I’m writing this story for newer players that want to get out and play more than just their local Friday Night Magic tournaments. I’m also writing this from the perspective of being a “thirsty” Magic player that wants to take their own game to a new level and my experiences I have had while doing it.
It all started one hour prior to leaving for Salt Lake City. I didn’t even know I was going to be headed there that night. I had just finished playing in a Thursday night Standard tournament and saw Jon Kornacki and asked him jokingly, “What it would take to make it to Salt Lake?” He responded with “$200.00 bucks.” That instant I knew I wanted to go. I made a few phone calls, ran to my house, threw a bag together, and I was on my way. I managed to audible into a five passenger car that had three people already going and we picked up a fifth. It was a tight squeeze to fit everyone in the vehicle. First trip to a large Magic tournament and I was stuck for twelve hours with some of the coolest dudes I know Leon Kornacki, Jon Kornacki, Adam Percy, and Sam Meyer. Other then getting off track for about thirty minutes getting to Salt Lake wasn’t half bad considering the circumstances.
Once we got there it was almost surreal; being with a group that had been to something like this and being able to just watch them take it all in with me sitting there bugged eyed, obviously showing off my inexperience but I didn’t care—I was just excited for Saturday. After meeting up with Eric Hopkins, the group made it out to a nice restaurant called Squatters and then went back and settled at the hotel for some play testing or the hot tub. That night, I chose play testing as my nerves were getting to me as it got closer to Saturday.
That morning I think I was the first one up due to the fact that I didn’t want to be late to the tournament and yet again more nervous than anyone I was with. Luckily we did the pre registration the day before the tournament so we did get to sleep in a little bit longer.
I’m not here to give you a tournament report, just my experience as a new Magic player and learning the ropes on this whole new level of playing. I did start of the day with a win because unfortunately, I had zero byes. After winning in round one, I definitely was happy but I knew I would be playing someone else who had either earned a bye or had just won. Throughout the day I performed moderately well considering it was my first large event. Unfortunately I finished 3-6, or should I say fortunately—because although I didn’t day two or even come out with a winning record, I learned more that day in Magic then I could learn at countless FNM’s. The Grand Prix was a whole other beast.
The grind wasn’t finished though, after another meal at Squatters that evening, we again were all chilling at the hotel and this night I chose the hot tub and went over the things that had happened through the day and the things I could do to better myself the next day at the Open. As it turns out, the hot tub was the better choice because the next day at the SCG Open, I finished with a record of 6-3. It was a complete 180 from the day before. I played tighter and remembered some of the tips the guys gave me the night before.
Round one of the SCG Open, I had to step away from the table a moment prior to the match and managed to make it back, thankfully not getting a game loss. I also didn’t notice who my opponent was. I win game one fairly quickly and during the sideboarding process, the guy sitting next to me leaned across the table to my opponent and asked for his autograph on a Pro Player card. After taking a moment, I realize my opponent was ChannelFireball member David Ochoa. He went on to win game two and three unfortunately, due to me making a few mistakes and him outplaying me in the next game. After hearing some advice from a player like Ochoa, I feel it has made an impact on how I play today.
A few weeks after Salt Lake, Star City Games Phoenix was in town and I participated in Suit Up Phoenix wearing a full suit. I was playing Naya Aggro, a build similar to Brian Kibler’s, except I chose to run an Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite. Before the event started, I wasn’t nervous like I was in Utah. I was ready—I wanted this tournament. Also prior to the tournament, I got to talk to Kibler about the list cause I hadn’t got to read why he chose to cut Elesh, Norn but he told me his view and I I definitely saw his reasoning behind it. Although I was happy with my decision to keep her in the deck she in fact won me a few games that day.
I lost the first match of the Open but I wasn’t going to put my head down. I went on to win round two and lose round three. After my loss in round three, I had a little chat with Jon Kornacki and he told me how proud he was to see how far I had come since Salt Lake. That moment I knew I wanted a better finish then 6-3 so I played tighter and went on to finish the tournament 7-2. I ended up walking with $50 dollars which I was very pleased. Phoenix was awesome because we didn’t have to travel and SCG brought it to us and I think we left a pretty good impression with Suit Up Phoenix and having multiple local guys in the Top 8 like Billy Gogol, Jon Kornacki and Chris Bascoe.
After finishing well in Phoenix, I have gone back to play testing and getting ready for Grand Prix Anaheim which I intend to play in this weekend and play well every match and finish the best I can. The trip though is going be great riding in a fifteen passenger van instead of a five passenger car keep an eye out for the Mana Werx van because Anaheim:
We’re coming.
-Signing off, Brad Mungovan