Subject: The West Virginia State Championship Report Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1998 02:10:48 -0500 From: "Dr. Doyle" To: Magic Dojo The West Virginia Magic State Championships were held November 7 at the Charleston House Holiday Inn, on the banks of the Kanawaha River. With 64 in attendance the Ardon Unlimited staff seemed pleased with the turnout from a state of only 1.5 Million citizens. The format was type two, six round of Swiss then a cut to the top eight. Current State Champion James Bennett was present to defend his title. Level VI Judge Michael Guptil was the official Head Judge for the event that started at 10 a.m. Several deck types were present at the event but the one most feared was the Mind Stroke, locally referred to as "The Academy Deck." Three members of Team Sea Monkey, based out of The Ogar's Lair (Charleston, WV) were therefore the most feared players of the day. "I stoke myself," became the worst thing any player could hear down by the river. Keene, Sampson and Martin were match perfect during the first 6 rounds. The Mind Stroke appeared unstoppable. The final top 20 standings after round 6 were: 1 Gregory Keene 15 pts Mind Stroke 2 Matthew Holbrook 15 pts Richie County Red 3 Jason Hager 15 pts Suicide Black 4 Todd Sampson 14 pts Mind Stroke 5 Jeff Curry 14 pts Suicide Hatred 6 Brooks Martin 14 pts Mind Stroke 7 James Bennett 14 pts Suicide Black 8 Heath Baker 13 pts Mighty Merfolk 9 Jason Hill 12 pts 10 Gregory Miller 12 pts 11 George Fama 12 pts 12 Roger Jeffery 12 pts 13 John Giroir 12 pts 14 Danny Daker 12 pts 15 Carl Jarrell 12 pts 16 Bill Mooser 12 pts 17 Travis Wagner 12 pts 18 "Jim" Shultz 12 pts 19 Gates Gardner 10 pts 20 John Fizer 10 pts QUARTER FINIALS of the WEST VIRGINIA CHAMPIONSHIP Team Sea Monkey (Charleston) placed 5 contenders in the finals; Keene, Harger, Sampson, Martin & Defending State Champion James Bennett. Team Danzig (Huntington) placed 2 in Curry & Heath. Representing Team Richie County Holbrook #8 Heath Baker (Mighty Merfolk) vs #1 Gregory Keene (Mind Stroke) The Merfolk put up a gallant effort forcing a third game after being "stroked" on turn two of the first game for 221 cards. The Tidal Warrior kept the "Academy" in Island form during the second game, but the third game went to top seeded Keene. #5 Jeff Curry (Suicide Hatred) vs #4 Todd Sampson (Mind Stroke) Sampson swept Curry giving him a stroke on turn 3 of game 1 and turn 4 of game 2. This would pit Todd Sampson against team mate Gregory Keene in the simi finials #6 Brooks Martin (Mind Stroke) vs #3 Jason Hager (Suicide Black) There was no room for team favorites as Martin & Hager faced off: Hager wishing he was the Sea-monkey playing Mind Stroke. Martin gave Hager a stroke turn 4 of game 1 and turn three of game 2. #7 James Bennett (Suicide Black) vs #2 Matthew Holbrook (Rogue Red) The '97 State Champion's black horde just could not get ahead of Holbrook's red rush attack as Holbrook swept 2-0 This would put Holbrook's Richie County Red up against the undefeated Martin playing the most feared deck of the tournament "Mind Stroke" SIMI FINALS of the WEST VIRGINIA CHAMPIONSHIP #4 Todd Sampson (Mind Stroke) vs #1 Gregory Keene (Mind Stroke) Game One: Sampson mulligan down to six but got the Tolarian Academy into play first, critical when playing against another Mind Stoke as it's an Legendary Land. Keene though, kept his head and on turn eight stroked Sampson the hard way, without the Tolarian Academy in play for 52 cards after 25 minutes. SAMPSON - 0 KEENE -1 Game Two: Sampson chose to go first. Both players have sided in tidal warriors for the Tolarian Academy and the first damage is dealt by a Mind Stroke deck (at least in West Virginia) on turn two when Sampson attacked Keene using a Tidal Warrior. This miniature merfolk beatdown continues until turn five, when just after the 30 minute warning Sampson strokes Keene for 48 cards. SAMPSON - 1 KEENE -1 Game Three: Game three goes to turn eight when Sampson stroked Keene for 32 cards, not enough to empty Keene's library. Keene's apparent boon went to bust as Sampson then cast Windfall causing both players to discard and draw the amount equal to the largest hand. Sampson's library having more than enough cards to survive Keene library was emptied. MATCH - Todd Sampson SIMI FINALS of the WEST VIRGINIA CHAMPIONSHIP #6 Brooks Martin (Mind Stroke) vs #2 Matthew Holbrook (Rogue Red) Game One: On turn four Brooks starts the Mind Stroke cycle but, it stalled. He never recovers and Holbrook's final rush with a Raging Goblin, Mogg Flunkie, Shivin Raptor and a Jackal Pup ends the game. Holbrook - 1 Martin - 0 Game Two: Martin suffers lots of direct damage early. Holbrook stops a turn three stroke attempt by with a Pyroblast. A turn four Ball Lighting sends Martin down to 3 lift points. Turn five Martins casts Windfall in hopes of gaining a "STROKE OF GENIUS," but he doesn't. This does cause Holbrook to discard the game winning Sonic Burst but, as fate would have it he draws another. The match is over turn five as Holbrook plays the Sonic Burst. MATCH - Matthew Holbrook FINALS of the WEST VIRGINIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP #4 Todd Sampson (Mind Stroke) vs #2 Matthew Holbrook (Rogue Red) Game one: Holbrook has choice and declared play, mulligan to six. Sampson mulligan twice and starts with five cards. t1: Holbrook - Mountain, Raging Goblin: attacks for 1 Sampson - (@ 19) Lotus Petal, Tolarian Academy t2: Holbrook - Mountain, Mogg Flunkies: attacks for 1 Sampson - (@ 18) Island t3: Holbrook - Mountain, Ball Lighting: attacks for 10 Sampson - (@ 8) Voltaic Key t4: Holbrook - Mountain: attacks for 4 Sampson - (@ 4) Time Spiral, Bauble Response: Holbrook/Sonic Burst for 4 Game two: Sampson has choice and declares draw. Holbrook Mulligan twice and starts with 5 cards. Sampson Mulligan and starts with 6 cards in hand. t1: Holbrook - Mountain, Jackal Pup Sampson - Island, Voltaic Key t2: Holbrook - Attacks for 2. Mountain, Mogg Fanatic Sampson - (@ 18) Ancient Tomb t3: Holbrook - Attacks for 3. Sampson - (@ 15) Island, Lotus Petal, Lotus Petal. Sacs Lotus petals & casts Time Spiral. Takes 2 damage from tapping Ancient tomb Response: Holbrook/Pyroblast t4: Holbrook - Ball Lighting. Attacks for 9. Sampson - (@ 4) Voltaic Key t5: Holbrook - Attacks for 3. Sacs Mogg Fanatic for 1 Match & 1998 WV Champion - Matthew Holbrook THE WEST VIRGINIA 1998 MAGIC STATE CHAMPION Matthew Holbrook is a 23 year old security officer from Harrisville (WV) in Richie County. He has been a player since June of 1994 and prefers sealed deck. His first deck choice for the state championship was turbo-stasis, but on Thursday night decided that it was to unstable. His choice was "an aggressive red deck." RICHIE COUNTY RED 20 MOUNTAIN 4 MOGG BOMBERS 3 RAGING GOBLIN 4 JACKAL PUP 1 IRON CLAW ORC 3 CURSED SCROLL 4 BALL LIGHTING 2 LIGHTING DRAGON 3 MOGG FLUNKIES 2 MOGG INFESTATION 4 MOGG FANATIC 3 INCINERATE 2 SONIC BURST 1 OUTMANEUVER 1 TIME BOMB 1 RATHI DRAGON 1 SHIVIN RAPTOR 1 GOBLIN WARWAGON Matthew said it was just plain luck, "I just drew the right cards at the right time." In the finals he sideboarded in 2 Detonate and 4 Pyroblast. "When we put the sideboard together we hadn't heard about Mind Stroke, they were in there to destroy artifacts and screw up blue." He sends thanks to all those who "stuck it out," Ardon Unlimited, The Magic Dojo, Wizards of the Coast, Team Richie County and Jason Hill. This report was compiled by Rev. John Fizer and T.C. Kidd with additional information supplied by Ardon Unlimited. The West Virginia State Championship Report was written by Rev. John Fizer.