Czech Standings (each post in the forum represents one standing)
Slovak Standings (each post in the forum represents one standing)

Here, you can see a very nice video compiling the best moments of the Czech and Slovak Nationals.

Hello and welcome to Czech/Slovak Nationals. I'll be your host for the English portion, Sean FitzGerald, Irish guy living in Prague. Player meeting is currently underway and we have 200 players seated, 140 for Czech and 60 for Slovak. While they prepare lets have a look at some of the players to look out for.

 

Czech Republic;

Martin Juza, well if you don't recognise the name you haven't really been paying too much attention to the Magic scene lately. Martin is a Level 8 mage with 2 PT top 8's and a large smattering of GP top 8's to boot. Next up we have Lukas Blohon, Level 5, he top 8'd Lyon this year and is widely known throughout the Pro Scene as a very talented player. Adam Koska hasn't broken a PT top 8 yet but he does have two 9th's to his name, he's hoping he won't be the bridesmaid this weekend and can break the top 8. Known locally as "The Baker", due to his affinity for red decks, Petr Brozek is probably known best for popularising "Brozek Deck Wins". He is currently riding at level 4 but finished 2nd in a 1k event here in Czech republic last week so has high confidence and is more than happy that Mono-Red is in an ok place in the Metagame right now. Next up we have Lukas Jaklovsky, another Level 4 who this year top 16'd in San Juan. Then we also have David Do-Anh, a talented 16 year old who finished 2nd this year in GP Madrid, Michael Hebky, a level 6 who finished 2nd in PT Honolulu and Arnost Zidek, who finished in the Top 8 at PT London and has had numerous good finishes since.

 

As you can see there is no shortage of talent in the Czech Republic as we also have Petr Nahodil, Jan Brodzak, Jan Kotrla and Petr Martinek. A very well respected group from Brno (east of Prague) who have a smattering of GP top 8's between them. Then from Prague itself we have Ondrej Posolda who top 8'd GP Hannover as well as David Dobis and Jakub Toth, a very young but gifted player originally from Slovakia. With this much talent concentrated into such a small pool it's very hard to pick a favourite to make top 8 let alone try to pick a winner!

 

Slovakia;

Big Z, or Matej Zatlkaj as he is properly known should be no stranger to you, being the only honorary Irish Magic player living outside Ireland, he finished 2nd in Pro Tour Berlin with Elves, followed that with a top 8 in GP Krakow, has two PT top 24 finishes, most Pro Points in Slovakia, Slovakian National Champion in 2003, made the Team last year and won the Morningtide pre-release in Bratislava. Known for his friendliness and charm he's a clear favourite to take the title this weekend. (I may be a little bias due to Irish connection!) Next up we have Robert "Bob the Builder" Jurkovic, with a top16 in PT Austin and 6th in PT San Diego it's interesting to note this very talented player has played in more PT's than Gp's. As well as strong PT finishes he was the National Champ in 2005, finished 10th at worlds in Rome and has a MODO Championship top 8 under his belt also. Ondrej "Ondriq" Hatala may not be as well known to you, having played Magic for ten or so years Ondrej has only recently developed a passion for tournament Magic in the last year. He finished in the top 16 at GP Brussels but says he prefers to play Legacy over anything else. Then we have two very talented 16 year olds, Patrik Surab and Marcel Kondrk both up and comers Marcel finished in the top 8 of GP Prague last year.

 

Other players of note are Ivan Floch, Lubos Pejhovsky, Dalibor Szegho and Michal Havlik who was part of the winning 2HG team at GP Amsterdam.

 

So that's who to look out for but both countries has extremely talented player bases and it wouldn't be surprising to find a new rising star this weekend.

 

Any questions or comments, just click on "Klikni zed pro poslani kometare" below. Stay with us throughout the day as we follow the event with live updates.

 

Richard wins the dice roll and starts off with Misty Rainforest into Noble Hierarch while Matej uses his to play a Birds Of Paradise. Richard uses the acceleration to drop a Knight of the Reliquary. Big Z responds with a  Lotus Cobra and Raging Ravine, declining to use the Cobra's ability for now. Richard drops a Cobra of his own then a Stirring Wildwood, he then uses his Knight to go get a Verdant Catacombs and give himself access to 5 mana and more importantly, a Baneslayer Angel. Matej drops his own fetchland and uses Cobra to make 2 Knights of his own. Lifetotals are 18-18 on turn 3 but we still have had no attacks. Richard changes that on his next turn when he drops a Bird and Dauntless Escort and sends in the Angel for 6. Matej calmly untaps and drops an Eldrazi Monument beefing up his team but keeping them home for now. Richard goes one Eldrazi higher and drops an Eldrazi Conscription onto his Angel and the annihilator trigger doesn't have time to resolve before Matej has scooped.

 

 

"You don't need to write too much about that one, he won the dice roll." - Big Z (giving his opponent that famous charming smile.)

 

There's lots of chat during sideboarding and shuffling but it's all in Slovakian so unfortunately I can't tell you what it was about. ….it did sound very friendly and interesting though!!!

 

Game 2 Big Z starts off with Hierarch into Lotus Cobra into Knight, Richard has no action until his turn 3 Knight which is Smaller than Big Z's so he trades it for an incoming Cobra. Richard does however have a replacement Knight and an Elspeth next turn pumps out a soldier. Big Z answers using his Knight and Cobra together to produce a Siege-Gang. Next turn Richard drops Sovereigns of Lost Alara and the resulting trigger from a Knight attack boosted by Elspeth has a tapped out Matej picking up his cards.

 

Jund - 13

U/W - 10

Mono Red - 11

Mythic Conscription - 4

U/W/r - 3

Next Level Bant - 3

Mono Green Aggro - 2

G/W Aggro - 2

Turboland - 2

Naya - 2

Brilliant Ultimatum - 1

White Weenie - 1

Grixis - 1

Vampires - 1

Dredge - 1

R/G/w Eldrazi Monument Beats - 1

Metagame Breakdown - Czech Nationals

Archetype	Percentage	%
Jund	41	29,3
Mono Red	15	10,7
Mythic Conscriptions	14	10,0
Grixis	9	6,4
Mono Green Tlačák	9	6,4
Naya	8	5,7
UW Control	5	3,6
UWR Planeswalkers	4	2,8
Open the Vaults	4	2,8

  

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Saturday 13:45Round 3 - Czech Nationals

David starts off with Stirring Wildwood and a Birds plus Heirarch on turn 2 while Nikola plays a turn 2 Leech for the third game in a row. David uses the acceleration to drop Jace and send the Leech back to Nikola's hand. Nikola decides to take it a little slower and pulses the Jace next turn. David replaces the Jace with a Sphinx of the Jwar Isle which gets a little giggle from Nikola. Nikola can do nothing but drop his Leech again and take 6 from Dave's Sphinx which he follows up with another Jace and Brainstorms. Nikola starts giggling further and slumps in his chair when all he can do is drop a Master of the Wild Hunt and sent the Leech at Jace who gets protected by a Bird. Dave activates his Wildwood and sends it in with the Sphinx. Nikola looks at the top card of his library and extends the hand having nothing to protect him from the Sphinx. 

David Do-Anh defeats Nikola Vavra 2-1 

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Saturday 18:00

Round 6 - Czech Nationals

Lukas Jaklovsky (Green/Black) VS. Jan Brodzak (Blue/Green/Red)

 

Lukas is level 4 and Top 16'd PT San Juan while Brodzak is one of the Brno crew who was a member of last years winning Czech worlds team as well as having a GP top 8 under his belt.

 

Jan wins the die roll and Mulligans to 6 while Lukas sticks at 7. Jan starts off with a Skywatcher Adept and levels him up on turns 3, 4 and 5 but also dropping an Overgrown Battlement on 5. Lukas in the meantime uses his own turn 2 Overgrown Battlement to ramp into turn 3 Vengevine and smash some face. Jan keeps hitting with the flier while levelling it up and expanding his board with Sea Gate Oracle, Overgrown battlement and when he ramps up to Ulamogs Crusher Lukas scoops them up. Having found no more pressure or answers.

 

 

1-0 to Jan Brodzak

 

Game 2 starts off with Lukas playing turn 2 Overgrown Battlement, turn 3 Prophetic Prism and Ruined Servitor. Jan in the meantime uses a Sea Gate Oracle to Find an Ondu Giant which in turn finds him a Mountain. The Giant gets a Drake Umbra and starts applying the beats. Lukas replies with Gelatinous Genesis for 4 4/4 Ooozes. I know Tom at Monday Night Magic likes his Oozes so I'm sure he'd be very impressed with them winning the game at this level. One swing from the team followed by Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief and Jan is scooping them up.

 

Lukas Jaklovsky brings it up to 1-1

 

While shuffling Lukas comments on how fast Jan shuffles and plays. If the coverage of this match seems a little shorter it's because those two games were under ten minutes and I couldn't actually see everything that was happening it went by so fast.

 

Game 3 sees turn 3 growth spasm from Jan ensuring he has every colour mana he needs and also the ramping part gets him turn 4 Frostwind Invoker. Luas on the other hand has 4 Forests on turn 4 but an Ondu Giant sorts that and searches up the Mountain he needs. Next turn after taking the hit off Invoker he rips the swamp and drops Dread Drone. Jan drops his own f-Ondu Giant and puts a Drake Umbra on the 0/1 token and bashes in for 8, the Drone trades withthe Giant and Lukas takes 6. He drops a few more chumpers but when Jan flashes the Might of the Masses he found off his Sea Gate Oracle the match is over.

 

Jan Brodzak defeats Lukas Jaklovsky 2-1





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Saturday 18:15
Quick Questions - What is your favourite archetype in RoE draft?

Czech Players:


Petr Nahodil: Green with lots of Kozilek's Predators


Martin Juza: Anything other than Blue and White


Jan Kotria: Ancestral green but anything mainly green will do

 
Petr Brozek: Grixis


Michal Hebky: URB


Jan Brodzak: U/WSlovak Players:


Ivan Floch: G/B


Matej "Big Z" Zatlkaj: Green splashing Red and Black or Grixis


Robert "Bob the Builder" Jurkovic: Grixis Control


Filip Polasek: UW levelers if possible, otherwise UR control.--

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Saturday 19:50Draft 2 - Slovak Nationals

For the second draft I decided to cover a Slovak player again as all the other coverage guys wanted to do Czech players. The person I chose was Filip Polasek, a very talented player who was on the successful Slovakian Worlds Team in 07 and has 23 lifetime pro points and numerous solid finishes including top 24 at GP Prague last year going 7-2 day one and started 5-0 day 2 getting unlucky in the last round playing for top 8. He also mentioned that he's ranked 40th in the world at 2hg. When asked earlier what his favourite draft archetype was in the quick questions he answered with Blue White levellers or Blue Red Control. Below are his picks and cards of note in the packs so we can see how he chose to try go about drafting one of the archetypes.

 

Pack 1Narcolepsy over Ondu Giant

Staggershock over Heat Ray and Zulaport Enforcer

Forked Bolt over Spawning Breath

Merfolk Skyscout over Reality Spasm

Spawning Breath over Froswtind Invoker and Lay bare

Sea Gate Oracle over Explosive Revelation

Essence Feed over Skeletal Worm

Mnemonic Wall over Essence Feed

Batlle Rattle Shaman over Hedron Matrix

Frostwind Invoker

Soulscourge Elemental

Mnemonic Wall over Frostwind Invoker

Reality Spasm

Frostwind Invoker

 

Pack 2

Emrakul the Aeons Torn over Bala Ged Scorpion and Zulaport Enforcer

See Beyond over Eel Umbra, Dreamstone Hedron and Soulscrouge Elemental

Recurring Insight over Grotag Siege Runner

Mnemonic Wall over Lavafume Invoker

Skywatceher Adept over Unified Will and Vent Sentinel

Lay Bare

Essence Feed over Battle Rampart and Grotag Siege runner

Skywatcher Adept over Deprive (In hindsight Filip pointed out that he really wasn't sure about this)

Ogre Sentry

Eel Umbra

Goblin Tunneller over Distortion Strike

Inquisition of Kozilek

Unified Will 

Demonic Will

 

Pack 3

Guul Draz Assassin over Skywatcher Adept

Flame Slash over Deprive and Ogre Sentry

Narcolepsy over Virulent Firebeast and Vent Sentinel

Kiln Fiend over Halimar Wavewatch

Deprive over Mnemonic Wall and Soulscourge Elemental

Smite

Guard Gomazoa over Sea Gate Oracle

Oust

Explosive Revelation

Ogre Sentry over Goblin Tunneller

Lagac Lizard

Raif Bombardment

Lavafume Invoker

Merfolk Observer

 

The Adept over the Deprive (pack 2 pick 8) came down to creature count, and also Filip being confident he was the only blue drafter at the table thus being able to pick up a Deprive later, which he did. The Guul Draz Assassin was purely a hate pick as Assassin wrecks this archetype even with as much removal as he has. The Emrakul he even considered playing in this archetype, as he knew he would have card advantage with his walls etc but need a late game closer in case his opponent drew his bombs before Filips card advantage won him the game. In the end though he had enough creatures that he didn't have to risk running the alien.

 

When asked about how he felt about his chances with this he felt it was easily a 2-1 maybe a 3-0 but that he feels it's almost impossible to draft a guaranteed 3-0 deck as the format is so skill intensive and can have some big match up swings.

 

Filip ended up going 2-1 (Eventually making top 8) with the following list:
1 Kiln Fiend
2 Skywatcher Adept
1 Guard Gomazoa
1 Lavafume Invoker
1 Sea Gate Oracle
1 Soulsurge Elemental
1 Battle-Rattle Shaman
1 Merfolk Skyscout
2 Mnemonic Wall
2 Frostwind Rider
1 See Beyond
1 Recurring Insight
1 Lay Bare
1 Deprive
1 Spawning Breath
1 Staggershock
1 Forked Bolt
1 Flame Slash
2 Narcolepsy
9 Island
8 Mountain

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Saturday 20:10
Quick Questions - What do you want to open as first pick in draft?

Czech Players:

Petr Nahodil: Drana


Martin Juza: Black Lotus, but no such luck today!


Jan Kotria: Eldrazi Conscription

 
Petr Brozek: Drana


Michal Hebky: Don't know...

.
Jan Brodzak: Drana

Slovak Players:


Ivan Floch: Drana


Matej "Big Z" Zatlkaj: Drana or Eldrazi Conscription


Robert "Bob the Builder" Jurkovic: Drana



Filip Polasek: Gideon Jura OBV! (When asked would Drana not be better Filip said maybe yes but he'd prefer to have a Gideon after the draft!)Well they may not like the same archetypes but at least they can agree on what the best cards are! If you have any questions you want us to ask them just comment below.

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Saturday 20:50 - End of Day One
Just before we closed up I had a quick chat with Filip Polasek, he lost his first round of the draft although he got ridiculously unlucky to do so. Game 1 he got a gameloss with complete control and the win on the board for accidentally drawing an extra card. Game 2 he won the way his deck should, game 3 he got mana flooded. His reaction was that it was all him and he's no angry at anyone or anything as everything was under his control. He feels it's up to him to make top 8 and he's confedent he still can. He's confident in his draft deck and also feels his Standard deck is a good call in the metagame and he has a good build of it. Tune in tomorrow to see how he finishes up.Well that's it for day one. Check the standings in an hour or so to find out who's still in contention and who's out. Don't forget to tune in tomorrow.....and tell your friends!

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DAY 2 BEGINS!!!!!

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Sunday

11:45 Draft Deck


So first thing I hear about Sunday morning is the "sick" deck Lukas Blohan has drafted.

2 Deathless Angel? 3 Domestication? ...wow!

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Sunday 12:30
Round 10 - Slovak Nationals
Filip Polasek (Next Level Bant) VS. Marek Vardzik (Dredgevine)

Unfortunately I join this match after game 1. Filip is up a game, though assures me this is a bad match up. Both of these players stand at 6-3 so the chance to make top 8 is on the line. 

 

For the second game Marek chooses to play and keeps his 7. Filip goes down to 6, takes a while thinking about it, and decides to go again but keeps the 5 without much thought.

 

Marek leads on Drowned Catacomb tapped into Misty Rainforest for an Island and plays Rotting Rats discarding his own Vengevine while Filip ditches a Jace. Filip gets out Wall of Omens but next turn Marek plays Renegade Doppleganger into Hedron Crab which returns the Vengevine making a fake blue one as well and crashes in for 9. Wall blocks the rats and next turn Oblivion Ring takes care of the Vengevine. A few landfall triggers later from the crab and still nothing relevant in Mareks graveyard. His frustration is obvious (what I can only guess were cursewords in Slovak) while Filips stable board position after going to 5 has him quite chirpy. A second Wall of Omens and Sea Gate Oracle clog the ground a bit for fillip while Marek tries to amass an offence with a second Doppleganger and a Bloodghast. When Sea Gate number 2 comes down though for Filip, there's just too many big butts to get through! Finally an Enclave Cryptologist gives Marek some options and one loot later he finally has Extractor Demon in the graveyard. Filip plays a Sphinx of Lost Truths to try prepare for the onslaught next turn. And onslaught it is, Demon comes into play, two Dopllegangers change form and crash in along with 2 Bloodghast. After declaring blocks Filip plays a Celestial purge and an Oracle trades with a Bloodghast but still loses a large chunk of life going to 7. A few mills after combat and Marek has the full fourest of Bloodghasts in the yard. Filip scans the board on his turn and realises he is in a lot of trouble, when Marek flashes the land to bring back the Vampires, now with haste, Filip scoops them up.
 

 

Marek Vardzik makes it 1-1

 

The decider is began with Hierarch vs Enclave Cryptologist on the first turns. When Marek goes to level the looter, Filip has the Path. Filip very slowly peels his top card and when he sees what it is WINDMILL SLAMS PLAINS! ……which gives him a turn 3 Vengevine! Marek takes 5, drops a Merfolk Looter and a Doppleganger and passes it back. Vengevine takes another 5 chunks of life and Jace bounces the Merfolk Looter. When the Looter comes back Doppleganger puts a Vengevine in the yard and when Rotting Rats follows it up we have some Vine on Vine action. Jace takes 4, Filip confident the Exalted v

ersion will win the race and drops an unkicked Sphinx of Lost Truths pitching 2 Sea Gate Oracles and a Celestial Purge along with the Celestial Purge he had to pitch to the Rats. Filip checks the time, seven minutes left on the round. MArek does some looting, takes a while to think but nothing relevant hits the yar and he just drops another Doppleganger and passes. Filip drops his hand of two Hierarch onto the table and swings with the Sphinx dealing six and dropping Marek to 6 and passes, a lot faster than it took me to type this sentence too, even without that last bit! Marek uses Sedraxis Alchemist on the Sphinx desperately trying to but a turn hoping that Filip doesn't notice his own Colonnade but alas he does and the activation prompts the very disappointed handshake from Marek.

 

Filip Polasek defeats Marek Vardzik 2-0 

 

Petr wins the dice roll and Michal has to mulligan to 6, the mulligan hurts a little more when he misses his turn 2 land drop and turn 3 his Raging Ravine gets seas spread all over its face! Luckily he got a Hierarch out before and uses that to power out another at least giving him access to two out of three of his colours. Day of Judgement ends that plan and an Ajani Vengeant has Michal in a tough spot still not able to play anything on his turn 5 stuck with 1 Island, 1 Forest and 1 Mountain. When Petr drops Jace and starts Fatesealing Michal he knows times are bad. When his hand gets to 8 cards however he teases Petr with a "Ha! You fell for my plan!" - and ditches a Vengvine. Petr just laughs and Puts Ajani up to 7 and Fateseals again. When Petr draws the Raging Ravine he just smiles at the little bit of extra teasing from Petr before scooping them up.
 

Petr Bero takes the lead 1-0

 

For game 2 both keep their starting 7 and Michal leads with Ravine again but this time has the turn 2 land and drops a Scute Mob. Petr has Spreading Seas one turn earlier this game and hits the Ravine. Following that up with a Wall of Omens to Stem the bleeding from the Mob. Turn 4 sees Peter getting a Jace and Michal getting an Elspeth, she boosts up the Mob and he soars over the Wall of Omens and nudges Jace for lethal. Petr untags, drops a second wall and then Cunning Sparkmage to take care of Scute Mob just before it was bout to grow …intensely laaaarge!

 

Michal drops a Ranger of Ios going to get Birds of Paradise and a second(!) Scutemob. Petr shouts at Michal for being a nub and can't believe that "Terrible sh**!" Peter uses his own Elspeth to Legend Michal's away and Michal uses the opportunity to Bloodbraid, flipping a Quasali Pridemage. Which is quite relevant when your defence is 0/4 walls! Petr drops another Elspeth and starts pumping out chumpers. Michal responds with a Path on the Sparkmage and a second Bloodbraid flipping a Basilisk Collar. The Pridemage takes out the Spreading Seas and the Ravine joins forces with a Ranger and two Elves to hit Petr to 7. He's not too worried though as he just Day of Judgements the board and makes another soldier. Michal has another Bloodbraid however and Flips a Hierarch forcing a Soldier to chump. 

 

Michal drops Scute Mob Oblivion Rings Elspeth but Petr trumps by dropping 2 Oblivion Rings, one on the Scute Mob and another on Michals Ring, and makes a Soldier. Michal has no follow up and just forces a Soldier to chump again. When Petr drops Baneslayer Angel Michal starts to look uncomfortable, he has the Basilisk Collar, does he still have Sparkmages in his deck? Who knows? Not me! …Michal probe does though! …..anyways, what he does draw however is Knight of the Reliquary which is quite chunky coming down as an 8/8 but Petr has another Oblivion Ring and hits with the Angel for good measure bringing the lifetotals to 22-19 in his favour.

 

Michal plays a Ranger of Eos and gets two more Noble Hierarch, equips his Birds with Collar and hits Elspeth for 3 taking her down to 4. Petr, unfazed, pumps his Angel and hits for 8. An O Ring off the top for Michal ends those shenanigans and brings the lifetotals back up to 17-28 in Petrs favour. With 12 minutes left on the clock it's hard to see this game ending in time. Especially after Petr casts Day of Judgement, quite happy to sit back on Elspeth. That plan doesn't last long however when Michal play Ajani Vengeant and Lighting Helixes Elspeth to death. Both players draw go for a while with Petr using his Soldier to gently pick at Michals life total but when he eventually draws Baneslayer Angel the Dynamics of the game change very fast and we could actually see a result. When Celestial Colonnade joins the attach force and Michal can't muster any more than a Bird and Heirarch, neither of which defend very well wearing a collar Michal realises it's time to get creative. He animates his freshly played Raging Ravine and hits for 5 to gain some life, and a turn. When he draws Oblivion Ring for the Angel it shows sometimes one turn is all you need. Now it's back to Petr to topdeck, which he doesn't, with his lifetotal at 37 though he does have some time, even when Michal reaches enough mana to double activate Ravine and gain 7 life.

 

Petr does rip another Angel and both players starting doing the maths mental with all this lifegain. Petr passes with the lifetotals at 25-10 in his favour. Michal draws a Quasili Pridemage, activates his Ravine twice and attacks for ten. Petr decides to put the Angel, his Colonnade and a Soldier token in the way. Michal sacs his Pridemage and points at the big pile of Oblivion Rings at the edge of the table. After sorting through them Michal finds the one he wants, the one with his own O Ring under it. He takes out the Angel and Ravine eats the Soldier and Colonnade. Things look grim for Petr but when he rips Spreading Seas he can't hide his relief. When that Spreading Seas feeds him Gideon Jura the relief turns into some serious excitement plus a few whistles from the crowd. For the 127th time this game Michals back is against the wall. Michal rips Vengevine but Gideon is a toughie and takes the hit, Petr asks his deck for business …and it produces, giving him Journey to nowhere on the Vengevine. Michal needs to rip again and does so with Elspeth, pumping his bird equipped with collar and swinging with 4. When Petr goes and rips AGAIN, producing his 4th Oblivion Ring, Michal just can't take it anymore and extends the hand for this epic match!

 

Petr Bero Defeats Michal Havlik 2-0

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Sunday 14:15 Last round panic

Well Slovak nats actually had no panic at all going into the last round as there were 8 people on 24 or above and the next person down was at 21, meaning unless someone wanted to get tricky they just ID and were all locked in. Which they did.Czech nationals is a little different however with 28 being the lock only the top 4 are able to ID in the last round. 12 people sit on 24 points so they will all be playing it out and even still 2 people will be going home disappointed due to their tie breakers. The most interesting match in the last round is Lukas Blohon vs Jakub Toth. Very successful level 4 mage known all around the world for his skill and deckbuilding prowess against up and coming local youngster, only 16 but does have one Pro Tour appearance under his belt. The first game went to Toth and Mythic Conscription with a fast Sovereigns ending it in two hits. The second game was a bit more of a drawn out affair with Lukas and his Grixis deck holding a lot more control of the ground before Jace coupled with Siege Gang Commander and a full grip was too much for Jakub to handle. The third game went much like the second with a sea of Earthquakes and spot removal eventually clearing the way for Jace and Siege-Gang to take over the game and win it for Blohon.

Lukas Blohon defeats Jakub Toth 2-1

Though he lost Jakub showed incredible composure and skill throughout the match, definitely somebody to look out for!

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Sunday 15:05 The Top 8 is called

Remember how yesterday morning I said Ondrej Hatala was a player to look out for? ...well when he started at 0-4 I thought I looked a little silly. While talking to him outside before round 5 he told me "Top 16 you only need 8 rounds of 12, I can easily still win 8 rounds out of 12!" .....so he did! And he finished in 11th place getting himself 2 Pro Points along the way. 1 place behind Matej "Big Z" Zatlkaj in 10th. Unlucky 9th went to Filip Jalaksa and the rest of the Slovak top 8 (By pairing) is:

The Czech top 8 is one of the strongest I've seen in a while with only one name in there not having a Pro Tour or GP top 8 (listed by pairing):

 

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Sunday 16:30Quarter Final - Slovak Nationals
Zdenko Nouzovsky (U/W Control) vs Robert "Bob the Builder" Jurkovic (U/W Control)

 

Zdenko finished 2nd at last years Slovak nationals and is hoping to improve on that finish today. "Bob" has had his fair share of national team slots too and is no stranger to the big stage.

 

Game 1 starts with Bob winning the roll and keeping his 7, Zdenko mulligans to 6 and is happy. This game opens up as most U/W control mirrors do, slowly and a little boring with both players playing dray go. Jdeko uses a Knight of the White Orchid to catch up after missing some drops and drops an Angel. Bob takes care of it after one attack with Gideon Jura but that hits the yard next turn due to the planeswalkers equivalent of the legend rule. Peter then manages to get Planeswalker advantage resolving both Jace and Elspeth but Bob has unanswered O Rings for both and then drops his back-up Gideon Jura. Zdenko hits Bob with Colonnade who responds by hitting back with Gideon. This provokes the O Ring from Zdenko the nest turn followed by a Baneslayer and another Jace which Fateseals Bob. Bob then plays Mindspring for 10 tapping out not realising Zdenko has 2(!) Colonnades in his mana base which, along with Baneslayer hit for the exact 13 lifepoints he has left.

 

Zdenko Nouzovsky takes the lead 1-0 

 

Game 2 and Zdenko starts off with a mulligan to 6 again. Turn 5 Zdenko turns an Colonnade into an Island and Bob uses the chance to try a baby Jace, Zdenko has the Negate but so does Bob. Zdenko untaps and drops Angel which Bob responds to with Gideon Jura. Back to Zdenko and he O Rings the Gideon and attacks baby Jace. Path to Exile gets rid of the angel and next turn baby Jace sacrifices himself for the greater good giving Bob a card and making room for daddy Jace. Daddy Jace gets Legend ruled and Bob tries Elspeth which gets negated but Bob has Elspeth number two and she sticks.

 

Bob drops some Walls of Omen and some Spreading Seas cycling through his deck and answers Zdenkos Baneslayer with a Day of Judgement before pumping out another Soldier. Zdenko tries to legend rule Elspeth and when that fails Baneslayer flies in and cracks her over the head lowering her to 3, next turn the Angel finishes the job, upsetting Bob. This gives Zdenko the chance to resolve daddy Jace and the lovely Elspeth, Bob sitting with just one card and not having done anything the previous turn is not looking too good.

 

One more draw and the Angel cracks in making in 2-0 to Zdenko Nouzovsky

 

Game 3 was another case of draw go with Bob cycling a wall on turn 2. Zdenko drops a Knight of the White Orchid which Bob answer with another Wall. When Zdenko wanted to negate that plan with Elspeth, Bob wanted to Negate Elspeth, which Zdenko Negated. It was a very negative turn. Bob legend rules Elspeth and when Zdenko replaces her with daddy Jace, Bob legend rules that as well. Zdenko then stick a Baneslayer which gives Bob the opportunity to resolve his own daddy Jace which bounces the Angel. Zdenko just replays her and passes. This time Bob opts to Brainstorm finding and casting Oblivion Ring on the Angel. Zdenko however instantly drops a replacement. Bob brainstorms again and finds another O RIng, this time Zdenko replies with Gideon Jura. Bob drops Elspeth, makes a soldier and passes. Zdenko cycles a Spreadable Sea and tries Daddy Jace which gets negated. Next turn he just wraths the board and uses Gideon to kill Elspeth. Bob just legend rules Gideon and passes. When Zdenko casts O Ring on Jace next turn the game really slow down. ….until Bob mainsprings for 11. Big Z lets me know at this point that even though these two sound calm they are swearing at each other in Slovak …..a lot!

 

Over the next few turns Oblivion Rings land all over the place and by the time they settle the only non Ring permanent on board is Bob's baby Jace, when Zdenko tries for his own Mind Springand Bob shows the Negate he was saving for it, Zdenko knows he's too far behind and scoops em up.

 

Robert Jurkovic wins to make it 2-1in Zdenko's favour

 

Game 4 starts with a little more action on Bob's side curving out with Spreading Sea, into baby Jace into Elspeth. Both planeswalkers get answered by Oblivion Rings and they board seems stable until Bob drops Elspeth number 2. Bob produces two Soldiers before Zdenko legend rules Elspeth. Zdenko takes a few more hits off the Soldiers before trying for Gideon. Bob tries for Negate but Zdenko has the Deprive bouncing the Colonnade with a Spreading Seas on it. When Bob went for Baneslayer, Zdenko went for Day of Judgement, Negate followed by Negate let it resolve and when Bob Martial Couped for 8 guys following it up with a Gideon Jura of his own Zdenko couldn't find an answer in time and they were off to the decider.
 

Robert Jurkovic ties it at 2-2

 

The decider is started again with a Spreading Seas from either side before Bob resolves daddy Jace followed by Baneslayer. Zdenko O Rings the Jace and drops a Kinight of the White Orchid followed next turn by an Elspeth which also gets O Ringed. Zdenko however has the backup Elspeth and makes a little guy. Bob makes a much larger guy in the shape of Baneslayer Angel and passes. Zdenko makes how own Angel and another little Soldier. On Bobs next turn there's a little dispute over whether he has Brainstormed or not this turn, when I'm asked i answer honestly "I have no fricking idea, everything looks the same to me!" 

 

It's deceided that he hasn't already so he goes for it and drops a second Baneslayer and goes to Path Zdenko's Angel but Zdenko has the Negate. Zdenko drops a Gideon Jura and offs one of Bob's Angels but that comfort level is hot lived when Bob Mindsprings for 5. Zdenko responds with his own Mindspring immediately after, for 7. Bob uses Angel to kill Gideon Jura and then drops on of his own followed by an Elspeth making it look like the game is going back in his favour. ….Until Zdenko O Rings Bob's Gideon and drops one of his own. But Bob kills that with an Angel and drops another, bringing Gideon back over to Bob's side. Bob tries a Martial Coup for 8 guys and when Zdenko tries the Day of Judgement Bob has the Negate. Zdenko, down to 3 cards can do nothing more than drop a Knight of the White Orchid and pass with 2 lands in hand, deep in pain as Bob casts Mindspring for 8. Elspeth pumps one of the Soldiers and hits Zdenko for 10 bringing him to 10. He draws one more card, activates his 2 Colonnades and swings for 8, extending the hand in surrender before damage resolves.

 

Robert Jurkovic defeats Zdenko Nouzovsky 3-2

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SundaySemi Final Czech Nationals
Lukas Blohon (Grixis Control) vs David Do Anh (Next Level Bant)

Unfortunately I did not get to actually watch this match myself but I will still provide a quick recount based on the Czech coverage.

Game 1 Dave mulligans and has every mana accelerator killed by Bolts or Terminates, eventually, running low on pressure he succumbs to a Siege Gang.

Game 2 it is Lukas who mulligans and Dave uses a Cobra to accelerate to a fast Elspeth followed by Baneslayer Angel. Dave keeps applying pressure playing fattie after fattie and Lukas just can't find the answers in time.  

Game 3 Lukas mulligans again but is very happy with his 6 as it's packed with removal. After burning out all of Dave's mana guys he drops a Specter followed by Jace using the Unsummon ability to clear the way and Dave drawing off the top, which leads to death against Grixis.

With Lukas 2-1 up the decider sees David mulligan to 5 and see his first 3 creatures instantly killed, when Lukas follows all that up with a Blightning emptying Davids hand the writing is on the wall and Siege Gang Commander takes it home.

Lukas Blohon defeats David Do Anh 3-1

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Sunday
The Final - Czech NationalsPetr Nahodil (Red Deck Wins) Vs Lukas Blohon (Grixis Control) 

Game 1
So for Peter this could be the third Czech title for one of the most relaxed players in the country, standing in his way, the most successful Czech player this season, Lukas Blohoň. Petr wins the dice roll and mulligans to 6 but seems happy with them, Lukas keeps his 7. Petr opens on Dragon lord and takes Lukas to 14 leveling the bad boy up along the way before it gets terminated. Lukas plays Specter which gets hit by Burst Lightning. Lukas plays Blightning on his frouth turn and in response Petr sends six at the dome with 2 Bolts. Lukas drops a Siege Gang and passed back. Petr plays Earthquake for two and clears the table. Lukas tries a Brainstorm off the Jace but when Petr sends a Hellspark Elemental as his face Lukas scoops em up.

Game 2 
Petr starts on Goblin Guide which reveals a Flashfreeze and goes in for two. Petr has no follow up play and tells Lukas he's probably good. Another round of attacks and Hellspark joins the team but also reveals a Flashfreeze, from Lukas' hand! ...so yeah it wat the same one. Next turn Hellspark comes back and Lukas has no answer and is yet to play a guy. Next turn Lucas goes with Blightning but it doesn't stop the Guide coming in again. Lukas tries to start a defending force with Specter but a flurry of burn puts an end to that idea.

Game 3
Petr mulligans and Lukas opens on Inquisition and see's three land, 3 burn spells and a Hells Thunder. He takes a Bolt and passes. Peter plays nothing for firs two turns and Lukas gets a Specter down on turn 3 which gets burned out and followed by Hells Thunder. Petr sends in a ball Lightning next turn and it looks bad for Lukas. But on the following attack from the Thunder from Hell he has the Doomblade to stop 4 and gets another Specter down. The Specter hits and Lukas follows up with Blightning emptying Petr's hand. When Petr can't draw anything relevant Lukas gets his first win.Game 4 For the fourth game both players mulligan. Petr opens on Hellspark on his third turn but doesn't drop a land. Lukas drops a Specter and Petr hits it with a Bolt, when Lukas Blightnings next turn Petr ditches two more Bolts and when the Spectre is unearthed next turn his hand is empty. Lukas follows up with a fresh Spectre and passes. Petr draws and thinks. Realizing he's not getting back in control of the game and his only chance is to draw enough burn to kill Lukas, he throws his freshly drawn Searing Blaze at Lukas' face. Lukas sends in the Specter and passes having no follow up. Peter has nine draw steps before he dies to Specter and starts knocking his deck hard before each draw. Turns out the “Pro Tour Tap” might actually work as he draws Ball Lightning, Lighting Bolt, Earthquake. Just enough to finish Lukas off and take the title!

Petr Nahodl wins 3-0 and takes the title!!

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Sunday 18:25 Top 8 Decklists

Czech Top 8 decklists:

Mythic Conscription	Sejkora Svatopluk
Main Deck	Sideboard
3 Verdant Catacombs 4 Misty Rainforest 1 Arid Mesa 2 Sunpetal Grove 4 Celestial Colonnade 2 Island 2 Plains 4 Forest 1 Sejiri Steppe 1 Stirring Wildwood 4 Baneslayer Angel 4 Noble Hierarch 4 Birds of Paradise 4 Rhox War Monk 4 Lotus Cobra 4 Sovereigns of Lost Alara 4 Knight of the Reliquary 3 Elspeth, Knight-Errant 3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor 2 Eldrazi Conscription	3 Path to Exile 2 Linvala, Keeper of Silence 2 Gideon Jura 3 Dauntless Escort 3 Negate 1 Oblivion Ring 1 Sphinx of Jwar Isle

Fritka	Petr Nahodil
Main Deck	Sideboard
4 Scalding Tarn 4 Hell´s Thunder 4 Ball Lightning 8 Mountain 4 Hellspark Elemental 4 Searing Blaze 4 Burst Lightning 4 Smoldering Spires 4 Lightning Bolt 4 Teetering Peeks 4 Goblin Guide 2 Kargan Dragonlord 4 Arid Mesa 4 Staggershock 2 Earthquake	2 Forked Bolt 3 Manabarbs 2 Quenchable Fire 4 Dragon´s Claw 4 Cunning Sparkmage

Mythic Conscription	David Do Anh
Main Deck	Sideboard
4 Noble Hierarch 4 Birds of Paradise 4 Lotus Cobra 3 Dauntless Escort 3 Baneslayer Angel 4 Knight of the Reliquary 4 Sovereigns of Lost Alara 2 Elspeth, Knight-Errant 3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor 2 Gideon Jura 2 Eldrazi Conscription 4 Forest 2 Island 2 Plains 4 Misty Rainforest 2 Verdant Catacombs 2 Arid Mesa 4 Celestial Colonnade 1 Stirring Wildwood 2 Sunpetal Grove 2 Sejiri Steppe	3 Kor Firewalker 1 Admonition Angel 2 Sphinx of Jwar Isle 2 Linvala, Keeper of Silence 3 Bant Charm 4 Negate

Jund	Adam Koska
Main Deck	Sideboard
4 Putrid Leech 4 Sprounting Thrinax 4 Bloodbraid Elf 1 Seige-gang Commander 1 Broodmate Dragon 4 Lightning Bolt 2 Terminate 4 Blightning 4 Maelstrom Pulse 2 Sharkan the Mad 3 Bituminous Blast 4 Savage Lands 4 Raging Ravine 4 Verdant Catacombs 2 Lavaclaw Reaches 3 Dragonskull Summit 3 Forest 3 Swamp 4 Mountain	4 Cunning Sparkmage 4 Goblin Ruinblaster 3 Doom Blade 3 Duress 1 Sarkhan the Mad

UG Rampa	Jan Brodzak
Main Deck	Sideboard
4 Jace, the Mind Sculptor 4 Time Warp 4 Oracle of Mul Daya 4 Avenger of Zendikar 4 Lotus Cobra 4 Explore 3 Rampant Growth 3 Mind Spring 1 Ponder 1 Verdant Catacombs 1 Scalding Tarn 5 Island 6 Forest 4 Halimar Depths 4 Khalni Garden 4 Tectonic Edge 4 Misty Rainforest	2 Flashfreeze 2 Negate 2 All Is Dust 2 Roil Elemental 2 Pelakka Wurm 2 Sphinx of Jwar Isle 3 Narcolepsy

Fritka	Petr Kludka
Main Deck	Sideboard
4 Goblin Guide 4 Kiln Fiend 4 Zektar Shrine Expedition 4 Earthquake 4 Lightning Bolt 4 Burst Lightning 4 Plated Geopede 4 Searing Blaze 4 Staggershock 4 Scalding Tarn 4 Arid Mesa 3 Smoldering Spires 2 Evolving Wilds 11 Mountain	4 Dragon´s Claw 3 Blazing Torch 2 Unstable Footing 2 Forked Bolt 2 Flame Slash

Grixis	Lukas Blohon
Main Deck	Sideboard
4 Crumbling Necropolis 4 Creeping Tar Pit 4 Dragonskull Summit 1 Evolving Wilds 1 Drowned Catacomb 4 Scalding Tarn 2 Swamp 3 Island 3 Mountain 4 Sedraxis Specter 4 Siege-Gang Commander 4 Spreading Seas 4 Lightning Bolt 4 Terminate 4 Blightning 3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor 1 Jace Beleren 2 Cruel Ultimatum 1 Prophetic Prism 1 Sorin Markov	3 Flashfreeze 3 Goblin Ruinblaster 2 Sphinx of Jwar Isle 1 Jace Beleren 1 Duress 1 Forked Bolt 1 Doom Blade 1 Inquisition of Kozilek 1 Countersquall 1 Consume the Meek

Slovak TOP 8 decklist:

UW Control	Zdenko Nouzovský
Main Deck	Sideboard
4 Knight of the White Orchid 4 Fieldmist Borderpost 4 Spreading Seas 4 Baneslayer Angel 3 Day of Judgment 3 Wall of Omens 3 Path to Exile 3 Oblivion Ring 2 Mind Spring 2 Gideon Jura 3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor 1 Martial Coup 4 Celestial Colonnade 4 Glacial Fortress 2 Tectonic Edge 7 Plains 5 Island 2 Elspeth, Knight-Errant	2 Celestial Purge 3 Flashfreeze 3 Kor Firewalker 3 Negate 1 Oblivion Ring 1 Deprive 1 Martial Coup 1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant

UG Ramp	Ivan Floch
Main Deck	Sideboard
3 Rampant Growth 1 Ponder 4 Jace, the Mind Sculptor 3 Mind Spring 4 Explore 4 Avenger of Zendikar 4 Time Warp 4 Oracle of Mul Daya 4 Lotus Cobra 1 Scalding Tarn 1 Verdant Catacombs 4 Halimar Depths 4 Khalni Garden 3 Tectonic Edge 4 Misty Rainforest 6 Forest 6 Island	3 Narcolepsy 2 Negate 3 Fog 2 Roil Elemental 4 Pelakka Wurm 1 All Is Dust

Mythic Conscription	Patrik Šurab
Main Deck	Sideboard
3 Verdant Catacombs 4 Misty Rainforest 2 Sunpetal Grove 4 Celestial Colonnade 2 Island 1 Plains 5 Forest 2 Sejiri Steppe 2 Stirring Wildwood 3 Baneslayer Angel 4 Noble Hierarch 4 Birds of Paradise 4 Lotus Cobra 4 Sovereigns of Lost Alara 4 Knight of the Reliquary 3 Dauntless Escort 3 Elspeth, Knight-Errant 3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor 2 Eldrazi Conscription 2 Vines of Vastwood	3 Linvala, Keeper of Silence 4 Negate 2 Oblivion Ring 4 Kor Firewalker 2 Rhox War Monk

UW Control	János Csómos
Main Deck	Sideboard
4 Path to Exile 4 Wall of Omens 2 Deprive 4 Spreading Seas 2 Oblivion Ring 2 Elspeth, Knight-Errant 3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor 3 Day of Judgment 2 Mind Spring 3 Martial Coup 2 Sphinx of Jwar Isle 4 Island 5 Plains 3 Tectonic Edge 2 Marsh Flats 2 Halimar Depths 2 Sejiri Refuge 4 Glacial Fortress 4 Celestial Colonnade 3 Everflowing Chalice	2 Celestial Purge 3 Kor Firewalker 2 Flashfreeze 2 Relic of Progenitus 2 Jace Beleren 2 Oblivion Ring 2 Negate

Mythic Conscription	Richard Glasner
Main Deck	Sideboard
4 Forest 2 Plains 2 Island 1 Sejiri Steppe 1 Terramorphic Expanse 1 Stirring Wildwood 1 Seaside Citadel 2 Sunpetal Grove 4 Celestial Colonnade 4 Misty Rainforest 1 Arid Mesa 2 Verdant Catacombs 4 Noble Hierarch 4 Birds of Paradise 4 Lotus Cobra 3 Baneslayer Angel 4 Sovereigns of Lost Alara 4 Knight of Reliquary 3 Elspeth, Knight-Errant 3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor 1 Gideon Jura 3 Dauntless Escort 2 Eldrazi Conscription	2 Rhox War Monk 1 Gideon Jura 1 Baneslayer Angel 2 Oblivion Ring 2 Celestial Purge 3 Kor Firewalker 2 Negate 2 Deprive

UWR Planeswalkers	Peter Bero
Main Deck	Sideboard
4 Plains 3 Island 2 Mountain 4 Celestial Colonnade 2 Path to Exile 2 Journey to Nowhere 4 Wall of Omens 3 Elspeth, Knight-Errant 4 Oblivion Ring 3 Jace Beleren 4 Spreading Seas 4 Day of Judgment 3 Scalding Tarn 3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor 2 Gideon Jura 2 Tectonic Edge 1 Sejiri Refuge 3 Ajani Vengeant 4 Glacial Fortress 3 Arid Mesa	4 Baneslayer Angel 2 Celestial Purge 2 Kor Firewalker 4 Negate 3 Cunning Sparkmage

Next Level Bant	Filip Polášek
Main Deck	Sideboard
4 Celestial Colonnade 1 Stirring Wildwood 3 Seaside Citadel 3 Sunpetal Grove 4 Misty Rainforest 6 Forest 2 Island 1 Plains 4 Vengevine 2 Sphinx of the Lost Truth 2 Ranger of Eos 1 Scute Mob 2 Oblivion Ring 2 Path to Exile 1 Bant Charm 3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor 3 Elspeth, Knight-Errant 1 Gideon Jura 4 Noble Hierarch 3 Birds of Paradise 1 Borderland Ranger 4 Wall of Omens 3 Seagate Oracle	2 Negate 2 Deprive 2 Sphinx of Jwar Isle 1 Martial Coup 2 Linvala, Keeper of Silence 2 Celestial Purge 2 Oblivion Ring 2 Qasali Pridemage

UW Control	Robert Jurkovič
Main Deck	Sideboard
3 Tectonic Edge 4 Glacial Fortress 4 Celestial Colonnade 2 Sejiri Refuge 5 Island 7 Plains 2 Elspeth, Knight-Errant 4 Baneslayer Angel 2 Gideon Jura 3 Day of Judgment 2 Mind Spring 1 Martial Coup 2 Negate 4 Wall of Omens 3 Path to Exile 3 Oblivion Ring 3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor 4 Spreading Seas 2 Everflowing Chalice	2 Jace Beleren 2 Sphinx of Jwar Isle 3 Flashfreeze 3 Celestial Purge 3 Kor Firewalker 2 Negate

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 Our Champions!

 Czech champion: Petr Nahodil


Slovak Champion: Ivan Floch