Regional Reign
While some regions boast player counts in the thousands, Riftbound UAE makes up the difference in raw passion. A passion that has fueled the members of a team determined to compete at the highest level. A team that carried the hopes and hearts of a region eagerly watching on.
Although the team made admirable efforts to progress through the tournament, inevitably, eliminations dwindled their numbers going into Day 2. Despite the odds, the display of camaraderie and support amongst the members of Riftbound UAE was unmistakable. They exhibited what makes the region strong in all the ways that matter.
And yet, Day 2 saw one player through to compete with the best the world had to offer. Ekpilot managed a decisive 7-1 record on Day 1, cementing his place and carrying the ambitions of a region squarely on his shoulders.
Local Legend
As his run continued, players tuned in to the livestream on screens of all sizes for updates. Game by game, match by match, the wait continued until Ekpilot featured on live video. Facing off against a truly formidable Jayce Aurora deck, Ekpilot had everything to play for in Game 3.
Both players were asked aside and the feed was cut to another match. The bracket had turned on a disqualification. Lineka Fiki was eliminated. This advanced our own Ekpilot through to Top 8 single elimination, outclassing TCG pro rosters and players traveling from all over the world.
At this point, it is important to appreciate the full meaning of this moment. A Top 8 RQ placement is unlike anything we could have expected, let alone seen. It can't be luck. In fact, it is the effort of a community built on the idea that together, what we share becomes something bigger than ourselves. An idea that Ekpilot was showcasing on the world stage.
His run continued until Top 4 where he sat across from DSG AwesumRosum and was subsequently eliminated. He finished 3rd overall in the standings and returned home a champion in the hearts of his community.