March to the Mountain Magic Series Player’s Championship Season III
Written by Beau Doran
Climbing the Mountain
The Mountain Magic Series (MMS) is “The premier competitive league for Magic: the Gathering in Colorado," with 12 monthly events ranging from Team Trios, Modern, cEDH, Legacy, Standard, Duel Commander, and Team Sealed. Past seasons included Pauper and Pioneer, too.
To qualify for The Player’s Championship, one must win one of the 12 monthly events or rank in the top 10 in points at the end of the season. The competition is fierce. Established pro tour players and countless former SCG grinders play regularly at these events; a small RCQ often has up to six active pro players competing.
After qualifying late in Season II for the players championship by winning the November 2023 Legacy event with MonoBlack Helm and scrubbing out 0-2 in Season II’s Players Championship; I was determined to put forth a better effort for Season III.
Season III: Grinding Beneath Alpine Skies
Season III kicked off in mid-June with Team Trios. I was in the Legacy seat, playing MonoBlack Helm, and failed to deliver for my teammates; we finished in ninth.
July — Modern
The July 21 Modern event was amidst Nadu summer. I tested a ton with my good friends, Brandon and Kora, in our Discord: The Phlage Phan Club. We played the same 73 of 75 and all Top8’d. I lost in finals in the mirror versus Koby Keller.
August — cEDH
I played everyone’s favorite wild card: Stella Lee. As a tourist in the format, my goal was to win a pod. Mission accomplished for 35th place out of 64 players.
September — Legacy
I played Dimir Tempo with Kaito, Bane of Nightmares. I Top8’d but lost in the quarterfinals to the eventual winner, Kendal, who played a spicy Dimir Eons deck.
October — Team Trios
We ranked 15th overall. I played Pioneer and delivered solid results, as did our Modern player. However, our Legacy pilot, Thalia, hit the wrong side of variance.
November — Standard
I played Dimir Tempo to a less-than-stellar 22nd place.
December — Duel Commander
I was too sick to play.
January — Team Trios
Variance hit the whole team, culiminating in a 12th-place finish.
February — Modern
Brandon and I were high on Ketramose, the New Dawn. We both Top8’d and split the prizes. I maintained the top of the leaderboard despite slight jockeying with Grant Johnson for first overall.
Since I was virtual lock, I homie-scooped to Tommy Wray, who was also on BW Ketramose and won the event.
March — Standard
I skipped this event because I was disinterested in the state of the format.
April — Team Sealed
I couldn't commit to this event because of my son's birthday.
May — Modern
May featured the first Modern RCQ hosted by the MMS at MeH games. I played BW Ketramose and finished 4th overall.
Points Leader
I garnered 44 Points for first overall on the leaderboard at the end of the season.
The New Dawn: MMS Player’s Championship Season III
Having been virtually locked for a few months, Brandon Carver and I predicted what the Swiss would likely look like at MeH Games in June. I appreciated the tournament being open decklist; the prize pool was $3,500.
We tried every variation of the BW core, including Esper to splash for Psychic Frog and Mardu for Detective’s Phoenix. We waffled between Ketramose or Recruiter of the Guard.
Ultimately, we went in slightly different directions. I stuck with what felt most comfortable: BW with some tweaks to the mana-base and removal suite. Brandon played Esper.
Round One: Grixis Control — Hayden — 1-2 Loss
On the draw.
I had the pleasure of playing against Hayden the day before at The Nerd Store’s RCQ, which he won with the same deck.
Game 1
We both kept seven. He closed it out with Snapcaster Mage and Lightning Bolt when I was at seven life.
Game 2
On the play, I landed an early Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd into an Overlord of the Balemurk that culminated with an active Ketramose.
Game 3
It interactive until turn 5 when Snapcaster Mage plus Lightning Bolt converted while I flooded.
Tournament Record: 0-1 (1-2 in games)
Round Two: Sultai Eons – Kendal - 2-1 Win
On the play.
Game 1
Gasty, Lavaspur Booted-Urza’s Saga construct beats finished me off.
Game 2
Kenal and I traded Thoughtseizes. I dealt with his threats while advancing my board. With an onboard Clarion Conquer, I attempted to Fatal Push his Psychic Frog. He discard Echo of Eons but two people watching catch the error, ask us to stop, and call the head judge.
We recieved get our first game rules violations (GRV) and a three-minute time extension. I close it out after stabilizing at 13 life with an active Ketramose.
Game 3
It was grindy until I stuck Phelia to remove his threats.
Tournament Record: 1-1 (3-3 in games)
Round Three: Yawgscale – Nora – 2-0 Win
On the play.
Game 1
I opened by Thoughtseizing Yawgmoth, Thran Physician. I kept her graveyard at bay with a Relic of Progenitus, stuck a Ketramose, and drew enough cards to finish the game at three life.
Game 2
Nora applied pressure and had an Agatha’s Soul Cauldron with some threating creatures exiled in it. I was at seven lift before stabilizing with Flickerwisp and Witch Enchanter. Eventually, I drew Solitude and Ephemerate it to close it out.
Tournament Record: 2-1 (5-3 in games)
Round Four: Goryo's Vengeance – Gerald – 2-0 Win
On the play.
Game 1
My opponent mulled to six. I Thoughtseize their Fatal Push. I stuck a Relic of Progenitus on turn two and play around their hand with flash threats.
Game 2
My opponent mulled to six. They Thoughtseize on turn one but my first draw step is Relic of Progenitus. I turn-two Thoughtseize play a second Relic.
Both Relics checked his graveyard. After another Thoughtseize, I’m stuck Phelia, which went the distance with a flashed-in Solitude after their Psychic Frog was Fatally Pushed.
Tournament Record: 3-1 (7-3 in games)
Round Five: Vivi Storm – Jackson – 2-0 Win
On the draw.
I was paired down due to having the worst breakers. The table next to me waited to see if Jackson won so they could draw into Top8.
Game 1
I kept a solid hand with interaction, stuck a Phelia on turn two and an Overlord of the Balemurk on turn 3.
They have to Grapeshot my Overlord and mill their second Grapeshot, which I exile with Relic of Progenitus. The game was closer than it first appeared as they fought with Vivi Ornitier while I discarded to hand size.
Game 2
Jackson mulled to six. I land Phelia into Overlord of the Balemurk backed by Solitude. They presented double Cori-Steel Cutter.
I Flickerwisp Witch-Blessed Meadow to deal with a Cutter. A Phelia-attack trigger blinked the summoning-sick Flickerwisp to clear the other Cutter until their end step.
Jackson stormed off with Vivi and Paradoxical Outcome but had to deal with a Phelia and adapted Emperor of Bones or get me to one life with his Grapeshot, otherwise he'd die on the crack back.
Once the storm trigger resolved and the copies were on the stack I blink Emperor of Bones in response to keep up the beats. A timely Balemurk impended into a Solitude into another top-decked Balemurk disentombing a white card closed it out.