On December 8, the last monthly tournament of the Premodern Valencia league took place, ahead of the Finals scheduled for December 15. This event not only determined which eight finalists would compete for the title, but it also served as a valuable testing ground for the new Top 7.2 tournament system, as well as confirming who would finish the league in first place.
The December 8 Tournament: A New System That Works
This final event brought together 24 players, all eager to score the last points and refine their strategies before the Finals. The tournament consisted of 5 Swiss rounds. The highlight was the Top 7.2 system, where the first seed in the Swiss portion earns a bye only if they have won their last two rounds. This system further reduces the incentive to simply agree on a draw at the top table in the final round.
Did it work? In the top table of the last round, Paco Pérez (4-0) faced Pablo Suárez (3-1). Under the old Top 7 system, it would have been optimal for Paco to settle for a draw and secure the bye. However, thanks to the Top 7.2 mechanics, he was compelled to play and win that final match to claim the advantage. This encouraged more competitive play, fewer draws, and a more engaging experience for everyone involved.
December 8 Final Standings (24 Players)
- Pau Pérez
- Paco Pérez
- Pablo Cubedo
- Vedast Sanxis
- Paco Benlloch
- Luis Sevilla
- Pablo Suárez
- José María Toledo
- Isaías Arroyo
- José Ribes
- Rafa Traver
- Íñigo de Mingo
- Roberto Martínez
- Omar Madrid
- Jou Baixauli
- Raúl Rubio
- Daniel Burguera
- Aitor Solera
- Christian Sánchez Martínez
- Juan Ramón Barberá Asín
- Alberto Herrero
- Álvaro Ibars
- Rubén Beamud
- Édgar Badenes
Playoffs of the December Tournament
After the Swiss rounds, the playoff matches were organized as follows:
- (1) Paco Pérez received a bye due to being first seed under the Top 7.2 system.
- (2) Luis Sevilla vs Pablo Cubedo: Pablo Cubedo wins.
- (3) Pau Pérez vs Pablo Suárez: Pau Pérez wins.
- (4) Paco Benlloch vs Vedast Sanxis: Vedast Sanxis wins.
In the next round of the playoffs:
- Paco Pérez faced Pablo Cubedo, with Paco emerging victorious.
- Pau Pérez faced Vedast Sanxis, with Pau claiming the win.
Finals: Pau Pérez vs Paco Pérez
In the final match, Pau Pérez overcame Paco Pérez, taking the December tournament title.
A Year of Monthly Tournaments: Dates, Winners, and Archetypes
Throughout the year, twelve monthly tournaments were held. Here is a summary of each event, including the date, winner, and winning archetype:
| Date | Players & Structure | Winner | Archetype |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 14, 2024 | 22 players, 5 rounds, Top 7 (Spanish Tournament System) | Luis Sevilla | Stasis |
| February 11, 2024 | 15 players, 4 rounds, Top 3* | José Torreblanca | Madness |
| March 10, 2024 | 9 players, 4 rounds, Top 7 | Vedast Sanxis | RG Oath Ponza |
| April 14, 2024 | 18 players, 5 rounds, Top 7 | Paco Benlloch | Landstill |
| May 12, 2024 | 10 players, 4 rounds, Top 7 | Vedast Sanxis | RG Oath Ponza |
| June 2, 2024 | 17 players, 5 rounds, Top 7 | Juan Carlos Membrilla | Parallax Replenish |
| July 14, 2024 | 18 players, 5 rounds, Top 7 | Pablo Suárez | Elves |
| August 11, 2024 | 31 players, 5 rounds, Top 7 | Juan Carlos Membrilla | Parallax Replenish |
| September 8, 2024 | 23 players, 5 rounds, Top 7 | Pablo Suárez | Elves |
| October 13, 2024 | 21 players, 5 rounds, Top 7 | Juanka 07 | Reanimator |
| November 10, 2024 | 25 players, 5 rounds, Top 7 | Pablo Suárez | Elves |
| December 8, 2024 | 24 players, 5 rounds, Top 7.2 (resulted in Top 7) | Pau Pérez | U Stiflenought |
*Note: An additional Swiss or playoff round should have been played in the February event.
This overview provides a snapshot of the evolution of the metagame and the players who rose to the top during each monthly event.
A Year of Premodern: Statistics and Diversity
Throughout the year, 59 different players participated in these monthly tournaments, reflecting the growth and diversity of the Premodern community in Valencia. Players tried out a wide range of archetypes—66 different decks—showcasing a rich and varied metagame.
Among the frequently played archetypes, Parallax Replenish, with a 63.29% win rate, stood out as one of the most successful strategies.
Below is a table showing each archetype’s overall win percentage and the number of matches played:
| Archetype | Win Rate | Matches Played |
|---|---|---|
| 5c Stiflenought | 50.00% | 10 |
| Aluren | 33.33% | 9 |
| Angry Hermit | 37.50% | 8 |
| Astral Slide | 40.00% | 5 |
| Black Clerics | 45.83% | 24 |
| BR Contamination | 22.22% | 9 |
| BR Ponza | 50.00% | 4 |
| BW Astral Slide | 57.14% | 7 |
| BW Clerics | 20.00% | 5 |
| BW Control | 22.22% | 9 |
| Contamination | 44.44% | 27 |
| Counter Burn | 0.00% | 2 |
| Deadguy Ale | 43.48% | 23 |
| Devourer | 60.00% | 15 |
| Elves | 55.38% | 65 |
| Enchantress | 60.00% | 5 |
| False Cure | 40.00% | 5 |
| Fluctuator | 40.00% | 15 |
| Full English Breakfast | 57.14% | 7 |
| Gro-a-Tog | 50.00% | 16 |
| GW Astral | 40.00% | 5 |
| GW Oath Ponza | 50.00% | 6 |
| Landstill | 48.45% | 97 |
| Machine Head | 60.00% | 5 |
| Madness | 44.12% | 34 |
| Merfolk Stiflenought | 50.00% | 4 |
| Meriekke Ri Berit | 0.00% | 4 |
| Mono Black Discard | 46.67% | 15 |
| MUD | 40.00% | 5 |
| Oathclysm | 56.25% | 16 |
| Parallax Replenish | 63.29% | 79 |
| Pink Prison | 40.00% | 5 |
| Pit Rack | 37.50% | 24 |
| Ponza | 46.67% | 15 |
| Psychatog | 43.75% | 32 |
| Reanimator | 58.33% | 24 |
| R Goblins | 57.14% | 7 |
| RG Goblins | 35.85% | 53 |
| RG Oath Ponza | 47.50% | 80 |
| RG Survival Madness | 40.00% | 5 |
| Rock | 40.54% | 74 |
| RW Idols | 0.00% | 4 |
| Sleeper Soul | 0.00% | 3 |
| Sligh | 36.54% | 52 |
| Sneak Attack | 0.00% | 2 |
| Solution | 0.00% | 3 |
| Stasis | 54.72% | 53 |
| Storm | 57.14% | 21 |
| Suicide | 47.06% | 17 |
| Survival Infestation | 44.44% | 9 |
| Survival Rock | 52.17% | 23 |
| Survival Welder | 40.00% | 5 |
| Terrageddon | 40.00% | 15 |
| U Control | 45.45% | 11 |
| U Tide | 45.45% | 11 |
| U Stiflenought | 52.94% | 17 |
| UB Landstill | 50.00% | 4 |
| UB Stiflenought | 33.33% | 9 |
| UR Stiflenought | 30.00% | 10 |
| UW Flippi | 20.00% | 5 |
| UW Stiflenought | 50.00% | 6 |
| UW Tron | 50.00% | 6 |
| W Control | 55.56% | 9 |
| White Weenie | 33.33% | 12 |
The Most Versatile Player: Pablo Cubedo
In addition to qualifying for the Finals, Pablo Cubedo earned a special distinction as the player who experimented with the greatest variety of decks throughout the league. He piloted 7 different archetypes: Psychatog, UB Stiflenought, RG Goblins, Reanimator, UW Tron, Landstill, and Storm. This highlights how the Valencia Premodern scene encourages players to explore, innovate, and embrace new strategic challenges.
Final Standings and Qualification for the Finals
The following table shows every participant’s total points earned over the season, their adjusted points after removing their two worst performances (the method used to determine final standings), matches played, matches won, matches drawn, and overall win percentage. The top 8 players highlighted in bold qualified for the Finals on December 15.
| Name | Total | Without 2 Worst | Matches Played | Won | Drawn | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vedast Sanxis | 139 | 133 | 65 | 41 | 7 | 63.08% |
| Pablo Suárez | 122 | 122 | 55 | 36 | 5 | 65.45% |
| Paco Benlloch | 119 | 119 | 60 | 37 | 8 | 61.67% |
| José Ribes | 108 | 96 | 67 | 34 | 6 | 50.75% |
| Pablo Cubedo | 93 | 90 | 59 | 26 | 6 | 44.07% |
| Luis Sevilla | 85 | 85 | 43 | 26 | 4 | 60.47% |
| Pau Pérez | 82 | 82 | 46 | 25 | 7 | 54.35% |
| José María Toledo | 73 | 73 | 50 | 22 | 1 | 44.00% |
| Juan Carlos Membrilla | 68 | 68 | 33 | 21 | 2 | 63.64% |
| Roberto Martínez | 67 | 67 | 44 | 21 | 4 | 47.73% |
| Aitor Solera | 52 | 52 | 32 | 14 | 4 | 43.75% |
| Julián Gómez | 50 | 50 | 32 | 15 | 2 | 46.88% |
| Omar Madrid | 49 | 49 | 29 | 14 | 1 | 48.28% |
| Eduardo Gimeno | 41 | 41 | 31 | 12 | 5 | 38.71% |
| Juanka 07 | 41 | 41 | 26 | 13 | 2 | 50.00% |
| Álvaro Ibars | 40 | 40 | 39 | 12 | 1 | 30.77% |
| Garrofaman | 39 | 39 | 29 | 13 | 0 | 44.83% |
| Marcos Delvalle | 38 | 38 | 29 | 12 | 2 | 41.38% |
| Vicente Fernández | 38 | 38 | 23 | 11 | 2 | 47.83% |
| José Vivó | 37 | 37 | 22 | 12 | 1 | 54.55% |
| Paco Pérez | 37 | 37 | 18 | 11 | 1 | 61.11% |
| Fernando Ros | 33 | 33 | 24 | 10 | 0 | 41.67% |
| Juan Vilar | 28 | 28 | 15 | 9 | 1 | 60.00% |
| Isaías Arroyo | 28 | 28 | 23 | 8 | 1 | 34.78% |
| José Torreblanca | 27 | 27 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 60.00% |
| Jou Baixauli | 25 | 25 | 28 | 6 | 1 | 21.43% |
| Christian Sánchez Martínez | 24 | 24 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 41.18% |
| Carlos Voldi | 23 | 23 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 40.00% |
| Miguel Ángel Marín | 20 | 20 | 20 | 6 | 2 | 30.00% |
| Juanan Castillo | 19 | 19 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 42.86% |
| Rubén Beamud | 17 | 17 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 29.41% |
| Miguel Moncho Pérez | 16 | 16 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 28.57% |
| Fernando Yanguas | 12 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 33.33% |
| Daniel Burguera | 11 | 11 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 16.67% |
| Andrés Torres | 10 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 50.00% |
| Édgar Badenes | 10 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 22.22% |
| Javier Hernández | 9 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 22.22% |
| Víctor Minuesa | 7 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 40.00% |
| Borja Saura | 7 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 50.00% |
| Nico San Juan | 6 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 33.33% |
| Guillem Salvador | 6 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 40.00% |
| José Manuel | 6 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 40.00% |
| Javi Orts | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 50.00% |
| Nacho Barrachina | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 50.00% |
| X Mages | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 50.00% |
| Raymond Solaz | 6 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 40.00% |
| Adrián Oliver | 6 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 40.00% |
| Rafa Traver | 6 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 40.00% |
| Íñigo de Mingo | 6 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 40.00% |
| Raúl Rubio | 5 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 14.29% |
| Juan Ramón Barberá Asín | 4 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 20.00% |
| Alfonso Zarzoso | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 25.00% |
| José Manuel Díez Riobóo | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Sergio Coll | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Armin Tamzarian | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Rubén Montañés | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 20.00% |
| Alberto Herrero | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
| David Beltrán | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% |
| Fran Cabanillas | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% |
The top 8, marked in bold, will compete in the Finals on December 15. Their dedication, skill, and consistency throughout the year have earned them a shot at the title.
A Year of Innovation and Growth
These monthly tournaments were a new addition this year, allowing us to enjoy full-day events on Sundays, complementing the Tecnoliga held on Saturday mornings. The community’s response has been outstanding, and the increase in attendance, deck diversity, and overall quality of play suggests a very promising future.
On December 15, the Finals will be held—the culmination of a year marked by intense competition, experimentation, and growth. Expectations are high, and given the excitement that defined each event, we anticipate top-level matches and an excellent atmosphere for everyone involved.