The last of our National Championships have come to a close, rounding out the season with Germany and Singapore! This year, we crowned not one, but two two-time National Champions, with Tariq Patel claiming back-to-back titles as 2021 United States National Champion and 2022 Canadian National Champion, and Matt Rogers reclaiming his 2020 title to become New Zealand National Champion once again. We also saw twelve countries host their first National Championship to date, and our Tales of Aria heroes reprise their share of the metagame after debuting just in time for the last season in 2021. Congratulations to all 37 of our 2022 National Champions, and thank you to all of the players around the world who joined us to compete, watch, or celebrate this National Championship season! We look forward to joining you in San Jose to see the first World Champion crowned in just a few short weeks.
2022 National Champions
- Australia - Nick Butcher - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
- Austria - Long Dao - Briar, Warden of Thorns
- Belgium - Glenn Van Roey - Briar, Warden of Thorns
- Bulgaria - Plamen Marekov - Bravo, Showstopper
- Canada - Tariq Patel - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
- Croatia - Kristian Čurla - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
- Czechia - Zdeněk Matura - Dash, Inventor Extraordinaire
- Denmark - Danni Andersen - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
- Finland - Mikko Airaksinen - Iyslander, Stormbind
- France - Mohamed El Fardi - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
- Germany - Christopher Bizau - Iyslander, Stormbind
- Greece - George Melissakis - Iyslander, Stormbind
- Hong Kong - Pudding Tam - Briar, Warden of Thorns
- Hungary - Domonkos Ács - Briar, Warden of Thorns
- Indonesia - Junio Antono - Viserai, Rune Blood
- Ireland - Ryan Porter - Viserai, Rune Blood
- Italy - Stefano Cocca - Briar, Warden of Thorns
- Lithuania - Darvydas Čepukaitis - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
- Malaysia - Nitya Kalaichelvan - Rhinar, Reckless Rampage
- Netherlands - Donovan van Beek - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
- New Zealand - Matt Rogers - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
- Norway - Adrian Fjell - Dromai, Ash Artist
- Philippines - Richard Anthony Bustamante - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
- Poland - Bartosz Ziemba - Briar, Warden of Thorns
- Portugal - Mário Abrantes - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
- Romania - Onica Lucian - Dash, Inventor Extraordinaire
- Singapore - Gordon Koh - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
- Slovakia - Viliam Kubik - Viserai, Rune Blood
- Slovenia - Jan Ban - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
- Spain - Max Dieckmann - Viserai, Rune Blood
- Sweden - Niklas Bengtsson - Briar, Warden of Thorns
- Switzerland - Sebastian Spicher - Iyslander, Stormbind
- Taiwan - Lee Ming-Han - Lexi, Livewire
- Thailand - Wiroon Juesathainrat - Fai, Rising Rebellion
- United Kingdom - George Rodger - Fai, Rising Rebellion
- United States - Michael Hamilton - Iyslander, Stormbind
- Vietnam - Quang Duong - Dorinthea
Germany
88 players gathered to compete at the 2022 German National Championship, including 2021 National Champion Christian Hauck, and 2021 quarterfinalist Paul Klintworth, both rejoining the field to enter the Top 8 for the second year in a row. In 2021, Christian Hauck won the final with Briar, Warden of Thorns, while Paul competed with Ser Boltyn, Breaker of Dawn, both taking on the mantle of Oldhim this year. They were joined by resident Brute Benjamin Harms, who also competed at last year's National Championship; Kevin Zänker, a Calling: Krakow semifinalist who is currently #2 on the Lifetime XP leaderboard for Germany; Frederic Fuessmann, another 2021 Nationals competitor; Viet Pham, currently #2 on the Constructed Leaderboard in Germany; Christopher Bizau, a semifinalist at Battle Hardened: Frankfurt; and Cosmo Hahn, who is currently #6 on the Limited Leaderboard for Germany.
Christopher Bizau and Cosmo Hahn faced off in the final, Viserai versus Iyslander, to stake their claim on the title. Wielding the gift of aether, Christopher Bizau seized victory with the Elemental Wizard, becoming our 2022 German National Champion!
Top 8
1st: Christopher Bizau - Iyslander, Stormbind
2nd: Cosmo Hahn - Viserai, Rune Blood
3rd-4th: Paul Klintworth - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
3rd-4th: Christian Hauck - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
5th-8th: Viet Pham - Iyslander, Stormbind
5th-8th: Frederic Fuessmann - Fai, Rising Rebellion
5th-8th: Kevin Zänker - Iyslander, Stormbind
5th-8th: Benjamin Harms - Rhinar, Reckless Rampage
Singapore
One of the largest events of the season, Singapore saw over 110 players take to the field, with the Top 8 consisting of a wall of ice. Oldhim representatives in the Top 8 included Marco Ng, a community staple who's currently #4 on the global Lifetime XP leaderboard, and Gordon Koh, a community regular who's made Top 8 across multiple ProQuest, Road to Nationals, and Skirmish seasons. The Elemental Wizard, Iyslander, was represented by Jose Lau, who put in a strong performance at Calling: Singapore with Rhinar; Reeve Chia, a Skirmish superstar; Elliot Lucas Marcell Tan, #2 on the Limited ELO Leaderboard for Singapore; and Chu Heng Eng, who came just shy of the Top 8 cut at Pro Tour: Lille with his Prism deck. Zac Lau has long been competing in Skirmish events with a variety of heroes, and Bryan Kong, who has long been touting Dash at Road to Nationals and ProQuest events.
In the final, the two Guardians faced off for the ultimate victory, with Gordon Koh taking the lead to claim the title of 2022 Singaporean National Champion!
Top 8
1st: Gordon Koh - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
2nd: Zac Lau - Bravo, Showstopper
3rd-4th: Chu Heng Eng - Iyslander, Stormbind
3rd-4th: Bryan Kong - Dash, Inventor Extraordinaire
5th-8th: Marco Ng - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
5th-8th: Elliot Lucas Marcell Tan - Iyslander, Stormbind
5th-8th: Jose Lau - Iyslander, Stormbind
5th-8th: Reeve Chia - Iyslander, Stormbind
Battle Hardened: Minneapolis
The field at this 98-player event was a stark departure from the National Championship metagame, with Briar and Oldhim almost completely dwarfed by the siblings of Uprising. Fai saw great success at the event, seeing five players into the Top 8 cut, including Battle Hardened: Dallas winner Brodie Spurlock. Adam Bidler previously represented Ser Boltyn across multiple Road to Nationals events in 2021, Patrick McGregor represented Fai at Road to Nationals events earlier this year, and Andrew Loberg came out swinging at his first competitive level event after joining the scene in April. Luke Magnuson is our final Fai player in the Top 8, with this marking his tenth Flesh and Blood event to date. Our sole Dash player in the Top 8 is Benjamin Cumming, who's been playing since August 2021 and has previously represented the Mechanologist at Skirmish events. Finally, the Elemental Guardian stakes his claim on the Top 8 with Jonathan Magnuson made the Top 8 at Battle Hardened: Charlotte just last week after a narrow miss on making the cut at Pro Tour: Lille, and Michael Feng, making his triumphant return after winning Calling: Cincinnati last year.
In the final match of the day, Michael Feng once again takes Oldhim to victory, claiming the title of Battle Hardened: Minneapolis champion!
Top 8
1st: Michael Feng - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
2nd: Luke Magnuson - Fai, Rising Rebellion
3rd-4th: Brodie Spurlock - Fai, Rising Rebellion
3rd-4th: Jonathan Magnuson - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
5th-8th: Andrew Loberg - Fai, Rising Rebellion
5th-8th: Adam Bidler - Fai, Rising Rebellion
5th-8th: Benjamin Cumming - Dash, Inventor Extraordinaire
5th-8th: Patrick McGregor - Fai, Rising Rebellion