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Ah, there’s nothing like the first Grand Prix of the year (for me)! Yeah, it’s Fantasy Top 8 time!

I’ll explain the rules... everyone picks five players that they believe will make Top 8 of Grand Prix: Indianapolis. One of these picks is highlighted as the Winner, the player most likely to take home the trophy. There’s one point for each Top 8 player matched, and three points if you correctly choose the winner. You can pick any Magic player on the planet, but if they don't show up at the event you don't get your pick back. Play in the forums!

Without further ado, here are my five picks, in reverse order:

5. Benjamin Jerome Lundquist

Benny Lee, Lenny Bee, Ben, Bam, Boom, he'll piss on your grave and impregnate your girl. Lundquist jumped on the train in '06 and hasn't looked back, churning out solid consistent play at every tournament he which he’s played. His unyielding love for the game, and likely superiority opposite his opponent (whoever that may be) makes him a good Top 8 candidate, although he doesn't believe he'll take the crown.

"If I do make Top 8, I'm probably not going to win it," says Lundquist. "I keep getting screwed over! Plus, when have I ever won... anything?"

"What about the North American Challenge last year?" I reply.

"When have I ever won anything that Cheon has attended?"

(Boo-hoo.)

Sealed Pool #1 Featured by Kyle Sanchez on 2008-06-22 (Shadowmoor Limited) As written about in http://www.starcitygames.com/php/news/article/16039.html Print this deck!
1 Ballynock Cohort 1 Goldenglow Moth 1 Inquisitor's Snare 1 Kithkin Shielddare 1 Last Breath 1 Niveous Wisps 1 Order of Whiteclay 2 Resplendent Mentor 1 Spectral Procession 1 Woeleecher 1 Gleeful Sabotage 1 Gloomwidow 1 Gloomwidow's Feast 1 Howl of the Night Pack 1 Toil to Renown 1 Blistering Dieflyn 1 Bloodshed Fever 1 Burn Trail 1 Flame Javelin 1 Mudbrawler Cohort 1 Rustrazor Butcher	1 Cinderhaze Wretch 1 Corrosive Mentor 1 Disturbing Plot 1 Faerie Macabre 1 Incremental Blight 1 Rite of Consumption 1 Briarberry Cohort 1 Consign to Dream 1 Faerie Swarm 1 Kinscaer Harpoonist 1 Parapet Watchers 1 Sinking Feeling 1 Blazethorn Scarecrow 2 Chainbreaker 1 Heap Doll 1 Lurebound Scarecrow 1 Tatterkite 1 Thornwatch Scarecrow 1 Watchwing Scarecrow 1 Madblind Mountain 1 Mistveil Plains	1 Barkshell Blessing 1 Dawnglow Infusion 1 Elvish Hexhunter 1 Kitchen Finks 1 Medicine Runner 1 Raven's Run Dragoon 1 Safehold Duo 1 Safewright Quest 1 Curse of Chains 1 Silkbind Faerie 1 Thistledown Liege 1 Zealous Guardian 1 Deus of Calamity 1 Giantbaiting 1 Loamdragger Giant 2 Runes of the Deus 1 Scuzzback Scrapper 1 Vexing Shusher 1 Emberstrike Duo 1 Manaforge Cinder 1 Scar 1 Sootstoke Kindler 1 Sootwalkers 1 Helm of the Ghastlord 1 Memory Sluice 1 Oona's Gatewarden 1 Wasp Lancer
Download this deck in Apprentice format!		Download this deck in Magic Online Text format!

Hmm...

In this particular pool, it’s fairly obvious that you want Green to be the main color to abuse Kitchen Finks, two Runes of the Deus, and the Deus himself, along with a host of fattie creatures across the curve to support the bombs. The question is what should Green's second color be... Red or White?

Red brings Burn Trail and Flame Javelin to the table, although Javelin will be in whatever deck you play (LSV told me that, and I'm sticking to it), so Burn Trail seems to be the only real reason to suit up the color. Of course, by doing so, Deus and his other R/G friends will be slightly easier to cast. White, however, provides somewhat better removal, with Silkbind Faerie, Curse of Chains, Last Breath, Inquisitor's Snare, and one of my favorite cards: Elvish Hexhunter.

Green/White

Scuzzback Scrapper
Elvish Hexhunter
Vexing Shusher
Chainbreaker
Medicine Runner
Gloomwidow
Lurebound Scarecrow
Tatterkite
Kitchen Finks
Silkbind Faerie
2 Raven's Run Dragoons
Safehold Duo
Deus of Calamity
Morselhoarder
Barkshell Blessing
Safewright Quest
Last Breath
Inquisitor's Snare
Curse of Chains
Giantbaiting
2 Runes of the Deus
Flame Javelin

11 Forest
5 Plains

Loamdragger was dragging down the curve, however exciting it would have been to connect with the Runes. I just couldn't find another card that I could justify cutting over him. Maybe I'm wrong though, perhaps Chainbreaker could get the axe here since Loamdragger plus Runes is a serious game-ending presence. The three-drops in this deck are all pretty impressive, most being ahead of the curve on stats while also having subtle utilities to cover up some of this deck’s weak points.

I've really like playing with one-drops in this format, and constantly find myself playing 1-3 in my decks. It makes me feel like I'm playing with Joe Random's prerelease deck with a bunch of useless Zealous Guardians.

Green/Red

Scuzzback Scrapper
Elvish Hexhunter
Medicine Runner
Vexing Shusher
Mudbrawler Cohort
Sootstoke Kindler
Kitchen Finks
Gloomwidow
Tatterkite
Lurebound Scarecrow
Safehold Duo
Sootwalkers
Raven's Run Dragoons
Blazethorn Scarecrow
Deus of Calamity
Morselhoarder
Barkshell Blessing
Scar
Giantbaiting
Burn Trail
2 Rune of the Deus
Flame Javelin

9 Forest
8 Mountain

This is definitely a little more aggressive, and much looser when you really think about it. I'd much rather have the controlling White spells than the bad creatures from Red. This deck is much better at droppin' a Deus on your opponent’s chest, and that kind of humiliation might tip the scales in this version’s favor. This could also be a good sideboard strategy when facing a knowledgeable opponent, in an attempt to switch things up. This is a very likely tactic in this format given the depth in the majority of pools, and the small margins between some decks.

...

4. Timothy James Aten

Quite the sleeper, if I do say so myself. He's averaged one Grand Prix Top 8 per season for the last several years now, and I'd say this is his best shot to keep the average up. From what I've heard, there is going to be a low contingent of foreign players this weekend, so we're basically in the middle of another American Civil War, and with the grandfather to the future of American Magic in attendance TA is set to put up some big numbers.

"I wouldn't bet money on me to make Top 8 or anything, but I still think my chances are better than most."

The format somewhat rivals RGD... do you think your past experience will help?

"I'm not taking part in an interview for your article, you raggedy-andy looking motherf***er."

...

Sealed Pool #2 Featured by Kyle Sanchez on 2008-06-22 (Shadowmoor Limited) As written about in http://www.starcitygames.com/php/news/article/16039.html Print this deck!
1 Apothecary Initiate 1 Armored Ascension 1 Ballynock Cohort 1 Barrenton Medic 1 Goldenglow Moth 2 Dramatic Entrance 1 Flourishing Defenses 1 Howl of the Night Pack 1 Hungry Spriggan 1 Juvenile Gloomwidow 1 Mana Reflection 1 Presence of Gond 1 Spawnwrithe 2 Toil to Renown 1 Wildslayer Elves 1 Bloodmark Mentor 1 Bloodshed Fever 1 Boggart Arsonists 2 Crimson Wisps 1 Slinking Giant 1 Smash to Smithereens	1 Cinderhaze Wretch 3 Faerie Macabre 1 Hollowsage 1 Loch Korrigan 1 Polluted Bonds 1 Rite of Consumption 1 Torture 1 Wound Reflection 1 Briarberry Cohort 1 Drowner Initiate 1 Whimwader 1 Pili-Pala 1 Scrapbasket 1 Trip Noose 1 Umbral Mantle 1 Watchwing Scarecrow	1 Barkshell Blessing 1 Reknit 3 Curse of Chains 1 Repel Intruders 1 Silkbind Faerie 1 Somnomancer 1 Thistledown Duo 1 Giantbaiting 1 Guttural Response 1 Manamorphose 1 Scuzzback Marauders 1 Scuzzback Scrapper 1 Tattermunge Maniac 2 Emberstrike Duo 1 Kulrath Knight 1 Scar 2 Sootstoke Kindler 1 Torrent of Souls 1 Traitor's Roar 2 Fate Transfer 2 Helm of the Ghastlord 1 Inkfathom Witch 1 Merrow Grimeblotter 1 Torpor Dust 1 Wanderbrine Rootcutters 1 Wasp Lancer
Download this deck in Apprentice format!		Download this deck in Magic Online Text format!

Wow. This pool is certainly vomit.

We are blessed with eight excellent U/W hybrid cards, but only have three White and five Blue spells to compliment them. It would appear from the number stats that Green would have the deepest pool, but in fact half of the cards are unplayable junk rares that will do diddly squat to win Limited games. There are no standout power cards in this pool, and we will be doomed if we open this at a GPT, PTQ, or GP...

But as grandmaster Papi Chulo always says, "When the going gets tough, get going, your time will be better spent in other avenues."

And up until this point I've lived by that my entire life, but today I'm making a change. I can't live under your shadow anymore, Papi!

Blue/White

Somnomancer
Briarberry Cohort
Pili-Pala
Thistledown Duo
Silkbind Faerie
Ballynock Cohort
Wasp Lancer
Barrenton Cragtreads
Scrapbasket
Wanderbrine Rootcutters
Merrow Grimeblotter
Watchwing Scarecrow
Barrenton Medic
Whimwader
Barkshell Blessing
Trip Noose
3 Curse of Chains
Torpor Dust
Repel Intruders
Armored Ascension

9 Island
8 Plains

This is a cowardly attempt to abuse Armored Ascension, the only card that could carry a deck all by itself. The removal here really is spectacular. Curse of Chains is an awesome efficient answer to any non-utility creature and somewhat combos with Silkbind Faerie. I'm surprised how easily this deck came together... there really are only 23 cards that you can consider in the U/W build, so it’s not like it took a master to come up with this, especially since Pili-Pala is only an overcosted artificial Flying Man.

Blue/Black

Somnomancer
Briarberry Cohort
Inkfathom Witch
Thistledown Duo
Silkbind Faerie
Wasp Lancer
3 Faerie Macabre
Barrenton Cragtreads
Scrapbasket
Watchwing Scarecrow
Kulrath Knight
Cinderhaze Wretch

Scar
Trip Noose
3 Curse of Chains
Torpor Dust
Umbral Mantle
Helm of the Ghastlord

I'm generally not a Helm of the Ghastlord fan, but it certainly deserves a spot in this deck. I didn't want to play two copies so I threw in Umbral Mantle to provide some potential defense for my mostly aerial offensive squad. This version has a much more focused game plan, concentrating on the air battle while using efficient removal spells to slow the opponent’s assault. The four-drops aren't anything to write home about, but they provide a solid ground force to back up the early plays.

It really is surprising how similar all of the fliers are in this format. There have been so many draft decks in which I’ve piled in the cheap evasive dudes and removal spells, salting the mix with Hill Giants to contain the crowded ground. Umbral Mantle also doesn't get the kind of respect it deserves right now, as it’s a complete beast opposite the UW decks that plan on using Silkbind Faerie, Curse of Chains, and Sinking Feeling to contain your beasts.

...

3. Steve Sadin

Stevie and I go way back, and to this day he still hasn't ever done moderately well at a Magic tournament that I've attended. Every successful standing has come while I've been at home, following along with the coverage. This is quite a grim fact, but I believe it’s Steve's time to shine and dine. After his heart-warming foot injury story, one can only feel sympathetic for the hobbling Limited Information mothership writer, and karma is a nurturing mother holding her child close to her chest while gently supporting the fragile neck.

"Knowing you're going to be at the event, I'd be grateful if the curse was limited to the tournament itself."

Why's that?

"Well, last time we were at a tournament together, I almost died..."

*10 minutes later*

"Man, I just rode the elevator with JayZ!"

Sweet, get an autograph for me sometime.

"I can't, he’s too intimidating. And surprisingly tall."

...

Sealed Pool #3 Featured by Kyle Sanchez on 2008-06-22 (Shadowmoor Limited) As written about in http://www.starcitygames.com/php/news/article/16039.html Print this deck!
2 Apothecary Initiate 1 Ballynock Cohort 1 Goldenglow Moth 1 Niveous Wisps 1 Safehold Sentry 1 Spectral Procession 2 Crabapple Cohort 1 Drove of Elves 1 Foxfire Oak 1 Hungry Spriggan 1 Nurturer Initiate 1 Presence of Gond 2 Toil to Renown 1 Tower Above 1 Bloodshed Fever 1 Boggart Arsonists 1 Crimson Wisps 1 Flame Javelin 1 Intimidator Initiate 1 Power of Fire 1 Rage Reflection 1 Smash to Smithereens	1 Ashenmoor Cohort 1 Cinderbones 1 Corrosive Mentor 1 Hollowsage 1 Loch Korrigan 1 Rite of Consumption 1 Briarberry Cohort 1 Consign to Dream 1 Cursecatcher 1 Parapet Watchers 1 Sinking Feeling 1 Whimwader 1 Blight Sickle 1 Elsewhere Flask 1 Grim Poppet 1 Heap Doll 1 Pili-Pala 1 Revelsong Horn 1 Thornwatch Scarecrow 1 Watchwing Scarecrow 1 Wicker Warcrawler	1 Barkshell Blessing 1 Safehold Elite 1 Aethertow 1 Plumeveil 1 Somnomancer 2 Steel of the Godhead 1 Swans of Bryn Argoll 1 Thistledown Liege 1 Zealous Guardian 1 Loamdragger Giant 1 Morselhoarder 1 Mudbrawler Raiders 1 Vexing Shusher 1 Ashenmoor Gouger 1 Cultbrand Cinder 1 Fists of the Demigod 1 Kulrath Knight 1 Scar 2 Sootstoke Kindler 1 Traitor's Roar 1 Dream Salvage 1 Fate Transfer 2 Gravelgill Axeshark 1 Torpor Dust 1 Wasp Lancer
Download this deck in Apprentice format!		Download this deck in Magic Online Text format!

This pool is much deeper than the previous two. The decision here is whether to use Blue cards or Green cards. Blue offers us a pair of Steel of the Godhead, with a fair number of creatures to drop it on. Green, on the other hand, provides several solid beaters with good removal stemming to Red. Red also gives us the Pili-Pala / Power of Fire combo, along with a possible Morselhoarder infinite combo, with Sinking Feeling and either Presence of Gond or Power of Fire.

Green/Red splash Blue

Intimidator Initiate
Nurturer Initiate
Pili-Pala
Safehold Elite
Vexing Shusher
Boggart Arsonists
Hungry Spriggan
Mudbrawler Raiders
2 Crabapple Cohort
Kulrath Knight
Cultbrand Cinder
Morselhoarder
Grim Poppet
Scar
Elsewhere Flask
Power of Fire
Smash to Smithereens
Sinking Feeling
Tower Above
Presence of Gond
Flame Javelin
Rage Reflection

9 Mountain
8 Forest

The real power of this deck is in the five-drops, which will probably be too slow given its virtual lack of early game aside from the mediocre ones and twos. Splashing the Sinking Feeling combo is relatively painless given there are three different ways to cast it, along with the fact that it will be a removal spell when you don't have the other pieces. It's a shame there aren't any more Blue untap creatures, as they would most likely make the cut in here, and there’s some room to add a couple of Islands if need be.

Blue/White splash Red

Zealous Guardian
Somnomancer
Briarberry Cohort
Pili-Pala
Safehold Sentry
Plumeveil
Parapet Watchers
Wasp Lancer
Ballynock Cohort
Swans of Bryn Argoll
Thistledown Liege
Cultbrand Cinder
2 Gravegill Axeshark
Grim Poppet
2 Steel of the Godhead
Consign to Dream
Sinking Feeling
Torpor Dust
Aethertow
Flame Javelin
Power of Fire

3 Mountain
4 Plains
10 Island

This is my kind of deck. Except for the unavoidable Zealous Guardian, who really isn't that bad in here. He helps in the conspiring of Aethertow while also being a prime target for Steel of the Godhead, and can even become a 3/3 via Thistledown Liege. Not to mention that he can jump out to trade with equally unexciting two-drops, but now I just feel like I'm trying too hard to justify him.

I was moving to cut Sinking Feeling for the Flask before I noticed that Poppet acts essentially like a Morselhoarder when used with Sinking Feeling and Power of Fire, except you have to have creatures to kill with Poppet. If Pili-Pala and Power of Fire are the Gun, then Poppet n' Power is a grenade launcher. I didn't want to bother including Scar since I'm fine with having only four Red sources, and Scar always feels best early and I don't have the luxury to consistently cast it.

Honestly, I was expecting some more difficult Sealed decks to build before I ran to the shop to pick these up. There have been a number of decks I've had problems with, but overall this format doesn't seem as hard or tricky as I initially was led to believe. It's just a matter of finding the powerful cards and hoping you have enough playables between the hybrids to support them. Drafting is where all the action is at, as you can essentially sculpt your deck to perform however you want given the large number of like-attributed cards.

I've always liked Sealed formats since it’s very easy to weed out the bad advice. Buying several decks and just walking around asking people what they think is an awesome way to get better at the format, while keeping the people you’re asking interested in your questions due to the wide variance between card pools.

...

2. Kyle Sanchez

Ah, the sweet indulgence to be your own fantasy. I haven't been to any big tournaments since Nationals last year, skipping several Grand Prix tourneys in the process. I feel I'm overdue, but that mostly comes from not playing at the competitive level for awhile. Regardless, I feel at ease going into this tournament. I'm confident in my skills, and I don't feel too pressured to do well, which is why I anticipate a strong performance.

But I couldn't pick myself to win... that honor goes to:

1. Gerard Fabiano – Winner

GFabs won a Grand Prix earlier this season, and call me crazy but I smell a repeat. Gerard's Limited resolve has always been unyielding and stiff in the face of adversity. He's a clutch shooter in the fourth quarter and will never let his team down in the end, cutting himself deep and making sacrifices to do so. Heart of a rainbow, charisma of a lynx, and the loins of a pumped up pro athlete. His smile has been known to both cure cancer and drive women off the cliff like lemmings. Plus, so far this year has been all America, baby, and the Old Guard are representing their block.

I also plan on keeping brief notes on how all five of my picks are doing throughout the tournament, so tune back next week for reports on all of them!

Kyle