I wake up to get ready for school when my mom tells me, "You have a two-hour delay, also, happy birthday!" I go back to bed with no intention of going to school that day. I wake up hours later but am now excited for my trip to Connecticut! Before I know it, it’s almost time to go, and friends along with teammates are wishing me luck. Matt (Bigbear), Zack (LonelyBaritone), and Jim (Jim) pick me up and we’re hitting the road.

The Mana Leak Open II

Round One - Matt McNally with Solidarity

Game One:

My opponent lets me know that they know what I'm playing, I jokingly say back, "Yeah, I’m kind of a big deal." — which they did not find nearly as funny as I did. Matt then wins the die roll and our day is underway! Matt plays , "[[Island]], go." I play [[City of Brass]], [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint: [[Tendrils of Agony]]), [[Burning Wish]], and retrieve [[Empty the Warrens]]. Matt plays another [[Island]]. I’m thinking, "Is this mono-blue control?" I draw and cast a [[Brainstorm]] putting two copies of [[Chrome Mox]] on top. I play an [[Undiscovered Paradise]], [[Rite of Flame]] (which is met by [[Remand]]), [[Lotus Petal]], [[Rite of Flame]], off of [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lotus Petal]], and [[Chrome Mox]], and [[Empty the Warrens]] for 16 [[Goblin Token]]s. My opponent draws and concedes.

Sideboarding: -1 [[Diminishing Returns]], -1 [[Cabal Ritual]], + 2 [[Defense Grid]].

Game Two:

On the draw and my opening hand is: [[City of Brass]], [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Burning Wish]], [[Infernal Tutor]], [[Chrome Mox]], and [[Gemstone Mine]]. I draw for the turn and it's [[Xantid Swarm]]! I cast [[Xantid Swarm]] and it resolves. Matt plays, "[[Island]], go." I draw another copy of [[Xantid Swarm]] for turn but it doesn't matter. I attack with [[Xantid Swarm]] then proceed to combo out using multiple [[Ill-Gotten Gains]].

Round Two - Steve Talbot with Goblins

Game One:

I win the die roll. [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Cabal Ritual]], [[Infernal Tutor]], and [[Gemstone Mine]]. I look at my hand in and think, "Force of Will would be bad here... IF MY OPPONENT WAS PLAYING BLUE" However, I sat next to my opponent in the first round and knew they were on Goblins. I then proceeded to not let him have a turn one! [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Cabal Ritual]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], and then [[Infernal Tutor]] for [[Ill-Gotten Gains]] — return [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], and [[Infernal Tutor]]. Cast all of these cards again into a lethal [[Tendrils of Agony]].

Sideboarding: -4 [[Xantid Swarm]], + 3 [[Dark Confidant]], +1 [[Meltdown]]

Game Two:

I keep a hand of [[Brainstorm]], [[Brainstorm]], [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Infernal Tutor]], [[Infernal Tutor]], [[Plunge into Darkness]], and [[Chrome Mox]]. They begin on [[Rishadan Port]] into [[Chalice of the Void]] on zero. OUCH! I Brainstorm into nothing and eventually concede.

Game Three:

I start out with one of my favorite plays. Main-phase [[Brainstorm]]! After my Brainstorm resolves my hand is [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Burning Wish]], [[Infernal Tutor]], and Land. I'm forced to pass the turn, my opponent plays [[Goblin Lackey]] but no [[Chalice of the Void]]. I do the same thing that I did in game one.

Round Three - Alix Hatfield (Obfuscate Freely) with Aluren

Game One:

I honestly don’t remember much about this game, all I have on this is a few words I wrote down. Alix plays a pair of [[Cabal Therapy]] me, I play a [[Xantid Swarm]], and it doesn’t matter he plays [[Aluren]] and goes nuts.

Sideboarding: -3 [[Cabal Ritual]], -3 [[Plunge into Darkness]], +4 [[Dark Confidant]], +2 [[Defense Grid]].

Game Two:

I look at my opening hand [[Chrome Mox]], [[Chrome Mox]], [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Dark Confidant]], [[Burning Wish]], and [[Infernal Tutor]]. Alix Mulligans a few times after he mulliganed for [[Force of Will]]. I begin to think Alix must’ve mulled into [[Force of Will]] again. Then I said, "no guts, no glory!" [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint: [[Dark Confidant]]), [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint: [[Burning Wish]]), [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], and [[Infernal Tutor]] (Sacrificing [[Lion's Eye Diamond]] for ) then casting [[Empty the Warrens]] for 12 [[Goblin Token]]s. Alix concedes shortly after.

Game Three:

I’ve yet to mulligan this tournament and this is Alix's fourth time in three games. The game is dragged out due to a timely drawn [[Force of Will]] on an [[Ill-Gotten Gains]]. We’re both in top-deck mode in the mid-game when Alix draws [[Brainstorm]] into multiple combo pieces including [[Cavern Harpy]].

Round Four - Cody Mannion (Ta Jugs) with Angry Tradewind Survival

Game One:

I win the die roll, mulligan to five, and keep a hand of: [[Brainstorm]], [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Gemstone Mine]], [[City of Brass]], and [[Infernal Tutor]]. I play [[Gemstone Mine]] and [[Brainstorm]] into [[Lion's Eye Diamond]] and two cards that just didn't matter. Turn two [[Ill-Gotten Gains]] loop kill.

Sideboarding: -4 [[Xantid Swarm]], +4 [[Dark Confidant]]

Game Two:

I mulligan again and then I play a first turn [[Dark Confidant]] on the draw. Robert reveals a [[Dark Ritual]] and I draw another for turn. I attack and pass. Cody plays [[Survival of the Fittest]] and then dies on the third turn.

Round Five - Brandon LePage with UGwr Gro

Game One:

I lose the die roll; my opening hand is [[Lotus Petal]], [[Tomb of Urami]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Infernal Tutor]], and a [[Lotus Petal]]. I draw a [[Cabal Ritual]] for turn I play [[Tomb of Urami]] (which raises an eyebrow) and I then play [[Lotus Petal]] into [[Dark Ritual]] which is countered by [[Force of Will]]. I play [[Dark Ritual]] and then [[Cabal Ritual]] and another [[Force of Will]] is cast. I then play [[Lion's Eye Diamond]] — Brandon had a third! A third! [[Force of Will]] and a blue card. Brandon casts an end step [[Brainstorm]] on my next turn. Untaps, draws, and plays [[Werebear]]. I draw a [[Dark Ritual]], pass. I don't recover in enough time.

Sideboarding: -3 [[Cabal Ritual]], -3 [[Plunge into Darkness]], +4 [[Dark Confidant]], +2 [[Defense Grid]].

Game Two:

This game is a little blurry; I play an early [[Xantid Swarm]] followed by a [[Defense Grid]]. The opponent plays [[Meddling Mage]] on Cabal Ritual. I draw into a piece of acceleration and cast [[Diminishing Returns]] getting the absolute nuts and [[Tendrils of Agony]] for lethal.

Game Three:

I mulligan. I play a first turn [[Xantid Swarm]]. It resolves! On the second turn, I swing, and play [[Dark Confidant]]. On the opponent's draw step, they reveal their drawn [[Lightning Bolt]] and then kill [[Dark Confidant]]. I draw a [[Tomb of Urami]] and play it. I attack and then all I have is [[Dark Ritual]], [[Rite of Flame]], and [[Infernal Tutor]] — I’m on the edge of my seat. I make 8 [[Goblin Token]]s and pass fearing [[Pyroclasm]]. Brandon doesn’t have it and passes the turn back. I need any sort of mana acceleration to activate [[Tomb of Urami]]... and I draw a [[Dark Ritual]]! I swing out (including the [[Xantid Swarm]]) putting Brandon to 7 life. I cast [[Dark Ritual]], the opponent attempts to [[Force of Will]] but I point to our favorite insect. I activate [[Tomb of Urami]]. On Brandon's turn, a [[Brainstorm]] is cast and Brandon says, "I need either [[Pyroclasm]] and [[Lightning Bolt]] or [[Pyroclasm]] plus [[Swords to Plowshares]]." Neither happens.

Round Six - (Bruenor) with BHWC Landstill

Top eight - Zach Tartell (LonelyBaritone) with Enchantress

Game One:

I win the roll, play land, and cast [[Brainstorm]]. After [[Brainstorm]] resolves my hand is [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Infernal Tutor]], and [[Burning Wish]]. Needless to say, I win on the second turn.

Sideboarding: -4 [[Xantid Swarm]], +4 [[Dark Confidant]].

Game Two:

Zach plays two lock pieces. I [[Burning Wish]] for [[Tranquility]]. I can’t draw the third land and then Zach plays [[Null Chamber]] naming [[Tranquility]].

Game Three:

I can’t remember anything about this game besides that I win turn two and it involves [[Diminishing Returns]].

Top four - David Price (Quicksilver) with RG Survival Advantage

Game One:

The notes just say, "2x [[Cabal Therapy]] and beatdown."

Sideboarding: -4 [[Xantid Swarm]], +4 [[Dark Confidant]].

Game Two:

I "combo-off" with an early with [[Ill-Gotten Gains]], but beat myself up over a small play-mistake over a [[Cabal Ritual]] not having Threshold.

Game Three:

This is a long one! David disrupts me a lot with multiple [[Cabal Therapy]] and removal for [[Dark Confidant]]s. All I have left is a [[Burning Wish]] and [[Lion's Eye Diamond]]. I need to draw any acceleration to go for the sideboard copy of [[Diminishing Returns]]. Dave tanks but ultimately decides not to Flashback [[Cabal Therapy]]. I draw [[Dark Ritual]] and win from there.

Finals - Kyle Dorgan (Dr. Teeth) with Hulksmash

Game One:

My opening hand is [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Brainstorm]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Rite of Flame]], and [[Empty the Warrens]]. I play [[Rite of Flame]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Brainstorm]], and finally [[Empty the Warrens]]. Kyle plays [[Force of Will]] on a copy and is dead shortly after.

Sideboarding: -3 [[Cabal Ritual]], -3 [[Plunge into Darkness]], +4 [[Dark Confidant]], +2 [[Defense Grid]].

Game Two:

I play turn one [[Xantid Swarm]] he plays [[Force of Will]]. We play land go for awhile, I slowly build up double [[Tendrils of Agony]]. I attempt the feat of the pair of [[Tendrils of Agony]] but Kyle has enough counter magic to stay alive at one life. I draw a [[Burning Wish]], Kyle allows it to resolve but I can't get the mana back up to four before losing to a [[Psychatog]].

Game Three:

My opening hand is [[Gemstone Mine]], [[City of Brass]], [[Xantid Swarm]], [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Infernal Tutor]], and [[Burning Wish]]. My turn one [[Xantid Swarm]] resolves! Kyle doesn't have the removal spell and I win!

Thank you all for reading! Until next time, keep storming!