This part of the North American Cup was played in Madison. Report by Josh Whelan, Prince of Madison, Wisconsin:

The Midwest Mayhem National Cup Qualifier drew 14 players, from 5 states, for Wisconsin’s first national tournament in over a decade.

The weekend (which included the Tainted Spring standard tournament - winner Darby Keeney) brought 20 methuselahs together at the University of Wisconsin’s Memorial Union. The final table was a mix of Anarchs, unbreakable S&B, walls & toolboxes, but Karl Schaefer's 5th ed. Ravnos went home with a sweep, the UW Madison cup & the cheese. Special thanks to Darby & Karl for helping bring VTES back to the midwest and Francisco Renteria for bringing Madison back from torpor. Keep an eye on us for more events in 2026.

Standings before the final:
1. Darby Keeney 2 GW 9 VP
2. Karl Schaefer 1 GW 5 VP
3. Chris Laraia 1 GW 4.5 VP
4. Devin McDermott 0 GW 1.5 VP
5. Jeff Lake 2 GW 9.5 VP

 
Final result: Karl Schaefer 5 VP

The tournament winning deck: "My Version" by Darby Keeney and Karl Schaefer

Karls comment: When you're drinking with Darby in Montreal and realize that Anarch Convert is better than Sreelekha, you end up with this version.  The Converts allow you to remove the duplicates; however, to prevent an all Convert opening crypt, Gathii (with the best special) is duplicated.  Phaibun is another good choice, but Gathii's ANI allows you to give ani via Field Training and that's worth more pool damage over the course of the game than Phabun's ability to hand out PRE.  However, Phaibun is better positioned for combat with her special and may be a meta-appropriate choice. Some influence from Andy Smith and Kelly Lyons in earlier versions, but this one eschews most of those changes because the Convert is very multi-purpose for the deck.

Crypt (12 cards)
1x Doc Martina         6 ANI OBF for pre      Ravnos:7
1x Luciano Carvalho    6 ANI OBF pre          Ravnos:7
1x Roberto Rivamonte   6 ANI OBF PRE          Ravnos:7
2x Gathii              5 ANI PRE obf          Ravnos:7
1x Phaibun             5 OBF PRE ani          Ravnos:7
1x Jean-François       4 ani obf pre          Ravnos:7
1x Zafira              4 PRE obf              Ravnos:7
1x Oleg Kaprizov       3 obf pre              Ravnos:7
3x Anarch Convert      1                      Caitiff:ANY

Library (78 cards)
Master (17; 9 trifle)
1x Anarch Troublemaker
1x Club Illusion
3x Dabbler
1x Dreams of the Sphinx
1x Giant's Blood
1x Jake Washington
1x Pentex(TM) Subversion
6x Villein
2x Week of Nightmares

Action (21)
18x Break the Bonds
3x Field Training

Action Modifier (36)
3x Elder Impersonation
3x Faceless Night
2x Lost in Crowds
12x Memory Rift
4x Power of One
2x True Love's Face
10x Visions of Gehenna

Action Modifier/Combat (4)
2x Hide the Mind
2x Swallowed by the Night

Thanks to Josh for reporting, and thanks to all organisers, sponsors (Black Chantry Productions and KGS Cards) and of course the players!

This tournament was held at Good Games Town Hall on May 18. 17 players attended. Report by the winner Rathpex:

My day started very early, I was up at 5:30 am for a 7:30 am flight from Melbourne to Sydney (about 800km/500miles). I landed at about 9 am and made it to a café to get some good food before round 1 kicked off.

Deck Name: Cockroaches mkii
Author: Rathpex

Crypt (12 cards)
1x Massimiliano   7 ANI FOR pro  baron Gangrel:6
2x André the Manipulator 6 FOR PRO   Gangrel:5
2x Casey Snyder   6 PRO ani cel for baron Gangrel:6
2x Kuyén   6 ANI PRO   baron Gangrel:6
1x Martina Srnankova  6 FOR PRO ani    Gangrel:6
2x Kamile Paukstys   5 PRO ani for    Gangrel:6
1x Nathan Turner   4 PRO ani   Gangrel:6
1x Indira   3 PRO    Gangrel:6

Library (90 cards)
Master (22; 7 trifle)
1x Anarch Free Press, The
1x Anarch Railroad
1x Backways
1x Bleeding the Vine
2x Carfax Abbey
1x Club Illusion
1x Erciyes Fragments, The
1x Gangrel Revel
2x Garibaldi-Meucci Museum
3x Sudden Reversal
5x Vessel
2x Wash
1x Zoo Hunting Ground

Action (17)
1x Constant Revolution
2x Rewilding
2x Status Perfectus, The
12x Thing

Equipment (4)
1x Heart of Nizchetus
1x Sniper Rifle
2x Sport Bike

Retainer (4)
4x Raven Spy

Action Modifier (11)
7x Earth Control
4x Monkey Wrench

Combat (18)
3x Donnybrook
12x Earth Meld
3x Form of Mist

Reaction (14)
6x Bait and Switch
8x Organized Resistance

Round 1
This was a 4 player game, I was bleeding into some kind of Malkavian who was bleeding into a Dmitra deck who was bleeding into Ministry. Exact details are little bit sketchy on this one given my early morning flight. I was able to fend off my Ministry Predator, back ousting him with a Rewilding when he was low on pool. I was able to set up with all the toys in play – yes all of them and defend a constant rev which got to 7 counters. 1 GW 3 VP

Round 2
This was a 5 player game. I was bleeding into a Montano Baltimore Purge deck who was bleeding into Samedi, bleeding a different Dmitra player (yes 2 in the tournament!!!) bleeding into dementation Malk and Malk!. 2 games in a row with stealth bleed on my back, the difference this time was that the Malks were running something like 12 sudden reversals. The game was tough, I was unable to get out a lot of my masters but I did manage to get 2 vessels and 1 hunting ground. With a couple of Raven Spy’s and Martina. I had enough intercept to keep Montano in check from doing his purge, enough votes to help keep pressure on my predator and enough intercept and/or flicks to survive the stealth bleed. Dmitra got the Malks and Samedi got Dmitra leaving me, Montano and Samedi surviving. 0.5 VP

Round 3
Another 4 player game. I was bleeding into the Samedi this time who was bleeding Call The Great Beast Unnamed who was bleeding an Arishat vote deck. Ironically, the Arishat player didn’t draw Arishat and unfortunately for me, I drew no permanent intercept and only drew Massimiliano. The Arishat player tried to convince me and Samedi to eliminate The Unnamed but ultimately he was gunning for me. At this stage it was all about me making calculated decisions on how to best maximise my chance to make the final, as Arishat was on the same VP’s and GWs as me and Unnamed on half a vp less. Arishat had 4 vamps with 2 votes out before the Beast arrived and I contemplated transferring out. But the beast then deleted one of the barons and I got a slight reprieve, I was able to get the Samedi player with 2 Monkey Wrenches who didn’t have a wake or flick. Then the beast got me. 1 VP

Standings before finals:
1. Ke Carlton 2 GW 9 VP
2. Tim Clarkson 2 GW 7.5 VP
3. Steve Wedd 1 GW 5.0 VP
4. Rathpex 1 GW 4.5 VP
5. Andrew Stott 1 GW 4.5 VP 

Final
There was a possibility that 5th place would have actually been a tie for 5th and 6th at which stage we presumed there would be a coin toss or something, we didn’t consult the official rules but we figured it would be a coin toss. However it didn’t end up that way and we were instead tied for 4th and 5th.

I drew a pretty decent opening hand something like, 1 Bait and Switch, a Sudden Reversal, Monkey Wrench 2 Earth Melds, Organised Resistance and Raven Spy. My crypt was quite strong too: Kamile, Casey, Massimiliano and Indira.

Unnamed drew player 1, with a lot of banter about how it was the worst possible position for him. He did 1 transfer discarded something. I pitched an earth melds, getting another Organised Resistance. Not a lot happened from anyone else, the Malks were playing Suddened a Family Gathering and there may have been a lowbie Hecata out.

Turn 2 it starts off pretty strongly when Unnamed shows that he had topdecked a Dreams from his prior discard. Unanmed was now upto 6 blood and would make an appearance the next turn. Montano goes to 6 blood and all his temo is severely impacted as he wouldn’t be coming out until turn 4. Meanwhile I’ve transferred out Kamile. My gets out Dolphin with her very pointy fangs and Hecata produced a pretty decent vamp.

Turn 3 unnamed hits the table, Montano goes to 10 blood, not having any minions on my back I bleed for a couple with Kamile and bring out Casey. Im glad to have a Baron, it will allow me to flick Montano’s bleeds and I can also block some stuff if necessary. Dolphin starts laying into Hecata, who in turn get out a Spectral Servitor and do some bleeding of their own.

Turn 4, the whole game changes... Abombwe drops on The Unnamed. Unnamed equips a Soul Gem, Instantaneously Transforms (LITERALLY), Calls the Great Beast, gets out a further The Unnamed. This couldn’t have gone better for The Unnamed. Combo went off in as little time as possible. Why does this make it so interesting? Because of the discipline spread on the Beast was Abombwe, Protean and Celerity. This makes the beast capable of doing massive amounts of aggravated damage. I am just hoping that Montano will survive long enough to be a bit of a meat shield and I can try and get through the Malks. Talking of Montano, he and The Unnamed have both travelled from NZ and Montano decides that he will not come out. Instead a second vampire gets a couple of transfers in the hope that the beast can be taken out by the Hecata.

My turn 4 – great literally no predator. But I know that there will be one soon. I have to get my setup, I bleed for a lowly 2 with Kamile and get a Raven Spy on Casey, drawing into a Vessel. I do want to put the pressure onto the Malks but I don’t want to overplay my Monkey Wrench’s too early. I want the Malks to get out a third minion then I will start my bleeding fiasco! I load 4 up on Massimiliano.

It goes to plan. Malks have been taking my pesky bleeds for 2 and regaining some pool with Kindred Spirits, they bleed a lot some get reduced others get through. They don’t quite get out a third minion but have used all 16 of their transfers. Hecata is sitting there with a couple of vamps and keeps the Servitor at the cost of a precious pool he has more masters Suddened. He does manage to get some bleeds into The Unnamed. 

Turn 5. The Unnamed does some bleeding so does the Beast who unlocks with Instantaneous Transformation. Then, not having a delicious prey to beat up decides to go backwards into a Hecata, who survives the combat but is beaten up pretty badly. Montano meanwhile, transfers back. I play my Vessel and my hand is something ridiculous like: Earth Meld (I´m saving this for the Beast), 3 Organised Resistance, Bait and Switch, Sudden Reversal, Monkey Wrench and Earth Control. I decide now is the time, Kamile bleeds for 2 no blocks – Just 2. Casey bleeds, no block – bam 4. Go big or go home, I’m safe from Archon Investigation as the Sudden was played. Malks: wake – flick – Sorry Hecata… Hecata are in really bad shape and I pull out Massimiliano. Malks must have jammed on Suddens as they don’t have the goods to finish off the hecata either being blocked or flicked. Hecata Shroud of Decay at superior and The Unnamed gets hurt a bit. Hecata gets out a 3rd vamp.

Turn 6. Unnamed gets out an Unleash Hell´s Fury and bleeds a bit but doesn’t have enough the beast goes backwards again. This time combat ends. Montano transfers back again, this time from his 2nd vamp. He still has 7 on Montano. My go again… I like my hand too much. I think it will help me once the beast comes for me. Bleed for 2, bleed and bleed. Then transfer out Indira.

Okay so at this stage it sounds like “I’m having a free run”. Yes I am, BUT the Malks are doing really well they are faster than me and its looking like I’m going no where.

Malks have another go, this time, Dolphin gets flicked into the Hell´s Fury… and boy is there furn. Dolphin goes down. One then bleeds Hecata, getting him quite low. The other tries to rescue Dolphin, malks are out of bleed cards. I’m not letting the rescue happen! Block and hands for 2 with Massimiliano. But Malks do bring out a 4th minion. 3 ready and one in the bin. Hecata are low on pool, they won´t survive another turn. Hecata – Tribute to the Master to get back 3 pool – Malks – Sudden – ME SUDDEN THE SUDDEN! Turning point of the game I replace with a Monkey Wrench. Hecata get some more bleeds into The Unnamed.

Its kinda a blur from here to the end. It wraps up something like this, Unnamed has jammed on stuff and burns one of the Hecata, Casey gobbles up Dolphin and I bleed some. Malks never recover their tempo from the combo of the diablerie and the pool gain from the Tribute. Hecata takes out The Unnamed/Beast, Montano comes out and I get Malks with a successful Monkey Wrench. Montano must know I´m sitting on flick and he´s hopeing to draw into something but all he can do is superior govern, fine – not my problem. He transfers back. Hecata look like they will get Montano at one stage but he survives. I get the Hecata and then Montano. My favourite game of the day, thanks to my opponents: Steve (Malks), Ke (Hecata), Andrew (Unnamed/Beast), Tim (Montano).

1 GW 4 VP 

We thank eachother and then, I head to the airport to fly back to Melbourne in the same day – I eventually make it home at about 11 pm – yikes what a fun and crazy day.

Post note: for those who may have followed my write up from the OCC last year, the Malk player was the person who I choked on and didn’t eat his Unnamed and I was very excited to take him out in the final. We are now 1 and 1, is this how friendships or rivalries are born :)

Thanks for this report, and thanks to organisers, sponsors and all players!