GP Metz 2017

| Io Hughto

This week, we Welcome eight new GP judges to the Fold.

Declan Doherty

  • Name: Declan Doherty
  • Level: Level 1
  • Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland
  • Region: United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa
  • Approximate date/month/year you started playing Magic: 2000, although my first sanctioned event was the Judgement Pre-Release.
  • L1 Certification Date: 7/15/2012
  • Favorite thing (e.g., card, deck, group of people) about Magic: Going away with a crowd to a European GP. We treat it like a mini-holiday each year and always have a blast.
  • Occupation: Civil Servant
  • Random fact about yourself: I keep chickens as pets. Their names are: Gilgamesh, Heimdall, Fenrir, Lucifer, Liliana, and Chrome.
  • Why did you become a judge?: I’ve always been interested in the interactions of cards and rules. There were no judges in my region (Northern Ireland) at the time and I wanted to correct that.
  • What excites you most about this event?: I have never been to Metz before, and I love seeing new places and meeting new people.
  • What worries you most about this event?: The travel time in getting there from Northern Ireland.
  • What are you hoping to learn at this event?: How to effectively work as part of the registration team.
  • Who is your mentor?: The people I have had most interaction with are Oli Bird and Mark McGovern, both of whom I have known for years.
  • What challenges have you faced or are you facing to become a better judge?: My biggest challenge is work/life balance. There are times that I don’t get to play any Magic for months at a time due to work and family commitments. This year however, I am addressing this, hence my applications to judge GPs 🙂
  • How have you worked to overcome those challenges?: This year especially I have made arrangements to get annual leave around the times that judging is possible for me. I am also attending as many events as I can and keeping up to date with reading materials.
  • What is the best part about your local Magic community?: The laid back atmosphere to gaming. Unless the cut-throat EDH comes out, in which case the ruthlessness is pretty good too.
  • What is your favorite Magic memory?: When my brother won a vintage tournament with ultra budget White Weenie and pocketed a Time Twister for his trouble.

Jochen Frenster

  • Name: Jochen Frenster
  • Level: Level 1
  • Location: Rinkerode, Germany
  • Region: German-speaking Countries
  • Approximate date/month/year you started playing Magic: 2002
  • L1 Certification Date: 7/22/2013
  • Favorite thing (e.g., card, deck, group of people) about Magic: slow grindy control mirrors
  • Occupation: student
  • Random fact about yourself: 3rd division football player in Germany
  • Why did you become a judge?: I wanted my local Game Store to grow and start bigger tournaments
  • What excites you most about this event?: it will be my first with an administrative role
  • What worries you most about this event?: Not to say Hi to everyone i know
  • What are you hoping to learn at this event?: all the small things that happen next to the main event
  • Who is your mentor?: Michael Wiese, Jürgen Wierz
  • What challenges have you faced or are you facing to become a better judge?: learning harder to know the rules better than anyone else 😀
  • How have you worked to overcome those challenges?: Judging bigger Events like the MKM Series or GP´s before
  • What is the best part about your local Magic community?: our monthly regional Judge dinner where we discuss interesting situations alongside good Food and Drinks
  • What is your favorite Magic memory?: “Getting 50th place at GP Bochum, which was my first Pro Point;
    ‌
    Judging my first GP in Rotterdam where i lived for some time”

Cyril Germain

  • Name: Cyril Germain
  • Level: Level 1
  • Location: Paris, France
  • Region: France
  • Approximate date/month/year you started playing Magic: Spring 2011 with Mirrodin besieged.
  • L1 Certification Date: 6/27/2015
  • Favorite thing (e.g., card, deck, group of people) about Magic: Animar, Soul of elements
  • Random fact about yourself: My favorite childhood pet was a grey goose.
  • Why did you become a judge?: I was already the rules guy/advisor, so I decided to test my knowledge againt the “official” standard.
  • What excites you most about this event?: Working as VIP attendant, I have little idea of what to expect, as it’s not a position that formally exist outside of GPs. There’s also a number of people I’ll be happy to see again.
  • What worries you most about this event?: I have little idea of what to expect. Pfew, that was an easy one.
  • What are you hoping to learn at this event?: How to make an event go smoothly on the human-side of things, and preempt problems. On the other hand, I’d like to get some hands-on conflict management experience, but that would require something to go wrong 🙁
  • Who is your mentor?: Aurélie Violette around my L1 exam, mostly Khanh Le Thien now, but I also have the chance of living near a city with 10+ L2+, and I owe all of them.
  • What challenges have you faced or are you facing to become a better judge?: I had (have ?) a hard time “getting serious”. I tremendously enjoy judging & judges, and MTG and it’s sometime hard to get into a “work” mindset in order to focus and deliver my best performance as a judge.
  • How have you worked to overcome those challenges?: You know how they say having a notebook and pen make you look professional to others ? Turns out it also works on yourself. They’re a physical reminder that no matter how much fun I’m having, I’m also working.
  • What is the best part about your local Magic community?: They’re as friendly as they’re loud-mouthed, and always up for the most bastardized format (“Planechase Two-headed-giant Tiny leaders anyone ?”)
  • What is your favorite Magic memory?: There are many ! Plenty of midnight prereleases at my LGS, figuring out creative paths to combo with Animar (yes, I like him very much), early carpooling and croissant-eating to go judge/play an event.

Tomas Ornowski

  • Name: Tomas Ornowski
  • Level: Level 1
  • Location: Montpellier, France
  • Region: France
  • Approximate date/month/year you started playing Magic: Somewhere between September 2010 and May 2011
  • L1 Certification Date: 8/27/2016
  • Favorite thing (e.g., card, deck, group of people) about Magic: Multiplayer EDH, Storm Crow
  • Occupation: Student
  • Random fact about yourself: I exclusively drink orange juice
  • Why did you become a judge?: To show my local community that I was right about the rules questions and to participate in competitive tournaments without going 0-X
  • What excites you most about this event?: The L2 exam, going to my first GP ever and the Super Smash Bros nights at the hotel with Jonas Drieghe, Toby Hazes and Jackson Moore
  • What worries you most about this event?: The L2 exam, not being able to handle the challenge, coming to Metz and going back home (especially when your carpool lets you down 1 week before the GP)
  • What are you hoping to learn at this event?: How a big event like this is organised and what I can do to make everything run smoothly, how to work in team as judges
  • Who is your mentor?: Florian Trotte, Marion Dupouy, Jackson Moore, Àre Maturana, Julie Bouchonville
  • What challenges have you faced or are you facing to become a better judge?: Finding the time with my studies
  • How have you worked to overcome those challenges?: Quitting my studies
  • What is the best part about your local Magic community?: They provide a nice, welcoming, friendly environment
  • What is your favorite Magic memory?: Meeting my girlfriend at a PPTQ I was floor-judging (it’s all thanks to the shirt !)

Samuele Tecchio

  • Name: Samuele Tecchio
  • Level: Level 1
  • Location: Caen, France
  • Region: France
  • Approximate date/month/year you started playing Magic: November 1997
  • L1 Certification Date: 11/13/2016
  • Favorite thing (e.g., card, deck, group of people) about Magic: People speaking dozens of different languages come together and play their favourite game, understanding each other. That is real magic.
  • Occupation: Data scientist
  • Random fact about yourself: For some years I have been a card magician, also showing off some cheating techniques at the card table. Yes, I did cheat. Yes, I liked it. No, never at MTG.
  • Why did you become a judge?: I love the deep intricacies of the rules and, at the same time, that feeling of responsibility while enforcing them.
  • What excites you most about this event?: Meeting the international judge community.
  • What worries you most about this event?: Right now, I am worried that my black shoes would not be comfortable enough and I am thinking of buying a new pair just for this event.
  • Who is your mentor?: Over the last year as a Judge, I felt surrounded by many people that help me become a better judge. I will mention Claire Dupré for her mentoring at events, and Àre Maturana and Julie Bouchonville for their help during rules sessions.
  • What is the best part about your local Magic community?: It is a good mix of casual, relaxed players, and some others with a more competitive spirit. The best part? We all love beer and we like to mix it with Magic during our evening training sessions.
  • What is your favorite Magic memory?: Having dropped out of the Thursday LCQ, I slept on a bench the night before Pro Tour Venice 2003, outside the venue, just to see the pros in the morning.

Gediminas Usevičius

  • Name: Gediminas Usevičius
  • Level: Level 2
  • Location: Vilnius, Lithuania
  • Region: Europe – North
  • Approximate date/month/year you started playing Magic: Just before the start of M15. Thus, it must have been in the mid of the summer in 2014.
  • L1 Certification Date: 2/19/2017
  • Favorite thing (e.g., card, deck, group of people) about Magic: I know, it gonna be cliche, but people here are the best. When people say that Magic changed their life for better, you understand that Magic is not just a game. It is a way of living.
  • Occupation: Student (who is studying physics)
  • Random fact about yourself: I have been interested into magic for few years now. And it is not the Magic, it is a magic – tricks and etc. Thus, it is easy for me to see, when people are trying to manipulate cards to get advantage. BEST. SKILL. I. HAVE. 😀
  • Why did you become a judge?: I am from a small community, in which I came from even smaller one. From beginning I had few questions that bugged me and I wanted to know answer. Later, I was seeking for new and interesting problems. All of this led for my first interest in become a judge. But I never proceeded that wish until a local L2 really missed playing competitive magic (since he was the only L2 in the whole country) and I just wanted to help him. That’s my story.
  • What excites you most about this event?: The thing that causes me the most stir is being able to join judges from other regions at something truly amazing. Of course, gaining experience as a judge and as player just by witnessing great players by a naked eye is a welcoming benefit as well.
  • What worries you most about this event?: I am a bit worried of not fully understanding what is required for me. Which would lead for me not doing my job as well as I wished I did. But that is just a slight worry I have because I’m really pumped.
  • What are you hoping to learn at this event?: Honestly, I am not giving any thoughts on my hopes (or expectations) for this event. Just want to wait and see.
  • Who is your mentor?: answer
  • What challenges have you faced or are you facing to become a better judge?: Since the beginning of my learning, Valdas Kalvis, a fellow L2 has always guided me and I still look up to him.
  • How have you worked to overcome those challenges?: Biggest challenge as of now is trying to become a better investigator. It really takes a lot of guts to accuse someone of cheating and I am not as good at it as I know I can be.
  • What is the best part about your local Magic community?: “Just doing more investigations. Practise is the best teacher. Period.
    ‌
    Also, having a future judge to teach really helps to reflect on yourself.”
  • What is your favorite Magic memory?: “Best part about my LGS is how friendly and supporting players there are.
    ‌
    Furthermore, The socially awkward and insecure people of MtG, who are always by you side and makes the atmosphere for everyone so enjoyable and welcoming really take my breath away.”

Antoine Vallet

  • Name: Antoine Vallet
  • Level: Level 1
  • Location: Colombes, France
  • Region: France
  • Approximate date/month/year you started playing Magic: Summer 2015
  • L1 Certification Date: 10/29/2015
  • Favorite thing (e.g., card, deck, group of people) about Magic: I really enjoy creating seminars to explain Magic rules to others. I think it’s what I do best as a judge.
  • Occupation: Teacher
  • Random fact about yourself: I would have loved to become a guitarist but unfortunately, I have absolutely no talent :'(
  • Why did you become a judge?: I think one could say that I became a judge “by accident”. When I discovered Magic, I found the game very interesting but very complicated. So I asked a group of judges in Paris if I may attend their L0 meetings just to learn the rules. I had no intention to become a judge at that time. To be a part of the community, I made a presentation on Mana Abilities. Emmanuel Gutierrez (the L2 in charge) liked it, became my mentor and offered me to conduct a seminar at the annual French Judge Conference. The only problem, I needed to become a level 1 judge first. That’s why I decided to pass the L1 exam. The conference was awesome, I met some very interesting people there and learned a lot. Of course, I became more and more interested in judging since then and I hope to pass the L2 exam before the end of the year.
  • What excites you most about this event?: I love big events because you answer a lot of calls, see a lot of different situations and meet some of the best judges in the world. I think it’s a great opportunity to learn.
  • What worries you most about this event?: Disappointing the judges who put their trust in me. Particularly Guillaume Beuzelin (my RC) who convinced me to judge the Eternal Week-End (my first big event) and whithout whom I wouldn’t have been accepted at this GP.
  • What are you hoping to learn at this event?: My goal is to improve on my self-confidence.
  • Who is your mentor?: Emmanuel Gutierrez. I owe him so much !

Olivier Wattel

  • Name: Olivier Wattel
  • Level: Level 1
  • Location: Izegem, Belgium
  • Region: BeNeLux
  • Approximate date/month/year you started playing Magic: february 2012
  • L1 Certification Date: 5/4/2016
  • Favorite thing (e.g., card, deck, group of people) about Magic: The inclusivity of the judge community
  • Occupation: Administrative and IT worker
  • Random fact about yourself: This is actually the third GP I’m on staff.
  • Why did you become a judge?: I wanted to support my local community better.
  • What excites you most about this event?: Meeting judges I don’t know yet (and of course seeing judges I already know)
  • What worries you most about this event?: Making mistakes?
  • What are you hoping to learn at this event?: I don’t really know, it’s the third time I’m doing to prize wall but I’m sure my team lead will have some new things ready for me.
  • Who is your mentor?: I have a lot of contact with these judges who I consider my mentors: Niels Viaene, Sander De Quick, Floris De Baerdemaeker, Dustin De Leeuw, Mark Dragstra, Alex De Bruijne, Michiel Van Den Bussche and Toby Hazes. Of course, I learn from every judge I talk to.
  • What challenges have you faced or are you facing to become a better judge?: My soft skills were a big issue for me prior to my traineeship.
  • How have you worked to overcome those challenges?: For my bachelor degree, I had to do a traineeship so I purposefully sought out a company where I could work on them. This way, I ended up doing my internship in a hostel in Barcelona. Being there for three months made me experience more than I could ever have imagined and changed me a lot as a person. Next to that, I stopped to say yes to everything people ask me to do as I was quite overworked in the second part of 2016.
  • What is the best part about your local Magic community?: The speed somebody can be an active part of that community.
  • What is your favorite Magic memory?: Playing price of progress for 14.