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 October, and what’s coming up in November…
Happy 6th birthday, everybody! How we all feeling? Staying hydrated?
There’s been an awful lot of different happenings in the game of Flesh and Blood as our beloved card game celebrates another year on shelves. Super Slam has been a resounding success, Pro Quest season is well underway, and we’re about to enter a brand new Silver Age of trading card games. The future looks promising – but we’re also quickly approaching the culmination of every major storyline across the past year. It’s all very exciting, if not slightly difficult to follow.
Thankfully, I’m not in the business of letting you miss out on cool and exciting stuff. The World Tour marches into its grand finale throughout November with a fistful of the $1,500,000 of prize money still up for grabs.
Put on your snazziest outfit, we’ve got places to be.
What Happened In October?
A whole lot actually. We like to keep busy over here.
I had the pleasure of kicking off the month alongside Gabe Sher over at the Calling in Hamburg. This was the first Calling in Germany since the announcement that Flesh and Blood is officially a game of skill in the eyes of the German government, so I can’t think of a more fitting winner than Pro Tour Champion Arthur Trehet. Verdance, Thorn of the Rose is still treating the French titan well. I wonder if he’ll bring her to the World Championship too?
Across the rest of the world, Pro Quest: Yokohama has been dominating the headlines. We’ve seen the expected wave of qualifications for pilots of Gravy Bones, Cindra, and Verdance, but we’ve also seen players punching their ticket to Japan with everything from Betsy to Marlynn! A huge congratulations to everyone who has secured a spot in Yokohama so far. I can’t wait to see you there.
At the Battle Hardened level, we’ve seen several champions crowned across multiple different formats. Justin Cu avenged his previous finals loss with a dominating performance on Gravy Bones at Battle Hardened: Osaka, while Majin Bae was upsetting the dreams of Taylor Morrow’s Arakni, Huntsman with Verdance in Sonoma. In Living Legend, Bird Cabrera set the pace alongside Chane at the inaugural throwdown in Houston, leading to a similar display with the Shadow Runeblade from Brodie Spurlock in Baltimore. Monarch’s original big bad certainly has a target on his head moving forward, that’s for sure.
At time of writing, both formats are seeing further evolution at the Calling in Sydney and the Battle Hardened in Tacoma. Every piece of innovation is worth its weight in gold as we approach the grand finale in Philadelphia, so I’ll be glued to my screen as the results come pouring in.
WORLD TOUR LEADERBOARD
Less than two weeks remain until the race finally comes to an end. The debut of the Player of the Year race has made the last 12 months into a standalone story. What began as a triumphant lead evolved into a neck-and-neck battle across regions that must be decided at World Championship: Philadelphia. Only one player can be immortalized in the history books forever.
A $100,000 prize pool awaits those who can clear the final hurdle: $25,000 to the eventual winner and another $15,000 to the champion of each other region. Silver medals will earn $10,000 each, while third place secures $5,000 for their trouble.
Calling: Sydney and World Championship: Philadelphia are the final major point-scoring events of the year… so who should you be watching out for?
| Rank | Country | Name | World Tour Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US | Brodie Spurlock (78449312) | 138 |
| 2 | GB | Jacob Clements (42541471) | 122 |
| 3 | US | Michael Hamilton (34331578) | 91 |
| 4 | US | Michael Feng (51553785) | 88 |
| 5 | IT | Tommaso Viscido (43166493) | 76 |
| 6 | CA | Jimmy Niro Demers (89522426) | 69 |
| 7 | FR | Arthur Trehet (21361948) | 66 |
| 8 | GB | Alex Chițu (52582252) | 63 |
| 9 | FR | Evan Tanguy (68973688) | 58 |
| 10 | ES | Pablo Pintor (12374294) | 56 |
| 11 | AU | Nick Butcher (51987736) | 55 |
| 11 | NL | Paul van Gijssel (82996881) | 55 |
| 11 | CA | Shawn Dhaliwal (69775991) | 55 |
| 14 | GB | Jason Rolfe (97389552) | 54 |
| 15 | PH | Justin Cu (58244955) | 52 |
Just 16 points stand between Jacob Clements and Brodie Spurlock at the top of the leaderboard: the perfect number to make this race as appealing as possible. If Clements manages to win the Calling in Sydney, both players could theoretically be tied for the lead with just the World Championship main event remaining. Most of the community assumed the throne was a done deal earlier this year but Clements just isn’t letting go. The breakout Brit is having a fairytale run at the top table right now, but we’ll have to stayed tuned to see if it’s closed with a storybook ending.
The European race is all but secured for Clements, but second place is still in reach for up to eight different players. Tommaso Viscido and Arthur Trehet have both established their footholds off the back of a Calling win and impressive Pro Tour placings, but Alex Chițu and Evan Tanguy have been the definition of consistency all year. With two-time Pro Tour Champion Pablo Pintor, as well as Paul Van Gijssel and Jason Rolfe, all also still in contention for the silver medal, there’s everything to play for.
The Americas tell a different story. Michael Hamilton and Michael Feng are just 3 points apart in the podium places, but their overall fate is very much in their hands. The gap to Jimmy Niro Demers, Shawn Dhaliwal, and Naib Mobassir is much larger, but not unattainable. If Hamilton and Feng can put up a strong finish, the prize money is as good as theirs. If not? There are several well-prepared hopefuls waiting to strike.
Asia-Pacific is anybody’s game. If any of the top 26 players win the World Championship, they could theoretically be crowned the winner of the region too. Nick Butcher has held onto the top spot by a handful of points for most of the year, but Justin Cu and Pudding Tam can smell blood. There’s even two more Pro Tour Champions lurking just below in Shirui Wu and Shoma Yamamura. Nobody in Rathe can predict how this portion of the race is going to play out!
In the end, the Player of the Year race has played out perfectly. Nothing is guaranteed as we arrive on Philadelphia’s doorstep, encouraging players from across the world to give everything they have left at this final grand slam. I’m itching to see how this all shakes out come November 16.
EVENTS IN November
Fancy sleeving up some cardboard yourself? Don’t let me stop you. November hosts five premier level events and a worldwide Skirmish season to tempt your tastebuds, including the biggest event of the year – World Championship: Philadelphia.
World Championship: Philadelphia
It’s all been leading up to this.
From November 13-16, the very best players in the world will gather at the Pennsylvania Convention Center to scratch, claw, and battle their way to the title of 2025 World Champion. A $300,000 prize pool of cold, hard cash awaits atop the mountain for the top players, but they’ll need to master both Classic Constructed and Living Legend in order to secure the throne. I want to see a Rocky training montage from somebody atop those fabled steps. Please don’t let me down.
The World Championship weekend is so much more than just the main event. Between an OPEN ENTRY Living Legend Calling, a pair of Classic Constructed Battle Hardened events, and a smattering of special guests and artists, Philadelphia will be the perfect celebration of everything Flesh and Blood. Grab yourself a cheesesteak and join us in the arena in whatever manner you prefer. This is an event for everyone!
CALLING: Valencia
I’m casting two events in one month?! Well, aren’t you all a lucky bunch!
I’ll be back in the booth alongside Gabe Sher and Carlota Fernandez for the first Calling in the wake of the World Championship. Valencia will feature both two days of Classic Constructed action and a Silver Age Early Access Battle Hardened across the weekend, serving as the debut for the much-anticipated new format on the World Tour.
I’m reliably informed that Valencia sees 300 days of sunshine every year, so maybe we’ll get a warm welcome this winter after all. There’s $20,000 of prize money, PTIs, and a handful of Gold Foils for grabs, including the shiny new Marvel Gold Foil Quickdodge Flexors for the winner. Throw in some Paella and there’s nowhere I’d rather be.
BATTLE HARDENED: Rochester
Rochester is one of the final two stops on the World Tour before we reach Philadelphia, giving players one last chance to refine those Classic Constructed decklists before the big dance. If you’re not looking for a rehearsal, fear not – there’s still $2,000, a Gold Foil, and a pair of PTIs up for grabs.
I’m sure we’ll be too busy playing card games, but I hear Rochester is renowned for its vibrant festivals and culture. The National Toy Hall of Fame sounds like a fantastic stop if you’ve got some time to spare.
BATTLE HARDENED: Edinburgh
You’ll be playing in a venue named The Biscuit Factory. Is that not enough for you?!
The tranquil Scottish Lowlands play host to the second final stop before the World Championship, allowing players on the other side of the pond to test their mettle as well. Much like Rochester, you’ll be playing for your share of $2,000, a pair of PTIs, and a Gold Foil.
Edinburgh is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city has served as the Scottish capital since the 15th century and sports a harmonious blend of medieval old town architecture and neoclassical character. It’s a wonderful place to visit and I’d highly encourage extending your trip.
BATTLE HARDENED: Las Vegas
They say what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. We’ll still be posting the winner’s face everywhere though!
The Westgate Resort will play host to the first event following the World Championship thanks to Star City Games. Classic Constructed will be the name of the game amongst the glowing lights of fortune and fame, with $2,000 and a pair of PTIs up for grabs, alongside a coveted Gold Foil.
There’s no shortage of things to do in Las Vegas. It’s the home of endless iconic resorts, fine dining, and world-class entertainment. If you remember your trip by the time you get home, you’re not doing it right.
Skirmish Season 13
Skirmish Season just about squeaks onto the calendar this month, offering a final bloody brawl with the Blitz format before it is retired from seasonal organized play. Skirmish events are more casual affairs, acting as the perfect way to introduce newer players to the biggest names in their local scene for great games and better prizes.
This season, we’ll be battling it out for Charm themed playmats, Marvel Bravo, Flattering Showman, Cold Foil copies of Everbloom // Life and Consign to Cosmos // Shock, as well as Rainbow Foil copies of Herald of Sekem. As a notorious Verdance enjoyer, I’ll be hunting down those Everblooms for sure.
Find an event near you by checking out the Event Locator and hop in for a seasonal sendoff! I’ll be playing some Shiyana, Diamond Gemini. How about you?
