The ANZ Super Series Finals were held across a sweltering weekend in Melbourne, Australia last weekend, where 228 qualified players from around both Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand came together in search of prize money, Pro Tour invites, and of course the highly-coveted World Championship slot that was up for grabs. The format was Modern, and in a field dominated by various cascade strategies, it was James Wilks with Living End that carved through the tournament and the Top 8 to hoist the trophy!
The finals was an all-James affair, with James Wilks and James Arthur going up against one another. While Wilks' Living End deck was one many people anticipated facing this weekend, not many people would have expected Naya Scapeshift! In the end, however, even the might of
The weekend's Top 8 saw seven different archetypes represented. Teammates Matthew Giudes and James Wilks brought Living End, but everyone else went their own way. Azorius Control, 5C Omnath, 4C Control, Domain Rhinos and Amulet Titan all made it through to the Top 8, as well as the very exciting inclusion of Naya Scapeshift. Arthur's deck is a throwback to the old Temur Scapeshift lists from ten years ago, with interactive cards like
Cascade decks remain a very popular choice in Modern, making up a sizeable portion of the field between both
Outside of the Regional Championship itself, however, Aussies and Kiwis from across the two nations had a great weekend getting together, catching up, and jamming games. With such vast distances separating much of the community most of the time, the ANZ Super Series finals aren't just an opportunity for the best players to test their skills - they're a chance for Magic fans all around Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand to enjoy a weekend together playing the game we all love. If you'd like to attend an event like this and compete in the next Regional Championship, check out where the next qualifier near you is taking place!