Finals: Jan Ang (1st Seed), Esper Dragons vs. Donovan Babiano (2nd Seed), Hangarback Abzan

Two players remain. One plane ticket to Barcelona and the last slot in the Philippine Team for this year's World Magic Cup at stake, the number one seed Jan Ang and number two seed Donovan 'Dons' Babiano prepare to cast their best spells and be called champion.

Game 1

Both players start with seven cards in hand. Jan opens the game with a Temple of Deceit. Both spend the next turns playing their second lands with no other action. Jan Thoughtseizes a DenProtector from Donovan's hand, then plays a Temple of Enlightenment. An Anafenza, the Foremost comes down for Donovan. By the time it attacked, it was Hero'sDownfalled. A post-combat Siege Rhino drained for three life.

Across the board, Jan summons Dragonlord Ojutai. Donovan on his turn started with an attack with his SiegeRhino, then follows up with a Thoughtseize to take Jan's Hero's Downfall. Jan plays Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver come his turn, and ups his loyalty to exile Anafenza, the Foremost, Fleecemane Lion and another non-creature spell from the top of the Donovan's library. An end of turn Abzan Charm drew Donovan two cards.

Another attack with the Rhino goes unblocked, and another Siege Rhino drains three! With only one land untapped for Donovan, it was an easier risk for Jan to take: to attack Dragonlord Ojutai without hexproof and hope for better cards from the top of his library after its triggered ability resolves. Post-combat, Jan also used Ashiok's second skill to animate Anafenza under his control. Both Dons' rhinos crash onto the red zone, one blocked by Anafenza and the other ready to deal four damage unopposed. Donovan attempts to close the game with a Bile Blight on the Anafenza to push lethal trampling damage, but Jan had a Silumgar's Scorn to spoil that route to victory... until a second Bile Blight resolves. Donovan takes game 1!

Donovan Babiano considering his scry. Photo by Johann Guasch

Game 2

Jan Ang again opts to play first. After seeing another set of great opening hands for the respective players, they decide to keep their first seven.

Jan plays a scry land on his turn. Donovan fires a Thoughtseize, another opportunity for the black sorcery to sculpt the opponent's hand, as it has carved its importance across formats. A Foul-Tongue Invocation goes to the bin. Intent on keeping the disruption route, Donovan casts a Duress the following turn, which met a Silumgar's Scorn.

A third-turn Ashiok immidiately mills three, but misses the creatures from the top of Donovan's library. Anafenza,the Foremost comes down as the first creature on the battlefield. Another '+2' activation from Ashiok exiles a Fleecemane Lion. Back on Donovan's turn, another mind-wrenching Thoughtseize pulls out a Crux of Fate, leaving Dragonlord Ojutai and a land on Jan's hand. An Anafenza attack followed, and a Fleecemane Lion summoning closed Donovan's turn.

Now heavily under fire, Jan put up his defenses by animating Fleecemane Lion exiled by Ashiok and by casting Dragonlord Ojutai, leaving him tapped out of mana. Donovan's attack pumped the Fleecemane lion with Anafenza's triggered ability, and both were left unblocked. Donovan presses his grip on the match with a post-combat Siege Rhino.

Jan draws then attacks with Ojutai, hitting for four and allowing him to look at the top three cards of his library. An Ashiok activation exiles 2 creatures, both Den Protectors. Jan passes the turn. Pre-combat, Jan fires a Foul-Tongue Invocation, gaining him precious life and removing an attacker. Poor Fleecemane lion was sacrificed. Attacking with the other two creatures, the +1/+1 counter from Anafenza was put on the Siege Rhino. The nightmare-woven Fleecemane Lion got on the way of Anafenza and died. A second Rhino came down.

Still looking for answers, Jan attacked again with Dragonlord Ojutai. A follow up Dig Though Time, netted him a Foul-Tongue Invocation. Tapped out of mana and every spell resolved, Jan saw the writing on the wall and promptly scooped his cards. The top two players shook hands as the champion had just been determined! Donovan Babiano completes the 2015 World Magic Cup Philippine Team! Congratulations!

The triumphant Dons Babiano. Photo by Johann Guasch

See the video coverage here!

Jan Ang

6 Creatures
4 Dragonlord Ojutai
2 Silumgar, the Drifting Death

27 Spells
4 Thoughtseize
1 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
1 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
3 Heroes Downfall
2 Bile Blight
2 Foul Tongue Invocation
1 Ultimate Price
4 Silumgar's Scorn
2 Dissolve
2 Crux of Fate
1 Languish
4 Dig Through Time

27 Lands
4 Temple of Deceit
4 Temple of Enlightenment
4 Polluted Delta
1 Flooded Strand
4 Dismal Backwater
2 Haven of the Spirit Dragon
1 Urborg, Town of Yawgmoth
2 Caves of Koilos
3 Island
2 Swamp

15 Sideboard
3 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy / Jace, Telepath Unbound
2 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
2 Foul Tongue Invocation
2 Drown in Sorrow
1 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
1 Dragonlord's Prerogative
1 Languish
1 Perilous Vault
1 Orbs of Warding
1 Dragonlord Silumgar

Donovan Babiano

20 Creatures
4 Fleecemane Lion
4 Hangarback Walker
4 Den Protector
4 Anafenza, the Foremost
4 Siege Rhino

15 Spells
2 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
3 Thoughtseize
4 Dromoka's Command
2 Bile Blight
1 Ultimate Price
3 Abzan Charm

25 Lands
4 Sandsteppe Citadel
4 Windswept Heath
2 Forests
2 Plains
1 Urborg, Town of Yawgmoth
3 Llnowar Waste
3 Caves of Koilos
3 Temple of Malady
3 Temple of Silence

15 Sideboard
3 Self-Inflicted Wound
1 Ultimate Price
1 Bile Blight
1 Hero's Downfall
1 Thoughtseize
2 Duress
1 Ajani, Mentor of Heroes
1 Herald of Torment
1 Feed the Clan
1 Drown in Sorrow
1 Gather Courage
1 Evolutionary Leap

Quarter-Finals Feature Match Between Jan Vincent Tan (3rd Seed) Using Jeskai Tempo Versus Reynerio M. Estacio Jr. (6th seed) Piloting Hangarback Abzan

Both players, Jan Vincent Tan and Reynerio 'Rey' M. Estacio Jr., sounded very familiar with each other, trading pleasantries while shuffling up, with Mr. Tan even writing a shout-out mentioning "CHAGI last na! Hehehe" ("CHAGGI this is the last! Hehehe"). Though it seemed both were relaxed at that point, the following seconds immediately turned serious magic business as they started the first game of their quarter-final match.

Jan Vincent, who was of higher seed (3rd), had the choice of either to play or draw on the opening turn, and opted to play first.

Game 1

Both players shuffled up. Both Keep.

First action goes to Jan, who summons Jace, Vryn's Prodigy to his side. On Rey's turn, he answers with a Fleecemane Lion, Jan untaps with Jace alive, loots, then casts Lightning Strike on the Fleecemane Lion. On Rey's turn, he plays a swamp for his third land and simply casts Hangarback Walker for 1, though we all know there's nothing simple about the new metagame-defining card.

For his fourth turn, Jan plays his fourth land, casts a Soulfire Grandmaster then casts a Lightning Strike on the Hangarback Walker. He gains 3 life in the process. Adding up fetchland and painland activations, they land at 20-19 in favor of Jan. The following turn, Rey missed his crucial fourth land and simply swings in with his token.

Mr. Tan asks how many the cards in Rey's hand were, gets an answer of "6", then loots with Jace. Rey responds with a Dromoka's Command, choosing to put a +1/+1 counter on his Thopter, and to fight and kill Jace, Vryn's Prodigy. He then casts a Mantis Rider, and together with the grandmaster, attacks for 5 damage, two of which are lifelinking, making the scores 20-13.

Although getting his much needed fourth land in play, it entered the battlefield tapped, albeit giving Rey a peek at the top of his library. He casts a Dromoka's Command and chooses to put another +1/+1 counter on the Thopter, making it 3/3, for it to fight the opposing Soulfire Grandmaster. The grandmaster falls, but not until it gains Jan another 2 life from fighting the bigger thopter.

As a retaliation, Jan summons another Jace, Vryn's Prodigy. Rey swoops with his 3/3 Thopter token, and post-combat finally gets to summon his Siege Rhino, making the scores closer at 16-14, though still in favor of Jan.

His opponent tapped out, Jan uses his Jace and loots, flips him into Jace, Telepath Unbound, Digs Though Time and adds 2 more cards in hand, making it 4. He then proceeds to play a scry-land, scrying the card to the bottom. Jan follows to activate Jace, Telepath Unbound's '-3' ability, recasts the lightning strike from his graveyard on the 3/3 Thopter token of Rey which flavorfully gets electrocuted. Not done yet, Jan attacks with Mantis Rider unblocked. Big. Turn. 

Rey managed to Abzan Charm the Mantis Rider to exile, then attacks with his Siege Rhino, steering its horned snout to Jan, evening their life totals to 10 apiece.

Jan makes use of the Telepath, Unbound's +1 ability on Rhino, shrinking it to 2/5; casts a Stormbreath Dragon and hastily attacked Rey to 6. Rey attacks Jace, Telepath Unbound to 1 loyalty, then removes the Stormbreath Dragon via Hero's Downfall.

Jace shrinks the Siege Rhino again for a turn, Jan slams a Goblin Rabblemaster, then attacks with its Goblin Token unblocked. Things were immediately getting urgent, however, Rey considers what options he had, and settled for a 2/2 Hangarback Walker.

Upon getting back his turn, Jan plays his sixth land, activates Jace's '+1' to give Hangarback -2/-0, then taps six mana for Elspeth, Sun's Champion, immediately using its '-3' ability to destroy the elephant, er, Rhino in the room! Jan enters combat step, Goblin Rabblemaster creates 1 more goblin, attacks with both tokens, one gets blocked by the 0/2 hangarback walker, the other pinching Rey to 4.

At this point, Rey plays Sandsteppe Citadel with Dromoka's Command, Fleecemane Lion, Sorin, Solemn Visitor, and Abzan Charm in hand. He calls Sorin to his aid, activating its +1 ability, then passes the turn. Was it too late?

Jan untaps, uses +1 ability of Jace on Hangarback Walker, casts Mantis Rider, creates 3 soldiers from Elspeth, attacks with the bunch and takes game 1.

The jovial Rey Estacio, Jr. Photo by Johann Guasch

Between games, Rey said through friendly banter that he contemplated attacking the Jace, Telepath Unbound, to which Jan replied "[my opponents] tend to neglect that card"...

Game 2

Both players were again blessed with 'keeps' of seven cards each. 

Rey opted to play first, plays a Sandsteppe Citadel. Jan: Mystic Monestary, go. Rey: Hangarback Walker for 1, go. Jan: Hangarback Walker for 1, go.

Willing to take the lead, Rey Dromoka's Command's a +1/+1 counter on his Hangarback Walker, fighting the opposing one, effectively killing it, though leaving a Thopter token for Jan. Rey attacks, unblocked,  then Thoughtseizes, making Jan discard another copy of Hangarback Walker from his hand. Rey lists the remaining cards: 2x Mantis Rider, Ojutai's Command, Goblin Rabblemaster, and Jeskai Charm.

Jan plays Shivan Reef, taps Shivan Reef and Battlefield Forge for colored mana, making the life counts 16-17 in favor of Rey, casts Jeskai Charm on Hangarback Walker, sending it to the top of Rey's library. Jan then attacks with his Thopter token to even the life count to 16.

Rey replays Hangarback Walker for 1, missing a land. Jan taps for Mantis Rider mana, painfully so, but gets to attack unblocked with his thopter. Rey falls to 12.

Poor Rey simply drew and passes the turn with no fourth land to play. Jan untaps, draws and immediately attacks again, bringing the scores to 14-8 in favor of him. Rey responds to Jan's end step: Hangarback Walker activation (+1/+1 counter), making it 2/2.

Although late once more, Rey finally draws a fourth land, plays it, then summons his siege rhino draining him back to 10. Jan untaps, plays another Shivan Reef, attacks with both his creatures making the scores 11-6.

Rey has Ultimate Price, Wingmate Roc and Hero's Downfall and a scry-land in hand. He plays the scry-land, leaves the card on top. Rey attacks with rhino. It was left unblocked. Jan goes to 7. 

Jan fetches, uses painland mana, then casts a second Mantis Rider, leaving two mana open. Smelling blood, Jan attacks with everybody. Rey activates Hangarback Walker's ability; attempts to destroy his Hangarback Walker with Hero's Downfall and hopes spawn 3 thopters to survive. Jan shows him Negate.

Jan Vincent Tan. Photo by Johann Guasch

Jan Vincent Tan takes the Feature Match and moves on to the Semi-Finals!

 

Jan Vincent Tan

16    Creatures
3    Soulfire Grandmaster
3    Jace, Vryn's Prodigy / Jace, Telepath Unbound
2    Hangarback Walker
2    Stormbreath Dragon
4    Mantis Rider
2    Goblin Rabblemaster
  
19    Spells
3    Lightning Strike
2    Stoke the Flames
2    Wildslash
1    Magma Spray
3    Ojutai's Command
2    Valorous Stance
1    Tragic Arrogance
1    Jeskai Charm
1    Disdainful Stroke
2    Dig Through Time
1    Elspeth, Sun's Champion
  
25    Lands
4    Mystic Monastery
4    Flooded Strand
3    Shivan Reef
3    Battlefield Forge
3    Temple of Triumph
3    Temple of Epiphany
2    Island
2    Plains
1     Mountain
  
15    Sideboard
2    Anger of the Gods
2    Arashin Cleric
2    Outpost Siege
1    Negate
1    Disdainful Stroke
1    Stratus Dancer
1    Roast
1    Valorous Stance
1    Tragic Arrogance
1    Glare of Heresy
1    Hangarback Walker
1    Revoke Existence

Rey Estacio

21    Creatures
4    Siege Rhino
4    Anafenza, The Foremost
4    Hangarback Walker
2    Wingmate Roc
3    Den Protector
4    Fleecemane Lion
  
13    Spells
2    Ultimate Price
2    Sorin, Solemn Visitor
4    Dromoka's Command
2    Heroes Downfall
3    Abzan Charm

26    Lands
4    Sandsteppe Citadel
4    Windswept Heath
3    Temple of Malady
3    Temple of Silence
3    Llanowar Waste
2    Caves of Koilos
2    Plains
2    Forests
1    Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1    Temple of Plenty
1    Swamp
  
15    Sideboard
3    Thoughtseize
2    Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2    Duress
2    Infinite Obliteration
2    Self Inflicted Wound
1    Ultimate Price
1    Evolutionary Leap
1    Feed the Clan
1    Arashin Cleric