Lukas Blohon returns to the show after increasing his already impressive record. He now has 7 Grand Prix top 8s including 2 wins and 2 Pro Tour top 8s. Lukas lives in Prague, Czech Republic. His first appearance on the MTG Pro Tutor podcast was episode 61.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Lukas Blohon when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep219
Lukas now plays Magic full time. He produces content for Hareruya and plays.
After locking Platinum, Lukas decided to make the leap.
Breaking up Magic times with other activities helps Lukas focus better.
Lukas played in the Modern event and remembers a loss he had. After 4 days of solid Magic, Lukas missed an onboard manland and his opponent won when Lukas was favored.
Playing too fast. People don't think their whole turn through.
Playing an auto pilot. Lukas does it in practice and wants to get better.
Play one match at a time.
Twitter:@LukasBlohon
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
Allen Wu is a Master's student at Stanford University where he studies Management Science and Engineering. He broke onto the Pro Tour by winning an MTGO PTQ 3 seasons in a row. His best results are 2 Grand Prix top 8's with 1 win and going 10-6 in the last 3 Pro Tours. Allen lives in Mountain View, CA.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Allen Wu when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep218
Invasion
Time Spiral
Vendilion clique
Allen played a lot and got better by accident :)
At a Pro Tour, playing against Mike Sigrist, Allen missed a play that would have won him the game. He missed out on qualifying for 2 more Pro Tour.
Winning his first MTGO PTQ.
"Magic has improved my critical thinking."
Legacy
There are so many decisions and decks learn from every game.
Making great friends has been a fantastic side effect of playing Magic.
Playing too scared. Players pump the brakes when they shouldn't. You have to read how your opponents have been playing and surmise what they don't have.
Play a lot of Magic Online and get a group to play test.
Hangout with friends between rounds. Make sure you're having fun.
Record your games and watch them.
Watch videos and pause as you go talk with friends.
Twitter:@lhefriel
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
Tyrell Wheeler is the first Pro Tutor Prodigy listener turned guest! He has been playing Magic since Revised and has one Pro Tour top 16. Tyrell lives in Vancouver, Canada.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Tyrell Wheeler when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep217
Time Spiral
Time walk
Don't know the proper playing of Magic when in an autopilot.
He lost his backpack including his deck and some of his personal belongings the night before the event.
Qualifying for the Pro Tour even though his life gets busy and played Magic on and off.
He could repeat other people's process to success so being mindful. Practice does not make perfect but perfect practice makes perfect.
Sealed deck.
Players just talking with everybody and setting down to play. People need to put the mental energy into thinking about what the best plays. Keep in touch with your monologue, ask questions why that this happened and internalize the game.
Watching Limited videos, ask pieces of advice from mentors, watching Magic matches once a week, get practice, think some plan and strategy and have confidence.
Have big meals, eat salad, apple, banana, drink enough water, bring paper, pens, tokens, dice, etc.
Mindfully think through the games and adapt else' process that is so much better than you.
Tyrell 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
Magic Story is the audio presentation of Uncharted Realms, the weekly Daily MTG column that tells the lore behind Magic: The Gathering.
This episode is brought to life by voice actors, a composer, and a sound designer all of the highest caliber.
Credits:
Austin Schumacher (Narrator)
T Katz (Arlinn Kord)
Nathan Ondrecek (Archmage Reeves / Archmage Rembert / Cathar Leighton / Male Cathars)
Kaitlyn Lavo (Olaylie / Mad Angel / Female Cathars)
Miriam Penrod (Boy)
Nathaniel Drew (Composer of the original score)
Ansh Rajput (Chief sound designer)
Brian Lang (Cover art)
Shaun Penrod (Executive Producer)
Benjamin Luft is a 31-year-old Tax Consultant Assistant from Hannover, Germany. He’s been playing Magic since Visions but has stepped away from the game several times (as many of us do). He cashed for the first time at a Grand Prix when he made top 8 at GP Amsterdam which also sent him to Albuquerque for his first Pro Tour.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Benjamin Luft when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep215
Mirage
Zendikar
Cryptic Command
Finding people to play with as preparation for tournaments.
Losing on a PPTQ in semifinals and losing again in another PPTQ the day after in finals. But it paid off because he got practiced in higher level and made him qualified for another PPTQ.
Win and got 6-1-2 after 9 rounds and hit 6-0 on day 2 and even considered dropping to play some Mulligan side events.
Seeking opportunities to open and get yourself in a situation where you can gain experience and even risk but keep trying to succeed.
Standard
A week before the event and test it with friends.
Choosing and positioning the deck matters. Decide from the recent tournament results and find the weaknesses of the dominated decks.
Become a better person. Be able to handle mistakes, loss and treat others nicely.
People concede earlier.
More foods and keep hydrated.
Not conceding earlier. Don't try to win but also try to make it an enjoyable experience. Keep trying and succeed.
Twitter:@_bluft
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
Hunter Cochran is a 25-year-old graduate student of physics at Stony Brook University. He’s originally from Arkansas and Texas and has made the top 8 of three GPs, winning one. Hunter lives in Long Island, New York.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Hunter Cochran when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep214
Onslaught
MIrrodin, Darksteel
Perilous Vault
Tireless tracker
Not having the access to cards and the money to buy to very competitive decks. Difficult to play ranges of decks and be able to think from other perspectives and learn new types of decks and strategies.
During the PPTQ in the Spring of 2015 when he decided to spend some money and attend the events.
A very embarrassing and lowest moment that got him banned from playing Magic in a local venue in college. Playing against a good player that got him rolled by his opponent's super deck. Got angry, throw his fist to the table, punch the table and sat on the table for the rest of the day.
His first PPTQ win in just 3 months of playing.
Learned controlling emotions when results are unfavorable to you.
Not having a very clear vision for the game, not knowing your role and how your deck is built and the difficulties to pinpoint why you lose the game. For Constructed - thinking about things before the tournament. For Limited- thinking about things before your round.
Try to be pretty animated and vocal with opponents. Try to make interaction and experience be personal. The more you see your opponent as a person, the easier to beat frustration.
Magic is a community game so build relationships, talk to people who might help you to open and close doors and get so much perspective on Magic.
Hunter 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
Kevin Jones has been playing magic since Urza's Saga and has been playing competitively since Onslaught. He has 10 Star City Games Open top 8s, 1 Grand Prix top 8, is a 3 time SCG Player's Championship Competitor, has 2 Pro Tour Appearances AND is the Co-host of The Weekly Ward Wednesdays on Twitch.tv/kirwansgamestore. He is also a writer for MTGCardmarket.com. Kevin lives in Kingston, NY
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Kevin Jones when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep213
Urza's Saga
Innistrad
Snapcaster Mage
Kevin has always been competitive and his play group was too. He watched his younger friends get really good he wondered why he wasn't improving. Kevin expanded himself by playing new decks and learning different archetypes.
Kevin made top 8 at States in 2004.
At his first Pro Tour, Kevin built his deck the night before the event. He failed to make day 2 and was really taken aback by it.
Winning a Grand Prix.
Math :). Magic also changes the way you think as far as values and risk.
Caring so much that it pains you to lose. Young players tend to lose sight of the big picture and get torn up when they lose. To overcome this, your mindset / approach to Magic needs to evolve to where you enjoy the game and understand that it is a game and how lucky you are to fuel your competitive drive through a complex hobby.
Don't lose sight of yourself and don't let loses define who you are.
Twitter:@kjvsthehighway
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
Marc Tobiasch used to exclusively play Vintage and Legacy and claims he got onto the Pro Tour “pretty much by accident”. He has 1 Grand Prix top 8 and 1 Pro Tour top 8. Marc lives in Bonn, Germany.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Marc Tobiasch when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep212
Ice Age
Onslaught
Null Rod
Figuring out which events to go to and who to travel with are huge when you're climbing.
Marc used to let loses get from bad to worse. When he played around the "right" card and lost anyway he struggled with accepting it until he learned to control tilt. He overcome tilt by focusing on what he can control.
Pro Tour top 8 / Finding friends at events.
At his first Pro Tour, Marc learned there was a whole other level of Magic you can aspire to play at.
Marc is a renowned deck builder and shares his process.
Players try to think about everything every turn. You can shortcut this by weighting your focus towards what has changed. Also, players do things because they can and don't think whether they should. "Helping a little right now is not as good as helping a lot later."
Marc meets with his team a week or so before the Pro Tour. For Grand Prix, he observes the format and for Legacy or Modern, chooses his deck fairly close to the event.
Before playing a card, think "should I play this card now?"
Twitter:@MarcTobiasch
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
Martin Juza has a record that speaks for itself with an impressive 25 Grand Prix top 8s including 4 wins and 3 Pro Tour top 8s with an additional 3 top 16 finishes! He’s well known in the Magic community as a pillar of good sportsmanship. Martin lives in the Czech Republic.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Martin Juza when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep211
Urza's Destiny
Time Spiral
Counterspell
Every aspect of Magic was new but events, articles and other people helped fill in the gap.
There was a year where Martin didn't make Platinum. He missed one European Grand Prix and it cost him $1,000 bucks.
There was a year where he always made top 8 or top 16. Also, his first Pro Tour top 8 felt really great.
Travel the world and experience different culture.
Martin is working on preparing better for Magic event.
If you're choosing between two cards that are of similar power levels, always pick the cheaper card.
Don't be like Martin ;)
The most important thing in constructed is good side boarding. Having a plan and knowing what to take out and put in is key to success.
Martin practices with Channel Fireball team and they constantly discuss the best deck and evaluate the meta-game.
Martin has experience with other games (Hearthstone and poker) and brings that to Magic.
Read a lot of article, watch games and learn all you can.
Twitter:@Juzam_
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 Luna is a veteran player who has played in several Pro Tours and Worlds. He runs a website at magiclair.com.ar that provides free articles in Spanish. The site covers all the formats and focuses on growing the Latin American Magic community. He has 1 Grand Prix Top 8 and 1 Super Sunday Series Final Top 8. Javier lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Javier Luna when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep210
Mirage
Legends / Urza's Saga
Mana Drain
Drafting has always been a challenge for Javier. He focuses on this by drafting online. Screenshots are a lifesaver.
At a GP in Santiago, Javier went 9-0 in day1 but went 0-5-1 on day 2. He felt so bad and struggled mentally, but came to realize that everyone has good and bad days.
First Grand Prix top 8 / Seeing countrymen do great.
Javier is working on his draft skills and is focusing on controlling his emotional responses to losing.
Legacy
Reading everything he can. Javier keeps tabs through CFB and SC. He also plays every day even if it's just one or two matches.
Javier learned about leadership and friendship.
Players complain about luck all the time when they have no control over it. Improve yourself and understand that luck is part of the game.
Javier followed the metagame closely and chose a Blue / Red deck. However, one week before the Grand Prix, he started losing a lot. So Javier talked with the best player in the country and switched to a Mardu deck.
Enjoy the game. Magic is great. Play with friends and meet new people. Travel all you can.
Twitter:@MagicLair
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
Max McVety is a mechanical engineer from Ann Arbor who has 2 Grand Prix top 8 finishes, an SCG Invitational win, and a couple of Pro Tour cashes. He recently picked up RIW Hobbies as his first sponsor.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Max McVety when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep209
Know the balance between pushing your range and sticking with what you know.
Andrew Elenbogen, Kyle Boggemes
Max is the side board expert. He nails down the exact cards to take out and put in.
Max aligns with blue. He likes to think deeply about a topic.
Dealing with variance.
Players know what the best deck is and try not to play it.
Prepare for the event by focussing on what you can control:
-Deck choice
-Side board
-In-game decisions
Twitter:@m_mcvety
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
Ethan Gaieski started to play seriously when he moved to Japan in 2015. He came back to the States and did decently well on the SCG Tour but didn’t get any big results. Just a lot of cash. He finally made his first GP top 8 at Grand Prix Montreal 2017.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Ethan Gaieski when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep208
Innistrad
Return to Ravnica
Sigarda, Host of Herons
Financially keeping up with Magic was really rough. Also, the mental challenge of thinking everyone is better than him.
GP Orlando 2017, Ethan did poorly and because he prepared a lot and this was the third bad Gran Prix in a row, he was crushed. Embracing the variance is a lesson Ethan learned.
Top 8 Grand Prix Montreal 2017.
Quantitative Reasoning. (Recognizing patterns and Math)
Ethan knows he can become as good as he can if he doesn't crumple under people's expectations.
When players got unlucky, they think they couldn't have won. Don't offload the responsibility. Own it and ask what you could have done. Talk to people.
Ethan watched the Pro Tour closely and strove to understood best decks. He practiced by playing 10 Leagues on MTGO.
Always be looking for ways to improve. There's always something you can do.
Twitch.tv/alexjchen, MTG Coverage, Ari Lax, Garry Thompson
Ethan 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
Charly Traarbach is 30 years old and just made his first Grand Prix Top 8 in Utrecht 2017. He will be playing in Pro Tour Kyoto (2017) as his very first Pro Tour appearance!
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Charly Traarbach when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep207
Revised
Innistrad
[draft]Emrakul, The Aeons Torn[/draft]
Charly was terrible at losing. He's very competitive and processed losses poorly.
In the GP Top 8 in Utrecht, Charly had forgotten to take out his side board from round 15! He got a game loss and ended up losing the match.
Lesson: Always check your side board.
Making top 8 at Grand Prix Utrecht.
A better understanding of English language. Interpersonal skill. Making friends.
Workout (run, sports). When your body is strong and active, your mind will be sharper.
You're never too old to learn.
Score pad, Playmat, Extra Sleeves, Snacks, Water
To become better at Magic, play a lot of Magic. Surround yourself with people who invest a lot of time in Magic.
CFB, SCG, TCG Player
Twitter:@CharlyTraarbach
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
Eli Kassis is a past guest of the show and now has 3 Grand Prix Top 8’s (2 back to back top 4 or better finishes), 7 Pro Tour cashes, 13 SCG’s Open Top 8’s, and 17 Old school PTQ Wins.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Eli Kassis when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep206
Team events are catching on. In a team event, Eli made top 4 with his team.
X-2 still get invited to the Pro Tour, so don't draw.
Eli and his team looked at the popular Modern decks and determined, there wouldn't be a lot of control. Eli picked his deck because he knew it inside and out and it had a good match up against the rest of the field.
Eli sees the Pro circuit growing.
When stress and pressure are on players, abandon the decisions that got them there and hope luck gets them there.
You are an ambassador to the game. Be proud of it and treat others with respect so when anyone says "I play Magic" it means something.
Twitter:@lifer2121
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 Nielsen is a 22 year old linguistics student from Denmark who tries to play Magic for a living. He is currently testing with the team Mint card, and writes articles for mtgmintcard.com. He was part of the Danish national team that won the World Magic Cup in 2014 (the Daneblast guy), got 2nd at GP Brussels 2015, 8th at GP Bologna 2017 and 10th at the Pro Tour Eldritch Moon.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Simon Nielsen when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep205
Mirrodin besieged
New Phyrexia
Liliana of the veil
Brewing decks were a struggle because Simon told himself he wasn't good enough to play tier 1 decks. He finally overcomes this by understanding that playing the best deck is his edge.
At Simon's 2nd World Magic Cup, his team was knocked out early. This felt bad because they had won the year before. Simon stayed and cheered on other countries and made friends.
Winning World Magic Cup in 2014.
Risk management. What's the expected value of your decisions. Compare the best thing you could get to the chance of getting that outcome.
Simon went from being terrible at Limited tot a year later top 8'ing a Limited Grand Prix. It took a while, but he started trusting his teammates and adopting their strategy.
Player's don't have plan. Look far down the line. How are you going to win. Work on the sideboard and play more side board games.
Read Simon's articles "How to become the worlds luckiest Magic Player" and "All your invalid excuses for not playing the best decks."
mtgmintcard.com -Simon's articles
Twitter:@MrChecklistcard
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
Francesco Giorgio is an Italian Magic player living in England and a member of Team Axion Now. He's at his best with 40 card decks, but also enjoying the Standard format. His achievements include 2 Limited Grand Prix Top 8s and Top 8 at the 2014 World Magic Cup.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Francesco Giorgio when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep204
7th Edition
Khans of Tarkir
Birthing pod
At first, Francesco didn't like the "best decks". Now, he understands that others have done well and he can draw on their knowledge.
Losing the finals of a GP due to a terrible mistake. He didn't read all the cards.
Top 8 at 2014 World Magic Cup.
Francesco learned to analyze his mistakes regardless of the outcome.
Constructed. Focus more on tournament preparation.
Draft often. (Daily if possible.)
Francesco loves travelling.
In Limited, players don't block enough.
Practice and discussion. For Limited, each player ranks every card and players discuss the differences.
Look back at every game and reflect, regardless of the results.
Team Axiom Now, MTG Goldfish, www.mtgprotutor.com/giveaways200
Twitter:@Sniesk
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
Dario Veneri is a 24 year old Clerk from Zurich, Switzerland who started playing Magic about 4 years ago. He’s been to a bit more than a dozen GPs and made his first top 8 at Grand Prix Bologna 2017.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Dario Veneri when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep203
Return to Ravnica
Amonkhet
Hero of bladehold
Dario struggled with variance at first. To overcome this, Dario focused on the new and just play the next game.
At a World Magic Qualifier, Dario got ahead of himself and didn't focus on the next game.
Top 8 at Grand Prix Bologna and getting his first Pro Tour invite.
Variance is everywhere and being mindful of it in Magic has brought it up to Dario in other areas and has helped him.
Go with friends. Interact with them between rounds. DON'T COMPLAIN and discuss crucial decision times from your game. Also, eat right. Plan it ahead and be mindful.
Players tend to splash too much in Limited. They sacrifice their mana base for a low impact pay off.
Dario created a network of experienced players he likes and respects. He played a lot of Magic Online and attended as many Prerelease as he could. He discussed cards extensively with friends.
Focus on the next game and don't let variance get you down.
Twitter:@Josslyn_Avalon
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 Pope started playing Magic during Scars of Mirrodin and his first Launch Party was Magic 2012. Innistrad was the first pre-release he attended (and ran) at his local game. He was taught by a friend in college (the last 2 years of high school) and has come a long way with 1 Grand Prix Top 8 which was a 2nd place finish at Grand Prix Barcelona 2017. Matthew lives in the United Kingdom.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Matthew Pope when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep202
Scars of Mirrodin
Innistrad
Geist of Saint Traft
Mulligan decisions. Matt noticed that even as he got better at mulligan decisions, he would revert back in high stakes games.
Matt attended a PPTQ and went 4-0-1. He wins the quarter finals and plays the best player in the room in the semi-finals. In game 3, Matt chokes and he missed the RPTQ invite. It was so close and the burn was real. Matt didn't attack based on a bluff from his opponent. Matt learned to play around what he should and ignore what he can't play around.
Top 8 at Grand Prix Barcelona 2017.
Playing around cards when it doesn't matter/wont make a difference.
Also, deck selection without enough time to get good at it.
Don't let circumstance affect your fundamentals. Mulligan decisions are huge, so practice, practice, practice and don't forget what you've learned.
Twitter:@immagicmatt
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
Jack Dobbin is a long-time grinder from the United States Midwest with a couple Pro Tour appearances and one GP top 8. He's living, learning and loving all things Magic: The Gathering.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Jack Dobbin when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep201
Legions
Theros (for the draft environment)
Cruel ultimatum
Being stubborn. Jack would draft a good card and then get fixated on it. He would force an archetype and learned not to.
When Wizards switched off of the ELO system, Jack's qualification chances plummeted because he doesn't play that often. He learned to enjoy Magic at its roots.
Qualifying for the Pro Tour and calling his wife to say they are taking a trip.
Making decisions with incomplete information.
Don't play cards that lead you to being 2 for 1'd. Draft two colors.
Keep at it. Do what you're doing and take advantage of when variance breaks your way.
Keep your emotions in check. Don't tilt.
You can have a good time while losing.
Giving away information and playing slow. Play faster!
Remember to have fun.
Jack 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
Brian Andersen E is a 25 year old Magic enthusiast from California, but he’s lived everywhere. He’s played magic in both Asia and the USA at the basic LGS level. He’s an investor a partner at Paragon City Games and generally a loud mouth. Brian lives in Draper, Utah.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Brian Andersen E when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep200
Tempest
Odyssey
Kamahl, Pit fighter
Be deliberate about the feel you want players to experience.
Not having enough experience with their deck. Take the time to play and know your deck ahead of time. Ask a lot of questions.
Control your emotions and look at what you did wrong. Successful players tend to be brewers. Their brains are always churning. Have a good breakfast.
Patience. So many times you want the results now but understand that it will come once your skill is where it needs to be.
Have patience with yourself, your community and your store.
Paragon City Games, twitchtv/paragoncitygames, MTGProtutor.com/giveaway200
Twitter: @JBrandersen
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
David Brucker is a returning Magic Pro who is coming back after a 9-year break. He just added his 6th Grand Prix top 8 to his record and even boasts a Grand Prix win from back in the day. On the Pro Tour, he has 6 top 16 finishes and is looking for a top 8 with his most recent invite. David lives in Munich, Germany.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from David Brucker when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep199
Ice age
Mirrodin
Fact or fiction
Not knowing cards and winning decks. Lack of information was a big deal in the early days.
At his 2nd Nationals, David drank with friends the night before and showed up to the draft hung over. He went 3-0 but then got disqualified because he registered a 37 card deck.
David won the European championship and got a big trophy and $15,000. He and his parents were so proud.
"Breaking" a deck is similar to science. Trying to find the best solution for a format is like finding a solution at work. Also teamwork.
Henniry Ramquist - he was very competitive and taught David to take the game seriously.
Get byes. Attend GPT's, PPTQs and Grand Prix
David is very competitive. He also likes to travel.
Playing your lost card in hand pre-combat.
This gives away so much information.
Think about every game and why you actually lost. Avoid the mindset of blowing outside influences for your losses.
Clothing, deck box
Play a lot. Find the best players in your region and play against them.
David 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
Robert Lombardi still has a Degree in Mechatronics Engineering (he hasn't lost it), and is married and has a 15-month-old son. He has 3 Grand Prix top 8s now including a win at Grand Prix Toronto 2016. He’s still better at Limited than Constructed and is striving to not be 1 point shy of Silver. Robert was first on the MTG Pro Tutor podcast in episode 125.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Robert Lombardi when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep198
Robert played around with all the top decks and found his stride with Mardu vehicles.
You know the meta much better at the local level. Your board at a big event is less targeted.
Robert is co-hosting a spiky podcast about competitive Magic.
Brian Gottlieb is the best built from scratch deck builder.
People ask for feedback but then argue when they get it. Don't do that!
Twitter:@RobertLombardi0
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
Ben Friedman has four Grand Prix top 8s, two Pro Tour top 16s, 5 SCG invitational top 8s, and does it all while rocking a mean cowboy hat! He is a member of the MetaGameGurus on the SCG Tour and the Captain of Mox Box Bowl on the Pro Tour. Ben lives in Baltimore, MD.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Ben Friedman when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep197
Odyssey
Ravnica
Snapcaster mage
Understanding how to attack a metagame.
JSS Nationals - first cashing a tournament.
After getting crushed at his first Pro Tour, Ben was really down. He learned he wasn't the hot shot he thought.
Qualifying for his first Pro Tour. Next was when Ben made it to the Pro Tour off of a special invite due to rule changes. This PT invite got him the Gold status that year.
Delayed gratification.
Drink a lot of water, Ben knows that for him fasting makes him more focused.
Build your network and share cards. Networks help you make friends, save money and play Magic.
Ben learned his play style is very value oriented.
Players don't understand side boarding. They don't consider how their side boarding choices change when they are on the play versus the draw.
Think for yourself, learn for yourself and learn how to learn better.
SCG, CFB, TCG Player
Twitter:@40cardfriedman
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
Corey Baumeister is a Gold Level Professional Magic player who has 2 Grand Prix top 8's to his name including a win in New Jersey 2017! He also has 1 top 16 and 2 top 32 finishes at the Pro Tour. Corey lives in Fargo, North Dakota.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Corey Baumeister when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep196
Onslaught
Ravnica City of Guild
Ogre savant
Deck design during new sets.
Pro Tour Austin. Corey was playing a win-and-in match for Top 8 of the Pro Tour. Corey misplayed because he didn't know the matchup.
Winning Grand Prix New Jersey 2017.
Recognizing mistakes and adjusting.
Standard
Follow events and see what's winning. Find answers to that deck by scouring legal cards.
Don't be so critical of yourself.
Using luck as a crutch for your losses. It takes a smart player to realize they did something wrong.
Corey played hundreds of games leading up to the Grand Prix. He knew his deck inside and out.
Boogie board, stockpile of cards, dice
If you have the will to chase the dream then don't quit playing.
Knowledgeable friends
Twitter:@CoreyBaumeister
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
Jorge Mantilla is 28 years old and was born in Miami, Florida. He started out by playing Poker and sneaking into casino's throughout high school to make extra money. He’s a well known Spearfisherman through his videos on youtube/Instagram. He started playing Magic after Dragons of Tarkir and fell in love with Limited. He’s been to 2 Grand Prix's - Atlanta, where he won the last 4 rounds in a row to make day 2 and Orlando where he made Top 8. Jorge lives in Miami, Florida.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Jorge Mantilla when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep195
Dragon of Tarkir
Kaladesh
Walking ballista
Side boarding and deck building. Every time Jorge lost in Limited, he would look at his opponent's deck at ask why was each card in that deck.
Losing his first PPTQ win-and-in. Jorge learned the importance of early pressure and keeping good hands.
Top 8 at GP Orlando.
Confidence and being nice to people.
Watch a good drafter and learn why they chose what they did.
"I have the confidence to achieve my goals."
Not keeping track of the board state.
Jorge did a Limited event online every day for about 8 months.
Draft box: Lands, tokens, sleeves, paper, dice
Play frequently. Don't stop. Don't quit.
Jorge 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
Kasper Nielsen is a new face on the Pro Tour as he just made his first Grand Prix Top 8 at Utrecht 2017. Kasper lives in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Kasper Nielson when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep194
Tempest
Theros (least favorite) lol
Snapcaster mage
Qualifying for the Pro Tour. Kasper would make it to the finals/qualifying rounds and lose. He finally broke through at GP Utrecht.
Kasper got a win he didn't deserve because he didn't understand the cards and the judge he asked were confused.
Making top 8 at GP Utrecht 2017. Kasper was so excited to finally making it to the Pro Tour.
Underestimating yourself and your chances, especially against a "known" player. This happens with local "and losses".
A little degree of hubris is good in a player. Say "I'm going to beat this player" or at least "I can beat this player."
At the previous GP, Kasper studied the best decks and talked to others about which deck beat which others and why. He chose a deck and started practicing. He took a deck to a friend's house and played the mirror for 5 hours so he could deeply understand the deck. He attended local events to stay sharp nad then when Utrecht came he studied the meta again, chose a deck and practiced - a lot.
Remember to have fun!
Twitter:@ks_nielsen
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
Amir Radmard lives in Oklahoma City, OK. As a daytime job, he is an IT technician for a small company. In regards to Magic, he is a glorified FNM champion and considers himself the most grindiest of grinders. He has 1 Grand Prix top 8 that happened at GP Houston and has competed in several RPTQs. He’s been to the Pro tour once and is looking for more.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Amir Radmard when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep193
Tempest
Return to Ravnica
Braids, Cabal Minion
Card Evaluation
"You have to win here before you can win out there. " The local champs encouraged Amir to step up his game.
Amir struggles with tilt. He remembers a PTQ where he had a solid sealed deck and one opponent played an unbeatable. Amir tilted so bad he made misplays.
Qualifying for his first Pro Tour.
You have to cut a card to add a card. This applies to life because you have to take something out to add in a new thing.
Limited
Sealed is more "bomby". Review all commons and uncommon in the set. Review combat tricks.
Amir learned how good he can get at something when he really applies himself.
People think they know more than they know. They don't listen or accept advice.
Amir spends his time tweaking a deck to make sure it can take down the top strategies.
Go with friends, have a good breakfast, stay hydrated and sleep.
"Speak little, do much." Monastery Mentor
CFB, SCG (Premium is worth it), Brad Nelson articles, MTG Coverage.com
Amir 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
Aleksa Telarov is a 7 time National Champion and has appeared in 10 Worlds & World Magic Cup events. At the World Magic Cup he’s made top8, top16, and top32. He took 3rd at the 2015 MOCS and has 3 Grand Prix Top 8 including a win at Grand Prix Madrid 2015. 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-ep192
Guildpact
Ravnica block
Tireless Tracker
Aleksa would play all the tournaments he could. No matter the format. He started drafting and didn't win for a year.
GP Vienna - first top 8.
GP Madrid - win.
Not qualifying for the Pro Tour after GP Milan. Aleksa also had a chain of 6-3 results when to make day two he needed 7-2.
Winning GP Madrid.
Standard
Players lack focus. Magic is a demanding game and people don't realize the commitment it takes to do well.
Focus on the important things in life and the rest will fall into place. Be a good person.
Twitter:@AleksaTelarov
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
James Larsen-Scott is a 20-year-old magic player from Tasmania, Australia who has been playing Magic for 8 years. He is constantly trying to learn and improve his game and recently obtained his first Grand Prix top 8 at GP Brisbane 2017.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from James Larsen - Scott when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep191
Alara Reborn
Zendikar / Khans of Tarkir
Jace,The Mind Sculptor
Learning the difference between the Limited formats.
When James got his first draft 3-0 and when he got his first Grand Prix day 2.
James went to a PPTQ and lost 3 win-and-ins because he took a deck he didn't know.
First Grand Prix Top 8.
Knowing your role is an allegory for life. Sometimes you need to push hard and make things happen. Other times, you need to sit back, see what happens and react.
Limited
LSV
He can do it if he puts his mind to it.
Players don't know why they are playing a card. You should know why every card is in your deck.
Bring tokens, pen, and paper. It's huge to have friends there to talk to between rounds.
Losing focusing in a game.
Watch tons of Magic Videos.
Don't be intimidated when playing big name players.
James 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
Ryan Hare is the Champion of Grand Prix Pittsburgh 2017 and is looking towards silver and beyond. He can't resist a good pun, and his favorite colors are Black and Green (usually together).
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Ryan Hare when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep190
7th Edition
7th Edition / Onslaught
Daru Cavalier
Ryan came back when a friend invited him to play cube. He had another friend who always beat him and Ryan wanted to know why.
Ryan had to build his knowledge of Magic and Magic players.
After making top 32 at a GP, Ryan had a chance for silver but after 5 Grand Prix he didn't make it.
Winning Grand Prix Pittsburgh felt great but Ryan really remembers a Modern Premier IQ where he did well because it was his first big event it stands out to him. He made top 8.
How to make good spreadsheet and how to track details.
There's a balance between over confidence and lack of confidence. You're not always right but you also can't count yourself out.
Put all the events you're going to on a list and keep up to date with what's coming up and how can you prepare.
Book flights at least 6 weeks in advance. Find a magic bag of trail mix. Put yourself in the best position to succeed.
Ryan 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
Donald Smith started playing Magic in Theros. He got his first (and only) GP Top 8 in Charlotte 2015 and has chained Pro Tour invites ever since. Now he has a Pro Tour Top 8 under his belt and is a Gold level pro.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Donald Smith when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep189
Theros
Theros / Kaladesh
Chained to the Rocks
"I got hooked on Magic because of the social aspect."
Preparing for tournaments.
The period between PT Atlanta and PT Honolulu, Donald didn't have a good finish at any event. He also learned humility.
Top 4 of Pro Tour Dublin. Also, the 11th win that got him the Pro Tour Dublin invite.
Taking risks pays off. Risk within reason.
Limited
Derek; looked at the game with analytical eyes.
Owen Turtenwald
Donald learned a good work ethic.
People play too scared.
In AER Limited, have your colors set by the end of pack one.
People let color biases affect them too much. Don't buy into hyperbole.
Life pod, dice, pens, playmat, laptop, snacks, granola bars, Clif bars, water, token
Play daily.
Draft every day!
Twitter:@donaldwsjr
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
Alex Bianchi is a Silver-level pro from Buffalo, New York with 1 Grand Prix Top 8 and 1 win (GP Pittsburgh 2015). He is also the team captain of Team Dave & Adam's for the 2016-2017 Pro Tour Team Series, and writes articles for ManaDeprived.com.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Alex Bianchi when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep188
Mirrodin
Ravnica City of Guilds
Nahiri, The Harbinger
The game is challenging and the people are great.
Deck selection. It took a while for Alex to realize he should play the best deck.
Needed 2 points to get the silver; got it, then needed one win to made top 8. He missed it three times in a row.
Winning GP Pittsburgh. When he made Top 8, he qualified for his Pro Tour and went with two friends.
Networking and traveling.
Death Shadow Jund
Kai Burnett taught Alex how to grind.
The social aspect of the game is more important.
Focusing too much on specific formats. You need to be good at many formats.
Alex plays a lot of MTGO competitive leagues.
Getting unintentional draws.
Rest between rounds, drink water.
Twitch.TV, MTGCoverage.com, SCG, MTG Pulse
Twitter:@Gemmanite
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 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.
Listen to Episode 1 here or on www.magicthestory.com
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
Roope Metsa has been playing Magic since Khans of Tarkir and just qualified for his first Pro Tour by making top 8 at Grand Prix Prague 2017. Roope lives in Vantaa, Finland.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Roope Metsa when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep178
Khans of Tarkir
Shards of Alara
Opposition
Magic games are hard.Roope likes making decisions.
At an RPTQ Roope lost in the top 8. Roope learned how to manage loss better.
Top 8 at Grand Prix Prague.
Roope missed the pre-release but he drafted as much as he could. He wants to the GP with 15-20 drafts under the belt.
Competitive gaming has taught Roope the importance of receiving your actions.
Modern
Grixis
Ask your opponent " why do you think you won that game?"
Drink a lot of water, walk outside between rounds.
People get drawn in by fancy tricks and don't focus on fundamentals.
The best way to improve is to play against better players.
MTG Top 8, CFB, MTG Reddit
Twitter:@Foleroo
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
Marcio Carvalho has an impressive record of 13 Grand Prix Top 8s including 3 wins, 3 Pro Tour Top 8s, and was a finalist at the 2016 Worlds tournament.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Marcio Carvalho when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep177
Stronghold
Ravnica
Wasteland
Choosing a deck.
First time competing at Worlds in 2005.
Getting banned for 6 months for looking at others cards in a draft.
Marcio learned to not try to be the coolest kid in the room.
Making Platinum and being a finalist Worlds Moment in 2016.
Slow down and understand it's okay to be wrong.
Limited
Magic is a game of variance. Prepare it.
Marcio learned he can work hard when he wants to.
Forcing a pick order in a draft. Drafts are fluid and you shouldn't put blenders.
Constructed
Not getting burned out by playing too much.
Eat well and drink water.
Don't force things. Play what you know.
Twitter:@KbolMagic
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
Florian Koch has been playing Magic since 1994 and played semi-competitively until he got his first Pro Point in 2010. He then won GP Lyon later that year. Since 2010 he’s made the Top 8 of three GPs and is striving for success on the Pro Tour. Florian is from Cologne, Germany.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Florian Koch when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep176
The Dark (Just before)
Florian doesn't have a favorite set.
Lightning bolt
At first, it was the interactions between cards. Then it was the competitive scene.
Florian watched a friend play who explained that recognizing what matters in a game is the key to winning.
Florian 9-0 day one of a Grand Prix but flowed out on day two. He learned to prepare for the whole event.
Winning GP Lyon.
Limited
Make your own decisions and decide what matters. You don't have to use the same yardstick as everyone else to measure yourself.
Not enjoying yourself. You spend all day at an event, don't make it awful for you or your opponent.
Florian played with the best players he could find and talked with the best players at the event.
Florian is working on being a better control player.
Deck, Clothes, Hygiene products
Florian saw Dirk B. sort cards into tiers for the first time and that help him see Magic differently.
The Improvise mechanic is overvalued at the moment. Aggressive strategies are working. Combat tricks in this format are decent.
When you go to a Magic tournament, make it fun for you and others. Care for your community.
Twitter:@Odin_FK
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
Eric English has cashed many Grand Prix and has 1 Grand Prix top 8 and a Pro Tour top 32, both in 2016. He’s a Silver Level Pro looking to continue the success he had last year. Eric is from Rochester, New York.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Eric English when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep175
Onslaught
Innistrad
Engineered Explosives
Eric's deck selection skills were sub par. By consuming content Eric was able to get a better feel for the metagame.
SCG Open in 2014, Eric played a Rabble Red deck and took 2nd.
At a local invite is the only tournament Eric lost his chance to make top 8 and he tilted really bad. He made a fool of himself. Now he thinks of the game in terms of resource management. Eric views his emotions and mental energy as a resource.
Winning an SCG Open while visiting a friend in Washington.
The practice of thinking through multiple scenarios.
Misunderstanding the flow of the game. Combat this by thinking on your opponent's turn and shortening your gameplay actions.
Eric loses focus when he's winning.
Have fun. Play the game. Magic has many forms.
Eric 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
John Asbach is 25 years old and an active duty military member. He graduated from the United States Military Academy (Westpoint) Class of 2013 and is originally from Buffalo, NY. He loves theater, coffee, and hockey and is the Champion of Grand Prix San Jose 2017.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from John Asbach when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep174
9th / 10th
Innistrad
Dark Intimations
It's different everytime you play.
Constructed. Choosing the right deck. Getting advice from knowledgeable players helps John share this up.
Grand Prix San Jose validated John's effort.
GP Portland. John went to time against a grindy Bant company deck. He ended up playing the draw bracket and doing poorly.
Winning Grand Prix San Jose 2017.
Focus on the things you can control. Play, card evaluation (Limited), deck building.
Ask yourself " how does my deck win?"
Thinking ahead and solving problems.
Not giving enough attention to your mana base in Limited.
For a new set, go to the Pre-Release and draft as much as possible before the Grand Prix.
Water, granola bars, the days are long. Take it one match at a time.
Be your mentality flexible. Find what works for you and talk to others.
John 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
Adam Ragsdale is a former MTGO grinder and content producer turned current occasional traveler. He has 2 Grand Prix Top 8s, both in the last calendar year. Adam lives in Toronto.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Adam Ragsdale when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep173
Torment
Mirrodin
Arc-slogger
Adam loves solving the puzzle using all the pieces of Magic.
Time management. Playing too fast and too slow at different times.
First PPTQ win in 2006. Know the meta. Check the 5-0 lists from Magic Online and ask questions.
ProTour-Charleston circa 2006. Lost 4 times, got a bye and dropped.
You can't let one tournament make you feel like you're not good enough.
GP Pittsburgh top 8.
If there is a "best" thing to be doing, do that thing. Play that deck.
Standard
Adam tends to operate on instinct so he needs to prepare a lot.
Not playing the best deck. Not understanding the match up on a conceptual level.
Everything has a range of outcomes. Prepare as best as you can to guide to the most positive outcome.
Get a good amount of sleep and eat well. Book flights to get arrive at a decent time.
When you're playing in a tournament, focus on your decisions and what you can control.
Twitter:@aWinnarIsYou
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
Rodrigo Togores has several good finishes at many Magic events, but most notably is the Champion of Grand Prix Prague 2016.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Rodrigo Togores when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep172
Mercadian Masques
Urza's Saga
Brainstorm
Tendrils of Agony
Combat Math.
2015, Rodrigo won a Vintage tournament in Italy.
Planning ahead and being prepared. By traveling a lot Rodrigo has gained skills that are useful all the time.
Rodrigo traveled to the U.S. to play in an SCG event. He lost his win-and-in to Jim Davis because he miscounted by one. Rodrigo learned to think twice when he plays. It's a skill worth having for any match up.
Win GP Prague.
Not every deck is super expensive. Legacy cards maintain their value so you can sell a deck and buy into another one fairly easily.
Players give away free information. Always think if it matters to play this card now or later. If you can, play it later.
Drink a lot of water, go to the restroom between every round.
Don't pile shuffle!
Twitter:@TogoresTcg
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
Matt Tabak is a senior editor inside Magic R&D. He is a former level 3 judge, competed at the Pro Tour four times, and holds the record for longest tenured Magic rules manager. He’s the lead editor for Magic Duels and the upcoming Magic sets Amonkhet and Hour of Devastation. Matt lives in Seattle, WA.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Matt Tabak when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep171
Alpha
Ravnica
Hidden Path
Prodigal Sorcerer
Traveling and meeting the players.
Judging a Pro Tour Qualifier. Matt disqualified a player for having a 59 card deck. Matt realized that player experience is very important.
Traveling to PAX 2016. Revealing Kaladesh to the world was awesome.
Make all Instants, Sorceries
A friend got arrested for using a hot tub that wasn't theirs.
Matt has learned about collaboration.
Failures to learn from mistakes. Don't blame luck. Take ownership and learn from mistakes.
You get out of it what you put into it. Life is ultimately about the connections you make with other people.
Twitter:@TabakRules
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
Cody Napier started playing magic in 2009 and has 1 Grand Prix Top 8 (Louisville) and 1 SCG open top 8 in his record. He’s attending his first Pro Tour later this year which is only 45 minutes away from his house. He loves cube and Legacy but mostly plays Standard. Cody lives in Tennessee.
Click to Tweet: I got a ton of value from Cody Napier when he shared his story on #MTGProTutor! Listen here: http://bit.ly/mtgprotutor-ep170
Rise of the Eldrazi
Shards of Alara
Elvish Visionary
Thinking too far ahead. Cody would think about the end of the tournament instead of the current match.
Cody was playing against Brian Braun-Duin for a top 8 slot. He didn't kill a key creature and then had to discard his removal spell.
Playing for top 8 at Grand Prix Louisville, Cody had the foresight to play around a Vendilion Clique. This drew him into Griselbrand for the win.
Legacy
Cody has learned he doesn't do things halfway.
Players look at Magic more as a job than a game. If you take the game so seriously then losses lot harder and you're more likely to tilt.
Brian Braun - Duin, Gerry Thompson, Todd Anderson
Watch Legacy coverage and learn card interactions. Learn how to cast brainstorm. AJ Sacher articles really help.
Focus on having fun, not winning.
CFB, SCG, TCG Player, MTG Top 8, MTG Goldfish
Twitter:@cody_napier
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