R5 update

Quick update here:

Cyrus Bales' Time Sieve decklist, though down on the 2-3 bracket, did a super impressive play in R5. Time was called, and he managed to take all five of the extra turns, and then used Tezzeret to take it home!

Here's his list:

4 Time Sieve

4 Chromatic Star

4 Elsewhere Flask

4 Howling Mine

4 Kaleidostone

4 Mind Stone

4 Etherium Sculptor

3 Tezzeret the Seeker

3 Rings of Brighthearth

3 Font of Mythos

1 Sculpting Steel

1 Thopter Foundry

4 Mistvein Borderpost

4 Fieldmist Borderpost

2 Veinfire Borderpost

4 Swamp

8 Island

SB: 2 Thopter Foundry

2 Pithing Needle

2 Platinum Angel

2 Inkwell Leviathan

4 Tempest of Light

3 Hurkyl's Recall

Judge William K writes...

In response to Anathemancer's Unearth ability, the player plays Cryptic Command - to return his own nonbasic land, survive the turn, and win!

Iain Shephard writes...

2-2, bringing it back. Bitterblossom is pretty tech apparently...

Judge Kevin H writes...

Seismic Swans player needs the last card in his library in order to win... uh oh.

Aaron Ansell writes...

When you're on 1 and need the 14th land for the Banefire win, don't tap your Adarkar Wastes to play Path to Exile.

Judge Stelios K writes...

Interesting situation arose when Player A claimed his opponent had one extra card in his deck after sideboarding. This turned out to be true and after dispensing a Game Loss for Deck/Decklist Mismatch got the HJ to have a quiet word.

HJ's comment: It turned out the player had made a last minute change to his sideboard and left a card that was cut from the deck in his box. This lead him to believe he had 15 cards in the sideboard, and therefore 60 main, when he started shuffling. Just one of the many pitfalls of carrying extra cards in your deckbox!

Elijah Hemmingway-Brown writes...

More warnings for Slow Play at PTQ level. Slow Play hurts; I am a nice guy, too nice for my own good sometimes when I should call a judge and be hard. Raargh!

R3 update

Judge William K writes...

Time Sieve has won a game. Come on [deck designer] Cyrus Bales, keep up the crazy!

Ben Diesel writes...

Well, just won my last match. Opening hand of 2 Treetops, 2 Mutavaults, 2 Gilt-Leaf Palace, and a Llanowar Wastes. His first play? "Thoughtseize." *reveals hand* "Oh, that's weird. I guess I take 2!" Win for Team Diesel!

Iain Shephard writes...

1-2 boo, guess not sleeping last night didn't pay off! Also, Transformers (why I didn't sleep) is rubbish, don't go watch it!

Judge Kevin H writes...

Sieve player: "Swing for 65?"

Opponent: "Me or Ajani?"

A win for Time Sieve!

Aaron Ansell writes...

Bye! Oh yeah! And on the seventh day, God created Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker, and my opponent's head asplode!

HJ update: Metagame breakdown time!

Bloodbraid aggro decks: 7

Elves: 6

Faeries: 5

5CC: 3

Kithkin: 3

B/W Tokens: 3

Doran: 3

Bant: 2

U/W Lark: 2

Cascade Swans: 2

And a lot of other decks with only one player.

Judge William K writes...

I'm on lunch break now. For the next 25 minutes, I am not a judge; I am a man with a hunger for bagel. Om nom nom.

Mike Parker writes...

Predicted to lose next round. Expect to Top32 or Top64.

Chris Cooper writes...

Realm Razer is surprisingly good. Yeah!

HJ update: 10 players on 6 points going into round 3. Our first Game Loss given that round : (

R1 update from PTQ Reading

Rob Elkin writes:

A Thirst for Knowledge walks into a bar, and the barman says "Where are your friends?"

HJ update: 45 players and 6 Swiss rounds. The actual blue envelope is a popular choice!

Judge William K writes...

Time Sieve spotted on the tournament floor. I wonder how that deck will fare.

Update: Time Sieve loses in Round 1. There're still five more rounds...

Judge William K writes...

It turns out that if Alice activates Putrid Leech and then during the same turn Bob gains control of it, Bob can't activate it that turn.

From the floor:

Stack damage? What stack damage?

HJ update: Only 2 warnings for decklist penalties, and no game losses. Very happy!

Episode Twelve - A Public The Rack Enquiry

Hi there,

So we're back again, with news of some new M10 cards, as well as a review of Pro Tour: Honolulu, and some advice for players approaching standard PTQ's.

The Gamer's Podcast Team

Episode Eleven - The Sky is Falling!!!

Episode 11 of The Gamer's Podcasts sees us discussing the new raft of changes that Magic 2010 will bring in this summer. We have all the news and views that you'll be needing to hear about!

The Gamer's Podcast Team