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Mastering the complexities of magic

Karen Davies just got back from a Grand Prix in Portland. She came in 166th but that’s impressive
Magic Cards
On deck: Karen Davies plays Magic: The Gathering at her kitchen table on Monday

Karen Davies just got back from a Grand Prix in Portland. She came in 166th but that’s impressive considering the numbers she was up against.

“There were 1,700. I went 10 and five. I won 10 rounds and lost five, and I got one pro point. It’s the best finish I’ve had so far, I’m getting better,” says Davies. “All the hard work is paying off.”

In the world of Magic: The Gathering, that’s not a bad score at a Grand Prix considering that the eighth place garners four pro points, and prize money is awarded to the top 64 players. (Had the attendance been higher, Davies also would have received prize money for her ranking.)

“If you do really well you get invited to the pro tournaments. If you get enough pro points you get a year of being on the circuit – that’s when you’re really a pro.”

Magic: The Gathering is a card game. Each game represents a battle between wizards who employ spells, artifacts, and creatures depicted on individual Magic cards to defeat their opponents. Every player is allowed a deck of 75 which they pick themselves. Each player starts with a 20 life, and whichever player knocks their opponent down to zero life, wins the game. Most games are a race to see who can do the most damage first.

“These cards have casting spells creatures and they have strengths and life total and they damage your opponent by decreasing their life total. They play spells that stop you and try to remove your creatures from the board.”

Part of the skill is building a good deck, she explains, but playing the cards correctly is also key. There is a lot more skill involved than most people would expect. In this type of tournament there are 1,400 cards players can choose from. Players have to figure out their strategy, and must choose which 75 they want to use. Once they enter the tournament, they cannot change their cards.

The Grand Prix, she says, is a test of skill as well as physical and mental endurance.

“It’s long and grueling, 13 hours of play and there are no breaks and no lunch breaks. You have to push through and keep your focus, it’s mentally challenging. It’s a cross between chess and poker. There are complicated moves like chess but there’s the social aspect of reading of your opponent, and bluffing.”

Davies first played the game in her university days when she was at the University of Alberta studying electrical engineering.

“My roommates played and I played once in a while. I wasn’t into it back then. But it was a card game and it was fun. I love games.”

When the Puzzle Factory (now Lake Monster Games) opened a few years ago Davies and her son, Connor, decided to check out the Friday Night Magic.

“We did it together. He loved it and I loved it. It became more than just wanting to play, we got competitive.”

Connor, now 20, is living in Edmonton and also went to the tournament. He had nine wins, five losses and one tie.

Davies says when she started going to tournaments there weren’t many women.

“Over the past three years the number of women has increased but it’s still male dominated.”

Most tournament players range in age from teens to 30s. But Davies says there is no stereotyping the kind of people who play.

“I’ve seen businessmen, engineers, kids, bikers, teachers, a couple from the nursing field, people from the oil rigs, lawyers, and artists. I have met so many people. I’ve built some friendships and I really enjoy the people.”