Magic The Gathering - Malaysia

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Another Sunday has gone by and so did the last PTQ Kyoto for Malaysia as about 70 players showed up to battle for the last chance to qualify for Pro Tour Kyoto and win the invite to PT Kyoto and flight ticket to Kyoto, Japan.

7 rounds and another long day of dueling later – once again only 8 were left still standing.

The top 8 single elimination playoffs - random pairings

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Johan Jamal Yacob vs Zac D Hill

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Kenny Tan vs Chen Tze Kang

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Mohd Hafiz Mokhtaruddin vs Chooi, Yew Vern V

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Nur Effendy Shahabudin vs Sebastian Wu

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PTQ Kyoto @ KL/PJ December 14 2008 – Quarterfinals
Zac Hill vs Johan Jamal Yacob

Although lacking in major finishes, Johan Jamal Yacob did recently made back to back top 8 appearances for 2 GPT Taipei early during this Shards of Alara sealed limited season, winning one of them. Although this will be his first PTQ: Kyoto top 8, Johan must be hoping to clinch the title to prove his mastery of the format.

Meanwhile, Johan’s quarterfinals opponent Zac Hill is a popular StarCityGames.com columnist and Pro Tour regular including a 2nd place finish at Grand Prix St. Louis. The American is currently working in the country for the Malaysian Centre for Independent Journalism. Unfortunately for the local players, a lack of major finishes on the international circuit this year season for Zac means that he has to come to fight with everyone else for a flight ticket for Pro Tour Kyoto, and only 3 others remained standing in his way...


Johan Jamal Yacob

Game 1

Zac won the dice roll and chose to draw first to the surprise of Johan.

Johan started off with a tri-colored land, while Zac led off with a Puppet Conjurer, who is used by Zac to attack Johan for 1, before following up with an Obelisk while all Johan had were lands for 4 straight turns. Zac then added a Bloodpyre Elemental to his side of the board, attacked Johan for another 1 damage with the Conjurer before playing a Bull Cerodon on his following turn, and attacked Johan with all 3 of his creatures to knock 10 points off Johan’s life totals but Johan was ready for it as he played Skeletonize to kill off Zac's Puppet Conjurer, blocking Zac's 4/1 Elemental with his 1/1 Skeleton token creature from Skeletonize to kill off the 4/1, but he still took 5 damage from the 5/5 beast.



Johan dug into his library with an Elvish Visionary, and then played an Oblivion Ring to temporarily deal with Zac’s Bull Cerodon. Zac however had an Oblivion Ring of his own to remove Johan's Oblivion Ring from the game, a play which drew a collective gasp from the on-looking audience. Zac then sent his Bull Cerodon who returned from oblivion into the red zone to immediately hit in for another 5 thanks to the beast’s haste ability but Johan put his Elvish Visionary in front of it to avoid losing his grip further in the game. A Cloudheath Drake joins Johan's side of the board and he took another 5 damage to go down to 8 from Zac’s Bull Cerodon, choosing not to block with his 3/3 flyer. Zac then added more pressure on Johan with a Fire-Field Ogre. Johan took some time to consider his options before simply passing the turn.

Zac then attacked with his 5/5 alone, deciding to play it safe and not attack with his 4/2 first strike ogre. Johan forced to act, played Naya Charm, choosing to return his Skeletonize to his hand from the graveyard but Zac was ready for it with a Bant Charm which countered Johan's instant. Johan put his Drake in front of the 5/5, then played a Rhox War Monk on his turn and passed his turn. Zac attacked with both his creatures, with his 5/5 beast blocked by Johan’s War Monk. The combat step took Johan down to 4 from the 4/2 first striker, but went back up to 7 with the life gained from the Monk.


Zac Hill

“Kiss me?” - Zac, playing a Kiss of the Amesha.

“Sure, Zac” - Johan.

Zac drew 2 cards and went up to 27 from the spell, and when Johan drew blank, there was little he could do but to scoop up his cards for game 2.

Zac Hill 1 – Johan Jamal Yacob 0

Game 2

As both players drew their opening hands Zac chose to keep his hand quickly, but Johan had to mull over his hand for a while before deciding to just keep his opening 7 with him on the draw.

Both players only have land for the first 2 turns as Zac cracked his panorama on the end of Johan 2nd turn. Zac then continued to build his mana base with an Obelisk of Naya while Johan simply played another land and said go. Zac then played his Bloodpyre Elemental, but Johan is still light on action with just an Obelisk of Grixis as his first spell of the game.



Zac attacked Johan into 16 with the 4/1, played a Wild Nacatl and passed his turn. On the following turn, Johan had his own Bloodpyre Elemental, sacrificed it immediately to kill off the other 4/1. Unfazed, Zac sacrificed his 2nd panorama on the end of Johan's turn before attacking with his now 3/3 Nacatl, made smooching sounds as he played his Kiss of the Amesha to draw 2, and went up to 27.

Johan then tried to disturb Zac’s mana sources with a Volcanic Submersion destroying Zac’s plains but Zac simply cracked another panorama to allow his 3/3 Cat Warrior to take Johan down another 3 to10 before playing Fire-Field Ogre to maintain pressure on Johan. Johan passed his turn without any action again which made Zac felt wary, took some time to considers the possibilities before attacking Johan to just 3 life left with his 4/2 and 3/3 before adding an Elspeth, Knight-Errant to his side of the board, making a 1/1 Soldier with the Planeswalker. Johan drew for his turn again but once again has no answer to Zac’s overwhelming board position and extended his hand.



Zac Hill 2 – Johan 0

Zac Hill won the quarterfinals match defeating Johan Jamal Yacob 2-0!