Ludvig Londos vs. Brad Nelson
Coming in to Round 8, both Ludvig Londos and Brad Nelson were undefeated, having navigated a dangerous table 1 pod including Brian Kibler, Kai Budde and Guillaume Wafo Tapa. While Brad is now accustomed to the lights of the feature match arena, his opponent Ludvig Londos may have been a little tired after grinding in in last night's Last Chance Qualifier, which ran well past midnight.
Game 1
Both players kept, and it was Nelson who got in the first play of the game with a Llanowar Elves. He had a little "Caw!" as Londos dropped a Squadron Hawk onto the table, finding two more. Nelson let out a laugh and another caw as he cast Prodigal Pyromancer. These birds would not fly for long.
"Did you go to Gothenburg last weekend?" asked Londos.
"Nah, I stayed home, chilled, had a good time." Brad looked fairly chilled and was having a good time in the feature match arena.
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After grinding in and going 7-0 on a very short night's sleep, Ludvig Londos is all smiles.
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Londos played out a Cloud Elemental, and got a single hit in with his Hawk before it was shot down in flames. Brad had a Canyon Minotaur to start attacking with, and looked pretty happy with his position.
An Awakener Druid provided the next attacker for Nelson, letting a Forest nip in hastily for more damage. While Londos had a Serra Angel, it looked a little impotent in the face of the power on the other side of the board. Londos dug with Preordain, then played an Augury Owl, looking for answers. Brad, meanwhile, had a new plan for his Prodigal Pyromancer if he ever ran out of targets on the other side of the board. Protean Hydra came down, with X=3. It could easily grow thanks to his pinger.
Plummet on Serra Angel was a brutal main-deck answer to the flyer, and with just a few swift swings, Brad Nelson put himself one game away from a perfect score for the day.
Nelson 1, Londos 0
"So, are you jetlagged from travelling from the USA?" asked Londos.
"No," replied Brad. "I love to sleep. I have been sleeping all the time."
"I didn't get to sleep until 3 a.m."
"Why not?"
"I was qualifying for this Pro Tour."
"Maaaaaaaaan! I can't beat you now! Grinder goes to 8-0? What a story!"
Game 2
The next game started with Silvercoat Lion for Londos, while Nelson started with Goblin Piker. Stuck on just Mountains, Nelson had little follow-up, while Londos played Augury Owl, and Squadron Hawk finding two more.
"I once had a deck with four Squadron Hawks and a Mass Polymorph in this format. That was a fun deck," remarked Nelson, who eventually drew a Forest to allow for some Llanoawar Elves.
Prodigal Pyromancer from Nelson was soon shut down by an Ice Cage, but there was little Londos could do about Triskelion, which was a clear and present danger to his team of Birds.
Londos, however, was far from out of it. A Vengeful Archon from Londos met a small harrumph from Nelson, who tapped out for a 5/5 Protean Hydra. It got bounced by Æther Adept, and it was on to Game 3.
Londos 1, Nelson 1
Game 3
A quick keep came from Brad on the play, while Ludwig shuffled his hand nervously before starting with seven. Londos's turn-two Squadron Hawk was so eager to get its friends that Londos ended up having to discard, dropping a Siege Mastodon in the bin. Nelson again had the trump in Prodigal Pyromancer, and soon followed up with Juggernaut to launch into the ground and pound.
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Let it never be said that Brad Nelson is not a man who loves to sleep.
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After a little thought for his turn (and an attack that ate a Squadron Hawk), Brad cast a Fauna Shaman. He looked on as Serra Angel came down for Londos, and calmly cast a Triskelion on his next turn that, along with Pyromancer, tag-teamed to take the Angel down.
Attacks soon had Londos at 5, and when he tried again for a Vengeful Archon, Brad had quite the response.
"Fling my Juggernaut at you?"
That will do.
Nelson 2, Londos 1
Both players then slunk off for a nap—Londos because he needed it, and Brad just because he likes to sleep.
Brad Nelson wins 2-1, advancing to 8-0 going into Saturday.