- Classic Magic theorist Mike Flores
- "The Innovator" Patrick Chapin
- Level Six Mage & 2007 Invitational Champion Tiago Chan
- Deckbuilder extraordinaire Adrian Sullivan
- Limited expert Nick Eisel
- Vintage expert Stephen Menendian
- Pro Tour deck designer Benjamin Peebles-Mundy
- Fan favorites Richard Feldman
& Kyle Sanchez
... and many, many more!
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Here we are! We finally have a Top 8 consisting of three Canadians and some random Americans. Unfortunately for the Canucks, two Canadians - Richard Mattiuzzo and Peter Olszewski - are playing in the first round, hurting their chances at winning the gold.
But we're not here for that. Nick and Adam have already faced off today with Adam emerging as the victor. Chambers has been cruising through the day going undefeated in the first six rounds, allowing him the luxury of double drawing into this Fish packed Top 8.
Nikola is from Ontario, Canada. He came down with a group of friends, another of whom made Top 8. That's an impressive showing from a single car. The 19-year-old Adam Chambers is already has a Sunday showing at team Pro Tour: Atlanta, so he's no stranger to the limelight, though these lights really aren't as bright as a real limelight... Well, you get the idea.
All of the elimination matches are not timed, giving the players plenty of time to go over each possible play. In this case it probably won't be too big of a deal seeing as how both players are playing Fish variants.
Game 1: Rosu won the die roll and he chose to play. Neither player mulliganed, and Rosu kicked off the match with a Mox Sapphire and Mishra's Factory, which he used to cast a Cloud of Faeries. Chamber's first play was a Tropical Island and Basking Rootwalla. Rosu's next turn saw him Wasteland Chamber's Tropical and swing in with his Factory and Faeries. Rosu was able to force through a Crucible of Worlds with a Daze and Force of Will to stop both of Chamber's Force of Wills. Chambers thought for a bit, shook his head, and scooped to move on to game two.
Rosu 1 - Chambers 0
Both players pulled a lot of cards out, so it will be interesting to see what kind of tech they have against each other.
Adam apparently made a mistake, something you won't see often, though it wasn't easy to see from the reporter's chair. Chamber's Umezawa's Jittes and Gaea's Skyfolk could prove to be a problem for Rosu, but we'll see what he's got to combat the powerful legendary equipment.
Game 2: Chambers decided to play and both players decided to keep. Chambers led off with a Tropical Island and confidently played an Ancestral Recall, which resolved. He discarded an Umezawa's Jitte and passed the turn. Rosu's Tundra was Wastelanded and Chambers played an Aether Vial. Rosu's next turn yielded a Flooded Strand, and Chambers was forced to crack open his pack of YMG dice to put on his Vial during his upkeep. He played a Mishra's Factory and followed it up with another Vial, giving him a very solid board position. Rosu played out a Cloud of Faeries and after untapping his land he played a Null Rod which resolved, shutting off both of Chamber's Aether Vials. Chambers thought for a bit and played an Oxidize to take care of the deadly Null Rod. Rosu played a Flooded Strand on his turn and sacrificed it immediately to get a Tundra. He attacked with his Cloud of Faeries and turned it into a Ninja of the Deep Hours. He passed his turn after drawing his Ninja card. During his end step Chambers put out a Wild Mongrel with the Aether Vial. On his next turn, Chambers dropped the deadly Umezawa's Jitte. Fortunately for Rosu, he had a Seal of Cleansing waiting in his hand which he cast to take care of the Jitte.
He used a Wasteland to take out Chamber's only colored mana source and was forced to pass the turn, unable to attack his Ninja into Chamber's Mongrel. The Cloud came back out after Chambers had no play on his turn. Rosu swung in with his Faerie and Ninja and Chambers Vialed out Kira, Great Glass Spinner to block the Ninja. On his next attack step he brought over his Faeries, but Chambers had another Kira waiting. Rosu attempted a Swords to Plowshares, but it was stopped by Kira's ability. Chambers finally drew another mana source and used it to activate his Mishra's Factory to swing in alongside Kira. Rosu did nothing on his turn and shipped it over.
Chambers began to take control of the game, dropping another Factory and a second Umezawa's Jitte. Rosu came back with another Null Rod which Chambers attempted to Force of Will. Rosu had a Force of his own and was able to get the Null Rod into play. Chambers drew another mana source and attacked with both of his Factories and Kira. Chambers cast a Gaea's Skyfolk on his next turn, and Rosu had no other play than a Mox Pearl. His Mishra's Factory was forced to stay home, and Chambers's flying creatures were able to take the game.
The power level of the cards Fish plays may be low, but they have a widespread effect on the game.
Rosu 1 - Chambers 1
Game 3: Rosu declared his intention to play first and kept his hand, as did Chambers. Rosu opened with a Flooded Strand that he sacrificed to get out a Tundra and attempted an Ancestral Recall on Chambers' upkeep. It resolved and Chambers also led with a Flooded Strand which he used to grab a Tropical Island. He used that along with a Mox Sapphire to play a Wild Mongrel, a very powerful card in a Fish mirror. Rosu played a pair of Cloud of Faeries on his turn and played a Swords to Plowshares on Chambers' Mongrel. Chambers dropped a Tundra on his turn and passed it to Rosu.
Rosu came in for two with his Clouds and played a Mishra's Factory before passing the turn. On his turn, Rosu played out a Plains and Mox Sapphire, then activated his Mishra's Factory to attack alongside his Clouds. He followed this up with a Time Walk which yielded him another attack phase and a land drop to use to Wasteland Chamber's Tundra. He followed that with a Null Rod, which prompted Chambers to scoop.
Rosu 2 - Chambers 1
After the match Chambers told me that he actually enjoyed his experience and is more than willing to play in another event, provided he can find a deck and the event is close enough.
