From: cmason@taynet.co.uk (Craig Mason)
Subject: UK Tourney report. A Scot at PT3. Courtesy of Team Highlander (LONG)
Date: Mon, 26 Aug 1996 20:54:05 GMT

This article has been typed and  posted by Craig Mason on behalf of
Gary Campbell. Another Team Highlander report from Dundee, Scotland.

Pro Tour 3 (A Scot in Columbus, Ohio)
============================== by Gary Campbell

Hi Folks

I've been pressured into writing my "Scottish" eye-view of Pro Tour 3
in Columbus, Ohio. As the first Scot on the Pro-Tour, I qualified by
winning a UK qualifier with a necro/land kill deck which had won me 3
tournaments in a row but has since deceased. I knew that I would be
travelling with the 2 other UK qualifiers and quickly found out that
one of them was BERTRAND LESTREE. This Iwas looking forward to.

The day came and I travelled by train to London and met Bertrand at
the hotel. We said our hellos and five minutes later we were in the
middle of a game. For the tourney (Ice Age/Alliances) I had built a
green/red land destruction deck; a big mistake I am still regretting.
Bertrand had a blue/black deck. He won the first three games and was
happy. I won the next 4 games and his deck went flying across the
hotel room. A new deck was formed and he was happy winning again.

We met STEVE EASTON the next day and flew off to America (My first
time there). We talked and played magic all the way there. Bertrand
also built a new deck on the plane (you only ever read about these
things, but it's true).

After we landed we got to the hotel then headed off to the Convention
Centre to register. We watch some guys playing with their tourney
decks. Bertrand says "shit", goes back to the hotel and builds a new
deck.

The draw is made next day and in the first game I'm paired with:

GAME 1 - Derek Rank. (He is a regional champ and placed 17th at PT2
and is in the top 30 of the DCI.)

After this game I knew I had a shit deck and blew it. He was playing
blue/white. He was able to get his Kjeldoran Outpost out and counter
everything of mine. 3 games I was killed by the outpost (I lose 0-3).

GAME 2 - George Baxter (Do I need to introduce him?)

He was very friendly and talked to me for a good while. He played
blue/white. In game 1 he killed me with blinkies. In game 2 he killed
me with binding grasps. In game 3 he killed me with an outpost.

I have now played against two blue/white decks and think I've missed
out on something. At 0-6 I'm pissed off because if I'd played what I'd
wanted to play (all black) I would have felt comfortable. I always
play black but was advised not to. I shouldn't have listened.

Game 3 - Shannon Hill (Placed 32nd at PT3 and top 30 in the DCI)

He is playing red/white. I am shocked nad stunned as I am 2-0 up
inside 10 minutes. My insects and land destruction worked. I got
burned to death in a close 3rd game. I'm now 1-2 and am happier with
life.

Game 4 - Darwin Mess (Placed 3rd at PT2)

Another top player and worse still another blue/white deck. He wins
the first game with blinkies. I win the 2nd game with insects. 1-1 and
I have to win. Shit, shit, shit as he plays an outpost and I have no
land destruction. The swarm gets bigger and kills me. I'm 1-3 and it's
just for fun from now on. God I hate this deck. Green/Red sucks.

Game 5 - Henry Stern - Hey, who next? Another great player and as I
found out a great person, who knows all the words to "Flower of
Scotland"(This was his college/university song). Also like many of the
Americans I met he had roots/family in Scotland. This match was good
for me as as the press and cameras came in and were talking to Henry.
There were cameras rolling and flashes throughout the whole match.
They asked me where I was from and when I said Scotland they started
to ask me questions and take photographs (stand aside please Henry).

The match was close because he also played red/green. The first game
went to & fro until he bounced a Llhurgoyf onto the table. I die big
time. The next game is better and I edge it with fire. The third game
is very close. It comes down to me with a Stormbind out and a Zuran
Orb. He has two Fyndhorn Elves. I have 2 land and 1 life. Next turn he
dies unless he picks up, as he said, an incinerate or Yavimaya Ants.
There was some guy standing at the table we were at with his camera
rolling and he zoomed in on the top of Henry's deck. he turned the
card over and my heart sank. It was ANTS. An epic match and tremendous
fun.

The picture is now looking a rather sorry 1-4. Nevermind, I had one
game to go and I've played everyone you'd ever want to play, or rather
nearly everyone. I was amazingly paired with Bertrand Lestree for the
last game. An excellent end to the day.

We laughed and sat down. Bertrand had also not had a very good tourney
and we had a bit of a fun game. He was playing my favourite,
blue/white. He also said he wished he'd played the deck that he'd
thrown across the hotel room. In game 1 he killed me with blinking
spirits and binding grasps. In game 2 I killed him with insects and
incinerates. Game 3 is great fun as in the middle of it Bertrand
starts to sing the French national anthem out aloud and I conduct him.
A young Canadian judge called Jeff, hearing this, sits beside us to
watch the match. Bertrand finishes his song and continues the game. He
has binding grasped two Balduvian Hordes. I have 2 insects out. It's a
stand-off. I hit him with a big lava-burst and he has to sack all of
his landsto the Zuran and can't upkeep his grasps. I charge over next
turn. A 2-1 win. He used the Helm of Obedience and I only had 4 cards
left. It was that close. So I finish on a high note and am now 2-4.
Although Bertrand never took the game very seriously, he's still the
best player in the world. The other guy who was with us qualified for
the last 64 and eventually finished 28th winning $1500 and a place at
Atlanta so watch out for Steve Easton. He played blue/white. Surprise,
surprise.

I've been asked to talk about the Beta Bonus Challenge that I won a
place in. Everyone said that it was the big event of the weekend. 32
people got places for this. 32 lucky people that is.

The draw was made and you sat opposite your opponent. The Wizards then
came around with the goodies. An Unlimited starter deck and two Beta
boosters. Everyone was a bit crushed as there were about 100 people
all standing around. The ref said 15 minutes to get ready. I opened my
starter deck first. All around I was hearing cheers and shouts in
typical American fashion. To my amazement there was cheering around me
as I reveal a Mox Pearl. My other rare was a plain. but I was not one
to complain. I now open Beta booster No. 1: More cheers as I got a
taiga, consecrate land and a sinkhole. No. 2: An incredible cheer goes
up as I pull out a Mox Sapphire. High fives all round. The guy next to
me had his head in his hands as he was coming to terms with his
Purelace, Power Surge, Disrupting Scepter and Ankh of Mishra. 

I did quite well too with 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss coming 3rd/4th. I
finish up and go to watch the pro tour final and find that a young
Swede has won. I watched his semi-final on TV and he was playing fast
red/green. I spoke to him for a few moments and we agreed it was great
for Europe again. He seemed a good guy. Whilst watching the TV, Mark
Rosenwater the commentator said that the cards of the tourney were
Thawing Glaciers and, you got it, Kjeldoran Outpost.

All I have to say now is to wish Steve Easton the best of luck at PT4
Atlanta. I had a magnificent time, even although the results were poor
and Bertrand will no doubt be back if he gets a sponsor.

As this is my first report I would appreciate any comments or
questions you might have. Thanks for reading.

Gary Campbell