NQ data Part 3: UW control

Thanks all for your patience- yesterday's update was delayed whilst we got some important data!

As reported on Monday, a slight error in the Top 8 lists occurred. The missing decklist was the UW control list of Russ Davies. We presented Rob Davies' list in error- sorry for the confusion! The correct, qualifying list:

4 Tectonic Edge
4 Plains
3 Island
3 Terramorphic Expanse
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Celestial Colonnade
4 Halimar Depths
4 Tectonic Edge
4 Everflowing Chalice

1 Path to Exile
1 Journey To Nowhere
2 Negate
4 Treasure Hunt
3 Spreading Seas
3 Oblivion Ring
2 Cancel
3 Jace, the Mindsculptor
2 Day of Judgment
3 Baneslayer Angel
2 Mind Spring
3 Martial Coup
1 Iona, Shield of Emeria


Sideboard:
4 Celestial Purge
3 Flashfreeze
1 Pithing Needle
2 Mind Control
1 Deft Duellist
2 Kor Firewalker
1 Kiss of the Amesha
1 Marshals Anthem

Let's look at the matchups for this deck.

Overall, UW did very, very well. It had an overall record of 25-15-2, winning almost 60% of its matches. Its record was also consistent with the die roll- it went 12-7-2 on the play, and 13-8 on the draw.

In specific matchups, it wasn't all the same story. Just to recap Tuesday, against Burn, UW went 5-4, with 5-1 on the play and 0-3 on the draw.

Against Jund, the boogieman of the format, UW scored 5-3-1. On the play, that was a 2-2 split; on the draw, Jund's aggressive discard saw it slip to 1-3-1.

The mirror looked to be a real skill-tester, although in our tournament we had only 4 such matches. They went evenly, 2-2, depending on the die roll.

Finally, against the Naya decks, UW found itself at 5-1. It was a stonking 4-0 on the draw against this deck, and split games on the play 1-1.

Join us tomorrow when the Naya and Jund stats are revised and revealed.

Til then,

~David

(incidentally, if you want to know more about this project, the podcast, or anything else related, the address to email is savia dot wanderer at gmail dot com!)

NQ data Part 2: Burn

Ok, let's Burn.

This category includes a few noticeably separate variations, but they are all very similar and hence grouped together for the purposes of this analysis.

These decks almost all play Lightning Bolt, Burst Lightning, Goblin Guide, and Ball-Lightning. The majority splash black for Blightning and friends, but some are pure red.

A well-performing variant also picked up white, for Ajani Vengeant and Refraction Trap.

These decks are very, very aggressive. Let's see how that translates into success for the 9 players that took it to our event.

Overall, the deck went 31-23, winning a respectable 57% of its matches. Predictably enough, it didn't draw once.

That record is hugely skewed based on the die roll. On the draw, the deck went a pretty average 13-14. On the play, it took matches at a rate of 18-9. How's that for speed?

MATCHUPS

In our event, Burn only faced off against the ubiquitous Jund. The score was 5-4 in Burn's favour, but again the die roll was a big factor. On the play, Burn achieved a score of 4-1. On the draw, it got only 1-3.

This skew was carried on to the UW matchup, where a 1-5 record on the draw contrasted with a 3-0 on the play.

Naya, another popular deck, had a more even result: 5-2 on the play, and 3-2 when burn was on the draw.

Sadly, we only had 2 Burn mirrors, not enough data to draw anything interesting from. The matches were split evenly between the play and the draw- but with more data as the season rolls on, we'll see if that continues.

From the fastest deck in the format, to one of the slowest. Come by tomorrow for all the data on UW control.

Statistics from NQ Reading Part 1: General data

Hi all.

In the first installment of statistical data from this tournament, some generic information about the event.

In total, we had 7 rounds of play. 184 matches were completed and entered into our data pool, and that's what's getting presented here.

I.D.s and matches won by a non-present opponent weren't included.

First of all, let's look at the path to victory. Here's what each qualifying player faced on their way to the slot:

Aaron Cadwallader (playing UW control, won 2 die rolls out of 7):

UW control, won

Naya, won

UW control, won

Burn, lost

Naya, lost

Vampires, won

Naya, won

Kris Pietron (playing Jund, won 5 die rolls out of 6):

Burn, won

UW control, lost

Jund, won

Elves!, won

Jund, won

Naya, won

I.D.

Arun Banghar (playing Burn, won 3 die rolls out of 6):

UW control, lost

Jund, won

Vampires, won

Open the Vaults, won

Naya, won

Naya, won

I.D.

Gary Lynch (playing Jund, won 2 die rolls out of 6):

Boros, won

GW junk, won

Elves!, won

UW control, won

I.D.

UW control, won

UW control, lost

James Mills (playing UW control, won 4 out of 6 die rolls):

Naya, won

Open the Vaults, won

Jund, won

Jund, won

White Weenie, won

Jund, lost

I.D.

Dominic Penton (playing Jund, won 4 out of 7 die rolls):

UW control, won

Jund, won

Mythic, won

UW control, lost

Jund, won

Naya, won

Jund, won

Steve Bains (playing Burn, won 4 out of 7 die rolls):

Jund, won

Elves!, lost

GW junk, won

Jund, won

UW control, won

Burn, won

UW control, won

Now, some more stats for you.

Out of those 184 matches played, 5 were natural draws.

The remaining 179 matches were split 93-86 in favour of the draw. That's right, the player on the draw won around 53% of the time.

Now, a quick statistics lesson- with this size of sample, that result isn't what's termed statistically significant. That is, you can't draw a conclusion like "drawing is better", because there's not enough of a skew and not enough data to support that. But, it is excellent evidence that, on the whole, the die roll is not a major factor in the current Worldwake Standard metagame.

But what about specific matchups? Which decks win more, and which care more about that die roll?

Join us tomorrow, when we talk about Burn.

Nationals Qualifier, March 21st

Hi all!

This event was a special one.

We had 68 players competing for 8 slots over 7 rounds of Swiss play. As always, the top lists will follow.

What is different about this is that, thanks to all the players contributing a record of who won or lost the die roll, and a thorough metagame breakdown, we have a lot of extra information about this event!

We're going to start with just the meta breakdown and the qualifying lists. Then, each day this week, we'll update with some more statistics on the tournament.

So, without further ado:

METAGAME BREAKDOWN

Jund 15

Naya 10

UW control 10

Burn 9

Elves! 4

White Weenie 4

Open the Vaults 3

Mythic 2

Vampires 2

Allies 1

Boros 1

Goblins 1

GW control 1

GW Junk 1

Mill 1

Monowhite control 1

TurboFog 1

Valakut 1

The Top 8 looked like this (in no particular order):

Steve Bains

4 Burst Lightning

4 Lightning Bolt

4 Searing Blaze

4 Blightning

1 Banefire

3 Earthquake

/20 spells

4 Hellspark Elemental

4 Goblin Guide

4 Hell’s Thunder

4 Ball-Lightning

/16 creatures

4 Arid Mesa

4 Lavaclaw Reaches

4 Dragonskull Summit

4 Scalding Tarn

7 Mountain

1 Swamp

/24 lands

//60 cards

SB:

4 Goblin Ruinblaster

2 Doom Blade

3 Dragon’s Claw

4 Deathmark

2 Slave of Bolas

Dominic Pietron’s “Jund”

4 Putrid Leech

4 Bloodbraid Elf

4 Sprouting Thrinax

2 Broodmate Dragon

2 Master of the Wild Hunt

/16 creatures

4 Blightning

4 Lightning Bolt

3 Maelstrom Pulse

3 Bituminous Blast

2 Garruk Wildspeaker

2 Terminate

1 Burst Lightning

/19 spells

4 Savage Lands

4 Verdant Catacombs

3 Dragonskull Summit

2 Raging Ravine

2 Rootbound Crag

2 Oran-Rief, the Vastwood

3 Mountain

3 Swamp

2 Forest

/25 lands

//60 cards

SB:

3 Doom Blade

3 Goblin Ruinblaster

3 Jund Charm

2 Thought Hemorrhage

1 Maelstrom Pulse

3 Malakir Bloodwitch

Updated 23rd March: Sorry, but due to human error, Rob Davies' White Weenie deck was listed as qualifying instead of Russ Davies.

Correct decklist to follow ASAP. Mea culpa.

Rob Davies’ “Plan Z”

3 Kor Duelist

2 Kor Skyfisher

4 White Knight

4 Kor Firewalker

2 Stoneforge Mystic

3 Knight of the White Orchid

2 Devout Lightcaster

2 Emeria Angel

/22 creatures

1 Basilisk Collar

1 Hammer of Ruin

1 Sigil of Distinction

3 Path to Exile

2 Brave the Elements

2 Oblivion Ring

2 Elspeth, Knight-Errant

2 Ajani Goldmane

2 Day of Judgment

/16 spells

13 Plains

3 Dread Statuary

2 Emeria, the Sky Ruin

2 Arid Mesa

2 Marsh Flats

/22 lands

//60 cards

SB:

1 Path to Exile

3 Relic of Progenitus

1 Brave the Elements

3 Celestial Purge

2 Devout Lightcaster

1 Oblivion Ring

3 Scepter of Dominance

1 Day of Judgment

Gary Lynch

4 Bloodbraid Elf

2 Broodmate Dragon

4 Putrid Leech

4 Sprouting Thrinax

1 Borderland Ranger

2 Siege-Gang Commander

/17 creatures

2 Terminate

4 Blightning

3 Bituminous Blast

4 Maelstrom Pulse

4 Lightning Bolt

/17 spells

4 Verdant Catacombs

4 Savage Lands

4 Raging Ravine

1 Rootbound Crag

3 Swamp

3 Mountain

3 Forest

1 Lavaclaw Reaches

3 Dragonskull Summit

/26 lands

//60 cards

SB:

1 Basilisk Collar

3 Malakir Bloodwitch

4 Goblin Ruinblaster

4 Deathmark

1 Mind Rot

2 Duress

James Mills’ “Dan Barrett is the best friend ever!”

4 Baneslayer Angel

2 Iona, Shield of Emeria

3 Knight of the White Orchid

/9 creatures

4 Mind Spring

4 Martial Coup

2 Divination

2 Treasure Hunt

3 Path to Exile

3 Day of Judgment

3 Oblivion Ring

4 Everflowing Chalice

3 Fieldmist Borderpost

/28 spells

4 Celestial Colonnade

4 Glacial Fortress

6 Island

8 Plains

1 Tectonic Edge

/23 lands

//60 cards

SB:

1 Kor Firewalker

2 Celestial Purge

2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor

3 Negate

3 Flashfreeze

1 Marshal’s Anthem

2 Mind Control

1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant

Arun Banghar’s “RDW”

4 Goblin Guide

4 Plated Geopede

4 Hell’s Thunder

4 Ball-Lightning

4 Hellspark Elemental

/20 creatures

4 Burst Lightning

4 Searing Blaze

4 Lightning Bolt

3 Earthquake

/15 spells

4 Scalding Tarn

4 Arid Mesa

3 Teetering Peaks

1 Terramorphic Expanse

13 Mountain

/25 lands

//60 cards

SB:

3 Rakka Mar

3 Unstable Footing

4 Journey to Nowhere

1 Plains

4 Chandra Nalaar

Kris Pietron

4 Bloodbraid Elf

2 Broodmate Dragon

4 Putrid Leech

3 Siege-Gang Commander

4 Sprouting Thrinax

/17 creatures

4 Blightning

2 Garruk Wildspeaker

4 Lightning Bolt

3 Maelstrom Pulse

2 Rampant Growth

2 Terminate

/17 spells

3 Dragonskull Summit

3 Forest

1 Lavaclaw Reaches

3 Mountain

4 Raging Ravine

1 Rootbound Crag

4 Savage Lands

3 Swamp

4 Verdant Catacombs

/26 lands

//60 cards

SB:

4 Goblin Ruinblaster

1 Terminate

2 Master of the Wild Hunt

3 Deathmark

2 Malakir Bloodwitch

3 Great Sable Stag

Aaron Cadwallader’s “Bunch of Jaces”

1 Iona, Shield of Emeria

/1 creature

4 Everflowing Chalice

2 Oblivion Ring

1 Essence Scatter

2 Flashfreeze

2 Negate

3 Path to Exile

4 Cancel

4 Jace, the Mind Sculptor

2 Mind Spring

2 Martial Coup

3 Day of Judgment

4 Treasure Hunt

/33 spells

1 Scalding Tarn

2 Marsh Flats

3 Island

4 Tectonic Edge

4 Celestial Colonnade

4 Halimar Depths

4 Glacial Fortress

4 Plains

/26 lands

//60 cards

SB:

1 Essence Scatter

1 Luminarch Ascension

1 Negate

1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant

1 Plains

2 Celestial Purge

3 Kor Firewalker

2 Flashfreeze

3 Baneslayer Angel

Come back Monday for the first of our statistics!

PTQ San Juan, Reading 20/2/2010

Hi all!

We had a record 103 players turn out to sling spells in Extended today, at Reading's Eclectic Games. The judge staff kept all the balls in the air, and the players brought bottomless enthusiasm, their best decks, and a lot of dual lands!

Let's kick off by looking at how the metagame looks:

Zoo 13

Faeries 11

Thopter Depths 9

Scapeshift 8

Elves 6

Affinity 5

Bant 5

Living End 5

Thopters 4

Hypergenesis 4

White Weenie 4

Boros 4

UW control 3

Dark Depths 2

RDW 2

AIR 2

Dredge 2

Rock 2

Smallpox 2

Storm 1

B/W aggro 1

Reveillark Combo 1

Bloodchief Burn 1

Fish 1

Jund 1

Pyro Ascension 1

4CC 1

Treasure 1

KCI 1

So there you have it. Using a very rough analysis, another way of looking at this is:

Control 23

Combo 38

Aggro 42

The Top 8 reflected that a little:

1 Doran

1 Scapeshift

1 Affinity

1 Thopter Depths

1 Elves

3 Zoo

Here's how it panned out.

First of all, our quarterfinalists:

Tim Hows

1 Plains

1 Forest

1 Swamp

4 Verdant Catacombs

4 Marsh Flats

4 Misty Rainforest

1 Horizon Canopy

1 Ghost Quarter

1 Treetop Village

1 Godless Shrine

2 Temple Garden

2 Overgrown Tomb

/23 lands

4 Tidehollow Sculler

4 Noble Hierarch

4 Doran, the Siege Tower

4 Knight of the Reliquary

4 Tarmogoyf

3 Birds of Paradise

2 Qasali Pridemage

2 Baneslayer Angel

/27 creatures

2 Umezawa’s Jitte

2 Smother

2 Putrefy

4 Path to Exile

/10 spells

//60 cards

SB:

3 Cranial Extraction

4 Thoughtseize

3 Extirpate

2 Loxodon Hierarch

3 Deathmark

Jake Wheatley’s “Bath Magic Loves Hungry Spriggan”

4 Grove of the Burnwillows

2 Treetop Village

4 Stomping Ground

1 Swamp

6 Mountain

2 Valakut , the Molten Pinnacle

1 Oran-Rief, the Vastwood

5 Forest

/25 lands

4 Kitchen Finks

4 Sakura-Tribe Elder

4 Bloodbraid Elf

4 Tarmogoyf

/16 creatures

4 Search for Tomorrows

4 Scapeshift

4 Lightning Bolt

4 Punishing Fire

3 Umezawa’s Jitte

/19 spells

//60 cards

SB:

4 Volcanic Fallout

4 Blood Moon

4 Ancient Grudge

3 Thought Hemmorhage

Christian Bateman’s “Blood Zoo”

4 Misty Rainforest

4 Arid Mesa

2 Marsh Flats

1 Scalding Tarn

2 Stomping Ground

1 Temple Garden

1 Sacred Foundry

1 Ghost Quarter

1 Treetop Village

2 Forest

2 Plains

1 Mountain

/22 lands

4 Noble Hierarch

4 Wild Nacatl

4 Qasali Pridemage

4 Tarmogoyf

4 Knight of the Reliquary

4 Bloodbraid Elf

/24 creatures

4 Lightning Bolt

4 Path to Exile

2 Umezawa’s Jitte

4 Blood Moon

/14 spells

//60 cards

SB:

1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant

2 Tormod’s Crypt

1 Bojuka Bog

1 Ghost Quarter

3 Baneslayer Angel

4 Chalice of the Void

3 Aven Mindcensor

QF

Nathaniel James’ “Bad Robot”

2 Great Furnace

4 Vault of Whispers

4 Seat of the Synod

1 Island

3 Blinkmoth Nexus

4 Ancient Den

/18 lands

4 Ornithopter

4 Arcbound Ravager

4 Frogmite

4 Master of Etherium

2 Ethersworn Canonist

4 Arcbound Worker

4 Myr Enforcer

/26 creatures

4 Springleaf Drum

4 Chromatic Star

4 Cranial Plating

4 Thoughtcast

/16 spells

//60 cards

SB:

4 Extirpate

4 Thoughtseize

1 Chalice of the Void

4 Path to Exile

2 Ethersworn Canonist

Next up, the semifinalists:

Jonathan Hagan’s “Zoo”

1 Treetop Village

1 Plains

1 Forest

1 Hallowed Fountain

1 Sacred Foundry

1 Steam Vents

1 Stomping Ground

2 Temple Garden

4 Scalding Tarn

4 Misty Rainforest

4 Arid Mesa

1 Mountain

/22 lands

4 Loam Lion

4 Kird Ape

4 Wild Nacatl

4 Tarmogoyf

3 Knight of the Reliquary

3 Qasali Pridemage

2 Ranger of Eos

/24 creatures

4 Lightning Bolt

4 Path to Exile

2 Lightning Helix

2 Bant Charm

1 Oblivion Ring

1 Umezawa’s Jitte

/14 spells

//60 cards

SB:

2 Bant Charm

3 Negate

1 Ranger of Eos

3 Damping Matrix

1 Umezawa’s Jitte

4 Ethersworn Canonist

1 Jötun Grunt

Dom Harvey’s “We Love Hungry Spriggan”

4 River of Tears

4 Sunken Ruins

5 Island

3 Tolaria West

1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

1 Ghost Quarter

1 Academy Ruins

1 Swamp

1 Dark Depths

/21 lands

4 Dark Confidant

1 Vampire Hexmage

/5 creatures

4 Thoughtseize

4 Chalice of the Void

4 Muddle the Mixture

4 Thirst for Knowledge

4 Thopter Foundry

3 Sword of the Meek

2 Repeal

2 Engineered Explosives

1 Into the Roil

1 Smother

1 Slaughter Pact

4 Chrome Mox

/34 spells

//60 cards

SB:

2 Sphinx of Jwar Isle

1 Vendilion Clique

4 Leyline of the Void

2 Duress

2 Darkblast

4 Deathmark

The runner-up:

Finalist

Yi Ming Lai’s “Domain Zoo”

4 Scalding Tarn

4 Arid Mesa

4 Misty Rainforest

1 Verdant Catacombs

1 Hallowed Fountain

1 Godless Shrine

1 Sacred Foundry

1 Temple Garden

1 Steam Vents

1 Breeding Pool

1 Stomping Ground

1 Forest

1 Plains

/22 lands

4 Kird Ape

4 Wild Nacatl

3 Loam Lion

4 Tarmogoyf

3 Qasali Pridemage

3 Knight of the Reliquary

1 Ranger of Eos

/22 creatures

4 Lightning Bolt

4 Path to Exile

4 Tribal Flames

4 Bant Charm

/16 spells

//60 cards

SB:

4 Meddling Mage

3 Negate

4 Ancient Grudge

2 Ranger of Eos

2 Umezawa’s Jitte

And last but certainly not least, congratulations to Richard Bland, the winner of PTQ San Juan in Reading!

Richard Bland’s “Elves”

4 Misty Rainforest

4 Verdant Catacombs

5 Forest

1 Pendelhaven

1 Temple Garden

2 Horizon Canopy

/17 lands

4 Nettle Sentinel

4 Heritage Druid

4 Elvish Archdruid

4 Elvish Visionary

4 Llanowar Elves

4 Arbor Elf

2 Boreal Druid

1 Regal Force

1 Eternal Witness

1 Ranger of Eos

1 Essence Warden

/30 creatures

4 Glimpse of Nature

4 Summoner’s Pact

4 Cloudstone Curio

1 Primal Command

/13 spells

//60 cards

SB:

4 Ghost Quarter

4 Umezawa’s Jitte

3 Ranger of Eos

1 Gaddock Teeg

1 Burrenton Forge-Tender

1 Loaming Shaman

1 Viridian Shaman

Report from PTQ Nottingham

Hi all! We're going to be bringing some coverage to your today from the first English PTQ for San Juan and the Extended format, in Nottingham.

First of all, this was the first time Nottingham had been the host to a PTQ in some years. Dave Sisson, the TO, played host to a great turnout of 78 players. Everyone felt that the venue, in Nottingham Uni's student bar, was great and the event ran very smoothly.

Now, let's get on to some data!

First of all, here's a breakdown of the metagame by rough archetype:

Dark Depths 1 / T

Dredge 2 / T

Faeries 8

Hypergenesis 1

UW Tezz control 8 / TT

UG control 1

Scapeshift 8 / TT

Martyr 3

Zoo 16 / TT

Swath Shot 1

Living End 2

Hive Mind 1

Gifts Rock 3

Bant 4

Goblins 1

RDW/burn 6

Restore Balance 1

AIR 2

Rock 1

Misc 3

Those numbers are the total number represented in the field, and the Ts indicate how many of that archetype made Top 8.

Now, let's proceed to that Top 8!

The roster was:

Gavin Goh, playing Zoo

Stephen McIntosh, playing Dark Depths

Richard Bland, playing Scapeshift

James Corwood, playing Tezz / Thopters

Hari Mukautheran, playing Zoo

Rob Wagner, playing Tezz / Thopters

Bruno Panara, playing Scapeshift

Tom Harle, playing Dredge

The quarterfinals went like this:

Goh beats McIntosh 2-1

Bland beats Mura 2-0

Wagner beats Corwood 2-0

Panara beats Harle 2-1

And here are our quarterfinalist's decks:

Steven McIntosh's “Dark Depths”

4 Dark Confidant

4 Vampire Hexmage

3 Vendilion Clique

/11 creatures

4 Muddle the Mixture

4 Beseech the Queen

3 Chalice of the Void

2 Engineered Explosives

4 Thoughtseize

1 Duress

2 Repeal

1 Echoing Truth

4 Chrome Mox

/25 spells

4 Dark Depths

4 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

1 Swamp

4 Tolaria West

4 River of Tears

4 Sunken Ruins

2 Underground River

1 Ghost Quarter

/24 lands

//60 cards

SB:

1 Tormod's Crypt

3 Bitterblossom

1 Doom Blade

1 Chalice of the Void

1 Slaughter Pact

1 Yixlid Jailer

1 Pithing Needle

2 Cranial Extraction

2 Damnation

1 Thopter Foundry

1 Sword of the Meek

Hari Mukautheran's “Naya”

4 Baneslayer Angel

4 Wild Nacatl

4 Knight of the Reliquary

4 Tarmogoyf

4 Noble Hierarch

/20 creatures

1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant

4 Punishing Fire

4 Lightning Bolt

3 Oblivion Ring

4 Path to Exile

/16 spells

1 Ghost Quarter

1 Treetop Village

4 Arid Mesa

3 Verdant Catacombs

4 Marsh Flats

4 Grove of the Burnwillows

2 Sacred Foundry

1 Temple Garden

1 Stomping Ground

1 Plains

1 Mountain

1 Forest

/24 lands

//60 cards

SB:

2 Ancient Grudge

2 Gaddock Teeg

3 Ravenous Trap

3 Yixlid Jailer

4 Kitchen Finks

1 Blood Crypt

James Corwood

1 Baneslayer Angel

2 Trinket Mage

/3 creatures

1 Ritual of Restoration

1 Day of Judgment

1 Wrath of God

1 Tormod's Crypt

3 Path to Exile

2 Engineered Explosives

2 Gifts Ungiven

4 Thirst for Knowledge

1 Time Sieve

2 Mana Leak

2 Cryptic Command

2 Muddle the Mixture

3 Spell Snare

1 Sword of the Meek

2 Thopter Foundry

1 Vedalken Shackles

2 Tezzeret the Seeker

1 Chrome Mox

/32 spells

1 Arid Mesa

1 Marsh Flats

2 Scalding Tarn

2 Misty Rainforest

2 Hallowed Fountain

2 Steam Vents

1 Watery Grave

1 Mystic Gate

1 Academy Ruins

1 Tolaria West

1 Vault of Whispers

1 Ancient Den

2 Seat of the Synod

1 Snow-Covered Swamp

1 Snow-Covered Plains

2 Snow-Covered Island

2 Island

1 Plains

/25 lands

//60 cards

SB:

1 Engineered Explosives

1 Path to Exile

1 Ghost Quarter

1 Chalice of the Void

1 Deathmark

3 Firespout

1 Flashfreeze

2 Pulse of the Fields

3 Extirpate

1 Baneslayer Angel

Tom Harle

4 Narcomoeba

4 Stinkweed Imp

1 Sphinx of Lost Truths

4 Hedron Crab

4 Golgari Grave-Troll

3 Bloodghast

4 Drowned Rusalka

1 Iona, Shield of Emeria

1 Flame-Kin Zealot

1 Dryad Arbor

/27 creatures

4 Bridge from Below

3 Dread Return

3 Ideas Unbound

1 Life from the Loam

4 Glimpse the Unthinkable

/15 spells

1 Steam Vents

2 Breeding Pool

3 Watery Grave

3 Verdant Catacombs

3 Scalding Tarn

4 Misty Rainforest

2 Island

/18 lands

//60 cards

SB:

1 Life from the Loam

2 Ancient Grudge

3 Thoughtseize

2 Darkblast

2 Echoing Truth

3 Leyline of the Void

1 Bloodghast

1 Iona, Shield of Emeria

Moving on to the semifinals, the results were:

Bland beats Goh 2-0

Wagner beats Panara 2-1

And the semifinalists decks were:

Gavin Goh's “Eternal Zoo”

4 Noble Hierarch

4 Wild Nacatl

4 Knight of the Reliquary

4 Tarmogoyf

3 Baneslayer Angel

2 Gaddock Teeg

/21 creatures

4 Path to Exile

4 Lightning Bolt

4 Bant Charm

2 Lightning Helix

2 Umezawa's Jitte

/16 spells

1 Ghost Quarter

4 Arid Mesa

4 Misty Rainforest

3 Scalding Tarn

2 Stomping Ground

2 Temple Garden

1 Sacred Foundry

1 Steam Vents

1 Hallowed Fountain

1 Forest

1 Island

1 Plains

1 Treetop Village

/23 lands

//60 cards

SB:

4 Negate

1 Gaddock Teeg

3 Meddling Mage

2 Ravenous Trap

1 Tormod's Crypt

3 Rhox War Monk

1 Baneslayer Angel

Bruno Panara

4 Sakura-Tribe Elder

4 Coiling Oracle

4 Wood Elves

/12 creatures

4 Scapeshift

4 Remand

4 Peer through Depths

3 Ponder

3 Cryptic Command

3 Repeal

3 Firespout

1 Gigadrowse

/25 spells

4 Steam Vents

4 Stomping Ground

2 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle

4 Forest

3 Island

1 Mountain

2 Misty Rainforest

1 Breeding Pool

2 Flooded Grove

/23 lands

//60 cards

SB:

4 Kitchen Finks

3 Negate

1 Gigadrowse

3 Ravenous Trap

1 Sudden Shock

1 Magma Jet

1 Rude Awakening

1 Cloudthresher

So finally it came down to Richard Bland versus Rob Wagner for the prize- a flight and slot at Pro Tour: San Juan. In the end, Wagner's Thopters put up too much pressure for Bland, and Rob took the match 2-1 - despite having a broken hand!

Congratulations to Rob, and good luck in San Juan!

Here's the finalist, Richard Bland's, deck:

Richard Bland's “Scapeshift”

4 Sakura-Tribe Elder

4 Coiling Oracle

4 Kitchen Finks

/12 creatures

4 Scapeshift

4 Condescend

3 Peer through Depths

3 Firespout

3 Remand

3 Into the Roil

2 Hunting Wilds

1 Ponder

/23 spells

4 Steam Vents

4 Stomping Ground

4 Misty Rainforest

4 Forest

3 Island

2 Mountain

2 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle

2 Breeding Pool

/25 lands

//60 cards

SB:

4 Ravenous Trap

3 Vendilion Clique

2 Tormod's Crypt

2 Engineered Explosives

2 Boseiju, Who Shelters All

1 Into the Roil

1 Firespout

And the champion's:

Rob Wagner

2 Trinket Mage

/2 creatures

1 Tezzeret the Seeker

3 Chrome Mox

2 Engineered Explosives

1 Pithing Needle

2 Sword of the Meek

3 Thopter Foundry

1 Tormod's Crypt

1 Vedalken Shackles

2 Cryptic Command

1 Day of Judgment

2 Gifts Ungiven

3 Mana Leak

1 Muddle the Mixture

3 Path to Exile

4 Spell Snare

4 Thirst for Knowledge

1 Wrath of God

/35 spells

1 Academy Ruins

1 Ancient Den

1 Ghost Quarter

2 Hallowed Fountain

3 Island

3 Marsh Flats

2 Misty Rainforest

2 Mystic Gate

1 Plains

1 Scalding Tarn

1 Seat of the Synod

2 Snow-Covered Island

1 Snow-Covered Plains

1 Tolaria West

1 Watery Grave

/23 lands

//60 spells

SB:

1 Chalice of the Void

3 Cranial Extraction

1 Engineered Explosives

3 Kitchen Finks

2 Negate

2 Pulse of the Fields

1 Tormod's Crypt

2 Vendilion Clique

Thanks all and tune in next time for more coverage!

Episode 26 - Season's Beatings

Hi all,

Welcome to our last episode of 2009, episode 26 of The Gamer's Podcast.

This week DLS joins me to discuss the first few cards from worldwake, as well as looking at blue's role in the history of magic.

Hope you enjoy listening. 2009 has been a brilliant year for us and we've been delighted to have you as listeners. Thank you and we look forward to bringing you more top news, decks and discussions in 2010!

The Gamer's Podcast Team

Episode 25 - The end of the Worlds as we know it.

You guys can thank DLS for the name!

We hope you enjoy listening to episode 25 of The Gamer's Podcast, where the three of us discuss the World Championships in all it's glory, ranging for champions, to decks, to strange happenings and disqualifications.

Remember that if you have any feedback for us (good or bad) or have any topics you'd like us to discuss then please email us at thegamerspodcast@googlemail.com

Thanks for listening!

The Gamer's Podcast Team

Episode 24 - Worlds is on the Horizon

Hi Guys!

Enjoy listening to episode 24, where we discuss worlds, the recent pro tour, white's place and identity in magic and some changes to the standard metagame.

Enjoy!

The Gamer's Podcast Team

Episode 23 - Happy Halloween!

Hi guys!

Episode 23 is up, with a frank discussion about aggro in zendikar standard, the role of black in magic and a round up of current news.

Enjoy!

Episode 22 - Combo Magic

Hi Guys,

Welsome to episode 22 of The Gamer's Podcast, this week we discuss the choices you may have when it comes to new standard decks, checking in on time sieve, warp world, polymorph and a cheeky deck using pyromancer's ascension. We also continue our feature on how magic has evolved since alpha, this time covering red.

Hope you enjoy listening, remember that we appreciate any feedback or questions on our facebook group or on our email thegamerspodcast.blogspot.com

Thanks

The Gamer's Podcast Team

Episode 21 - Controlling Standard

Hi guys!

Another new episode for you, they're coming thick and fast now! We've switched technologies recently to reduce turnaround time on episodes and we hope it's working well.

Today David and Calum join you to discuss the new standard format in depth, starting with the role of control decks. We also start the first of a five part special report on the nature of each colour in todays magic compared to what they were when the game was first made a decade and a half ago. Today: Green!

Thanks for listening everyone, we love having you as listeners.

The Gamer's Podcast Team

Episode 20 - Priceless Treasures or Deadly Traps?

Hi guys,

Thanks for being patient for the few weeks while work/college/zendikar has taken over our lives and we had to miss a few episodes. Carl and Calum are back this week with a discussion about Zendikar, the prerelease, the new standard format and the rising price of Magic.

Thanks for listening, as always email us at thegamerspodcast@googlemail.com if you want us to answer any questions or talk about anything in particular (a certain deck or strategy for example).

Thanks!

The Gamer's Podcast Team

Cube Invitational Popular Vote Results

Congratulations to Carl for winning the 2009 Cube Popular Vote. Here are the full results.

First Round

Rob beat Paul 8-2
Cyrus beat Aaron 7-3
Mark beat William 10-1
Ian beat Tim 7-3
David beat Greg 7-3

Calum, Carl and Chris got a bye.

Quarter Finals

Rob beat Chris 7-3
Calum beat Cyrus 7-3
Ian beat Mark on a tiebreaker at 5-5
Carl beat David 9-1

Semi Finals

Calum beat Rob 10-0
Carl beat Ian 6-4

Final

Carl beat Calum on a tiebreaker at 5-5

(Tiebreaker was previous cube champion Greg Squire's vote)

So congratulations to the winner below and thank you to all others who submitted. Hope you enjoy our card designs.

Carl Ansell - Winner

Calum Stephenson - Second place

Rob Elkin - Semi Finalist

Ian Pirouet - Semi Finalist

Chris Cooper - Quarter Finalist

Cyrus Bales - Quarter Finalist

Mark Lailey - Quarter Finalist

David Lyford-Smith - Quarter Finalist

Paul - First Round

Aaron - First Round

William - First Round

Tim - First Round

Greg - First Round

The winners!

Ian beats Paul 3-1!

Congratulations to Ian Pirouet, winner of the 2009 Cube Invitational! His card, Time Vortex, goes permanently into the Cube. In addition, he wins a personalised trophy, and a guaranteed slot at the 2010 Invitational event!

Furthermore, congratulations to Carl Ansell, whose card Dr Jekyll // Mr Hyde won the popular vote by the narrowest of margins to also go into the Cube.

Thanks for tuning in and look out for the detailed results of the popular vote, along with all the competing card designs, in a post coming up soon.

CUBE INVITATIONAL FINALS- Solomon draft

Hi all! Here's the picks from the finals, Solomon draft. This format works as follows: each player is assigned 45 random cards, from which they make their 1st pick. The remaining 88 cards are then shuffled together. Player A then reveals 4 cards to Player B, who picks one. Player A picks two cards, and the last card goes to Player B. They then swap roles and continue in this way until all the cards have been drafted.

This year's finalists were Paul Nonis, and serial runner-up Ian Pirouet, now in his 3rd consecutive final!

Here're their picks and decks.

*FIRST PICKS*

Ian: Sol Ring

Paul: Umezawa's Jitte

P: Flametongue Kavu

I: All Sun's Dawn & Kokusho, the Evening Star

P: Pulse of the Fields

I: Mind Twist

P: Loxodon Hierarch & Vexing Shusher

I: Plateau

P: Tangle Wire

I: Rakdos Signet & Opportunity

P: Goblin Legionnaire

I: Triskelion

P: Keiga, the Tide Star & Dismantling Blow

I: Serum Visions

P: Sensei's Divining Top

I: Standstill & Faceless Butcher

P: Kjeldoran Outpost

I: Wall of Blossoms

P: Goldmeadow Harrier & Duress

I: Night's Whisper

P: Stomping Ground

I: Swords to Plowshares & Black Knight

P: Sphinx of the Steel Wind

I: Vampiric Tutor

P: Spike Weaver & Gaea's Cradle

I: Sudden Death

P: Harmonize

I: Tranquil Thicket & Platinum Angel

P: Stifle

I: Temple Garden

P: Llanowar Elves & Bosh, Iron Golem

I: Capsize

P: Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker

I: Bone Shredder & Necropotence

P: Exhume

I: Liliana Vess

P: Profane Command & Goblin Warchief

I: Dimir Signet

P: Forgotten Ancient

I: Knollspine Invocation & Memory Lapse

P: Confiscate

I: Priest of Titania

P: Knight of Meadowgrain & Rugged Prairie

I: Seat of the Synod

P: Sacred Foundry

I: Mirri the Cursed & Underground Sea

P: Lonely Sandbar

I: Squee, Goblin Nabob

P: Mogg Fanatic & Mother of Runes

I: Azorius Signet

P: Nekrataal

I: Smother & Gilded Lotus

P: Jushi Apprentice

I: Saproling Burst

P: Silklash Spider & Fire // Ice

I: Oona's Prowler

P: Black Lotus

I: Time Walk & Gorilla Shaman

P: Breath of Life

I: Savannah

P: River Boa & Tooth and Nail

I: Secluded Steppe

P: Goblin Piledriver

I: Boros Garrison & Withered Wretch

P: Ethersworn Canonist

I: Engineered Explosives

P: Gush & Zuran Orb

I: Momentary Blink

Paul's Deck:

Tangle Wire

River Boa

Umezawa's Jitte

Mogg Fanatic

Knight of Meadowgrain

Llanowar Elves

Tooth and Nail

Bosh, Iron Golem

Black Lotus

Harmonize

Loxodon Hierarch

Fire // Ice

Silklash Spider

Sensei's Divining Top

Forgotten Ancient

Goldmeadow Harrier

Mother of Runes

Flametongue Kavu

Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker

Keiga, the Tide Star

Goblin Warchief

Goblin Legionnaire

Vexing Shusher

Goblin Piledriver

Sacred Foundry

Gaea's Cradle

Stomping Ground

Kjeldoran Outpost

Rugged Prairie

4 Forest

3 Plains

4 Mountain

Ian's Deck:

Swords to Plowshares

Mind Twist

Triskelion

Withered Wretch

Black Knight

Saproling Burst

Faceless Butcher

Engineered Explosives

Sudden Death

Sol Ring

Gilded Lotus

Vampiric Tutor

Night's Whisper

Liliana Vess

Rakdos Signet

Dimir Signet

Smother

All Suns' Dawn

Kokusho, the Evening Star

Wall of Blossoms

Mirri the Cursed

Time Walk

Platinum Angel

Bone Shredder

Tranquil Thicket

Savannah

Underground Sea

Temple Garden

6 Forest

7 Swamp

The Cube Invitational - Rotisserie draft decks and records

Hi all!

A quick update whilst I have the time. Below are the decklists that the 12 Invitationalists drafted and played for the final Cube Invitational format, Rotisserie. Each player made 30 picks, and the deck's win/loss record is alongside the name of its user. Remember that most people played 3 rounds, but that some had to play 4 due to some pairings issues on the first day : )

The draft order was:

Rob Elkin

Carl Ansell

Ian Pirouet

Paul Nonis

Cyrus Bales

Chris Cooper

David Lyford-Smith

Aaron Ansell

Calum Stephenson

Mark Lailey

Tim Willoughby

Greg Squire

David Lyford-Smith: 4-0

Mind's Desire

Mana Crypt

Oona, Queen of the Fae

Treachery

Simic Signet

Force of Will

Ancestral Recall

Jace Beleren

Timetwister

Turnabout

High Tide

Braingeyser

Future Sight

Compulsive Research

Time Spiral

Gush

Heartbeat of Spring

Frantic Search

Deep Analysis

Cryptic Command

Wayfarer's Bauble

Early Harvest

Brain Freeze

Palinchron

Windswept Heath

Simic Growth Chamber

Breeding Pool

Lonely Sandbar

11 Island

1 Forest

SB:

Harrow

Repeal

Carl Ansell 3-0

Juggernaut

Elspeth, Knight Errant

Spectral Lynx

Cursed Scroll

Aether Vial

Soltari Monk

Soltari Priest

Knight of Meadowgrain

Exalted Angel

White Knight

Goldmeadow Harrier

Shining Shoal

Sword of Fire and Ice

Samurai of the Pale Curtain

Mother of Runes

Ajani Goldmane

Isamaru, Hound of Konda

Swords to Plowshares

Skullclamp

Ronom Unicorn

Dismantling Blow

Savannah Lions

Stillmoon Cavalier

Umezawa's Jitte

16 Plains

Kjeldoran Outpost

SB

Faith's Fetters

Humility

Ethersworn Canonist

True Believer

Genju of the Fields

Ian Pirouet 1-2

Karn, Silver Golem

Mox Sapphire

Thran Dynamo

Mindslaver

Sundering Titan

Izzet Signet

Staff of Domination

Pentad Prism

Mind Stone

Mana Vault

Prismatic Lens

Darksteel Colossus

Tangle Wire

Vedalken Shackles

Metalworker

Grim Monolith

Goblin Welder

Fire // Ice

Brainstorm

Mystical Tutor

Tinker

Trinket Mage

Mana Drain

Counterspell

Thirst for Knowledge

Tolarian Academy

Academy Ruins

Great Furnace

Volcanic Island

Seat of the Synod

10 Island

Paul Nonis 2-1

Archon of Justice

Armageddon

Prison Term

Solitary Confinement

Balance

Enlightened Tutor

Orim's Chant

Land Tax

Acidic Slime

Cold-Eyed Selkie

Ohran Viper

Viridian Shaman

Regrowth

River Boa

Vexing Shusher

Viridian Zealot

Qasali Pridemage

Crucible of Worlds

Icy Manipulator

Engineered Explosives

Squee, Goblin Nabob

Stone Rain

Ajani Vengeant

5 Plains

6 Forest

1 Mountain

Plateau

Library of Alexandria

Thawing Glaciers

Horizon Canopy

Mox Emerald

SB:

Naturalize

Smash to Smithereens

Chris Cooper 0-3

Nevinyrral's Disk

Tendrils of Agony

Phyrexian Processor

Yawgmoth's Will

Necropotence

Psychatog

Shadowmage Infiltrator

Demonic Tutor

Doom Blade

Night's Whisper

Terror

Dimir Signet

Scroll Rack

Fellwar Stone

Contagion

Lotus Petal

Dark Ritual

Innocent Blood

Mind Twist

Stroke of Genius

Yawgmoth's Bargain

Memory Jar

Liliana Vess

Mox Jet

Barren Moor

Lake of the Dead

Watery Grave

Polluted Delta

Underground Sea

11 Swamp

SB:

Meloku, the Clouded Mirror

Rob Elkin 1-2

Carnophage

Sarcomancy

Elves of Deep Shadow

Birds of Paradise

Sakura-Tribe Elder

Tarmogoyf

Chainer's Edict

Diabolic Edict

Troll Ascetic

Pernicious Deed

Phantom Centaur

Plague Sliver

Snuff Out

Sickening Shoal

Black Lotus

Garruk Wildspeaker

Braids, Cabal Minion

Chameleon Colossus

Harmonize

Creakwood Liege

Masticore

Spiritmonger

Plow Under

Overgrown Tomb

Volrath's Stronghold

Golgari Rot Farm

City of Brass

7 Forest

5 Swamp

SB:

Loxodon Warhammer

Caller of the Claw

Aaron Ansell 0-4

Time Walk

Fact or Fiction

Gifts Ungiven

Djinn of Wishes

Academy Rector

Yosei, the Morning Star

Oona's Prowler

Recurring Nightmare

Kokusho, the Evening Star

Noble Hierarch

Tinder Wall

Fyndhorn Elves

Wild Mongrel

Survival of the Fittest

Great Sable Stag

Tooth and Nail

Bogardan Hellkite

Mirari's Wake

Maelstrom Nexus

Angel of Despair

Hellkite Overlord

Empyrial Archangel

Gilded Lotus

Cascade Bluffs

Mystic Gate

Wooded Bastion

Twilight Mire

Taiga

Tropical Island

Scrubland

2 Island

2 Plains

2 Swamp

3 Forest

1 Mountain

Calum Stephenson 1-2

Goblin King

Taurean Mauler

Goblin Matron

Figure of Destiny

Furystoke Giant

Zo-Zu, the Punisher

Goblin Recruiter

Siege-Gang Commander

Mirror Entity

Goblin Warchief

Goblin Ringleader

Goblin Lackey

Goblin Chieftain

Goblin Piledriver

Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker

Goblin Sharpshooter

Goblin Sledder

Greater Gargadon

Condemn

Path to Exile

Sword of Light and Shadow

Lightning Bolt

Banefire

Sacred Foundry

Rugged Prairie

Chrome Mox

Wooded Foothills

1 Plains

12 Mountain

SB:

Pithing Needle

Lightning Greaves

Disenchant

Greg Squire 3-0

Fireblast

Bitterblossom

Dark Confidant

Magma Jet

Sensei's Divining Top

Flame Javelin

Chain Lightning

Char

Blood Oath

Urza's Rage

Pulse of the Forge

Volcanic Fallout

Pyromancer's Justice

Dealbreaker

Firebolt

Wheel of Fortune

Earthquake

Tombstalker

Grim Lavamancer

Sulfuric Vortex

Rhystic Lightning

Molten Rain

Incinerate

1 Blood Crypt

1 Bloodstained Mire

1 Graven Cairns

1 Badlands

1 Mox Ruby

1 Barbarian Ring

1 Forgotten Cave

6 Swamp

4 Mountain

Mark Lailey 3-1

Selesnya Signet

Sol Ring

Mox Diamond

Mox Pearl

Genesis

Eternal Witness

Wall of Blossoms

Thornweald Archer

Loxodon Hierarch

Kitchen Finks

Akroma's Vengeance

Hallowed Burial

Wrath of God

Cage of Hands

Oblivion Ring

Harm's Way

Baneslayer Angel

Calciderm

Windborn Muse

Eternal Dragon

Maelstrom Pulse

Vindicate

Animate Dead

Shriekmaw

Solemn Simulacrum

Savannah

Flooded Strand

Godless Shrine

2 Swamp

4 Forest

7 Plains

SB:

Reanimate

Watchwolf

Cyrus Bales 0-3

Golgari Signet

Orzhov Signet

Wall of Roots

Life from the Loam

Sudden Death

Profane Command

Sinkhole

Thoughtseize

Damnation

Vampiric Tutor

Duress

Beacon of Unrest

Phyrexian Arena

Mortify

The Abyss

Death Grasp

Hymn to Tourach

Nostalgic Dreams

Putrefy

Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

2 Plains

Stalking Stones

Rishadan Port

2 Forest

Fetid Heath

6 Swamp

Wasteland

Strip Mine

Mishra's Factory

Bayou

Mutavault

Treetop Village

Maze of Ith

Tim Willoughby 2-2

Reveillark

Body Double

Venser, Shaper Savant

Cloud of Faeries

Silver Knight

Man-o'-War

Karmic Guide

Vesuvan Shapeshifter

Triskelion

Mulldrifter

Memory Lapse

Moat

Daze

Mana Leak

Impulse

Azorius Signet

Serum Visions

Sacred Mesa

Remand

Ponder

Capsize

Isochron Scepter

Altar of Dementia

Tundra

6 Plains

10 Island

SB:

Crystal Shard

Opposition

Stifle

Paladin en-Vec

Wall of Nets

The Gamer's Podcast Episode Nineteen - The Cube Invitational!

Hi!

Welcome to episode nineteen, an epsiode recorded after day one of the cube invitational 2009, we're discussing how we did and the format of the cube invitational. Join us tomorrow when the tournament is done and we will bring you the final results!

The Gamer's Podcast Team

Breaking news - PTQs for San Diego

Hi all.

The PTQ schedule for San Diego has been announced. These are Sealed deck events.

17/10/2009 - Dublin
18/10/2009 - Manchester
01/11/2009 - Gravesend
07/11/2009 - Cambridge
14/11/2009 - Birmingham
28/11/2009 - Southampton
05/12/2009 - Dundee
02/01/2010 - London

Episode Eighteen - Zendikar Previews

Hi there guys,

welcome to episode 18 of the gamer's podcast, where Carl and Calum talk about the new zendikar cards on the horizon.

The Gamer's Podcast Team