Islandhome #3

==ISLANDHOME #3==
March 19th 2008 ---- $(B/R)(B/R)(B/R)
(B/R) may be paid with black or red mana.

==THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE==

Friday: Brothers Grim Standard and Draft starting at 7 PM
Saturday: City Champs Store Finals and Standard starting at 3 PM

==GRAND PRIX PHILADELPHIA==

Grand Prix Philadelphia was a huge success, with a massive turnout of 969 players - the largest constructed event in North American history. Gerard Fabiano won first place with his Rock deck, making $3500. Brothers Grim veteran Michael "Dwarf" Catapano nabbed 10th place with his Affinity build, earning himself an invite to Pro Tour Hollywood!

There were eight totally different decks in the top eight, showing the diversity of the Extended metagame. The next major Extended event will be after the set rotation, so the metagame will get shaken up even more.

==CITY CHAMPS STORE FINALS at FNC==

FNC's City Champs store finals are this weekend, an I couldn't be more excited! I can't wait to see what decks show up in the most important event in FNC history.

Here's what you need to know:

• Three rounds of swiss, no time limits, no playoffs.
• The event will start right after the regular Saturday event starts up; if you're not there, the invite will pass down to the next highest ranked player in line.
  
• Prizes will be given out as such: Three packs for winning a match 2-0, two packs for winning a match 2-1, one pack for losing a match 1-2. If there's an intentional draw, each player gets one pack, and the third pack will go to the winner of the tournament. (This looks like a good time to remind everyone that intentionally misreporting match results = a DQ for Fraud.)
• Decklists are mandatory! I'll be glad to help any player who requests help on filling out a decklist before the tournament. You can also write your decklist out beforehand and email or give it to me.
  
• The event will be run at the same time as FNC's usual Saturday event, so playing in one excludes you from playing in the other.
• The top two players from the Store Finals get an invite to the City Championships on Saturday, April 12th. It's a Standard format 24k event at Competitive REL with no entry fee. The location hasn't been announced yet.
  
• Special promos will be given out to all eight participants!
  

TOP 16 RANKINGS:

1. John Madonia
2. Michael Bauer
3. Michael Evans
4. Dylan Duprez
5. Dean Duprez
6. Jose Gonzalez
7. Mark Baron
8. Travis Tricoche
9. Chris Redman
10. Matt Brocking
11. Bryan Fazio
12. Will Sliva
13. Dan Gould
14. Lee Cruceta
15. John Winant
16. Michael Weissman
    

==UPCOMING EVENTS==

March 22nd: City Champs Store Finals at FNC
The top 8 players from FNC's 2007-2008 City Champs season will compete for two invites to the City Championships in April! And then they'll compete there for an invite to US Nationals. The Store Finals will most likely go on during the regular Standard event being held that day. And remember, if someone from the top 8 doesn't show up, the Store Finals invite passes down to the next player in line!

For a full list of rankings for FNC's 2007-2008 City Champs season, click here.

April 4th-6th: I-Con at Stonybrook University
Magic events will be run by me, in association with Brothers Grim, all three days, beginning Friday night. There'll be drafts running all three days while product is available, unsanctioned Type 1 (Saturday), sanctioned Standard (Saturday), and sanctioned Extended (Sunday). See iconsf.org for more information about attending I-Con.

April 19th-20th: Shadowmoor Prerelease
Long Island and New York City prereleases will be held on Saturday the 19th, and New York City on the 20th. Not much is known about this set yet, but read The Rumor Mill forum on MTGSalvation.com as we get closer to the release date for up to date information. I'll most likely be judging Long Island Saturday and NYC Sunday.

Summer 2008: PTQ Season for Berlin
The next PTQ season starts this summer, and it's going to be Lorwyn Block Constructed! Lorwyn block will consist of Lorwyn, Morningtide, and Shadowmoor. Eventide won't be available during the beginning of the PTQ season, and I'm not sure if it'll be released in time for the end of it. I don't have a date yet on the official start of the PTQ season, but I should know relatively soon. To help prepare for it, I'm going to try to sanction some Block Constructed tournaments after Shadowmoor is released.

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-Brian Paskoff