The Flesh and Blood World Tour is the best TCG organized play circuit on the market! With$2,000,000 up for grabs in 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 August and what’s coming up in September…
T-minus four weeks until we are finallyUNBOUND.
Personally, I cannot wait. Flesh and Blood is in a phenomenal place right now. Between reinvigoration of the Warrior class at the hands of Mastery Pack Warrior and the looming darkness of Usurp the Shadow Throne, there’s something to be excited about for most players. If neither of those capture your fancy? There’s the unending train of competitive play to indulge in.
That’s to say nothing of the recently announced Mastery Pack Assassin. Bolstering Uzuri, Slippy, and Arakni, Huntsman, while getting in with the good doctor? Color me intrigued. Curing diseases and supporting some of the more underappreciated heroes within the class both seem very sweet, and Dr. Mortimer might be where I find myself in the wake of the World Championship.
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If any of this is news to you, where have you been?! The World Tour has continued humming along and announcing exciting updates in the wake of Pro Tour: Las Vegas and we don’t intend on stopping now! We’ve still got a healthy chunk of that $2,000,000 prize pool left to be claimed, and you’ve got plenty of chances to come and take it.
But where will you need to go to stake your claim to the throne? Fear not, I’ve got you covered. Here’s what you can expect from the Flesh and Blood World Tour during September.
What happened in August?
August featured three premier level events across the globe – one in each region. We kicked things off with the electrifying atmosphere of Bangkok, where hundreds of players stepped into the Silver Age format with dreams of glory and their eyes on the crown. Chanon Puttaree managed to sink the rest of the competition alongside the infamous Briar – a hero I expect to be closely monitored as Silver Age voting begins on September 14.
Next, we made our way (in my case, literally) over to the ever-charming Hamburg in Germany. I was joined by the wonderful Kyle Mullings and Erika Forslöf to commentate on the continued rise of Oscilio, Constella Intelligence. The Elemental Wizard has been gaining a significant edge thanks to his ability to swerve in sideboarding, taking five spots in the top cut as the dust began to settle.
Ultimately, it wasn’t enough, as Thomas Preyer would steamroll through the lightning with Dash I/O and bring the much-beloved hero ever closer to reaching Living Legend. We’ll be saying sayonara to the queen of steampunk before you know it. However, it was a different story in the showdown, as Florian Vanbrakel toppled Brodie Spurlock in the Oscilio mirror match in Silver Age.
I’d love to tell you a little more about how things shook out in Kansas City, but at time of writing, it hasn’t happened yet! If it’s anything like Hamburg, the finals will be spectacular, somebody will reach the top cut with a deck you’re not expecting, and a known name will kick ass and chew bubblegum until they’re all out of gum. Be sure to check out the livestream!
World Tour Leaderboard
I feel like I’m obliged to start this section with a single name at this point – Jacob Clements.
However you cut the mustard, this race has become all about Clements. After the otherworldly run of the United Kingdom National Championship, Calling: Shinjuku, Pro Tour: Las Vegas, and Calling: Edinburgh, the British all-star is head and shoulders above the competition. It would take a similar level of run for anybody to catch up to him at this stage, but it’s not strictly impossible. Talk about an absurd showing, though!
That doesn’t mean there’s nothing left to compete for. Each region is entitled to a share of the $100,000 prize pool, with each regional winner taking $15,000, each silver medal scoring $10,000 and a $5,000 purse to each player in third place. Each of these races is still incredibly tight, so let’s pop our head in the door and see what’s happening.
Region · Rank · Name · Points
Europe · 1 · Jacob Clements · 134
Americas · 2 · Brodie Spurlock · 78
Americas · 3 · Yuki Lee Bender · 57
Americas · 4 · Michael Hamilton · 50
Asia-Pacific · 5 · Sam Sutherland · 47
Asia-Pacific · 5 · Nova Chan · 47
Americas · 7 · Evan Herndon · 45
Americas · 8 · Christopher Iaali · 44
Europe · 9 · Paul van Gijssel · 43
Asia-Pacific · 10 · Justin Cu · 38
Americas · 11 · Filipe L. Cardoso · 37
Americas · 12 · Michael Jaszczur · 35
Asia-Pacific · 12 · Chanon Puttaree · 35
Asia-Pacific · 14 · Shoma Yamamura · 34
Americas · 14 · Michael Feng · 34
Europe · 14 · Bartosz Dobrowolski · 34
Americas · 14 · Alexander Vore · 34
Brodie Spurlock sits firmly in second place overall and the leader of the Americas region, but Pro Tour: Yokohama Finalist Yuki Lee Bender and the first World Champion Michael Hamilton might have something to say about that. Both players are in striking distance with a strong performance, with the likes of Evan Herndon and Christopher Iaali awaiting just behind in the chasing pack.
Two-time Calling Champion Paul van Gijssel is fighting tooth and nail to hold onto second place in Europe. Pro Tour: Yokohama Top 8 Bartosz Dobrowolski is giving chase to him, with Tommaso Viscido grabbing yet another top cut finish in Hamburg to stay in the conversation. Having spoken to Paul about the Player of the Year race, I know how important it is to him. I’m expecting him to turn up to everything he possibly can to get a little closer to Clements and keep the competition away.
Meanwhile, the APAC race is tight. Sam Sutherland and Nova Chan are neck-and-neck down the final stretch, with the World Championship likely to decide which of the two is able to take it down. The problem? There are several juggernauts of the game that could also steal the throne with a strong performance at the end of the year. Justin Cu currently sits in third, but Chanon Puttaree, Shoma Yamamura, Gordon Koh Koh and Eugene C are all firmly in the mix. Frankly, the APAC race is still anyone’s game.
I’ve got my eyes peeled as the Player of the Year race comes to a dramatic end at the beginning of November… but I’m also secretly hoping that somebody can go on an otherworldly tear and make Clements panic in the same way he did to Spurlock last year. What can I say? I’m a sucker for drama.
Events in September
September is a slightly lighter month for the World Tour, but that’s in part not to conflict with the local-level pre-release events for Usurp the Shadow Throne.At the very least, make sure to get yourself out to your local game store to celebrate the release of Flesh and Blood’s landmark 20th set.
That said, both events are absolutely haymakers. You know I mean it too, because I’ll be seeing you at both!
Usurp the Shadow Throne World Premiere: Seoul
I have always wanted to go to Korea. Malice’s undead armies and the new Shadow Lord Viserai just made the decision a lot easier.
One of the biggest sets in Flesh and Blood history will be lighting up the capital of South Korea from September 11-13, offering you the chance to be one of the first players to experience Usurp the Shadow Throne at the World Premiere. It’s absolutely stuffed with exclusive merchandise, K-Pop infused card variants, and so much more. It’s an event you don’t want to miss if you’re lucky enough to have a chance to attend (and you’ll want to be quick if you do – it’s more than 80% sold out!)
Meet and Greet with James White and Chris Gehring? Consider it done. The opportunity to take what you learnt in the World Premiere and leverage it in a day zero Calling? Bingo. You’ll be able to stake your claim to $20,000 in prize money, the debut copy of the Circlet of Eternal End prize card, those coveted World Tour points, and a smattering of Gold Foils.
You can also experience Sealed Deck in the first ever Sealed Deck Sunday Showdown! The prizes will remain exactly the same, so you can still score your Gold Foil Blossom of Spring and Blade Beckoner equipment, but you’ll get a chance to triple-dip on your Usurp the Shadow Throne Limited knowledge on your way to $5,000.
Seoul rests amongst some storybook mountainous terrain, seamlessly blending modern architectural development with ancient palaces and relics of the past. It’s the home of both a whopping five World Heritage sites (of which Hwaseong Fortress has me the most enamored) and iconic landmarks like N Seoul Tower. Speaking of, there’s a rotating French restaurant on the very top floor that I’m desperate to get a meal at. Dining at 480 meters above sea level? Frankly, you should be too.
If museums are your speed, the National Museum of Korea and the War Memorial Museum of Korea are both eye-opening experiences. The former carries over 420,000 items in its collection and offers some truly unique cultural exhibits. Take an afternoon and appreciate the depth of history.
Getting around the capital is easy thanks to the extensive Seoul Metro system or the shockingly affordable taxis. It’s not difficult to finish a museum trip and head straight to Myeondong Shopping Street for a taste of traditional Korean street food. I intend to spend at least one evening around Insadong. There’s just so much to do here. I’d honestly take like two weeks to explore if you can.
If you’re looking for a spot to chow down near the venue, you’ll find me at 역전부대찌개 일산킨텍스본점. I’m so eager to dig into traditional homemade Japchae and Seolleongtang and this place is just a stone’s throw away from our everyday gaming. Make sure to check it out!
I’m going to be out in the field playing this one, so if you want to win a Circlet of Eternal End, you’ll need to get through me!
The city affectionally known as “El Botxo” (The Hole) is the 11th most populated city in Spain. It long stood as a heavy industrial and port city, and you’ll still find that grit woven into every step you take around Bilbao. That said, the city massively reinvented itself in the late 1990’s with artistic instillations like the Guggenheim Museum – a stop you definitely cannot miss if you’re making the trip.
It’s a pleasant backdrop for all the action from September 25-27. Yup, that’s release weekend for Usurp the Shadow Throne.Players will have the opportunity to engage with the Limited format for the new set with $20,000, Gold Foils, and a fistful of PTIs on the line… and frankly I cannot wait to get stuck in.
You’ll also have the opportunity to engage with a fresh Silver Age format, as the Showdown will be the first event for the format post voting process. Will Prism, Advent of Thrones or one of our new heroes break out? Will Oscilio, Briar, and friends still be legal? What happens when Ira, Kano, and Kayo make their grand return?! If you think you have the answers, you’ve got $5,000 and Gold Foils waiting as a reward.
The foodie in me is screaming at you to visit La Ribera. It’s the single largest covered food market in Europe, offering tastes of high-end global dishes and a mixture of local delicacies. I’ve got Basque Country staple Pintxos on my to-try list this trip, and I have no doubt La Ribera will make that happen.
If you’d like to go a step further, Gastronomia Bilbao offers cooking classes focused on Spanish regional specialties. If it’s a killer view you’re hunting for, the Artxanda Funicular and Park Viewpoint is the spot for all your Instagram photos. If it’s more about architecture for you, take a guided tour of the old town and thank me later.
My pick for post-event bite? Sikera is a short eight minute walk away from the venue and offers an otherworldly tasting menu. If you need to find me, look for the passed-out person full of cured meat at the back of the restaurant.
