We're glad to announce a new Highlander Tournament Series in Mannheim.
(http://i.imgur.com/DRLiaGb.jpg)
Here's a trailer which provides you with the basics:
https://youtu.be/TiH-m4YqIyo
And here's a quick summary of the important points:
Series Structure – The Summer Tournament will be held in Swiss rounds followed by a top-8 playoff.
1st and 2nd place will qualify for the Spring Final in 2017.
Tournaments during autumn and winter 2016 will follow. Again 1st and 2nd place of each will qualify for the Final.
The two point leaders of all preliminary tournaments taken together (summer, autumn and winter) will also be qualified for the Final.
The Spring 2017 Invitational will determine "The One" in an 8-Person double elimination contest and will award big payout to the winner.
Summer PreliminaryDate – August 6th, 2016 - 11:30 am (Registration 10:00 am)
Location – Wizard's Well (S4 23, 68161 Mannheim)
Buy In – 15 € (Early Bird – 13€*)
* At least one week beforehand in person or via bank transfer (provide name and DCI#) to:
QuoteSäuberlich und Schmid GbR
Deutsche Bank Darmstadt
IBAN DE54 5087 0005 0030 1044 00
BIC DEUTDEFF508
Prizes1st - Tundra (nm, english, revised) + Birds of Paradise (Full-Art, Summer Style)
2nd - Badlands (nm, english, revised)
3rd - Plateau (nm, english, revised)
4th - Plateau (nm, english, revised)
How to get there:
http://tinyurl.com/zzgjyn4 (The link will lead to Google navigations. Just type in your city and you'll see the route.)
I am excited to get this thing rolling! I hope to see you all on August 6th!
A link to the Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/252578405122925/
Here is a German translation of the fact sheet:
Hier ein deutsche Übersetzung des Fact Sheets:
FACT SHEET - The One
Ablauf der Turnierserie – Das kommende Sommerturnier wird im Schweizer System abgehalten. Die acht Bestplatzierten spielen den Sieger im K.O. System aus.
Die Erst- und Zweitplatzierten qualifizieren sich für das Finalturnier im Frühling 2017.
Zwei weitere Qualifikationsturniere folgen. Eins im Herbst und eins im Winter diesen Jahres.
Hier werden sich jeweils wieder die beiden Erst- und Zweitplatzierten für das Finale 2017 qualifizieren.
Die beiden Punktbesten, gesehen über alle drei Qualifikationsturniere im Sommer, Herbst und Winter, komplettieren das Finalturnier 2017.
Hier wird dann "The One" ausgespielt. Das Finale erfolgt im 8-Personen Double-Elimination Modus. Auf den Sieger warten immense Preise!
Qualifikationsturnier "Sommer"
Zeit – 06.08.2016, 11:30 Uhr (Anmeldung ab 10:00 Uhr)
Ort – Wizard's Well (S4 23, 68161 Mannheim)
Startgeld – 15 € (Vorkasse – 13€*)
* Mindestens eine Woche im Voraus persönlich oder per Banküberweisung (bitte Namen und DCI-Nr. angeben) an:
SÄUBERLICH UND SCHMID GBR
DEUTSCHE BANK DARMSTADT
IBAN DE54 5087 0005 0030 1044 00
BIC DEUTDEFF508
Preise –
1. Platz - Tundra (nm, englisch, Revised) + Birds of Paradise (Full Art altered, "summer style")
2. Platz - Badlands (nm, englisch, Revised)
3. Platz - Plateau (nm, englisch, Revised)
4. Platz - Plateau (nm, englisch, Revised)
(http://i.imgur.com/RDIS0CQ.jpg)
Hey folks! Early Bird registration closes this week. Hurry up and secure your spot! :)
Appetizer!
(http://i.imgur.com/LfKmH6K.jpg)
Reminder that 1st and 2nd place also qualify for the Spring finals!
Clarifications on the qualifying system
Qualifying by placement
The two finalists of any given qualifier tournament will each be granted a spot in the Invitational Final.
If an already qualified player finishes in 1st or 2nd place of a qualifier tournament, the spot will be passed down to the next best player who is not yet qualified.
Qualifying by score
Tournament results are being tracked in an overall scoring board. As usual, a win is worth three points, a draw is worth one point and a loss is worth zero points. Swiss rounds as well as top-8 rounds will be awarded points.
The two overall score leaders after all three qualifier tournaments will be qualified for the Invitational Final.
If an already qualified player (through placement) would also qualify through his overall scorepoints, the spot will be passed down to the next best player who is not yet qualified.
Tiebreakers
Should there be a tie between two or more players eligible for an invite, the player with the overall better opponent score will be granted the spot. Should there also be a tie in opponent scores, the player with the fewest losses will be granted the invite. Should there also be a tie, the invite will be granted by head-to-head record.
lifestream on twitch tomorrow:
https://www.twitch.tv/theonehl
This 2-day event might be something for you!
JK-Entertainment will host a Highlander Tournament besides a WMCQ (September 18th). The day before there will be a big modern event. The winner of the HL tournament will be awarded a 1st-Round Bye for the upcoming "The One" Autumn Qualifier!
Check out the prize payout here:
18.09.2016
Highlander
Entry: 17€
Registration: 10:00 am
Start: 11:00 am
Prizes for 50 players (will be raised for higher attendance):
JK-Store Credit // MKM-vouchers:
1. 180 €// 150€
2. 140€// 85€
3./4. 60€ // 45€
5./8. 45€ // 35€
9./16. 15€ // 10€
Check out the event links here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1741040082816835/?ti=cl
https://www.facebook.com/events/556675211178717/?ti=cl
Dear HL players,
We are glad to launch the Autumn Tournament of the "The One Highlander Series"!
The event will take place at the JK Entertainment Event Store in Frankfurt am Main on the 5th of November 2016.
Check out the Autumn trailer and our Fact Sheet for further details and prizes!
There can be only One!
Trailer: https://youtu.be/2K2Klvg8HoQ
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/252578405122925/
(http://i.imgur.com/kdjSWin.jpg?1)
Reminder: November 5th is coming closer! :)
Dear Highlander Players,
we hope you had a great start into 2017! We are proud to announce the third tournament of our series: The One - Winter Qualifier, the last chance to earn your ticket for the finals to become The One! Compete with the best players and fight for fame, awesome prizes and an exquisite trophy. Check out the video for details!
Wizards Well, Mannheim. Saturday 4th of Febuary 2017. There can only be one!
Trailer
https://youtu.be/Sxq88yJ8VyI
(http://i.imgur.com/BbK9DL7.jpg)
FB group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/252578405122925/
FB event
https://www.facebook.com/events/640141462839229/?ti=as
(http://i.imgur.com/uPsoRc5h.jpg)
Do not miss out on this! Just be there! :)
Only 5 days to go!
In less than three weeks it will be finally decided who will be "The One".
8 players will gather for a tense double-elimination play-off.
During the next days I will be giving you some small player profiles of those who'll be battling. Here we go with the first heavyweight:
Name: Christian Hauck
Age: 32
Favorite Highlander deck: 4c Blood
Favorite Highlander cards:
Knight of the Reliquary, Wood Elemental, Obzedat Ghost Council
Highlander achievements:
multiple HL Cup Top8's, HL Cup Champion XIII
Other MtG achievements:
Member of German National Team, Worlds competitor 2010, Two GP Top 8's
How do you prepare for The One Finals?
"Just thinking about the possible decks and trying to predict the meta"
Christian is known for his superb expertise with 4c Blood, a deck he was one of the first to establish within the Highlander metagame.
Recently he also experimented with Izzet Control, which earned him a top-8 spot in the second qualifier tournament of this series. It will be hard to say what he'll be on.
If you ask people who will win "The One", he's certainly on the short list of many.
Stay tuned for more player profiles!
Alright, here is the next competitor for the title:
Name: Daniel Scherer
Age: 26
Favorite Highlander deck: Red Deck Wins
Favorite Highlander cards:
Black Vise, Blood Moon, Wasteland
Highlander achievements:
Won the last two of the three "The One" qualifier tournaments. Defeated Christian Hauck. Twice.
Other MtG achievements:
Winner of OvinoVIII Vintage tournament in Milano 2013
How do you prepare for the finals:
"I'm just patiently waiting for it."
Daniel is having a love affair with RDW lately (as you can guess by his profile already). But he was known to pilot 5c Oath back in the day and also dabbles with 4c Blood from time to time.
Daniel doesn't mind a pinch of salt when things go the wrong way for him. He always stays a good sport though.
Unfortunately for all of his opponents, things tend to turn out quite in Daniel's way recently. He really is on fire at the moment and everybody better watch out for him.
Let's continue with the OG of our contestants:
Name: Gerry Stahl
Age: 41
Favorite Highlander Decks:
Dimir Aggro-Control, Reanimator-Oath, UW Skies, UGb Time Walk
Favorite Highlander Cards:
Mental Misstep, Birds of Paradise, Back to Basics
Highlander achievements:
One top-8 and some top-16s at Highlander GP's/Cups.
Winner of HL Online League Season III back in 2008.
The only player who has participated at every HL GP / Cup in Germany since the very first one in Dortmund 2005
Other MtG achievements:
Lost 1:2 to Kai Budde at last German Nationals in 2011
Limited GP Vienna 2014 money finish
German Nationals 2011 price finish
How do you prepare for the finals:
"Create a bracket with eight possible deck-choices for The One and some test-games"
Gerry is in my opinion not a mere Highlander player anymore. But rather a general law of nature. I think it is safe to say that no active player has done more for the format than him.
The Council member will be a fearsome competitor in the finals since his level of format entrenchment is just through the roof.
My only critique here is: How can you favorite the lovely Birds of Paradise together with the ugly and infamous b2b? That's just mean!
Thank you for the introduction Maqi.
Two minor additions:
A smiley got lost somehow, which helps to understand the meaning of following statement a bit better imo:
"winner of HL Online League Season III back in 2008 ;)"
The message was originally:
You have to go long way back in history and have to take the most unimportant tournaments to find one I have ever won so far.
My affinity to Back to Basics emerged in the time when 5c Aggro and 5c Control were dominating archetypes. My approach has always been not to play the best deck but to find any which can beat em ... which has never worked that well. Back to Basics (eg. in UW Skies and UB Aggro-Control) has given me some bright moments while greedy 4- and 5-color builts have given me nightmares.
This bond hasn't even bursted after I travelled to Berlin just to lose to Tabris' and Daniel's Back to Basics in MGM #7 miserably. I felt like it was the rightful punishment for playing that greedy manabase myself nowadays.
Here's the next competitor!
Name: Alexander Vey
Age: 27
Favorite Highlnderdeck: Abzan Midrange
Favorite Highlander cards:
Fact or Fiction, Survival of the Fittest, Brainstorm
Highlander achievements: Qualification for the ,,The One" Finals :D
Other MtG achievements: Participated at German Nationals and Pro Tour
How do you prepare for the finals?
Probably not at all.
Alex is the dark horse of our finalists. He did only play in a handful of local Highlander tournaments before bursting into the finals of the first The One qualifier with a brave double-Armageddon Abzan list.
Coming, as it seems, from a prolonged Magic hiatus, he since rehoned his skills by jamming limited weeklies. It's always a good idea to keep your fundamentals strong!
Aaaand the next one:
Name: Philip Ehrle
Age: 34
Favorite Highlander decks: RDW, Jeskai
Favorite Highlander cards:
Zealous Conscripts, Pygmy Hippo, Bull Hippo (Portal Version)
Highlander achievements: Nothing worth to mention
Other MtG achievements: Several GP money finishes
How do you prepare for the finals:
I'm focusing on predicting what the others might play in order to adjust my possible decks to it.
Philip is a well respected and strong Highlander player. He might not have a title on his resume yet, but that doesn't mean anything.
Philip always plays strong decks and good cards, no trickery there. Also, his strategic intuition and his technical in-game operations are top notch.
His opponents better be aware of his prowess. It might very well be that "The One" will be his long due breakout performance.
Name: Kai T.
Age: 31
Favorite Highlander Decks: 5c Wonder, Izzet, 4c Blood
Favorite Highlander cards: Opposition, Recurring Nightmare, Sylvan Library
Highlander Achievements:
The One summer qualification winner
Other MtG Achievements:
Miscellaneous top 8's
How do you prepare for the finals:
I analyse the opponents' cardpools and their pet decks. I then create a metagamed deck which also fits my playstyle and test with it.
Kai is a veteran Highlander player with a competitive spirit. He knows everything one must know about the format.
He showed his expertise at the first qualifier where he demolished the competition with a fierce double-red blast Izzet build, crushing every blue playing opponent on his way to victory.
Now that the "UR-Knall" deck is out of the bag, will he switch it up or stay true to it? We will soon find out...
The next competitor:
Name: Sebastian Nötzel
Age: 29
Favorite Highlander decks: Scapeshift, UW Control
Favorite Highlander cards: Island, Snapcaster Mage, Sorrow's Path
Highlander achievements: nothing
Other MtG achievements: some GP money finishes
How do prepare for the finals? Play some rounds.
Sebastian finally found his souldeck it seems. After some 4c DarkBant-ing here and Azorius Controlling there, he seems to have settled into 4c Scapeshift, a deck of which he may rightfully claim mastership by now.
Sebastian is a methodical and calculating player, he is hard to read, mentally strong and knows his deck and the matchups inside-out.
The combination of all this makes him a serious contender for becoming "The One".
Written bei Kai T.:
And here we go for our last finalist: Thomas Stier!
Thomas' accomplishments and victories speak for him - he is by far one of Germany's best HL players. He is a veteran in the HL business and member of the HL council. He is crazy (!) about foils, it HAS TO BE the first edition in foil ;) !
Thomas is well known and respected in the HL community due to his high level play. His strength is to accurately analyse game situations, gaining the edge by exploiting marginal advantages and then translating these into victory. His active and creative input when designing new decks and the remastering of established deckideas is legendary. For the "The One" Finals he is one of the major favorites.
Name: Thomas Stier
Age: 35
Favorite Highlander decks: 4c Reanimator, 4c Blood, 4c PatternRector
Favorite Highlander cards: Loxodon Smiter, Cruel Ultimatum, Liliana the Last Hope
Highlander achievements:
Highlander Cup Champion (GP XV), 3rd place at "The One Summer",
Top8 at MKM Series Frankfurt 2016, 2nd place at MGM4 Berlin, HL Cup Top8 (GP XIV), Winner MKM Berlin 2013, HL Cup Top8 (GP XII), HL Cup Top8 (GP VIII)
Other MtG achievements:
PTQ t4 (journey to nyx)
How do you prepare for the finals?
Trying to guess the meta, then construct some decks geared towards beating that meta and test extensively with them, then probably last minute audible to a completely untested brew