We had 40 players joined us for the first ever ChaosCon. 39 players played 5 rounds of Old School (Boreal banlist) and 22 played 4 rounds of Premodern.
We had participants join us from Montreal, Toronto, and Ottawa Valley, and had the chance to meet several Ottawans who’d never played Old School before.
The event sent $2,553.46 for the Ottawa Food Bank. With their purchasing power, this means feeding almost 15 families of 4 for a month.
Organizers’ musings
The morning-of, we learned that the Santa Claus Parade was shutting down the Bank Street from 11am to 1pm, and our tournament venue was smack dab in the middle of all of it. Thankfully, this was the only element of chaos and the rest of the event ran smoothly.
We hadn’t set a cap on the number of registrants. Luckily, the venue was perfect size for 40 people with enough room for prizes and getting around.
We are truly humbled by the Old School and Premodern communities’ interest, enthusiasm, and good vibes during the event. We appreciate everyone who came, who told their friends, and who will share their stories with others who will dig up their old Magic collections. Big thank you to those who helped on the day-of and those who donated prizes for the raffle and silent auction:
- Drew Tucker (High Tide repaint)
- Anson and Brenda Maddocks (signed prints)
- Ken Meyer Jr. (signed prints)
- Mario Murr (stamped and altered cards)
- Eric Fletcher (proxies)
- Philippe Arcand (premodern staples)
- Michael Sean Morgan (mounted Hymn to Tourach)
- Clocktower Brew Pub (gift card)
- Matt Garcia (oversized Guardian Beast)
Top spice (Old School)
ChaosCon was not the tournament where you’d find North America’s spiciest Old School decks. Perhaps Ottawa is more of a “hold on the ground black pepper, please” kind of place.
- Louis Emond – Rainbow Diamond
- Brian Bogdon – Troll Reanimator
- Laura Wilkinson – Forkin’ Goblins
- Raymond Mitchell – Soul Singing Control
Top 4 (Old School)
- Drew Lennon – 5-color Good stuff
- Brian Bogdon – Troll Reanimator
- Richard Hoaen – Shops
- Paul Goertz – Erhnam Burn ’em
Top 4 (Premodern)
- Brian Bogdon – Reanimator
- Raymond Mitchell – Survival Elves
- Joel Bowers – Threshgeddon (He must have read the primer.)
- Josh Rider – Parfait Oath
Old School decks
Mono-black decks were the most popular deck in the tournament (6 players). Even with allowing players proxies, there were few players who played top decks thanks to them.
Because we limited the tournament to 5 rounds, it was possible there would be more than one 5-0. In both tournaments, the paired down X-0 going into the last round lost. This meant Drew Lennon from Ottawa was the sole 5-0 at the end of the tournament. Well deserved, Drew!
Premodern decks
UG Madness and Stiflenought decks were the most represented, each piloted by 3 players each. Four rounds with 22 people meant it was possible there would be two 4-0s. Fortunately for prizing purposes, but unfortunately for the player, the 3rd 3-0 lost their pair-down in the last round.
Brian Bogdon, a seasoned reanimator from Toronto, wins it. Congratulations!
I just noticed 3 monoblack deck run 4 copies of Initiates of the Ebon Hand
This is the new hot tool for monoblack in old school. It’s really good. I credit it with my good score.