Manfield Triumphs in Daytona Beach

Congratulations to Seth Manfield, Grand Prix Daytona Champion!

The Philadelphia player was recently identified by one Magic columnist as a rising star and he lived up to the advance billing. His treefolk deck splintered the competition which included Grand Prix Minneapolis Champion Alex Lieberman and two-time pro Tour Top 8 competitor Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa. In the finals Seth's Cloudcrown Oaks, Bog-Strider Ash, and Doran, the Siege Tower proved to be be too tough for Paulo's speedy black-red removal.

This was the last event of the 2007 season before Worlds and players came here hoping to level up and jockey for position in the Player of the Year race. The two big winners on that front were Tomoharu Saito who picked up three more points with a Top 16 finish and Top 8 competitor Steven Wolansky who inched closer to the lead in the Rookie of the Year race. Don't forget Paulo who came into the event with 30 points and left more than halfway toward Level 5.

Tune into the Tournament Center in less than three weeks for the World Championships when those races -- and much, much more -- will be settled once and for all!

Quarterfinals
Lieberman, Alex vs Manfield, Seth
Miller, Kyle vs Grace, Tannon
da Rosa, Paulo Victor D. vs Walls, Gabe
Bragg, Tillman E. vs Wolansky, Steven J.

Semifinals
Manfield, Seth vs Grace, Tannon
da Rosa, Paulo Victor D. vs Bragg, Tillman E.

Final
Manfield, Seth vs da Rosa, Paulo Victor D.

Winner: Manfield, Seth 2-0


Top 8 Profiles

Name: Gabe Walls
Age: 23
Hometown: KTown, IN
Occupation: Hahahahahaha


Pro Tour Experience: 1 PT Top 8

Grand Prix Experience: 5th GP Top 8

Other Magic accomplishments: Team Worlds '03 Championship

How did you prepare for this tournament? MTGO 4Xs

First pick/first pack which would you pick Chandra Nalaar or Shriekmaw? Maw

Best rare in Lorywn for Limited? Mulldrifter

Best uncommon?Mull Shriekmaw

Best common? Mulldrifter

Best tribe? Mulldrifter

Name: Tillman Bragg
Age: 25
Hometown: Murfreesboro, TN
Occupation: Student

Pro Tour Experience: PT Atlanta and PT Charleston. Neither finish was good 

Grand Prix Experience: I know Gabe Walls?

Other Magic accomplishments: See GP Finishes...

How did you prepare for this tournament? Magic Online with some boys in my clan Russian Playa Kiki Jikis (They just wanted me to say their names.)

First pick/first pack which would you pick Chandra Nalaar or Shriekmaw? Shriekmaw

Best rare in Lorywn for Limited? Profane Command

Best uncommon? Shriekmaw

Best common? Silvergill Douser

Best tribe? Faeries


Name: Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa
Age: 20
Hometown: Porto Alegre, Brazil
Occupation: Student

Pro Tour Experience: Top 8 2006 Worlds. Top 2 PT Charleston

Grand Prix Experience: Top 8 GP San Francisco and Porto Alegre

Other Magic accomplishments: 2006 Brazilian National Champion and 3rd at this year's Invitational!

How did you prepare for this tournament? By going 2-4 in Bangkok and learning what not to do!

First pick/first pack which would you pick Chandra Nalaar or Shriekmaw? Chandra but it is very close.

Best rare in Lorywn for Limited? Profane Command

Best uncommon? Shriekmaw

Best common? Nameless Inversion

Best tribe? Faeries; Goblins and Merfolk are close second and third


Name: Steven "Stoyven" Wolansky
Age: 19
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Occupation: Student

Pro Tour Experience: Top 24 Geneva, Top 16 San Diego

Grand Prix Experience: Top 32 Grand Prix New Jersey

Other Magic accomplishments: Won Regionals 03

How did you prepare for this tournament? Infinite drafts since the set came out.

First pick/first pack which would you pick Chandra Nalaar or Shriekmaw? Chandra

Best rare in Lorywn for Limited? Mirror Entity

Best uncommon? Thundercloud Shaman

Best common? Dreamspoiler Witches

Best tribe? Faeries or Merfolk


Name: Kyle Miller
Age: 21
Hometown: Falls Church, VA
Occupation: Student

Pro Tour Experience:

Grand Prix Experience:

Other Magic accomplishments: Top 4 2HG States 07 with Mark Labelle

How did you prepare for this tournament? Playing at The Lucky Frog Triple Sealed Deck with William Wash, Scott Edmond. Mark Labelle, and others.

First pick/first pack which would you pick Chandra Nalaar or Shriekmaw? Shriekmaw for sure.

Best rare in Lorywn for Limited? Profane Command

Best uncommon? Shriekmaw

Best common? Wings of Velis Vel and Dreamspoiler Witches

Best tribe? Faeries


Name: Seth Manfield
Age: 17
Hometown: Philadelphia
Occupation:

Pro Tour Experience: Money in Geneva

Grand Prix Experience: 12th in NJ

Other Magic accomplishments: JSS/PTQs/Champs

How did you prepare for this tournament? Lots of drafts and Sealed on MTGO

First pick/first pack which would you pick Chandra Nalaar or Shriekmaw? Shriekmaw

Best rare in Lorywn for Limited? Sygg, River Guide

Best uncommon? Shriekmaw

Best common? Mulldrifter

Best tribe? Merfolk


Name: Alex Lieberman
Age: 22
Hometown: West Palm Beach, Florida
Occupation: Law Student

Pro Tour Experience: A string of Top 64 finishes a few seasons ago

Grand Prix Experience: GP Minneapolis Champion

Other Magic accomplishments: US Nationals Top 8 and friends with Antonino DeRosa and Gerard Fabiano.

How did you prepare for this tournament? I taught my girlfriend how to play and we practiced together the week before the GP.

First pick/first pack which would you pick Chandra Nalaar or Shriekmaw? Shriekmaw

Best rare in Lorywn for Limited? Profane Command

Best uncommon? Shriekmaw

Best common? Dreamspoiler Witches

Best tribe? Faeries


Name: Tannon Grace
Age: 22
Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA
Occupation: Salesman/student/gamer

Pro Tour Experience: London, Charleston

Grand Prix Experience:

Other Magic accomplishments:

How did you prepare for this tournament? Drafting and sealed with Mike, Adam, Jimmy, Kyle, Austin, George, Andy, Cannon, and Beau.

First pick/first pack which would you pick Chandra Nalaar or Shriekmaw? Shriekmaw

Best rare in Lorywn for Limited? Profane Command

Best uncommon? Shriekmaw

Best common? Mulldrifter

Best tribe? Faeries