Hello, if you haven't seen it by now, my name is Markus Thibeau. I'm from Victoria B.C. Canada, but now living in Coquitlam B.C for school. I've been playing Magic the Gathering since Odyssey came out and I've been playing Competitive Magic for about 8 years now. I've topped a few ptqs, Top 4d the last Seattle Starcity Games Open (standard) but my claim to "Fame" if you wanna call it that, is the amount of 9th places I have in competitive tournaments. I currently have 11 that I can recall including Ptqs, regionals, champs, gpts, etc.
Anyways, today we will be talking about Modern. The latest PTQ season has started up and I'm fired up to get qualified for the PT!
I just played a PTQ in my hometown this past weekend and here's how it went!
I played Mono U Tron. I've been playing for a bit now off and on, and I really enjoy it. It has solid matchups against most of the top decks and I love playing the cards in the deck. I love playing Mindslaver!
The maindeck is pretty much just one big tool box, since you have the luxury of Treasure Mage, lots of cantrips and draw power. The deck is similar to RG Tron, however it gives up the speed for consistency and the ability to not rely on Tron itself, make the hate cards (Blood Moon, Land Destruction, etc) not as good.
The side is a bit mish-mashed. Mainly its more cards for the toolbox concept, another Wurmcoil and Angel. More Counters for the control matchups. Removal for singular problem creatures, and a few others for the Aggro matchups.
So, now that's out of the way, let's move on to the tournament! 108 people showed up for this one, a little less then usual but it doesn't matter, gunna take it down!
Round 1 vs Teighen (BW Tokens) 2-0
The match was about how I expected the matchup to go. He has a few discard spells but a slower clock with only some tokens from either Lingering Souls or Spectral Procession and it gives me plenty of time to set up and just outclass him in spells.
Sideboard plan:
Out:
1 Sundering Titan
In:
1 Wurmcoil Engine
Round 2 vs Simon (4 Color Gifts) 2-0
I wasn't sure what Simon was playing at all for the 1st game as he really didn't do anything except play a bunch of duals. The 2nd game was about the same as the 1st until he played Gifts Ungiven for the combo. Fortunately I had the Slaver lock the following turn and it was over from there.
Out:
1 Platinum Angel
1 Cyclonic Rift
1 Spell Burst
In:
2 Negate
1 Wurmcoil Engine
Round 3 vs Leif (Affinity) 2-0
This is unfortunately one of Mono U's bad matchups as they are very fast and the threats that matter to us (the manlands) are difficult to deal with for the deck.
Fortunately for me, Leif seemed to be on a budget version of the deck as his 1st play was a Bonesplitter. So because of that the matchup was much better as I was able to set up the main reason you can win this matchup, Platinum Angel. If you can set up a turn 4-5 angel with a counter back up, you pretty much win the match. In Game 2, I got to play a t4 Wurmcoil Engine and he wasn't able to deal with it and I just won from there.
Sideboard Plan:
Out:
1 Sundering Titan
3 Remand
1 Mindslaver
In:
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Platinum Angel
1 Wurmcoil Engine
2 Aetherize
Round 4 vs Colton (Affinity) 2-0
I managed to pull out a win last time against Affinity...could I do it again? Fortunately my deck was kind to me and his was not as he mulled to 6 and kept slow hands both games and Wurmcoil Engines took it down.
Sideboard Plan:
Same as before
Round 5 vs Steven (Junk) 0-2
The win and in. The moment when if you win, you pretty much lock up Top 8. This round I'm paired against GWB, Junk, Rock, whatever you wanna call it.
Game 1 He kept a pretty slow hand and I was able to assemble Tron and deploy some threats in, Sundering Titan, blowing up 2 of his lands. He had the Path to Exile for that. Next turn was Wurmcoil Engine, another Path for that. Sadly after that, I didn't really have anything as he had a Tectonic Edge for my Academy Ruins. We were both top decking, which I figured I'd have the advantage in, but sadly he drew Spells and I drew blanks. 'Tis Magic.
Game 2 I kept a hand I felt was a reasonable hand in 1 Island, 2 Expedition Map, 2 Remand, 1 Condescend, 1 Talisman of Dominance. If I draw a land I'm pretty golden and even if I miss once, I'm still ok as he's not a fast deck. Unfortunately, I missed 3 turns in a row and by the time I started drawing lands, it was just too late and just got overwhelmed.
Sideboard Plan:
Out:
1 Platinum Angel
1 Cyclonic Rift
1 Spell Burst
In:
1 Wurmcoil Engine
2 Squelch
Disappointing to lose my win and in, but I can probably just win the next one and possibly draw in still. But gotta focus on the next round and take it one at a time.
Round 6 vs Dan (Mono Red) 2-0
This round I got the pair down and my opponent conceded to me as I have a chance to top 8 and he did not, wish of course was nice of him. If I were in the same situation, I'd probably do the same. Lucky me!
Sideboard Plan:
Out:
1 Oblivion Stone
1 Cyclonic Rift
1 Sundering Titan
1 Remand
In:
2 Bottle Gnomes
2 Negate
Well the standings went up and it looked like I had to play my last round unless some other people drew or the pair down lost..sooooo...
Round 7 vs Lite (Affinity) 1-1-1
Another Affinity! This time I'm playing against a long time friend Lite, what a bummer. But sometimes you gotta crush your friends on the way to the top, I'm sure he felt the same lol
Game 1 went about how the match usually goes, he had a fast start and lots of manlands and I couldn't deal with the manlands in the end.
Game 2 was a long one. He had roughly the same start as the 1st game and I thought this was it, however I was able to stick a Platinum Angel and he didn't have colored mana so that gave me time to catch up and I was able to lock up the game before he got colored mana with Spell Burst until I drew a Treasure Mage to get Mindslaver and stole ALL his turns. That game, I ended with -64 life and 15 poison counters.
Game 3 I was noticing that the pair down lost and another table drew intentionally so during the match I offered the draw as I believed we could come 7th and 8th and he thought the same and accepted.
We played the game and I got crushed. I mulliganed to 6 and I had a slower draw and he did not haha. Good thing I drew.
So here we are, the bubble. I've been here so many times. So many sweats. Names being called out. 7th place, not Lite or myself, and my heart sunk. It was coming again. Another 9th place....and in 8th place....Lite. 9th place. Again....
Annnnyways, watching the top 8, Lite came 4th place and my other friend Drew came so close to running back the pro tour but came short and ended 2nd. Rough Breaks all around
Moving forward, I would definitely play the same deck though I would change up the side a bit and try and squeeze a Fabricate into the main deck. Probably for the side I would add another Hurkyl's Recall or 2, as the Affinity matchup is really that tough, cutting 1 Squelch for it.
The next stop for me is the Seattle PTQ on July 5th, hopefully I can win both 😉 Wish me luck!
If you'd like to contact me with questions, comments, etc my twitter is @MarkusThibeau, I stream when I have the free time http://www.twitch.tv/oderusurungus1 and if your in the Vancouver / Seattle area, I'm sure you'll see me at the major tourneys!
