It is almost over.
The time has come to crown a new national champion, to win and to be recognized as the best player in the country, to grasp with their own hands, the fame and fortune that is rightfully theirs. 68 best players of the country tried, and 8 of the best of them have stepped up, having earned the right to claim the ultimate prize.
Now, after two grueling and heartless elimination rounds, only two remain.
But only one will be crowned Champion.
Finals – Au Yong Wai Kin vs. Chong Kin Leong
One of the early successful players in Malaysia when the scene was still in a very young stage, Au Yong amazingly manages to maintain top-level play throughout the long years. This grizzled veteran has been playing Grand Prix, Pro Tours and World Championships for years, including a heart-breaking 9th place on the 2005 World Championships, and a Malaysian Nationals title. He is now just one step away to his second, ready to add another distinguished title to add to his Magic resume.
Player Name : Au Yong Wai Kin
Deck name : Reveillark Combo
5 Island
3 Plains
4 Battlefield Forge
3 Vivid Creek
1 Reflecting Pool
4 Mutavault
4 Mystic Gate
4 Mulldrifter
2 Mind Stone
2 Prismatic Lens
4 Reveillark
3 Greater Gargadon
3 Body Double
3 Sower of Temptation
3 Rune Snag
2 Venser, Shaper Savant
2 Pact of Negation
2 Wrath of God
2 Bonded Fetch
3 Aven Riftwatcher
1 Momentary Blink
Sideboard -
3 Crovax, Ascendant Hero
2 Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
1 Wrath of God
2 Pyroclasm
2 Faerie Macabre
2 Condemn
2 Remove Soul
1 Kitchen Finks
And the difference between the two players couldn’t have been any more contrasting than it is. Chong is one of the earliest players to qualify for the Nationals, right behind the automatic invitations given to the previous year’s National Team, thanks to a stunning performance in the country’s first City Champs almost half a year ago in March but will be playing in his very first Nationals. Piloting one of the more skill intensive decks in the format, Chong proves that he is no fluke, battling his way through the best players in the country, and now just one step away from proving that he is in fact, the best.
Player Name - Chong Kin Leong
Deck Name - 5C Reveillark
4 Reveillark
4 Mulldrifter
4 Wall of Roots
3 Bonded Fetch
3 Kitchen Finks
1 Murderous Redcap
1 Venser, Shaper Savant
3 Firesprout
2 Primal Command
2 Prismatic Lens
3 Grater Gargadon
3 Body Double
3 Sower of Temptation
1 Vivid Crag
1 River of Tears
1 Wooded Bastion
3 Vivid Grove
1 Flooded Grove
2 Mystic Gate
3 Island
3 Mutavault
4 Vivid Creek
4 Reflecting Pool
1 Groove of Burnwillows
Sideboard
2 Runed Halo
1 Venser, Shaper Savant
2 Teferi's Moat
2 Crovax, Ascendant Hero
2 Pact of Negation
3 Thoughtseize
3 Extirpate
Decklists are courtesy of MTG-Malaysia.com
Game 1
Au Yong was first to act after winning the dice roll, evoking a Mulldrifter on his third turn after a series of land-go from both players. Not wanting to lose card advantage, Chong starts off with a Bonded Fetch. Hoping to put early pressure on Chong, Au Yong suspends his Greater Gargadon and plays an Aven Riftwatcher. Chong takes full advantage Au Yong’s Mulldrifter in his graveyard, copying it with a Body Double, snagging two cards while he’s at it. Au Yong’s Riftwatcher got in for two, and Au Yong determined not to lose the card advantage, plays his own Body Double, copying Mulldrifter as well, and grabbing another 2 cards.
The ‘Mulldrifters’ traded with each other while the Riftwatcher got in for another 2 damage. Au Yong then continues to put his cards to good use, expanding his mana base by playing a Mind Stone and a Prismatic Lens. Chong who has been light on action plays a Wall of Roots and attacks with his Mutavault. Au Yong players another Mulldrifter and both players continue to pour lands into the board. A Primal Command from Chong meets a Pact of Negation, while Au Yong’s Mulldrifter makes Chong have 14 life left after a series of chipping from the air. Au Yong keeps the pressure high as another of his Mulldrifter his play and a Sower of Temptation takes Chong’s Bonded Fetch away to join Au Yong. But Chong is ready for it, and with a careful green mana activated only Firesprout, Chong sweeps the board, gets back his Bonded Fetch and dealt with all of his immediate threats. But his biggest threat of all, Au Yong is not done yet. He puts his Greater Gargadon into play, and attacks with it and a Mutavault, forcing Chong to chump block with his Mutavault and Wall of Roots. Au Yong then plays another Riftwatcher ready to pick a fight. But despite Au Yong’s strong presence throughout the game, it was not to be his. Chong plays a Sower of Temptation, taking control of the 9/7.
And when he shows Au Yong his Reveillark that Au Yong has no answer for, he concedes the first game of the finals.
Au Yong Wai Kin 0 – Chong Kin Leong 1
In the meantime, Jason Yap and Nico Surinindran has already finished their 3rd place playoffs in 3 lightning fast games in the time Au Yong and Chong took to play their first. Jason Yap wins Nico and earns his place as one of the designated members of the National Team, and as well as US$ 300 more than his playoffs opponent.
Game 2
After some boarding action, Au Yong Leads off with a Mystic Gate, while Chong plays a Prismatic Lens as his first place. Au Yong plays a Bonded Fetch, and Chong determined not to let Au Yong take the lead, plays a Thoughtseize, taking away Au Yong’s Sower of Temptation.
Au Yong is short on lands, and desperately digs for it with his Bonded Fetch, but sees Sower of Temptation and Teferi instead. Chong suspends his Gargadon and his Mutavault heads in for two while Au Yong continues to dig for land and sends his Mutavault into combat for two off Chong as well. A Wall of Roots from Chong meets a Rune Snag and when Au Yong’s Body Double copies a Sower of Temptation, which tried to gain control of Chong’s newly cast Bonded Fetch, he sacrifices it to his Gargadon suspended ability to avoid gifting it to Au Yong. A Primal Command from Chong resolves while a Au Yong’s Mutavault and Body Double (Sower) attacks. Another Bonded Fetch hits play for Chong and Au Yong tries to take it away again with another Body Double, but is again denied by Chong as he sacrifices that too to his Greater Gargadon. Meanwhile the life totals keep dwindling down with Au Yong at 10 while Chong, at 8, prompts Chong to make his move, evoking his Reveillark which met resistance in the form of Au Yong’s Pact of Negation, but Chong was ready for it as he counters with his own Pact of Negation. The Reveillark resolves, but as its ability triggers and after Chong chose his targets, Au Yong responds with his Faerie Macabre, removing those cards away from the game, effectively blanking Chong’s efforts. Chong tries to seize the game, attacking with his 9/7 Gargadon that manages to enter play and takes Au Yong down to 1. Hoping to seal off the game, Chong plays an Extirpate after Au Yong’s draw step, targeting his Sower of Temptation, hoping to prevent a swing like the last game. Yet it was too late for Chong, as Au Yong’s two Body Doubles (copying Sowers) sweeps in for 4 damage, leaving Chong with 4, and after a chump block by Au Yong with a Mutavault for the Gargadon, Au Yong attacks for the win with his double Doubles and Chong had nothing to stop them.
Au Yong Wai Kin 1 – Chong Kin Leong 1
Game 3
Despite losing the lead, Chong has little to show in his first few turns as Au Yong runs into mana problems again as he leads off with a suspended Gargadon, Prismatic Lens, Bonded Fetch and Mulldrifters as he desperately searches for more mana sources to fuel his deck. By the time Au Yong attacked for this first 2 damage with his Mulldrifter, Au Yong has taken 5 damage on his own from his painlands. Au Yong continues to wear Chong’s lifetotals down with his Mulldrifter while Chong continues to do nothing. A Venser met a remove soul and Chong finally actively searched for action as he plays a Bonded Fetch to get back into the game. Au Yong decisively takes action, trying to take advantage of the lack of action from Chong, attacking with Mulldrifter and his Mutavault aggressively, and it earned a trade from Chong who blocked the Mutavault with one of his own. Au Yong refueled his hand with a Momentary Blink on his Mulldrifter and another relentless attack phase later, Chong is left with 8. He tries to play a Reveillark, but it meets a Remove Soul and by this time, Au Yong’s Greater Gargadon has already hit play, and is threatening to end the game very soon. Chong continues to dig for action and solution with his Bonded Fetch, but came up empty.
Au Yong Wai Kin 2– Chong Kin Leong 1
Game 4
Chong goes roaring out of the gates in this game he tries to grasp back the lead he took from Game 1 with a Thoughtseize and a suspended Gargadon. Au Yong is only one game away from being National Champion but he betrays no emotion whatsoever has he calmly plays a Prismatic Lens as his first play. Chong follows up with a 2nd Gargadon suspended, while Au Yong evokes his Mulldrifter yet again. A Body Double from Au Yong nets him another two cards copying Mulldrifter, and Chong promptly steals it with a Sower of Temptation. The window of opportunity gave Au Yong the chance to play a Reveillark, though when Chong tried to play his immediately after Au Yong’s turn, it met a Remove Soul. The Reveillark attacked undeterred twice and takes Chong down to 10, after taking 2 from his own Thoughtseize.
Au Yong tries to play a Mulldrifter, but Chong plays Venser in response – yet through a Rune Snag, it manages to resolves. A Thoughtseize from Chong takes a Momentary Blink away and Au Yong players a Sower of Temptation, stealing Chong’s Sower, and even though both of his Greater Gargadon manages to enter play for Chong, they could only stare helplessly as Au Yong’s flying army swoops in and killed off Chong.
Au Yong Wai Kin 3 – Chong Kin Leong 1
Au Yong Wai Kin is the 2008 Malaysian National Champion!
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