Magic The Gathering - Malaysia

Wearn Chong, PTQ Kyoto @ Penang November 23 2008 Winner

From being the highest authority in Malaysian Magic The Gathering rules and tournament policies, to being a Pro Tour competitor - Wearn Chong is the PTQ Kyoto Penang November 23 2008 Winner after his finals opponent Yau Mun Yip conceded to his friend from Ipoh.

Wearn Chong joins Nico Surinidran as the 2nd player to qualify for Pro Tour Kyoto on the local PTQ circuit and has announced his intention to also compete at Pro Tour Kyoto 2009 alongside Nico Surinidran.

Only time will tell who will be playing alongside Wearn Chong and Surinidran after PTQ Kyoto @ Ipoh (this coming weekend, 30th November 2008) as well as PTQ Kyoto @ KL/PJ (14th December 2008).

Continue reading for a photo gallery of images take from PTQ Kyoto @ Penang November 23 2008.




























Read more!

PTQ Kyoto @ Penang November 23 2008 - Semifinals
Wearn Chong vs Mohd Afiq Mohd Nasir


The top 8 draft

As the accomplished veterans battled for a seat in the finals, Wearn Chong and Mohd Afiq Mohd Nasir triumphed over their respective quarterfinals and now have to play against each other to see who gets to fight against Mun Yip for the ever elusive invite.

Game 1

Wearn wins the dice roll and elects to start first. Wearn mulls over his hand, and saying that he's tempted but decides to mulligan. Mohd Afiq decides to mulligan as well but ends up with a 5 card starting hand after being unhappy about his 6 card hand..

Afiq misses his 2nd land drop while Wearn plays a Jund Battlemage that meets a Magma Spray immediately. A Naya Panorama comes in for Afiq and it goes for a forest while Wearn plays a Scavenger Drake. A Rip-Clan Crasher comes in for Afiq, but he missed another land drop, as he hits Wearn for 2 to take him to 18, while Wearn's Drake hits Afiq for 1 after which Wearn adds a rarely played Minion Reflector to his side of the board. Afiq plays a Dragon's Herald that invoked some chatter among the spectators who discussed about the possibility of Afiq having the Mythic rare that the herald can find.



Meanwhile, Wean plays a Drumhunter who triggers the Minion Reflector, which allowed Wearn to attack Afiq with the 2/2 Drumhunter token and Drake, taking Afiq to 16 after which Wearn's Drake gets a +1/+1 from the token who has to be sacrificed at end of turn. Wearn plays a a Cavern Thoctar, triggering the Minion Reflector again, allowing Wearn to attack Afiq into 9, pumping his Drake by another +1/+1 counter and drawing a card from Drumhunter at end his turn, pulling the game further away for Afiq. When a Mosstodon comes in for Wearn, Afiq goes down to 1 from the resulting attack and the game was as good as over despite him having double Resounding Roar to kill off Wearn's 5/5 beast. Afiq could not draw anything and is forced to just scoop up his cards for game 2.

Wearn Chong 1 – Mohd Afiq Mohd Nasir 0

Game 2


Mohd Afiq Mohd Nasir

Afiq is on the play and he cracks his Panorama on turn 2 for a Rip-Clan Crasher on his following turn, getting in for 2 while the only action from the other side of the board was only an Obelisk. An Elvish Visionary followed the Crasher while it swung in for another 2 to take Wearn down to 16, while adding a Goblin Mountaineer. All Wearn has is a Viscera Dragger and Afiq untapped and attacked with all his creatures, and Wearn chose to block the 2/2 Crasher with his 3/3 Dragger, it meets a Resounding Roar, giving it +3/+3, killing off the Dragger while his remaining 2 1/1s took Wearn down to 14.

Wearn untapped, took some time to consider his options, and decided to play a Jund Battlemage after which he unearthed his 3/3 Dragger who took Afiq to 17 who just cracked his panorama and untapped before sending all of his creatures into the red zone. Wearn's Battlemage took care of Afiq's Elvish Visionary but took 3 to go to 11. Afiq then plays a Thorn-Thrash Viashino who preferring to keep his mountain-walker alive, just devours his Rip-Clan Crasher to become a 4/4.


Wearn Chong
Wearn passed his turn doing nothing while Afiq lays a Lightning Talons on his 4/4 Viashino before attacking with both his creatures - a 1/1 mountain-walker and a 7/4 Viashino with first strike and trample if he activates his viashino's ability. Wearn takes some time to consider his play and after some deliberation, chose to block the 7/4 first striker with his 2/2 Battlemage. With first strike damage on the stack after Afiq assigned 2 damage to the Battlemage, and 5 to Wearn after giving it trample, Wearn played a Jund Charm to put 2 +1/+1 counter on the Battlemage, surviving first strike combat damage, and killing of the 7/4, took 6 damage from Afiq's attack but killed off his most dangerous threat with a brilliant play.

The Battlemage made a 1/1 saproling token at the end of Afiq's turn and forged ahead as he goes to the offensive, taking both his creatures into combat knocking his opponent down to 12 with his 4/4 Battlemage and 1/1 token despite sitting dangerously low on health at 4 before a Carrion Thrash joins his growing army. Afiq found and played his Necrogenesis which causes Wearn to pause to consider again before pressing on anyway, taking another 5 life from Afiq to drop him to 7 from the 4/4 Battlemage and 1/1 token again while Afiq used Necrogenesis's ability to make a 1/1 token who chump blocked Wearn's 4/4 Carrion Trash. Wearn continued to pile pressure on Afiq with a Skeletal Kathari as Afiq kept pushing his Goblin Mountaineer into combat to try to steal the game from Wearn before bolstering his defense with a Cylian Elf and Goblin Deathraiders.



Another critical possible combat phase causes Wearn to consider the possible combat outcomes again but he presses ahead anyway, and all Afiq could do was to prevent his death by sending his creatures into the way of Wearn's 2 4/4s but could do nothing about the flying 3/2, who takes him down to 4.

Afiq was barely hanging on despite being just 2 life points short away from victory with a 1/1 mountain-walker, untapped his cards, and drew what he hope to be a game winner...

...but failed to find anything useful or capable to delay his inevitable demise and thus conceding the game and match to Wearn.

Wearn Chong 2 – Mohd Afiq Mohd Nasir 0

Wearn Chong wins his semifinals match to advance into the finals beating Mohd Afiq Mohd Nasir 2-0!Read more!

This is where legends are born. Four annual worldwide stops make up the Tour, with each event showcasing a prize pool of more than $230,000. Travel the world, face off against the best players the game has to offer, and enjoy the spoils available to those living the life of a professional Magic player.

Exterior of Kyoto Station by Bentley Smith

Reminder: PTQ Kyoto for Ipoh is this coming Sunday! Don't miss your chance to win a chance to play against the best in the world along with a return flight ticket to Kyoto to play in Pro Tour Kyoto and a shot at huge cash prizes, or win USD$375!

For more information, click on the link below.

Original post - PRO TOUR QUALIFIER KYOTO, JAPAN (IPOH) - NOVEMBER 30th, 2008


View of Kyoto city from Kiyomizu temple by j snodRead more!

There was 8.

But now only 4 remain – out of the surviving 8, another 4 has fallen and only 2 other players will be standing in the way of the for all 4 players from the chance to play in Pro Tour Kyoto 2009.


The view of 1-Stop Midlands Park, Penang from the 4th floor near the tournament venue

Both Vincent Gan and Yau Mun Yip are veterans of the game and well known amongst the PTQ regulars. With numerous Pro Tour appearances and countless PTQ top 8s between the two of them, there is no bigger match-up possible among the top 8 players of the tournament. Both players dispatched their quarterfinals opponents with great ease within minutes in a couple of quick and brutal games.



Vincent Gan has drafted a very aggressive Naya deck with a great mana curve, chocked full of quality creatures with double Steward of Valeron and Drumhunter who can accelerate Vincent into his double Mosstodon, double Jungle Weaver and double Rockcaster Platoon along with double Naya Battlemage to support and mess up combat steps for the opponent while quality removals like double Branching Bolt, Oblivion Ring and Resounding Silence rounds up Vincent's deck's highlights.

Yau Mun Yip might have been initially unhappy with his draft deck, but after easily dispatching Mohd Ikmal in his quarterfinals match with monsters after monsters, he might be having second thoughts how his wild 4-color concoction could be quite the monster after all as Realm Razer, Mycoloth, Rafiq of the Many prove to be extremely loyal to him as they keep showing up game after game to put his opponents away with ease.

PTQ Kyoto @ Penang November 23 2008 - Semifinals
Vincent Gan vs Yau Mun Yip


Vincent Gan

As the two players shuffled up their decks in preparation for their semifinals match, 4 other players still battle on around them in their quarterfinals matches. A sound testament about the two players' playing skills and their decks' raw power.

Game 1

Yau Mun Yip won the dice roll and choose to start. A first turn Akrasan Squire was quite a surprise for Mun Yip's spectators as his first creatures for the last two games were a turn 4 Rafiq of the Many and a turn 5 Mycoloth. The Squire hits in early for 2 turns, taking Vincent to 16, while all Vincent had was a Naya Battlemage on his 3rd turn, prompting Mun Yip to hit for another 2 to 14 before the tapper comes online and adds a Cloudheath Drake to his board. Vincent adds a Steward of Valeron to his board and passed his turn while Mun Yip draws a Bull Cerodon which got tapped immediately during the combat phase by Vincent's Naya Battlemage, while taking Vincent down to another 4 to 10 with the Cloudheath Drake. An Oblivion Ring from Vincent deals with 5/5 beast for the moment, leading to an attack from Mun Yip's Squire after his Drake got tapped by Vincent's Battlemage that results into a trade with Vincent's Steward, after which both Yau and Vincent both passes their turns without doing anything.



When Vincent chose not to tap Mun Yip's Drake - Yau throw caution to the winds, and after a moment's consideration, decided not to attack with his 3/3 flyer. A Jungle Weaver comes into play for Vincent and when he passes his turn, Yau quickly cycles his Resounding Wave, targeting Vincent's Jungle Weaver and Naya Battlemage, but upon realizing that he could have bounced Vincent's Oblivion Ring to take back his 5/5 tries to change his targets, but gets a judge call from Vincent instead. Terence ruled that since Mun Yip has clearly announced his initial targets, he can't take it back.

Yau's Drake attacked, takes another chunk off Vincent's dangerously low life totals, and adds a Sighted-Caste Sorcerer and Knight of the Skyward Eye to his board while Vincent only play a Naya Battlemage. Mun Yip sends his army into the red zone, a Resounding Silence takes away the Knight of the Skyward Eye and Vincent plays his Jungle Weaver during his turn but it was all for naught as Mun Yip plays a Naya Charm tapping all of Vincent's potential block at the end of his turn, prompting Vincent to just scoop up his cards and concede.

Yau Mun Yip 1 – Vincent Gan 0


Yau Mun Yip

The players talked about Mun Yip's mistake during the choosing of targets for his cycled ability which led to Mun Yip apologizing to Vincent for wanting to change his targets. The players shuffled up for their next game and soon it was time for what Mun Yip must hope to be the last game of his semifinals.

Game 2

Vincent chose to start first but had to mulligan his opening hand. Another turn 1 Akrasan Squire starts chipping life from Vincent early and he plays a Sacellum Godspeaker to hopefully accelerate into a more explosive start but it meets a Magma Spray immediately to put a end to any possible explosive turn for Vincent. The Squire takes Vincent down to 16 while a Steward of Valeron comes in for Vincent. Choose to keep his Akrasan Squire around, Mun Yip chose not to forge on and instead just adds a Cloudheath Drake to his side of the board. Mun Yip's plan to press on with the Drake however is delayed as Vincent plays Excommunicate on it while building up his board up with a Naya Battlemage and Rockcaster Platoon. Mun Yip as fat of his own as he plays a Yoked Plowbeast while his Drake is kept locked down with Naya Battlemage's tapping ability.



A freshly cast Court Archers allows Mun Yip's Plowbeast to trade with Vincent's Platoon after the 5/5 becomes a 7/7 from his two creatures with exalted while Vincent pumps his Platoon with his Naya Battle to also make it a 7/7.

Having two exalted creatures, Mun Yip, convinced that he has a lead in board position, plays his Realm Razer to hopefully steal the game away from Vincent. He takes him down to 9 but Vincent found a plains to stem most of the bleeding from Realm Razer as Naya Battlemage's tapping ability comes online. Mun Yip's Drake keeps getting locked down as Mun Yip held back Realm Razer to fearing to lose it to Vincent and giving him back all his lands. He slowly chips Vincent down to 6 with his Archer who attacks as a 3/5 all of the time thanks to double exalted. Meanwhile Vincent keep drawing his lands and soon Realm Razer's ability did more to affect Mun Yip more than Vincent.



When Yau pressed on again with his Archers however, a Branching Bolt kills off his Drake and Archers with exalted on the stack to turn the tables around. Now that the Realm Razer can be locked down by Vincent's Battlemage, Vincent pressed on as hard now that he has the better board position as he keep drawing lands after lands, negating the effect brought on by Realm Razer while Mun Yip fail to draw into his mana sources. Vincent's Drumhunter piles up the damage while Mun Yip is forced to trade his Squire with Vincent's Steward. Vincent adds a Sight-Caste Sorcerer to hasten Mun Yip's clock with him just standing at only 11 life left. Mun Yip finally found a land, and plays a Knight of the Skyward Eye off the land and his Obelisk which ended up trading with Vincent's Drumhunter.

With Yau at 5 and Vincent at 6, it could be anyone's game now as Yau finally finds his 2nd land and 3rd mana source along with his Obelisk but he simply passed his turn doing nothing, even as Vincent's Battlemage tapped his Realm Razer while Vincent's Sorcerer his him for 4 with the Battlemage's +2/+0 ability and exalted to take Mun Yip to 1, and it was as if the match was about to go into game 3.



But as Vincent passes his turn, Mun Yip bounces his Realm Razer with his Resounding Wave, getting back all his lands, untaps, plays a Rafiq of the Many and a Bull Cerodon, attacking for 12 damage with just one creature to win the game at just a single life remaining.

Yau Mun Yip 2 – Vincent Gan.0

Yau Mun Yip advances into the finals beating Vincent Gan 2-0!

In the meantime, Mohd Afiq Mohd Nasir and Wearn Chong won their respective quarterfinals matches and now have to play each other in their own semifnals to decide who will be playing against Yau Mun Yip for the tournament title and the invite and return flight ticket to Pro Tour: Kyoto.Read more!

Correction: Mun Yip was playing a 4 color-concoction instead of a 5 color deck. The writer apologizes for the mistake.

After another long day of grueling and tiring games, only 3 more match wins separates one of the 8 remaining players from his invitation to Pro Tour: Kyoto and his chance for Pro Tour fame and glory.



Out of the 8, half are veterans and accomplished players of the game, a very well known judge, and 3 more relatively unknowns. 2 of the game veterans however goes heads up against each other, fighting for survival in the first of the 3 single elimination game they have fight through to win the invite.

Both players travelled far to play for the invite (one from Ipoh while the other from KL), but there is only one invite, one return flight ticket to win...

PTQ Kyoto @ Penang November 23 2008 - Quarterfinals
Mohd Ikmal Mohd Nasir vs Yau Mun Yip

On one end sits one of the most accomplished players in the local scene in the country, although a lack of high finishes on the international scene despite multiple Pro Tours slightly puts a dampener on the veteran's resume. On the other end, Mohd Ikmal has been on a winning streak of late, this being back to back PTQ top 8 finish for him. After a missed opportunity just barely two weeks ago, he is ready to make amends and more than ready to seize the moment, lest he let this be another missed chance.


Yau Mun Yip

Yau Mun Yip was pretty unhappy with the deck that he settled upon at the end of deck construction after the top 8 draft despite opening numerous bombs from his packs. He ended up with a wild 4 color concoction that simply tries to play with all the best cards he has to complement his bombs along with a large number of Obelisks to balance out the color issue.

Meanwhile, Mohd Ikmal can't be too happy with his deck either has he drafted a Bant deck with numerous Exalted creatures with a wide assortment of removals like Oblivion Ring, Branching Bolt, Soul's Fire, Magma Spray and more but lacks any creatures that stands out in particular.


Mohd Ikmal Mohd Nasir

Game 1

Mohd Ikmal won the dice roll and elected to start after some consideration. Both players are happy with their opening hand and both starts off slow, with just lands for the first few turns until a Kathari Screecher comes in for Mohd Ikmal while Mun Yip only has a Obelisk to play in return, a Court Archers comes in for Mohd Ikmal, taking his 2/2 flyer into the red zone, hitting Yau to 17, thanks to the Archers' Exalted ability. Mun Yip took some time to consider his options, and simply decides to just go for it and play a Rafiq of the Many as his first creature spell.



Mohd Ikmal is not happy to see the Mythic rare, but could do nothing beyond hitting Mun Yip for another 3 damage with the Screecher taking him down to 14. Mun Yip then sends Rafiq into the red zone, attacking Ikmal, predicting a bounce from him but Mun Yip opponent simply reaches for his pen, writing down the 8 damage he decided to absorb, which takes him down to 12, thanks to the now 4/4 double striking Rafiq. Mun Yip then only could only shrug and laugh as he lay down a Mycoloth, deciding not to devour his Legendary creature. All Ikmal can do was to send his Screecher into Mun Yip to hit for another 3.



Mun Yip then plays a Welkin Guide, giving his Mycoloth +2/+2 and flying and sends him into the red zone as a 6/6 double striker that Ikmal is forced to block with his Court Archers as it would have been lethal.



A Waveskimmer Aven hits play for Ikmal, and his Screecher hits Yau for another 3, taking him down to 8 but a Bloodpyre Elemental from Mun Yip kills off Ikmal's Aven before taking him down to 2 with the double striking 5/5?. Ikmal drew and play his own Bloodpyre Elemental, killing off Rafiq immediately with it, but with barely any life left and much superior creatures on his opponent's side, he went through his combat phases as carefully as possible, but as he desperately tries to find a way out – all he could do was scoop up all his cards for game 2 as Mun Yip's army prove to be too overwhelming for him to handle.

Mohd Ikmal Mohd Nasir 0 – Yau Mun Yip 1

Meanwhile, the battle rages on as players all around the two of them fight it out to decide who will be the ones to survive the quarterfinals.


Rick Lee Hup Beng vs Mohd Afiq Mohd Nasir


Wearn Chong vs Yew Fung Han


Vincent Gan vs Cheong Chee Keong

Game 2

Game 1 was a brutally quick game that was over within minutes.

Ikmal chooses to start again and once again lands leads off the game as the players have nothing to play for the first few turns. Ikmal misses his 3rd land, but found his 3rd land on the 4th turn as he lays a Guardian of Akrasa while all Yau has was another Obelisk. Ikmal as a Gustrider Exuberant to start his offense but Mun Yip plays another monster of a creature for his first creature with a Mycoloth which was promptly followed by a Realm Razer, compounding onto to Ikmal's already mana trouble which is hurting his game badly as it is.



There was nothing Ikmal could do at this point as Mun Yip hits him for 8 with his 4/2 and 4/4, and with Ikmal drawing nothing but dead cards, he simply concedes the game paving the way for Mun Yip to advance into the Semifinals who can't help but be apologetic and sheepish about his match win.

Mohd Ikmal Mohd Nasir 0 – Yau Mun Yip 2

Yau Mun Yip advances into the semifinals beating Mohd Ikmal Mohd Nasir 2-0!Read more!

Smalltalk: Here's the first of the series of articles covering PTQ: Kyoto (Penang) that just took place last Sunday on the 23rd, late as usual. I will be busy on Tuesday as I will be traveling to Putrajaya for boring matters to attend but I hope to put out a Semifinals report on the Mun Yip vs Mohd Ikmal match by late night Tuesday.

Hope you'll enjoy the whole PTQ coverage all the way from Penang - the trip was long and tiring but the experience was wonderful and if you do enjoy this series of reports, all the money and effort spent would be worth it.

So I'd really appreciate it if you're willing drop me a comment, a message or any form of feedback whatsoever. You can also reach me at QJ.Wong@gmail.com



The cozy and welcoming bookstore, nicely tucked in a corner of the fourth floor of 1-Stop Midlands Park, Penang was bursting with a very uncommon amount of activity as players from all over showed up to fight the locals and each other on the 23rd of November 2008 for a chance to qualify for Pro Tour: Kyoto and win return flight ticket to Kyoto, Japan or USD$375.

Almost 40 players showed up, way beyond the expected turnout for Tournament Organizer, Terence Lee. As a result, additional tables had to be procured and certain players have to play at a distance away in front of empty lots and caused some unfortunate and unavoidable delays.



Nevertheless, the passion of the game were running high and the atmosphere exciting as the players play the game that is a big part of millions of lives all around the world. The air tensed up as the top 8 begin to take shape rounds after rounds of play – with many of the hopefuls knowing that only a precious final few spots are left for them to fight for towards the last round.

But as the dust settles...

...only 8 remained standing.


The top 8 players drafting for the single elimination rounds

Rick Lee Hup Beng checks in as the tournament leader as the only one to have as many as 16 points. Rick is 6th highest ranked limited player in the country at the moment. With his forte being in limited events, and one of the few surviving local Penang players in the top 8, underestimating his capabilities can only lead to the downfall of his opponents.


Rick Lee Hup Beng

Right behind Rick at 15 points is Mohd Ikmal Mohd Nasir from KL, a name and a face that is no stranger to the spotlight as once again he made the top 8 of PTQ: Kyoto 2008, right behind another top 8 appearance just barely 2 weeks ago as he unfortunately crashed out early during the single elimination rounds. With 6th highest composite ranked in the country and back to back top 8 finishes, he is ready to make amends and take home the title.


Mohd Ikmal Mohd Nasir

Yau Mun Yip, grizzled veteran of the local Magic playing circuit has been to multiple Pro Tours and had countless PTQ top 8 finishes. Unfortunately no major finishes beyond our shores means that although he is to be dreaded to play against locally, he is much of an unknown on the international scene. Ranked 9th in limited locally, perhaps today will be the day where Yau begin his journey to change that fact in Kyoto, several months into the future.


Yau Mun Yip

Another very familiar face to top players all around the country is Wearn Ee Chong. Although rarely seen on the tournament tables as a player, he is most well know and recognized as the highest authority in Magic: The Gathering tournament policies and rules in the country as the highest ranked certified tournament judge at level 3. He is also the tournament organizer for Ipoh as well as running his own shop there. In fact, he will be hosting his very own PTQ: Kyoto just next coming Sunday. Perhaps the very respected judge hope to be known and be well respected as a player as well as he also takes a shot at Pro Tour fame and glory.


Wearn Ee Chong

Vincent Gan makes another repeat appearance at PTQ: Kyoto, alongside Mohd Ikmal Mohd Nasir who also made the top 8 during the November 9th PTQ at Manawerx. Vincent is another seasoned veteran, with multiple Pro Tour appearances and countless PTQ top 8 finishes makes him and Yau Mun Yip one of the two most accomplished players in the country. Unfortunately, also like Yau, his results beyond our shores leave much to be desired of. Although he stumbled during the quarterfinals the last chance he had on making amends with PT: Kyoto to eventual winner, Nico Surinidran, Vincent has fought his way to another shot at PT: Kyoto with bone-chilling consistency that underlines his prowess over Shards of Alara limited formats.


Vincent Gan

Rounding up the rest of the top 8 are locals Cheng C. Chee Keong, and Yew Fung Han as well as Mohd Afiq Mohd Nasir, Mohd Ikmal’s brother who came with him to Penang.


Cheng C. Chee Keong


Yew Fung Han


Mohd Afiq Mohd Nasir

Will the season veterans take home the title and become stars on the international scene, or will the players with the lower profile sneak in and steal the title from the established players, or will the judge get his chance to hang up his striped shirts to become an established Pro instead?

The rest of the PTQ coverage to be written and posted as soon as possible!

Come back soon and visit for more!Read more!