Magic Weekend

On Febuary 10th history will be made in many ways. It is the kickoff to the Magic Weekend and there will be a Grand Prix, Pro Tour, and the player of the year will be determined! For more information on the weekend visit:

http://www.wizards.com/Magic/tcg/events.aspx?x=mtg/event/magicweekend/paris11

Grand Prix: This will likely be the largest Grand Prix ever with it being in Europe and with the draw of the Pro Tour as well. The format is Sealed Deck then Draft with the newly released Mirrodin Besieged. With it being a new format you will likely see some pro’s at the top of the standings who have been grinding on MTGO. If I had to put my money on anyone for this event I would take 7 unknowns and 1 established pro to top 8. Just for fun I will throw out the name of David Ochoa.I read his articles on ChannelFireball and he is fantastic at limited. This of course is barring him top 8′ing the pro tour which is definitely a possibility.

Pro Tour Paris

The format for this Pro Tour is as always 6 rounds of draft with a standard top-8. I think one would be ignorant to ignore that the standard format will likely not change much with just the one set being added. You can bet that all the best teams are testing now that the full set is released. I will not take the time to go through the spoiler and the cards I feel will add to the old decks or that could be decks on their own. I am one who could give a crap less about what every single pro wants to tell me about the new format. Every time a set comes out I dread the month after as it is just 500 articles on the new cards and limited formats which I don’t play often.

If you really love to read these articles you should probably start with LSV’s and go from there as his knowledge is usually useful. PV I usually read because he is more like me. For those wondering, is it that every new card is just worse than something else more realistic rather than stuck on playing the new cards.

My picks for this tournament just like I did last time will be:

Brian Kibler- I picked him last time too and he was almost the perfect pick. Watching him play with Caw-go is amazing and although nobody else can possibly win with it he can not lose. As long as he tests drafting enough I can easily see him top 8′ing this event.

Brad Nelson- I have some issues with this pick but I have faith anyway. I know that he will be versed in standard so as to take on Mr. Matignon for the player of the year title. It scares me that he will not be as focused for the main event as he will for the playoff but I am putting my faith in him for the run.

Which finally brings me to the player of the year playoff. Who do I honestly believe will win? If I had to pick someone it would be Guillaume Matignon. It scares me that Brad is willing to die for this title and Guillaume is just playing for fun. Brad will be 100% more prepared but it comes down to one match-up in standard and who can build a double sealed. If you have never done a double sealed before it is basically two amazing sealed decked crammed into one. Fire up magic workstation and generate one just to look at how good the decks are.

Final Picks

GP Paris

The Field > The Pro’s

PT Paris

Brain Kibler

Brad Nelson

PotY Playoff

Guillaume Matignon

GO PACKERS