Jon Stern has been playing competitive Magic off an on for a long time but started to really take it seriously in 2012. He has 7 Grand Prix Top 8s including wins in Atlantic City 2013 and Atlanta 2014. He hasn’t broken through for a Pro Tour Top 8 yet but has a Top 16 and a couple Top 20 finishes.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Jon Stern when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep187
Revised
Invasion block
Aquamoeba
Standstill
You're rewarded based on the decisions you make.
Knowing how to prepare for tournaments. Joining a team and preparing in a professional manner.
Forgetting to write down two cards in deck registry led to a game loss.
Qualifying for his first Grand Prix Top 8.
Winning his first Grand Prix.
Planning ahead, making decisions.
Understand there is variance. Magic is a number game. Trust yourself.
Deck building in a new format.
You're not going to win every time but that doesn't mean you're on the wrong track.
Having an unlearning attitude. There is a learning curve in Magic and you can move up by talking, listening, asking and learning.
Jon focuses on time management. He looks at how much time he has to prepare and chooses his activities accordingly (Main board, side board, play testing).
Constructed
Realize that a lot of people are going to play one of the top 2 decks, card for card. This is exploitable.
Test with a purpose. Don't kill yourself over deck selection.
MTG Goldfish, MTG Top 8, Magic Online League results
Twitter:@JonSternMTL
Magic Story brings the lore of the Multiverse to life in an audio presentation never before heard in the Magic community.
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Bronson Gervasi planned a trip in 2017 to do the Star City Games tour starting with SCG open Columbus. From there he played in Richmond, then in the regionals in Baltimore, and finally at the Grand Prix in Pittsburgh where he made his first GP Top 8, qualifying for the Pro Tour for the first time.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Bronson Gervasi when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep186
M12
New Phyrexia
Death's Shadow
The competitive aspect of the game is very appealing.
Coming to grips with variance, Bronson struggled with giving up early after a few losses.
At a Regionals, Bronson made it to the top 8 and then lost, missing the Pro Tour invite. He had to multi-game and learned to shuffle a lot.
At his first GP, Bronson played a friend's deck in a side event and won. He got invited to a TCG 50k events.
Bronson has applied Magic to business and interpersonal relationships.
Standard
Bronson is working on seeing where the meta is going and developing the next winning deck. He also knows he's not the best-controlling player.
Bronson tends to make riskier plays and he sees too many players be too cautious.
Evaluate the best decks and decide whether to beat them or join them. Make the deck your own by tweaking and tuning.
Every Standard card, commander deck
Deciding to play the best deck and not give up mentally. Don't think about future games, stay focused.
Stave off mental defeat by stay positive and not giving up.
Bronson 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
AJ Sacher is one of the greatest minds in Magic: The Gathering. He has 2 Grand Prix top 8s and 15 StarCityGames top 8s with 2 wins. He’s created content for StarCityGames, TCG Player and is currently writing articles, shooting videos and streaming for Numot Gaming. AJ lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from AJ Sacher when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep185
Portal
Kamigawa - Time Spiral
Brainstorm
Hubris. AJ thought he knew more than everyone and it stopped him from progressing until he realized this got in his way.
Going Pro after just over a year. AJ made top 8 of a GP in Denver. This was a turning point for AJ.
At Pro Tour, San Juan AJ didn't win a game. He also turned down an offer to play the best deck. AJ realized that he had to take care of himself first.
Top 8 at GP Costa Rica / Meeting his heroes as peers.
Time management, resources management, critical thinking, deduction, induction, etc.
Legacy
Time management is critical. These are only so many hours to prepare for a tournament, utilize that time that time wisely.
People's pride get in the way of their learning. Also, people just play cards on autopilot instead of actually playing a game of Magic.
Hydrate, eat, wash your face, go to the bathroom and sleep.
Hubris is poisonous. Have the humility to learn. Also, reflect on what you want out of Magic.
SCG, CFB, TCG Player, Numotg gaming, Steaming (Twitch)
Twitter:@AJSacher
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
Daniel Fournier is a Toronto native, known locally for his dedication to the game and aggressive hyperbole. He had a breakout year in 2014, top 8'ing Grand Prix Montreal after going undefeated in the Swiss rounds. Then he represented Canada at the World Magic Cup. Since then, he's rattled off another pair of Grand Prix top 8s and is hoping to make it big on the Pro Tour stage.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Daniel Fournier when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep184
Portal
Khans of Tarkir
Vendilion Clique
The depth of Magic attracts Daniel. "It's a puzzle that's constantly changng but always has a solution."
Deck building. Daniel would just copy decks and not understand why the cards were there. He played with great players to overcome and become better at this challenge.
GP Montreal and qualifying for the Pro Tour for the first time.Also realizing that building a solid deck and playing it well will get you results.
First Pro Tour Daniel was excited and nervous, Daniel received a call that his grandma is in the hospital with cancer and not doing well. He was emotionally distraught and did poorly in the draft. But he realized that he couldn't control that he did poorly because he drafted bad.
Winning WMCQ and representing Canada at the World Magic Cup.
Quick, visual, analytical skills
Magic has helped Daniel realize his talents.
People don't pay attention to technical play card sequence, tapping correctly, remembering triggers etc.
Be actively involved in researching the metagame for several weeks leading up to your event.
Stop switching decks in Standard. Pick and stick.
Twitter:@tirentu
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
Jonathon Zaczek is the Champion of Merfolk. He made top 8 at Grand Prix Vancouver, while his followers Przemek Knocinski and Simon Slutsky won GP Copenhagen 2015 and GP Los Angeles 2016 with Merfolk. Merfolk has been scrubbed off as a joke by the top players for years. It is our guest’s mission to prove them wrong, AGAIN.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Jonathon Zaczek when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep183
Mercadian Masques
Theros
Master of Waves
Every set changes the whole game. It keeps the game fresh.
Finding the right people to surround himself with.
Jonathon played Mono blue devotion in Standard. He did very well everywhere except at PTQ's. At his lost PTQ he lost every single game.
Top 8 at GP Vancouver
When Jonathon started winning PTQ's with Merfolk.
Play the deck that speaks to you.
Players don't play around what their opponent might have.
Play competitive leagues on Magic Online. Sleep very well the nights before.
Playing around cards is the most important thing you can do in Magic.
You're at the mercy of your cards. Never resign.
NikachuMTGYouTube, MTGEloProject.net, MTG Top 8
Twitter:@nikachumtg
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
Adam Van Fleet is a full-time Project Manager who plays Magic in the little spare time he can muster. He was introduced to the game back in 1998, and has played competitively off-and-on since 2012. He Top 25'd Pro Tour Journey Into Nyx, Top 8'd GP Pittsburgh 2017, and Won SCG Philidelphia 2013.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Adam Van Fleet when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep182
Exodus
Mirrodin / Theros block
Arcbound Ravager
Force of Will
It started as a way to hang with friends. As time progressed Adam came to the competitive aspect.
You have to really understand the metagame.
At his first Legacy GP, Adam played Affinity and in round one, his opponent blew him out. #feelbad.
At another event an opponent rules lawyered Adam and he felt bad about the situation.
Making it to the Pro Tour for the first time.
Friendships
Frustrated at inability to control outcomes.
Rushing. A lot of players do thing too quickly without thinking of the consequences.
Ask yourself " Why am I making this play now?"
'The most important decision is keeping your opening hand.'
Practice at FNM and other weekly local events. Practice Limited on Magic Online.
Adam will save packs from wins and then practice drafting and building sealed pools.
Have fun! At the end of the day, it's a game.
Adam 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
Gerry Thompson is a master deck builder, deck-tuner, and Pro Tour mainstay. He dominated the SCG Tour and even worked at Wizards of the Coast for a bit. He has 11 Grand Prix Top 8s with 2 wins and 1 Pro Tour Top 8.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Gerry Thompson when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep181
Mercadian Masques
Ravnica City of Guilds
Nether Spirit
Gameplay is super fun. Gerry loves to solve a puzzle.
Card advantage was a concept that Gerry didn't grasp at first but made a huge difference once he learned.
First Grand Prix top 8
At a Magic Worlds tournament, Gerry had a bad deck and was doing his best. He conceded a game that he didn't have to because he was unfamiliar with his deck.
Winning two opens in one weekend and making Magic: The Gathering History.
Social interactions, decision-making skills, and a word everything.
Modern
Neil Reeves
Magic help Gerry mature. He learned that how he treats people matters.
Side boarding and not understanding your role.
Ask critical questions in every match up.
Gerry is working on getting better Pro Tour results.
Death Shadow
Get 8 hours of sleep. exercise in the morning, stay hydrated
If you've ever
Twitter:@G3RRYT
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
Petr Sochurek has been playing Magic since he was 11, and started grinding PTQs and GPs at about 16. He qualified to Valencia, where he made top 16 at his first Pro Tour with Merfolk. He’s a Platinum Level Pro with 4 Grand Prix top 8, including a finals at Rimini and a win at Paris.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Petr Sochurek when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep180
Ravnica City of Guilds
Lorwyn
Venser, Shaper Savant
Petr loves to win. He enjoys the challenge and complications.
Petr learned how to learn. After each game, Petr asks what he could have done better.
When Petr was 18-19 he qualified for his first Pro Tour.
Petr lost his first PPTQ final and didn't qualify for the Pro Tour. He learned how bad he wanted the Pro Tour and prepared even harder.
Making Platinum in 2016. To get there he practiced every day online.
Petr has become more analytical.
Lukas Blohon, Martin Juza
Get some sleep and practice wake up at the time you would for the tournament. Bananas and fruits.
Petr learned if he really wants something he willing to sacrifice for it.
People make the 80% right play. People don't think through their play and don't realize when they should make the 20% play.
Petr is open to playing any deck. He talks with other players and knows that just because his good players mean he knows everything.
You can learn from every single game. Don't complain.
Twitter:@PetrKikac
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
Simon Slutsky has 1 Grand Prix Top 8 and 1 Grand Prix win. He made day 2 at Pro Tour Sydney and is a 5 time PPTQ second place finisher. He’s a Merfolk enthusiast who goes a little deep on Modern and a Nuclear physics researcher when he’s not playing Magic.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Simon Slutsky when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep179
Revised
Eldritch Moon
Phantasmal Image
Simon struggled with guessing what his opponent level and trying to play around things
GP Los Angeles 2016
After practicing with his Merfolk deck, Simon attended a GP and got a terrible pairing in round 1. He got destroyed but learned to take every game one at a time.
Winning a Grand Prix.
Simon has noticed that life has taught him how to handle Magic and Magic has taught him to keep an ever keel.
Modern
People tend to over think things too much. There's a line between theory crafting and wasting time.
Drink water, bring healthy snacks, go with friends
Have fun. Magic shouldn't be a grind.
Twitter, Reddit, CFB, MTG Goldfish, Modern Nexus.com
Twitter:@somesalmon
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