Martin Weinmayer wins Iberian Grand Prix 2025!

This tournament was played with 41 players in Lisbon on November 29. Reported by Ricardo Marta, VEKN National Coordinator of Portugal:

Standings before the final:
1. Pedro Luis 2 GW, 9 VP
2. Mikhail Klokov 2 GW, 7.5 VP
3. Martin Weinmayer 2 GW, 7.5 VP
4. Hilario Cabello 1 GW, 7 VP
5. Paul Direktor 1 GW, 5 VP

Round 1
Hilário: 1 transfer (29 pool)
Paul: 2 transfers (28 pool)
Pedro: 3 transfers (27 pool)
Mikhail: 4 transfers (26 pool)
Brings out Suwira (2 on Aaradhya)
Martin: 4 transfers (26 pool)

Round 2
Hilário: Plays Wider View (28 pool). 4 transfers (24 pool). Brings out Lubomira Hradok and Old Neddacka.
Paul: 4 transfers (24 pool). Brings out Branimira.
Pedro: 4 transfers (23 pool). Brings out Roberto Rivamonte.
Mikhail: Plays Uptown Hunting Ground (24 pool). Suwira calls successful KRC 2 on Martin (24 pool) and 2 on Pedro (21 pool). Transfers 2 back to pool (26 pool).
Martin: 4 transfers (20 pool)

Round 3
Hilário: Plays Vessel and Shanty Town HG (21 pool). Old Neddacka bleeds Paul for 2 with Enthrall, bounced to Pedro (19 pool). Lubomira plays Inside Dirt on Paul (21 pool). 4 transfers (17 pool). Brings out Skulk.
Paul: Villein Branimira for 3 (24 pool). Branimira Deep Song backwards, Direct Intervention from Hilário (16 pool). New Deep Song, Branimira on Lubomira, Lubomira goes to torpor. 4 transfers (20 pool).
Pedro: Roberto bleeds for 3 with Break the Bonds and Power of One, Mikhail (25 pool). 4 transfer (15 pool). Brings out Oleg.
Mikhail: Plays Wider View and Unholy Sacrament (22 pool). Suwira bleed with Entrancement, Martin (18 pool). 4 transfers (18 pool). Brings out Khin Aye.
Martin: 4 transfers (14 pool). Brings out Aaradhya.

Round 4
Hilário: Lubomira plays Inside Dirt (blood) on Branimira. 2 transfers (14 pool). Brings out Bloodfeud.
Paul: Plays Anarch Revolt. 4 transfer (16 pool). Brings out Adrino Manauara.
Pedro: Oleg bleeds for 1, Mikhail (17 pool). Roberto bleeds for 2 with Break the Bonds Mikhail, deflected to Martin (12 pool). 4 transfers (11 pool). Brings out Luciano.
Mikhail: Pays AR (16 pool). Suwira calls vote to break AR, successful. Khin Aye calls Cold War on Martin, out voted. No transfers (16 pool).
Martin: Aaradhya governs down. 4 transfers (8 pool). Brings out Dark Selina.

Round 5
Hilário: Plays Forward Momentum. Bloodfeud plays Night Moves on Paul. Adrino deflects to Pedro. Luciano reduces with Visions of Zapathasura. Old Neddacka bleeds for 1, Paul (15 pool). Skulk plays Inside Dirt on Paul (12 pool). Lubomira bleeds for 1, Paul (11 pool) and untaps with Forward momentum. Lubomira plays Inside Dirt on Paul (8 pool). 4 transfers (13 pool) – draw from crypt.
Paul: Plays Villein for 5 Adrino (13 pool). Plays Carfax Abbey (11 pool). Adrino plays Deep Song rush on Skulk, Skulk goes to torpor
Branimira equips Ivory Bow (10 pool). No transfers (10 pool).
Pedro: Luciano bleeds for 2 with Break the Bonds on Mikhail (14 pool). Roberto bleeds for 3 with Visions of Gehenna on Mikhail (11 pool). 4 transfers (10 pool) – draw from crypt.
Mikhail: Plays Dreams of the Sphinx (10 pool). Khin Aye calls Cold War on Pedro, Oleg plays Delaying. Transfers 1 back to pool from Dreams (11 pool).
Martin: Plays Privileged Position. Aaradhya calls Banishment on Bloodfeud, superior voter cap (10 pool). Uses Privileged Position to burn pool on Hilário (12 pool). Dark Selina Govern bleed for 3, Hilário (9 pool). Aaradhya plays Eternal Vigilance. No transfers (10 pool).

Round 6
Hilário: Old Neddacka plays Night Moves on Paul (9 pool). 1 transfer (8 pool). Brings out Bloodfeud (again).
Paul: Branimira plays Mr. Winthorp. Adrino plays Deep Song rush on Bloodfeud, both end up in torpor after mandatory press to continue. No transfers (9 pool).
Pedro: Plays Week of Nightmares.
Renato plays Field Training on Luciano.
Luciano bleeds for 4 with Break the Bonds and Power of One, Mikhail (7 pool). Renato bleeds for 4 with Visions of Gehenna, Direct Intervention from Martin (9 pool), moved to 3 with True love’s Face, Mikhail (4 pool). Transfers 1 back to pool (11 pool).
Mikhail: Plays Purchase Pact. Khin Aye calls Cold War on Pedro (8 pool), superior voter cap (6 pool). Khin Aye plays Freak Drive and plays Under Siege (5 pool). Khin Aye plays Freak Drive. Suwira calls Anarchist Uprising: Hilário burns 4 (4 pool), Paul burns 2 (7 pool), Pedro burns 3 (5 pool), Mikhail burns 2 (3 pool) and Martin burns 2 (7 pool). Khin Aye bleeds for 1, Martin (6 pool). Transfers 2 back to pool (5 pool).
Martin: Aaradhya calls Cold War on Pedro (2 pool) and burns Shanty Town HG from Hilário, superior voter cap (8 pool). Dark Selina calls Cold War on Pedro (0 pool) and burns Carfax Abbey from Paul, superior voter cap (10 pool). First VP for Paul (13 pool). Uses Privileged Position to burn pool on Hilário (3 pool). Aaradhya bleeds for 2 Hilário (1 pool) and plays Enkil Cog. No transfers (10 pool).

Round 7
Hilário: Vessel back (2 pool). Old Neddacka plays Night Moves on Martin (9 pool), untaps with Forward Momentum. Old Neddacka plays Inside Dirt on Paul (10 pool). Lubomira bleeds for 2 with Enthrall, Paul (8 pool). No transfers (2 pool).
Paul: Plays Fame on Suwira. Branimira rescue Adrino. Adrino hunts. No transfers (8 pool).
Mikhail: Plays Dreams of the Sphinx (4 pool). Khin Aye hunts. Martin’s Aaradhya Enkil Cog bleed for 3, Hilário (0 pool). First VP for Martin (15 pool). No transfers (4 pool).
Martin: Gains from Edge (16 pool). Villein for 5 on Dark Selina (21 pool). Plays Monastery of Shadows (18 pool). Aaradhya bleeds for 3 Paul, Adrino fails to block, sends to Mikhail, Khin Aye blocks. Dark Selina bleeds for 1, Paul (7 pool). 4 transfers (17 pool) – draw from crypt.

Round 8
Paul: Branimira hunts. No transfers (7 pool).
Mikhail: No actions.
Martin’s Aaradhya Enkil Cog bleed for 3, plays Direct Intervention (16 pool) on Organized Resistance but Branimira still blocks. Transfers 1 back to pool from Dreams (5 pool).
Martin: Gains from Edge (17 pool). Dark Selina calls Cold War on Paul (4 pool), superior voter cap (19 pool). Uses Privileged Position to burn pool on Paul (3 pool). Aaradhya bleeds for 3 Paul, Adrino sends to Mikhail, Khin Aye blocks. 4 transfers (18 pool) – draw from crypt.

Round 9
Paul: Plays Garibaldi-Meucci Museum. Adrino hunts. Branimira hunts. Martin’s Aaradhya Enkil Cog bleed for 3. Paul (0 pool). Second VP for Martin (24 pool).
Mikhail: Khin Aye bleeds for 5 with Legal Manipulations and Iron Glare, Martin (19 pool), Mikhail (6 pool). Khin Aye plays Freak Drive and calls KRC with Magnetic Authority (for 2 pool), Martin (16 pool), Mikhail (5 pool). Suwira bleeds for 3 with Legal Manipulations, Martin (13 pool). Transfer 2 back from Magnetic Authority (7 pool).
Martin: Plays Villein for 2 Dark Selina paying 1 (14 pool). Plays Ventrue Headquarters (13 pool). Dark Selina governs bleed for 3, Mikhail (4 pool). Aaradhya calls Cold War on Mikhail (1 pool). Uses Privileged Position to burn pool on Mikhail (0 pool). Third VP for Martin (19 pool)

Martin wins with 4 VPs and GW. Paul 1 VP.

Tournament winning deck: “Cold War” by Martin Weinmayer

Crypt (12 cards)
5x Aaradhya, The Callous Tyrant 10 ANI DOM FOR POT PRE cardinal Ventrue:6
2x Dark Selina 9 CEL POT PRE dom for cardinal Brujah antitribu:5
2x Věnceslava, The Implacable 9 DOM FOR POT PRE cel archbishop Brujah:6
1x Rexton "Savage" Abernathy 8 DOM POT PRE cel archbishop Brujah:6
1x Üresség 8 CEL POT PRE dom for archbishop Brujah:6
1x Khin Aye 7 POT PRE dom for priscus Ventrue:6

Library (90 cards)
Master (22; 6 trifle)
1x Creepshow Casino
2x Direct Intervention
2x Dreams of the Sphinx
1x Elder Library
1x Giant's Blood
1x Gurchon Hall
1x Information Highway
2x Monastery of Shadows
1x Papillon
1x Privileged Position
1x Secure Haven
2x Ventrue Headquarters
6x Villein

Action (10)
2x Eternal Vigilance
8x Govern the Unaligned

Political Action (16)
1x Anarchist Uprising
1x Ancient Influence
1x Ancilla Empowerment
4x Banishment
8x Cold War
1x Political Stranglehold

Equipment (2)
2x Heart of Nizchetus

Action Modifier (28)
4x Dominant Personality
2x Enkil Cog
4x Iron Glare
4x Perfect Paragon
4x Relentlessness
6x Unthinkable Humiliation
4x Voter Captivation

Combat (6)
6x Majesty

Reaction (6)
6x Deflection

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

Darby Keeney wins Gulf Coast Roast 2025!

Finalists: Andy, Brad, Darby, Dean and Mark.

This event took place on December 8, reported by Kelly Lyons, VEKN Prince of Vidor, with deck comment by the winner:

The Gulf Coast Roast II came to an ending in Vidor, Texas. The Last Grand Prix was played and all that was left was for the top 5 players to duke it out and see who would be crowned champion. There were 4 returning players to the Final Table; last year’s winner Andy Smith, Mr. Hard Money Brad Cashdollar, the Prince of Biloxi Dean Garrison, and the #1 ranked U.S. player Darby Keeney. The newcomer to the table was Mark Figuerola. The final was untimed and this lead to a 3 hour match of perseverance and fortitude.

Andy was the first one out and Mark had the first VP.  A trend of started were ouster became the ousted. Mark soon followed Andy and Brad cashed in for his lone VP of the match before he was also removed by his predator, Dean.  Dean hung in there for a good period of time but was dominated by Darby’s minions that continued to keep growing. Meanwhile, Dean ran out of cards and moves. The dust had settled in Texas and Darby Keeney stood tall as this year’s champion. Congratulations to Darby Keeney and the rest of the finalist.

Final result:
Darby Keeney 2VP
Dean Garrison 1VP
Brad Cashdollar 1VP
Mark Figuerola 1VP

The tournament winning deck: “Hold My Beer Revision 4” by Darby Keeney

This crypt migrated from all Nosferatu (4 duplicated primogen) to superior Animalism with useful vampire specials. With that change, Protected District appears in smaller numbers, supplemented by Confusion of the Eye (unused this weekend). Baixnho vs Bereguela is give-and-take, the deck really wants some rando 4-cap [ANI] vamp.

The library is atypical - a combat deck of less than 90 cards with 7 Villeins. I've decked myself only once, so this feels "correct" in pratical use. I've gone 1.5/1 Bats:Crows. That's lower than my old 1.6/1 ratio but higher than the 1.3/1 I believe best suited for an S:CE-heavy meta. Retaining maneuvers for vampires playing with 1 blood seemed more valuable than meeting theory-crafted output potential. The stealth is sparse, but feels like just enough.

Basic play remains the same:
- minimize pool expenditure,
- get vampires and Villein for 5 (see above),
- play combat and taste to 3+ blood,
- then play turns situationally based on hand contents.

Crypt (12 cards)
2x Dowager, The     6 ANI OBF aus pot   primogen   Nosferatu:6
2x Larissa Moreira    6 ANI OBF pot       primogen   Nosferatu:6
2x Lenny Burkhead    6 ANI obf pot pre   primogen   Nosferatu:6
1x Baixinho   3 ani obf  Nosferatu:6
1x Doc Martina6 ANI OBF for pre    Ravnos:7
1x Gathii     5 ANI PRE obf      Ravnos:7
1x Horace Radcliffe     5 ANI POT obf      Nosferatu:6
1x Nikolaus Vermeulen   7 ANI POT for obf   prince     Nosferatu:6
1x Trung Chau Pham      3 ANI      Ravnos:7

Library (80 cards)
Master (16; 7 trifle)
4x Ashur Tablets
1x Bleeding the Vine -- with only 4 Tablets, this is mandatory.
1x Direct Intervention
1x Giant's Blood
1x Labyrinth, The
1x Secret Library of Alexandria, The -- marginal until it isn't.
7x Villein

Action (11)
11x Deep Song

Ally (1)
1x Carlton Van Wyk

Action Modifier (6)
3x Faceless Night
3x Lost in Crowds

Action Modifier/Combat (5)
5x Swallowed by the Night

Combat (29)
12x Aid from Bats
1x Canine Horde
8x Carrion Crows
5x Taste of Vitae
3x Terror Frenzy -- feels like a 4th copy could work

Reaction (11)
2x Confusion of the Eye -- has to be useful in the long run.
2x Guard Dogs -- the best of bad options.
2x On the Qui Vive
5x Protected District

Event (1)
1x Scourge of the Enochians -- in preference to Carver's.

Thanks to Kelly and everyone else involved in the Gulf Coast Roast, and good luck with the next circuit!