Control is dead and Smuggler's Copter will dominate. In the days leading up to Pro Tour Kaladesh these were snippets of the accepted wisdom of the new standard environment. Kaladesh presented Magic’s best with plenty of options and over the course of three days in Honolulu we were able to see the results of their hard work.

Pro Tour Kaladesh was one of the largest in recent memory, thanks in part to the issues surrounding visas for Pro Tour Eldritch Moon. Going into Friday it was thought that no one on four losses would be able to make the modified Sunday stage. As it turns out this was correct as no one on 36 points was able to make the elimination rounds. The worst record of the bunch was 12 wins, 3 losses, and a draw. The new Sunday schedule meant that those in the bottom half of the bracket would need to win four matches if they wanted to claim a trophy. The Top 8, including seeds, was:

Stage one of the Quaterfinals saw Ben Hull run over Lee Shi Tian and Carlos Romao overtake Joey Manner. Romao continued his winning ways by dominating Matthew Nass in three quick games. Hull also racked up a second win by quickly defeated Pierre Dagen.

The Semifinal matches were all about control against aggro. The top half of the bracket saw Carlos Romao win third match in a row by defeating the number one seed Matsoukas. Yasooka matched Romao by putting a stop to Hull in four games. The winner of Pro Tour Kaladesh would be decided by Torrential Gearhulk decks.

Game one started with a bang as Yasooka elected to draw first, something that would be standard throughout the match. As the game entered the draw-go phase, libraries were counted. With Romao ahead on cards the Hall of Famer got aggressive and in a flurry managed to deal enough damage with a Gearhulk, two copies of Wandering Fumarole, and Unlicensed Disintegration. Game two was a similar affair except as the game progressed it was the former World Champion who was behind on cards. Carlos attempted to lock Shota out of the game with a Dovin Baan Emblem but Yasooka had enough lands that it did not matter. Romao had to press in with his threats but Yasooka managed to remove every creature and Romao scooped them up.

Game three was the first to feature sideboards and while Shota kept a control player’s dream - a hand full of lands - he eventually fell to Romao. Having started his comeback Romao was ready to press his advantage but fell behind in the fourth game. Yasooka always appeared to be one step ahead and managed to flip a Thing in the Ice into Awoken Horror and paired it with Torrential Gearhulk. Every answer Romao had was met with a counter and Carlos Romao extended the hand. Shota Yasooka is your Pro Tour Kaladesh Champion, adding a second Pro Tour Trophy to his collection.

Grixis Control ? Kaladesh Standard | Shota Yasooka, Winner Pro Tour Kaladesh

• Creatures (6)
• 2 Torrential Gearhulk
• 4 Thing in the Ice

• Planeswalkers (1)
• 1 Jace, Unraveler of Secrets

• Spells (27)
• 2 Radiant Flames
• 3 Painful Truths
• 1 Transgress the Mind
• 2 Unlicensed Disintegration
• 3 Harnessed Lightning
• 3 Void Shatter
• 2 Glimmer of Genius
• 1 Ceremonious Rejection
• 2 Negate
• 4 Galvanic Bombardment
• 1 Essence Extraction
• 3 Anticipate

• Lands (26)
• 4 Spirebluff Canal
• 2 Wandering Fumarole
• 4 Evolving Wilds
• 4 Sunken Hollow
• 3 Smoldering Marsh
• 2 Mountain
• 2 Swamp
• 5 Island

• Sideboard (15)
• 2 Ceremonious Rejection
• 1 Negate
• 1 Radiant Flames
• 1 Jace, Unraveler of Secrets
• 1 Transgress the Mind
• 2 To the Slaughter
• 2 Confiscation Coup
• 3 Weaver of Lightning
• 2 Summary Dismissal

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Jeskai Control ? Kaladesh Standard | Carlos Romao, Finalist Pro Tour Kaladesh

• Creatures (5)
• 2 Archangel Avacyn
• 3 Torrential Gearhulk

• Planeswalkers (2)
• 2 Dovin Baan

• Spells (27)
• 2 Fumigate
• 3 Radiant Flames
• 2 Summary Dismissal
• 4 Harnessed Lightning
• 4 Glimmer of Genius
• 3 Immolating Glare
• 3 Void Shatter
• 1 Blessed Alliance
• 3 Anticipate
• 1 Quarantine Field
• 1 Stasis Snare

• Lands (26)
• 4 Port Town
• 4 Aether Hub
• 3 Inspiring Vantage
• 1 Spirebluff Canal
• 4 Island
• 6 Plains
• 4 Wandering Fumarole

• Sideboard (15)
• 1 Fumigate
• 1 Blessed Alliance
• 3 Negate
• 3 Spell Queller
• 1 Linvala, the Preserver
• 3 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
• 3 Ceremonious Rejection

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