Clegg Banned for One Year

Dan Clegg was banned for one year for slow play back in August. Although Clegg is a notoriously slow player, this intrepid reporter has discovered that this is not the real reason for the ban. With the coming Magic Invitational, WotC feared a Humphreys vs. Clegg matchup. Mark Rosewater said, "Clegg, Humphreys, Magic Online, and Windows do not mix very well. We just didn't think we would have the up-time to run that match."

Magic Invitational First Ever 16 Slot PTQ

The Invitational has come and gone, with Finkel, Price, and Pikula getting slots on the Pro Tour for just showing up. Wise, Kibler, and Zvi plan to join this list as soon as they become really bad at Magic.

Mike Long Could be a Savage Cheater

Mike Long went to the Decipher Lord of the Rings World Championships. There, he was accused of being a savage cheater. "There were several heated outbursts, with Mike showing his nerves as things got down to the wire. There are all kinds of itchy little things players might do to cause his opponent to lose focus, to throw them off their game, if you will." This reporter is glad to see Mike Long back in the news, as evil is good. His last two mentions involved a writer for his website challenging Kai to a FNM tourney, and saying that shuffling mechanics were good for the game.

Onslaught Limited is Skill Based

On the heels of GP Philly, Wizards wrote their usual recap of the event. "Although some pundits claim that the format is luck-based due to the number of insane rares in the set, the standings at the end of Round 8 showed that play skill is still king." This, of course, failed to mention that places 1 through 22 averaged two and a half byes. The article continues, "Check out the Bob Maher/Andrew Cuneo match or the Brian Kibler/Justin Gary match for just some of the more intense and complicated moments of the day." These two matchups featured Arcanis, the Omnipotent, 2 Callous Oppressor, 2 Insurrection, Grinning Demon, and Silvos, Rogue Elemental. Thankfully, there were no insane rares to influence those matchups, and play skill shone through. The game 2 coverage of the Kibler/Gary match was especially enlightening. "Kibler played Lightning Rift on turn 2, a morph on turn 3, and then flipped said morph- Grinning Demon again!-on turn 4. Gary was less than pleased. Screeching Buzzard gave Kibler an aerial assault as well, but the Demon alone was too much for Gary."

Closing Thoughts

cathyn scares me.


I'm Alex Saltzberg and you're not.

Discuss this article in the Magic: the Gathering Forums!

Clegg Banned for One Year

Dan Clegg was banned for one year for slow play back in August. Although Clegg is a notoriously slow player, this intrepid reporter has discovered that this is not the real reason for the ban. With the coming Magic Invitational, WotC feared a Humphreys vs. Clegg matchup. Mark Rosewater said, "Clegg, Humphreys, Magic Online, and Windows do not mix very well. We just didn't think we would have the up-time to run that match."

Magic Invitational First Ever 16 Slot PTQ

The Invitational has come and gone, with Finkel, Price, and Pikula getting slots on the Pro Tour for just showing up. Wise, Kibler, and Zvi plan to join this list as soon as they become really bad at Magic.

Mike Long Could be a Savage Cheater

Mike Long went to the Decipher Lord of the Rings World Championships. There, he was accused of being a savage cheater. "There were several heated outbursts, with Mike showing his nerves as things got down to the wire. There are all kinds of itchy little things players might do to cause his opponent to lose focus, to throw them off their game, if you will." This reporter is glad to see Mike Long back in the news, as evil is good. His last two mentions involved a writer for his website challenging Kai to a FNM tourney, and saying that shuffling mechanics were good for the game.

Onslaught Limited is Skill Based

On the heels of GP Philly, Wizards wrote their usual recap of the event. "Although some pundits claim that the format is luck-based due to the number of insane rares in the set, the standings at the end of Round 8 showed that play skill is still king." This, of course, failed to mention that places 1 through 22 averaged two and a half byes. The article continues, "Check out the Bob Maher/Andrew Cuneo match or the Brian Kibler/Justin Gary match for just some of the more intense and complicated moments of the day." These two matchups featured Arcanis, the Omnipotent, 2 Callous Oppressor, 2 Insurrection, Grinning Demon, and Silvos, Rogue Elemental. Thankfully, there were no insane rares to influence those matchups, and play skill shone through. The game 2 coverage of the Kibler/Gary match was especially enlightening. "Kibler played Lightning Rift on turn 2, a morph on turn 3, and then flipped said morph- Grinning Demon again!-on turn 4. Gary was less than pleased. Screeching Buzzard gave Kibler an aerial assault as well, but the Demon alone was too much for Gary."

Closing Thoughts

cathyn scares me.


I'm Alex Saltzberg and you're not.

Discuss this article in the Magic: the Gathering Forums!