Niels Molle is the UK World Magic Cup team Captain and returns to the show with 2 Grand Prix Top 8 finishes and a Gold level Pro. Originally from the Netherlands but coming to us from England.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Neils Molle when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep248
Niels has spent the year playing more Magic Online and a lot more Grand Prix.
Niels' Limited game has improved a bunch this past season.
Niels played a Mardu vehicles lost. As the English team captain, he's with the other members to prepare for the World Magic Cup.
There are several tips 1 deck with Temur energy being the top.
In reflection, Niels realizes that his technical gameplay needs work. (Money players struggle with this.) His solution is to slow down and consider the lines more.
Players are sometimes hesitant to take the next step. There's no substitute for just going.
Neils can be found in the MTG Pro Tutor Facebook group.
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com
Quentin Martin has 4 Grand Prix top 8s, 1 Pro Tour top 8 and multiple top 16s. He’s played on the Worlds team for Canada and most recently took 4th at the UK Nationals in 2017. He was the #1 player in the UK for 8 years, has his own Player's Card and is still near the top of the UK list based on Pro points. Quentin lives in Douglas, Isle of Man.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Quentin Martin when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep247
Ice Age/Mirage
Ravnica City of Guilds
Solemn Simulacrum
Quentin realized he wasn't as good at playing as his peers. But his strength was in the analytics. He focused on understanding the metagame.
In a feature match on the Pro Tour, Quentin was playing to make top 8. A judge came over mid-game and said there was a mistake with his deck registration and he got a loss.
He reviewed the whole situation and realized he wouldn't have done anything differently. After he knew that, he stopped beating himself up about it.
Making first Grand Prix top 8; top 8 in UK Nationals 2017; Getting a Player Card
Magic taught Quentin how to make friends and allowed him to see the world.
Sleep well the night before. Eat well. Stay hydrated. Forget your lost match.
Not asking 'why'. Talk with players about their lines. Also, not thinking player don't consider their turn ahead of time.
Smile and have fun. Go with your gut.
Quentin can be found in the MTG Pro Tutor Facebook group.
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com
Javier Dominguez returns to MTG Pro Tutor after two years of focused improvement. He's a Spanish Magic player with 6 Grand Prix Top 8s, including 2 Wins, 4 Pro Tour Top 16s, and just recently placed 2nd in the 2017 Magic Worlds Championship. Javier lives in Palau de Plegamans. (Check out episode 47 for his first appearance on the podcast.)
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Javier Dominguez when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep246
Javier leveled up by playing more and really focusing on improving. Last time he was on he was a Silver Pro and now his Platinum focusing on improving has paid off.
In testing, Javier quickly learned that forcing a tribe/archetype would not work. He focused on Limited and played a deck he knew for Constructed.
Consider that others are thinking too. All parties are doing their best.
Not listening to others. It's easy to assume you know the matchup but you'll be surprised when you play the other side.
Know your Constructed deck inside and out.
Magic Online, CFB, Record your drafts
Twitter:@Thalaiet
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com
Pete Ward made 2nd place twice at World Magic Cup Qualifiers and has made 1st place once. He went 10-6 at Pro Tour Aether Revolt and most recently got 3rd place at English Nationals 2017. Pete lives in Bath, England.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Pete Ward when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep245
Return to Ravnica
Origins
Nantuko Husk
Pete struggled with confidence at first. He wouldn't think he had a chance if he played against a good player. By constantly playing, Pete got more comfortable.
Pete recognizes times when his motivation to play is lower. However, by having people who he knows want to see him play keeps him going.
Winning the WMCQ and playing on the English Worlds Team.
Playing for the World Magic Cup Team.
Players don't learn from every game. There's always something you could have done better.
Pete plays a lot of Magic Online and gets really comfortable with the format.
Take something away from every game.
Twitter:@Killablastlol
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com
Andrew Baeckstrom is a member of team Channel Fireball Fire and was on the US National Team in 2014. He’s made Silver for the last 3 years and has 3 Grand Prix top 8s to his name including a win at GP Providence 2017. Andrew lives in Denver, Colorado.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Andrew Baeckstrom when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep244
Prophecy
Dragons of Tarkir
Rancor
Andrew struggled with the mindset that because everyone had been practicing for a long time that he had to come up with some crazy brew that no one was prepared for. He played really bad decks until his friend Gaby snapped him out of it.
At Pro Tour Journey into Nyx, Andrew punted and lost his chance for top 8.
Qualifying for his first Pro Tour.
The journey from player to a game designer.
Winning a single match at a draft. First top 8 at a PTQ. At his second GP, Andrew made top 4. Winning World Magic Cup Qualifier 2014.
Not looking for opportunities to learn from other players. Magic is a 'big ego' sport and that gets in the way of their improving.
Make sure you're having fun.
Twitter:@abaeckst
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com
Leon Van der Linden played for the Dutch World Magic Cup Team in 2016 and has 1 Grand Prix Top 8 where he was a finalist at GP Turin 2017. Leon lives in the Netherlands.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Leon Van der Linden when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep243
Return to Ravnica
Hour of Devastation
Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
Getting a single win at an FNM. Leon started looking online and talking to people who are better than him. Being a student of Magic has served him well.
Leon made a lot of top 8's in the PPTQs system but never closed the tournament.
Even if you're losing you're still learning. Now, Leon is bronze and doesn't have to so PPTQs anymore.
Qualifying for the World Magic Cup in 2016.
Always be polite. Wish your opponent good luck.
Going to his first Grand Prix and making day 2. Making day 2 again, showed Leon he can do this.
Not taking side boarding seriously.
Leon chooses to play Mardu vehicles because he had experience with the deck.
Be passionate about Magic.
Leon can be found in the MTG Pro Tutor Facebook group.
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com
Sam Rubin has one of the largest Magic: The Gathering Twitch channels and has over 8 thousand followers and 2 Star City Game Top 8's. He travels to various tournaments around the world as he strives to get on the Pro Tour. Sam is from Manchester, Connecticut.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Sam Rubin when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep242
Return to Ravnica
Gatecrash / Khans of Tarkir
Wojek Halberdiers
Sam's friends didn't go to play competitively. From game one, Sam knew he wanted to go big. Since his friends didn't want to play at that level, Sam turned to MTGO and played a lot on that platform.
Sam played at a team event and did very well. The team wanted to go to another event in Seattle but delayed in booking the flight until it was too late. He let his team down and felt terrible. He learned so much from this experience.
After Hour of Devastation comes out, Sam had over 800 live viewers. This was huge for him.
Getting his first check after a Magic event. Getting 100 viewers on Twitch.
Phil at Get Some Gaming, Travis Woo
Players can prepare better. The more you put in, the more you get out.
Whatever you want in life, you have to work for it. You get out what you put in.
Twitter:@Samball49
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com
Matthew Nickolai has 1 Grand Prix top 8 at GP Toronto 2017 and was a Junior Super Series Super Star. You may recognize him from his twitch stream @ twitch.tv/mattame. Matt lives in Waterford, Michigan.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Matthew Nickolai when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep241
Mercadian Masques / Invasion
Ravnica City of Guilds
Dark Confidant
Playing his own thing until he saw others playing really good decks. He copied those decks and started doing really well. He learned to embrace the works of others.
Matt made it to the finals of a big event and would have gone to Nationals if he won. He lost and took a break from Magic. Taking a break isn't always bad.
Top 8 at GP Toronto 2017.
Savage Stomp - green powerhouse
Snapping Sailback
Charging Monstrosaur
Players put cards on their Limited deck that is sub-optimal. Watch others who are better than you and practice a bunch.
For Limited events, it is very important to be early on evaluating cards. Knowing what's good when others don't take practice but it is worth it.
Play more Limited. ;)
Twitter:@MatthewNickolai
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com
Christian Hauck has 3 Grand Prix Top 8`s, the most recent being the Standard GP Turin 2017. Christian lives in Mutterstadt Germany.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Christian Hauck when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep240
German Limited Edition
Alpha/Beta
Knight of the Reliquary
Christian played really well and made day 2 at his first GP. But even though he played well and got a good result it wasn't enough. This early challenge was also his lowest point. He learned to embrace variance.
Making top 8 at a National tournament for the first time.
Make the best of any situation you're freed with.
Players keep too many hands. You need to be more willing to toss an OK seven-card hand for the chance of a great six-carder.
Christian reviewed the decks that did well in the most recent event and then studied the metagame.
Keep trying. Never give up even when you lose.
Christian can be found in the MTG Pro Tutor Facebook group.
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com