The Night Before Worlds (Running it Back Edition)

Well, if you'd told me last year the night before Worlds that I would have played all the Pro Tours this year, let alone be competing in Worlds again, I wouldn't have believed you. One was a dream, two is something I have a hard time dealing with as a reality.

I've been so lucky over this past year to learn from the best and continue to grow, feel bad, and get better at this beautiful game that I love. All I want to do is continue to have opportunities to try my absolute best to compete and succeed at the highest level. I know I won't always have the privilege of doing this, and I want to savor every moment I can while being able to say I left it all on the line.

It felt like I gave Worlds last year my all -- and somehow it feels like I prepared even harder for it this year. With the rush of the holidays and the quick turnaround between bans, a set release, and this tournament in a brand-new standard format, it's felt like an all-out rush to figure out what's going on and what deck to play, let alone how to approach limited.

I'm not sure how things will shake out -- I never am. There are some reasons to be worried - We were taken almost totally off guard by Izzet Lessons being the most-played deck. I'm a bit concerned about the matchup if I'm honest, after having played some games against Jason just now and getting demolished. It's possible that another team broke it, I've heard that happens sometimes. But that's why we play the games. I hope I get to kill a lot of Grannies this weekend.

Oh, and if you'd told me last year that I'd be playing OTTERS again at Worlds, I'd have been like, lol, that's funny. What other thing do you want to joke about?

But sometimes improbable things happen. I'm running back the same constructed deck I'd played at a previous pro level event for the first time tomorrow, and I'm stoked to play this beautiful deck as well as I possibly can, and let the chips fall where they may. And I'm even MORE stoked to DRAFT!!!!!

See you on the Otter side.