Here's a few pics from States, Oklahoma style.  The fine folks at Game HQ in OKC (really, it's closer to Moore, but who's noticing) hosted the event.  There were 61 participants playing in two fairly large game rooms. For the record, I finished at an astounding 2-3-1.  Take that, Kai Budde!

Despite leaving early and being well briefed on where the store was at, I drove right past it and almost missed the event. Next time, I suggest using neon lime letters with a airhorn blasting every 5 seconds.

It begins, the DCI judge is screaming the rules for the tourney in
the background.  As you can tell, everyone is paying close attention to everything he's saying.  For what it's worth, that's one cool shirt that guy on the right is sporting.

An amused Jeff, a mystified Jonathon, and a excited Jason before the tourney.

   Jeremy is takin this young lad to school.  Despite how it looks, I don't 
think the young lady on the right is giving him any advice.  But, you never know.

An overly excited crowd of Brittany Spears fans....no, wait.  An overly excited crowd of Magic players talk about their next opponents over the match list that was just posted on the window.

  Cameron carefully studies Jonathon's cards before the next match. 
Robert, on the left, is getting ready to pounce.

Andy makes his move.

The judge posts the rankings after Round 5.  The crowd's amusement is,
in no doubt, due to my dominance of the lower half of the rankings.  Yup, if your in the bottom thirty, watch out!

   For my first state tourney, I had pretty good time.  However, my first five matches went to three game each!  Thus, when my last opponent, Neil (who happens to live less than a mile from me) smacked down his third Desolation Angel with kicker in our second game, I gave up.  That, and my head hurt!

   Some personal thoughts:

- Everyone played Blue.  The folks at WOTC should probably do something about this.

- My first opponent, Craig, was probably 15 - 20 years older than me and was sporting a black polo shirt with all five Magic symbols above the pocket.   I think he likes this game...

- James, my third opponent, played G/U.  The only two color deck I played against the entire tourney (everyone else sported at least three colors).

- Jacki, a nice young lady, played a really cool five-color dragon deck.  Unfortunately, she was also the first opponent I managed to beat.  Perhaps I shouldn't have danced on the table after winning the match?...

- The only other person I managed to win against was Ron, the store owner.  Poetic justice or dumb luck?

- I was the only one wearing a cool, black Western fedora.  Next year, I expect a dozen or so to follow suit.

   For next year, I wouldn't change a thing, except it should be held less than five miles from where I live and have rocker-recliners for chairs.  Otherwise, I wouldn't change a thing.  Well, maybe that I finish in the top thirty, instead of the bottom thirty.