Gonzalo Andrés del Río Díaz wins Grand Prix San Bernardo 2025!

The finalists: Saito, Oscar, Gino, champion Gonzalo and Zapi.

Reported by Daniel Bravo, VEKN National Coordinator of Chile:

On April 27th, the GP1 was held at the Atenas store, located in San Bernardo, Chile. The tournament featured 16 players, and the rounds proceeded smoothly without major issues. It was a relatively quick and highly competitive tournament, as all rounds had gamewins and some points were distributed.

 

Standings before the finals:
1. Gino Sepulveda 3 GW 10.0 VP
2. Oscar Guerrero 2 GW 8.0 VP
3. Gonzalo Rojas 1 GW 7.0 VP
4. Gonzalo Andrés del Río Díaz 1 GW 6.0 VP
5. Miguel Angel Vasquez 1 GW 6.0 VP

The final table consisted of Saito with his Politic Toreador deck and his new 30th Anniversary Crypt, Gonzalo del Río with his Ventrue Antitribu Grinder deck, a true classic, Oscar with Tzimisces from Group 2, another nostalgic deck, Zapi with his new Tzimisces, led by Ángel Guerrero, and our good Gino with his Gangrel Anarchist deck.

A few minutes after the start of the final table, Zapi, with his powerful bleed cards, left Saito in a bad position, but he decided to do political damage to his predator, which caused Zapi to leave the table. The pressure from the Gangrel caused Oscar’s Tzimisces to leave, eliminating the clan entirely from the final table. The table became very tense with the remaining three players – strong politics and table control, along with blocks – pushed the game to its limit, allowing the Ventrue Antitribu Grinder to find an opening and overcome Saito and Gino, winning the tournament.

Gonzalo Andrés del Río Díaz tournament winning deck:

Crypt (17 cards):
1x Edward Neally 7 aus pre DOM FOR Ventrue antitribu:3
3x Anarch Convert 1 -none- Caitiff:ANY
3x Gotsdam, The Tired Warrior 9 ani AUS DOM FOR PRE Ventrue:4
1x Jephta Hester 5 aus DOM FOR Ventrue antitribu:4
1x Jesse Menks 8 ani AUS DOM FOR Ventrue antitribu:3
1x Joseph O'Grady 7 aus cel DOM FOR Ventrue antitribu:3
1x Konrad Fleischer 9 tha ANI AUS DOM FOR Ventrue antitribu:4
1x Neighbor John 5 dom for AUS Ventrue antitribu:4
3x Owain Evans, The Wanderer 8 cel pre AUS DOM FOR Ventrue antitribu:3
2x Blackhorse Tanner 7 AUS DOM FOR Ventrue antitribu:3

Library: 90 cards
Master (23 cards)
1x Anarch Free Press, The
1x Anarch Railroad1x Channel 10
1x Corporate Hunting Ground
1x Direct Intervention
2x Dreams of the Sphinx
1x KRCG News Radio
3x Libertas
1x Archon Investigation
1x Metro Underground
1x Parthenon, The
1x Pentex(TM) Subversion
1x Powerbase: Montreal
1x Smiling Jack, The Anarch
3x Vessel
3x Villein

Event (1 cards)
1x Scourge of the Enochians

Action (9 cards)
7x Govern the Unaligned
1x Aranthebes, The Immortal
1x Constant Revolution

Ally (2 cards)
1x Mylan Horseed
1x Carlton Van Wyk

Retainer (1 cards)
1x Mr. Winthrop

Equipment (3 cards)
1x Bowl of Convergence
1x Ivory Bow
1x Signet of King Saul, The

Action Modifier (12 cards)
4x Conditioning
3x Daring the Dawn
2x Foreshadowing Destruction
2x Freak Drive
1x Kiss of Ra, The

Combat (11 cards)
2x Read Intentions
5x Rolling with the Punches
4x Skin of Steel

Reaction (28 cards)
9x Deflection
1x Delaying Tactics
2x Eagle's Sight
3x Enhanced Senses
5x Eyes of Argus
3x Guardian Vigil
2x My Enemy's Enemy
2x On the Qui Vive
1x Wake with Evening's Freshness

Thanks to Daniel and all other organisers, thanks to sponsors and thanks to all the players!

Filippo Mengoli is the 2025 champion of Italy!

 

Smiles after the battle! From left to right: Ivan, Riccardo, champion Filippo, Simone and Martin.

Reported by Miro Albertazzi, VEKN National Coordinator of Italy:

On April 12th, 45 Methuselahs gathered in Pordenone and battled for the Italian Championship title! In the gorgeous estate of Gelindo dei Magredi, Filippo Mengoli eventually triumphed as the 2025 Italian Champion.

Here’s the standings after 3 rounds:
1. Simone Zanni 8 VP 2 GW
2. Ivan Candioli 5,5 VP 2 GW
3. Filippo Mengoli 5,5 VP 2 GW
4. Martin Weinmeyer 6,5 VP 1 GW
5. Riccardo Fabiani 6 VP 1 GW

The first part of the game was quiet and a bit stuck, with the three attrition decks building their forces. Meanwhile Simone and Riccardo started to call some political action, just to find out that Filippo, with his princes and primogen was the needle on the scale for every referendum. Everyone waited for the Tupdogs assault on the Banus but luck was not on the side of Martin, with one bad draw after the other and also the pressure of the Ravnos swarm on his back forced him to a defensive position. Ivan’s walking dead legion smashed Simone’s minions but took the pressure away from Filippo who was able to put the guns out. So the game sped up, Riccardo with the votes from Fil’s vampires ousted Martin, and as a part of the deal gave Filippo the time to oust Ivan, as by tradition zombies can’t stand against guns :D :D :D

With all of his minions in torpor or out of blood, Simone could only watch Filippo taking his second point. Riccardo had no time nor forces enough to assault the Banu mountain of pool, and so the game came to its end. Filippo won with his balanced and diligent playstyle, and most of all with his beloved clan!

Here’s his deck: "Haqim's Law: Protection"
Crypt (12 cards, min=22 max=33 avg=6.92)
1x Kasim Bayar  9 CEL OBF THA aus pot justicar Banu Haqim:6
4x Oluwafunmilayo 8 AUS CEL OBF THA prince Banu Haqim:6
2x Farah Sarroub 7 CEL THA aus obf prince Banu Haqim:6
2x Kassandra Tassaki 6 CEL THA obf  prince Banu Haqim:6
1x Khadija Al-Kindi 6 CEL OBF THA  primogen Banu Haqim:6
2x Warmaksan  5 THA cel obf  prince Banu Haqim:6

Library (90 cards)
Master (17; 8 trifle)
2x Archon Investigation
3x Haqim's Law: Retribution
1x Market Square
1x Papillon
1x Powerbase: Montreal
3x Priority Contract
1x Rack, The
5x Villein

Action (10)
4x Hunter's Mark
6x Magic of the Smith

Equipment (6)
2x .44 Magnum
1x Assault Rifle
1x Bowl of Convergence
1x Heart of Nizchetus
1x Kevlar Vest

Combat (42)
4x Blur
10x Hunger of Marduk
12x Psyche!
10x Pursuit
4x Rego Motum
2x Side Strike                        

Reaction (15)
15x Second Tradition: Domain

Filippo awarded by the event organizer, Danny.

It was a really great day, as Italy National Coordinator i would like to thank Black Chantry and Ultra Pro for the gifts and the support they always give in our big events; our national distributor, Mistlore, who has been helping us since the start of this year, with all kinds of materials and many new ideas; our fabulous host Danny, who found a marvelous place where we spent a really great weekend. And, of course, I would like to thank all the players, you’re the ones to make these tournaments real, and the reason why building such events is really funny and satisfying!