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If you are a valid StarCityGames.com Premium member and still cannot view the article, please consult this FAQ. David Allen has made the Top 8 at the last two Vintage World Championship tournaments, though the Richmond native has yet to taste success here at the Power 9. His opponent is none other than Bob Kochis, Landstill proponent and Finalist at Power 9 Syracuse.
 Game 1:
Allen won the roll and got out to a solid Stax start with Gemstone Mine, Mox Jet, Sol Ring, Sphere of Resistance. Kochis threw down an Underground Sea and paid one to cast Mox Ruby.
"Tinker?" asked Allen.
"Yeah, that seems good, too," replied Kochis. "This could be a short game 1."
"I guess when in doubt, you grab a guy with a big ol' butt."
Sundering Titan got in for one before Balance got Kochis back in the game. Unfortunately for Bob, Smokestack smashed any permanents on the board and "Draw, go" went on for turn after turn until Allen finally drew a threat in the form of Goblin Welder to bring back big Sunder, and that was that - an agonizing, yet boring game 1 win for the Stax deck.
Allen 1 - Kochis 0
 Game 2:
This started with Gorilla Shaman for Allen after his Wasteland got rid of Library of Alexandria from Kochis. Kochis used Yawgmoth's Will to bring back the Library, but it just died again when Allen laid another Wasteland.
You often tell the difference between the really good Vintage players and the mediocre ones by the fact that the good ones remember their 1/1s with abilities can still attack. That's exactly what Allen began to do, swinging with his Mox Monkey and Goblin Welder to try and stay ahead in the damage race, in spite of his frequent City of Brass damage.
While Allen got in his beats, Kochis chilled, waiting for his deck to cough up land so he could get in the game for the first time in the match. Swords to Plowshares got rid of Allen's first Goblin Welder, while Force of Will made the second attempted Welder go away, and Kochis looked ready to go on the offensive soon, with Library of Alexandria working overtime to rebuild Bob's hand.
Sadly for fans of Kochis, Allen's deck stayed just ahead of Bob's mana curve and kept him from doing... well, from doing anything. Kochis then died One. Excruciating. Monkey. Spank. At. A. Time.
Allen 2 - Kochis 0
When Bob revealed his hand after the game, he was holding a full grip of Blue hate cards and counterspells, but could never quite find enough mana to use any of them.
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