The whirlwind that was Grand Prix Vancouver flew by the weekend before last. I was able to place 24th out of the 1549 attendees, and I’m still reflecting on the many lessons that I was able to take away from the tournament. There were a few particular thoughts, feelings, and moments that truly sculpted my Grand Prix experience, and I wanted to share a few of the insights that I’ve gleaned with you here.

Have confidence in your ability to not make mistakes.

The first and most important lesson came in the days leading up to the Grand Prix, in a conversation I had with a testing partner during yet another evening jamming games in Modern. I was discussing the fact that I accepted my shortcomings. Of course, I argued, I would do my best to not miss triggers, but I knew that was a weakness of mine and that making errors is human.

My teammate Brett gave me a stern look, and said very matter-of- factly that if I approached not just the Grand Prix, but any Magic with that attitude, that my growth as a Magic player would suffer. Instead, he argued, I should approach Grand Prix Vancouver and all of Magic with confidence in my ability to not make mistakes. He went on to state that one of these two viewpoints accepted the limitations placed on all of humanity, while the other focused on my personal ability to rise above my errors. He also maintained that by focusing on my own ability to not make mistakes, I would be more receptive to learning from any misplays that I did end up making, and would be less likely to repeat those errors.

This conversation not only made me more confident in my ability to do well in Vancouver, but also helped me in my decision to play Naya Titan Breach over Grishoalbrand, a quicker but more variance-based deck. While I had been considering a deck that would give me more free wins, I now felt more confident in my ability to pilot Titan Breach successfully. As well, when I was feeling overwhelmed or stressed at the Grand Prix, the phrase “I am confident in my ability to not make mistakes” become a mantra of sorts, to reassure myself in my knowledge and familiarity with the deck, and help clear my head of distractions or stressors.

Surround yourself with people who will actively root for your success.

One of the pieces of advice that pros always pass down to players looking to improve their games is to surround yourself with people who are better than you, players whose skill you can learn from. I’ve been lucky enough to live in an area where I was welcomed into a group of PPTQ grinders and friends who lift each other up. These players recognize that as one person succeeds, the team is able to improve together, instead of cutting each other down or looking to gain advantage over one another. This means that not only have I been able to learn from better players in my local community, but that I have also been able to foster friendships and relationships that have supported me as I grow both as a magic player and as a person, which I have found equally important.

Edmonton sent a rather large contingent to Vancouver for the Grand Prix—by rather large I mean almost every semi-competitive to competitive Magic player—so there was no shortage of high fives and bad beat stories. This also meant that as my day two wore on, my group of friends and testing partners was there to cheer each other on and provide advice to one another as well as simply grabbing food for someone when rounds went long. I personally believe that this support system is just as important as the technical aspects of the game. Having friends around me to pull me out of my head when I was worrying about upcoming matches, make sure I was staying hydrated, and provide support—as well as providing joking rub-ins when I misplayed—is undoubtedly what really pulled me through the stresses I had placed on myself throughout the Grand Prix.

And this brings me to my final point…

Take Time for Yourself.

I suffer from a bit of anxiety, which is exacerbated by large crowds. As such, a Convention Center hall filled with 1,500 people might not be the most ideal place for me. I made it a priority to find quiet time between rounds to centre myself. As the stresses on the second day grew, I would sometimes even drag my significant other with me to quieter corners of the convention hall to listen to music and take a few breaths.

Even if you don’t feel overwhelmed in large crowds like I do, I would still recommend taking time between matches (if you can) to come back to reality. Stretch your legs, drink some water—remind yourself if you don’t have a playgroup to check in on you—and clear your head. If the match you just played was stressful, or you feel tilted, recognize your feelings and work to take a step back so that you don’t carry any stress or anger with you as you go to face your next opponent. Don’t be afraid to tell a friend that you’d rather not discuss their last match—if they are really a friend, they’ll understand. It’s simple advice, but I truly believe that it is not repeated or heeded enough.

Looking back on the lessons that I learned over my weekend in Vancouver, I feel that I have come away from the Grand Prix with a better understanding not only of Modern, but of myself as a Magic player and a person. I am better able to recognize my limitations both within and outside the game, and am more grateful for the team around me. Coming away from Vancouver, one thing is definitely certain. I have only skimmed the surface of the ways that Magic can help me learn and grow, and I am so incredibly excited to discover more.

Chantelle Campbell hails from Edmonton, Alberta. She writes about the competitive Magic life.

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