Kevin Yap
@kevinyap.ca
Software engineer at @relay.app. Previously: Google, Riot Games, and MLSE Digital Labs. I made @zeal.gg and post about code, games, and baseball. Aspiring MTG tournament grinder. 🇨🇦
See kevinyap.ca for more.
See kevinyap.ca for more.
Guess this officially caps Modern and it's time to re-learn Standard for a few months. Otters is looking interesting again with Boomerang Basics and potentially Badgermole Cub, so it will be fun to test things out! Just a bit disappointing to "waste" a good Storm meta this weekend.
November 24, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Guess this officially caps Modern and it's time to re-learn Standard for a few months. Otters is looking interesting again with Boomerang Basics and potentially Badgermole Cub, so it will be fun to test things out! Just a bit disappointing to "waste" a good Storm meta this weekend.
Matchup summary:
R1: [W] Domain Zoo 🌩️❌🌩️
R2: [L] Prowess 🌩️❌❌
R3: [L] Energy ❌🌩️❌
R4: [W] Energy 🌩️🌩️
R5: [W] Energy 🌩️🌩️
R6: [L] Affinity (Emry) ❌🌩️❌
R7: [W] Energy 🌩️🌩️
R8: [L] Energy ❌🌩️🌩️
R1: [W] Domain Zoo 🌩️❌🌩️
R2: [L] Prowess 🌩️❌❌
R3: [L] Energy ❌🌩️❌
R4: [W] Energy 🌩️🌩️
R5: [W] Energy 🌩️🌩️
R6: [L] Affinity (Emry) ❌🌩️❌
R7: [W] Energy 🌩️🌩️
R8: [L] Energy ❌🌩️🌩️
November 24, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Matchup summary:
R1: [W] Domain Zoo 🌩️❌🌩️
R2: [L] Prowess 🌩️❌❌
R3: [L] Energy ❌🌩️❌
R4: [W] Energy 🌩️🌩️
R5: [W] Energy 🌩️🌩️
R6: [L] Affinity (Emry) ❌🌩️❌
R7: [W] Energy 🌩️🌩️
R8: [L] Energy ❌🌩️🌩️
R1: [W] Domain Zoo 🌩️❌🌩️
R2: [L] Prowess 🌩️❌❌
R3: [L] Energy ❌🌩️❌
R4: [W] Energy 🌩️🌩️
R5: [W] Energy 🌩️🌩️
R6: [L] Affinity (Emry) ❌🌩️❌
R7: [W] Energy 🌩️🌩️
R8: [L] Energy ❌🌩️🌩️
Ended up going 4–4, capping off a completely average record on the weekend.
Good news: played against Energy.
Bad news: it was 5 out of 8 rounds, and I only won 3 times.
Gonna have to get my invite somehow else!
Good news: played against Energy.
Bad news: it was 5 out of 8 rounds, and I only won 3 times.
Gonna have to get my invite somehow else!
November 24, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Ended up going 4–4, capping off a completely average record on the weekend.
Good news: played against Energy.
Bad news: it was 5 out of 8 rounds, and I only won 3 times.
Gonna have to get my invite somehow else!
Good news: played against Energy.
Bad news: it was 5 out of 8 rounds, and I only won 3 times.
Gonna have to get my invite somehow else!
It's me, the Izzet Storm player! (It's just Ruby Storm with maindeck Flame of Anor and both blue & white sideboard splashes.)
November 23, 2025 at 7:22 AM
It's me, the Izzet Storm player! (It's just Ruby Storm with maindeck Flame of Anor and both blue & white sideboard splashes.)
Happy with how I played in my first ever RC; think I made sharp decisions throughout the day and made no egregious misplays (other than in round 4 against Prowess which thankfully didn't end up biting me).
November 23, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Happy with how I played in my first ever RC; think I made sharp decisions throughout the day and made no egregious misplays (other than in round 4 against Prowess which thankfully didn't end up biting me).
My results and matchups on the day:
R1: [W] Yawgmoth 🌩️❌🌩️
R2: [L] Ruby Storm ❌❌
R3: [W] Simic Ritual 🌩️🌩️
R4: [W] Prowess 🌩️🌩️
R5: [L] Titan 🌩️❌❌
R6: [L] Simic Ritual ❌🌩️❌
R7: [W] Prowess 🌩️❌🌩️
R8: [D] UW Control 🌩️❌➖ (conceded at turns)
R9: [L] Goryo's ❌🌩️❌
R1: [W] Yawgmoth 🌩️❌🌩️
R2: [L] Ruby Storm ❌❌
R3: [W] Simic Ritual 🌩️🌩️
R4: [W] Prowess 🌩️🌩️
R5: [L] Titan 🌩️❌❌
R6: [L] Simic Ritual ❌🌩️❌
R7: [W] Prowess 🌩️❌🌩️
R8: [D] UW Control 🌩️❌➖ (conceded at turns)
R9: [L] Goryo's ❌🌩️❌
November 23, 2025 at 3:32 AM
My results and matchups on the day:
R1: [W] Yawgmoth 🌩️❌🌩️
R2: [L] Ruby Storm ❌❌
R3: [W] Simic Ritual 🌩️🌩️
R4: [W] Prowess 🌩️🌩️
R5: [L] Titan 🌩️❌❌
R6: [L] Simic Ritual ❌🌩️❌
R7: [W] Prowess 🌩️❌🌩️
R8: [D] UW Control 🌩️❌➖ (conceded at turns)
R9: [L] Goryo's ❌🌩️❌
R1: [W] Yawgmoth 🌩️❌🌩️
R2: [L] Ruby Storm ❌❌
R3: [W] Simic Ritual 🌩️🌩️
R4: [W] Prowess 🌩️🌩️
R5: [L] Titan 🌩️❌❌
R6: [L] Simic Ritual ❌🌩️❌
R7: [W] Prowess 🌩️❌🌩️
R8: [D] UW Control 🌩️❌➖ (conceded at turns)
R9: [L] Goryo's ❌🌩️❌
Unfortunately, was up 3–1 on the day but ended 4–5 😢
Gonna try to run it back in some other events tomorrow, but I'll have to catch up on some classic Pastrytime casting after this weekend!
Gonna try to run it back in some other events tomorrow, but I'll have to catch up on some classic Pastrytime casting after this weekend!
November 23, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Unfortunately, was up 3–1 on the day but ended 4–5 😢
Gonna try to run it back in some other events tomorrow, but I'll have to catch up on some classic Pastrytime casting after this weekend!
Gonna try to run it back in some other events tomorrow, but I'll have to catch up on some classic Pastrytime casting after this weekend!
At least I somehow managed to beat Prowess twice, the latter of those games being against Edgar Magalhães, which I didn't realize until someone pointed out to me that that's who my opponent was after I won 😅
November 23, 2025 at 3:06 AM
At least I somehow managed to beat Prowess twice, the latter of those games being against Edgar Magalhães, which I didn't realize until someone pointed out to me that that's who my opponent was after I won 😅
This means I ended the day 4–5 officially, but 4–4–1 in my heart for a neutral record in my first ever RC! Pretty proud of myself for how I played.
The most disappointing part was only facing 0 Blink, 0 Energy, and 1 Titan across *9* rounds in this meta (and losing that match).
The most disappointing part was only facing 0 Blink, 0 Energy, and 1 Titan across *9* rounds in this meta (and losing that match).
November 23, 2025 at 3:06 AM
This means I ended the day 4–5 officially, but 4–4–1 in my heart for a neutral record in my first ever RC! Pretty proud of myself for how I played.
The most disappointing part was only facing 0 Blink, 0 Energy, and 1 Titan across *9* rounds in this meta (and losing that match).
The most disappointing part was only facing 0 Blink, 0 Energy, and 1 Titan across *9* rounds in this meta (and losing that match).
Played against Goryo's Vengeance in the final round and lost 1–2 OTP. Was nice to play a no-stakes game after 8 grueling rounds of Magic.
November 23, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Played against Goryo's Vengeance in the final round and lost 1–2 OTP. Was nice to play a no-stakes game after 8 grueling rounds of Magic.
Faced UW Control in round 8 (of course). Won the first game, lost the second, game 3 went to time and opponent demonstrated the Narset lock on turn 4.
Had no way of winning and they didn't seem eager on conceding to me so I conceded to let them try to make Day 2. (And they did, so that's good.)
Had no way of winning and they didn't seem eager on conceding to me so I conceded to let them try to make Day 2. (And they did, so that's good.)
November 23, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Faced UW Control in round 8 (of course). Won the first game, lost the second, game 3 went to time and opponent demonstrated the Narset lock on turn 4.
Had no way of winning and they didn't seem eager on conceding to me so I conceded to let them try to make Day 2. (And they did, so that's good.)
Had no way of winning and they didn't seem eager on conceding to me so I conceded to let them try to make Day 2. (And they did, so that's good.)
Won round 7 vs. Prowess 2–1 OTP. Somehow won against Prowess again, combo'd off before they managed to kill me in both games 1 and 3.
Still alive for Day 2! 😬
Still alive for Day 2! 😬
November 23, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Won round 7 vs. Prowess 2–1 OTP. Somehow won against Prowess again, combo'd off before they managed to kill me in both games 1 and 3.
Still alive for Day 2! 😬
Still alive for Day 2! 😬
Lost round 6 vs. Simic Ritual 1–2 OTD. This match went a lot more like I expected round 3 to go, with pretty much everything getting countered. Opponent eventually just Birthing Ritual'd into Ocului both losses to present a 2-turn clock.
Need to win all 3 remaining matches to stay alive for Day 2 😔
Need to win all 3 remaining matches to stay alive for Day 2 😔
November 22, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Lost round 6 vs. Simic Ritual 1–2 OTD. This match went a lot more like I expected round 3 to go, with pretty much everything getting countered. Opponent eventually just Birthing Ritual'd into Ocului both losses to present a 2-turn clock.
Need to win all 3 remaining matches to stay alive for Day 2 😔
Need to win all 3 remaining matches to stay alive for Day 2 😔
Lost round 5 vs. Titan 1–2 OTD. Came down to a very tight game 3 where I was 1 Storm count short of lethal. Drew no gas whatsoever in the last 2 games; feels bad to lose a match that I felt very favoured in.
November 22, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Lost round 5 vs. Titan 1–2 OTD. Came down to a very tight game 3 where I was 1 Storm count short of lethal. Drew no gas whatsoever in the last 2 games; feels bad to lose a match that I felt very favoured in.
Won round 4 vs. Prowess 2–0 OTD. Gemstone Caverns got me a T2 win in game 1, and a super grindy game 2 resulted in me winning because I was able to Orim's Chant with kicker to buy 1 more turn of stalling to gather enough resources and combo off.
November 22, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Won round 4 vs. Prowess 2–0 OTD. Gemstone Caverns got me a T2 win in game 1, and a super grindy game 2 resulted in me winning because I was able to Orim's Chant with kicker to buy 1 more turn of stalling to gather enough resources and combo off.
Won round 3 vs. Simic Ritual 2–0 OTD. Made a misplay where I fetched a Steam Vents to have blue instead of Manamorphosing for it, and then Ral put me to 1 and I had to win the flip to not die. Won it and had exact mana to GS-PIF-GS with Flusterstorm up to counter Consign.
Full Storm gambling.
Full Storm gambling.
November 22, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Won round 3 vs. Simic Ritual 2–0 OTD. Made a misplay where I fetched a Steam Vents to have blue instead of Manamorphosing for it, and then Ral put me to 1 and I had to win the flip to not die. Won it and had exact mana to GS-PIF-GS with Flusterstorm up to counter Consign.
Full Storm gambling.
Full Storm gambling.
Whoa @pastrytime.bsky.social is casting the Canadian RC? So cool to see him casting an event I'm playing in!
November 22, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Whoa @pastrytime.bsky.social is casting the Canadian RC? So cool to see him casting an event I'm playing in!
Lost round 2 in the mirror (stock Boros Storm) OTD. Hit the wrong side of variance with my impulse draws and opponent hit the right cards to combo off.
November 22, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Lost round 2 in the mirror (stock Boros Storm) OTD. Hit the wrong side of variance with my impulse draws and opponent hit the right cards to combo off.
Won round 1 against Yawgmoth 2–1 (OTP)!
Combo'd off game 1, drew nothing game 2 and got beat down by Endurance, and game 3 opponent mulled to 5 and was stuck on 1 land (they had double Endurance and Fatal Push for interaction though).
Combo'd off game 1, drew nothing game 2 and got beat down by Endurance, and game 3 opponent mulled to 5 and was stuck on 1 land (they had double Endurance and Fatal Push for interaction though).
November 22, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Won round 1 against Yawgmoth 2–1 (OTP)!
Combo'd off game 1, drew nothing game 2 and got beat down by Endurance, and game 3 opponent mulled to 5 and was stuck on 1 land (they had double Endurance and Fatal Push for interaction though).
Combo'd off game 1, drew nothing game 2 and got beat down by Endurance, and game 3 opponent mulled to 5 and was stuck on 1 land (they had double Endurance and Fatal Push for interaction though).
Hoping to see a lot of Jeskai Blink, Boros Energy, and Amulet Titan over the weekend.
No SB Brotherhood's End is the main "risky" choice with the list, but in testing, Phlage has been a decent stabilizer. It's hard to fit in PEnding + BE + Phlage against Energy, and it's pretty slow into Affinity.
No SB Brotherhood's End is the main "risky" choice with the list, but in testing, Phlage has been a decent stabilizer. It's hard to fit in PEnding + BE + Phlage against Energy, and it's pretty slow into Affinity.
November 20, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Hoping to see a lot of Jeskai Blink, Boros Energy, and Amulet Titan over the weekend.
No SB Brotherhood's End is the main "risky" choice with the list, but in testing, Phlage has been a decent stabilizer. It's hard to fit in PEnding + BE + Phlage against Energy, and it's pretty slow into Affinity.
No SB Brotherhood's End is the main "risky" choice with the list, but in testing, Phlage has been a decent stabilizer. It's hard to fit in PEnding + BE + Phlage against Energy, and it's pretty slow into Affinity.
It would be amazing to Day 2 my first RC, but going 6–3 seems so difficult. Even just managing to go positive on Day 1 would be a huge win, though I'm really trying to temper my expectations.
November 20, 2025 at 5:33 PM
It would be amazing to Day 2 my first RC, but going 6–3 seems so difficult. Even just managing to go positive on Day 1 would be a huge win, though I'm really trying to temper my expectations.
If this team manages to stay relatively healthy throughout the 2026, I feel like we have great odds to make it back to the World Series. It was a huge blow being so tattered by the end of this run, but that's baseball.
November 2, 2025 at 4:39 PM
If this team manages to stay relatively healthy throughout the 2026, I feel like we have great odds to make it back to the World Series. It was a huge blow being so tattered by the end of this run, but that's baseball.