Erik was already a big winner due to being the highest finishing player with an „unpowered deck“ – a special price we always offer in our Vintage events, but by splitting the final he could double his winnings. Would he also be able to hold the trophy in the end?

Anton on the other hand was very excited to go first in the final because he came in as the 7th seed, but was facing the 8th seed now. Anton took a Mulligan. and after some consideration Erik followed him down to six cards, but then instantly exclaimed „I shouldn‘t have done this“ – Anton just replied with „That‘s what she said.“

img_4373

Game 1:

Anton had Mox Sapphire and Ancestral Recall before he lost his Tundra to Erik‘s Wasteland. Anton kept the pedal to the metal with Black Lotus into Monastery Mentor, Preordain and Mox Ruby.

img_4379

Seemed like a good mulligan on his side at least. Eldrazi Mimic looked really mundane on the other side of the board, before a Gush created more Monk tokens, and buffs for the team. Erik picked up his two cards in defeat before I even had time to take a picture.

Anton took the lead 1-0

Game 2:

img_4374

Both players kept their first seven cards this time around. Eye of Ugin into Endless One and Eldrazi Mimic seemed like a great start for Erik, but the Mimic was countered by Force of Will. Anton just played Ponder before losing a Mentor to Thought-Knot Seer‘s ability, revealing this hand:

img_4383

Reality Smasher came down to play, and very soon it was time for Anton to pick up his cards without having made a lot of relevant plays this time around.

The score was tied at 1-1

Game 3:

img_4382

Anton led with basic Island into Preordain, only to lose his Island to Strip Mine. His Library of Alexandria fell to Wasteland before Endless One was summoned with 2 counters by Erik, but Swords to Plowshares took care of it in response to a Chalice of the Void for 1 on the next turn. Now Anton tried to get aggressive himself with Monastery Mentor. Erik‘s Dismember prompted a Gush creating a Monk, but got rid of the Mentor in the end.

img_4385

Anton‘s Jace, Vryn's Prodigy / Jace, Telepath Unbound was Dismembered as well and Though-Knot Seer revealed a stacked hand.

img_4386

Anton restocked with Treasure Cruise and his next Jace, Vryn's Prodigy / Jace, Telepath Unbound stuck around. A second Thought-Knot Seer revealed these cards

img_4387

and represented a fast clock with both players at 13 life. Anton called upon Dack Fayden and started improving his hand. When both Thought-Knot Seers attacked, he blocked them with the Monk token and Jace, who flipped out of combat to keep Dack Fayden alive, allowing Anton to start his turn with two planeswalkers in play.img_4388

A strong position if he could handle the three Seers somehow. Destroying the Chalice with Ingot Chewer was the first step towards survival. Jace flashed back Treasure Cruise and Erik‘s Ghost Quarter activation prompted a Gush.

img_4389

Swords to Plowshares took out one Thought-Knot Seer before Anton dropped to 5 life. Finding a second white mana source Supreme Verdict finally cleared the board and gave Anton two more cards when the Thought-Knot Seers finally left the board. Now the tides had turned. Between Dack, Jace and Divining Top Anton was far ahead in cards and card quality but suddenly not under pressure anymore. Erik‘s fresh Eldrazi Mimic was rendered harmless by Jace, and Dig Through Time found a Monastery Mentor.

img_4391

Time Walk and a flurry of spells sealed the deal a few seconds later.

Anton won the game, the match with 2-1, and the tournament!

 

Congratulations to Anton Karlinski the MKMS Prague 2016 Vintage Champion!

img_4395