Update: Watch our recaps of Day 1 and the Top 8 of the Magic World Cup.
On Today’s Minute: Day 2 of the 2017 Magic World Cup is in the books. The Top 8 is set after an epic match between Wales and the United States.
After 13 rounds of Magic, the Top 8 of the 2017 World Magic Cup is set. Day 2 featured 32 teams split into eight groups of four, in which each group played a mini round-robin tournament. Teams that won two matches in their first group advanced to a second group stage, and those that won two matches in their second group advanced to the Top 8.
The match of the day waited for the 13th and final round. Wales and the United States faced of in a win-and-in, lose-and-out rematch of Round 11. Oliver Tomajko of the US took a quick match 2-0 in the mono-Red mirror against Philip Griffiths. In the second match, American Gerry Thompson looked to have Aaron Boyhan of Wales on the ropes at three life in Game 3 of the Sultai vs Temur Energy matchup and about to put the US into the Top 8. But Boyhan drew a Vizier of Many Faces to copy Thompson’s Hostage Taker and steal Thompson’s Scarab God, allowing Boyhan to stabilize the board and out-value Thompson for the win to tie the round 1-1.
The deciding third match fell to Reid Duke of the United States on UW God Pharaoh’s Gift vs. Welshman Sam Rolf on UB Control. Tied at one game apiece, Rolf drew and played two sideboarded Deadeye Trackers, allowing him to keep Duke’s graveyard under control and prevent Duke from using his God Pharaoh’s Gifts. Duke never really had a chance as Rolf’s card advantage was too much to overcome, putting Wales into the Top 8.
The rest of the Top 8 is highlighted by Italy, featuring last year’s Magic World Cup semi-finalists Andrea Mengucci and Mattia Rizzi, as well as Japan, which boasts Hall of Famers Yuuya Watanabe and Shota Yasooka. The Top 8 is rounded out by China, having just made its first Day 2, Poland, Slovakia, Germany, and Austria.
The Top 8 starts Sunday at 3am Eastern on twitch.tv/magic.
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Read Frank Karsten’s 2017 World Magic Cup metagame breakdown here.