Kings Games.

In a startling development in the gaming world, prominent Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour player and former KGB attaché Alex Shvartsman has opened his first legitimate business. Shvartzmann's new venture, Kings Games and Russian Social Club in Brooklyn, New York, features gaming tournaments, online game play and a fully stocked café and wet bar.

"We think the store will have a wide array of customers since we offer a variety of entertainment," Shfartsman explained as he stocked the shelves with Legend of the Five Rings, Smirnoff vodka and several well-worn card binders. Taking a nip of the spirits, he gestured toward a table of burly Russian men smoking cigars.

Sergei is a big fan of Five-Color.

"See those guys? Well, Sergei, Leonid and Vladimir are big fans of Five-Color Magic, and they love to swing by for a few games in between running numbers and ordering hits on snitches. Hey, being a businessman can get stressful at times, and there's nothing like turning guys sideways to calm the ol' nerves after a day of turning guys upside down."

Prior to opening the store, Shlartzman traveled the world dealing at Magic tournaments. "The other guys got sick of getting undercut by me," he explained, "and the smack got to be too much of a hassle after a while. I almost ran into big trouble in Kuala Lumpur, but it's amazing who you can bribe with those DCI foils."

While expansion won't become concrete for some time, Schavrtsman hinted at plans in the works. "We're thinking about adding a salon on the floor above us so players can get makeovers and massages after long hours of EverQuest and Rochester drafting.

Zvi reminisces about hot Soviet beeyatches.

Fellow pro and Magic teammate Zvi Mowshowitz chimed in on the idea, exclaiming, "Yeah, those Soviet beeyatches are hot! I felt like a new man after Alex hooked me up for a makeover with them." Mowshowitz then went back to working on part 13 of "My Onslaught-Legions Block Constructed."

Of course, fun and games aren't always fun and games. Such ventures take their toll in time and effort. "I'm not sure how I'm going to handle all the books. I mean, I've never had to actually pay taxes on my profits before, so this is a new thing to me," Shitzman lamented. "And that 40 percent interest rate that Nikolai was so kind to give me could add up quickly if I don't sell enough Yu-Gi-Oh! But I figure my friends and I can, er, persuade kids to keep buying from us," he said with a smirk as he nodded toward a tire iron tucked behind the front counter.

Svartsman says that regardless of the pitfalls of opening a new business, he plans on making other improvements to the store such as expanding the food selection. "Sucks now," he says, but in addition to the current gamer fare of snack foods, coffee and candy, he also plans to add cultural favorites like caviar and borscht. Gigantic traditional European sausages also will soon be on the midday menu, Schwartsman mentioned. "Kielbasa, by the way, makes a delectable lunch treat, and I would like to mention that before I forget," he added.

Discuss this article in the Magic: the Gathering Forums!

Kings Games.

In a startling development in the gaming world, prominent Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour player and former KGB attaché Alex Shvartsman has opened his first legitimate business. Shvartzmann's new venture, Kings Games and Russian Social Club in Brooklyn, New York, features gaming tournaments, online game play and a fully stocked café and wet bar.

"We think the store will have a wide array of customers since we offer a variety of entertainment," Shfartsman explained as he stocked the shelves with Legend of the Five Rings, Smirnoff vodka and several well-worn card binders. Taking a nip of the spirits, he gestured toward a table of burly Russian men smoking cigars.

Sergei is a big fan of Five-Color.

"See those guys? Well, Sergei, Leonid and Vladimir are big fans of Five-Color Magic, and they love to swing by for a few games in between running numbers and ordering hits on snitches. Hey, being a businessman can get stressful at times, and there's nothing like turning guys sideways to calm the ol' nerves after a day of turning guys upside down."

Prior to opening the store, Shlartzman traveled the world dealing at Magic tournaments. "The other guys got sick of getting undercut by me," he explained, "and the smack got to be too much of a hassle after a while. I almost ran into big trouble in Kuala Lumpur, but it's amazing who you can bribe with those DCI foils."

While expansion won't become concrete for some time, Schavrtsman hinted at plans in the works. "We're thinking about adding a salon on the floor above us so players can get makeovers and massages after long hours of EverQuest and Rochester drafting.

Zvi reminisces about hot Soviet beeyatches.

Fellow pro and Magic teammate Zvi Mowshowitz chimed in on the idea, exclaiming, "Yeah, those Soviet beeyatches are hot! I felt like a new man after Alex hooked me up for a makeover with them." Mowshowitz then went back to working on part 13 of "My Onslaught-Legions Block Constructed."

Of course, fun and games aren't always fun and games. Such ventures take their toll in time and effort. "I'm not sure how I'm going to handle all the books. I mean, I've never had to actually pay taxes on my profits before, so this is a new thing to me," Shitzman lamented. "And that 40 percent interest rate that Nikolai was so kind to give me could add up quickly if I don't sell enough Yu-Gi-Oh! But I figure my friends and I can, er, persuade kids to keep buying from us," he said with a smirk as he nodded toward a tire iron tucked behind the front counter.

Svartsman says that regardless of the pitfalls of opening a new business, he plans on making other improvements to the store such as expanding the food selection. "Sucks now," he says, but in addition to the current gamer fare of snack foods, coffee and candy, he also plans to add cultural favorites like caviar and borscht. Gigantic traditional European sausages also will soon be on the midday menu, Schwartsman mentioned. "Kielbasa, by the way, makes a delectable lunch treat, and I would like to mention that before I forget," he added.

Discuss this article in the Magic: the Gathering Forums!