GP Columbus - What's Happening?

[TeenieBopper]

So Bryant is 1-0 ahead? Great, and his roadblock Saito will be soon knocked out!

4 Thoughtsieze and 6 Hymn maindeck is rough, and then Nelson boards in Duress, too. It's a tough road to the finals for Mr. Cook.

[JeroenC]

Cook being up one game is great. He beats Brad probably so winning one more game puts him in the finals. What. A. God. Player.

[tsabo_tavoc]

Now . . . versus 4 sided in Spell Pierce. Come on Bryant!

Any word on the other matches?

10 counters + 4 wasteland + 3 stifle aren't sooo scary and Empty the Warren is safe as long as game is finished before turn 4.

Saito 0-1 Brad Nelson


4 Thoughtsieze and 6 Hymn maindeck is rough, and then Nelson boards in Duress, too. It's a tough road to the finals for Mr. Cook.

At least not as bad as Merfolk (a much faster clock!), a clearly unfavorable match (for Saito's build with MD Pierce).

[Piceli89]

4 Thoughtsieze and 6 Hymn maindeck is rough, and then Nelson boards in Duress, too. It's a tough road to the finals for Mr. Cook.

He topdecks what he needs just wishing for it (not the sorcery I mean), so discard is an easy matchup.

[ummon]

Nelson dominated the first game. Don't see Saito winning the MU.

[TeenieBopper]

Saito and Nelson are probably Bryants two shittiest match-ups. No matter who wins Bryants in for a tough semis, and that's assuming he makes it.

[MMogg]

Saito and Nelson are probably Bryants two shittiest match-ups. No matter who wins Bryants in for a tough semis, and that's assuming he makes it.

What happened to the Bryant is God talk? :wink:


He already beat at least one deck with FoW, Daze, Spell Pierce, and Blood Moon.


Dude's been playing the deck for like four years. In Syracuse. Where there are like two people in the entire area with the balls to run a deck without force of will ....

Edit: to a large degree it all depends on a lot of luck of the draw. Just hope Bryant gets good draws.

[Rune]

Saito's Merfolk deck with maindeck Spell Pierce would be very hard to beat, but discard-aggro decks aren't that hard to beat for storm

[TeenieBopper]

There's a significant difference between Merfolk and CB/Top. Just because a deck plays blue, doesn't mean it's automatically the worst match-up ever.

[TeenieBopper]

Wait, what?

[KillemallCFH]

Cook lost :(.

[ummon]

Shit Caleb beat Cook.

[Jonathan Alexander]

Did they just say that Bryant lost?

[Piceli89]

Bryant lost.
fuck

[TheAardvark]

Apparently, Bryant's opponent won games 2 and 3 in record time...?

[rocketrae21]

Bryant is out. They mis-spoke, Caleb was actually up a game and I guess won the next one.

[The_Red_Panda]

Apparently, Bryant's opponent won games 2 and 3 in record time...?

More like the announcers are incompetent, and can't even LEAK good information :-/ I think I heard one of them say Bryant actually LOST game one, and they just reported it wrong, because they suck.

[TeenieBopper]

Whatever. That's still a crazy run. Congrats to Bryant. Can't wait to see his tournament report.

Round one: not a pro.

Stormed up and killed him.
......

Round 10: a pro

Stormed up and killed him.

[4eak]

Good job Bryant, sorry you didn't win the whole thing =(




peace,
4eak

[JeroenC]

This is sort of good as it means I get six hours of sleep instead of like three tonight, but fuck that. Good run Bryant, I applaud you. Would've been nice if you took it all home, but applause either way.

Edit: damn, you people complain a lot about ggs. I know I prefer seeing games and hearing (or muting) mediocre coverage over refreshing wizards non-live page every five minutes to hope I get something new to read.

[tsabo_tavoc]

There's a significant difference between Merfolk and CB/Top. Just because a deck plays blue, doesn't mean it's automatically the worst match-up ever.

The problem with Merfolk is diruption paired with a fast clock and Saito's build has more MD disruptions. Deadguy rock has about the same amount of disruptions, but at sorcery speed and the clock is not as much intimidating. However, Bryant has no SB slots for discards.

EDIT: I believe I must have misheard when they spoke Vengevine Madness was in, it was like only 10 minutes and 2 game losses?

[TeenieBopper]

The problem with Merfolk is diruption paired with a fast clock and Saito's build has more MD disruptions. Deadguy rock has about the same amount of disruptions, but at sorcery speed and the clock is not as much intimidating. However, Bryant has no SB slots for discards.

That was my point.

[ummon]

Well, he can always win Worlds...

[Piceli89]

Anyone has news about that strange as hell DD build featuring Solitary Confinement and Shared Fate?

[ummon]

Well Bryant Cook, congratulations on the Top 8! Looking forward to your tournament report.

[tsabo_tavoc]

Congratulations to TOP8 Bryant, the Source Hero!

No combo in Top4 :(

[MMogg]

Dude! You (Cook) get an invite to Pro-Tour Amsterdam! Sweet!

[lolosoon]

No combo in Top4 :(
No Combo ?! The Emrakul guy and the Sneak attack one both lost ?!

Still, hat down to you, Bryant Cook !

[tsabo_tavoc]

No Combo ?! The Emrakul guy and the Sneak attack one both lost ?!

Still, hat down to you, Bryant Cook !

from ggslive: Tom Martell (CT Jace) and Jason Ford (Jacestill) meet in the semi.

What a success of the Mystical Tutor ban!

[TheMightyQuinn]

Sneak Attack in the Top 8. Did not see that coming by a mile! Loving the diversity.

Way to go Bryant. It was a supremely impressive run!

[WIREWOOD PRIDE]

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/7123/coxll.jpg



just saying.

[MMogg]

What about the Saito match results?

[tsabo_tavoc]

What about the Saito match results?

1-1 right now and Saito is slightly ahead in g3.

[Aggro_zombies]

I think it would be endlessly amusing if Merfolk takes down the GP after all the flak it got from various writers for being a terrible deck.

Clearly, such a thing would not have happened if Legacy players weren't so terrible.

[Bryant Cook]

Sorry to disappoint guys.

I had bad luck in top 8.

[MMogg]

1-1 right now and Saito is slightly ahead in g3.

Sweet! Represent Asia homeslice! Now that Cook's out, I hope Saito takes it all.



I think it would be endlessly amusing if Merfolk takes down the GP after all the flak it got from various writers for being a terrible deck.

Clearly, such a thing would not have happened if Legacy players weren't so terrible.

Exactly! +999


Sorry to disappoint guys.

I had bad luck in top 8.

Dude, you fucking top 8ed at the GP... no disappointment here. Just admiration. Well done, son!

[mujadaddy]

Sorry to disappoint guys.

I had bad luck in top 8.

Good showing, regardless, bub.

[The_Red_Panda]

Sorry to disappoint guys.

I had bad luck in top 8.

Didn't you just win like, 1k monies slinging cards? Why would we be dissapointed?

[tsabo_tavoc]

The top seeds meet in the Top4:
Saito (Merfolk) - Durward (Vengeness)
Martell (Countertop) - Ford (Jacestill)


Sorry to disappoint guys.

I had bad luck in top 8.

It must have been bad luck. But mad props to you, a 1000+ GP top 8, man!

PS: It must have been dissapointed for not being featured, hope the cash compensates.

[Deviruchi]

Sorry to disappoint guys.

I had bad luck in top 8.

You top8'd. It was EPIC.


About Nelson vs. Saito: I facepalmed like 30 times during this match cause I've been tuning and playing Deadguy for about 3-4 years but he never played vs. merfolks so... ;)

[ummon]

Sorry to disappoint guys.

I had bad luck in top 8.

You getting to the top 8 beat all hopes, so you already couldn't disappoint. Just win Worlds next. ;)

[Bryant Cook]

Someone message them on the live feed and have them change my name and deck to tes

[Gheizen64]

Blue vs Green blue and Blue with splash vs blue with splash

Ugh

Gratz Cook, going 12-2-1 ? was epic.

[Piceli89]

Why didn't they add a short presentation of the top8ers with their photos like they did with Gp Madrid?

[ummon]

Why didn't they add a short presentation of the top8ers with their photos like they did with Gp Madrid?

Cause Bryant Cook was in the T'8...

[Shawn]

Congrats on the top 8!

[MMogg]

Why didn't they add a short presentation of the top8ers with their photos like they did with Gp Madrid?

Exactly what I was thinking. This coverage is worse than Bill Stark's for the SCG $5Ks, and he's only 1 dude doing all the work.

Vizards aff zee Coast, I am disappoint.

[Dia_Bot]

congratz bryant! Thx for once again proving to the world TES is still very much alive (and kicking :))

[Piceli89]

Exactly what I was thinking. This coverage is worse than Bill Stark's for the SCG $5Ks, and he's only 1 dude doing all the work.

Vizards aff zee Coast, I am disappoint.

Yes, especially considering that I have a homosexual crush on Bryant Cook and I don't even now how his face looks like.

[Micron]

The guys of the official coverage have resigned or what?

[4eak]

How do you make Top 8 and not know how to play against Standstill?



peace,
4eak

[paK0]

Congrats to Bryant, combo is so dead.

[tsabo_tavoc]

Also congratulations to Alix, a fabulous 12th finish! (Read your feature match where losing to Countertop by landscrew was just...)

I can sleep earlier with the feeling Saito will get to the Final and finally lose to Jacestill.

[freakish777]

Bryant's disappointed because his opponents deck (while putting him under pressure) didn't beat him.

He AdN's game 1 and went to 2, drawing 10 cards or so, and had to settle for18 Goblin tokens. His opponent then got Wonder and swung over the Goblin tokens for the win (a turn after Bryant Chanted with kicker to stop it and swing for 18).


G2 he got a bad Diminishing Returns. Like this match very easily could have been 2-0 Bryant, and if the EtW in g1 had been a basically any other card instead, he would have at least started off the match 1-0.


I came in 62nd, unfortunately Beastman and I were paired in the last round and I drew the nuts. Also, as far as people saying +$1000 for slinging cards, you're forgetting to factor in, hotel, gas, overpriced food, having to pay Di his cuddling fee, etc...


Gearheart, Alix Hatfield, nitewolf9 (sorry Dan, I can't spell your last name), Dave Price made T64 as well.

[dschalter]

How do you make Top 8 and not know how to play against Standstill?



peace,
4eak

By being one of the best players in the world?

[Piceli89]

By being one of the best players in the world?

And still punting one of the most simple concepts in mtg, i.e. trying to minimize the advantage given to your opponent acting at the right time?

[Deviruchi]

By being one of the best players in the world?

He admitted in gg's live that he had no idea many times what is going on during this tournament and what to do.

[dschalter]

He admitted in gg's live that he had no idea many times what is going on during this tournament.

That's my point. He doesn't know the format or a lot of the interactions, but his playskill makes up for that to a great degree.

[MMogg]

Updates on progress of top 4?

[ummon]

Saito 1-0 Caleb

[Getsickanddie]

How do you make Top 8 and not know how to play against Standstill?

Via another player's disqulification.

[jakolhops]

freakish777 I was your opponenet in round 13. Nice to meet ya!

[dschalter]

Updates on progress of top 4?

Saito smashed Derward with Islandwalk. They both had mediocre hands; Saito had no t1 play and Derward had no Survival.

[freakish777]

freakish777 I was your opponenet in round 13. Nice to meet ya!

The pleasure was all mine!

[Artowis]

To those who don't understand why coverage is slow: The coverage writers need to send in all their work and pics to the WOTC home office in Seattle to be looked over and proofed by other people. The coverage is done almost immediately after a match finishes and decklists shortly after, but when it goes up is determined by some guy sitting at a desk back in Seattle. The reason Stark can get it done so quickly is because there's no middle-man, same with GGslive obviously.

[dschalter]

G2 Derward had double Survival and Saito only has one blue source with no vial. Probably going to g3.

[MMogg]

@ Artowis: Looks like you forgot to get your article about why Merfolk sucks translated in Japanese for Saito. You could have saved him a lot of embarrassment by getting to at least the semis with it.

[ummon]

Saito 1-1 Caleb

Caleb baited Saito with a Wild Mongrel, which Saito used his only Force on. Caleb then resolved Survival and soon destroyed him with 4 Vengevines.

[Artowis]

@ Artowis: Looks like you forgot to get your article about why Merfolk sucks translated in Japanese for Saito. You could have saved him a lot of embarrassment by getting to at least the semis with it.

Not sure why you want to be such a bitch, but sure I'll play. Merfolk was one of the most well represented decks at the tournament and on Day 2. One made top 8. Piloted by one of the best players in the world. Buuuurn, you showed me, all these Zoo, Goblins and Merfolk decks in the top eight are BLOWING MY MIND! Oh right, there's only that one Merfolk deck.

[lolosoon]

Saito 1-1 Caleb

Caleb baited Saito with a Wild Mongrel, which Saito used his only Force on. Caleb then resolved Survival and soon destroyed him with 4 Vengevines.

Flying gigantic plants ate Saito after some wonderfull Daze action 2 turn ago.

G3 will be interesting !

[Piceli89]

Saito is in the finals. The other mulls to 5. That survival is strong but often it seems to be really inconsistent in its openings.

[menace13]

Congrats to Bryant Cook. Was hoping to see a Grapeshot for 20 on camera, but we will just have to read it from the reports, again.

People should not hate on Brad Nelson. The guy is a good player and also not one of those pros that, while writing articles goes on forums calls people derogatory names and make outlandish claims for site hits.
He just does articles and wins. Just to make it into top 8 on GP was tremendous and he did it without knowing many of the 600000000000000 interactions in Legacy.

[ramanujan]

Congrats Bryant Cook,

Getting top 8 in a tournament this large is quite a feat, by any standard; especially doing it with a combo deck. Additionally, Saito is now The Legacy God. Consecutive top 4 finishes in tournaments this large is a feat we may not see again for a long time, if ever. And yes, Merfolk did not get the respect it deserved. I am so glad to see the ignorant writers be put in their place. I hate that Merfolk is a good deck, but atleast I'm not preaching lies.

-Peace

[ivanpei]

Congratulations to Bryant Cook! You sir, are an inspiration. I've played your deck since the pre ad nauseum days and I am so glad you did well when people were writing off storm combo! I played your list and I know how strong it is. Good job and proving all the haters wrong! Looking forward to your report!

[dtrooper]

Bryant Cook, ever since I joined these forums I perceived your name as someone with great potential. Everything you said, sometimes jokingly and others with a light spice of arrogance, all sounded very solid and well-founded. I am not surprised to see you top8 at this huge Grand Prix, but I feel you should be congratulated for such a feat.

Keep storming them out.

~dt

[Piceli89]

1-0 in the finals for Saito.

Fuck it. Another pro's going to win a legacy gp. Bill Stark was right in the end.


Edit: yes, he was right indeed. Saito has won pretty with ease.

[dschalter]

And that's that. What a beast.

[Firebrothers]

Redonkulous, Dont dissect it too much they may ban your tutors again.

[MMogg]

1-0 in the finals for Saito.

Fuck it. Another pro's going to win a legacy gp. Bill Stark was right in the end.


Edit: yes, he was right indeed. Saito has won pretty with ease.

Dude, you have to give Saito props. He's not just any pro or some nameless faceless pro representing all pros. He came 4th in Madrid and now 1st in Columbus. Which other pro came even close to showing that level of competence in Legacy? So, pro or not, mad props to Saito, no matter whose theory he just confirmed.

[Hanni]

I'm pretty sure they are going to ban Lord of Atlantis. That card is so broken.

[Rune]

I'm pretty sure they are going to ban Lord of Atlantis. That card is so broken.

Yes, it creates non-interactive games where blocking and resolving spells isn't possible. At this GP everyone really just ignored the gentlemen's agreement and busted out their Merfolk decks.


Saito shouldn't have been able to win 2 games through 4 Deeds + 4 E. Plagues, though. :0

[Artowis]

grats to Saito and Bryant Cook.

[IsThisACatInAHat?]

Somewhere, Steve Birklid just shed a tear but does not know why.

[mujadaddy]

I'm pretty sure they are going to ban Lord of Atlantis. That card is so broken.

You haven't been paying attention to Wizards -- they're obviously going to ban basic Islands.

[conboy31]

1-0 in the finals for Saito.

Fuck it. Another pro's going to win a legacy gp. Bill Stark was right in the end.


Edit: yes, he was right indeed. Saito has won pretty with ease.

Saito is obviously an amazing player, but the pros have the advantage of being great players and getting 3 byes for the tournament. That is not true for most legacy players.

I was bummed to hear Saito is not going to gencon. Was looking forward to trading with him again.

[dschalter]

Yes, it creates non-interactive games where blocking and resolving spells isn't possible. At this GP everyone really just ignored the gentlemen's agreement and busted out their Merfolk decks.


Saito shouldn't have been able to win 2 games through 4 Deeds + 4 E. Plagues, though. :0

The joke is cute, but the comparison isn't really accurate (not saying that banning MT was right, just that the situations aren't remotely similar).

[skulls]

I'm pretty sure they are going to ban Lord of Atlantis. That card is so broken.

Maybe! Just for kicks i checked Star City for some stuff and they suddenly went out of stock of Coralhelm Commanders. Regular and foil versions. Huh, what are the odds with fish winning the GP. Probably no coloration there though. I also doubt they'll be back in stock at a substantially higher price point en masse soon.

[dahcmai]

Good thing I decided to finish foiling out my merfolk while I was there. I picked up the last cards (2 Silvergills) during Friday.

Good Job Bryant! I chickened out of playing Storm 1 week before this after seeing the Deedstill deck and how strong it beat up on aggro and countertop and went with it. Guess I should have stayed with Storm seeing as how I played a ton of Zoo and Goblins. I would have went pretty much undefeated at least game 1 for 6 rounds if I had picked it as the hate was so low from those decks. Silly me.

It was a fun event, but I just got home so I'll talk about it later.

[NQN]

..and the series continues...every legacy GP ever has been won by a professional player...:/ "thats why legacy players suck" I guess...

[BWM]

..and the series continues...every legacy GP ever has been won by a professional player...

I'm not sure if you can call Muller (GP Madrid) a pro, since he had less than 20 points prior to the GP.

[Van Phanel]

I'm not sure if you can call Muller (GP Madrid) a pro, since he had less than 20 points prior to the GP.

You can absolutely call him a pro but you'd be wrong.

[Michael Keller]

Congrats, Bryant; I didn't have time to follow the action but here I have heard you did extraordinarily well. Way to represent Syracuse and "Storm" your way to the end.

Very cool.

[kroelai]

But he wasn't a legacy player either.

Guess Saito is the real master.

Can't wait for the next European Legacy GP.

[jrp]

Congrats to Bryant for the Top 8! Awesome job.

I played TES, was x-1 (3 byes) after day 1, only losing the psuedo-mirror to Ari Lax's U/B Tendrils deck. I beat 3 Force of Will decks, and had some pretty insane plays Day 1, including a game against Enchantress where he had Runed Halo on Tendrils with a Sterling Grove in play. I had to run Dim. Returns into AdN into Grapeshot for 20. lol.

Wheels kinda fell off the bus day 2, starting out with a tough loss to the DD/SnT deck that made top 8. He thoughtseized me 3 times in Game 1, and was still dead if he didn't rip his singleton Confinement. Also, I lost twice to Goblins on Day 2 (Punting hard once, mild punt/incorrect judgement the other time) :(

I ended up X-5 in 48th place. Not exactly what I was hoping for after an X-1 day 1, with 85% opp match win percentage, but oh well, there's always next time. And I did get to play (and beat) AJ Sacher, David Williams and Wafo-Tapo.

[HAVE HEART]

People should not hate on Brad Nelson. The guy is a good player and also not one of those pros that, while writing articles goes on forums calls people derogatory names and make outlandish claims for site hits.
He just does articles and wins. Just to make it into top 8 on GP was tremendous and he did it without knowing many of the 600000000000000 interactions in Legacy.

He was actually fairly rude at Pro Tour: San Diego to multiple people that I know. I will agree that he is good, but he also plays A LOT of MTGO.

[menace13]

He was actually fairly rude at Pro Tour: San Diego to multiple people that I know. I will agree that he is good, but he also plays A LOT of MTGO.

I stand corrected.
I do not know him personaly and what i do know of him is from the articles he does and online. Could be the heat got to him, The paper cuts from shuffling idk?
Anyway, I like to assume that most are good people with bad days.

[gottfrid]

I'm not sure if you can call Muller (GP Madrid) a pro, since he had less than 20 points prior to the GP.

And he played like a donk in the final but got lucky and won. Or I should say the asian guy got unlucky maybe..

I'll was standing behind muller when he Mtutor'ed for a thoughtseize instead of Fow for protection the turn before he could make Iona. That was dumb considering the opp could have brainstorm AND had top in play which made force a better spell to get. well well then what does he do? he thoughtseizes go. I mean Why make Iona against ant when you can wait and see what happens on his turn right =D ? And no, the opp hadn't tutored for his wipeaway..

On a different note, how can you guys complain about mt ban when it gives rise to top8s like this one? much cooler decks than madrid !

[HAVE HEART]

I stand corrected.
I do not know him personaly and what i do know of him is from the articles he does and online. Could be the heat got to him, The paper cuts from shuffling idk?
Anyway, I like to assume that most are good people with bad days.

I do know it was on the weekend after he had been bounced from the Pro Tour, so it is possible that he was steamed from that, but it just seems unnecessary to berate one's opponent.