GPT Seattle at Federal Way, Finals - Zaiem Beg (BW Tokens) vs. Kent Ketter (BW Tokens)

Kent won the die roll and started with a Windbrisk Heights and Zaiem started with a tri-land. Kent played a tri-land on his second turn, while Zaiem played a Fetid Heath and a turn 2 Tidehollow Sculler, revealing Spectral Procession, Glorious Anthem, Cloudgoat Ranger, Tidehollow Sculler, and two lands. Glorious Anthem was removed from the game.

Kent played the revealed Tidehollow Sculler, revealing from Zaiem two Cloudgoat Rangers and lands, and obviously took one of the Cloudgoat Rangers. Zaiem played a Windbrisk Heights and shipped the turn. Kent played a Spectral Procession and a Caves of Koilos and passed. Zaiem played a Mutavault and a Glorious Anthem on his next turn and shipped the turn with Arcane Sanctum up. At end step, Kent Path to Exiled Tidehollow Scullers to get back his Glorious Anthem.

Kent untapped and played a fifth land and his newly returned Glorious Anthem and attacked for 9, making the score 11 to 19 in Kent’s favor. In his second main, he flipped Ajani Goldmane from under his Windbrisk Heights and buffed his team to end his turn.

Zaiem played a land and tapped five mana for Cloudgoat Ranger and passed. Kent played his own Cloudgoat Ranger, buffed his team with Ajani, and attacked with his three Spirit tokens and Tidehollow Sculler. “I should probably block,” Zaiem said, and thought about blocks for a while. “Let’s not even pretend I can win this one,” Zaiem said after a few moments and scooped up his cards.

Kent leads 1-0.

Game 2

Zaiem started with two Arcane Sanctums while Kent went Plains, Fetid Heath, Bitterblossom. Zaiem played his Bitterblossom a turn late and missed his third land drop. Kent played a third land but passed with no action. Zaiem found his third land and curved out with Wispmare, destroying Kent’s Bitterblossom. Kent played a fourth land and still passed with no action. Zaiem now had Bitterblossom advantage, and played a Glorious Anthem, to which Kent responded with Zealout Persecution to kill a pair of tokens.

Kent hit his fifth land and as expected played a Cloudgoat Ranger. Zaiem attacked with Wispmare over the top and Kent took 2, then Zaiem played a fourth land and played Wrath of God. Kent played another land and Cloudgoat Ranger and shipped. Zaiem played a fifth land and played a Murderous Redcap, destroying Cloudgoat Ranger thanks to Glorious Anthem. On his next turn Kent attacked with his team of three Kithkin and Zaiem blocked with Murderous Redcap. Kent played Zealous Persecution, and took 2 damage, and the dead Murderous Redcap which traded with a Kithkin in combat killed another Kithkin on the persist. In his second main phase, Kent played a Spectral Procession and shipped the turn.

After going to 11 on his upkeep, Zaiem attacked with a Faerie and Redcap to take Kent to 13, then on his second main phase tapped three for Kitchen Finks (taking a pain) to go to 12, and also playing a Spectral Procession to finish his turn. Kent played an Ajani Goldmane, buffed his team and attacked with three Spirit tokens with two Reflecting Pools open. Two Spirits blocked two tokens, and Kent played Zealous Persecution to win the fight and get in for three damage.

Zaiem went to 8 on his next upkeep, and attacked Ajani with his entire team and killed it, then followed up with a second-main Spectral Procession. Kent attacked with his team of Spirits, which Zaiem blocked with tokens, Zealous Persecution be damned, but successfully traded. Kent played Kitchen Finks to go up to 15 and a Spectral Procession and passed.

Zaiem went to 7 on his next upkeep, and with no cards in Kent’s hand, activated Mutavault and sent in a Spirit, Mutavault, and Redcap to connect for 7, putting Kent at 8. Zaiem played a Windbrisk Heights afterwards and passed the turn. Kent drew his card and shipped the turn. Zaiem went to 6, and went in with all that he could (three Faeries, a Spirit, Kitchen Finks, and Redcap). Kent blocked Finks with Finks, 2 tokens with tokens, and let 6 come through, going to 2, and after Finks persist triggers, the score was 8-4 in Zaiem’s favor. Zaiem played another Spectral Procession and passed the turn. Kent drew his next card and began shuffling up for the third game.

Match tied 1-1.

Game 3

Kent mulliganed his seven, but kept his 6. Zaiem thought about his 7 and kept it. Kent played two Reflecting Pools then a Fetid Heath and a Bitterblossom. Zaiem opening went Reflecting Pool, Windbrisk Heights, Pool, Wispmare on the Bitterblossom. On Kent’s fourth turn, he played a Kitchen Finks and a Fetid Heath.

Zaiem played a fourth land and played Spectral Procession and beat over the top with Wispmare. Kent found a fourth land and played Glorious Anthem and beat with Kitchen Finks for four. Zaiem hit Ajani Vengeant, buffed his team and attacked for 8, putting the score to 16-13 Zaiem. Kent attacked with Kitchen Finks and a token took one for the team, and passed the turn.

Zaiem played a fifth land and played Murderous Redcap targeting Kent’s face for 2, putting him at 11. Ajani was activated and the team took Kent to 2. Kent played a Mutavault and tapped five lands for a Cloudgoat Ranger. He attacked Ajani with Kitchen Finks, killing the planeswalker, but then scooped up his cards with no way to win in hand.

RESULT: Zaiem Beg wins in 3 and earns three byes for Grand Prix: Seattle.