GP Ghent

[Einherjer]

Another discussion-thread, but I was going to ask if some1 could send me a link where the event will be covered. Not for my, as I will take part in the event but for my Brother so he can follow me on the feature-matches :)))

Who of you guys will I be seeing at the GP?

Thanks, Greetings

[rxavage]

Wouldn't it be covered on ggslive.com? Or is that just for U.S. GPs?

[Einherjer]

No idea, that's why Im asking :P

[Sloshthedark]

Willl be there & almost certain it's just text, haven't seen any Europe GP video coverage yet...

[xfxf]

Europe has a very vibrant Eternal magic community and a very vibrant Magic community in general, I don't get why big events has that 1980s feel to them compared to the ones in the US. I guess the individual TAs and organizers in Europe don't have enough resources to pull of things like what SCG does and Wizards isn't backing up the events enough under its brand name..

[flounce]

BOM has video coverage provided by WATCHDAMATCH

[Einherjer]

If I remember correctly there was an official (?) coverage at GP Amsterdam wasn't it?

[HokusSchmokus]

Amsterdam only had Hagon going around, doing a few non camera interviews and adding them to some kind of podcast. And written coverage.

[useL]

Hi everyone! I will be at the GP but I have a huge problem with transportation in this city. Any recommendations how to reach the site in a trustworthy way? I live close to the city center.

How much does a taxi cost in Gent from center to site? google maps says its 5 km.

[Einherjer]

How much does a taxi cost in Gent from center to site? google maps says its 5 km.

Would be pretty interested in this one too!

[flrn]

The ggslive coverage team will be at the american Grand Prix, which is held at the same week end, which you can look up in their schedule: http://ggslive.com/

Therefor, I think there will be only text coverage.

[cdr]

The ggslive coverage team will be at the american Grand Prix, which is held at the same week end, which you can look up in their schedule: http://ggslive.com/

Therefor, I think there will be only text coverage.

Wizards recently set up a streaming video team in Europe; I don't know whether it's ready in time for Ghent but it's coming.

[Einherjer]

Wizards recently set up a streaming video team in Europe; I don't know whether it's ready in time for Ghent but it's coming.

Great news :) Please post the link here so my Brother can find it, while I am battling for honor in Ghent :P

Greetings

[den_rudy]

Would be pretty interested in this one too!

The easiest way to reach the gaming site is by public transport.
Normally that would be tram 1. (ask your hostel or were you are accomodated for info)

you can try to plan your route in http://maps.google.be/
Search for "Gent" zoom in and search your locations try the icon for public transport and plan your route, but i don't know if this will work (also here at my computer is in dutch so i understand but don't know if that works on your pc/smartphone)

(site of the public transport is www.delijn.be you can try to open it with google translate and try to plan your route that way)

[xfxf]

Wizards recently set up a streaming video team in Europe; I don't know whether it's ready in time for Ghent but it's coming.

Great knews! Not only for the ability to have video coverage but also to see Wizards stepping up for the game globally.

[menace13]

Would be amazing If WOTC does manage to set up the stream for Ghent. How else am I to cheer on zee Dutch?

[Koby]

I just want to see Team America and Canadian Threshold duke it out in the Finals.

Nothing would be more satisfying than seeing North American themed decks take out Europe.

[sdematt]

I agree with that. Who from here is going?

Stupid exams, ruining my everything.

-Matt

[HokusSchmokus]

Seems like there will not be Coverage of Ghent, but Columbus instead.

http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Events.aspx?x=mtgevent/webcast/home

[lsho]

I saw Hagon (if it was him... The blond locked guy) in Ghent at the site today. And it will be awesome. Just nailed a grinder for my 3 extra hours of sleep :):):)

[catmint]

I think there will be at least 1 deck with 3+ baleful strix in the 75 in the top4.

[Esper3k]

I'm going to say a Griselbrand deck Top 8's as people bring less hate from those decks not doing as well in Atlanta.

[cdr]

1345 is just a bit disappointing to be honest, but not too much.

[Esper3k]

As far as GP attendance goes, it's still pretty good though isn't it?

Might be a little low for a Legacy GP, but Atlanta had fairly low attendance as well, iirc.

[cdr]

As far as GP attendance goes, it's still pretty good though isn't it?

Might be a little low for a Legacy GP, but Atlanta had fairly low attendance as well, iirc.

Low for a european legacy GP, yes. Atlanta was on the low side for a US legacy GP but not as much,

[Pippin]

Low for a european legacy GP, yes. Atlanta was on the low side for a US legacy GP but not as much,

I think it's still quite a big number considering the awful venue. No direct flight connections is something that deterred quite a lot of folks from distant European countries.
Also, when someone has GP Madrid in mind it needs to be said that vast majority of players were local spaniards that came in droves. Something that can't be replicated elsewhere.

[(nameless one)]

not to mention that theres also a Modern GP happening (GP Columbus). Makes you wonder whether theres a hidden agenda happening within WotC.

[Mr Miagi]

not to mention that theres also a Modern GP happening (GP Columbus). Makes you wonder whether theres a hidden agenda happening within WotC.

indeed not so hidden.. :/

[xfxf]

If you watch the Return to Ravnica talk in ComicCon on YouTube you'll see that they clearly answer a question about eternal formats saying that they created Modern to become The eternal format where players can access the cards and they can sustain the continuity of the format. Paraphrasing doesn't have the same effect but watching it you can clearly tell that they already established that Legacy is an unsupported format for them to be left to die off. I don't see how that can happen with the current player base but it's clear that Legacy is not in WotC's future plans.

[Stoyrm]

The issue with Ghent is that there is a large festival there right now making hotels and flights super expensive, which in turn makes attendence low :).

[LeePerry]

Europe has a very vibrant Eternal magic community and a very vibrant Magic community in general, I don't get why big events has that 1980s feel to them compared to the ones in the US. I guess the individual TAs and organizers in Europe don't have enough resources to pull of things like what SCG does and Wizards isn't backing up the events enough under its brand name..

I don't know for outside Europe, but GP's in Europe don't have (or didn't use to have) independent TO's and are organized by Wizards employees directly. The main reason that there are very little 'interstate' TO's active in Europe is mainly because it is difficult to get a hold of a good playerbase across several communities (whereas the US is more homogenic, qua culture, language, laws & custom). And I can imagine it is quite a hassle to organize a series of big tournaments in different countries (not states) with different buyer's policies set by Wizards (pricing of product is different across different countries, since each European country has a different official & licensed importer of Wizards products).
As for why GP's or other big tournaments have that 1980's feel to them, I guess it's a combination of the previous and the higher entry barrier for TO's. Also if I'm correct that Wizards is still the one solely organizing European GP's, then it might be more telling about which market they prioritize then about how difficult it is to organize events in the EU.

[(nameless one)]

Has anyone read the coverage from the Mothership?

That Omniscience deck is awesome.

[lordofthepit]

not to mention that theres also a Modern GP happening (GP Columbus). Makes you wonder whether theres a hidden agenda happening within WotC.

There might be an agenda, but the fact is, I doubt it has much impact overall. Most Legacy players aren't interested in Modern, whereas most players who do play Modern do so if they can't afford to play Legacy. (Granted, there are a few people who play and enjoy both, and possibly some who can play Legacy but enjoy Modern for various reasons such as starting Magic more recently or hating Force of Will.) Personally, I wouldn't be caught dead playing Modern: even if I lived in Columbus, I'd rather fly out to Ghent to play Legacy (and I never travel for Magic events).

Even if Wizards wanted to promote Modern, I doubt they are stupid enough to try to sabotage Legacy. Legacy is clearly the more popular format: the largest GPs are Legacy, even today, with problems mentioned above with the Legacy venue, there are significantly more Legacy players at the GP than there are Modern players (and I recall that GP Columbus drew a huge Legacy crowd nearing 2000 last time there was an event there).

[xfxf]

Does anybody know if the Omniscience deck in feature matches is Carsten's build or significantly different?

[menace13]

Does anybody know if the Omniscience deck in feature matches is Carsten's build or significantly different?

From the Twitter feeds the player and his friend with exact 75 are both 7-2( both took a match loss from Belcher). The lists may have Personal Tutors since he was asking for them. Check the #gpghent hashtag for all the tweets.
Edit: Carsten had Burning Wish and from reading the coverage the Omni player didn't cast one at all, so probably not.

[Namida]

From the Twitter feeds the player and his friend with exact 75 are both 7-2( both took a match loss from Belcher). The lists may have Personal Tutors since he was asking for them. Check the #gpghent hashtag for all the tweets.
Edit: Carsten had Burning Wish and from reading the coverage the Omni player didn't cast one at all, so probably not.

The coverage also states that an Omniscience player beat a Miracle Deck with Burning Wish-Living Wish-Emrakul and then Burning Wish-Petals of Insight-Burning Wish-Grapeshot.

The coverage from the Belcher match has an Omni player losing to siding in his Wish target Pyroclasm with the rationale that it was too slow and he has Personal Tutor in his maindeck anyway, so if we assume that there are only two players doing well with Omniscience Combo, they're the two playing the exact 75, and they're playing Wishboards in addition to Personal Tutor.

[menace13]

The coverage also states that an Omniscience player beat a Miracle Deck with Burning Wish-Living Wish-Emrakul and then Burning Wish-Petals of Insight-Burning Wish-Grapeshot.

The coverage from the Belcher match has an Omni player losing to siding in his Wish target Pyroclasm with the rationale that it was too slow and he has Personal Tutor in his maindeck anyway, so if we assume that there are only two players doing well with Omniscience Combo, they're the two playing the exact 75, and they're playing Wishboards in addition to Personal Tutor.

Could be right, also Clasm is a P.Tutor target as well, but since they're playing red anyway B.Wish might be the case.

Edit: NVM, he said he sided them IN and couldnt win then it has to be B.Wish

[rxavage]

Why are people crediting Carsten for the Omniscience deck? Because he wrote an article that contained a list that was posted by users here a week before?

[xfxf]

No, because compared to everything we have in the Omniscience thread here it is the most stable build, and it's the most established build I have publicly seen so far.

From the coverage I understand that those two guys have Burning Wish in their main to go for the Living Wish-> Emrakul kill or to go for the Petals of Insight kill. However I can't figure out if they have Griselbrand.

I don't know what to make of the deck honestly. If it really takes S&T to the next level something is definitely going to get banned next time around and if it doesn't, there isn't much to be excited anyways. So it seems like a meh-meh proposal to me..

[RaNDoMxGeSTuReS]

Here's the top eight quarterfinals:

ANT, Pox (Junk?), Show and Tell, Maverick, UW Miracles, UW Miracles, Elves, Stoneblade

Timo Schunemann, Ad Nauseam Tendrils v Tristan Pölzl, Pox (Junk?)

Watsfeldt Elias, Elias v Show and Tell Klocker, Maverick

Emaneuele Marcotti, Blade v Andrea Esper Milillo, UW Miracles

Lukas Maurer, Elves v Max Sjoblom, UW Miracles

[Esper3k]

No RUG in the T8, wow!

[Barook]

You may have already heard about this one, so I'll make it quick. A player dropped five Leylines onto the battlefield before turn one, then, on turn one, played Serra's Sanctum and cast Opalescence, turning all of his Leylines into 4/4 creatures. As they had been on the battlefield since the beginning of the first turn, they were able to immediately attack for 20. Done.
This sounds absolutely hilarious.

[dsck]

Ubr ANT vs Elves in the finals, ANT in lead winning g1.

[dsck]

Elves mising victory g2 with faerie macabre in resp to ill-gotten, he had 1 draw step and 1 visionary trigger to draw it after getting inquisitioned :P

[(nameless one)]

Storm is back....

Where is your god now?

[jjjoness']

So storm combo is dead.

Or is it? And more important: how long will it take, until someone cries for the banning of LED?

[Valdez]

Theres a german Saying, wich fits quite well:
Immer schön durch die Hose atmen.

[rxavage]

Theres a german Saying, wich fits quite well:
Immer schön durch die Hose atmen.

Breath through my pants?

[coraz86]

Apparently there's an Omniscience deck (http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/eventcoverage/gpgnt12/day2#7). Both the guys who developed it made day 2, and Florian Koch finished just out of the money.

Mirthful, and awesome.

[Julian23]

Couldn't repeat my Amsterdam performance but had such a great time in Ghent! Man, I love playing Magic and traveling to Legacy GPs is always super awesome, even outside the battlefield.

Despite my unimpressive finish, I consider writing a report focusing on a lot of hidden gems/side stories, e.g. a player being left behind by his travelmate and then proceeding to Top8.

[sdematt]

Any and all stories would be appreciated.

What was the Top 8? (Has a link been posted before?)

-Matt

[Telperion]

Any and all stories would be appreciated.

What was the Top 8? (Has a link been posted before?)

-Matt

Top 8 is here:

http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/eventcoverage/gpgnt12/welcome#1

U/B/R storm
Esper stoneblade
Rogue Show and Tell
Elves
UW Miracles
Junk
Landstill/Miracles
Maverick

[Ziveeman]

Top 8:
1. UBr Storm
2. Elf Combo
3. Esper Stoneblade
4. UB Show and Tell
5. CounterTop
6. Maverick
7. Landstill
8. Junk with Lingering Souls

Link: http://www.mtgpulse.com/event/9421

[(nameless one)]

LOL Landstill? Like control with Standstill? I love this format.

[cdr]

Here's some judge-focused pictures posted to the judge facebook: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.504301079584383.129044.196373050377189&type=3&l=54e3fb6d62

[nedleeds]

Apparently there's an Omniscience deck (http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/eventcoverage/gpgnt12/day2#7). Both the guys who developed it made day 2, and Florian Koch finished just out of the money.

Mirthful, and awesome.

That's a Show and Tell deck.

[Plague Sliver]

Wow. I have to say, bouncing your own Emrakul with Jace and re-casting it is just sick.

[spartan117]

Wow. I have to say, bouncing your own Emrakul with Jace and re-casting it is just sick.

Saw this happening 3 times in a row. Opponent had karakas, but couldn't do anything to stop emrakul being cast again and again and again.
I had the opportunity to play against that omniscience deck (piloted by former PT champ Simon Gortzen) in the last round of day2, winning 2-1 through his defense grids with my beloved canadian threshold. Man I love this deck.

Also, Goblin is again a force to be reckoned with.

[jandax]

Apparently there's an Omniscience deck (http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/eventcoverage/gpgnt12/day2#7). Both the guys who developed it made day 2, and Florian Koch finished just out of the money.

Mirthful, and awesome.

Played against this deck/guy in round 7, had an epic game three. Omniscience is the real deal with a deck built behind it. I was playing Imperial Painter and before I scooped them up he was sitting with an Emrakul, Jace and Omniscience on the board for like ten turns. Ensnaring Bridge kept me alive, and Thorn of Amethyst kept his Omniscience from being totally broken.

A slew of Imperieal Recruiters from the top were countered by the four Force of Wills he had in hand. Just once did he use Jace to Brainstorm, otherwise he ticked it up between both our decks. Twice for the known cards he Brainstormed, or on me the other times. It was sick. I had a line to get Welder and Metamorph in play to wedge a hole in his board. But all those counters...Didn't even feel bad about losing that important round. That was a fun game of Magic

[spirit of the wretch]

Apparently there's an Omniscience deck (http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/eventcoverage/gpgnt12/day2#7). Both the guys who developed it made day 2, and Florian Koch finished just out of the money.

Mirthful, and awesome.

I played a third guy last round day 1 at 6/2/0. Win and in for both of us. I was on Maverik and I honestly have to say, the deck didn't strike me as all too insane. Having to use S&T to combo is a real disadvantage.

I won game 1 off Thalia, misplayed heavily in Game 2 and took game 3 with Pridemage + Karakas.

Round 16 I was fresh out of contention (10/5/0) for money and I played next to Simon Görtzen a german pro who also was on Omniscience. His Esper opponent used the S&T to put Humility into play, that this deck just can't handle.

So, I'm not all too impressed with the deck.

[spartan117]

Round 16 I was fresh out of contention (10/5/0) for money and I played next to Simon Görtzen a german pro who also was on Omniscience. His Esper opponent used the S&T to put Humility into play, that this deck just can't handle.

That's impossible, because I was the one playing against him during round 16 and I was on canadian threshold... Are you sure about the round?

[spirit of the wretch]

That's impossible, because I was the one playing against him during round 16 and I was on canadian threshold... Are you sure about the round?

Now that you mention it, it was probably round 15. I had plenty of time to watch as my opponent progenitus'd me fairly quickly two games in a row. My bad. It was a long day with many a round of Legacy. Also I started to hit the whiskey around that time, so my memory might be a little shady =)

[Julian23]

Marc Vogt and Lukas Maurer are currently writing tournament reports. They asked me to summon the powers of The Source to help them remember which decks the following persons played in Ghent:

Wanted:
Helle Philip
Böse Timur
Gonzague Rood

Thanks for helping us out.

[Felidae]

I guess that Timur played his trademark legacy deck ( UWg homebrew control ), but I'm not 100% sure ( lets say only about 90%).

[spartan117]

I guess that Timur played his trademark legacy deck ( UWg homebrew control ), but I'm not 100% sure ( lets say only about 90%).

I'm 100% sure he was playing the same deck from annecy (UWg homebrew control with kotr, loam, vendilion, pierce and intuition i think), at least for the games I was able to see.

@spirit of the wretch: can't really blame you for drinking in Belgium, I think it should be illegal to stay sober in the country of beer :tongue:

[ThediscoPower]

Now that you mention it, it was probably round 15. I had plenty of time to watch as my opponent progenitus'd me fairly quickly two games in a row. My bad. It was a long day with many a round of Legacy. Also I started to hit the whiskey around that time, so my memory might be a little shady =)

And according to Simon himself, his deck seems to be handling humility quite well...

[spirit of the wretch]

And according to Simon himself, his deck seems to be handling humility quite well...

In the very small sample size of the one game I saw, it didn't. Then again that was only that one game.

[flrn]

Also I started to hit the whiskey around that time, so my memory might be a little shady =)

I also would've hit the whiskey after that insane Stoneforge Mystic activation.

[I am the brainwasher]

can't really blame you for drinking in Belgium, I think it should be illegal to stay sober in the country of beer

Pah! They might have 450 kinky sorts of beer, but Belgium, the country of beer? Don't make me laugh.
Fucking. Pils. Since 1842.


Not to mention Alt Beer, since 1266.

[BWM]

6-1 into 6-3 with Reanimate :-(
R9G3 was epic with double Gilded Drake-topdeck for my opponent



My opponents in the last two rounds countered pretty much every Ponder and Brainstorm they could get their hands on...

[Einherjer]

I got a question...some of you guys must have seen that guy running around and making photos of everything and everyone... I would like to have a photo of myself playing at the GP.... any clue if ALL of this pictures are downloadable somewhere?

Thanks anyways.

[JDK]

You could have just asked your friends to make some photos. :confused:

[Jonathan Alexander]

I got a question...some of you guys must have seen that guy running around and making photos of everything and everyone... I would like to have a photo of myself playing at the GP.... any clue if ALL of this pictures are downloadable somewhere?

Thanks anyways.

Was it a Chinese guy?

[tsabo_tavoc]

Was it a Chinese guy?

No. :laugh: I just took photos of my friends and my opponents.

[BWM]

In the semifinals of GPT#3 a certain Dmitry Moiseev kicked me out. I am interested in his deck, I didn't really bother at the moment, since I assumed he'd win from Ichorid, but if somebody could get me into contact with him... Thank you...

[Tinefol]

I know him. I'll message him about you.

[Einherjer]

Okay... so in any way...did any1 make photos of the whole room and stuff? I'd be glad if some1 sent me those - just pm me :)

Greetings