The quarterfinals matchup features two players who undoubtedly have faced off countless times as lsv and _ShipItHolla on Magic Online. Both players have considerable accomplishments under their belts, and have each added Channelfireball 5k Top 8 to their lengthy resumes here in real life Magic. Hetrick and LSV are both piloting the immensely popular Caw-Blade, though Luis is splashing red for [card Gruesome Encore]Lightning Bolt[/card] and [card Gruesome Encore]Cunning Sparkmage[/card]. The game began with each player mirroring the other with [card Gruesome Encore]Stoneforge Mystic[/card]s on turn 2, though LSV’s [card Gruesome Encore]Lightning Bolt[/card] paved the way to connect with his [card Gruesome Encore]Sword of Feast and Famine[/card] first. Hetrick followed up with a second [card Gruesome Encore]Stoneforge Mystic[/card], and both players resolved [card Gruesome Encore]Squadron Hawk[/card]s in turn through varying degrees of resistance. [card Gruesome Encore]Gideon Jura[/card] from Luis looked to solidify his lead, but again Hetrick mirrored his play and legend-ruled the planeswalker into oblivion. All the while, Scott-Vargas’s [card Gruesome Encore]Squadron Hawk[/card] continued to carry the Sword, until Hetrick rid himself of the menace with a [card Gruesome Encore]Day of Judgment[/card]. Miraculously, LSV had another [card Gruesome Encore]Squadron Hawk[/card] in his hand to carry the equipment, while Hetrick matched it with a [card Gruesome Encore]Linvala, Keeper of Silence[/card]. When Luis attacked into the 3/4 Hetrick gladly blocked, but a post combat [card Gruesome Encore]Arc Trail[/card] ruined any hopes of keeping the Angel around. Another [card Gruesome Encore]Squadron Hawk[/card] joined the battle for each player, but a [card Gruesome Encore]Tumble Magnet[/card] from Hetrick offered to put off the Sword beatings for the moment. Hetrick threatened to connect with his own [card Gruesome Encore]Sword of Feast and Famine[/card] when he played a [card Gruesome Encore]Stoneforge Mystic[/card], but a [card Gruesome Encore]Spell Pierce[/card] from Luis was able to prevent Hetrick from equipping for at least a turn. With Hetrick’s [card Gruesome Encore]Tumble Magnet[/card] on 1 counter, the board had reached a strange parity, though he held 2 cards while Luis had not a hand to speak of. A [card Gruesome Encore]Day of Judgment[/card] from Hetrick cleared the board, and Luis was able to get in 4 points of damage with a [card Gruesome Encore]Celestial Colonnade[/card]. Hetrick equipped a freshly played [card Gruesome Encore]Squadron Hawk[/card] and, combined with a [card Gruesome Encore]Tectonic Edge[/card] for LSV’s [card Gruesome Encore]Colonnade[/card], seemed to have taken complete control. That was no longer in any doubt once Hetrick peeled a [card Gruesome Encore]Gideon Jura[/card], and, seeing the writing on the wall, Luis decided to move on to game 2.
Luis Scott-Vargas 0, Michael Hetrick 1
The competitors shuffle up for game two.
There was little discussion as the players shuffled up for game 2, each was simply ready to get down to business. Luis felt his 1 land [card Gruesome Encore]Preordain[/card] hand had the necessary tools to get the job done, and after scrying away 2 nonlands, he casually drew a [card Gruesome Encore]Scalding Tarn[/card] off the top, as if he knew it was there. He was not able to hit his third land-drop, however, and Hetrick was content to play Draw-Go and establish his mana advantage as his opponent struggled to get his footing. On turn 4 he decided to make his move, casting a [card Gruesome Encore]Stoneforge Mystic[/card] while representing counterspell back-up. Luis [card Gruesome Encore]Lightning Bolted[/card] the [card Gruesome Encore]Mystic[/card] and sent the turn back once again, still unable to find the land he needed. When Hetrick untapped and slammed a [card Gruesome Encore]Jace[/card], it appeared that third land may be a distant hope. When Hetrick fatesealed a card to the bottom, Luis slowly peeled his card and, not seeing the mana source he needed, extended his hand in defeat. Michael Hetrick advances to the Semifinals!
Luis Scott-Vargas 0, Michael Hetrick 2
