Recap: National Championships Week Three

28th Sep 2022 Nicola Price

In our largest week of the season, we saw over a thousand players turn out around the world, with 16 new National Champions crowned across Europe, North America, Asia and Oceania! Almost every single hero in the game claimed a Top 8 finish at a National Championship, including cult favourites Azalea and Levia.


US National Champion 2022 - Michael Hamilton

United States

The second United States National Championship kicked off with a bang, with 435 players qualifying for this mixed format event. Likewise, another 450 players took to the field for Calling: Charlotte, and 180 players for Battle Hardened: Charlotte, seeing a grand total of more than one thousand players across the weekend's events!

At the National Championship, the Top 8 cut included several established competitive players, with two-time Calling winner Michael Hammilton leading the pack. He was joined by Battle Hardened: Dallas winner Brodie Spurlock, Battle Hardened: Columbus winner Ryan Rich, Battle Hardened: Philadelphia finalist Daniel Rutkowski, 2021 US Nationals and Calling: Indianapolis quarterfinalist Jacob Baugh, Team Blitz Calling: Las Vegas semifinalist Spencer Freeman, and Battle Hardened: New Jersey semifinalist Easton Douglas. Rounding out the Top 8 is Brian Lorenz, who made his competitive debut at Pro Tour: Lille after a year of Skirmish and ProQuest events.

After winning the Calling: Orlando event at the 2021 US National Championships, Michael Hamilton's meteoric rise in competitive play has been cemented once more, winning a battle of fire and ice to claim the title of 2022 United States National Champion!

Top 8:

1st: Michael Hamilton - Iyslander, Stormbind
2nd: Daniel Rutkowski - Fai, Rising Rebellion
3rd-4th: Jacob Baugh - Dash, Inventor Extraordinaire
3rd-4th: Brian Lorenz - Iyslander, Stormbind
5th-8th:
Spencer Freeman - Fai, Rising Rebellion
5th-8th: Ryan Rich - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
5th-8th: Easton Douglas - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
5th-8th: Brodie Spurlock - Briar, Warden of Thorns


Calling: Charlotte Champion Collin Kaiser


After winning one of our original Calling events in 2019, Calling: New Jersey Collin Kaiser becomes our third two-time Calling Champion in Flesh and Blood history, winning the Oldhim mirror match final against Pro Tour: New Jersey semifinalist Isaak Krut to claim the title of Calling: Charlotte Champion!

Calling Top 8:

1st: Collin Kaiser - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
2nd: Isaak Krut - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
3rd-4th: Roger Bodee - Iyslander, Stormbind
3rd-4th: Chris Brummett - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
5th-8th: Matthew Dilks - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
5th-8th: Jonah Overholt - Rhinar, Reckless Rampage
5th-8th: Jon Ho - Viserai, Rune Blood
5th-8th: Aaron Shantz - Dromai, Ash Artist


Battle Hardened: Charlotte Top 8


After making his competitive debut at Calling: Orlando in 2021, Christian Gerdes fought through three Callings, two Battle Hardeneds and a Pro Tour to win Battle Hardened: Charlotte with Fai!

Battle Hardened Top 8:

1st: Christian Gerdes - Fai
2nd: Chandler To - Iyslander
3rd-4th: Andrew Rothermel - Iyslander
3rd-4th: Adam Chaplin - Fai
5th-8th: Jonathan Magnuson - Dromai
5th-8th: Craig Krempels - Iyslander
5th-8th: Jacob Briggs - Dromai
5th-8th: Damien Riggins - Fai


Hong Kong Regional Champion Pudding Tam

Hong Kong

The second Hong Kong Regional Championship featured a 59-player field, with 2021 Regionals semifinalist Pudding Tam and quarterfinalist Alex Lo once again making the cut. They were joined by 2021 competitors Wayne Tsu, LK Sing, C WK, and Kaiser Wong, who also competed at Pro Tour: New Jersey. Mortal Absolute joined the 2022 Regional Championship as his first competitive event since he began playing in December 2020, while our final competitor, Kelvin Law, is currently the top player on both the 90-day and lifetime XP leaderboards, with over 5,000 XP to date.

The final match found 2021 Regionals semifinalist Pudding Tam face off against competitive newcomer Mortal Absolute, with Pudding wielding the Rosetta Thorn to cut through Dash's tech and claim the title of 2022 Hong Kong Regional Champion!

Top 8:

1st: Pudding Tam - Briar, Warden of Thorns
2nd: Mortal Absolute - Dash, Inventor Extraordinaire
3rd-4th: C WK - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
3rd-4th: Lk Sing - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
5th-8th: Kelvin Law - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
5th-8th: Wayne Tsui - Dromai, Ash Artist
5th-8th: Alex Lo - Briar, Warden of Thorns
5th-8th: Kaiser Wong - Iyslander, Stormbind


2022 Netherlands National Champion Donovan van Beek

Netherlands

"Fighters from all around the country descended upon Amsterdam, fighting it out to become The Netherlands ultimate champion. At the entrance of the gates, they were welcomed by a time chronicle of their whole battle history in Rathe. Showing fights from all around the country, starting with Skirmish Season 2 up until their fights in Lille at the Pro Tour.

Then the true battle started. 61 fighters entered the arena, but only one became victorious. Donovan van Beek, who started his journey with Welcome to Rathe Alpha, brought Oldhim to the Dutch throne. After years of showing his strength, Donovan brought home the trophy.

The Pro Tour Invitational tournament saw 28 fighters showing up. Trying to get their hands on that PTI and Gold Foil Legendary.

Erik Baalhuis took the win by getting Dromai her 1st place at the tournament. Philip van Donselaar (Dutch national champion 2021) got 2nd place with Briar.

Multiple on-demand drafts were played during the weekend. Going all the way back to Welcome to Rathe up to Uprising. Each draft had corresponding armory CFs and promos from their matching sets, so it was really like stepping back in time.

That brought the Dutch Nationals 2022 in Amsterdam to a close. Let's keep on exploring Rathe and see what 2023 brings us!"

Top 8:

1st: Donovan van Beek - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
2nd: Gary White - Viserai, Rune Blood
3rd-4th: Wouter Ouwehand - Briar, Warden of Thorns
3rd-4th: Aidan Wall - Briar, Warden of Thorns
5th-8th: Didier Deurloo - Briar, Warden of Thorns
5th-8th: Hendrik Wytze Kluitenberg - Briar, Warden of Thorns
5th-8th: Kevin van Steenis - Fai, Rising Rebellion
5th-8th: Ian Zhang - Dromai, Ash Artist


2022 New Zealand National Champion Matt Rogers

New Zealand

The third New Zealand National Championship saw 87 players on the battlefield, including one sole young Prism player who made their way past the Day 2 cut. The Top 8 included 2020 National Champion and Calling: Auckland 2021 Champion Matt Rogers, and Oliver Berry, who made the Top 32 at Pro Tour: Lille. Sang Wook Kim began playing in May 2021, competing at the Calling: Auckland and 2021 Nationals; Dennis Zhang began playing in October last year and competed at Pro Tour: New Jersey; Nish Nimmagadda competed at the National Championship and both Auckland Calling events in 2021.

David Marshall competed at Calling: Auckland and the National Championship in 2021, as did Marko Zutic, who also competed at Calling: Utrecht earlier this year, and finally, Ethan Sih competed at the earlier Calling: Auckland in 2021, and Battle Hardened: Auckland in July.

After losing in the finals of the 2021 National Championship, Matt Rogers seized victory in the final this year against Sang Wook Kim's Iyslander deck, claiming the title of 2022 New Zealand National Champion, and becoming our second two-time National Champion alongside fellow Team Dragonshield teammate Tariq Patel!

Top 8:

1st: Matt Rogers - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
2nd: Sang Wook Kim - Iyslander, Stormbind
3rd-4th: Dennis Zhang - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
3rd-4th: Nish Nimmagadda - Briar, Warden of Thorns
5th-8th: Marko Zutic - Bravo, Showstopper
5th-8th: David Marshall - Briar, Warden of Thorns
5th-8th: Oliver Berry - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
5th-8th: Ethan Sih - Briar, Warden of Thorns


2022 Poland National Champion Bartosz Ziemba

Poland

This year's 85 player event featured a surprise Top 8 finisher in one of the most competitive metagames. After competing at last year's National Championship, Paweł Leszuk brought Azalea, Ace in the Hole into the Top 8 cut, alongside Briar player Bartosz Ziemba, a triple-threat Top 8 finisher at Pro Tour: Lille, the 2021 Polish National Championship, and Battle Hardened: Krakow. Fellow 2021 Nationals competitor Daniyar Saduakassov remerged in the Top 8 after his semifinals finish last year.

Battle Hardened: Krakow Champion Maciej Janik also made the Top 8, alongside Calling: Lille finalist Wojtek Klimczyk. Michał Sierszulski made his competitive debut at Calling: Lille, Michal Bedzak competed at the 2021 National Championship and at Pro Tour: Lille, and Robert Szary began playing Flesh and Blood a month before he competed at Calling: Krakow.

In the final, fellow 2021 National Championship competitors Bartosz Ziemba and Daniyar Saduakassov faced off for the trophy, with the Warden of Thorns, Bartosz Ziemba, winning the match and claiming the title of 2022 Polish National Champion!

Top 8:

1st: Bartosz Ziemba - Briar, Warden of Thorns
2nd: Daniyar Saduakassov - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
3rd-4th: Wojtek Klimczyk - Briar, Warden of Thorns
3rd-4th: Maciej Janik - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
5th-8th: Michał Sierszulski - Bravo, Showstopper
5th-8th: Paweł Leszuk - Azalea, Ace in the Hole
5th-8th: Michal Bedzak - Briar, Warden of Thorns
5th-8th: Robert Szary - Fai, Rising Rebellion


2022 Taiwan National Champion Ming-Han Lee

Taiwan

89 players brought their heroes and weapons to bear at the third Taiwan National Championship, with 2020 Nationals finalist Wang Chung Chi joining 2021 Nationals semifinalist Night Sixteen in the Top 8. The Top 8 of this event included some of the most competitive players in the region: Sheng-Xun Luo, Calling: Taiwan Champion; Pei-Tung Liao, quarterfinalist at Calling: Singapore; and Tim Lin, quarterfinalist at Battle Hardened: Taiwan. Ho Chi-Yun previously competed at the 2021 National Championship, while this event marks Si Joe Gao's competitive debut.

In the final, Night Sixteen's Briar deck was felled by Ranger Lee Ming-Han, who took Lexi to a stunning victory and claimed the title of 2022 Taiwan National Champion!

Top 8:

1st: Lee Ming-Han - Lexi, Livewire
2nd: Night Sixteen - Briar, Warden of Thorns
3rd-4th: Pei-Tung Liao - Briar, Warden of Thorns
3rd-4th: Luo Sheng-Xun - Briar, Warden of Thorns
5th-8th: Tim Lin - Briar, Warden of Thorns
5th-8th: Wang Chung Chi - Iyslander, Stormbind
5th-8th: Si Joe Gao - Bravo, Showstopper
5th-8th: Ho Chi-Yun - Ser Boltyn, Breaker of Dawn


2022 Belgian National Champion Glenn Van Roey

Belgium

59 players competed in the second Belgian National Championship, with 2021 quarterfinalists Glenn van Roey and Sébastien Spilliaert once again emerging in the Top 8. Sébastien Spilliaert turned his attention from the Inventor Extraordinaire to Oldhim, facing off against Glenn Van Roey, who reclaimed the Warden of Thorns for the second year running and claimed the title of 2022 Belgian National Champion!

Top 8:

1st: Glenn Van Roey - Briar, Warden of Thorns
2nd: Sébastien Spilliaert - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
3rd-4th: Wim Eliano - Fai, Rising Rebellion
3rd-4th: Alex Kivitz - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
5th-8th: Ruben Van Dessel - Dash, Inventor Extraordinaire
5th-8th: Kevin Faut - Lexi, Livewire
5th-8th: Renzo Schietgat - Viserai, Rune Blood
5th-8th: Florian Denil - Dromai, Ash Artist


2022 Danish National Champion Danni Andersen

Denmark

At this 48 player event, 2021 Nationals semifinalist Danni Andersen made his triumphant return, claiming victory against Peter Nielsen in the finals to become the 2022 Danish National Champion!

Top 8:

1st: Danni Andersen - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
2nd: Peter Nielsen - Fai, Rising Rebellion
3rd-4th: Daniel Ipakchian - Fai, Rising Rebellion
3rd-4th: Sebastian Grøndal - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
5th-8th: Andreas Ventzel - Briar, Warden of Thorns
5th-8th: Thomas Brygmann - Fai, Rising Rebellion
5th-8th: Carl Nielsen - Lexi, Livewire
5th-8th: Alexander Magnus - Kano, Dracai of Aether


2022 Greek National Champion George Melissakis

Greece

In the thrilling final of this 44 player event, 2021 Greek National Champion Yorgos Samaras faced off against 2021 semifinalist George Melissakis, who seized victory and usurped the trophy, claiming the title of 2022 Greek National Champion!

Top 8:

1st: George Melissakis - Iyslander, Stormbind
2nd: Yorgos Samaras - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
3rd-4th: Vasilis Kirlis - Levia, Shadowborn Abomination
3rd-4th: Konstantinos Paltoglou - Viserai, Rune Blood
5th-8th: Nick Panagiotou - Fai, Rising Rebellion
5th-8th: Panagiotis Ntemiris - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
5th-8th: Gregory Patellis - Iyslander, Stormbind
5th-8th: George Panagopoulos - Dorinthea Ironsong


2022 Indonesian National Champion Junio Antono

Indonesia

36 players competed at the first Indonesian National Championship, with Junio Antono claiming final victory with Viserai, Rune Blood to become the first Indonesian National Champion!

Top 8:

1st: Junio Antono - Viserai, Rune Blood
2nd: Laksana Eka S.P. - Dromai, Ash Artist
3rd-4th: Wisnu Agung - Dash, Inventor Extraordinaire
3rd-4th: Abdurrahman Putra - Briar, Warden of Thorns
5th-8th: Edwin Sitanto - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
5th-8th: Michael Julianto - Iyslander, Stormbind
5th-8th: Natanael Avellino - Briar, Warden of Thorns
5th-8th: Martinus Indra - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity


2022 Irish National Champion Ryan Porter

Ireland

At the first Ireland National Championship, Pro Tour: New Jersey competitor Ian Holland faced off against Ryan Porter in a Runeblade showdown, with Ryan claiming the final victory to become the first Irish National Champion!

Top 8:

1st: Ryan Porter - Viserai, Rune Blood
2nd: Ian Holland - Briar, Warden of Thorns
3rd-4th: Graham O'Brien - Briar, Warden of Thorns
3rd-4th: Carl Boyle - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
5th-8th: Dean Flanagan - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
5th-8th: Michael Pietrzak - Viserai, Rune Blood
5th-8th: Stephen McKeever - Dromai, Ash Artist
5th-8th: Dylan Thompson - Dash, Inventor Extraordinaire


Philippines National Champion Richard Anthony Bustamante

Philippines

The first Philippines National Championship saw Calling: Singapore competitor Richard Anthony Bustamonte freeze out the classic Runeblade in the final match of this 34 player event, seizing the title of 2022 Philippines National Champion!

Top 8:

1st: Richard Anthony Bustamante - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
2nd: Janbert Dela Cruz -Viserai, Rune Blood
3rd-4th: Charles Esco - Dromai, Ash Artist
3rd-4th: Ricci Ryan Rojo - Iyslander, Stormbind
5th-8th: Dave Aquino - Kano, Dracai of Aether
5th-8th: Carl Cedric Celera - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
5th-8th: Johann Louie Ong - Briar, Warden of Thorns
5th-8th: Mark Alvin Mendoza - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity


Slovakia

Pro Tour: New Jersey quarterfinalist Viliam Kubik seized victory against Matúš Martinko in the final of this event, claiming the title of 2022 Slovakian National Champion!

Top 8:

1st: Viliam Kubik - Viserai, Rune Blood
2nd: Matúš Martinko - Briar, Warden of Thorns
3rd-4th: Peter Markovič - Viserai, Rune Blood
3rd-4th: Martin Okruhlica - Fai, Rising Rebellion
5th-8th: Diana Ubertová - Fai, Rising Rebellion
5th-8th: Matej Antalec - Dash, Inventor Extraordinaire
5th-8th: Roman Legíň - Dromai, Ash Artist
5th-8th: Pavel Cucor - Dromai, Ash Artist


Swedish Nationals Top 8 2022

Sweden

In the final match of this 30 player event, Niklas Bengtsson capitalized on his experience playing at Calling events across Krakow, New Jersey, and Lille, winning the showdown against Armin Soleimanpor to claim the title of 2022 Swedish National Champion!

Top 8:

1st: Niklas Bengtsson - Briar, Warden of Thorns
2nd: Armin Soleimanpor - Bravo, Showstopper
3rd-4th: Stefan Karlsson - Rhinar, Reckless Rampage
3rd-4th:
André Pankhurst - Briar, Warden of Thorns
5th-8th: Italo Molina - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
5th-8th: Niklas Astner - Dash, Inventor Extraordinaire
5th-8th: Jacob Trossing - Bravo, Showstopper
5th-8th: Albert Schütt - Dromai, Ash Artist


2022 Switzerland Nationals Top 8

Switzerland

The final of this 44 player event saw a clash between the Elemental Guardian and Wizard, with Sebastian Spicher taking Iyslander to victory against Minh Toan Nguyen's Oldhim deck, claiming the title of 2022 Swiss National Champion!

Top 8:

1st: Sebastian Spicher - Iyslander, Stormbind
2nd: Minh Toan Nguyen - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
3rd-4th: Fedir Kokhan - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
3rd-4th: Rafael Boog - Viserai, Rune Blood
5th-8th: Henrik Thomsen - Dromai, Ash Artist
5th-8th: Matias Baumeler - Dash, Inventor Extraordinaire
5th-8th: Joyce Bugnard - Bravo, Showstopper
5th-8th: Moritz Waeckerle - Dromai, Ash Artist


2022 Thailand National Champion Wiroon Juesathainrat

Thailand

Wiroon Juesathainrat lit the path to victory at Thailand's first National Championship, burning through Ice and Earth in the finals match against Thanthawat Chujitngamsuwong on Oldhim, and claiming the title of 2022 Thailand National Champion!

Top 8:

1st: Wiroon Juesathainrat - Fai, Rising Rebellion
2nd: Thanthawat Chujitngamsuwong - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity
3rd-4th: Ingkarat Boonyamanond - Fai, Rising Rebellion
3rd-4th: Sran Thongsory - Bravo, Showstopper
5th-8th: Jason Zhang - Dash, Inventor Extraordinaire
5th-8th: Pathomtarn (Tony) Arsaithamkul - Fai, Rising Rebellion
5th-8th: Worranun Suklim - Dorinthea Ironsong
5th-8th: Ekalux Ua-areemitr - Oldhim, Grandfather of Eternity