There's nothing like the called shot.
Magic is a game with intentional randomness. Variance is built into the game for good reason: things are a lot more exciting, and strategically dynamic, if neither player knows exactly what is going to happen on the next turn. Of course, that carries even further—even the best player in the world has only a small percentage chance of making the Top 8 of any Pro Tour, much less winning the entire tournament. From vast fields hundreds strong all the way down to the individual draw step on the last turn, the best moments in Magic are always shrouded in uncertainty.
Which makes a called shot all the more impressive. While I'm sure there are countless missed predictions that have fallen out of space and time, it's the correctly called shots that stick with us. Some of them go down in Magic legend.
You're probably already thinking of one or two. Maybe the one with longtime caster Randy Buehler on commentary in what's possibly the most famous clip in Pro Tour broadcast history.
"Oh my god, it's Lightning Helix!"
Or maybe you prefer your called shots in something more than 320p. May I interest you in a
"I'm counting my Ultimatum mana"
Lesson learned—if Hall of Famer Randy Buehler called your Pro Tour Top 8 match, something fun was going to happen.
But called shots go beyond just the perfect topdeck, the Babe Ruth home-run call made famous in 1932 in a single at-bat. But what about a called shot for an entire tournament?
Just ask Hall of Famer Patrick Chapin about that.
"There is only the win"
That was Chapin before Pro Tour Journey into Nyx in 2014. Already a member of the Magic Pro Tour Hall of Fame and with his ticket to future Pro Tours punched, Chapin had exactly one goal entering the weekend: winning the entire tournament so he would qualify for the Magic World Championship. He stared down an international field of the best Magic players in the world, said he was going to beat them all on his way to the next thing, and then he beat them all on his way to the next thing.
"My goal is to shut him up"
All of which brings us back to now, and the 2022 Magic Online Champions Showcase Season 2. The second season championship featured a stacked field of accomplished players, but none with more momentum than Nathan Steuer. He had won the MOCS before, was qualified for Magic World Championship XXVIII coming up in Las Vegas in a few weeks, and has been testing and brewing with some of the best players in the world, online and off.
But his goal wasn't to just compete in the MOCS. Or to secure himself a payday in the $70,000 prize pool tournament. It was a lot simpler than that.
"I have a goal for this tournament," Steuer explained bluntly before the event began. "I have a rivalry with buddy Sam Rolph, who just won Arena Championship 1 and qualified for [the Magic World Championship], so my goal is to shut him up ... and join him there."
The more things change, the more Chapin they stay. Because that's exactly what Steuer did, beating testing teammate Márcio Carvalho and then Kiran Dhokia in his last two rounds to claim the title.
After that, consider Sam Rolph quieted (for now). Because when it comes to legendary called shots and Magic tournament runs, all that's missing from Steuer's ascension at this point is Randy on the mic.
Me and Nathan qued for worlds first 2 events classic. Just things you love to see. https://t.co/LZXRVhtgwQ
— Sam Rolph (@SamRolph3) October 9, 2022
"I'm thrilled to have won," he admitted, before adding: "this is only part one."
Congratulations @Nathansteuer1, winner of the 2022 @MagicOnline Champions Showcase Season 2! This is his second MOCS title from four total appearances. Just incredible! pic.twitter.com/py2qKoMQOz
— PlayMTG (@PlayMTG) October 8, 2022
Steuer's path to victory came with an inauspicious start. He dropped the first round in the Modern Cube portion thanks to a crucial mistake, particularly disappointing since he had poured much of his testing time into preparing for the unique format. He took his own advice that he had so sagely offered to Rolph a few weeks earlier, and took a much-needed break to reset.
"For me a big part of staying focused in tournaments is getting out of my physical space," he explained. "I lost the first round and then was really checked out over the next two, so I went outside and took a walk and then a run around my block to clear my mind."
Magic has always been a mental game in a way that goes far beyond calculating your odds of drawing the perfect Bonfire of the Damned against Hall of Famers. A little-known fact about the Pro Tour is that many of the top players have engaged in competitive counseling: when you're playing for huge sums of money on a razor's edge margin, your mental matters and learning to process those high-stakes moments is a critical-if-unheralded part of leveling up with the best in the world.
For Steuer that meant fresh air, exercise and music (Brockhamptom was the band of choice). And with his 2023 Magic World Championship invitation now secured pretty much as soon as possible, the zoomer taking the Magic pro scene by storm now heads to this year's World Championship.
And he's coming for it all.
"I'll take the trophy and the momentum and carry that," he said. "Part one this year, and part two at next year's."
At this point, we'd all better be listening.
I WON THE MOCS FOR THE 2ND TIME THIS YEAR!!!! Thanks to everyone for the massive support and I'm psyched to show up and prove that I can consistently crush these high level tournaments.
— Nathan Steuer (@Nathansteuer1) October 8, 2022
Next destination: Worlds Champion 😎🏆😍🐦 https://t.co/XeVejJUvYD
Looking Ahead
As we quickly near Magic World Championship XXVIII and the fall qualifying season continues, players can look toward high-level events in both Modern and Pioneer over the next two weeks.
That starts with the Magic Showdown in Warsaw, with both qualifying events will be played in Pioneer. The following weekend brings the NRG Series Trial Weekend in Newark, Ohio and one of our first high-level looks at Modern in the post-
That all leads into Magic 30 and Magic World Championship XXVIII later this month, where 32 players will battle it out for the greatest title left to win. The event kicks off on October 28—with two weeks of content and interviews beginning right here on Monday, October 17—streaming live at twitch.tv/magic.