With 600 dollars on the line both players in the finals KYT and Daniel Grenier opted to split the prize and be co-champions of The CMT Summer Challenge: Ottawa.
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Semi Finals Match features Andy “Are You Ready For Some Football!!” Peters versus Daniel Grenier
Both players stay at seven.
Andy leads off with a turn two [Card]Thalia, Guardian of Thraben[/Card] which represents a big nuisance against Grenier’s deck. A [Card]Blade Splicer[/Card] comes down on turn three with Thalia getting sent back by a [Card]Vapor Snag[/Card]. With the hate bear gone, Grenier plays [Card]Lingering Souls[/Card]. Andy sends in his Golem token which can still go about unopposed and adds a [Card]Sword of War and Peace[/Card] to the board. Grenier sends his Spirit in since neither can block a Sworded creature. The Sword is equipped to the Blade Splicer and the team is sent in with Grenier taking three from the Golem as the Splicer was Vapor Snagged back thanks to a flashback from [Card]Snapcaster[/Card]. Andy replays the Splicer and passes the turn.
Grenier adds a [Card]Favorable Winds[/Card] to the board and adds two more Spirits thanks to flashback from Lingering Souls. Andy alpha strikes in with his team with the Golems connecting and the Snapcaster hitting the bin under the sworded Splicer. Andy replays Thalia but it does not prove to be enough as Grenier has another [Card]Favorable Winds[/Card] increasing his total power to 12 and leading Andy to concede game one.
Daniel Grenier 1 – 0 Andy Peters
Both players stay at seven.
Grenier is first with action on a [Card]Ponder[/Card] choosing to shuffle is library almost immediately in hopes of finding better cards. Andy once again has a [Card]Thalia, Guardian of Thraben[/Card]. Next turn she crashes in for two and a main phase [Card]Wolfir Avenger[/Card] is added to the board. At end of turn, Grenier plays two for a [Card]Vapor Snag[/Card] to send back the Thalia. A main phase Snapcaster from Grenier allows him to [Card]Ponder[/Card] once again shuffling the top away.
Andy has an [Card]Arc Trail[/Card] for the Mage and two to Grenier then attacking with Avenger having cleared the way. Grenier has an answer to the Avenger with a [Card]Dungeon Geist[/Card] though Andy has the [Card]Oblivion Ring[/Card] to free himself of the Geist. With four untapped lands Grenier has no plays and Andy is free to swing in with the team. Grenier has another Snapcaster for another Vapor Snag at the Avenger. Instead of replaying the Avenger Andy adds a [Card]Huntmaster of the Fells[/Card] to the board gaining a Wolf and 2 life in the process.
Grenier piles onto his board with a [Card]Favorable Winds[/Card] and [Card]Drogskul Captain[/Card]. Andy chooses not to play a spell on his turn earning himself a flip to [Card]Ravager of the Fells[/Card] and killing the Snapcaster. When Andy gets back his turn he alpha strikes with the team sending Grenier to one with a [Card]Bonfire of the Damned[/Card] for one sending the match to game three.
Daniel Grenier 1 – 1 Andy Peters
Grenier has a turn one [Card]Delver of Secrets[/Card] leading to a turn two blind flip revealing [Card]Lingering Souls[/Card] He then adds a [Card]Favorable Winds[/Card] cracking in for four. Turn two Andy is able to make a [Card]Thalia, Guardian of Thraben[/Card] which still doesn’t prevent the aeriel assault. He cracks in for two with Thalia and plays out two Birds. Not to be outdone Grenier end of turns a [Card]Snapcaster Mage[/Card] and adds a [Card]Drogskul Captain[/Card] to the board before cracking in for 6. Andy attacks for two with Thalia which dies to the Captain. Though Andy has [Card]Bonfire of the Damned[/Card] for one killing the Snapcaster and Captain and next has an [Card]Arc Trail[/Card] to finish off the Delver.
With his board wiped Grenier finds a Lingering Souls to make two more Spirits, while Andy adds a [Card]Gavony Township[/Card] to begin pumping his team. Grenier has a [Card]Dungeon Geists[/Card] to tap down a bird and Andy is unable to draw any answer offering the concession and earning Daniel Grenier a spot in the finals against the winner of the KYT versus Jonathan Bentley semifinal.
Daniel Grenier 2 – 1 Andy Peters
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Quarter Finals Match features Daniel Grenier versus Eric Dubuc.
Both players keep at seven cards.
Grenier is the higher seeds and begins but it is Eric who has the first play with a turn one [Card]Birds of Paradise[/Card]. Grenier plays out two turn two [Card]Delver of Secrets[/Card]s which are quickly dispatched but a miracled [Card]Bonfire of the Damned[/Card] wiping the board of both Delvers. Grenier has a turn three [Card]Lingering Souls[/Card] which Eric answers with a [Card]Sword of Feast and Famine[/Card]. Grenier makes a [Card]Favorable Winds[/Card] pumping his Spirits passing back without attacking letting him double block the equipped Birds that attacked on the next turn.
Grenier attacks for two with his Spirit. For his turn Eric attacks with an equipped [Card]Llanowar Elves[/Card] which arrived last turn but it soon falls to an Instant speed [Card]Midnight Haunting[/Card]. Grenier once again attacks with his Spirits for four and uses the Flashback on his [Card]Lingering Souls[/Card] to add eight power to the board. Eric plays a Geist and being unable to block the flyers attacks for two which passes. Grenier attacks for eight with his Spirits opting not to activate his [Card]Vault of the Archangel[/Card]. Eric plays out a [Card]Vexing Devil[/Card] which Grenier quickly pays four life to send to the pin before attacking for the win with his Spirits.
Daniel Grenier 1 – 0 Eric Dubuc
Both players stay at seven cards.
Eric leads with a turn one [Card]Llanowar Elves[/Card], which meets Grenier’s turn one [Card]Vapor Snag[/Card]. The Elf is replayed on turn two with no other play while Grenier lays down a [Card]Stony Silence[/Card] offering a permanent solution to Eric’s Swords. The next turn he takes two from the Strangleroot Geist that comes, while Grenier begins to grow his board with a [Card]Lingering Souls[/Card]. The Geist gets in for another two while Eric plays out another elf and a [Card]Sword of War and Peace[/Card].
Grenier attacks in with his two Spirits, next casting another Lingering Souls from his hand. The geist again gets in for two but a bigger problem presents itself as Grenier plays out a [Card]Favorable Winds[/Card] cracking in for eight and knocking him down to nine. Going for the next turn kill he flashes back [Card]Lingering Souls[/Card] which meets a miracled [Card]Bonfire of the Damned[/Card] which with attacks knocks Grenier down to 4 and unable to pay the four life required to prevent the [Card]Vexing Devil[/Card] from coming down with the [Card]Zealous Conscripts[/Card] from Eric sealing the victory.
Daniel Grenier 1 – 1 Eric Dubuc
Both players keep at seven.
Grenier leads with a [Card]Ponder[/Card] opting not to shuffle while Eric leads with a Birds, which quickly dies to Grenier paying two life for [Card]Gut Shot[/Card]. On turn two Grenier lands a [Card]Stony Silence[/Card]. Eric tries for a [Card]Llanowar Elves[/Card] this time but it is met by a flashbacked Gut Shot thanks to a [Card]Snapcaster Mage[/Card]. Eric lands a [Card]Sword of Feast and Famine[/Card] while Grenier adds a [Card]Favorable Winds[/Card]. Naturalize takes out the Silence only for Eric to let out a sigh when Grenier plays another one from his hand.
Eric miracles a [Card]Bonfire of the Damned[/Card] to kill the Snapcaster and then adds a [Card]Lightning Mauler[/Card]. Grenier has a [Card]Drogskul Captain[/Card] which Eric tries to remove with a Bonfire for two thought the Captain is a three but the spell still knocks Grenier down to 9. On the next turn he miracles another Bonfire knocking Grenier down to 1 with the subsequent attack. A [Card]Vexing Devil[/Card] comes down soulbonding with the Mauler though it is sent back by a [Card]Vapor Snag[/Card] and the mauler trades with the Delver. The Devil is replayed with a [Card]Llanowar Elves[/Card] but the Elves are bounced at end of turn by a Snapcaster giving flashback to a Vapor Snag.
Grenier finds a [Card]Dungeon Geists[/Card] to keep the Devil tapped down. Eric tries for a [Card]Strangleroot Geist[/Card] but it meets a [Card]Flashfreeze[/Card]. With the Geist locking out the Devil, Grenier continues to chip away Eric’s life down to 8 though without black mana to activate the [Card]Vault of the Archangel[/Card] things would be close, though Eric couldn’t draw a form to deal damage, Grenier had the [Card]Midnight Haunting[/Card] to create the required eight power to seal the victory at one life.
Daniel Grenier 2 – 1 Eric Dubuc
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Round 5 features the return of Jon Stern versus Maxime Cantin with both players sitting at 9 points in the standings and having the worse breakers both players need to play and win to make it into the Top 8.
Jon keeps his starting seven while Max has to mull down to six.
Jon is first to the board with a [Card]Strangleroot Geist[/Card] connecting for two. On the next turn Jon hits for two again before laying down a [Card]Sword of War And Peace[/Card]. Max plays a [Card]Lingering Souls[/Card] with a sigh as neither Spirit will be able to block an equiped Geist. Next turn that is exactly what happens as Jon hit in for knocking Max to seven and with the equipped Geist representing lethal on board even against a wrath effect thanks to Undying. He was unable to draw an answer and both players scooped uo their cards for game two.
Maxime Cantin 0 – 1 Jon Stern
Maxime keeps his opening hand while Jon had to go down to six cards.
Jon was first on the board with a [Card]Birds of Paradise[/Card] and followed it up with a turn two [Card]Green Sun’s Zenith[/Card] getting a Strangleroot and hitting in for two. Maxime holds Jon progress with a third turn [Card]Timely Reinforcements[/Card]. Jon adds another Birds to the board passing it back, Maxime plays out a [Card]Cavern of Souls[/Card] naming Demon as the creature type passing it back with no play.
Jon takes advantage by casting an end of turn [Card]Wolfir Avenger[/Card]. He next casts a [Card]Wolfir Avenger[/Card] bonding with a Birds to connect for four in the air. Maxime has an [Card]Oblivion Ring[/Card] for the Silverheart but Jon conjures another one up with a [Card]Green Sun’s Zenith[/Card] for another Silverheart again bonding it with the Birds. Maxime looking for a Miracle draws a land and passes back the turn without a blue source to play the [Card]Phantasmal Image[/Card] and [Card]Forbidden Alchemy[/Card] in his hand.
With lethal on board Maxime needs answers and finally draws the blue source needed in the form of a [Card]Drowned Catacombs[/Card] playing the [Card]Forbidden Alchemy[/Card] and finding another [Card]Timely Reinforcements[/Card] ticking his life and providing blockers which are soon thrown under the bus. Another Alchemy is cast revealing an [Card]Unburial Rites[/Card], [Card]Sun Titan[/Card], [Card]Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite[/Card] and the land required to give four mana and cast the Rites to bring back Norn, wiping away Jon’s birds. Jon alpha strikes with his two Wolfir and Geist, losing the Silverheart to Elesh and a token while connecting for five.
Maxime on his turn has a [Card]Dead Weight[/Card] for the Avenger, followed by a [Card]Sun Titan[/Card] to bring back the same weight and kill the other Avenger and connect for four with Elesh. Jon only has a [Card]Sword of Feast and Famine[/Card] and on the next turn scoops up his cards heading to game 3.
Maxime Cantin 1 – 1 Jon Stern
Both players stay at seven.
Jon is the first to hit the board with a EOT [Card]Wolfir Avenger[/Card] connecting for three and then laying down a [Card]Llanowar Elves[/Card]. After the hit Max plays a [Card]Forbidden Alchemy[/Card] finding a [Card]Timely Reinforcements[/Card] which arrived on the next turn but Jon has a [Card]Sword of War and Peace[/Card] allowing one of his Avengers to hit through when alpha striking. Two soldiers block the attacking unequiped Avenger and elf, while the equip Avenger connects for 11 damage.
A [Card]Day of Judgment[/Card] from Max clears the board of creatures but undaunted, Jon has a Silverheart which meets an [Card]Oblivion Ring[/Card] from Max to stave off losing. He nexts flashbacks the [Card]Lingering Souls[/Card] in his graveyard. Jon only has a [Card]Triumph of Ferocity[/Card] to play though with no creatures in play it currently has no effect. Maxime plays a main turn Alchemy looking for a potential threat to put his [Card]Unburial Rites[/Card] to good use. The spell does net two [/Card]Phantasmal Image[/Card] which combine nicely with the [Card]Sun Titan[/Card] in hand and with Jon once again having no plays, he lays down the Titan netting two Illusion Titans and a [Card]Glacial Fortress[/Card]. Just to be safe he played a [Card]Dead Weight[/Card] on his Titan in order to play around the [Card]Zealous Conscripts[/Card] which Jon did not having earning Maxime the match win.
Maxime Cantin 2 – 1 Jon Stern
———-
Round 4 features Eric Gaudreault versus Alexandre Coderre
Both players keep at seven.
Alex leads with a turn 1 [Card]Champion of the Parish[/Card] and Eric goes for the turn 2 [Card]Mulch[/Card], revealing no lands but there is an [Card]Unburial Rites[/Card] that will be of relevance later. Alex follows up his Champion with a second one and a turn later lands [Card]Doomed Traveler[/Card] making his champions even bigger. Eric searches for answers off a [Card]Faithless Looting[/Card] and then a second one which nets him a [Card]Wurmcoil Engine[/Card] in the yard and an Avacyn’s Pilgrim in play showing the white mana necessary to cast the rites. Alex has no play and just swings with his team chipping away at Eric’s health though the Rites brings back a Wurmcoil and without an answer from Alex would buy Eric plenty of time. The wurmcoil crashes in for 6 with the traveller being thrown under the bus.
Alex finally finds a third land in the form of [Card]Seachrome Coast[/Card] allowing him cast the [Card]Silverblade Paladin[/Card] bonding with the largest Champion. Eric takes six on the swing but draws a needed [Card]Inferno Titan[/Card] killing the Paladin and Spirit token and letting the Wurmcoil hit for six and gaining 6 back. Alex has a [Card]Mirran Crusader[/Card] to pump the Champions but it soon dies to the Titan swing. Alex finds a [Card]Fiend Hunter[/Card] for the Wurmcoil a little late as it is soon returned when the Titan kills the Hunter and on the alpha strike and the Inferno dies to a Champion though Eric has the [Card]Unburial Rites[/Card] that can bring back the Titan dealing the last lethal damage.
Eric Gaudreault 1 – 0 Alexandre Coderre
Both players stay at seven.
Alex has a turn one [Card]Gideon’s Lawkeeper[/Card], while Eric has a turn one birds. Alex next has a turn two Grand Abolisher, while Eric plays out two Avacyn’s Pilgrim representing a potentially big turn. Alex hits for two with the Abolisher before adding a [Card]Doomed Traveller[/Card] to the board. Eric for his turn pumps his board with a [Card]Gavony Township[Card].
Alex swings for three but doesn’t have another play on four lands, which is revealed why when he [Card]Mana Leak[/Card]s Eric’s Inferno Titan. He then adds a [Card]Hero of Bladehold[/Card] for his turn before swinging for 4. Eric has an [Card]Unburial Rites[/Card] bringing back the Inferno Titan killing the Lawkeeper and Abolisher.
Eric lands a second Doomed Traveller and makes a Spirit off of [Card]Moorland Haunt[/Card]. End of turn Eric pumps the team and then attacks with the Titan killing the two Travellers and Spirit. One of the Spirits from the Traveller is thrown and the Titan and things are looking even more grim for Alex. Alex once again makes a Spirit from the Haunt while Eric uses the sister land to pump his team. On Eric’s next alpha strike the Hero is thrown at the Titan and with an empty board Eric earns the win with one more strike.
Eric Gaudreault 2 – 0 Alexandre Coderre
————
Round 3 features Andy “Are You Ready For Some Football!!” Peters versus Eugene “Ben Chang” Ho
Andy keeps his opening seven while Eugene is forced to mull down to four thanks to three hands containing no lands.
Andy leads with an [Card]Avacyn’s Pilgrim[/Card] while Eugene needs a [Card]Green Sun’s Zenith[/Card] to land him a mana dork in [Card]Birds of Paradise[/Card]. Andy has a third turn Blade Splicer which Eugene answers with a Blade Splicer of his own. Andy then makes a [Card]Hero of Bladehold[/Card] and shows Eugene the [Card]Oblivion Ring[/Card] for the Golem token on the next turn causing the concession, prompting Andy to participate in some friendly gamesmanship by telling Eugene, “Welcome to the Jungle!”
Andy “Football” Peters 1 – 0 Eugene Ho
Both players keep their opening seven.
Andy has a first turn Birds while Eugene needs to wait for his Rootbound Crag to untap to land his Avacyn’s Pilgrim. Andy gets an early lead with a [Card]Strangleroot Geist[/Card] while Eugene finds a Forest and lands a [Card]Daybreak Ranger[/Card] which Andy follows with a [Card]Huntmaster of the Fells[/Card]. Eugene opts not to pass back the turn to get the favorable Werewolf split and instead plays a Blade Splicer. Andy however chooses not to play a spell on his turn and instead passes but with the Werewolves triggers on the stack, Eugene [Card]Act of Aggression[/Card]s Andy’s Huntmaster and kills his token with the flip. And then swings in with the stolen Huntmaster and his wolf token.
When he regains control, Andy swings with his board and with Eugene thinking he positively blocked, Andy has the [Card]Bonfire of the Damned[/Card] to kill off the last of Eugene’s creatures. With only two lands, Eugene needs to play a Green Sun to find an Avacyn’s Pilgrim which dies to a flipped Huntmaster and with no creatures and only two lands, Eugene has no option but to offer the handshake starring at Andy’s full board.
Andy “Football” Peters 2 – 0 Eugene Ho
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Round 2 features Mana Deprived’s founder and owner Kar Yung Tom facing off against Michael Gouthro.
Both plays keep their opening hands with Michael playing first.
KYT has a turn 1 [Card]Llanowar Elves[/Card] next adding a second Elf and [Card]Strangleroot Geist[/Card]. Michael pays two life for a [Card]Gitaxian Probe[/Card] finding a Huntmaster, Birds and lands in KYT’s hand. KYT chooses not to overextended and crashes with the team hitting for four and passing the turn. A Phantasmal Image copies the Geist and choosing to dig deeper a main phase [Card]Snapcaster Mage[/Card] is used to flashback the Probe, paying two life.
Michael trades the Mage for a Geist on KYT’s attack and KYT next adds the already known about [Card]Huntmaster of the Fells[/Card]. Michael has a second Probe paying blue revealing two forests and flashesback the Probe thanks to a Mage revealing once again the same two Forests but still not finding the answers he needs passes back the turn. KYT finds a [Card]Kessig Wolf Run[/Card] which immediately dies to a [Card]Ghost Quarter[/Card] but not before the Image can be targetted by the Kessig. The Image returns as a Huntmaster and with no plays from KYT, his Huntmaster flips killing the wolf token. Michael has a [Card]Phyrexian Metamorph[/Card] to make a second Huntmaster copy soon joined on the board by a [Card]Grand Architect[/Card].
KYT casts a [Card]Green Sun’s Zenith[/Card] for five and while he contemplates an [Card]Acidic Slime[/Card] he ultimately opts for [Card]Wolfir Silverheart[/Card] for the massive power increase when Soulbonded with a Birds allowing KYT to swing by in the air unblocked. The bird knocks Michael down to four life and thanks to a Ponder, shuffle, and Snapcaster to flashback a Ponder he is able to find a Vapor Snag to prevent the flyer from connecting on the next swing. Next turn Michael taps his board for ten mana dedicated to Artifacts thanks to the Architect before playing a [Card]Devastation Tide[/Card] and using nine colorless and one blue mana to play a recently drawn [Card]Wurmcoil Engine[/Card] and a Metamorph to copy the Wurmcoil.
Next turn the Wurmcoils crash in for 14 thanks to an Architect pump and all KYT can do is play out blockers before passing back the turn. Next turn a Phantasmal Image and second Metamorph creates two more Wurmcoils for Michael. Repeating the process on the next turn, Michael adds a real Wurmcoil and a Phantasmal Image making yet again a Wurmcoil which ultimately earns the concession from KYT.
Kar Yung Tom 0 – 1 Michael Gouthro
Unfortunately I erased the written coverage for game two however in brief recap KYT was able to increase his mana production with four early mana dorks which ultimately lead to three Huntmaster of the Fells and with a Kessig Wolf Run provided enough lethal damage for KYT to force game three.
Kar Yung Tom 1 – 1 Michael Gouthro
Both players keep their opening seven.
Michael starts off with a [Card]Vapor[/Card] of KYT’s Birds and two turns later a flashbacked Snag thanks to Snapcaster Mage. The second turn Merfolk Looter from Michael died to an Incinerate from KYT and the Snapcaster succumbed on the attack to a flashed in [Card]Wolfir Avenger[/Card]. The Avenger started to swing and a Huntmaster was added to the board next. Michael had nothing but chump blockers in the form of Snapcaster which would prove even more troublesome when KYT had a Green Sun for 5 indicating the Wolfir Silverheart was coming into play.
Not to be outdone Michael paid four life to net himself two Huntmaster of his own thanks to two Phyrexian Metamorphs. With time called KYT had a commanding board presence and crashing with the team knocked Michael down to five and the game was sealed on the next turn with KYT being able to steal Michael’s Wurmcoil thanks to a [Card]Zealous Conscripts[/Card] earning KYT the game and match victory.
Kar Yung Tom 2 – 1 Michael Gouthro
———-
Round 1 features the previous day’s PTQ winner and Pro Tour veteran Jon Stern facing off against Stephan Yeung.
Jon starts on the play with both players hanging on to their opening grip.
Jon leads with the turn one [Card]Birds of Paradise[/Card] while Stephen has a [Card]Ponder[/Card] indicating a Green-Red versus Blue-White matchup. Jon has a turn two [Card]Sword of War & Peace[/Card] representing early pressure while Stephan has no answer for the equipped bird and quickly drops down to 11. For his third turn Stephen makes a [Card]Pristine Talisman[/Card] while Jon continues with the Bird assault dropping Stephan down to 3.
Stephan opts not to wrath instead going for the [Card]Gideon Jura[/Card] and +2. The choice proves wise as Jon has the EOT [Card]Wolfir Avenger[/Card] which would have averted the Wrath and landed the kill. Gideon is dropped to 1 with a pump from [Card]Kessig Wolf Run[/Card]. The fog serves its purposes as Stephan has the [Card]Terminus[/Card] next turn ticking his life up to 6, thanks to the Talisman. Jon makes a [Card]Huntmaster of the Fells[/Card] which only has time to gain two life before encountering a [Card]Day of Judgment[/Card]. Stephan continues to tick Gideon up while adding two Angels to the board thanks to an [Card]Entreat he Angels[/Card]. Jon still has no plays and begins to see his life total dwindle thanks to the Angels. A [Card]Tamiyo, the Moon Sage[/Card] is added to the board ticking up by 1 while tapping down a land. With his life total at ten Jon lands a Huntmaster and equips the sword to it however facing down a board of Gideon, Tamiyo and two Angels hopes are looking grim and become even worse thanks to another [Card]Day of Judgment[/Card] getting rid of Jon’s threats as well as the Angel tokens, which reappears one stronger thanks to a second Entreat from Stephen on the next turn, earning the concession from Jon and leading to game 2.
Stephen Yeung 1 – 0 Jon Stern
Game two starts with Stephan mulling down to five.
Jon is first to have a play with a [Card]Green Sun’s Zenith[/Card] for 1 getting a Birds. Next time around, Jon tries to go for the Green Sun for 2 but it runs into a [Card]Mana Leak[/Card]. Stephan has the third turn Talisman again while Jon has a [Card]Strangleroot Geist[/Card] and a Green Sun for a second Geist, dropping Stephan to 17. Stephan passes back the turn with no play and Jon plays [Card]Triumph of Ferocity[/Card] representing a potential one sided [Card]Howling Mind[/Card].
The Geists drop Stephan to 14. Lacking in White Sources, Stephan has to [Card]Ghost Quarter[/Card] two of his [Card]Island[/Card]s to find two [Card]Plains[/Card] which allows him to play the [Card]Terminus[/Card] from his hand. Jon lands [Card]Wolfir Silverheart[/Card] but on the turn when Jon tries to give the Wolf a Soulbond buddy it is met with a [Card]Dissipate[/Card]. The Silverheart attacks for 4 and disappears just as quickly thanks to a Miracled [Card]Terminus[/Card]. With Stephen tapped out, Jon lands a [Card]Mana Barbs[/Card]. A [Card]Timely Reinforcements[/Card] from Stephan helps to negate the life loss and present a threat but Jon wanting to not be outdone by Miracles, peels a [Card]Bonfire of the Damned[/Card] wiping away the soldier tokens. Stephan plays a [Card]Ponder[/Card] revealing a land, Day and [Card]Snapcaster Mage[/Card] which Stephan chooses to keep drawing a Day to wipe out the Birds.
Jon takes five thanks to a Silverheart coming down and not to be outdone Stephan loses the same amount thanks to an Entreat for two. On his turn Jon draws a second card from Triumph and lands a Llanowar Elves, allowing the Silverheart to become an 8/8 and trading with the two Angels. Jon has a second Elves though not to be outdone by creatures Stephan finds a Sanpcaster to flashback Timely Reinforcements. Jon lands a Garruk giving him the option of making wolves as well and Stephan opts not to crash with the team to kill the Garruk for fear of dying on the backswing. Jon is next able to land a Strangleroot Geist representing extra pressure and leads to the soldier tokens being thrown under the bus. With no answer Jon continues to send the team and finds an [Card]Acidic Slime[/Card] to kill the Talisman and prevent the life gain. Stephan has the Gideon for the five mana, five damage fog. Jon is able to kill the Gideon and then searches his deck for a [Card]Thrun, the Last Troll[/Card] thanks to a flipped Garruk which earns the concession from Stephan after he draws a land.
Stephan Yeung 1 – 1 Jon Stern.
For game three, Jon is the one to ship his hand back for six.
Stephan leads with a [Card]Ponder[/Card] choosing not to shuffle. For a third game in a row Stephan has the Talisman but Jon has an [Card]Ancient Grudge[/Card] sending the artifact to the bin with Stephan forgetting to gain the one life. Jon finds a Geist and begins chipping away at his opponents life total. Garruk is tried for more pressure but [Card]Dissipate[/Card] is ready to exile it for this game. Next time around a Triumph is found but before he can draw any cards, a [Card]Terminus[/Card] banishes the Geist.
[Card]Llanowar[/Card] Elves comes down which, while small, represents an additional card thanks to Triumph. The elf grows on the next turn thanks to a Green sun for 5 to find a Silverheart but yet again the creatures disappear thanks to a hardcast Terminus. An end of turn [Card]Think Twice[/Card] finds Stephan a Gideon facing down an empty board. Jon is able to make a Silverheart which is forced the attack Gideon and knocks him down to two thanks to a Kessig. All seems to be for naught though as Stephan Miracles an Entreat for 6 representing 24 power and not needing to fear Jon’s board with the Gideon having ticked up by 2. Jon can only add a birds thanks to a Green Sun for 1 and while the bird is a 4/5 20 damage still passes through earning Stephan the win.
Stephan Yeung 2 – 1 Jon Stern