IN THE BEGINNING...

The Pro Tour.


I am sure many of the Magic players reading this, have of a weekend flicked onto the mothership website to see coverage of a big event happening in some glorious location in this world. This is the goal. To be present at one of these big events to be involved with Magic luminaries, to walk shoulder to shoulder with some of the best in the world, and maybe, just maybe be considered their equal


Many people say that once you are on the gravy train, it is easy to stay on. I like to imagine this train to be full to the brim with delicious gravy, occasionally sloshing over the side as it careers around the world at a break neck pace. Getting to the platform is the difficult bit; couple of sealed deck successes here, couple of draft successes there and you think the world is your proverbial oyster and take for granted victories that have not be gained yet.


That is the stage I was at. After a summer spent drafting Shards Block and M10 on MTGO (Magic Online), I came back to Glasgow confident in my play skill and I was eager to put this into practice. Zendikar was the new set to be released and the hype around the "Hidden Treasures" in the packs was swirling the internets, and I dove head first into the gaming action.


Zendikar limited was, by and large, a fast format. Two drops such as Surrakar Marauder, Welkin Tern, and Plated Geopede ruled this format so much that the Geopede on turn 2 MUST be answered otherwise you might be in some trouble. This suited my play style down to a T. I like attacking. Period. You don't see me packing 26 land 2 Creatures decks very often. If my memory serves me correctly, I did very well in the Zendikar release, and crushed all the drafts I played in at the Uni Gaming Society. 


Gameday Time. I was rocking the Boros list rising in popularity since Adam Prosak debuted it at a recent Grand Prix. It used all the fastest creatures in the format, Steppe Lynx, Goblin Guide and the aforementioned Plated Geopede along with a veritable smorgasbörd of burn/removal spells. The deck was well positioned in the metagame, as not many people had enough sideboard slots dedicated to stopping the powerful creature based onslaught. I did ok at the game day just missing the top 8 after losing to Jund, the bogeyman of the format, so I was not disheartened by my near-miss. I was buoyed by the fact I had come so close in what was my proper constructed event. I so badly wanted in the top 8. I was determined that the next event I played in, I would crack the top 8. 


The next event in the schedule was the Dundee Zendikar Sealed PTQ, and when Joao asked me whether I was up for going, immediately I said "Yep, lets do it." The day arrived and Joao, a few others, and I set forth in the magic automobile, blasting to Dundee at a sensible speed. We arrived, Money was exchanged, game faces where put on!


What I remember from that day was crushing this guy in round one, who proclaimed his deck to be superior to mine even though he was defeated him 2-0. He even fanned his cards out. Emeria Angel, Iona, and Eldrazi Monument where impressive cards, however when you dont play anything before turn 4 and you are at around 10 life, you have a bad deck for this format. I was doing good sitting at 3-1 going into the last 2 rounds, knowing I could win this and then draw into the top 8. Wow, a top 8 in my first PTQ would of been pretty amazing. This however was my downfall, I made a couple of play mistakes and then lost. 3-2...:(. I was however still able to make the top 8, 4-2 that day was good enough. I need to beat my next opponent. Greg Shanks. It was on like Donkey Kong!


Game 1 was mine, off the back of a quick start and a handy removal spell for one of his creatures. Game 2 Slow start from me and then a vampire nighthawk from Greg sealed the deal. Game 3. Crunch time. We exchanged blows like a couple of fighters in their prime. Nighthawk from Greg. Inferno Trap took care of that. I had him at ~8 life and then he taps 6 mana. Sorin Markov. SORIN BLOODY MARKOV. I was shaken. Shit, how do I beat this card. A couple of bad attacks to try and kill Mr Markov and that was me. Done. Finito. Greg made top 8 and congratulations, he was and still is a great guy, and it was the most epic of matches.


Since then studies, unfortunately, have  gotten in the way of any real progress in my Magic skill. Now i am finished, ready to once again set forth into the world of Magic and this time the bar is set higher, the goal further away, but we can get there. I know we can.


I am aiming to post on here once every couple of days with stuff from the community, decks, things in the magic media and how I am going to try to get to the promised land.


Till next time, when we analyse what kind of deck I like to battle with.