The Flesh and Blood World Tour is the best TCG organized play circuit on the market! With $1,500,000 USD up for grabs in hundreds of events across the globe, we urge players to travel the world, make new friends, and play great games for huge cash prizes! Scott Mines breaks down what happened in September, and what’s coming up in October…
Card games are an interesting world to work in. I found myself lobbying to get body slammed through a table in Montréal and I was extremely happy about it.
If you missed the Slam, it was in fact, Super. Flesh and Blood’s latest booster set has made the skeptics submit with its unquestionable charm, flashy gameplay, and a bevy of new heroes. The World Premiere was undoubtably one of the best weekends of my life, and it’s been refreshing to watch local game stores stuffed with excited faces throughout Pre-Release weekend.
This game is pretty darn great, huh?
Moreover, the response to the broadcast was concrete: “Awh, I cannot afford to miss the next one” – so don’t? The only way my event gets better is if I’m meeting you at the venue! The World Tour still has three months of unmissable events to enjoy this year and I’m not in the business of letting you miss out.
Let’s look at where you can win your share of $1,500,000.
What Happened In September?
September was one of the busiest months in World Tour history to date. We kicked things off with a triple Battle Hardened weekend between September 5-7, headlined by Battle Hardened Manila’s monolithic 238 players. Poch Illana managed to fell the beast alongside Victor Goldmane, High and Mighty, while Kim Scheerer rocked Munich with Florian, Rotwood Harbinger. Brodie Spurlock continued his World Tour charge with a triumph in Chicago playing Fang, Dracai of Blades. A good mix all around, it would seem.
However, the following weekend ushered in the era of Super Slam, as hundreds of players entered the ring in Montréal. 38 players would manage to remain undefeated at the end of the World Premiere, but only Canada’s own Sunny Yang would manage to stand tall at the end of the next day’s Calling. Tuffnut isn’t playable in limited, you reckon? Pffft. Our Super Slampion disagrees.
Weekend three was a worldwide affair, as Super Slam rocked the show at Pre-Release events across the globe. Hopefully, you were already aware of that one. I mean, there were more than 1600 local game stores to choose from. I spent all weekend cracking eight boosters at a time and slapping people with Pleiades. It was fantastic.
Finally, we bookended the month with three more events across Mexico, France, and Japan. Battle Hardened: Guadalajara saw Eric Dauernnheim fight off the winter cold with Verdance, Thorn of the Rose, while Pro Tour Champion Arthur Trehet led his team to victory with an equally earthy flair. Turns out, Verdance, Florian, and Cindra are still powerhouse heroes. Who could possibly have guessed? I couldn’t help but notice a copy of Kayo, Underhanded Cheat in the finals of that event though… that’s going to be one to watch.
Calling: Shizuoka was masterfully called by the trio of Sam O’Byrne, Bryce Platz, and Majin Bae over on the Flesh and Blood YouTube channel. I may have woken up at 3:00 AM to watch along live, but it was more than worth the agony to see Takuya Kojima engulf Justin Cu in flames with Cindra, Dracai of Retribution.
WORLD TOUR LEADERBOARD
We are less than six weeks away from the grand finale of the first ever Player of the Year race and somehow everything is still to play for. This is a fairytale many called closed several months ago and yet the diehard competitors of the Flesh and Blood community just refuse to give it up.
I can’t exactly blame them. A $100,000 pool awaits the top performing players from each region, with an impressive $25,000 to the overall winner. $15,000 will be awarded to the winner of each other region, with each second-place finisher locking up $10,000 to boot. A bronze medal earns you $5,000 for good measure, but nobody fought this hard to almost become a champion.
Only one player can be immortalized as the first Player of the Year… so who’s it gonna be?
| RANK | COUNTRY | NAME | WORLD TOUR POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US | Brodie Spurlock (78449312) | 128 |
| 2 | GB | Jacob Clements (42541471) | 114 |
| 3 | US | Michael Hamilton (34331578) | 91 |
| 4 | US | Michael Feng (51553785) | 82 |
| 5 | IT | Tommaso Viscido (43166493) | 76 |
| 6 | CA | Jimmy Niro Demers (89522426) | 69 |
| 7 | FR | Evan Tanguy (68973688) | 57 |
| 8 | ES | Pablo Pintor (12374294) | 56 |
| 9 | GB | Alex Chițu (52582252) | 55 |
| 9 | AU | Nick Butcher (51987736) | 55 |
| 9 | CA | Shawn Dhaliwal (69775991) | 55 |
| 12 | GB | Jason Rolfe (97389552) | 54 |
| 13 | US | Naib Mobassir (25857792) | 51 |
| 13 | SG | shirui wu (38844884) | 51 |
| 15 | FR | Arthur Trehet (21361948) | 50 |
Jacob Clements is the man of the moment. The British all-star has left his European competitors in the dust as he traverses the globe each weekend hunting additional top finishes for his belt. While many would have offered Brodie Spurlock a polite congratulations, Clements instead locked in on the challenge. Just 19 points separate the two leaders at this stage – a small enough gap for the World Championship to potentially decide this race.
The real tension in Europe falls on the third-place shootout. Tommaso Viscido has a comfortable cushion in second place, but the next 8 competitors are separated by less than 15 points. Evan Tanguy, Pablo Pintor, Alex Chițu, Jason Rolfe, and Arthur Trehet are all names we’ll need to watch as the dying hours begin. There are thousands of dollars on the line.
In the Americas, Michael Hamilton and Michael Feng hold a vice-like grip on seat two and three, but there’s several breakpoints worth watching. Personally, I’m rooting for Hamilton to steal the Calling in Hamburg or Sydney to enable a last gasp attempt at taking the throne from Spurlock at the World Championship. If you’re less of a dreamer, Jimmy Niro Demers, Shawn Dhaliwal, and Naib Mobassir already sit in striking distance of Michael Feng’s third place. Much like Europe, there’s still plenty to play for.
Asia-Pacific is anyone’s game. The top 23 competitors from the region could still claim first place if they manage to win the World Championship. At time of writing, Nick Butcher holds the lead by just a meager 5 points, with Pudding Tam, Shirui Wu, Michael Collins, and Shoma Yamamura less than a Calling victory away. I’m going to be glued to these names as the World Championship plays out. Who knows what could happen?!
All-in-all, this is a slam dunk. As we near the end of the most exhilarating race in Rathe, I cannot tell you how much money anybody is winning with confidence. The World Championship and remaining Callings will ultimately decide which names end up in the history books and which fierce competitors will fall just short in the end.
EVENTS IN OCTOBER
Desperate for a seat at the table? Yeah, me too. October features 7 marquee events stuffed with prize money, Gold Foils and World Tour Points, alongside the debut of Pro Quest: Yokohama – the best way to secure your invitation to the next big dance.
CALLING: HAMBURG
I will be in Hamburg as players battle in Classic Constructed, calling the shots all weekend long alongside the lovely Gabe Sher. This is Germany’s debut Calling since being recognized as a game of skill by the German government, and I cannot wait to see which local level juggernauts stake a claim to $20,000, a handful of Gold Foils, and a key to the World Championship in November.
I’m told Hamburg is rife with bold architecture and the home of musical talent in Germany. As an estranged theatre kid, I’m going to try to steal a show between all my adult commitments. Perhaps you should too?
CALLING: SYDNEY
The capital city of New South Wales plays host to the second Calling of the month, with Classic Constructed demanding the attention here as well. Sydney is the final call for players looking to refine their deck lists before World Championship: Philidelphia, so I know I’ll be glued to the coverage from October 31 to November 2.
A $10,000 pool awaits the top 24 players, while the Top 8 will also lock up a Gold Foil and a PTI each. If you’re not lucky enough to be those people, head out to the Sydney Opera House or Bondi Beach. You’re standing in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Should probably make the most of it!
BATTLE HARDENED: OSAKA
If you’re lucky enough to already be in Japan, Osaka plays host to a Battle Hardened from October 3-5. Classic Constructed will be the name of the game for any aspiring champion hunting down their share of $2,000, Gold Foils, and Professional Tournament Invitations.
Osaka previously played host to the World Championship last year and I had a truly wonderful time. Make some time to stop by Osaka Castle and Universal Studios, and don’t leave Japan until you’ve tried some Okonomiyaki.
BATTLE HARDENED: SONOMA
Is the Hotel California a real place? Nobody has ever confirmed this for me. I guess I’ll find out between October 4-5.
Sonoma is the perfect place to drown your sorrows if you don’t quite manage to crush the competition – it’s the birthplace of the California wine industry! Hopefully you’ll be too busy slinging cardboard and winning your share of $2,000 to make much of a dent, but who doesn’t love a backup plan?
Alternatively, enjoy a bottle while staring at your new Gold Foil. Either works for me.
BATTLE HARDENED: HOUSTON
Everything is bigger in Texas… including the legal card pool, apparently.
If you’re hoping to run the Living Legend gauntlet at the World Championship, get yourself to Houston between October 17-19 for a chance to earn Gold Foils, invitations, and $2,000 during your preparations. There’s no better way to confirm that you’re on the right track than a Battle Hardened.
Apparently, 7,000,000 people visit Texas every year. It’s gotta be the Longhorns, right?
BATTLE HARDENED: BALTIMORE
If smooth jazz and comedy clubs are more your scene, Baltimore is the place to be. October 24-26 will also offer a taste of the Living Legend format on a grander stage, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the biggest names making the trip across both weekends. The $2,000 and a smattering of prize cards probably don’t hurt either.
Baltimore is a great stop for a more carefree trip too. Endless cruises, museums, and historic sights litter the city. Make a weekend of it if you can.
BATTLE HARDENED: TACOMA
Tacoma will close the chapter at the end of October with one final Classic Constructed Battle Hardened event. That doesn’t change the prizes whatsoever, though: exclusive playmats, Pro Tour Invitations, Gold Foils, and a share of $2,000.
The “City of Destiny” is an apt nickname for somebody chasing their fate. Perhaps you’ll be the one taking home that trophy?
Pro Quest: Yokohama
Japan is the tourist destination for so many people, but it holds an even closer importance for those in the card game space. It’s the birthplace of modern TCGs. I cannot think of a better place to compete against the best.
If you want that honor, you’ll need to take down a Pro Quest event near you. Taking place between October 4 and November 9, you’ll find more than 600 events featuring Classic Constructed and Living Legend. Take one down and the invitation (and a highly coveted Gold Foil) is yours!
If you fall just short, fear not. Playmats featuring Tuffnut, Pleiades, and Kayo will be awarded at random to both finalists, while top cut competitors secure extended art promo variants of Swing Big and Overcrowded. You’ll even get GEM Pack 3 for participating. These aren’t the type of events you can afford to miss, so make sure to get those tickets booked today!
