World Championship Player Interview: MIT Season 6 Champion 石惟中 (石頭)

Note: This article was translated from Chinese by AI and may contain errors. Read the original Chinese version.

Let’s get started!

Before getting to know 石頭, I guessed he was a relatively quiet, exceptionally focused player, but after an interview of nearly two hours face to face, I found that 石頭 holds tremendous enthusiasm within him, along with a pure love for TCGs (Trading Card Games). At the same time, his rise illustrates the importance of “friendship.” Let’s read on together!

Q1: First of all, congratulations on qualifying for this World Championship! Let’s go back to the MIT Season 6 finals. How did you feel at that moment, being in the final deciding stage?

A: The second round of the Swiss was actually not very smooth. I drew, so I played out all the Swiss rounds, but in the end that gave me a better win record than the players who chose to intentionally draw, and I advanced to the playoffs as the first seed, which meant I’d have the advantage of choosing play or draw in all later matches. By then, though, I was starting to feel a bit tired.
There was actually a small funny story that day: I went to the venue without enough money, so I had to borrow money from my good friend T1BloodMoon to buy chewing gum. Luckily he was willing to lend it, so I got to chew some gum before the Top 8, getting a sugar boost and some relief. Otherwise, playing from nine in the morning to eight at night without eating anything, my head would have started to feel dizzy.
At the time I didn’t know that winning would let me go abroad; I only knew that placing high would earn a PT qualification. I’m a player who isn’t easily affected by nerves, so I just kept playing with a calm mind.
The quarterfinal was the most crucial match of the day. As I recall, my opponent SamuelChang aka 鳥不喇基 played Esper Midrange. That match was especially tough for two reasons: first, SamuelChang is himself very strong, and second, that game went on for a very, very long time, it seems from seven in the evening until past nine, and Esper Midrange is also a deck I’m not that favored against. After winning, I gained some more confidence from that match and went on to win the semifinal and the finals.

Sharp-eyed readers, can you guess which private room we did the interview in?

Q2: Why did you choose Azorius Control as your deck?

A: At the time, I thought it could hold an advantage against all kinds of decks, and together with my own adjustments, it should handle the Taiwan field well, especially against the considerable number of Boros Convoke decks, for which I prepared thoroughly in both the main deck and sideboard.
Three cards performed especially well: The Wandering Emperor, a very rare planeswalker in Magic that can enter with flash and then activate her abilities, and her abilities are very intimidating to the opponent in the Standard environment; second, Memory Deluge, which lets a player pull ahead on resources very quickly and is also a rare card in terms of how deep it digs into the library; third, the two Temporary Lockdown I put in the main deck at the time, which was very effective against aggro. If you sweep the opponent on turn 3, the pressure drops a lot, and it was my key answer to Boros Convoke at the time.
I think the control archetype is about stalling until you get into your own rhythm, and before that, means to keep yourself alive, fight for a resource lead, and clear the board are all very important.

Q3: Every player who improves must have been inspired by someone. Do you remember the origin of how you came into contact with this game? Under what circumstances did you first encounter Magic: The Gathering?

A: I started formally getting into Magic around 2020, when I graduated from university, because Magic is a game that requires putting in quite a bit of money…
I met my good friend T1BloodMoon right when I first entered a card shop. I got into Limited and league play first, and had a great time then.
From what I know of myself and my personality, whatever the format, I think I would eventually have moved toward competitive play. T1BloodMoon and I always bought cards and played together, improving each other’s skills in the process. T1BloodMoon never said anything in particular to inspire me, but as a friend, his character is very giving, and he often sacrifices himself for the greater good to help friends and the team succeed. In my card-playing career, his company all along has been very important.

Q4: Does that excitement and emotion still remain? Could you talk about how Magic today differs from the past?

A: For me, joy has always been built on the process of competition, so this joy keeps growing.
I think I’m not easily hit by the feeling of frustration, because I’m a player who often reviews himself. Magic has a certain ceiling and floor, and sometimes you just can’t do anything and get beaten without any chance to fight back. That’s bound to happen, and to me it doesn’t count as a setback. Sometimes you find money on the road when you walk, right? XD Low-probability good and bad things just happen occasionally.

Q5: The driving force behind greatness is often purer and more childlike than we imagine. Magic is a card game, and cards extend our will and imagination; simply put, opening booster packs is just so happy and exciting. What is the most important card to you? Please share the bond between you and it.

A: Speaking within the scope of TCGs (Trading Card Games), I started playing card games in elementary school, and what I played then was Yu-Gi-Oh!. I think players’ original motivations are actually very simple: as kids we just thought these things were cool. As for other card games, whenever I came across them through videos or anime, I’d look into them and dabble a bit.
As for the most important card, I’ve actually always liked exploring usable pieces from new sets’ cards. I’m the type who loves every card I see, and what I play isn’t confined to control or any type; I just enjoy the process of continually exploring this game.

Q6: On the first and second days of the World Championship, there will be three rounds of Duskmourn draft and four rounds of Standard respectively. Please share with readers which formats you personally like and are good at, and how you prepared this time.

A: I don’t have a particular format preference, because I think the character of each format is very clear now. For example, Standard has a normal pace (though slightly sped up), while Modern is relatively fast, where one mana might do what takes three or four, and there are cards in hand that can be cast for zero.
Recently I’ve been drafting on MTGA. Draft is rarely encountered in big tournaments and I haven’t played it much myself, so it’s a relatively weak link. As for Standard, I haven’t started preparing yet, because I haven’t even decided on a deck.

Editor’s note: The day of the interview was Friday, October 4th, 14 days after DSK came out and 21 days before the World Championship, so 石頭 was still watching the flow of the environment and hadn’t reached a conclusion.

Q7: What type of player do you consider yourself? Which type of game plan are you better at? Is there a simple but classic turn that comes to mind that you could share with readers?

A: I usually pick a deck I like from the top of the environment’s meta to play.
Personally I now think I perform better with control and tempo, and relatively worse with midrange, where sometimes after losing I can’t immediately sense where the crux of the problem is. This is more a conclusion drawn from results in real play, not entirely my personal feeling.

Q8: I’ve always been curious that competitive players must have unique habits in how they play. Could you share something beyond the “cards”? Do you have any near-superstitious habits? Or little tricks for hinting at or misleading opponents?

A: From entering my end step until I enter my turn again, I try to keep my attention on the opponent. After remembering my own hand, I won’t pay it more attention unless I have something to respond with, and then I’ll check it, and I slightly observe whether the opponent has any small habits in how they play. Being able to read information is of course best, but at the least I’ll think about the opponent’s intent and rhythm in playing, and then think about what to do next, without putting much thought into my own hand and board.
As for fun things, ever since I got her, I try to keep her beside me when playing: a little Sheoldred pin! She’s kind of my lucky charm and companion XD I hope my draws gain me 2 life.

An extremely exquisite pin and a frame pouch full of marks of battle.

Q9: Although it’s the player himself standing on the field, the team, family, and friends around the player surely take part in it too. Have you encountered any impressive support or arguments in your life?

A: My parents don’t quite understand Magic, but they neither express support nor opposition. I always tell them I’m going to play cards, and they usually say, “OK, come back early for dinner.” To me, that’s already plenty of care.
On the day I won the MIT, I actually didn’t tell my family the situation before going out, and they thought I was just going out to play cards as usual. Then I came home that day with the trophy and lots of goods. My family was curious what those things were, and only then did I roughly tell them what happened. They were very happy and started snapping photos like crazy with a camera. Our family didn’t hold a special dinner to celebrate, but I noticed my parents quietly showing off the news in their friend circles XD. I feel the way I get along with my family is rather fun.

Q10: From what we’ve learned indirectly, you’re a player who gathers match information by watching a large number of videos. Could you share how you see this part? Is it a natural, casual pastime? Or part of doing your homework diligently?

A: I learned some Japanese in order to watch anime, so I make a habit of following both English and Japanese channels, and I’ve basically watched all the videos that appear on YouTube.
I watch some in my spare time. I quite enjoy the process, and it’s a natural desire to study other players’ thinking.
Actually I watch lots of videos because I don’t have enough time, since I’m already off work at eight or nine in the evening. If I had enough time, I’d definitely keep going to card shops to practice.

Editor’s note: The three words “watched all” sound simple and flat when 石頭 says them, yet they were a moment that shocked us greatly. It’s truly not easy, but for 石頭 it’s a very natural habit that has long been woven into his life.

Q11: As a competitive player, what is the most valuable advice you’ve ever received?

A: Nothing very concrete comes to mind right away.
In the early days I lost to 蹦蹦 more often. I’m probably the type who humbly seeks advice, so I often asked him about details of play, and he’d give me suggestions. I think this is a very good part of the Magic community: everyone is generous in giving each other sincere opinions, then influencing each other and improving together.

Q12: This is a card game with great depth, but also relatively hard to pick up. If you were to briefly introduce Magic’s appeal, how would you tell newcomers?

A: I think depth is Magic’s appeal. The packs always contain cards carefully designed for Limited, constructed is where players’ skill and thinking show, and there’s even multiplayer EDH, which is also very deep and a lot of fun. Different players can get enjoyment in different formats, and you can also see many players’ creativity online. Many combos are ones I never thought of myself, and seeing them in person is even more amazing! I really enjoy spending time with people who think differently, and Magic is a medium for everyone to show their creativity. I think that’s a wonderful element.

Q13: Last of all, please describe what Magic is to you.

A: Wow… this question. It has already naturally blended into my life. I think of it on days off and when I have free time, so it’s a very everyday thing.