Shaun Penrod | MTG Pro Tutor

BONUS: Magic Story Episode 2 – The Archmage of Goldnight | Eldritch Moon

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151: Andreas Ganz Knows There is Always More to Learn

Andreas Ganz has filled his life with many Magic-related activities. When he’s not playing Grand Prixs he works at a local Magic store, manages content for Blackborder.com and does some trading of his own. He has top 8ed 2 Grand Prixs and won 1! Andreas lives in Zurich, Switzerland.

150: The Mitas Touch of Tournament Prep with Alex Mitas

Alex Mitas is a college student from Albuquerque, NM, and an up-and-coming Magic player with a penchant for playing control decks, experience on the pro tour and, most recently, a grand prix top 8 competitor.

149: Special Guest Jason Preston Helps Us Apply Magic Skills to the Workplace

Jason Preston is the co-founder of Dent, a conference and a community of entrepreneurially minded creatives who seek to put a dent in the universe through great leadership and personal mastery. He’s known as “Spade” in Counter-Strike, and recently picked up Magic. Jason lives in Seattle WA with his wife and two kids.

148: The Importance of Getting Reps in with Joey Manner

Joey Manner is the owner of The Only Game In Town and has been on and off the Pro tour. He recently took a hiatus from Magic to focus on the shop but with the help of some very talented players he managed to top 8 Pro Tour Kaladesh with a deck no one saw coming (Blue White flash). Joey lives in New Jersey.

147: Let Go of Your Expectations with GP Champion Gabrielius Kaklauskas

Gabrielius Kaklauskas has been honing his craft and can claim 2 World Magic Cup appearances and 1 Pro Tour appearance as well as making day 2 for the first time at GP Warsaw 2016 where he walked away the Champion! Gabrielius lives in Lithuania.

146: In Chase of Silver with Christian Cespedes

Christian Cespedes is a Chilean Magic: The Gathering player. He’s the 2010 Chilean National Champion and made top 8 at Grand Prix Santiago 2016. Hes an avid Magic Online grinder and lives in Via Del Mar, Chile.

145: Don’t Limit Your Range and Growth with Ian Bozley

Ian Bozley is a local hero from Glen Burnie, Maryland who has 2 Grand Prix Top 8s (one in 2015 in Charlotte and the second in 2016 in Providence). Hes the (unofficial) team leader of Team MTGFirst.com, a member of Brown Magic, an alleged “friend” of Jeff Carr, and the owner of the coolest playmat in Magic!

144: Ricky Chin Shares How He Top 8’d His First Pro Tour

Ricky Chin played in his first Grand Prix and Pro Tour Qualifier at the end of 2014. Since then, he has qualified for his first Pro Tour, which he also top8’d. Hes a Gold level pro and a proud member of Team East West Bowl. Ricky lives in Quebec.

143: How to Learn from Mistakes with Marcus Hensing

Marcus Hensing is an up and coming Magic star from Copenhagen, Denmark who has recently made his first Grand Prix top 8 in London 2016.

142: Bordifies.com Founder Peer Richelsen On Legacy, Organizing Tournaments and Starting a Magic Product Company

Peer Richelsen is a long time Legacy player and the principal organizer of the Bordifies Eternal Series. He is also the founder of Bordifies.com, a premium perfect-fit sleeve with solid borders for customizing and unifying magic cards. Peer lives in Kiel Germany.

141: Intelligence Based Marathon with Cash Turner

Cash Turner has been playing Magic off and on for twenty years. He made Top 16 at Grand Prix Las Vegas in 2015 and Top 8 at Grand Prix Atlanta. Hes just a back room scallywag of ChannelFireball with a squad of ChannelFireball locals who have the heart and grit but not the spotlight. Hes blessed to be surrounded by low tier secret gods.

140: Thien Nguyen Talks Near Misses, Close Calls and Victories (aka All the Stories)

Thien Nguyen is a 26 year old engineer living Boston. Hes known as a Titanshift Innovator and has made top 8 at GP Pittsburgh 2015 and GP Atlanta 2016. Hes a Silver Level Pro looking to move on up.

139: Pro Tour Hall of Famer Ben Rubin on Developing a Long Perspective

Ben Rubin is a Pro Tour old timer who started when he was 15 yrs old. He has 4 Pro Tour top 8s, about 8 Grand Prix top 8s, and has won 2 masters. Hes a member of the Hall of Fame and got there by winning and losing a lot of matches.

138: How to Qualify for the Pro Tour 3 Different Ways with Brandon Pascal (He Did All Three!)

Brandon Pascal is a professional Magic: the Gathering grinder who has qualified for the Pro Tour three different ways! He won a Regional PTQ for Pro Tour Atlanta, a MTGO PTQ for Pro Tour Sydney and top 8’ed Grand Prix Indy for Pro Tour Hawaii.

137: Practice to Your Energy with Matt Sperling

Matt Sperling has 6 Grand Prix top 8s and 2 Pro Tour top 8s. He writes a regular column called Sperling’s Sick of It and tries to play to win without taking himself too seriously. He considers himself a hobbyist, not a professional, but feels that playing on the Pro Tour is just the best experience available. Matt lives in the Bay Area of Northern California.

136: Deepen Your Knowledge and Expand Your Skill by Playing Outside of Your Normal Group with Immanuel Gerschenson

Immanuel Gerschenson is 23 years old and is studying technical physiques. He has 2 Grand Prix wins and 1 Pro Tour Top 16. Hes made Gold level Pro for the second season in a row and is a member of team EUreka.

135: What Star Craft II Taught Chris Botelho About How to Succeed Playing Magic: The Gathering

Chris Botelho is a relatively new player who started playing in Fate Reforged. Grand Prix Portland was his first Standard GP (second GP ever) and his only Top 8. He works at CCGHouse, and goes to sleep each night a little bit better at Magic than when I woke up. Chris lives in Vancouver Washington.

134: How Focusing on Your Own Mistakes Can Get You to the Top 8 of a Grand Prix with Ryan Solave

Ryan Solave is from Sarnia, Ontario and has been playing Magic since Alara block. He plays a lot of online games, but sets aside most of his time for Magic. He had his first Grand Prix Top 8 in Indianapolis and is qualified for PT Kaladesh in Hawaii.

133: 13 Year Old Magic Whiz Kid Ethan Brown Shares the Secret to Leveling Up

Ethan Brown is 13 years old and loves to play Magic! Since he started playing almost 4 years ago, he has competed in 7 Grand Prixs, made day 2 in 4 of them and top 8 in one. His favorite formats are modern, legacy and pauper. Ethan lives in Portland.

132: Making Top 4 of a Grand Prix with Felix Tse

Felix Tse made top 4 at Grand Prix Montreal 2016 and live in Cananda.

131: Why Did You Start Playing? with Thierry Ramboa

Thierry Ramboa started playing magic 12 years ago but wasnt able to travel or play competitively until April 2015. He reached Silver level pro status in 2015 and has attended every European GP’s since then. He Top 8d Grand Prix Sydney.

130: You’re Not Failing at Life with Oliver Polak-Rottmann

Oliver Polak-Rottmann has 4 Grand Prix Top 8 including 1 Win, 1 Pro Tour Top 16, and is a 2-time National champion (2008, 2016). Oliver lives in Vienna, Austria.

129: What Committing to Magic Taught Robert Santana

Robert Santana is an up and coming star who made top 16 at the Star City Games Open in Las Vegas in 2014 and is the Grand Prix Portland 2016 Champion.

128: Travis Woo Reveals the Planeswalker that Can’t Be Attacked

Travis Woo is a strong Magic personality who has made Top 8 of a Grand Prix 3 times from the 12 he’s attended. He also developed a decklist that made it to the top 8 of a Pro Tour. He runs the Magic For Good Facebook group and more of his content can be found on his YouTube channel, youtube.com/traviswizard. Travis lives in Humble, California.

127: Play As Much As You Can with Saul Alvarado

Saul Alvarado has 2 Grand Prix top 8s: one at Grand Prix Los Angeles in 2009 and the other at Grand Prix Costa Rica in 2016. He’s a 2 time National Champion and has been part of several National Teams. Right now he’s focused on achieving his degree in Psychology, but is always making room for some Magical trips! Saul live in Panama City, Panama.

126: Don’t Let Your Dreams be Dreams with Erik Carson

Erik Carson spends most of his time as a musician and graphic designer but still makes room for Magic. He has 2 Star City Games Legacy Top 8s and 1 Grand Prix Top 8. He goes through spurts of streaming and is looking to make a run at the Pro Players Club starting with Grand Prix Portland 2016. Erik lives in Roseburg OR.

125: The Playtesting Tip That Made Robert Lombardi a Grand Prix Champion

Robert Lombardi has a Degree in Mechatronics Engineering, he’s married and has a 6 month old son. He has been playing Magic since Visions, took a break in Odyssey and got back in during Zendikar. He’s the Champion of Grand Prix Toronto and made Top 8 of Grand Prix Montreal. He’s much better at Limited than Constructed and is actively trying to be less hyperbolic.

124: Philippe Gareau Shares The Best Way To Win at Magic

Philippe Gareau has been playing Magic: The Gathering for 18 years and made his first Grand Prix top 8 at GP Montreal which qualified him for Pro Tour Kaladesh in Hawaii. Philippe lives in Quebec City, Canada.

123: How to Learn Every Time with Jonathan Melamed

Jonathan Melamed is a husband and father and has a PhD in Neuropsychopharmacology. He’s a long time Magic player, a Level 1 Judge, a Tournament Organizer AND store owner from Brasilia, Brazil. He has 2 Grand Prix Top 8s and 1 Pro Tour Top 16.

122: Andrew Sullano Sets Long Term Goals and Shares How They Help You Be a Better Magic Player

Andrew Sullano is a Pro Tour veteran who has attended Pro Tour Avacyn Restored, Return to Ravnica, and Oath of the Gatewatch. He made top 4 at Grand Prix Oklahoma City. Andrew lives in Dallas, Texas.

121: OP Like Jace, The Mind Sculptor with Matteo Moure

Matteo Moure has been playing Magic since he was 12 and has only been playing competitively for about one year. He made the finals at both Grand Prix London 2015 and Grand Prix Stockholm 2016. In addition to a few other minor Grand Prix placings he placed in the money at Pro Tour Milwaukee. Matteo lives in Rome, Italy.

120: The Secret to Level Ups with Matt Tumavitch

Matt Tumavitch recently graduated college with a degree in sports and recreation management. He’s a front end leader at a grocery store during weekdays and a ski instructor in the winter. He’s an aspiring Magic pro with one Grand Prix Top 8 and 2 Star City Games Open Top 8s. Matt lives just outside Scranton, PA.

119: “Luck Favors the Prepared” with Luis Salvatto

Luis Salvatto has 1 Super Sunday Series win, 1 Grand Prix top 8 and 1 Pro tour top 8.

118: Competitive Deck Building with Julien Henry

Julien Henry started playing Magic in Shards of Alara but has been playing competitively for only 2 years. He made it to the Finals of Grand Prix Manchester and qualified for Sydney which is going to be his 2nd Pro Tour. He’s a member of MTG Mintcard and he lives in Paris.

117: The Next 1% with Nathan Smith

Nathan Smith started playing magic in 2013, he played his first Grand Prix in 2014, and his first Pro Tour in 2015! He competed in the 2015 MOCS and in the last 6 Pro Tours, reaching the top 50 twice. He also has 2 Grand Prixs Top 8s. Last season he was a Silver Pro and has built off that to lock up Gold Pro status this season!

116: Long Term Goals Will Get You There with Niels Molle

Niels Molle is the frontrunner to be the Irish National Champion, he has made multiple cash finishes and has 1 Grand Prix Top 8.

115: Why You Should Read the Cards with Clay Spicklemire – GP Champion and Youngest Guest

Clay Spicklemire is an Indianapolis area Magic player who has been playing competitively since INN/RTR Standard and on and off since M10. He generally plays on the Star City Games circuit, and has had reasonable success there. He has 1 Grand Prix Top 8 where he was the Champion of GP Colombus.

114: Effective Tournament Prep with Christoffer Larsen

Christoffer Larsen is from Denmark and has 4 Grand Prix Top 8’s and has competed in at least 10 Pro Tours. He was on the Danish World Magic Cup team in 2015. Currently locked in as a Silver level pro.

113: Play the Game from Your Own Perspective with Edward Eng

Edward Eng is from Chicago and lived in Taiwan for 10 years but lives in Houston now. He started playing Magic in 1994. Stopped in 2000. Came back in 2010. He’s the creator of galactictreasures.com. He’s played in 2 Nationals and has top 16ed a Star City Games invitational.

112: How to Step Up to the Next Level with Christopher Walton

Christopher Walton is well known in the Michigan legacy community, he piloted U/W Miracles to a top 4 finish at Grand Prix Columbus 2016.

111: Over Confidence is Your Worst Enemy with Jonas Friberg

Jonas Friberg is a Swedish Magic: The Gathering player who played his first Grand Prix in 2014 and since then has played in 8 others including GP Barcelona and GP Manchester where he top 8:ed in both!

110: Visualization and Realization, Arne Huschenbeth’s Key to Success

Arne Huschenbeth started playing in Khans of Tarkir. He Top 8’d ten out of 12 PPTQs last season, and won 2 of them!! He Top 8’d his fourth Grand Prix in Paris. And made Top 64 at GP Manchester.

109: Pascal Maynard Reveals Wizards Coverage Secrets to Help You Improve

Pascal Maynard was on the Canadian National Team in 2010 and Top 50’d his first PT (which was Worlds Chiba 2010) by making it to 5th place in the team portion. He’s played in over 15 Pro Tours and has 10 Grand Prix Top 8s (including 2 wins!) in his record. He currently has 1 Pro Tour Top 8 and is gunning for more.

108: Theory Crafting with Andrew Elenbogen

Andrew Elenbogen is the captain of team Ann Arbor. He has two Grand Prix T8’s (Minneapolis and Omaha) the latter was with his favorite deck of all, Magic: RG Tron. He also finished 13-2 at GP Boston 2015 and cashed several other GPs and SCGs with that same deck.

107: Rising to the Top with Max McVety

Max McVety is a Magic player from Ann Arbor, MI who has been playing competitively since New Phyrexia. He’s played in 3 Pro tours, two of which he top 50’d. He made his first Grand Prix top 8 at GP Minneapolis 2016.

106: “Punt Ups” to a Better Game with Lauri Vuorela

Lauri Vuorela is an up and coming Magic star from Stockholm Sweden who had his first big finish by making Top 8 at Grand Prix Manchester 2016.

105: Patrick Chapin Returns! Your Questions Answered – 1 Year of MTG Pro Tutor

Patrick Chapin, “The Innovator,” is a Hall of Famer, Pro Tour Champion, and 5-time Pro Tour Top 8 competitor. Author of Next Level Magic and Next Level Deckbuilding, his articles can be found on StarCityGames.com and podcast at TopLevelPodcast.com.

104: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone with Eugene Hwang

Eugene Hwang lives a double life of a mild-mannered data analyst during the week but from Friday to Sunday, he is a Grand Prix grinder and Silver level pro from Los Angeles. He has 2 Grand Prix top 8s, including a win in GP Orlando 2014.

103: Always Be Open to Learn with Adonnys Medrano (GP Top 8)

Adonnys Medrano has made the first major breakthrough of his Magic career by placing in the top 8 of Grand Prix Charlotte. He’s competed in the semi finals of a Pro Tour Qualifier and placed 9th at the Richmond Open in 2015. He’s been playing Magic for about 3.5 years and has been competitive for about 1.5 years. He enjoys all things gaming and Magic related. Adonnys lives in Virginia.

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