01/08/11 - 01/09/11 - Starcitygames.com Open Weekend: Kansas City

[Risky]

Welcome to the Starcitygames.com Kansas City Open weekend, where you will have the chance to win over $14,000 in prizes and qualify for the 2011 Starcitygames.com Invitational over the course of two fun-filled days of Magic.

For information on the StarCityGames.com Open Series, including the 2011 schedule and SCG Players' Club levels, click here!

For a map of all the Star City Games Open locations in 2011, click here!

Want to get a jump on Deck Registration? Try out our decklist form and come prepared!

EVENT SITE
Kansas City Convention Center
Bartle Room #2103
301 West 13th Street, Suite 100
Kansas City, MO 64105
Tel. (800) 821-7060
Web Site

HOTEL
As we get closer to the event date, we will be adding special hotel deals to this section. Stay tuned.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Saturday, January 8th(Doors open at 8:00 AM)

StarCityGames.com Standard Open
Start Time: 10 AM (Registration begins at 8 AM)
Entry Fee: $30
Format: Standard
Structure: Modified Swiss with a cut to the single-elimination Top 8. Quarterfinals (Top Eight) will be held on Saturday night after the Swiss. The semifinals and finals (Top Four) will be held on Sunday morning at 8 AM.
Head Judge: John Alderfer
K-Value: 32
REL: Competitive
Prizes:
1st: 25 Open Points, $2,000 & the StarCityGames.com Standard Open Trophy!
2nd: 20 Open Points, plus $800
3rd-4th: 15 Open Points, plus $500
5th-8th: 10 Open Points, plus $250
9th-16th: 5 Open Points, plus $100
17th-32nd: 3 Open Points, plus $50
Participation: 1 Open Point

Two-Headed Giant Sealed
Start Time: Registration at 2 PM., Deck Construction at 3 PM.
Entry Fee: $30 per team
Format: Current format 2HG Sealed (8 packs – build two 40-card minimum decks)
Structure: 3 rounds of Swiss
Prizes:
3-0: 14 Booster Packs per Team
2-0-1: 10 Booster Packs per Team
2-1: 6 Booster Packs per Team

StarCityGames.com Legacy Challenge
Start Time: Registration at 4 PM., Round 1 at 5 PM.
Entry Fee: $10.00 ($5.00 if you played in the StarCityGames.com Standard Open)
Format: Legacy
Structure: 4 rounds of Swiss
Prizes: 4-0: $50 Dealer Credit
3-0-1: $25 Dealer Credit and 3 Booster Packs
3-1: 6 Booster Packs
2 wins: 1 Booster Pack

Sunday, January 9th(Doors open at 8:00 AM)

StarCityGames.com Legacy Open
Start Time: 10 AM (Registration begins at 8 AM)
Entry Fee: $30
Format: Legacy
Structure: Modified Swiss with a cut to the single-elimination Top 8.
Head Judge: Wes Humenczuk
K-Value: 32
REL: Competitive
Prizes
1st: 20 Open Points, $2,000 & the StarCityGames.com Legacy Open Trophy!
2nd: 15 Open Points, plus $600
3rd-4th: 10 Open Points, plus $400
5th-8th: 5 Open Points, plus $200
9th-16th: 3 Open Points, plus $100
17th-32nd: 1 Open Point, plus $50
Participation: 1 Open Point

Starcitygames.com Draft Opens
Entry Fee: $30
Start Time: 9 AM and 1PM (Registration for both Draft Opens begins at 8AM)
Structure: 64 players per Draft Open. Draft followed by 3 rounds of Swiss, cut to a Top 8 single-elimination Draft
REL: Competitive
Prizes
1st: 10 Open Points, plus $500
2nd: 5 Open Points, plus $200
3rd-4th: 3 Open Points, plus $100
5th-8th: 1 Open Point, plus $50

Two-Headed Giant Sealed
Start Time: Registration at 1 PM., Deck Construction at 2 PM.
Entry Fee: $30.00 per team
Format: Current format 2HG Sealed (8 packs – build two 40-card minimum decks)
Structure: 3 Rounds of Swiss
Prizes:
3-0: 14 Booster Packs per Team
2-0-1: 10 Booster Packs per Team
2-1: 6 Booster Packs per Team

SIDE EVENTS
All 8 player Side Events give out Gateway foils to the top 4 players in addition to any pack prizes. The first-place finisher will also receive a Planechase promo card!

Single elimination booster drafts
Entry: $10.00
Prizes: 3 boosters to 1st Place (or entry into the next draft)

Single elimination competitive booster drafts
Entry: $15.00
Prizes: 1st Place - 8 Boosters
2nd Place - 4 Boosters

Single elimination constructed tournaments
Entry Fee: $15.00
Prizes: Box (36 Packs) to 1st Place

Four Player Commander Chaos Games
Entry Fee: $5.00
Prizes:
1st Place: $20 Dealer Credit

REGISTRATION
Registration begins at 8 AM, and ends ten (10) minutes before the event is scheduled to start. Any player who wants to enroll after registration has ended will be able to do so, but will receive a round one match loss. Players arriving after round two has been paired will not be able to enroll in the tournament.

JUDGING
Judges interested in working at this event should submit an application through dcifamily.org: http://www.dcifamily.org/events/168/staff/apply

Judge certification for level one (L1) and advancement to level two (L2) is available at this event; interested candidates should make arrangements with Riki Hayashi at riki.hayashi@starcitygames.com prior to the event.

JOIN THE CLUB
Each Starcitygames.com Open event (Standard, Legacy, and Draft) awards Open Points to all participating players. Earning 4 Open Points gets you to Level 1 in the Starcitygames.com Players' Club, which gets you a free pack of sleeves at every future Open Weekend that you attend. Appearance fees, free entry and byes in Constructed Opens, all the way up to a full playset (4x of each card, including mythics) of every new regular Magic set!

QUALIFY FOR THE INVITATIONAL!
Last year, qualification for the Invitational was based on Open Points. This year, we’ve simplified the system! Here’s how you can qualify for a StarCityGames.com Invitational tournament:
* Finish in the Top 8 of a Standard or Legacy Open
* Win a Draft Open
* Achieve Level 2 or 3 in the Players' Club

EVENT COVERAGE
Each StarCityGames.com Open Series weekend, and the 2011 StarCityGames.com Invitational, will be covered live on the StarCityGames.com website by Glenn Jones along with live video coverage all day long! Anyone who can’t attend our events in person will now be able to follow all the action from the comfort of their own home!

NEED CARDS?
Buy, sell and trade with America’s largest Magic the Gathering retailer! StarCityGames.com will have a massive dealer booth set up all weekend long! How may we help you?

TRADING
Although trading is both allowed and encouraged, please note that the following things are not permitted at this event:

-Buying/selling cards with anyone except for our authorized dealer(s)
-Soliciting to buy/sell cards elsewhere
-Advertising without receiving permission from StarCityGames.com’s on-site Event Manager
-Offering to “alter” cards in exchange for some form of compensation
-Utilizing an excessive amount of space when trading
-Using suitcases, handcarts, luggage carts, etc. for the purpose of transporting excessive amounts of trade stock.

Please note that failure to obey these rules may result in all involved parties being both removed from the event without refund, and banned from attending future events.

DIRECTIONS
For directions to the venue, use Google Maps.

From Lenexa and Overland Park, Kan.
Take I-35 North to downtown KC/Broadway exit. Turn left (north) onto Broadway Boulevard - follow Broadway Boulevard north to 12th Street. Turn right onto 12th Street and follow 12th Street east to Wyandotte Street. (Approximately 2 blocks). Turn right on Wyandotte Street and the entrance to the Barney Allis Plaza parking garage is to the immediate right, before the intersection of 13th and Wyandotte Streets.

From Kansas City North
Take I-29 South over the Broadway Bridge. Continue south on Broadway Boulevard to 12th Street. Turn left (east) onto 12th Street and follow 12th Street east to Wyandotte St. (approximately 2 blocks). Turn right onto Wyandotte St. and the entrance to the Barney Allis Plaza parking garage is to the immediate right, before the intersection of 13th and Wyandotte Streets.

From Kansas City, Kan.
Take I-70 East to Broadway Boulevard exit. Turn right (south) onto Broadway Boulevard. Proceed to 12th Street, turn left, and follow 12th Street east to Wyandotte St. (approximately 2 blocks). Turn right on Wyandotte Street. The Barney Allis parking garage is located, before the intersection of 13th and Wyandotte Streets.

From the Country Club Plaza area
Go north on Main St. to 13th Street. Turn left (west) on 13th Street and drive approximately 2 blocks to Wyandotte St. Turn right onto Wyandotte St. The parking garage will be on the immediate left side of the street, before the intersection of 12th and Wyandotte Streets.

MORE INFORMATION
Players who want specific information can contact us at events@starcitygames.com or by calling (540) 767-GAME (4263). New players will want to read our player FAQ.

[Risky]

Can't believe it's December already. Just over a month until Kansas City!

[NicholasAtSCG]

Now with additional hotel information!

Holiday Inn Kansas City Downtown -- Aladdin
1215 Wyandotte Street
Kansas City, MO 64105
Phone: (816) 421-8888
Distance to Convention Center: 0.3 miles (approx. 3.5 blocks)
Valet Parking: $15/night with unlimited in/out privileges
Self-Parking: Lot across the street

Room Rate: $89+tax single bed, $99+tax double bed
Group Name: Star City Games Attendees
Group Code: STR
Cut-Off Date for Group Reservations: 12/31/2010
Reservation Link: http://bit.ly/hzcdtX

La Quinta KC North
2214 Taney
Kansas City, MO 64116
Phone: (816) 221-1200
Parking: Free
Rate: $49/night
Reservation Link: http://bit.ly/eoOAKB

[Risky]

Just a few short (holiday) weeks to go until the first Open weekend of the new year.

[SpikeyMikey]

So.... Who's going?

[Mark Sun]

I am 90% on going, the part where I have to figure out what to play post-banning is the difficult part.

Excited though, the failures of the previous year can be put behind. Here's to a better 2011.

[SpikeyMikey]

I am 90% on going, the part where I have to figure out what to play post-banning is the difficult part.

Excited though, the failures of the previous year can be put behind. Here's to a better 2011.

Let me know if you go; I'll be there with Jaco and a couple of his friends. I still need to shake your hand.

[RaNDoMxGeSTuReS]

I'm attending this

[Risky]

I'm attending this

See you there!

[Shawn]

At least two of us are coming from Cedar Falls.

[SpikeyMikey]

Well I just lost my feature match. 4-1-0 now. Still in it for T8. Same for Morbid. Go Source!!!

[ummon]

Well I just lost my feature match. 4-1-0 now. Still in it for T8. Same for Morbid. Go Source!!!

Nice! Good luck.

[Julian23]

Take it down! For The Source!

[justjake54]

Yeah! GO MORBID!

[SpikeyMikey]

Started 4-0, ended 4-4. I'm a bad player and apparently it shows.

[ummon]

Started 4-0, ended 4-4. I'm a bad player and apparently it shows.

Aww too bad. Look on the bright side: you did a helluva lot better than I will do this weekend. xD

[Michael Keller]

Started 4-0, ended 4-4. I'm a bad player and apparently it shows.

You're not a bad player I'm sure. You probably just ended up making play mistakes at inopportune times that cost you some big plays. I was watching the live feed from that event over on their website and they had some idiot on there who got creamed in Standard the day before bashing Legacy the entire broadcast.

He used the obligatory "I hate losing turn one" fallacy. Everyone pretty much berated the guy. He wound up getting smashed playing some terrible Junk variant running Standard cards after botching a Hymn against ANT plucking two lands and having his opponent turn around to cream in his face with an Ad Nauseam.

[SpikeyMikey]

You're not a bad player I'm sure. You probably just ended up making play mistakes at inopportune times that cost you some big plays. I was watching the live feed from that event over on their website and they had some idiot on there who got creamed in Standard the day before bashing Legacy the entire broadcast.

He used the obligatory "I hate losing turn one" fallacy. Everyone pretty much berated the guy. He wound up getting smashed playing some terrible Junk variant running Standard cards after botching a Hymn against ANT plucking two lands and having his opponent turn around to cream in his face with an Ad Nauseam.

I went on a punting spree after round 5 (and made at least 1 mistake in round 5 under the camera, I want to check the video too see if there were more, but I can't find it anywhere). Honestly, I know I made a few mistakes prior to that too, but managed to win through them. My deck was pretty amazing, but card selection can only pull you out of so many play errors. But it was a good tournament. I was a little surprised that there was almost no presence of VV decks there. I saw 2 when I was scouting early, one U/G and one U/G/B with Ooze. Caleb's Painter/'stone deck was pretty nuts, I had good draws or I would've never beaten him in round 3. Game one he opened with Grindstone and went for the win turn 2 with LED and Servant. I had the Force for the Servant and drew another one off Cold-Eyed Selkie 2 turns later to stop a second Painter he Intuitioned for. But he blew me out in G2 with an unexpected SnT Emrakul. I think it's a strong deck, with Intuition and Welder and Trinket Mage. Tons of gas.

Surprising top 8 too, with Fish making it (Fish was getting pounded all day long, I beat it rounds 1 and 2 and didn't see anyone playing them near me after that) and 2 Goblins decks. A lot of people were playing Rock too, but it looked like it was mostly crowded around the middle tables.

[Mark Sun]

Well, I just got home after splitting the drive back to Cincinnati with Wienburg and then another hour and a half to Columbus. Oddly, I'm fairly awake for four hours of sleep.

I started 5-1 and was 13th in the standings going into the seventh round, but unfortunately was paired against two combo decks to end the tournament, and not the kind that kills you with Tendrils of Agony. So I finished 5-3, 39th in the standings and pretty far from the money. I played Cat Zoo, with the following matchups:

Round 1: UWb Landstill, 2-0 games, 1-0 matches
Round 2: Affinity, 2-1 games, 2-0 matches
Round 3: UW Enlightened Tutor Control, 2-0 games, 3-0 matches
Round 4: Lotus Cobra Rock (Max McCall's list, as far as I could tell), 2-0 games, 4-0 matches
Round 5: Burn, 1-2 games, 4-1 matches
Round 6: Merfolk, 2-1 games, 5-1 matches
Round 7: Spiral Tide, 0-2 games, 5-2 matches
Round 8: WelderStone with Show and Tell SB Plan (Caleb Durward), 0-2 games, 5-3 matches


The last two rounds were pretty much on the magnitude of banging my head against concrete for two rounds, I played 6 turns of Magic each round and died on the third turn (well, I scooped to Emrakul g2 of the last round, but whatever). Mainly with the irony that I had gone to dinner with Caleb Durward's crew the night before and had suggested the Show and Tell plan, and had promptly cut Karakas the morning of the event. Pretty disappointing for the start that I had, but that's Magic.

I'll probably do a write-up regardless, while it's still fresh in my head. Was great to meet SpikeyMikey, JACO, and many more.

[ummon]

But he blew me out in G2 with an unexpected SnT Emrakul.

(well, I scooped to Emrakul g2 of the last round, but whatever). Mainly with the irony that I had gone to dinner with Caleb Durward's crew the night before and had suggested the Show and Tell plan, and had promptly cut Karakas the morning of the event.