By Jacob Van Lunen
Jacob Van Lunen began playing Magic in 1995. He has participated in organized play at every level of competition and was a member of the winning team at Pro Tour San Diego in 2007, thanks to an innovative draft strategy. As a writer, Van Lunen has had more than three hundred Magic strategy pieces published
Hall of Famer, William “Huey” Jensen needs little introduction. A staggering five Pro Tour Top 8s and eighteen Grand Prix Top 8s make Jensen one of the most decorated Magic players in history. This weekend is just a bit more icing on the cake that is Jensen’s long and illustrious Magic career.
His opponent is a new-comer, but his short career is already quite impressive. Valentin Mackl’s first Grand Prix Top 8 was just last Summer, and this weekend marks his fifth trip into the elimination rounds.
The first game was an attrition war where neither player could seem to get any footing as every threat traded with a removal spell. Mackl’s Sorin, Solemn Visitor presented a unique threat, though, and Jensen would need to find an answer quickly. Wingmate Roc came down for Jensen, but Mackl quickly trumped it with a Wingmate Roc with the raid trigger. Jensen had fallen too far behind and, with nothing relevant left in his hand, he was forced to move on to the second game.
William Jensen
Mackl 1 – 0 Jensen
The second game started similarly to the first. Jensen was able to contain Mackl’s early aggression and he found himself ahead on board with Rakshasa Deathdealer as the only nonland permanent on the battlefield. Mackl started aggressively making flyers with his Sorin, Solemn Visitor, but it wasn’t ideal with his defensive posture. Jensen continued applying pressure with Siege Rhino, but he was drawing a lot of land while Mackl found Wingmate Roc and quickly reestablished control of the game. Again, Jensen couldn’t find and answer to Mackl’s pair of 3/4s and he was dead in the air after two attacks.
Valentin Mackl
Mackl 2 – 0 Jensen
Valentin Mackl defeats William Jensen in two games!
Source: Magic the Gathering
