The Champions Cup Final was held in Yokohama, Japan, last weekend, with 540 players coming to do battle in Modern. Cash prizes weren't the only thing on the line, with sixteen Pro Tour invitations and two seats at next year's World Championship up for grabs. In the end, Tatsuaki Yajima unseated the previously undefeated Kazuaki Kurokawa with his Domain Zoo deck to win the tournament and claim the trophy!
Yajima's 2-0 victory in the championship match was the only loss that runner-up Kurokawa took all weekend. Going 11-0-2 with Izzet Prowess in the Swiss, Kurokawa didn't lose a single game in the quarterfinals or semifinals, only to meet his match in Yajima. The Domain Zoo deck proved swifter and deadlier than Izzet, and the match was over very quickly. After a long weekend of gruelling Swiss rounds, the entire Top 8 was done and dusted in no time at all thanks to the quick and aggressive decks that made the cut.
Kurokawa wasn't the only Top 8 competitor on Izzet Prowess. Three Izzet decks in total contested the playoffs, in addition to the aforementioned Domain Zoo, tournament favorite Mono-Green Broodscale, and three interesting lists that showcase the wide range of viable decks in Modern. Hirotaka Kawasaki played Jeskai Energy rather than the traditional Boros, Keita Tonouchi made it to the semis with a sweet Esper Ketramose list, and Hall of Famer Shuhei Nakamura played main deck
As is to be expected, a wide range of strategies and archetypes were brought by players this weekend, from reliable old favorites to experimental new builds. Mono-Green Broodscale was comfortably the most played deck, though Izzet Prowess converted better, with its three Top 8 appearances. Outside of that, however, it felt like a bit of a free-for-all—as this tournament's results indicate, if you have a cohesive game plan backed up by powerful cards, you can succeed with more or less anything in Modern.
As ever, the Champions Cup Final was part of a larger celebration of Magic that offered events for competitive and casual players alike, from a huge Standard tournament to a busy Command Zone. Tutorial sessions were run for new players, artists were in attendance to meet fans. Big Magic gatherings like this are always an excellent time, and would be even better if you were there! Have a look to see where the next qualifier near you will take place.