Tournament report by Hida Murphy

Comrades,

Today I have played my first 30/30 open Tournament. And I must say, it was a blast!
I never new that the Crab were so competitive in a open environment.

Top 4 players are:
- 1 Phoenix honor-run
- 2 Corrupt Crab
- 3 Corrupt TA
- 4 Unicorn

1st Round: Naga/Crab

I noticed that there was a Crab/naga player, so before the tournament
started I issued a challenge. To avenge them abondonong us at Hiruma Castle
and stealing the body of our champion. He accepted and I faced him the first round.

What I didn't knew was that he was a beginner, with a 70/70 deck.
I started with 2 MC and a Yasamura and quickly took out his 4 provinces.
The second game went pretty much the same. He kept clogging his provinces
and with one Sneak Attack/deadly Grounds I destroyed his Army/

All with all, I was not very proud of it, since he was a beginner.
But the incident at Hiruma Castle was avenged!

2nd Round: Honor Phoenix 2-0

This was the closest game I ever played! I started decent and in
mu second turn I attacked with Silence/Frenzy/Confusion at the Court
and took one of his provinces. My second attack was repelled with a Refugees
and he played Ring of Earth. Anyway. I beefed up my Yasamura with
a Die-Tsuchi/Dead Eyes/Journal and attacked, but forgot his Ring of Earth
and didn't use tactician. I didn't took out his province.
On his turn he played Crysanthemum Festival and was back on 4 provinces.
But the next three turns I took out 3 provinces with Yasamura.
His last province was a shrine and he had only 39 honor, so I thought
I would win.....NOT. he pulled out the 12th black scroll and used it,
when I attacked. Province saved, game lost!

3rd Round: Honorable Crab 2-1

The first game went fast, having an Inheritance and taking out his provinces very quick.
But the second game I had a bad start with holdings. I had favor control,
but he played the Crab Sword(6 honor loss) and took one of my provinces.
With me on 3 and him on 2, it was a stalemate. he couldn' attack me, because
I would take his last provinces. We were building forces, but he having the Crab Sword,
he still beat me in force. Much more important, he had favor control and drew 2 cards a turn.
He then attacked me with nine cards in his hand, I blocked and lost.
One thing, he didn't had a Rallying Cry, so I wouldn't have blocked his army.
He bluffed and I congratulated him with an excellent game!

4rd Round: Lion 3-2
This was simple, I got goldscrewed, but managed to postpone defeat.
Second turn he didn't do great and this went on 55 minutes,
so again a draw. One hour is just too short for best of three.

Final score 4-3
One final word....learn to concede in time!!