Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 15:49:07 -0600 From: "Darik D. Dvorshak" Subject: Albuquerque PTQ 18 Aug Hello from Fort Carson, Co. My name is Darik Dvorshak and here is my report from the Pro Tour Qualifier in Albuquerque, NM. I played a very slight variation of an Ertai/Song deck that I got from this site. The tourney had 53 players. A few, about 4 or 5, players that have already played on the Pro tour. The tourney was in the back room of War Games West on Central avenue. An okay local, ran fairly smoothly. There were 7 players that play in the Colorado Springs area and we didn't have to play each other until the final 8. Anyway on to the rounds. Round 1, I played Josh Eustace, a friendly knowledgeable player from Arizona, playing a Big Blue with some white deck. Game 1, I drew no blue producing land and was squashed like a bug Game 2, I drew a Gemstone mine and a swamp the whole game and was really squashed. What a start Rounds 0-1 Games 0-2 Round 2, my opponent Sean Ned a fairly new player from Farmington, NM, playing a Red Celebrity deck. Game 1 I flooded him with creatures and won Game 2 again the flood of creatures, but got a song of blood/necrotag. So, Rounds 1-1, Games 2-2 Round 3 Played a female, Kirsty Wallace, she was in a really sour mood, I'd use another adjective, but it's really not worth the effort. Game 1, I got out Fallen Askari's, she tried to block with two 1/1 creatures, then after I said they'd die, she says oh I didn't sleep, so I let her take it back. My next attack, she tries to to it again!!! They died, she started whining and said she'd play me for money the next day. I won Game 2, she got mana screwed and lost. After the round she stands up and says, now that was plain luck. A really great sportsperson....... She was playing Blue White So, Rounds 2-1, Games 4-2 Round 3, played Eric Jones, playing an all black necrotog deck, very knowledgeable pro tour player, I think he said he had been to 3 pro tours so far Game 1, I get mana screwed he wins Game 2, he gets mana screws I win Game 3, Really good game came down to my Ertai's filling the graveyard better. So, Rounds 3-1 Games 6-3 Round 5, My opponent was John Mickey, another pro tour player, playing an Ertai deck with White and I don't think any Songs of Blood. Game 1, An okay game, I had a bit of mana screw and ended up losing. Game 2, He had an almost all land draw and lost, Game 3, another great game, came down to the very end and I song of blooded him. So Rounds 4-1, Games 8-4 Round 6, my opponent was an albuquerque, NM player who had been on the tour, I offered him a draw and thought we could both get in, but he has a moral problem with it, so we played. He was playing an all black Necrotog deck. Game 1, I lost, I'm not sure how, he just got the jump on me Game 2, I got him, I think my furnaces worked on his graveyard... I then offered to draw again...there were other 4-1's who had played. We were assured of getting in. He did think about it for a little, but did not draw. Game 3, Man-O'-War from hell..... He got a Knight out, I man-o-warred it, he put another out the next turn, I man-o-warred it, then he put out a Morifen on turn 4 or 5 and I man-o-warred it. Ended the game two turns later with a man-o-war/song of blood. Life count was 0 to 19..... Rounds 5-1, Games 10-5 I was seated 3rd going into the Final 8. In order they were 1. Mark Arce 2. Brian Smith 3. Me 4. Joe Venzor 5. Jacob Stirler 6. Jay Wagner 7. Robert Tibuni 8. Jason Rodriquez I wasn't paying close attention to what the others were playing, sorry, I'll keep better track next tourney. I ended up playing Jay Wagner a Colorado Springs player playing almost the same deck. I sure wish I had gotten in on a bye, so we could have been in different brackets..... But, oh well, Jay and I had a fun round. Game 1, He got the jump on me and I lost Game 2, I got the jump on him and won. Game 3. Came down to the last card or two He was at 2 life, I was a 1.....I did make a couple mistakes, forgot to use my furnace to take out a creature and draw a card. And when I blocked with an Ertai and the Ertai died, I did not take the top three cards...But that's life, Jay won the next round against Robert who was playing a red/black/white deck. So Jay made it, I had to bolt, because my beaurtiful wife and boys were waiting in the hotel to watch Liar Liar with me. By the Way the Radisson Hotel was quite nice, good indoor pool nice rooms, so my wife bribe to go to NM was about $150. Oh, and I got to see Keifer Sutherland who was staying in the hotel... Darik