Grand Prix Recap!

With over 1200 people in attendance, Grand Prix Chicago shattered the previous North America Grand Prix record. Did I mention it was Legacy? A format usually relegated to kitchen tables in the United States and often seen as unsupported by big events from Wizards and the DCI. However, every couple years there is a Grand Prix, the last of such was in Columbus, often cited as GP-Flash. So what does all this mean to you? Well, several members of STD made the 9 hour journey to the state of Illinois to play in this record breaking event. How'd we do? Not well, of the four of us who played and whopping 0 made day 2.

Even let downs have high points though, Carlos was featured in a match over at the mothership during round 3. His opponent, none other than Patrick Chapin. When the smoke cleared after two games against what some consider one of the best minds in the game an elated Carlos was the one with the victory. His prize, a one-way ticket to defending US Nationals champion Michael Jacobs. This time, however, Carlos wouldn't fare as well, losing the match, his first of the weekend. Carlos would go on to post a 4-3 record before dropping.

Dan was playing Dragon Stompy, a last minute audible from the more consistant, though arguably less explosive Dreadstill. On a roller coaster ride of a day he would go on to post a 3-3 record.

I decided to play the explosive deck, Ad Nauseam Tendrils. Ending the day at 3-2.

With some luck a full tournament report from each of us including decklists will happen this week.

Until then,

Steven

BIG weekend for the Team

So last Saturday was the block tournament held at Outer Limits. A group of 16 strong showed up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, save our own Ryan who thought food poisoning was a good idea 2 days before. When the smoke would clear at the end of the day the only 4-0 would be myself with a Grixis control deck that performed so badly in testing I almost didn't play.

So, let's see the list:

4x Sedraxis Specter
3x Viscera Dragger
2x Broodmate Dragon
4x Hell's Thunder
2x Caldera Hellion
2x Cruel Ultimatum
4x Blightning
2x Infest
4x Agony Warp
3x Courier's Capsule
3x Grixis Charm
3x Resounding Thunder

4x Crumbling Necropolis
4x Savage Lands
5x Island
5x Mountain
5x Swamp
1x Forest

Sideboard:
4x Jund Charm
1x Grixis Charm
2x Infest
4x Naturalize
3x Cancel
1x Forest

Couple things about the deck:

1. I'm usually very against running lands in the sideboard but with only 5 green sources main I felt like siding in either the Jund Charms or the Naturalizes would leave them dead without at least 1 more source available.

2. Broodmate Dragon is good.

Following the block tournament on Saturday, Ryan and I along with our friends Tyler and Chad took the STD show on the road to McMinnville for a little Sunday standard action. I sleeved up Kithkin for the occassion while Ryan played GWU 'Lark, Chad played Mono-Red, and Tyler piloted B/W Tokens. In the swiss rounds Ryan and I both went 3-0-1 while Chad went 3-1. When the top-4 had settled the placings went 1, 2, 3 for STDs.

Love,

Steven

Shards of Alara Block Constructed

With the PTQ season rolling into full swing and everybody testing extended, along with Prerelease in just under 3 weeks (Feb 1st, 12:30p Outer Limits Murfreesboro). Outer Limits in Murfreesboro is hosting a Shards of Alara Constructed event on Jan 24. Registration opens at 12:00 pm and round 1 starts at 1pm. Entry fee is $5. Join us here over the next 2 weeks as we throw out some decklists and possibly some testing results for this event.

Until Next Time,

Steven

without a dope beat to step to

so it's been a while since we updated here at STDs. Just to let you know we haven't forgotten it's just been a slow couple weeks leading up to 2009. I can assure you, however, that we'll be back bringing you news and stories about our antics again soon. Hold tight!

love,
steven