The Champions Cup Final was held in Tokyo, Japan, last weekend. There, 350 players gathered from across Japan and Korea to play Standard in pursuit of prize money, invitations to the Pro Tour, and spots at the next World Championship. With the results from Pro Tour Secrets of Strixhaven making a major impact on the Standard metagame, the tournament tested whether players could adapt and innovate. At the end of the weekend, it was Keiichiro Matsumoto and his Four-Color Control deck that got the job done!

Congratulations to Keiichiro Matsumoto!

The final match ended up being an all-control affair, with Matsumoto's four-color list going up against a straight-up Jeskai build in the hands of the runner-up, Toru Horie. In the end, nothing could stop Matsumoto. After a 2nd-place finish in the Swiss rounds, he didn't drop a single game in the entire Top 8 and scored a resounding victory in the final match. His deck—a Jeskai Control list that splashes black for Inevitable Defeat—performed extremely well, utilizing a robust range of answers to Standard's various threats.

The Top 8 indicated that the Standard format is far from a settled question, with decks of all kinds being represented. There were a couple of Izzet lists, some low-to-the-ground Azorius builds, and three control decks—not to mention Noah Ma making yet another Top 8 appearance, this time with Selesnya Ouroboroid.

Players in the Champions Cup Final Top 8

The Champions Cup Final bracket.

More broadly, some interesting trends emerged when looking at the wider Standard metagame. Perhaps expectedly, Selesnya Landfall decks took on a new level of popularity in the wake of the Pro Tour, but developments with the perennially popular Izzet decks are also worth noting. A number of people decided to splash green for Elusive Otter's Adventure. Hardly anyone played the Otter at the recent Pro Tour Secrets of Strixhaven, given how bad it is in the mirror. Perhaps expecting a downturn in Izzet decks this weekend, more players opted for the Temur colors. Outside of that, Jeskai Control was well-represented and performed strongly. And even if Selesnya Landfall didn't make the Top 8, a couple of copies found their way into the Top 16.

The metagame from the Champions Cup Final.

In addition to the Champions Cup Final, the weekend also saw other Magic events take place. There were plenty of smaller events for Magic fans of all kinds, with the weekend providing a terrific opportunity for people to come together and jam games. If you've never attended a Regional Championship like this one, there's never been a better time to give it a go. Be sure to check where the next Regional Championship Qualifier is happening near you, and you could begin your journey to the Pro Tour!