Goat Format Championship 15: Top 4 Player Profiles

It was the final GFC before the World Championships, and the competition was fierce. Players brought their A-game in an attempt to conquer the Ninety-three that entered and win a place at worlds. When the dust settled, these four came out on top! Continue on to learn more about these amazing competitors! 

Ivan Rossitto

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Name:
Ivan Rossitto

Location:
New York

Occupation:
Construction 

Age:
​29

How did you prepare for today's event? Did you practice with a specific person or team?
A friend gave me a list a week ago and I tested how the deck draws a lot because I wanted something that almost never bricks as well as beats Warriors game one often. I played twelve rated games just to get some testing versus humans and the results were 11-1, so I was confident in the deck. I made some last minute side-deck choices and ended up siding all fifteen cards at some point during the tournament.

​What deck did you play today and why?
I played Chaos Turbo because I think it's the best and most consistent overall deck. I tried Chaos Warriors, but that deck relies too much on winning a top-deck war, so that alone creates inconsistencies. Throw in the fact that everyone is extremely prepared for the deck and it makes it not a great option. I used Chaos Control a lot a month ago, but soon realized that Thousand-Eyes Restrict just isn't that great and Goat + Meta can create some bricky hands at times.

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What decks or players were you looking forward to playing against?
I made sure that I was heavily prepared for warriors because losing to that is not fun. So, I guess that deck. I only played versus one of them though, and it was a Gearfried version of it, which felt much easier to beat.
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What decks or players were you NOT looking forward to playing against?
I was not looking forward to playing against Panda Burn decks (I did end up facing one Burn player but it wasn't Panda), any FTK decks, and Reasoning Gate Turbo. I did play against a Reasoning Gate Rock deck round one where I had to read cards because I've never seen them before. So, that was a little scary not knowing what to expect. I was not looking forward to playing against Anthony Alvarado (as he's played me super tough every time I've played him) and Ghostrider, who has way more experience playing Chaos mirrors.

What card had been overperforming for you today?
Aside from the usual Pot/Graceful/Duo, I'd have to say Spirit Reaper and Wind Blast were amazing today. I just swapped from Raigeki Breaks to Wind Blasts last night and I'm so glad I did. Reaper was mentioned a bunch on the live stream and it really was doing it all: stalling games out, taking cards out of peoples hands, etc.

What has been your favorite moment of the event so far?
I came out of 7.5 year retirement a little over a month ago when I found out that goat format was a thing on Duelingbook and there was a huge community for it. This was the first Goat tournament I entered because I didn't feel I was ready yet. Going undefeated (7-0) into the grand finals was my favorite moment. Beating good players like artsone, lucastheheretic and my eventual finals opponent LRG sigma, too.

If you could go back, what (if any) changes would you would make to your deck today?​
I'd probably replace the book of moon and maybe Asura Priest in the side deck since those did essentially nothing. Unsure what cards I'd replace them with at this moment though. The main deck I felt was actually perfect. It was so balanced and consistent that I wouldn't change a thing. Didn't lose a single game one until the first match of the grand finals. I may add Torrential somewhere in the future since you can be exploited when they know you aren't playing it.

mark_mps

How did you prepare for today's event? Did you practice with a specific person or team?
I mainly played on the Duelingbook rated ladder, but I have used this deck in previous tournaments, so I was already familiar with it.

​What deck did you play today and why?
Chaos Turbo

What decks or players were you looking forward to playing against?
I didn’t go into the tournament with specific expectations like that. I just focused on my play and wanted to do well.

What decks or players were you NOT looking forward to playing against?
I’d rather avoid playing against my LRG teammates, unless it’s in the finals. Going second 

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Name:
mark_mps

Location:
Netherlands

Occupation:
Student

Age:
​26

against Dustshoot or Decree can be tough game one, but in other situations it’s manageable.
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What card had been overperforming for you today?
Phoenix Wing Wind Blast. It just feels like you decide when you want to win, especially when it’s combined with Solemn Judgment

What has been your favorite moment of the event so far?
Winning the first match in Grand Finals, because I knew I was only one win away at that point. Unfortunately, that was followed by my least favorite moment: I took a gamble to go for game, but ended up losing that turn. I knew I would lose if the set was Spy, but I took the risk instead of forcing a draw with Ring.

If you could go back, what (if any) changes would you would make to your deck today?
I was satisfied with my deck, so I wouldn’t have made any change.s

 Wen-Ordo / Duckduckg00se

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Name:
Josh​

Location:
New York City ​

Occupation:
I make music IRL 

Age:
32

How did you prepare for today's event? Did you practice with a specific person or team?
I don’t like deck testing what I want to play in an event; it clouds my judgment on switching up my deck and I wind up losing because I’ve lost while play testing. So, I just build my deck and just go and wing it.

​What deck did you play today and why?
Chaos Turbo, but with some spice.

What decks or players were you looking forward to playing against?
I wanted to play against John wick again or Matt Uber. Those two guys beat me in the grand finals before, so I want my revenge.

What decks or players were you NOT looking forward to playing against?
Panda burn. I hate that deck.

What card had been overperforming for you today?
Chaos Sorceror, and Chaos Command Magician.

What has been your favorite moment of the event so far?
Playing against a traditional burn deck in round seven. I don’t see those burn decks that often that late in Goat tournaments.

If you could go back, what (if any) changes would you would make to your deck today?​
​Nothing. I loved the deck I played and it ran very smoothly.

Ghostrider15

How did you prepare for today's event? Did you practice with a specific person or team?
I prepared by playing on Duelingbook ladder and with my Teammates (Team Rampage).

​What deck did you play today and why?
I played Chaos Turbo because it's the best deck of the format and that's all I play about 99% of the time, lol.

What decks or players were you looking forward to playing against?
The mirror match because I enjoy playing mirrors.

What decks or players were you NOT looking forward to playing against?
Library FTK, Panda Burn, Empty Jar or anyone who opens with Trinity

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Name:
Marcelo Lopez

Location:
Los Angeles, California 

Occupation:
Statistician 

Age:
​28 

What card had been overperforming for you today?
Upstart Goblin was amazing. Too many times it helped me draw into what I needed. Why play forty cards when you can play thirty-eight? (Or thirty-five with triple Jar of Greed)
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What has been your favorite moment of the event so far?
When I played against Reasoning Gate and called the correct level for all three Reasonings.

If you could go back, what (if any) changes would you would make to your deck today?
I sided super heavy for Warrior because it's Chaos Turbo's only unfavorable matchup. I only ran into one Warrior in the tournament, and only one made top eight. I might go a little easier on the Warrior hate next time. xD