Author Topic: The first career Redemption Grand Slam? (Read 4400 times)

Prof Underwood · « **on:** July 31, 2009, 02:27:54 PM »

Considering Gabe's utter domination over the last 2-3 years, are we currently witnessing the half-way point of a Redemption Grand Slam? Of the 8 major categories, Gabe has now won 4. Does anyone think that he could be the first person to win all 8?

T1-2p = 2007
T1-mp = ?
T2-2p = 2009
T2-mp = ?
TEAMS = 2009
Booster = ?
Online = 2009
Sealed = ?

Prof Underwood · « **Reply #1 on:** July 31, 2009, 02:32:55 PM »

In spite of my huge admiration for my friend Gabe, I'm going to predict "no". The categories that he has left to go are either more random (Booster & Sealed) or more vulnerable to getting ganged up on (T1-mp and T2-mp).

Of the 4, I think he would have a better chance at the multi-player events. Daniel Witten has already shown that it is possible to win Nats in that category even after winning it the year before (and presumably he would have ganged up on the 2nd year without it stopping him). But Booster and Sealed are so random that I don't think it is reasonable at all to assume that Gabe would actually win both of them. Has anyone ever won both of those events?

Professoralstad · « **Reply #2 on:** July 31, 2009, 02:39:13 PM »

Somehow I don't see Gabe playing Sealed. It has its strategy, sure, but it's so dependent on so many uncontrollable factors. The deck you get, the cards you get in the packs, the wiliingness of your first opponent to trade, and then plain old LS availability. For a strategizing and methodical player as Gabe is, I'm not so sure he'd be into that particular style. Perhaps I'm wrong though. He might try it someday.

Also, something I've always wondered other Prof. Why do you always capitalize TEAMS? Is it an acronym for something else?

*Edit* Instaposted.

Alex_Olijar · « **Reply #3 on:** July 31, 2009, 02:44:08 PM »

I think he could, but he won't want to. I don't see Gabe as having the desire to play Sealed or T-2 multi because he is far better at the categories which they are paired against.

Professoralstad · « **Reply #4 on:** July 31, 2009, 02:46:17 PM »

Quote from: Janissary on July 31, 2009, 02:44:08 PM

I think he could, but he won't want to. I don't see Gabe as having the desire to play Sealed or T-2 multi because he is far better at the categories which they are paired against.

Maybe not, but when he's already won both of those categories now, perhaps he'll try something different next year. Maybe he's winning T2-MP right now? Ok, probably not...

Prof Underwood · « **Reply #5 on:** July 31, 2009, 02:49:24 PM »

Quote from: Professoralstad on July 31, 2009, 02:39:13 PM

Also, something I've always wondered other Prof. Why do you always capitalize TEAMS? Is it an acronym for something else?

Excellent catch other Prof. I do always capitalize it, and I think that originally there was an acronym in there somewhere. However, I don't have any idea at this point what that would be. Maybe someday I'll just make something up again

Quote from: Janissary on July 31, 2009, 02:44:08 PM

I think he could, but he won't want to. I don't see Gabe as having the desire to play Sealed or T-2 multi because he is far better at the categories which they are paired against.

Yes, and Roger Federer is far better at playing Tennis on surfaces other than clay (14 Grand Slam victories NOT on clay vs. 1 Grand Slam victory on clay). However, I'm pretty sure that he would've chosen to play the French Open in 2009 even if it was at the same time as the US Open, just because it was the only piece missing from his stellar career.

* instaposted

The Guardian · « **Reply #6 on:** July 31, 2009, 02:52:58 PM »

Quote

Has anyone ever won both of those events?

I don't believe so, but I can think of a couple of players who have had great success in both categories at tournament levels below Nationals such as Ben Shadrick, Adam Erickson and Jordan Alstad.

Professoralstad · « **Reply #7 on:** July 31, 2009, 02:55:17 PM »

Don't forget Ben Nichols. I don't know how he does it, but I don't think I've ever won when playing against him in either category. And he took both MN state and NC Regionals in Booster.

Alex_Olijar · « **Reply #8 on:** July 31, 2009, 02:57:44 PM »

Quote from: Prof Underwood on July 31, 2009, 02:49:24 PM

Quote from: Janissary on July 31, 2009, 02:44:08 PM
I think he could, but he won't want to. I don't see Gabe as having the desire to play Sealed or T-2 multi because he is far better at the categories which they are paired against.
Yes, and Roger Federer is far better at playing Tennis on surfaces other than clay (14 Grand Slam victories NOT on clay vs. 1 Grand Slam victory on clay). However, I'm pretty sure that he would've chosen to play the French Open in 2009 even if it was at the same time as the US Open, just because it was the only piece missing from his stellar career.

* instaposted

And so would Nadal. And so Federer would lose assuming good health.

If I had to guess, Gabe will never play Sealed. He seem to really enjoy the strategic deck building elements of the game. Sealed purposely mitigates these elements a bit.
I also think that Gabe will never play T-2 multi because I think he (like most) enjoys two player much more.

We could have just waited for Gabe to say what he likes, but that's too boring.

The Guardian · « **Reply #9 on:** July 31, 2009, 03:00:48 PM »

Quote

I also think that Gabe will never play T-2 multi [at Nationals with the current format] because I think he (like most) enjoys two player much more.

Gabe is certainly capable of playing and winning in T2 MP, and based on his participation at State and Regional tournaments, he prefers T2 MP over Sealed.

Quote

Don't forget Ben Nichols. I don't know how he does it, but I don't think I've ever won when playing against him in either category. And he took both MN state and NC Regionals in Booster

Wow, I guess I never heard that he won at State also, but yes, Ben is certainly a crafty veteran of the closed deck events.

Alex_Olijar · « **Reply #10 on:** July 31, 2009, 03:01:55 PM »

True, thank you for editing in my intent there. That is what I meant, and I assumed most would understand that, but I guess it never hurts to be clear.

Professoralstad · « **Reply #11 on:** July 31, 2009, 03:02:29 PM »

Also, according to sk's twitter feed, Gabe is playing T1-2P today. Maybe next year.

Prof Underwood · « **Reply #12 on:** July 31, 2009, 03:59:23 PM »

Quote from: Alex_Olijar on July 31, 2009, 02:57:44 PM

...Gabe will never play Sealed...Gabe will never play T-2 multi...[in current Nats format]

Quote from: The Guardian on July 31, 2009, 03:00:48 PM

...Gabe is certainly capable of playing and winning in T2 MP...

Alex is definitely right this year (since Gabe's playing T1-2p), but could Guardian be right next year. Could Gabe decide to focus on his multi-player events next year to add 2 more trophies to his Career Grand Slam? Inquiring minds want to know

Alex_Olijar · « **Reply #13 on:** July 31, 2009, 11:19:40 PM »

And, FWIW, I don't really count online or Teams as Grand Slam worthy. I just don't really think a non-offical event and a event held not in person should really count.

But Gabe is still ridiculous.

Professoralstad · « **Reply #14 on:** August 01, 2009, 09:20:52 PM »

Quote from: Prof Underwood on July 31, 2009, 02:32:55 PM

But Booster and Sealed are so random that I don't think it is reasonable at all to assume that Gabe would actually win both of them. Has anyone ever won both of those events?

As of today, yes. Congrats Mr. Nurge

Alex_Olijar · « **Reply #15 on:** August 01, 2009, 11:17:52 PM »

Nurge is also ridiculous.

TheHobbit13 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 01, 2009, 11:23:02 PM »

Quote from: Professoralstad on August 01, 2009, 09:20:52 PM

Quote from: Prof Underwood on July 31, 2009, 02:32:55 PM
But Booster and Sealed are so random that I don't think it is reasonable at all to assume that Gabe would actually win both of them. Has anyone ever won both of those events?

As of today, yes. Congrats Mr. Nurge

Yah, congratulations. To win both closed deck catogories in one Nationals is pretty sweet

YourMathTeacher · « **Reply #17 on:** August 01, 2009, 11:26:18 PM »

What's even more amazing is that on Friday he was listed as being from Connecticut and now he is listed as being from Massachusetts. Maybe he won one category from each state.

Alex_Olijar · « **Reply #18 on:** August 01, 2009, 11:26:48 PM »

Haha. He's just that good.

SirNobody · « **Reply #19 on:** August 02, 2009, 12:32:22 AM »

Hey,

With his win in T2-MP this weekend Ron Sias is actually closer to a career grand slam than Gabe (or anyone else for that matter). Ron now has national titles in T1-MP, T2-MP, T2-2P, SD-2P, and SD-MP.

I also agree with Alex that I wouldn't consider teams or online as part of a grand slam (although teams becoming an official category in the future became a serious possibility this weekend).

Tschow,

Tim "Sir Nobody" Maly

Alex_Olijar · « **Reply #20 on:** August 02, 2009, 12:34:00 AM »

And Ron broke the game. Only so many people can say that.

Gabe · « **Reply #21 on:** August 02, 2009, 01:18:27 PM »

Anyone who has met Ron Sias in person knows that he's the man. Not just for his Redemption playing skillz either. He's an all around great guy. I really enjoyed hanging out with him this weekend. I know he wouldn't want anyone tooting his horn but one example of the quality of this guys character - he was practically giving Faithful Servant promos to kids all weekend.

As for 2 category winners, Sam Nurge is by far the more talented player. I always hear that booster draft and sealed deck are "all luck". He's proven that wrong by dominating both categories. Anyone can do well when given a fine tuned deck to play. It takes real talent to win with whatever pile of random cards you're given.

Sam is also an outstanding person and a great sport. He had an incorrect ruling made against him in T1-2P that possibly cost him the game against me. When we found out after the game was over that the judges talked the ruling over and realized (too late) that they were incorrect, he was disappointed (as any of us would be) but he still responded with grace and forgiveness towards the judges and his opponent.

P.S. - Gabe Isbell is overrated.

Prof Underwood · « **Reply #22 on:** August 02, 2009, 10:16:38 PM »

Quote from: SirNobody on August 02, 2009, 12:32:22 AM

With his win in T2-MP this weekend Ron Sias is actually closer to a career grand slam than Gabe (or anyone else for that matter). Ron now has national titles in T1-MP, T2-MP, T2-2P, SD-2P, and SD-MP.

Thanks for this Tim. That gives me someone else to watch. I'm think it would be cool for Ron, Gabe, or someone else to be the first Redemption Grand Slam, and I look forward to seeing it happen.

Quote from: SirNobody on August 02, 2009, 12:32:22 AM

I also agree with Alex that I wouldn't consider teams or online as part of a grand slam (although teams becoming an official category in the future became a serious possibility this weekend).

Considering that the ROOT is already an official category (complete with RNRS points), I think is should be included in the Grand Slam. And if TEAMS also becomes official, then it should go in there as well. People talked a while back about a tournament of champions. ROOT is actually a way for that to happen quite simply. I would encourage Ron, and all other previous champions to join Gabe, Justin, and the rest of us who are already there and see what happens this next year

Alex_Olijar · « **Reply #23 on:** August 02, 2009, 10:18:50 PM »

Your overblowing ROOT. While it "official", it can never properly be a tournament category because of how different the rules are for it that normal tournaments (No swiss style, the plot rule, not needing to have a copy of the card, etc).

Prof Underwood · « **Reply #24 on:** August 02, 2009, 10:49:22 PM »

Quote from: Alex_Olijar on August 02, 2009, 10:18:50 PM

Your overblowing ROOT. While it "official", it can never properly be a tournament category because of how different the rules are for it that normal tournaments (No swiss style, the plot rule, not needing to have a copy of the card, etc).

I obviously disagree. We are implementing some new twists to ROOT this year that will make it more like a "Swiss" style tournament. Only 3 Haman's Plot cards may be used in a monthly tournament (which is the same as could be used at Nats with checking in 3 decks), and you don't have to have a copy of a card for any "normal" tournament either, you can borrow a friend's.

News:

Author Topic: The first career Redemption Grand Slam? (Read 4400 times)

TheHobbit13