This past weekend, 580 players gathered in Liverpool, England, for Magic Spotlight: Spider-Man. With a $50,000 prize pool and eight coveted Pro Tour invitations at stake, the competition was fierce. After fifteen intense Swiss rounds of Standard followed by a high-stakes Top 8 playoff, Alexey Paulot claimed the title, piloting the deck that defined the event: Izzet Cauldron.
"Incredible," Paulot said, smiling as he lifted the trophy. "I couldn't dream of better."
The Standard Metagame and Winning Deck
The Day One metagame in Liverpool offered few surprises for anyone keeping tabs on Standard, as it closely reflected last weekend's field from Magic Spotlight: Spider-Man in Baltimore. Izzet Cauldron, powered by
As the tournament progressed, Izzet Cauldron tightened its grip on the format, increasing its metagame share after both the Day Two and Top 8 cuts. Over the weekend, it posted an impressive win rate of more than 60% in non-mirror, non-bye matches, culminating in Alexey Paulot's triumphant finish.
Paulot was no stranger to the legendary artifact at the heart of his deck. He had already showcased the power of
While his winning Izzet Cauldron list featured all the familiar synergies, several of his card choices broke from convention. For example, his creature suite favored
Paulot's winning deck featured a single new addition from Magic: The Gathering® | Marvel's Spider-Man:
The new set introduced a range of powerful tools to Standard, boosting established strategies while paving the way for entirely new archetypes.
The Top 8 Qualified for the Pro Tour
After fifteen rounds of Swiss Standard play, eight players from across Europe and beyond advanced to the single-elimination rounds to compete for the title. Six of them were piloting Izzet Cauldron, underlining the deck's dominance throughout the weekend. Across the Top 8 decks, 24 copies of
Each of the Top 8 players in the final standings secured invitations to Pro Tour Lorwyn Eclipsed, which will take place as a closed event for qualified players in Richmond, Virgina, on January 30–February 1, 2026. Congratulations to the Top 8 players, and we look forward to seeing all of them compete on Magic's biggest stage!
For many in the Top 8, qualifying for the Pro Tour was a dream realized. "It was the most important motivation for attending the event ... I'm super happy to be back," said André Santos. Jacopo di Napoli echoed that sentiment: "I love playing highly competitive Magic."
Michael Simonetti, who had traveled all the way from the United States to compete, had an extra reason to celebrate: "[Richmond] is basically in my backyard—so excited to sleep in my own bed and time zone before an event."
With their Pro Tour invitations secured, the Top 8 battled for the big prizes. After a tense quarterfinals and semifinals, the stage was set for a thrilling final to decide who would lift the trophy.
The Epic Battle for the Trophy
The finals featured an Izzet Cauldron mirror match between Maciej Barwik and Alexey Paulot, a fitting showdown between two masters of the weekend's defining deck. The stakes were enormous, and the prizes matched the prestige of the victory.
In addition to the $10,000 1st-place prize, Spotlight Series events come with rewards steeped in thematic flair. For Magic Spotlight: Spider-Man, Marvel and East Continental Gems brought the Infinity Stones to life using real gemstones. The winner received a dazzling Infinity Gauntlet winner's trophy embedded with a madeira citrine stone to represent the Soul Stone.
The finals went the full three games, each one a masterclass in precision and strategy. Game 1 unfolded as a hard-fought battle of interaction and tempo, where Barwik ultimately leveraged
Game 3 was a real spectacle. At one point, Barwik appeared firmly in control, dominating the skies with a 7/7
The Camaraderie of the Magic Spotlight Series
Open-field events like the Spotlight Series give entire groups of friends, teammates, and acquaintances the perfect excuse to embark on a multi-day Magic adventure together. That shared sense of camaraderie, which might just end with a Pro Tour invite, is what makes these open tournaments so unforgettable.
Take, for instance, David Gustin's Magic-themed bachelor party. He and all his best Magic-playing friends traveled from Italy to celebrate not only his upcoming marriage but also their shared passion for the game. The Magic Spotlight event offered the perfect opportunity for that. Among the group was Denis Beqiri, who dominated Day One with a perfect 9-0 record and ultimately turned that start into a Top 8 finish. It was, by every measure, a weekend to remember.
Finalist Maciej Barwik started playing Magic roughly a decade ago in Poland, but when his local community dissolved, he stopped playing as well. After moving to Liverpool, he returned to the game with a Duskmourn: House of Horror Prerelease event and joined team Chad Magic. This past weekend, in his second big event, he had a breakout finish, and the support from his teammates made it all the more special.
Though Chad Magic began as Commander-focused YouTube channel, they expanded their ambitions to every aspect of Magic and have done a metric ton of grinding in preparation for the event. Their efforts paid off with four players advancing to Day Two and Barwik reaching the finals. The crowd of teammates cheering him on during Round 9 perfectly captured the spirit of the weekend.
Throughout the weekend, the hall buzzed with energy as players battled through rounds of Standard and reconnected with old friends. "I'm seeing a lot of UK people I hadn't seen in years," said Mythic Champion Autumn Burchett, referencing the many players drawn to large Grand Prix-like events. And with so many international attendees, you could be facing someone from a different country every round.
A contingent of Dutch players also made the trip to Liverpool, eager to enjoy a weekend of competition and camaraderie—complete with memorable photos in front of the event banners. Leon van der Linden emerged as the top performer among them, surging through Day Two with Mono-Red Aggro. But who was really responsible for that? Nobody knows.
Beyond the high-level main event, Fanfinity organized a weekend packed with awesome side events, incredible artist booths, and live streaming coverage. It was a true celebration of the game, allowing fans to enjoy every highlight whether in the hall or at home. With a star-studded commentary team of Andrea Mengucci, Arne Huschenbeth, Simon Nielsen, Filipa Carola, and Martin Juza, the coverage made for an exciting and insightful viewing experience.
The Spotlight Series also drew longtime veterans back to the competitive scene, including Pro Tour New York 2000 Top 8 finisher Mattias Kettil and Pro Tour Yokohama 2003 champion Mattias Jorstedt. Lured back to competitive Magic through the Spotlight Series, they tested on MTG Arena and brought a spicy Selesnya Landfall deck to Liverpool, finishing with strong 10-4-1 and 10-5 records respectively. For more on their brew and other inventive, successful Standard decks, check out this week's Metagame Mentor.
Whether traveling from across the world, across the country, or just across town, one of the greatest draws of the Spotlight Series is its accessibility: anyone can enter, compete, and share in the experience. That sense of togetherness was on full display as Alexey Paulot celebrated his victory, surrounded by friends and fellow players, making an already special moment truly unforgettable.
See You at the Next Spotlight Series Event!
As the event concluded, many players were already setting their sights on the next edition. On the weekend of January 9–11, 2026, Magic Spotlight: The Avatar will bring Standard competition to Atlanta, Georgia, and Lyon, France. Open to all, these events promise another weekend of high-level Magic, exciting prizes, and the chance to see who has the skill to claim Magic greatness!