Fujita is a long-time Japanese Pro renowned for his deckbuilding prowess. He designed the original Angry Hermit deck in Extended, and was one of the first to play successful versions of Goblin Bidding in Standard. His notable finishes include a win at Grand Prix: Kyoto and second place at Pro Tour: Tokyo.
Jose Barbero is a member of the Argentina National Team, who won Grand Prix: Amsterdam, and finished in the Top 8 at Pro Tour: Yokohama. He also looks and sounds a bit like Antonio Banderas, making this tall Latin gentleman a big hit with the ladies.
Game 1:
Fujita won the roll and chose to play. For seemingly the first time today, both players kept their first seven cards and they were off. Barbero kicked off his first turn with Ancient Tomb, Grim Monolith, Talisman of Progress, and Mana Severance, removing all of his lands from the game, while Fujita merely answered with two Saprazzan Skerries and a Monolith of his own.
Barbero paused for a long time on his second turn, figuring out all the math for his and Fujita's mana (yes, folks, the format really is that fast), and played a second copy of both Grim Monolith and Talisman of Progress.
Fujita's upkeep saw him cast Mystical Tutor for Mind's Desire, and then enter his main phase where he tried to go off. Barbero cast Brainstorm in response to Gilded Lotus being cast, and Force Spiked the Lotus - saving his life in the process, as Fujita was going to win on his turn 3.
The next turn, Barbero dropped a Goblin Charbelcher on the board with enough mana to activate it, and gestured towards Fujita, upon which the young man from Japan promptly scooped 'em up.
Charbelcher to the dome. Turn 3 victory. Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
Barbero 1 - Fujita 0
Sideboarding:
Barbero
In: 4 Annul, 1 Platinum Angel, 1 Dismantling Blow
Out: 1 Rushing River, 4 Force Spike, 1 Voltaic Key
Fujita
In: 1 Chain of Vapor, 2 Thirst for Knowledge
Out: 2 Trade Secrets, 1 Burst of Energy
Game 2:
Fujita had to throw his first seven back for game 2, but kicked off his second six with another Saprazzan Skerry and a Chrome Mox imprinting Dream's Grip. Barbero played a Talisman of Progress, which was Chain of Vapored back to his hand at his end of turn. Fujita then cast Trade Secrets in his main phase, trying to build to critical mass so his combo could go off.
"Repeat?"
"No thanks; I pass," said Barbero.
Barbero laid an Island on his turn and cast Grim Monolith, Grim Monolith, Voltaic Key, Talisman of Progress, and then Dismantling Blow on Fujita's Mox, taking a point of mana burn. Fujita Tinkered his board clear and fished out a Gilded Lotus, tapped it, Twiddled it, tapped it again, Twiddled it again, and cast Mind's Desire for four cards. The four cards flipped were Ancient Tomb, Tinker, Brainstorm, and Chrome Mox. Tomb entered play, Tinker traded a tapped Lotus for an untapped one, Brainstorm was cast from the stack, then Chrome Mox.
Barbero asked for a pause at that point so that he could consider a response - but let it resolve instead.
The fresh Lotus was tapped for three Black, and Tendrils of Agony, along with seven other copies, hit the stack. Barbero had Fujita recount the spells one more time, and asked, incredulously,"That means I'm dead?"
Fujita nodded. Jose shrugged, and the pair moved on to Game 3.
Barbero 1 - Fujita 1
Game 3:
Barbero laid a first-turn Rishadan Port and Voltaic Key, and then chained his artifacts into a second-turn Goblin Charbelcher, while Fujita let out an exasperated sigh. Fujita then cast Brainstorm, laid an Ancient Tomb and cast Thirst for Knowledge, but could not get his engine started.
Jose cast Mana Severance on his next turn, and generated enough additional artifact mana to activate his Charbelcher aimed at Fujita's dome. The Argentinian gunslinger notched another third turn kill in his belt, advancing to 5-2 on the day.
Barbero 2 - Fujita 1
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