Shota "Showtime" Yasooka, plays control at every Pro Tour. Regardless of what new cards there are or how bad control seems to be, Yasooka plays Control at every Pro Tour. At this point it is a running joke as to what he is playing because it is ALWAYS control. And it seems dedication pays off, because when everyone thought Control would be weak this format, Shota wins Pro Tour Kaladesh with a classic control deck. With a total of six counter spells, only six creatures (which also happen to be pseudo-answers) and some instant speed card draw, this really is your classic "Draw-Go" control deck. Strap yourselves in ladies and gentlemen while I step out of the Copter and hop in these Yasooka shoes and walk slowly to victory.

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

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

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

Buy This Deck

Match 1: The Mirror

Match 2: R/W Vehicles

Match 3: R/G Energy Aggro

Match 4: B/G Delirium Aggro

Match 5: R/G Aetherworks Aggro

This deck is definitely great but also quite tricky. Making sure that you don't die early, but are also able to win the later parts of the game are tough. The aggro decks have a lot of card advantage, so the control players need to make sure they don't flood out. And, the aggro decks have potent specific threats that require very specific answers like Aetherworks Marvel, Gideon Ally of Zendikar, and Bristling Hydra. You can get caught severely under prepared if you draw the wrong card in the wrong matchup or if you sideboard improperly. Long time control players will love this deck and while I would highly recommend it, it is going to require a lot of practice. If there is a single lesson in all this it is most certainly practice makes perfect. Shota has always been an inspiration but to see him play the same archetype, time and time again with unwavering devotion . . .  and then to have success with it too? That is just a great story and a life lesson you gotta carry with you in your bones.

Until next week, GLHF friends. May you smite thy enemies with a Golden Axe!

— Andrew Boswell