Coverage by Calum Stephenson
GP Brighton, August 10th 2009
So, we're finally here, I really can't believe this is happening, but Aaron Ansell has just sat down and begun shuffling his deck opposite one of the world's greatest players, Shuuhei Nakamura.
This whole match begun win an innocuous comment from Aaron Ansell regarding his skills as a 5 Colour Control player. As sure as the sun rises, this lead to comparisons between Mr Ansell and Mr Nakamura by the other Reading local players. As these comments got rather out of hand, Mr Tim Willoughby decided to take it upon himself to set up a showdown between the Tank of Reading, and Nakamura of Japan.
A big crowd has gathered round, muttering in disbelief at what they are seeing.
The players shuffle up and Aaron is wondering how he got himself into the mess he's in. Everybody is expecting an absolute schooling from the Japanese pro, but Magic has ways of throwing up a surprise or two.
The players roll some digital dice on trading expert Matt Light's smartphone, and Aaron rolls a max 12 and gets to play first. Unfortunately due to time limits we're looking at only one game, instead of a three game match.
Aaron takes a mulligan after some thinking hard with a hand of 2 cryptic commands, 2 hallowed burial and 3 lands. Shuuhei keeps his seven, 3 lands, cryptic command, agony warp, Plumeveil and hallowed burial. A mulligan is not an ideal start for Aaron in the most daunting of matches, but the six card hand is better but not by much.
Vivid lands from both followed by five colour lands mean that both players are developing their mana whilst playing draw go. On Aaron's turn five, Shuuhei drops a Plumeveil at the end step. The first spell is player after 9 turns of the match. Another two turns go by before Aaron taps three for a Jace Beleran in his main phase. With 4 mana open, Shuuhei plays cryptic command, which counters it and draws a card. Aaron could have countered back and resolved the blue planeswalker, but decides against it as it might lead to him getting targeted by Cruel Ultimatum on Shuuhei's next turn.
Another couple of turns of land-go means that this match is going to lead to an explosive finish as both players stockpile their best cards. Esper charm draws two cards for Aaron, but doesn't stop the land-go play. Extra counters are drafted in from passers by to cover the shortage from the mass of vivid lands on the table.
By the time the match kicks off there are 25 lands split between the players. Aaron attempts to play the new threat of Baneslayer Angel. Shuuhei plays Esper Charm in response but lets it resolve. Shuuhei attempts to get rid of the angel with Hallowed burial, which is hit by negate from Aaron. The Baneslayer Angel gets over its summoning sickness and crashes in to the red zone. Met by a previously played Plumeveil and an Agony Warp from Shuuhei almost takes down the angel, only for the Agony Warp to be countered by Cryptic Command. Shuuhei thinks about a response but chooses to let the Plumeveil bite the dust, The life totals are 25-20 in Aaron's favour.
Seven mana is tapped and Cruel Ultimatum resolves for Shuuhei, reversing the life totals and causing a huge swing in card advantage. The three cards Shuuhei draws are far more important than the return of Plumeveil, which gets discarded during the cleanup step. Aaron discards down to a just a few cards and Mulldrifter for Shuuhei puts him further ahead. The next turn Aaron plays Esper Charm in an attempt to get back in to the game, after the aptly named seven mana sorcery.
An Ajani Vengeant resolves and locks down a Vivid Meadow, but with so many lands Shuuhei is unfazed. As he has a Mulldrifter in play it doesn't look likely that the gold cat will be destroying any lands any time soon. Mulldrifter attacks Ajani the next turn, which Aaron attempts to get a blocker in with Plumeveil but it's met with Essence Scatter. Ajani loses two counters and a Volcanic fallout deals the final damage to Ajani putting the life at 20-23. Aaron continues to draw two cards with more Esper Charm. Both players have a lot of lands open, but not much action is happening. Shuuhei plays an end of turn Esper Charm, draws what he needs and follows it with a Volcanic Fallout, making him ahead in the life stakes by 21-18. But then Shuuhei untaps, and calmly puts a Banefire on the table, taps all his lands and announces “Banefire you, for 20”, Aaron extends his hand and the game is over!
Banefire, always one of the most powerful weapons in a 5CC mirror means that Shuuhei doesn't have to give up any of his reputation just yet, and Aaron returns to Reading with his head held high, knowing that the game was still bigger than almost anyone else in his area has experienced.
Shuuhei Nakamura 1- 0 Aaron Ansell
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