//BLOG: Filipino Field Journal
"FFJ" - PTQ Kuala Lumpur I
Posted Tue - November 13, 2007 by Ogie Jaro
Categories » Magic: the Gathering
PTQ Kuala Lumpur 1
Welcome to the post-event writeup of the first PTQ for Kuala Lumpur held at Neutral Grounds Robinsons Galleria. There were close to a hundred players, with most actually fighting for the invite as Malaysia is just a cheap plane ticket away. I relegated myself to coverage duties, having opened a mediocre pool and deciding to drop after picking up my first loss in the second round, and this will be taking the place of my FFJ for the week.
ROUND 3 Jason Ascalon v. Gerald Camangon
Jason and Gerald are both on the Philippine Team headed for New York this coming Worlds. For them, this PTQ is not just a chance to qualify for PT KL but also to get some early practice in for Worlds.
Game 1
Gerald wins the die roll and chooses to go first, a preferred choice for most of the veterans in attendance. Gerald keeps his opening seven while Jason takes a mulligan into a one land hand.
Jason draws another land off the top and plays Silvergill Douser and Stonybrook Angler on consecutive turns. He fails to find his third land though and is forced to rely on his early drops to hold back Gerald's early offense.
Gerald, however, immediately smells blood when Jason fails hit his land drops and proceeds to play out Cloudgoat Ranger and Giant Harbinger fetching Mirror Entity (affectionately known to players as Kokey).
Gerald: Di pa namamatay yan buong araw.
Jason: Hehe (frown)
Jason draws land but has nothing but creatures in hand and scoops after two strikes from Kokey.
Game 2
Jason takes about 10 minutes to sideboard, allowing me to catch up with Gerald... who has nothing new to report, so we just decide to return to the game.
The game itself takes a brutal turn when Jason is stuck on nothing but islands with green cards in hand. Gerald uses the Harbinger trick into Kokey once again and earns the immediate concession from Jason.
Kokey 2 - Jason 0
Round 4 JT Porter v. Williamson Ong
JT is one of the most recognizable names in the local gaming community and needs no further introduction. William is also a well-known regular who has placed in several high level tournaments. Both are sitting at 2-1 and a loss will most likely knock them out of Top 8 contention.
JT rolls a 30 on his 30-sided die and goes first.
Game 1
William is on the offense early with Woodland Changeling and Kithkin Mourncaller. JT responds with twin 3/3 giants which are then answered with a Cloudcrown Oak from William.
Clearly wanting to win the battle of the fatties, William goes for Changeling Titan. JT immediately knocks it down to size with a Crib Swap. Unfazed, William uses the changeling token to make another Changeling Titan. He attacks with everything the next turn and JT mass blocks the Cloudcrown Oak.
William flashes Lace with Moonglove and JT immediately scoops.
JT: Pano natalo yan?!?
Game 2
JT makes no secret of his switching colors, asking this reporter and the judge for 7 forests.
JT: Kailangan ko ng chump blockers.
JT mulls and Williams keeps a 3 4-drop hand with the land to cast them.
This time JT has the early offense but a timely Neck Snap on JT's Jagged Scar Archers clears the air for William's Kithkin Baloonist. William then plays Cloudcrown Oak again and then supersizes his entire team the next turn with Incremental Growth, earning a stupid grin from JT. JT tries a Fist on his only blocker and when William reveals a Changeling Titan from the clash, JT is again forced to scoop.
JT reveals Final Revels, made useless by the Incremental Growth.
William 2 - JT 0
Round 5 Edwin Ebon v. Rey Estacio
Both players are sitting at 4-0 and the winner here automatically makes it to the top 8. Rey is a former National Champion and lovingly known to most as the Jedi Master. Edwin is on a recent hot streak in Limited.
Game 1
Rey keeps a solid monoblue merfolk opening hand. Edwin trades a Leaf Gilder with a Deeptread Merrow. Rey follows up with Streambed Aquitects and Meerow Reejery, looking to break the game wide open.
Edwin has other plans though and plays Elvish Harbinger to fetch Cairn Wanderer. He then kills Reejerey with Nameless Inversion and plays Doran. Edwin has access to all colors while Rey is struggling to find his second color (white).
One attack from Doran and friends earns the concession.
Game 2
Rey agonizes over another monoblue hand but decides to keep. Edwin mulligans.
Rey uses the Pestermite trick (tap land during opponent's upkeep) to get an early tempo advantage and with the help of Streambed Aquitects, gets Edwin down to 13 life.
Edwin tries to fight back with Elvish Harbinger into Cairn Wanderer again, with an appearance from the Immaculate Magistrate. Rey sees the Magistrate as too much of a threat and embarks on a mission to kill it using multiple creatures and tricks. He succeeds and a Spellstutter Sprite counter and Aethersnipe take the game.
Gerald Camangon: Parehong 4-0 ba yan? Ayoko makita gusto ko surprise.
Game 3
Rey is still frustrated with his deck's inability to produce white mana and begins to talk to his deck. Threatening it at one point.
The deck refuses to listen to Rey and gives him a 5 card opener instead. He has a respectable aggro hand but Edwin plays out Changeling Berserker and Immaculate Magistrate in short order. Hindered by the mulligans, Rey succumbs and gives Edwin the Top 8 berth.
Edwin 2 - Rey 1
Round 6 - Chip Jamir v. Chester Sy
Chip is also part of the Philippine team going to Worlds this year. Chester is a known limited expert. The winner can draw into the top 8 while the loser drops out of contention.
Game 1
Chip has an early start with Leaf Gilder and Handservant beats. On the next attack, Chester taps the mana producer with Pestermite but Chip plays out Briarhorn to force in damage. Chester then attempts Mistbind Clique the next attack but Chip floats mana from the soon to be tapped lands and casts another Briarhorn to take out the Clique when it blocked one of Chip's attackers.
Chip is reading cards left and right as this is more or less his Prerelease. He then attacks with everything again, taking Chester down to 1 after blocks. A Needle Drop, of all things, finishes the game.
Game 2
Seeing all of Chester's x/2's, Chip sides in Final Revels.
This game starts of pretty slowly with players trading minimal damage. Chester has Sentinels of Glen Elendra, while Chip keeps attacking with a 3/3 then 4/4 forest, courtesy of Elvish Branchbender. Chester also has a 4/4 flying elemental looming from an active Hoofprints of the Stag.
The elemental comes into play, along with a topdecked Kithkin Balloonist. Chester has 8 flying power to Chip's 8 life and Chip needs an answer right away.
Chip obliges with a Thundercloud Giant for 2 and a Final Revels, using up all of his 10 mana, wiping the board except for the Giant and an equipped Handservant. Chester doesn't draw anything relevant and Chip flashes another Thundercloud Giant for the concession.
Chip 2 - Chester 0
Round 7 Gerald Camangon v. Francis Profeta
Gerald is at 6-0 and on a mission to go through the swiss with no losses. Francis is at 5-0-1 and is in the Top 8 even with a loss. It's basically a non-bearing game with only bragging rights on the line. It's also a good showcase of what sealed decks you need to open to compete in Lorwyn.
Game 1
Gerald starts with an Adder-Staff Boggart and the ensuing clash reveals a Thundercloud Giant off the top for Francis. He elects to put the giant on the bottom though, signaling potential mana problems. Gerald plays Inner-Flame Acolyte, hitting Francis for a quick 6, with another Inner-Flame Acolyte waiting in Gerald's Hands.
Francis plays out a good speedbump in the form of Hornet Harasser, discouraging further attacks for Gerald... for the meantime. Gerald plays out Galepowder Mage but Francis kills it with a Fodder Launch, with one of Gerald's creatures falling as collateral damage. However, this gives Gerald an opening for the 2nd Inner-Flame Acolyte and hits Francis again for 6.
Francis stems the bleeding again, this time with a Marsh Flitter. Gerald plays out some more creatures but Francis answers with Incendiary Command, wiping the board and incidentally dealing 4 to Gerald. A topdecked Cloudgoat Giant is deemed too ugly as an eyeblight and hits the graveyard, leaving just his kithkin friends. (I told you their decks were good)
The tide starts to turn when Francis hits creatures every turn, peaking with an Axegrinder Giant. Gerald isn't done however as he plays Giant Harbinger to fetch Kokey and Oblivion Rings the fresh Axegrinder. Francis does some math, decides he has to kill one of Gerald's creatures to survive and passes the turn.
Gerald swings in with everything which means Francis has to throw away creatures on chump blocks. Francis draws a card then concedes. Another victim falls to the mighty Kokey.
Game 2
Gerald looks at his opening hand. "YUCK!!! ... Keep."
Gerald plays Kokey early, who of course dies to a Tarfire. The players exchange spells and creatures over the early turns.
Francis nabs a Consuming Bonfire from Gerald's hand through a Thieving Sprite and Mind Rots him the next turn with an evoked Mournwhelk. Gerald topdecks an Inner-flame Acolyte, who attacks with Galepowder Mage and Mudbutton Torchrunner for a whopping 8 damage.
Francis is forced to play an ineffective Thundercloud Giant, allowing him to finally put down some dorks from hand. Of course Gerald topdecks another bomb, this time in the form of Ashling Pilgrim. Francis needs to topdeck his Incendiary Command to survive and possibly swing the game. He draws land and concedes.
Head Judge Glicerio, pakialamero that he is, peeks at the next card and shows to everyone the red sorcery.
To be continued...
Welcome to the post-event writeup of the first PTQ for Kuala Lumpur held at Neutral Grounds Robinsons Galleria. There were close to a hundred players, with most actually fighting for the invite as Malaysia is just a cheap plane ticket away. I relegated myself to coverage duties, having opened a mediocre pool and deciding to drop after picking up my first loss in the second round, and this will be taking the place of my FFJ for the week.
ROUND 3 Jason Ascalon v. Gerald Camangon
Jason and Gerald are both on the Philippine Team headed for New York this coming Worlds. For them, this PTQ is not just a chance to qualify for PT KL but also to get some early practice in for Worlds.
Game 1
Gerald wins the die roll and chooses to go first, a preferred choice for most of the veterans in attendance. Gerald keeps his opening seven while Jason takes a mulligan into a one land hand.
Jason draws another land off the top and plays Silvergill Douser and Stonybrook Angler on consecutive turns. He fails to find his third land though and is forced to rely on his early drops to hold back Gerald's early offense.
Gerald, however, immediately smells blood when Jason fails hit his land drops and proceeds to play out Cloudgoat Ranger and Giant Harbinger fetching Mirror Entity (affectionately known to players as Kokey).
Gerald: Di pa namamatay yan buong araw.
Jason: Hehe (frown)
Jason draws land but has nothing but creatures in hand and scoops after two strikes from Kokey.
Game 2
Jason takes about 10 minutes to sideboard, allowing me to catch up with Gerald... who has nothing new to report, so we just decide to return to the game.
The game itself takes a brutal turn when Jason is stuck on nothing but islands with green cards in hand. Gerald uses the Harbinger trick into Kokey once again and earns the immediate concession from Jason.
Kokey 2 - Jason 0
Round 4 JT Porter v. Williamson Ong
JT is one of the most recognizable names in the local gaming community and needs no further introduction. William is also a well-known regular who has placed in several high level tournaments. Both are sitting at 2-1 and a loss will most likely knock them out of Top 8 contention.
JT rolls a 30 on his 30-sided die and goes first.
Game 1
William is on the offense early with Woodland Changeling and Kithkin Mourncaller. JT responds with twin 3/3 giants which are then answered with a Cloudcrown Oak from William.
Clearly wanting to win the battle of the fatties, William goes for Changeling Titan. JT immediately knocks it down to size with a Crib Swap. Unfazed, William uses the changeling token to make another Changeling Titan. He attacks with everything the next turn and JT mass blocks the Cloudcrown Oak.
William flashes Lace with Moonglove and JT immediately scoops.
JT: Pano natalo yan?!?
Game 2
JT makes no secret of his switching colors, asking this reporter and the judge for 7 forests.
JT: Kailangan ko ng chump blockers.
JT mulls and Williams keeps a 3 4-drop hand with the land to cast them.
This time JT has the early offense but a timely Neck Snap on JT's Jagged Scar Archers clears the air for William's Kithkin Baloonist. William then plays Cloudcrown Oak again and then supersizes his entire team the next turn with Incremental Growth, earning a stupid grin from JT. JT tries a Fist on his only blocker and when William reveals a Changeling Titan from the clash, JT is again forced to scoop.
JT reveals Final Revels, made useless by the Incremental Growth.
William 2 - JT 0
Round 5 Edwin Ebon v. Rey Estacio
Both players are sitting at 4-0 and the winner here automatically makes it to the top 8. Rey is a former National Champion and lovingly known to most as the Jedi Master. Edwin is on a recent hot streak in Limited.
Game 1
Rey keeps a solid monoblue merfolk opening hand. Edwin trades a Leaf Gilder with a Deeptread Merrow. Rey follows up with Streambed Aquitects and Meerow Reejery, looking to break the game wide open.
Edwin has other plans though and plays Elvish Harbinger to fetch Cairn Wanderer. He then kills Reejerey with Nameless Inversion and plays Doran. Edwin has access to all colors while Rey is struggling to find his second color (white).
One attack from Doran and friends earns the concession.
Game 2
Rey agonizes over another monoblue hand but decides to keep. Edwin mulligans.
Rey uses the Pestermite trick (tap land during opponent's upkeep) to get an early tempo advantage and with the help of Streambed Aquitects, gets Edwin down to 13 life.
Edwin tries to fight back with Elvish Harbinger into Cairn Wanderer again, with an appearance from the Immaculate Magistrate. Rey sees the Magistrate as too much of a threat and embarks on a mission to kill it using multiple creatures and tricks. He succeeds and a Spellstutter Sprite counter and Aethersnipe take the game.
Gerald Camangon: Parehong 4-0 ba yan? Ayoko makita gusto ko surprise.
Game 3
Rey is still frustrated with his deck's inability to produce white mana and begins to talk to his deck. Threatening it at one point.
The deck refuses to listen to Rey and gives him a 5 card opener instead. He has a respectable aggro hand but Edwin plays out Changeling Berserker and Immaculate Magistrate in short order. Hindered by the mulligans, Rey succumbs and gives Edwin the Top 8 berth.
Edwin 2 - Rey 1
Round 6 - Chip Jamir v. Chester Sy
Chip is also part of the Philippine team going to Worlds this year. Chester is a known limited expert. The winner can draw into the top 8 while the loser drops out of contention.
Game 1
Chip has an early start with Leaf Gilder and Handservant beats. On the next attack, Chester taps the mana producer with Pestermite but Chip plays out Briarhorn to force in damage. Chester then attempts Mistbind Clique the next attack but Chip floats mana from the soon to be tapped lands and casts another Briarhorn to take out the Clique when it blocked one of Chip's attackers.
Chip is reading cards left and right as this is more or less his Prerelease. He then attacks with everything again, taking Chester down to 1 after blocks. A Needle Drop, of all things, finishes the game.
Game 2
Seeing all of Chester's x/2's, Chip sides in Final Revels.
This game starts of pretty slowly with players trading minimal damage. Chester has Sentinels of Glen Elendra, while Chip keeps attacking with a 3/3 then 4/4 forest, courtesy of Elvish Branchbender. Chester also has a 4/4 flying elemental looming from an active Hoofprints of the Stag.
The elemental comes into play, along with a topdecked Kithkin Balloonist. Chester has 8 flying power to Chip's 8 life and Chip needs an answer right away.
Chip obliges with a Thundercloud Giant for 2 and a Final Revels, using up all of his 10 mana, wiping the board except for the Giant and an equipped Handservant. Chester doesn't draw anything relevant and Chip flashes another Thundercloud Giant for the concession.
Chip 2 - Chester 0
Round 7 Gerald Camangon v. Francis Profeta
Gerald is at 6-0 and on a mission to go through the swiss with no losses. Francis is at 5-0-1 and is in the Top 8 even with a loss. It's basically a non-bearing game with only bragging rights on the line. It's also a good showcase of what sealed decks you need to open to compete in Lorwyn.
Game 1
Gerald starts with an Adder-Staff Boggart and the ensuing clash reveals a Thundercloud Giant off the top for Francis. He elects to put the giant on the bottom though, signaling potential mana problems. Gerald plays Inner-Flame Acolyte, hitting Francis for a quick 6, with another Inner-Flame Acolyte waiting in Gerald's Hands.
Francis plays out a good speedbump in the form of Hornet Harasser, discouraging further attacks for Gerald... for the meantime. Gerald plays out Galepowder Mage but Francis kills it with a Fodder Launch, with one of Gerald's creatures falling as collateral damage. However, this gives Gerald an opening for the 2nd Inner-Flame Acolyte and hits Francis again for 6.
Francis stems the bleeding again, this time with a Marsh Flitter. Gerald plays out some more creatures but Francis answers with Incendiary Command, wiping the board and incidentally dealing 4 to Gerald. A topdecked Cloudgoat Giant is deemed too ugly as an eyeblight and hits the graveyard, leaving just his kithkin friends. (I told you their decks were good)
The tide starts to turn when Francis hits creatures every turn, peaking with an Axegrinder Giant. Gerald isn't done however as he plays Giant Harbinger to fetch Kokey and Oblivion Rings the fresh Axegrinder. Francis does some math, decides he has to kill one of Gerald's creatures to survive and passes the turn.
Gerald swings in with everything which means Francis has to throw away creatures on chump blocks. Francis draws a card then concedes. Another victim falls to the mighty Kokey.
Game 2
Gerald looks at his opening hand. "YUCK!!! ... Keep."
Gerald plays Kokey early, who of course dies to a Tarfire. The players exchange spells and creatures over the early turns.
Francis nabs a Consuming Bonfire from Gerald's hand through a Thieving Sprite and Mind Rots him the next turn with an evoked Mournwhelk. Gerald topdecks an Inner-flame Acolyte, who attacks with Galepowder Mage and Mudbutton Torchrunner for a whopping 8 damage.
Francis is forced to play an ineffective Thundercloud Giant, allowing him to finally put down some dorks from hand. Of course Gerald topdecks another bomb, this time in the form of Ashling Pilgrim. Francis needs to topdeck his Incendiary Command to survive and possibly swing the game. He draws land and concedes.
Head Judge Glicerio, pakialamero that he is, peeks at the next card and shows to everyone the red sorcery.
To be continued...
