From: JonPKibble@aol.com Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 16:05:30 EST To: dep6@ix.netcom.com Subject: JSS Tourney Report Tourney Report for Junior Super Series Eastern Divisional Challenge (15-17 division) at Neutral Ground NYC. (February 28, 1999) Jon Prywes DCI#: 133896 drake.dec aka coffee-go --------------- 4 Expunge 4 Intuition 4 Counterspell 4 Force Spike 4 Mana Leak 4 Forbid 4 Peregrine Drake 4 Corpse Dance 4 Altar of Dementia 4 Swamp 4 Rootwater Depths 16 Island Sideboard: 4 Lobotomy, 4 Bottle Gnomes, 4 Hydroblast, 3 Turnabout ------------------------- I was looking forward to playing in this tournament mainly because it would be my first Junior Super Series event I had ever played in. Being 17, it would also be my last year to try and make it. Two weeks ago I was almost going to play, but without the complete deck and not enough playtest, I decided against it. It was a good choice because Toby Wachter as well as fellow teammate Zev Gurwitz ended up getting the 2 invites (congrats on 2/13, Zev.) Since a few had already qualified I figured I would have a better chance. After playtesting with Zev and his recurring whale deck for hours on end, I was ready to take on the rest of the competition. Although I had not playtested against Enchanted Stroke and Spiral Blue, I felt I would be able to play correctly against them. I had playtested a fair amount against sligh and performed well. I expected a lot of sligh. The deck I chose to play was Demented Drake, aka Dancing Drake, aka Coffee-Go (like draw go but you win instantly at some point quite often, sometimes you win by attacking.) The 16 counters made it especially strong against combo decks, which I would find out to be dominating the tournament scene even more than I expected. Onto the report: Round 1 vs Alex Kornhuber playing Spiral Blue (without ancient tombs) First game I counter stuff and win with my combo. Alex's Dream Halls and Time Spiral let me counter his stuff more easily. Expunges go out for Lobotomies. I lobotomy his time spirals, and win with damage. (2-0) Matches 1-0 Games 2-0 Round 2 vs Dennis Leventhal, also playing Spiral Blue Dennis' version is much better than Alex's. Not only that, but Dennis is also an 1875 rated player. Still, I have some confidence. I end up losing both games but I have a much better time than I thought I would. (0-2) Matches 1-1 Games 2-2 Round 3 vs Shaun Fader playing Sligh I was excited to be playing sligh. After playtesting so much and winning against sligh with counters and dancing gnomes after sideboard, I thought I could do it. On the way up to Neutral Ground, Zev asks me, what do I do against Scald? I say, nobody plays Scald. But onto the game. 1st game he plays mogg raider and I think, this deck sucks. But I can only counter some stuff and he gets the upper hand with damage. Game 2 in go gnomes and blasts. Scald comes out sometime later and I can't do anything. I get dancing gnomes but I take damage in the process so it doesnt help. I lose two straight. (0-2) Matches 1-2 Games 2-4 Round 4 vs David Daniel playing Enchanted Stroke I figure, I can go 3-2 and make top 8. After losing first game because of not expecting a second power sink, I figure, I better win the next two. So next game, Expunges go out for Lobotomies. Lobotmy takes all his strokes. I play well and win. 3rd game I also take. (2-1) Matches 2-2 Games 4-5 Things are looking up. Round 5 vs Charles Ignacio playing RecSur with annoying thrull surgeons and duress Game 1 he gets stuff and wins on infinite thingy with whale. Game 2 ask if he has pyroblast and he laughs. I tap out to play drake (bad play) and he has pyroblast. He almost goes off but is one mana short. I untap and take a breathe of relief, and win the game. I win 3rd game as well. (2-1) Matches 3-2 Games 6-6 Yay I make top 8! Top 8 vs Billy Scirabba, from Dragon's Den playing 5CG Dragons Den is my local card store with tournaments. Billy is a fellow player from there and we have been playtesting some. He has been winning more often than not so I am a bit worried. Nonetheless, I combo first game and he is decked. 2nd game he plays 2nd turn planar void and I don't fret. I win with drake attacks. Billy is a good very player though and did not make any bad plays. 2-0 Matches 4-2 Games 8-6 Top 4 vs John Esposito playing Enchanted Stroke For some reason I am not too scared of this guy. I play cautiously and win first game. 2nd game he turnabouts me on upkeep and i play the wrong counter (mana leak instead of forbid) i get tapped out and he time spirals on his turn. He gets nothing good though so i get another turn. I think I have him after I lobotomy his strokes, but i play messy and he gets hermetic crab infinite and wins. 3rd game I lobotomy his earthcrafts, and win. Matches 5-2 Games 10-7 I MAKE TOP 2!!!!! \With a 1605 rating I at first think I have no chance of beating Dennis in the finals. He asks if I want to split winner takes 150/loser 50. But I think it over and realize that $50 isn't that much. Might as well live dangerously. Finals vs Dennis Leventhal with Spiral Blue (revisited) Game 1 I hand him the combo and win Game 2 he goes off and I can't do anything Game 3 I combo again! Matches 6-2 Games 12-8 I never thought I could beat him, but my confidence and determination paid off. I get $200 and a buncha packs and we both get invites. I jump around and have a good time. Props: Wizards of the Coast: 6th edition is gonna be GOOD. Apprentice is all worked out now. The DCI has really been doing a good job. Slops: Can't think of anyone to slop, everyone is so cool. Jon Prywes JonPKibble@hotmail.com http://members.aol.com/jonpkibble/