Greg Sokol is an MTG streamer and tutor, he's an MTGO PTQ winner (Dominaria sealed), got 5th place at Grand Prix Orlando 2018, and is self-taught from grinding on MTGO. (rating as low as 12-1300!) Greg lives in Mexico City, Mexico.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Greg Sokol when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep300
First Set
Judgment
Favorite Set
Dominaria/Khans of Tarkir
Favorite Card
Wellwisher
Early Challenge
Greg didn't have a game store close by so he played a lot on MTGO. Greg also struggled with understanding and coping with variance.
Worst Magic Moment
Greg was playing a win-and-in for top 8 and his opponent was clearly not as good as he was. When his opponent won, Greg was really upset. From that, Greg learned to remember that Magic is a game.
Proudest Magic Moment
Finally qualifying for the Pro Tour. Greg was traveling and took time to do an online event and made it to the end and qualified.
Biggest Mistake Players Make
Knowing when to think is the biggest skill you can have in Magic.
Grand Prix Preparation
The thing that helped the most was having a friend to play with and doubling down on wanting a specific match up to be amazing.
Parting Guidance
Magic is a game. Enjoy it and treat your opponent with respect.
Connect With Greg Sokol
Twitter:@GMANSokol
Check Out Magic Story
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
Kyle Cooper made his first Grand Prix top 8 at GP Orlando 2018 and is excited to share with others who are on the path to the Pro Tour. Kyle lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Kyle Cooper when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep299
First Set
Innistrad
Favorite Set
Innistrad
Favorite Card
Sensei's Divining Top
Early Challenge
Doing well at FNMs. But Kyle stuck with Magic when he started planning more during the week he started to get better.
Proudest Magic Moment
Top 8ing his first Grand Prix.
What Have You Learned From Magic
Patience. Kyle recognizes he plays fast and Magic has helped him learn patience with others. Also, he learned to respect.
Biggest Mistake Players Make
Players foreshadow what they are going to do. Think before you play so you don't give away information.
Parting Guidance
Do what you want with Magic. Magic fits many styles. Competitive, casual, EDH, whatever. Just play what and how you want.
Connect With Kyle Cooper
Kyle can be found in the MTG Pro Tutor Facebook group.
Check Out Magic Story
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
Patrick Chapin, “The Innovator,” is a Hall of Famer, Pro Tour Champion, and 5-time PT Top 8 competitor. Author of Next Level Magic and Next Level Deckbuilding, his articles can be found on StarCityGames.com and podcast at TopLevelPodcast.com.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Patrick Chapin when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep298
01: Patrick Chapin Shares Tips for Improving Yourself and says Don't Try to Convince others You're the Best
First Set
The Dark
Favorite Set
Innistrad (Best designed) / 
Khans of Tarkir block
Favorite Card
Jace, the Mind Sculptor
What makes Magic fun for you?
First and foremost the people. The constant iteration.
Early Challenge
Trying to convince people that he was actually good.
Level Up Moment
Realizing that trying to convince people that he was actually good was not as useful as focusing on humbly improving himself.
Proudest Magic Moment
Inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Winning Pro Tour Journey Into Nyx.
Best Format
Standard
Current Standard Deck
![clans_abzan[1]](http://www.mtgprotutor.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/clans_abzan1-150x150.jpg)
Biggest Mistake Players Make
Focusing their energy on convincing people they are good instead of focusing on finding the truth about how they play. Look for mistakes in every match.
Free Resources!
02: Patrick Chapin Shares Card Evaluation
Evaluation Tips
Look at every card and ask: "Why was this card printed? Who is it for? HOW can I use this card?"
Limited Tips
Sealed is often slower but more powerful (compared to draft) because you have six booster packs instead of three. This leads to bomb centric decks.
Focus on the key cards you passed, not every card in the pack.
Team Building
Use message groups and in-person meetings to collaborate with your team. You will only improve to the level of the best player in your group. Bring your group up and/or find more talent if you're the best in your group.
Play Testing
Constant communication with the teammate as well as taking the two weeks before a Pro Tour off to playtest with the team has been a working formula for Patrick.
Improvement
Identify what you want to improve first: your collection, win ratio, deck building skills, etc... and focus just on that
Magic Resource
Interview Links
105: Patrick Chapin Returns! Your Questions Answered - 1 Year of MTG Pro Tutor
Sideboarding
Sideboards are there to tweak and tune your strategy. Know what your strategy is. Look at similar strategies and make your sideboard similar.
Right now, sweepers are very popular - Languish and Planar Outburst.
Building Local Interest
If you have casual players that you would like to take to the next level, organize regular draft nights. Break off into teams after the draft portion so people can help each other build decks.
If you have new players who don't know the rules, introduce them to a Duels of the Planeswalkers and see if they stick around and want more after a few weeks.
Missing Triggers
Create a shortcut system for your brain. Also, when playtesting, NO TAKE BACKS!!
Practice how you want to play at events. Track your mistakes and do a push up for each one you do.
Going to Grand Prix and Other Big Events
Grand Prixs are like gaming conventions. JUST GO and enjoy it!
You will never feel ready if you don't go. If you are nervous about the main event then just show up and walk around, play in some side events, visit artists and vendors and soak it all in.
When you participate in the main event, play all the rounds. You paid to play Magic and get experience. Utilize all the time you have. Play all the rounds even if you're knocked out early.
Playing against different decks and opponents you don't know is invaluable.
Home Brew vs. Net Deck
By playing your own brew all the time you are missing out on learning what's working now and why it's working.
By net decking all the time you will always be a week or so behind.
Mix it up. Net deck 25% of the time and build your own deck 25% of the time. The other 50% is up to you to go where the wind blows.
See what's working at large but try out your own ideas too.
Read: Information Cascades in Magic on StarCityGames
Make Sure It's Fun
Don't force yourself to play Magic (or play more Magic) just because you feel like that's what you SHOULD be doing, Make sure it stays fun.
Pay Attention to Opponent
Every time your opponent makes a play, especially if it's not obvious why ask yourself "Why did they do that?"
Have a notebook and write down, after the match, what your opponent did so you can talk about it with others later.
BONUS: Write down all the mistakes you made (win or lose) and what you learned and SHARE THAT LIST!
Don't let your brain hide your errors from you. Get used to facing them and talking about them.
The MTG Pro Tutor Facebook group is the perfect place to post your list because of the healthy, uplifting community there who is ready to help.
Mulligan Decisions
Nowadays you can keep slightly lighter mana hands because you can scry.
Consider what your opponent is playing and have a plan based on the cards in your hand. If there is no viable plan, then mulligan.
If you don't know what your opponent is playing, assume they are on an aggressive strategy. How does your hand line up in that match?
Coping with Counterspells
If you tilt when playing a control mage then watch someone play a control deck and ask questions. Learn when they are vulnerable so you know when to strike.
Dealing With Ulamog
Hand disruption is the best way to deal with Ulamog. Infinite Obliteration is the prime answer.
Biggest Mistake
Players lie to themselves.
You can only control what you can control. People shift the blame to things they can't control and then use that to hide from the real problem.
Which is that they are making mistakes and need to address it.
Improvement Suggestions
Focus on what really matters right now.
Magic Resource
Information Cascades in Magic on StarCityGames
Eternal
Patrick is working alongside other great Magic players at Direwolf Digital to release a new game called Eternal.
Check it out when it goes into open Beta soon.
Connect With Patrick Chapin
Twitter: @thepchapin
Check Out Magic Story
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
Jon Finkel’s prolific talents and sterling resume earned him the nickname “Jonny Magic” long ago. After a substantial hiatus, Jon Finkel returned to the Pro Tour and immediately demonstrated why he’s widely considered the greatest player of all time by winning PT Kuala Lumpur in 2008 and Top 8’ing PT Avacyn Restored and PT Dark Ascension in 2012.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Jon Finkel when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep297
Jon Finkel's Desperate Ravings on Boosting Your Skill as a Magic Player
Jon Finkel's prolific talents and sterling resume earned him the nickname "Jonny Magic" long ago. After a substantial hiatus, Jon Finkel returned to the Pro Tour and immediately demonstrated why he's widely considered the greatest player of all time by winning PT Kuala Lumpur in 2008 and Top 8'ing PT Avacyn Restored and PT Dark Ascension in 2012.
First Set
Antiquities (1994)
Favorite Set
Innistrad (2011) - "Was the pinnacle of Limited set design."
Favorite Card
Desperate Ravings
What makes Magic fun for you?
The depth of the game and the ability to add on to the basic framework through the expansions is what keeps Jon engaged.
Early Challenge
Not running enough lands in control decks and not playing 60 card decks.
Level Up Moment
Realizing that playing other decks outside your comfort zone can lead to growth and improvement as a player, not to mention better results.
Proudest Magic Moment
Making first Pro Tour Top 8 at Chicago in 1997
Best Format
Draft
Biggest Mistake Players Make
Not being open to playing the best deck. Not playing Magic with the intention to improve. You need to be conscious of what you play and how you play so you can improve.
Jon Finkel on How To Build a Team and Pick the Best Card
Jon Finkel's prolific talents and sterling resume earned him the nickname "Jonny Magic" long ago. After a substantial hiatus, Jon Finkel returned to the Pro Tour and immediately demonstrated why he's widely considered the greatest player of all time by winning PT Kuala Lumpur in 2008 and Top 8'ing PT Avacyn Restored and PT Dark Ascension in 2012.
Evaluation Tips
Rather than opening up the spoiler every week to see what's new, Jon gets the best grasp on a new set simple by drafting it.
Limited Tips
In Sealed you'll get powerful bombs that you really want to play but your deck will be less streamlined than in the draft.
If there are two good black cards don't take a slightly worse red card because you "don't want to fight for black". Just pick the best card.
Team Building
Having a team is critical to improving. Find the best players you can but make sure you get along with them personally because you'll be spending a lot of time with them.
Improvement
Take advantage of draft simulators. Rebuild packs with friends so you can draft. Beg, borrow and use proxies if you're on a budget and need to test deck ideas.
Be critical of your plays so you can improve
Interview Links
Connect with Jon
Twitter: @Jonnymagic00
Check Out Magic Story
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
Aleksa Telarov has an impressive Magic record with 5 Grand Prix top 8's (including 1 win), a World Magic Cup top 8, 3rd place at the 2014 MOCS, is a 9 time National Champion and has finished 12th place at a Pro Tour! Aleksa lives in Serbia.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Aleksa Telarov when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep296
Year In Review
Aleksa was on the show back on episode 192. He returns to the podcast after some impressive results. This year he's been through some downs and fought through them to stick with Magic.
Pro Tour Dominaria
Aleksa walks through his Pro Tour Dominaria experience in detail and breaks down what happened and what he learned.
Parting Guidance
Don't get mad playing Magic. Remember it's a game and enjoy it.
Connect With Aleksa Telarov
Twitter:@AleksaTelarov
Check Out Magic Story
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