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First off, I would like to thank Lee and Mark for their hospitality.
They each put me up for a night and made sure that I had someplace to stay.
Thanks guys for everything. A really BIG thanks goes out to Mo, who picked
me up at the airport and took me everywhere. Without you, Mo, I couldn't
have come up there. You really made the trip fun.
The tournament got a late start but 18 players showed up and it was
very exciting as everyone started coming in. Maverick and Ultron made the
trip with their girlfriends and Maverick's, Nadia, even played. She's better
than Maverick but I'll get to that later. The Bertrands made the trip from
Canada but Marcel got stuck with weekend work at the last minute and didn't
make the trip. Green Lantern (Pete) was really bummed out about it as he
was really wanting to play their grudge match. I can honestly say that
the outcome of such a game would not be pretty. Green stuff all over the
walls. (Pete, did you make it home?)
In round one, Mo got his wish and was paired against me. He had been
looking forward to playing me as much as Ty was looking forward to beating
Maverick. Mo made a very big mistake in the first hand by placing only
one card. I placed six and conceded one mission and had card advantage
on him the rest of the game. He learned his lesson but it cost him the
game.
Round two was against Ty Bertrand. I like playing Ty. We almost always
have good games. This one was no exception. I won but the game could have
gone either way.
Round three I was paired up against Derek Bertrand. D could have, and
should have won, but he slipped and made one mistake that cost him the
game. This is the key to winning consistently, taking advantage of your
opponent's mistakes. I still have a problem with that but I'm slowly getting
there. I think it's what separates the good players from the very good
players. Everyone makes mistakes but the very good players take advantage
of their opponent's mistakes and makes them pay for it. I was now 3-0 and
ready to play Nadia in round four, who was also 3-0. She had a better record
than Maverick at this time as he was 2-1.
Nadia played a very good game at the beginning and I one time I had
ventured two for the loss. I won that hand and slowly ground the game out
and had her down to just Spawn. I had Magneto's 11 placed on him and she
was three cards into her power pack. I had Mags and White Queen and I placed
all I could and ventured one. She had a surprised look on her face but
ventured one and I conceded. She was now fully into the power pack and
I ventured five for the game. She attacked me and I defended and then knocked
Spawn out with the 11 from Mags, knowing that, in the power pack, she couldn't
defend it. I hope she gave Maverick some tips on playing the game on the
ride home. He needs the help.
In round five, I had to play Howard Bertrand. I was the only undefeated
player left and now the family Bertrand was complete. Howard made two mistakes,
not knocking out Magneto when he had the chance (he knocked out Beyonder
instead) and letting me play Mags' 11 to knock out his X-Man. He could
have knocked Mags out but he played a small power card attack that I defended
and then I played the 11.
Round six was a very short game but I can't remember the guys name.
Round seven proved to be my last round of the day. Ty took to down
and my perfect day was over.
Ty went on to beat his dad, Howard, to claim his second SWI Championship.
I would like to tip my hat to Lord Tim O'Leary, who could have won two of his games but instead, he chose to show his opponent that correct way to finish the hand, thereby giving them the win. He is a true gentleman.
There was little sleep to be had for the weekend as we stayed up all night at Mark's place playing cards on Friday and Saturday. Mo took Lee and myself back to Lee's place late Saturday night and Lee and I played three games Sunday morning. Lee won two and now needs to show the discipline to play a real tournament deck for THE MASTER'S in December. Come on Lee, show them what you got. :)
