GPT Seattle at Federal Way, Quarterfinals (Game 3) - Zaiem Beg (BW Tokens) vs. Grant Bolanos (Bant)

Grant beat Zaiem in two in the Swiss, but now in the elimination rounds, one game would decide who would move on to the Semifinals to play Alex West.

They both kept 7 cards and Grant started with Forest into Noble Hierarch. Zaiem made a Windbrisk Heights and passed. For their second turns, Qasali Pridemage came on the board for Grant, and Zaiem made a tap land and passed. A second Pridemage came online on turn 3 and Grant was able to beat for 5. Zaiem played a Mutavault as his third land but still had no plays. Grant beat for 5 again and then made Stoic Angel.

Zaiem played his fourth land and flipped Wrath of God from his hand to wipe the board, tapping his four lands as fast as he could, as fellow Top 8 competitor Paul Waite commented. Grant only played a Birds on his next turn and passed. Zaiem beat for 2 with Mutavault, and then played a Kitchen Finks on his next turn, threatening to turn the game around.

After a turn of nothing, Grant tapped four for Wilt-Leaf Liege and was able to attack for 1 with Birds of Paradise over the top, putting Zaiem at 11. Zaiem played a Glorious Anthem and attacked, to which Grant responded with Path to Exile on the attacking Kitchen Finks. Grant attacked with his Wilt-Leaf Liege and Birds of Paradise, and Zaiem played Terror on Wilt-Leaf Liege to take 0. Grant then played a Rhox War Monk in his second main phase and shipped the turn.

Zaiem asked how many cards Grant had in hand (none), then played Wrath of God and followed up with Kitchen Finks to go back to 13. Grant had no play, and Zaiem attacked for 7 with Finks and Mutavault, putting Grant at 10. He then played a Murderous Redcap to knock Grant to 7. Grant drew his card and played Dauntless Escort, which Zaiem end-step Terrored, and Grant scooped them up.

RESULT: Zaiem wins in 3.