Set Up and Player Meeting:

Round 1 Feature Match Report:

Aaron Miles (United States) vs. Johnathan Heng (Australia)

Game 1: Aaron's dependence on 《Demonic Dead》proved to be his undoing for the first game, as he consistently found himself confounded by cards like 《Dawn of the Earth》. Aaron ended up paying 1400 life for 《The Final Battle》which Johnathan countered with 《Severing Winds》. Although Aaron attempted to push his card through with 《Faerur's Spell》, Johnathan surprised Aaron with a 《Faerur's Spell》of his own. Aaron had a tough time recovering and ultimately lost the first match to Johnathan.

Game 2: During the second game, Johnathan switched to 《Flute, Time Altering Priestess》for his J/ruler. Johnathan landed an early 《Captain Hook, the Pirate》, pushing Aaron behind on magic stones. Unfortunately for Johnathan, Aaron's hand held a lot of disruptive cards, and not the immediate threats Johnathan had prepared his hand to answer. With only answers in Johnathan's hand and no way to push the game himself, Aaron took the second game.

Game 3: With both players at one win each the round proceeded to the final match. Aaron quickly established a dominant position on the board with cards like 《Abdul Alhazred, Sinister Vizier》and 《Lilias Petal, Kitsune King》, quickly building up his field presence while also forcing Johnathan to sacrifice his own resources. After a long hard fought battle, Aaron, the defending champion, took the first match!

Round 2 Feature Match Report:

Jose Ontana Luque (Spain) vs. Sora Furugori (Japan)

Game 1: Both players, using 《Reincarnated Maiden of Flame, Pricia》, went back and forth on the field with cards like 《Red Riding Hood》and 《Red Riding Hood, Rainbow to the Heavens》. Jose used Pricia's Judgment, but found himself without Swiftness with no 《Sprinting Flame Horse》in his hand. He was forced to wait a turn for lethal damage. Sora, on his turn, used his own Pricia's Judgment, and was able to grant it Swiftness with 《Sprinting Flame Horse》. Jose attempted to respond with two 《Lightning Strike》 and destroy Sora's J-ruler, but Sora used another 《Sprinting Flame Horse》to boost his J-ruler up to keep in the game. With Sora's second attack with Pricia, after being recovered from its God's Art, he pulled a third 《Sprinting Flame Horse》, boosting up Pricia enough to attack for lethal damage on the second attack. First game went to Sora.

Game 2: Jose was able to clear the board of blockers early on, played 《Jack, Climbing the Beanstalk》, granting it Swiftness with Pricia's ruler side ability, and attacked immediately, dealing damage and calling out 《Skyscraper Giant》. With Skyscraper Giant out on the field, Jose was able to use its activate ability to keep the field clear of weaker resonators. Sora tried to defend himself with his Pricia J-ruler, but after Jose added 《Mariabella, the Machine Hearted》to his field, his victory was assured. The second game went to Jose.

Game 3: Sora got an early 《Mariabella, the Machine Hearted》on the field, but it was quickly removed with a few 《Lightning Strike》. Jose attempted to play 《Jack, Climbing the Beanstalk》to set up the same field that won him the second game, but 《Soul Debt》from Sora prevented that from happening. Sora had both 《Sprinting Flame Horse》and 《Rapid Growth》in his hand, but didn't have enough will to play Rapid Growth twice, keeping his Pricia from claiming the game for him. Jose was able to play a 《Mariabella, the Machine Hearted》, granting it Swiftness with his 《Pricia, True Beastmaster》's effect, and dealt enough damage to earn him the victory. The third game, and the match, went to Jose.

Round 3 Feature Match Report:

Julia Happel (Germany) vs. Giovanni Santucci (Italy)

Game 1: Julia (《Pricia, True Beastmaster》) had trouble during her first turn, pulling a Fire Magic stone and finding herself unable to play anything. Giovanni (《Lilias Petal, Agent of Salvation》) found his first turn much more favorable, with a 《Planting Beans》to pitch 《Demonic Dead》into his graveyard. Julia attempted to salvage her will production with a 《Sacred Elf》and Giovanni struck hard with a 《Griphon, Racing Across Darkness》on his second turn. The two traded off with 《Mariabella, the Machine Hearted》and 《Griphon, Racing Across Darkness》, Griphon losing out thanks to a 《Rapid Growth》from Julia. Taking a chance, Julia used Pricia's Judgment with a 《Sprinting Flame Horse》in hand for a powerful attack, but Giovanni pulled out an 《Ammit, Beast of Gluttony》to destroy Julia's 《Mariabella, the Machine Hearted》, gaining enough life to survive. The next turn, he played another 《Ammit, Beast of Gluttony》, destroyed 《Pricia, True Beastmaster / Reincarnated Maiden of Flame, Pricia》through combat, and had no further trouble claiming the first game.

Game 2: Giovanni was able to pull off the same set up on his first turn with 《Planting Beans》 and 《Demonic Dead》. Julia fought hard, however, dropping a 《Mariabella, the Machine Hearted》on her second turn. On his third turn, Giovanni destroyed Julia's 《Sacred Elf》and played《Griphon, Racing Across Darkness》giving him the stones necessary to play《Lilias Petal, Kitsune King》. Giovanni attempted to play a second 《Griphon, Racing Across Darkness》. However, Julia was able to stop it with 《Soul Debt》. Giovanni's 《Severing Winds》kept Julia from asserting control on the board and he was able to carve out a second win against her. Both games, and the match, went to Giovanni.

Round 4 Feature Match Report:

Luca Barcella (Italy) vs. Federico Zoppini (Italy)

Hikafu (Japan) -

Hikafu's first pick was The Three Evil Little Pigs. Citing that it's a big card that he thought he could build around. Additionally, he personally enjoys Darkness when drafting Ancient Nights, so the choice for him was between The Three Evil Little Pigs or Bloodspray, but ultimately preferred the power of the pigs over Bloodspray.

Aziz (Indonesia) - 

Aziz also chose The Three Evil Little Pigs as his primary choice. He reasoned that he didn't want to lock himself into a ruler decision so early and getting three resonators by playing only one was something he preferred. He metioned that Hell Flame was strong, but would force him to make a choice on his ruler early on, which he didn't like.

John Paul (Germany) -

John Paul's first choice was Jeweler of Sasaru Palace. He reasoned that there weren't a lot of immediate picks for him and so he wanted to choose what he thought would incur the least amount of commitment later during the drafting process.

Federico (Italy)-

Federico's top pick was Bloodspray. He explained that Darkness tends to do well in draft and Bloodspray was something he thought could provide a lot of card advantage for him.

Stephanie (United States) -

Stephanie's choice was Hoellesaurus. She chose this because she liked it as a tempo play card. Although it costs two fire will to play, making it a little tougher to field she felt confident in Fire's strength in the draft format. Additionally she thought she could discourage other players from playing Fire if they saw she was assembling Fire cards and thus not passing any to them during the draft.

Round 5 Feature Match Report:

Giovanni Santucci (Italy) vs. Jean-Paul Klintworth (Germany)

Round 6 Feature Match Report:

Chemsi Ben Othman (France) vs. Hiroyuki Tsukamoto (Japan)

Top 8 :

The first day's events have conlcuded and the Top 8 Players have been chosen. Tomorrow, these eight will compete for the championship!

Players:

Leonardo Mechilli -1st

Nick Hayes Blandin -5th

Luca Barcella -6th

Sunday, Single Elimination Finals

Quarter Finals Text Match Report:

Game 1: 

Semi Finals Video Match Report:

Nick Hayes Blandin (United States) vs. Daniel Voon (Singapore)

Game 1:

 Nick (《Lilias Petal, Agent of Salvation》) continues to be unable to call up a 《Killing Stone》on his first turn, only able to play 《Planting Beans》to pitch 《Demonic Dead》. Daniel (《Lilias Petal, Agent of Salvation》) takes his turn to call a 《Killing Stone》and play 《Divine Bird of Attoractia》. Nick plays his Demonic Dead to the field by paying the life. Nick again misses calling a Killing Stone, and chooses to play 《Abdul Alhazred, Poet of Madness》, and attacks Daniel with Demonic Dead. On his turn, Daniel also calls an 《Abdul Alhazred, Poet of Madness》and passes his turn. Now into the third turn, Nick calls 《Shade, Envoy of Darkness》and passes his turn. Hoping to make an aggressive play, Daniel spends 1200 life to play 《The Final Battle》to give his opponent's cards -600/-600. He then uses his Judgment to put 《The Nine-Tailed Fox》into the field and calls a 《Griphon, Racing Across Darkness》and then a 《Shade, Envoy of Darkness》 using the stones he got from Griphon. At the end of the turn, Nick fields his Demonic Dead again. Nick uses his Judgment on his turn to play his 《The Nine-Tailed Fox》as well, accompanied by a 《Fox Spirit》. He then attacks with Demonic Dead, and quickly uses it for the fodder of his own 《Griphon, Racing Across Darkness》, the rest of his resources are spent playing 《Shade, Envoy of Darkness》and 《Abdul Alhazred, Poet of Madness》. The two continue like this for several turns, each vying for greater control of the field before wanting to make more aggressive plays. Ultimately Daniel's earlier playing of The Final Battle did him in, having lost 1200 life points and locked in a back and forth with Nick, Nick was finally able to edge him out in life points, whittling him down until Daniel conceded the first game to Nick.

Game 2:

Daniel takes the first turn this game, missing a 《Killing Stone》, and only able to play 《Planting Beans》 for 《Demonic Dead》. Nick fairs a bit better this game, calling a Killing Stone on his first turn and using it to play 《Fox Spirit》. On his second turn, Daniel was only able to call a stone and pass. Nick follows up by playing 《Tama, Familiar of Holy Wind》, and then using his Judgment. In response however, Daniel destroys Nick's Fox Spirit with a 《Dark Purge》, keeping nick from being able to play a Chimera this turn. Daniel calls a stone and plays 《Tama, Familiar of Holy Wind》on his turn, then passes. As Nick takes his turn to play 《Demonic Dead》, Daniel, in response, uses his Tama to destroy Nicks, again trying to keep him from the resources needed to play a Chimera. The two exchange a few more turns with Nick slowly taking the advantage more and more, and Daniel trying to keep him from the resources he needs to pull out big plays. Things ultimately culminate with Nick being able to call an 《Ammit, Beast of Gluttony》 to destroy the 《Ammit, Beast of Gluttony》that Daniel had played only a turn earlier. With Daniel now far behind in life points, and Nick with a 《Lilias Petal, Kitsune King》, 《Shade, Envoy of Darkness》, and 《Abdul Alhazred, Poet of Madness》on the field, Daniel takes a few more moments to look over his options, before conceding the second game to Nick. Both games were long and drawn out back and forth fights, but both times Nick was able to put himself ahead in life at crucial points, all but sealing his victory. Nick takes the match and moves onto the finals, while Daniel will play against Giovanni for 3rd.

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Finals Match Video Report:

Awards Ceremony

1st Place: Federico Zoppini (Italy)

2nd Place: Nick Hayes Blandin (United States)

3rd Place: Daniel Voon (Singapore)