It's PC time again, and that means it's PC preview time again! Quite a bit has happened since PC Amsterdam spread its Modern Age wings and left us with the first of many Marvel Modern Age PCQ seasons. These are the players to keep an eye on over the next few days, starting with the Top 20 players in the world and ending, as always, with my fearless predictions about who will be left standing on Day 3 to hoist the PC trophy!

 

 

1) Rob Leander

1st in Constructed, 50th in Sealed Pack

24th at PC Indy

Winner, $10K Wizard World Texas

14th at PC So Cal

Winner, $10K New Jersey

Top 8, $10K Columbus

 

Rumor has it that Rob will be in New York and that he's hungry for blood. Rob is the best player in the world, period. The man hasn't played a tournament since $10K Orlando back in February, yet he still holds the number one spot in the world in Constructed and has only dropped twenty places in Sealed (from 30th place to 50th). Players like me miss a week with a head cold and lose 400 spots. Players like Rob could take a year off and nobody could touch them.

 

The simple fact is that, barring a disaster, all Rob has to do is show up to a tournament to do well—anything less than a Top 10 finish is disappointing. Golden Age is his baby, and you can bet he's been studying the format and testing like mad. He's number one for a reason.

 

 

2) Kristian Kockott

2nd in Constructed

9th at $10K Wien

73rd at PC So Cal

3rd at PC Amsterdam

Winner, $10K Paris

 

American players have long been arrogant when faced with foreign opposition. The Brits had a tough road to haul proving that they were valiant opposition. The Aussies, arguably the best drafters in the world, had a hard time proving themselves as tough opponents. Even then, the European face of Vs. was generally an English one, leaving the rest of the continent out in the cold.

 

Enter the Germans and Austrians.

 

First, it was Hans Höh and his incredible streak of Top 8 performances at $10K events. Then Andre Müller started to break the $10K machine, as well. But it was in Amsterdam that the Germans and Austrians hit in full force. It was their first major showing since $10K Hannover and they proved that when you put the PC in their back yard, you have to get through them to win.

 

Kristian Kockott led the charge. His third place finish at the PC was the highest of any European and finally put Europe on the PC map.

 

Kockott is a wild card. His win at $10K Paris proved that he's no one trick pony, but whether or not he can take it to the next level and Top 8 in a second straight PC remains to be seen. He may be an outside shot, but one doesn't rise to number two in the world without some pop to back up the rep. Don't count him out.

 

3) Roy St. Clair

3rd in Constructed

12th at $10K Columbus

2nd at $10K New Jersey

 

Almost a year separates Roy's Top 20 placements in $10K events and he's never played in a PC. However, he's won enough money in this game to be considered a threat—you don't place Top 20 in two separate $10K tournaments without knowing what you're doing. Roy is a known factor in other games, so we know he knows how to play. Whether or not he shows up is another story.

 

4) Jason Hoang

4th in Constructed

 

What can be said about Jason Hoang? Not much, actually. He's played in a ton of PCQs, but the only major tournament he played in was an absolute bomb. Yet, through PCQs and local tournaments, he crawled and clawed his way to fourth in the world. New York is his backyard, which may be enticing for him. He's qualified, so we'll see if he shows up to play and how he'll handle a different level of competition.

 

5) Milton Figueroa

5th in Constructed, 59th in Sealed Pack

122nd at PC Indy

18th at PC So Cal

Top 4 at $10K Orlando

14th at PC Amsterdam

 

John “Bam Bam” Rich named him as a Top 5 contender in Amsterdam. I raised an eyebrow in disbelief. Milton finished 14th. Here's me swallowing my doubt.

 

Let's look at the facts, shall we? He's finished in the Top 20 at two straight PCs. He has one of the highest combined ratings of all players (32). He made Top 4 at a $10K tournament. Without a doubt, Figueroa is someone to watch—he just might make that leap from contender to finalist.

 

6) Alex Tennet

6th in Constructed

20th at PC Indy

119th at PC So Cal

Winner of $10K So Cal

Top 8 at $10K Columbus

53rd at PC Amsterdam

 

Alex has let his Sealed Pack ranking slip a little, but his Constructed rating has climbed four spots to sixth in the world. He's pretty much a lock for Day 2; the question is whether or not he can hold on in the Draft portion. His performance at Amsterdam was an improvement over a dismal showing at So Cal, but far off the pace from PC Indy. Columbus showed that he can perform in the Golden Age environment. Now we'll see if he can pull through a tough draft and into the Top 8.

 

7) Michael Dalton

7th in Constructed, 22nd in Sealed Pack

2nd at $10K So Cal

2nd at PC Amsterdam

 

Dalton's Constructed rating recently climbed ten spots to seventh in the world. His Sealed Pack rating vastly improved, thanks to some solid drafting at Amsterdam, to 22nd in the world. He has the second-highest combined rating in the world (14.5) behind only Dean Sohnle (11).

 

Just about everyone I spoke to over the past couple of weeks has put Dalton on their Top 10 lists. If I were a bookie, I'd make him the odds-on favorite, and you'd be a fool not to put your money on him. Out of all of my picks for Top 8 in Amsterdam, he was the only one to pull through. If he doesn't make Day 3, I'll be the first to feel the shockwaves as the world changes its axis in mid-rotation. He's that good.

 

Oh, and he's a really nice guy. Dalton for president? Why not? And a PC trophy to go with it!

 

8) Dave Spears

8th in Constructed

165th at PC Indy

Top 4 at DragonCon $10K

2nd at $10K Wizard World Texas

46th at PC So Cal

13th at $10K Columbus

Top 4 at $10K Chicago

64th at PC Amsterdam

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again—nobody works harder than Dave does and nobody is harder on himself. Dave knows he is one of the best but he'll never admit it. He's just too humble, even though he's been amongst the Top 10 in the world in Constructed for as long as I can remember.

 

The problem is that Dave isn't a patient enough drafter. He needs to brush up those skills or he just won't make it to Day 3. He can do it, but whether he will or not, I can't say. But he's due and he deserves it. He's hungry for a Top 8, and anyone who dares to underestimate him will be no more than another fish in the barrel that Dave is gunning for.

 

9) Hans Joachim Höh

9th in Constructed

54th at PC So Cal

Winner, $10K Hannover

Winner, $10K Bologna

Top 4 at $10K London

220th at PC Amsterdam

Top 8 at $10K Amsterdam

Top 8 at $10K Paris

 

He was a favorite at PC Amsterdam but bombed out early. He then turned around and nearly won the $10K over the next two days. I'm not sure what the bigger weakness is for him—Sealed Pack play or Modern Age. But he's one of the best Sentinels players in the world, if not the best, so one of three things will likely happen. 1) He dominates on Day 1, then bombs out in the Draft. 2) He dominates on Day 1 and squeaks through on a decent Draft. 3) He shocks everyone with an unforeseen non-Sentinels deck and pulls off a tournament win.

 

To be honest, Höh is a threat no matter the format, and as long as he's done some major drafting to work on his Sealed Pack game, he should crack the Top 8.

 

10) Paul Rennie

10th in Constructed

12th at $10K New Jersey

 

He only played in one $10K and finished 12th. Not too shabby, but it's not really enough to judge him on. What it says is that he's a strong player who, when push comes to shove, doesn't cave under pressure.

 

It's not know whether he'll even be at the PC (although I find it likely), but we'll have to wait and see whether or not he can handle the competition if he does show up.

 

 

I asked UDE Netrep and judge Tay Howland to give me his Top 5 list of PC players most likely to make Day 3. These are his picks

 

1) Vidianto Wijaya

2) Gabe Walls

3) The unknown factor (an unforeseen deck or player)

4) A member of Team TOGIT

5) Rob Leander (whom Tay assures me will show up . . . )

 

 

 

1) Vidianto Wijaya

30th in Constructed, 1st in Sealed Pack

4th at PC So Cal

Top 8 at $10K Las Vegas

Top 8 at $10K Los Angeles

Top 4 at $10K Seattle

Top 8 at $10K Detroit

 

Vidi Wijaya suddenly appeared on the scene at So Cal, coming from nowhere to make Top 4. A So Cal native, he was quickly scooped up by Team Realmworx (who will soon have every player in this game on their team at the rate they're going) and proceeded to Top 8 in every darn $10K he played in!

 

He has quickly risen in the rankings to become the number one Sealed Pack player in the world, and his Constructed rating isn't far behind. He was the only Realmworx player to make the Top 8 in Detroit a couple of weeks ago. Vidi is a force to be reckoned with, and it doesn't look like he's going to slow down for NY. He's on almost everyone's Top 8 prediction lists, and only an absolute disaster will keep him from making the Top 8 at this tournament.

 

2) Ryan Jones

46th in Constructed, 2nd in Sealed Pack

111th at PC Indy

Winner, PC So Cal

Top 8 at $10K Los Angeles

169th at PC Amsterdam

 

What in the world happened to Ryan Jones? He self-destructed at Amsterdam and bombed out of Detroit, and his Constructed rating plummeted from fourth in the world to 46th. He even lost his Sealed Pack supremacy to teammate Wijaya and now sits in second.

 

Ryan doesn't have anything to prove. He comes from a very successful background in Lord of the Rings and was the second of three crowned Vs. System Pro Circuit Champions. But it seems as though he'll need to bring his best game to NY if he wants to break the slump he's in, or people are likely to forget his past endeavors and leave the name “Ryan Jones” on Memory Lane.

 

3) Matthew Tatar

81st in Constructed, 3rd in Sealed Pack

114th at PC Indy

10th at PC So Cal

19th at PC Amsterdam

 

The name of Matthew Tatar popped up while I was discussing the PC and likely candidates for the trophy with Tim Willoughby. Tatar hasn't played in many Constructed tournaments, and I must admit that I hadn't thought of him as a huge threat. However, when I was researching his Vs. background, I noticed that his rating was astronomical and that he'd made the Top 20 in the last two PCs. Talk about flying under the radar! Tatar is not only a threat, he's a monster, and he looks like a solid candidate to break the Top 10!

 

4) Adam Horvath

93rd in Constructed, 4th in Sealed Pack

13th at PC So Cal

Winner, PC Amsterdam

 

Adam Horvath is bit of a mystery man. The quiet member of Team TOGIT, he seemed to come out of nowhere to take PC Amsterdam . . . except that he had previously come within an inch of making Day 3 at PC So Cal. That, however, was barely noticed as Antonino De Rosa and Eugene Harvey took the TOGIT accolades.

 

Horvath is still a bit of a mystery, but history has a habit of repeating itself, so seeing him on top of the leader board come Day 3 should not be a surprise to anyone. The question is whether or not we will see our first repeat champion on the horizon. He'll have to plow through a large field, likely the largest we've yet seen. But testing with a team as strong as TOGIT, he's bound to find a way.

 

5) Niles Rowland

337th in Constructed, 5th in Sealed Pack

Top 8 at San Diego Comic Con $10K

45th at PC Indy

165th at PC So Cal

11th at $10K So Cal

21st at PC Amsterdam

 

Rowland is a tough one to rank because he's all over the place when it comes to his professional performances. His PC performances have been rather impressive except for So Cal, and then he came back with a strong performance at the $10K. The question is whether or not his Constructed skills will place him high enough on Day 1 to make it to Day 3. His $10K performances show that he has the potential, but quite a few months separated San Diego from So Cal. Still, 21st at PC Amsterdam is rather impressive, so it's a crapshoot to see whether he can build on that or whether this will be a repeat of his So Cal performance.

 

6) Dean Sohnle

16th in Constructed, 6th in Sealed Pack

Winner, $10K London

117th at PC Amsterdam

Winner, $10K Amsterdam

2nd at $10K Paris

 

Unfortunately for the PC, I'm told that Dean will be traveling this month and is unlikely to be at the event. I say unfortunately because Dean is one of the brightest and most exciting players on the Circuit. His potential opponents may breathe a sigh of relief, however, as having to face Dean in a major event can be a nerve-wracking experience.

 

On the flipside, His one PC experience seemed to be the same as many other Europeans at Amsterdam —a quick exit from the PC with a turnaround smash at the $10K. In Dean's case, a win at the $10K. Still, the reason is very different. Most of the Europeans seem to have problems drafting at the PCs but fare brilliantly in the Constructed portion. Not Dean, as he's one of the strongest drafters in the game and has the highest combined rating (11) of anyone on the Circuit.

 

So, Dean is a bit of a conundrum and his performance at PC Amsterdam seems out of character for him. He's a wildcard because he may not show up, but if he does show, he'll be a force to be reckoned with.

 

7) Dair Grant

256th in Constructed, 7th in Sealed Pack

121st at PC So Cal

7th at $10K Columbus

111th at PC Amsterdam

 

Who is Dair Grant? It's hard to say, as his record is really quite average. He has one $10K Top 8, which is certainly impressive, and a ranking in Constructed high enough to make him competitive. But when it comes to the Big Show, there doesn't seem to be enough pep in him.

 

Still, you can't count out someone who is obviously a strong player. I have a feeling that he may fly under the radar and surprise us with a strong showing in New York. How strong will depend on him.

 

8) Michael Walewski

8th in Sealed Pack

219th at PC Indy

 

Michael Walewski is truly a Sealed Pack specialist. He's only played in three Constructed tournaments and they were all somewhat disastrous (as seen in his one foray into PC territory). Since he hasn't played in a major event since Indy, it's not likely we'll see him at NY, and if he does show up, he'll be a non-factor unless he can somehow squeeze himself into Day 2 where his drafting skills can really shine.

 

9) Antonino De Rosa

375th in Constructed, 9th in Sealed Pack

170th at PC Indy

3rd at PC So Cal

Top 8 at $10K Orlando

202nd at PC Amsterdam

 

In an article De Rosa wrote on the StarCityGames website, he says, “Some of you know me as a big buffoon, and others know me as a true master. I am not really sure which opinion is more accurate, and I guess I will let you guys be the judge of that.”

 

Don't be fooled. De Rosa knows exactly what he is, and buffoon it is not. Sure, he may act the clown (which is probably why he and Gary Wise get along so well), but that's just his personality at work. Underneath it all is one of the sharpest, hardest-thinking minds in the game who can tear you apart mercilessly at the table and be your best friend when it's over.

 

De Rosa has quickly established himself as one of the best players around and is a threat in any tournament he enters. I have a feeling that Gary Wise was onto something after Day 1 in So Cal when he told me to “watch out for that one.” The only person who can stop Antonino is Antonino.

 

10) Matthew Baldwin

10th in Sealed Pack

210th at PC So Cal

 

De Rosa is a hard act to follow, and unfortunately, Baldwin just doesn't cut it. He's more Michael Walewski than Antonino De Rosa. It's hard to say whether or not he'll show up for PC NY and whether or not, like Walewski, he can squeak by on Day 1 and into the Draft portion where his skills can be put to work.

 

 

 

Straight from the mouth of the former PC Champion, Ryan Jones gives us his top picks for the weekend. It took him a little while to come up with five, as he claims that drafting is essential and one has to consider being skillful at it a necessity when deciphering a potential Top 8.

 

1) Ryan Jones (and self-confidence is important too, apparently!)

2) Vidi Wijaya

3) Adam Prosak

4) Patrick Yapjoco

5) Michael Dalton (“Why not throw a bone to Dalton? Not sure on his drafting, but he's solid!”)

 

 

1) Gabe Walls

209th in Constructed, 29th in Sealed Pack

3rd at $10K Origins

6th at PC Indy

Winner, $10K Columbus

17th at PC So Cal

244th at PC Amsterdam

 

2) Nick Little

58th in Constructed, 25th in Sealed Pack

4th at PC Indy

27th at PC So Cal

22nd at PC Amsterdam

 

The team is at it again, and Gabe Walls, Nick Little, and Neil Reeves are holed up and testing for the PC. After a disappointing performance at Amsterdam, where only Little managed to take home a payday, they're looking for a major improvement now that the format has settled back to Golden Age. The irony is that Gabe Walls was always a favorite going into any major event, but his rating has plummeted severely since Amsterdam from 12th in Constructed and 13th in Sealed Pack to 209th and 29th respectively. Meanwhile, Little has jumped almost twenty spots in Constructed from 74th to 58th and seventeen spots in Sealed Pack from 42nd to 25th. Now, Walls will have to climb back into the limelight, whereas Little is an early favorite.

 

Gabe Walls mentioned to me that they hadn't really played Marvel Knights enough and that hurt them in Amsterdam. On the other hand, I don't think that they like the Marvel Knights set much, as they feel that it won't have much of an impact on PC NY (with the exception of Mikado and Mosha and Hounds of Ahab).

 

Gabe expects Sentinels to be at the top throughout the tournament, perhaps dominating the Top 8. Of course, that may just be talk and they may surprise us by playing an X-Statix/Crime Lords deck . . . one never knows when these boys hit the tables. Still, whatever they play will be exciting, as they're top players in any game they play and another trophy on their mantle should not surprise anybody.

 

 

 

I asked Gabe Walls for his Top 5 picks for NY, aside from himself, Neil Reeves, and Nick Little, of course. These are the Top 5 from Middlepair No Stick.

 

1) Antonino De Rosa
2) Hans Joachim Höh

3) Adam Horvath

4) John Rich

5) Adam Prosak

 

 

 

Though a handful of the Realmers stayed at home for Amsterdam, they'll be back in full force and looking for glory after the Realmworx swarm all but fizzled out in Detroit. With Vidi Wijaya leading the fray, Dave Spears and Ryan Jones as faithful foot soldiers marching behind in step, and Rob Leander bearing the Realmworx flag as he looks to win the “comeback of the year” award, VsRealms is in a strong position. Here are a few other team members to look for, as well.

 

1) Patrick Yapjoco

11th in Constructed, 299th in Sealed Pack

23rd at PC Indy

53rd at PC So Cal

Top 8 at $10K Los Angeles

2nd at $10K Seattle

 

2) John Rich

22nd in Constructed, 105th in Sealed Pack

133rd at PC Indy

41st at PC So Cal

Top 8 at $10K New Jersey

9th at $10K Las Vegas

Top 8 at $10K Columbus

71st at PC Amsterdam

9th at $10K Detroit

 

3) Carl Perlas

266th in Constructed

2nd at $10K Origins

90th at PC Indy

126th at PC So Cal

10th at $10K So Cal

112th at PC Amsterdam

17th at $10K Seattle

 

John Rich is particularly hungry—he keeps hitting ninth place or losing in the Top 8 quarterfinals. He wants this win badly, and I have a feeling that his intimidating glare alone might win a few games for him. Patrick is also due. He didn't make the trip to Amsterdam, but still managed a couple of Top 8 performances over the last few months.

 

As well, we can't count out Carl Perlas. He is always a threat, and since he will probably not make the trip to Indianapolis, this will be a chance for him to put his name down as a contender for when he returns around PC So Cal.

 

Finally, Rian Fike may not show, but if he does, he's a guaranteed contender. Billy Zonos, who couldn't make it to Detroit, is also always fighting in contention.

 

 

 

Once again, Carl puts forth his Top 5 picks. As a bonus, he offers the three best Vs. pickup lines:

 

Is that an Overload in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

So, what deck are you playing? Sentinels, Sentinels, or Sentinels?

When all else fails, just play S/N/O . . .

 

And his Top 5:

 

1) Mike Dalton

2) Adam Prosak

3) Vidi Wijaya

4) Antonino De Rosa

5) Me

 

 

1) Andre Müller

124th in Constructed

184th at  PC So Cal

5th at $10K Hannover

235th at PC Amsterdam

9th at $10K Amsterdam

6th at $10K Paris

 

2) Richard Edbury

13th in Constructed

Winner, $10K Minehead, Gen Con UK

3rd at $10K Wein

Top 4 at $10K Austria

2nd at $10K London

134th at PC Amsterdam

2nd at $10K Amsterdam

 

3) Stuart Wright

40th in Constructed, 159th in Sealed Pack

10th at Gen Con UK $10K

5th at PC Amsterdam

 

Unfortunately, this may be a waste of space, as Rich Edbury and Stuart Wright will most likely not be at PC NY.

 

Still, as Tim Willoughby said to me, “If you are looking for other really good Europeans,then Andre Müller is a good choice ashe is definitely strong in Constructedand will likely be there.” Three $10K Top 10 finishes is certainly a strong showing, though he is made a dark horse by his prior record on the PC level.

 

Müller aside, Hans Höh and Kristian Kockott will hopefully be there, meaning that it's up to Germany and Austria to make up for England's backing down from the Western Conflict. I have all sorts of war analogies and quips to toss in here, but before allowing my mouth to get me into trouble, I'll just move on to . . .

 

 

 

Tim Willoughby is not playing in this tournament, having defected to the Metagame.com collective, but he did come out of hiding long enough to provide me with a Top 5.

 

1) Mike Dalton

2) Matthew Tatar

3) Scott Hunstad (Or, as he put it, “Big Australian guywhose name escapes me . . . came fourth in 'Dam,” before I filled in the blanks.)

4) Vidi Wijaya

5) Eugene Harvey

Like Ryan Jones, Tim also said, “I think that the defining factor will be skills in Sealed Pack (as always), so I'm going with Mike Dalton and Matthew Tatar, as well as the big Australian guywhose name escapes me. . . came fourth in 'Dam.” (“Scott Hunstad?” I suggested.) “There we go! I think that Vidi will [also] likely do well, and . . . I'm struggling here because there really aren't very many Europeans going. I feel like I need to pick someone from TOGIT, just because it would be wrong not to. I'm going to go with Eugene Harvey, just because he will definitely be there and is definitely really good.”

 

Not a bad group of choices; all but Tatar have made the Top 8 at a PC, and Tatar did make Top 10 at So Cal.

 

I asked Tim about his European comment, and he said, “Well, basically there aren't any English there.Dean's traveling to the best of my knowledge, [and] I don't think that includes NY. Stuart was hemming and hawing about it,and I don't think he's going. Richard [Edbury] isn't. I know . . . I'm going to be the token funny accent. [Hans Höh] will [be there], but I have no idea how good he is at Draft. He is definitely the best Sentinels player in the world, but I'm not quite sure how useful that is.” Höh seems to self-destruct in Draft, which is probably why he placed 220th in Amsterdam but then made Top 8 the next day at the $10K. And, as Tim fervently states, “Constructed is not where the battles will occur in NY. It is secretly a Draft PC with a Constructed Top 8!”

 

 

Ryan Dare

11th in Sealed Pack

 

Scott Smith

370th in Constructed , 13th in Sealed Pack

5th at $10K Aukland, Sealed Pack

20th at PC So Cal

 

Scott Hunstad

75th in Constructed, 45th in Sealed Pack

76th at PC So Cal

4th at PC Amsterdam

 

There's only an outside chance of Ryan Dare being there, so that leaves the twin Scotts, Hunstad and Smith, to lead the Australian contingent deep into Yankee territory in attempt to emerge with the championship trophy.

 

Hunstad certainly proved his worth in Amsterdam after emerging with a Top 4 finish, and Smith's drafting got him a 20th place finish at So Cal. While the Aussies don't get the respect they deserve, we may well see one or both of them fighting it out on Day 3.

 

 

 

David Fielder

208th in Constructed, 33rd in Sealed Pack

70th at PC Indy

7th at PC So Cal

206th at PC Amsterdam

 

With Dean Sohnle (He's Canadian! Stop Arguing!) most likely skipping PC NY, it's up to David Fielder to carry the Canadian torch. His rankings have fallen a bit after a poor showing at Amsterdam and a decision to skip a couple of tournaments (like Detroit, where he judged instead of playing). He's ripped for a comeback, however, and looking for a repetition of his Top 8 So Cal performance.

 

 

 

1) Marc Éric Gauthier

161st in Constructed, 338th in Sealed Pack

120th at PC Indy

55th at PC So Cal

 

2) J.F. Grondin

223rd in Constructed

168th at PC Indy

6th at $10K Indy

 

3) Dave Pruneau

260th in Constructed

 

Quebec has a strong Vs. history, and a couple of Quebecers have made the Top 8 at $10K events.

 

This is a shout out specifically because I play with these fine players at every PCQ in Montreal and some in Ottawa and I know what they're capable of. Marc is a long-time Magic player and Dave has had some Yu-Gi-Oh! success. J. F. already made his mark on Vs. at $10K Indy. Marc's 55th place finish at PC So Cal was also pretty solid, and all three are good bets to be in contention on Day 2.

 

 

 

They call themselves The Only Game in Town and they're backed by Antonino De Rosa and Adam Horvath. Other players include Osyp Lebedowicz and Craig Krempals, as well as this man

 

Eugene Harvey

114th in Constructed, 205th in Sealed Pack

5th PC So Cal

20th PC Amsterdam

 

Everyone had been looking at Harvey to be the first TOGIT player to take a PC until Adam Horvath won Amsterdam. Eugene certainly has come pretty darn close, and with De Rosa and Horvath to help sharpen his Draft skills, we have a trio of finely tuned Vs. machines. Throw in Lebedowicz and Krempals, and a team that has long stood out in the Magic world has a shot at truly dominating the Vs. world, too. It's only a matter of time, and I foresee Harvey leading the surge.

 

 

 

1) Theresa Van Gundy

19th in Constructed

101st at PC So Cal

 

2) Meaghan Hoffman

142nd in Constructed, 312th in Sealed Pack

41st at PC Indy

270th at PC So Cal

5th at $10K So Cal

 

3) Kim Caton

253rd in Constructed, 55th in Sealed Pack

15th at $10K Columbus

42nd at PC Amsterdam

 

When I said to keep an eye on Kim Caton at Amsterdam, I was right on the money, and her 42nd place finish was definitely a strong performance. She's definitely high on the list to make Top 20 or better.

 

Van Gundy couldn't make Amsterdam and isn't a lock on New York, either. If she does make the trip, however, she's a solid choice to be in the dogfight for top spot on Day 2.

 

Meaghan Hoffman should be able to make the trip to New York, and even though she's slipped a touch in the rankings, she is a force on the tour.

 

If all three are playing, look for their names on Day 2 and don't say, “I told ya so” if we see a woman reaching for the trophy in the near future.

 

Here are the rest of the players you need to keep an eye on in New York. All of them are likely to be near the top of the leader board going into the final rounds.

 

1) Josh Wiitanen

13th in Constructed, 99th in Sealed Pack

51st at PC Indy

4th at $10K Wizard World Texas

65th at PC So Cal

Top 4 at $10K Vegas

2nd at $10K Los Angeles

Top 8 at $10K Chicago

 

His Sealed Pack rating fell a little in recent weeks, but his Constructed rating raised nine spots. Wiitanen is so close to PC success you can feel it in the air. We just have to see if he can pull his Draft skills back together for a push into the finals.

 

2) Michael Jacob

13th in Constructed, 302nd in Sealed Pack

59th at PC Indy

38th at PC So Cal

Winner, $10K Chicago

131st at PC Amsterdam

10th at $10K Detroit

 

He went from a huge win in Chicago to a huge letdown in Amsterdam, and then made Top 10 in Detroit last week. Altogether, this does not bode well for Mr. Jacob. But he won't be feeling the jet lag this time and his Constructed rating is three times higher than it used to be (from 47th to 13th), though his Sealed Pack rating is down 90 spots. I'd rate Jacob an outside shot at best, but he's finished in the money before, so he can't completely be counted out.

 

3) Adam Prosak

17th in Constructed, 212th in Sealed Pack

3rd at San Diego Comic Con $10K

159th at PC So Cal

2nd at $10K Las Vegas

3rd at $10K Los Angeles

Top 8 at PC Amsterdam

Top 4 at $10K Detroit

 

I cut him from my preview at the last minute before Amsterdam and he turned around and made Top 8. He just made Top 4 in Detroit. He's on an unbelievable tear and nothing short of being fed to the alligators in the New York sewer system will stop him. If he doesn't make the Top 20, I will be truly surprised.

 

4) Peter Sundholm

20th in Constructed

82nd at PC Indy

44th at PC So Cal

11th at $10K New Jersey

31st at PC Amsterdam

Winner, $10K Seattle

 

Here's someone else who has always flown under the radar, namely because he's always on the fringe of success. He made money before Amsterdam but was never on top of the field . . . until he won $10K Seattle for the cherry on top. At this rate, he should break the Top 20 this weekend and may even place higher. For those of you starting fantasy PC pools, he's a definite sleeper pick.

 

5) Sammy Gilly

25th in Constructed, 209th in Sealed Pack

27th at PC Indy

24th at PC So Cal

70th at PC Amsterdam

3rd at $10K Detroit

 

Amsterdam was disappointing, as he had expected to do as well as he had in the past. He got over it quickly enough, though, with a third place finish at $10K Detroit. I don't think he'll make Day 3, but I expect him to do better than he did at Amsterdam and close in on where he was at So Cal.

 

6) Tim Batow

28th in Constructed, 13th in Sealed Pack

47th at PC Indy

177th at PC So Cal

Top 4 at $10K So Cal

Winner, $10K Vegas

Top 8 at $10K Chicago

Tim Batow has risen in the Constructed standings by seven spots, but unlike Wiitanen, he remains one of the sharpest Sealed Pack players in the game. In fact, it seems as though Batow is right there in the Top 8 in just about every tournament that Wiitanen is. Batow still lacks a solid PC performance, however, and we'll have to hold our breaths and see how he manages at New York. His deckbuilding skills should hand him a spot in Day 2 without much trouble, and I have a feeling we might just see him in his first PC Top 8.

 

7) Mark Slack

45th in Constructed, 40th in Sealed Pack

76th at PC Indy

2nd at PC So Cal

45th at PC Amsterdam

 

Since So Cal, Slack has seen a bit of a drop in his performance. Still, 45th at Amsterdam is nothing to sneeze at. But with a dive from 15th in the world in Constructed to 45th, I wonder if he'll be playing on Day 3 this time. He's always a contender, but I think this weekend might not be his weekend.

 

8) Jason Hager

44th in Constructed, 221st in Sealed Pack

91st at PC Indy

2nd at $10K Columbus

 

He's part of one of the best deckbuilding teams out there, but what has he done lately? Good question. Still, I wouldn't count him out just yet. He's still one of the top thirty or forty all-around players in the world.

 

 

 

My predictions for Top 8 in alphabetical order:

 

Mike Dalton
Antonino De Rosa
Milton Figueroa
Eugene Harvey
Hans Joachim Höh
Rob Leander
John Rich
Vidianto Wijaya

 

Darkhorse Picks: Tim Batow, Adam Prosak, Dave Spears, Matthew Tatar, and Gabe Walls.

 

Finals: Mike Dalton vs. Rob Leander, with Rob completing an unbelievable comeback!