 Player List
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by Event Coverage StaffInfo: Day 1 Country Breakdown
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by Event Coverage StaffInfo: Fact Sheet
INFORMATION
1. Mike Hron | $40,000 | |
2. Takuya Osawa | $22,000 | |
3. Kenji Tsumura | $15,000 | |
4. Shingo Kurihara | $14,000 | |
5. Marijn Lybaert | $11,500 | |
6. Jim Herold | $11,000 | |
7. Willy Edel | $10,500 | |
8. Ervin Tormos | $10,000 |