Hunter Burton Memorial Open II – March 28, 2015

The second Hunter Burton Memorial Open took place on Saturday, March 28, 2015. Like the first event, this one was also held at the Fort Worth Convention Center. It took place in the curved rooms next to the arena in the old section of the convention center as opposed to the newer room used in 2014. There were 157 players for the second annual event. Once again, the Swiss format was Standard followed by a top eight draft using original Modern Masters boosters.

Hunter Burton’s parents raised the cash purse from $5000 to $7500 for the 2015 event. The winner went home with $1000 and a watch worth another $1000, second place took home $800, third and fourth each received $700. Fifth through eighth each received $600. Nothing feels worse than finishing ninth in a big tournament. To take away a little bit of the sting of defeat, the Burtons paid $400 to ninth place. Then $100 each to tenth through sixteenth place and $50 to seventeenth through thirty-second place. While the Burtons like the way their tournament pays big prizes to the top eight, just the way their son Hunter would have liked, they also like seeing prizes go deeper to a larger number of players finishing outside the top eight.

While the Hunter Burton Memorial Open prides itself on being a highly competitive Magic tournament, the event also puts a premium on fun with its selection of promotional materials as well as side events. Along with the special top eight dice and poker chips that we saw in the first edition of the Hunter Burton Memorial Open, the second year’s offerings included a blue barreled pen and a commemorative pocket knife. Along with the serious competition of the main event, there was also the whimsy of the Fancy Hat DC-10 Tournament. In this fast-paced event, players competed in single elimination rounds using a brand new booster pack each round in a format that doesn’t use basic lands. It’s a pure-fun format that’s almost certainly never been played in a tournament environment. Collin Rountree was the winner, taking home $100 and a fancy top hat along with the highly-sought-after limited edition six-sided Hunter Burton die.

In the top eight Modern Masters draft, Jasonn Tate took a first pick Tarmogoyf that didn’t end up making it into his red/blue draft deck. Some attributed his perfectly rational decision to draft the one-hundred-dollar-bill as the reason his draft didn’t result in a winning deck. It’s more likely that he was simply outmatched in his quarterfinals match against eventual champion Haibing Hu. Haibing Hu has been one of the state’s great booster draft players for many years. For Haibing, from Houston, the greatest challenge of the day was reaching the top eight playing Standard, a format he hardly ever plays.

It is important to point out the amazing amount of talent there was in this top eight, particularly in the realm of limited play. While Jasonn Tate, Michael Ramos, Shawn Hughes and Henry Vi are all good Magic players, Haibing Hu, Aaron Tobey, Scot Martin and Michael Ferri excel at booster draft. It’s notable that all four of these great limited players all reached the top eight of a challenging constructed tournament. It’s amazing that these four drafters faced each other in the semifinals of this top eight draft.

In honor of Haibing Hu’s brilliance in limited formats, I want to list the top eight Modern Masters booster drafts first. You can find the top eight competitors’ Standard deck lists a little further down.

Here are the top eight draft decks of the second annual Hunter Burton Memorial Open. They are listed by the players’ final finishing order.

1^st place – Haibing Hu – Blue/White Affinity
2-1 vs Jasonn Tate
2-0 vs Aaron Tobey
2-1 vs Scot Martin

10 Island
7 Plains
2 Arcbound Worker
2 Frogmite
2 Myr Enforcer
2 Runed Stalactite
2 Blinding Beam
1 Court Homunculus
1 Meadowboon
1 Sanctum Gargoyle
1 Esperanza
1 Etherium Sculptor
4 Faerie Mechanist
1 Meloku the Clouded Mirror
1 Mulldrifter
1 Pestermite
1 Traumatic Visions

SIDEBOARD:
1 Paradise Mantle
1 Relic of Progenitus
1 Plumeveil
1 Amrou Scout
1 Gleam of Resistance
1 Terashi’s Grasp
1 Test of Faith
1 Dampen Thoughts
1 Erratic Mutation
1 Spell Snare
1 Traumatic Visions
1 Vedalken Dismisser
1 Mad Auntie
1 Raven’s Crime
1 Warren Weirding
1 Desperate Ritual
1 Fury Charm
1 Grinning Ignus
1 Pyromancer’s Swath
1 Citanul Woodreaders
1 Incremental Growth
1 Krosan Grip

2^nd place – Scot Martin – Five Color Green
2-0 vs Shawn Hughes
2-1 vs Michael Ferri
1-2 vs Haibing Hu

9 Forest
3 Plains
3 Swamp
1 Island
1 Mountain
1 Pyrite Spellbomb
1 Skyreach Manta
1 Bound in Silence
2 Pallid Mycoderm
2 Saltfield Recluse
1 Drag Down
1 Horobi’s Whisper
1 Slaughter Pact
1 Eternal Witness
2 Giant Dustwasp
1 Imperiosaur
3 Kodama’s Reach
2 Penumbra Spider
1 Search for Tomorrow
1 Sporesower Thallid
1 Thallid Shell-Dweller
1 Woodfall Primus

SIDEBOARD:
1 Dakmor Salvage
1 Vivid Meadow
1 Arcbound Wanderer
1 Bonesplitter
1 Etched Oracle
1 Runed Stalactite
1 Dispeller’s Capsule
1 Flickerwisp
1 Kataki, War’s Wage
1 Saltfield Recluse
1 Sanctum Gargoyle
1 Aethersnipe
2 Deepcavern Imp
1 Facevaulter
1 Thieving Sprite
1 Tar Pitcher
1 Citanul Woodreaders
1 Moldervine Cloak
1 Riftsweeper
1 Sylvan Bounty
1 Thallid

3^rd place – Michael Ferri – White/Red Giants
2-1 vs Henri Vi
1-2 vs Scot Martin

8 Plains
7 Mountain
1 Vivid Crag
1 Vivid Meadow
1 Pyrite Spellbomb
1 Avian Changeling
1 Cloudgoat Ranger
1 Feudkiller’s Verdict
1 Gleam of Resistance
1 Hillcomber Giant
1 Kithkin Greatheart
1 Otherworldly Journey
2 Veteran Armorer
1 Figure of Destiny
2 Kitchen Finks
1 Blind-Spot Giant
1 Crush Underfoot
3 Glacial Ray
1 Hammerheim Deadeye
1 Rift Bolt
1 Stingscourger
1 Thundercloud Shaman
1 Thundering Giant

SIDEBOARD:
1 Arcbound Stinger
1 Hillcomber Giant
1 Saltfield Recluse
2 Test of Faith
1 Jhoira of the Ghitu
1 Manamorphose
1 Plumeveil
1 Absorb Vis
1 Facevaulter
1 Mad Auntie
1 Stinkweed Imp
1 Syphon Life
1 Empty the Warrens
1 Fury Charm
1 Lava Spike
1 Stinkdrinker Daredevil
1 Tar Pitcher
1 Hana Kami
1 Life from the Loam

4^th place – Aaron Tobey – Black/Blue Control
2-0 vs Michael Ramos
0-2 vs Haibing Hu

10 Swamp
7 Island
1 Bonesplitter
2 Careful Consideration
1 Echoing Truth
1 Errant Ephemeron
1 Glen Elendra Archmage
1 Take Possession
1 Blightspeaker
1 Death Cloud
1 Death Rattle
1 Dreamspoiler Witches
1 Executioner’s Capsule
1 Faerie Macabre
1 Horobi’s Whisper
1 Marsh Flitter
3 Rathi Trapper
2 Thieving Sprite
2 Warren Pilferers
1 Murderous Redcap

SIDEBOARD:
1 Aether Spellbomb
1 Lotus Bloom
1 Bound in Silence
1 Erratic Mutation
1 Logic Knot
1 Perilous Research
2 Spellstutter Sprite
1 Vedalken Dismisser
1 Absorb Vis
1 Drag Down
1 Faerie Macabre
3 Peppersmoke
1 Raven’s Crime
1 Street Wraith
1 Thieving Sprite
1 Warren Weirding
1 Doubling Season
1 Echoing Courage
1 Hana Kami

5^th place – Henry Vi – White/Red Rebel Giants

1-2 vs Michael Ferri

10 Plains
7 Mountain
1 Terramorphic Expanse
2 Amrou Scout
2 Amrou Seekers
1 Avian Changeling
1 Cenn’s Enlistment
1 Cloudgoat Ranger
1 Hillcomber Giant
2 Ivory Giant
2 Kithkin Greatheart
1 Otherworldly Journey
1 Blind-Spot Giant
1 Brute Force
1 Crush Underfoot
1 Pardic Dragon
1 Stingscourger
1 Sudden Shock
1 Thundering Giant
2 War-Spike Changeling

SIDEBOARD:
1 Arcbound Wanderer
1 Angel’s Grace
1 Dispeller’s Capsule
1 Gleam of Resistance
1 Sandsower
1 Terashi’s Grasp
1 Knight of the Reliquary
1 Tidehollow Sculler
1 Dampen Thought
1 Reach Through Mists
2 Blightspeaker
2 Death Denied
1 Drag Down
1 Festering Goblin
1 Fiery Fall
1 Hammerheim Deadeye
2 Lava Spike
1 Tribal Flames
1 Echoing Courage

6^th place – Jasonn Tate – Red/Blue

1-2 vs Haibing Hu

7 Mountain (originally recorded as Forests)
7 Island
2 Plains
1 Vivid Crag
1 Aether Spellbomb
1 Bound in Silence
1 Electrolyze
1 Lightning Helix
1 Aethersnipe
1 Errant Ephemeron
2 Latchkey Faerie
1 Logic Knot
1 Mulldrifter
1 Pestermite
1 Brute Force
2 Empty the Warrens
1 Fiery Fall
2 Grapeshot
1 Mogg War Marshal
1 Molten Disaster
2 Rift Bolt
1 Stingscourger
1 War-Spike Changeling

SIDEBOARD:
1 Dakmor Salvage
1 Arcbound Wanderer
1 Feudkiller’s Verdict
1 Veteran Armorer
1 Mothdust Changeling
1 Narcomoeba
1 Peer Through Depths
1 Death Rattle
1 Festering Goblin
2 Stinkweed Imps
1 Warren Weirding
1 Brute Force
1 Crush Underfoot
1 Lava Spike
1 Rift Elemental
1 Squee, Goblin Nabob
1 Stinkdrinker Daredevil
1 Echoing Courage
1 Nantuko Shaman
1 Tarmogoyf

7th place – Shawn Hughes – Five Color Green

0-2 vs Scot Martin

9 Forest
2 Island
2 Mountain
1 Plains
1 Swamp
2 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Sarkhan Vol
1 Perilous Research
1 Petals of Thought
1 Riftwing Cloudskate
1 Fiery Fall
1 Duskwood Baloth
1 Echoing Courage
1 Kodama’s Reach
1 Masked Admirers
1 Moldervine Cloak
2 Nantuko Shaman
1 Penumbra Spider
1 Sporesower Thallid
2 Sporoloth Ancient
1 Thallid
1 Thallid Germinator
2 Thallid Shell-Dweller
2 Tromp the Domains
1 Verdeloth the Ancient
SIDEBOARD:
2 Arcbound Stinger
1 Bonesplitter
1 Otherworldly Journey
1 Mind Funeral
1 Latchkeye Faerie
1 Peer Through Depths
1 Reach Through Mists
1 Thirst for Knowledge
1 Festering Goblin
1 Pththisis
1 Empty the Warrens
1 Hammerheim Deadeye
1 Rift Elemental
1 Torrent of Stone
1 Duskwood Baloth
1 Greater Mossdog
1 Moldervine Cloak
1 Sylvan Bounty
1 Walker of the Grove

8th place – Michael Ramos – White/Green Affinity

0-2 vs Aaron Tobey

5 Plains
5 Forest
1 Island
1 Academy Ruins
1 City of Brass
1 Glimmervoid
1 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Vivid Creek
1 Vivid Grove
1 Arcbound Stinger
1 Arcbound Worker
1 Etched Oracle
1 Frogmite
1 Myr Enforcer
1 Myr Retriever
2 Relic of Progenitus
1 Court Homunculus
1 Dispeller’s Capsule
1 Path to Exile
1 Sanctum Gargoyle
1 Test of Faith
1 Yosei, the Morning Star
1 Erratic Mutation
2 Etherium Sculptor
1 Petals of Insight
1 Divinity of Pride
1 Shrapnel Blast
1 Reach of Branches
1 Rude Awakening
1 Search for Tomorrow

SIDEBOARD:
1 Pallid Mycoderm
1 Echoing Truth
1 Mothdust Changeling
1 Vedalken Dismisser
1 Death Denied
1 Festering Goblin
2 Street Wraith
1 Syphon Life
1 Trygon Predator
1 Blood Moon
1 Desperate Ritual
1 Citanul Woodreaders
1 Durkwood Baloth
1 Greater Mossdog
1 Riftsweeper

Of course, before these guys had the opportunity to draft Modern Masters and win a bunch of money and a thousand-dollar watch, they had to earn their spot in the top eight by playing eight rounds of Standard. Here are the top eight decklists in order of Swiss finish.

1^st place after Swiss – Henry Vi – Goon Squad Aggro (Mono Red)

0-2 vs Skylar Aschenback with GW Devotion
2-1 vs James Miller with Jeskai Control
2-1 vs Brian Heine with Mono Red
2-0 vs James Black with Sultai Control
2-0 vs Justin Hassan with Jeskai
2-0 vs Aaron Neuding with Jeskai Combo
2-1 vs Michael Ramos with GW Devotion
2-0 vs Bassel Said with RG Flyers

4 Foundry Street Denizen
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Goblin Rabblemaster
3 Zurgo Bellstriker
1 Mardu Scout
4 Dragon Fodder
4 Hordeling Outburst
4 Wild Slash
4 Lightning Strike
4 Stoke the Flame
20 Mountain

SIDEBOARD:
3 Roast
2 Arc Lightning
1 Magmatic Chasm
2 Outpost Siege
2 Scouring Sands
4 Eidolon of the Great Revel
1 Peak Eruption

2^nd place after Swiss – Michael Ferri – Mono Red

2-0 vs Michael Wingard with Jund Devotion
1-2 vs Timothy Thomason with GR Devotion
2-0 vs Anthony Lopez with UW Dragon Control
2-0 vs Matthew Vaughters with Jeskai Tokens
2-1 vs David Pierce with Mono Black Aggro
2-1 vs Matthew Oakley with Mono Red Devotion
2-1 vs Justin Maguire with Temur Control
2-0 vs Drew Iafrate with RG Dragons

20 Mountain
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Foundry Street Denizen
4 Monastery Swiftspear
3 Zurgo Bellstriker
1 Mardu Scout
4 Goblin Rabblemaster
4 Wild Slash
4 Lightning Strike
4 Searing Blood
4 Hordeling Outburst
4 Stoke the Flames

SIDEBOARD:
2 Arc Lightning
2 Scouring Sands
2 Goblin Heelcutter
2 Peak Eruption
2 Hammer of Purphoros
2 Lightning Berserker
1 Harness by Force
1 Roast
1 Hall of Triumph

3^rd place after Swiss – Scot Martin – All-In Abzan

2-1 vs Matt Feudot with GR Devotion
2-1 vs Andrew Tibbett with Jeskai Tokens
2-1 vs Josh Crowe with Mono Red
2-1 vs Shawn Hughes with GW Devotion
2-1 vs Mike Schmoyer with GR Devotion
2-0 vs Ivan Contreras with Abzan Midrange
003 vs Jasonn Tate with Abzan Aggro
003 vs Aaron Tobey with Abzan Aggro

3 Anafenza, the Foremost
4 Siege Rhino
4 Fleecemane Lion
3 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
4 Rakshasa Deathdealer
1 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
3 Hero’s Downfall
4 Dromoka’s Command
3 Abzan Charm
3 Bile Blight
3 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
3 Temple of Malady
4 Windswept Heath
1 Temple of Silence
4 Mana Confluence
2 Caves of Koilos
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
2 Temple of Plenty
1 Llanowar Wastes
4 Sandsteppe Citadel
2 Plains
1 Forest

SIDEBOARD:
2 Glare of Heresy
3 Drown in Sorrow
2 Virulent Plague
1 Back to Nature
1 Hero’s Downfall
2 End Hostilities
1 Anafenza, the Foremost
3 Duress

4^th place after Swiss – Jasonn Tate – Abzan Aggro

2-1 vs James Miller with Jeskai Control
2-1 vs Kevin Cox with Abzan Midrange
2-0 vs Tuan Doan with Abzan Midrange
2-0 vs Jamie Smith with Naya
2-0 vs Steve Lawton with Abzan
2-1 vs James Sung with Abzan Aggro
003 vs Scot Martin with Abzan Aggro
003 vs Haibing Hu with GR Devotion

4 Warden of the First Tree
4 Rakshasa Deathdealer
4 Fleecemane Lion
3 Bile Blight
3 Dromoka’s Command
3 Hero’s Downfall
2 Abzan Charm
3 Anafenza, the Foremost
2 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
2 Boon Satyr
4 Siege Rhino
1 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
1 Murderous Cut
4 Sandsteppe Citadel
4 Windswept Heath
2 Temple of Silence
2 Temple of Malady
2 Llanowar Wastes
2 Cave of Koilos
2 Mana Confluence
2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
2 Plains
2 Forest

SIDEBOARD:
4 Thoughtseize
2 Glare of Heresy
2 Valorous Stance
1 Hero’s Downfall
3 Drown in Sorrow
1 Archfiend of Depravity
2 Whisperwood Elemental

5^th place after Swiss – Shawn Hughes – GW Devotion

2-0 vs Alex Androup with GW Devotion
2-1 vs Haibing Hu with GR Devotion
2-1 vs Andrew Sullano with GW Devotion
1-2 vs Scot Martin with Abzan Aggro
001 vs Paul Boggess with GB Devotion
2-1 vs Mickey Humphries with Mono Red
2-1 vs Blake Freeman with Abzan Control
2-1 vs Justin West with Temur

4 Elvish Mystic
4 Voyaging Satyr
4 Sylvan Caryatid
2 Den Protector
4 Deathmist Raptor
4 Courser of Kruphix
4 Polukranos, World Eater
4 Whisperwood Elemental
2 Genesis Hydra
4 Mastery of the Unseen
4 Windswept Heath
4 Temple of Plenty
4 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
1 Blossoming Sands
2 Plains
9 Forest

SIDEBOARD:
3 Fleecemane Lion
4 Valorous Stance
2 Hornet Nest
2 Ainok Survivalist
2 Setessan Tactics
1 Plummet
1 Den Protector

6^th place after Swiss – Aaron Tobey – Abzan Aggro

2-1 vs Jean-Claude Cornu with Mono Black
2-1 vs Bassel Said with RG
2-0 vs San Juan Ramirez with Mono Red
2-1 vs Matthew Oakley with Mono Red Devotion
1-2 vs James Sung with Abzan Aggro
2-1 vs Brock Mosley with Jeskai
2-1 vs Justin West with Temur
003 vs Scot Martin with Abzan Aggro

2 Forest
1 Plains
4 Windswept Heath
3 Caves of Koilos
3 Llanowar Wastes
3 Temple of Malady
4 Temple of Silence
2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
4 Sandsteppe Citadel
2 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
1 Herald of Torment
3 Wingmate Roc
4 Rakshasa Deathdealer
4 Siege Rhino
4 Fleecemane Lion
3 Anafenza, the Foremost
2 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
3 Bile Blight
3 Hero’s Downfall
3 Abzan Charm
2 Thoughtseize

SIDEBOARD:
4 Drown in Sorrow
1 Thoughtseize
1 Boon Satyr
1 Murderous Cut
2 Ultimate Price
1 Glare of Heresy
2 Herald of Torment
2 Elspeth, Sun’s Champion
1 Bile Blight

7^th place after Swiss – Haibing Hu – GR Devotion

2-0 vs Brian Heine
1-2 vs Shawn Hughes
2-1 vs John Pierfelice
2-1 vs Linh Nguyen
2-1 vs Eric Maier
2-1 vs Mike Schmoyer
2-1 vs James Sung
003 vs Jasonn Tate

4 Elvish Mystic
4 Voyaging Satyr
4 Sylvan Caryatid
4 Courser of Kruphix
1 Boon Satyr
4 Eidolon of Blossoms
4 Polukranos, World Eater
4 Whisperwood Elemental
2 Genesis Hydra
2 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
4 Crater’s Claws
4 Temple of Abandon
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
10 Forest
1 Mountain

SIDEBOARD:
3 Nylea’s Disciple
3 Reclamation Sage
2 Nissa, Worldwaker
2 Xenagos, God of Revels
2 Genesis Hydra
2 Setessan Tactics
1 Arbor Colossus

8^th place after Swiss – Michael Ramos – GW Devotion

2-0 vs Joshua Watts
2-0 vs Wesley Jackson
2-1 vs David Palmer
1-2 vs Justin West
2-1 vs Christopher Hill
2-0 vs Braeden Rogers
1-2 vs Henry Vi
2-0 vs Brock Mosley

1 Blossoming Sands
4 Windswept Heath
4 Temple of Plenty
1 Wooded Foothills
8 Forest
2 Plains
4 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
1 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
1 Banishing Light
4 Mastery of the Unseen
1 Soul of Theros
1 Reclamation Sage
3 Genesis Hydra
4 Courser of Kruphix
4 Whisperwood Elemental
4 Polukranos, World Eater
1 Temur Sabertooth
4 Sylvan Caryatid
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Voyaging Satyr

SIDEBOARD:
2 Valorous Stance
2 Surge of Righteousness
1 Banishing Light
4 Fleecemane Lion
1 Reclamation Sage
1 Dromoka’s Command
2 Nissa, Worldwaker
1 Temur Sabertooth
1 Setessan Tactics

The Aftermath

The second annual Hunter Burton Memorial Open proved that the event could survive and flourish. We had more players and bigger prizes. Even more importantly, the event began to grow legs. More people knew about the tournament and were impressed with the event itself as well as the cause behind it.