This past weekend, 263 players gathered in Calgary, Alberta Canada for the second F2F Tour Championship and second Canadian Regional Championship. Two weeks ago the first F2F Tour Championship, in Toronto, qualified eight players for Pro Tour I in Philadelphia, and winner Christian Trudel also earned a seat at the World Championship.
At the western Championship, players competed in fourteen rounds of Pioneer before cutting to the Top 8, where Joseph Karani, piloting Rakdos Midrange, emerged victorious.
Surrounded by friends, a very emotional Joseph Karani from Winnipeg Manitoba takes down the F2F Tour Championship in Calgary. He will be representing Canada at the MTG World Championships. Congratulations! #F2FYYC pic.twitter.com/cB67B10P3B
— Face to Face Games (@FaceToFaceGames) December 12, 2022
Karani earned invites to both Pro Tour I in Philadelphia, as well as the World Championship. Congratulations to Joseph Karani, Canada’s second Regional Champion!
Karani, who hails from wintery Winnipeg, defeated Michael Knie on Abzan Greasefang in the finals. It was yet another successful showing for Rakdos Midrange, which has toppled Mono-Green Devotion and other challengers like Mono-White Humans as the most popular deck as the first cycle of Regional Championships has progressed.
Shaking Up the Top 8
While Karani emerged victorious with Rakdos Midrange, the weekend also marked a comeback for Mono-Green Devotion, which put two copies into the Top 8 after slipping in popularity from the start of the cycle. Abzan Greasefang also made a strong showing, similarly putting two copies into the Top 8.
The biggest surprise, though, was Scott Polsky’s Golgari Elves, which he played to a Top 4 finish.
The Top 8 players from the F2F Tour Championship earned qualifications to Pro Tour I at MagicCon Philadelphia in February 2023. Congratulations, and we look forward to following your competitive journeys next year!
And while the Top 8 reflected some decks finally breaking through into Pioneer success this cycle, the metagame continues to reflect Rakdos Midrange’s rise to the top. The breadth of decks in the Top 8, however, confirms that the Pioneer format still has plenty of room for surprises and niche strategies.
A Great Weekend in Western Canada
Only one Regional Championship remains, and this first cycle of events has shown the joy of getting back to in-person events and competition. We can't wait to see the qualifiers at Pro Tour I in Philadelphia next February, and at the World Championship in Las Vegas next year.
Many players made arduous 13hr journey from Winnipeg Manitoba to Calgary Alberta for the F2F Tour Weekend. Winning the championship is a great achievement for their whole community. #F2FYYC #MTGCommunity #Winnipeg pic.twitter.com/sqDQW3tZjG
— Face to Face Games (@FaceToFaceGames) December 12, 2022
F2F Tour Champions Quarter Finals: Battle of the Dans. Only one Dan can move on. Who will it be? Will a Dan represent Canada at the world Championships? @PlayMTG #F2FYYC pic.twitter.com/BE1Ef07iiu
— Face to Face Games (@FaceToFaceGames) December 12, 2022
Whether you're into Mystery Booter 2HG or grinding legacy U/R delver mirrors, we have events for every MTG enthusiast. #F2FYYC pic.twitter.com/2oFdm4T5Di
— Face to Face Games (@FaceToFaceGames) December 11, 2022
Commander Pods Rock! #F2FYYZ pic.twitter.com/lI7zkBrYn4
— Face to Face Games (@FaceToFaceGames) December 10, 2022
See the final standings from the event here.
Be part of the next round of Regional Championships by finding a qualifying event near you!