I went there to defend my title, but didn't have the time to build and test a serious tournament deck, so I decided to play something fun. I built an Elrond/Vilya influence deck and played it once in multiplayer. Last night I built an Elrond/Vilya/Star of High Hope battle deck against minions.
First game against Kees Schipstra (hero) turned out to be the only chance to test my influence deck in a 2-player game. The idea is to influence away everything my opponent plays with my Elrond, Wizard and agents. The only other character I play is a 3 mind character to draw cards and the occasional kill point. I had most of the MP resources Kees played in my sideboard so things looked good. Unfortunatly by the time I had these resources in hand, time was called, plus I rolled snake eyes for a corruption check on my wizard. The recycling with Vilya turned out to be both the strength and weakness of this deck. Flatter a Foe turned out to be a very powerful card. With a diplomat wizard with 10 free DI and Elrond with Vilya, you can cancel almost anything and the -2 hazard limit is amazing. I have never played this card in a deck before, but definatly will in the future. 0-6
The other 3 games were against minion decks, so I took out my battle deck. This deck has 3 swords, 3 factions, the emerald and gildor main deck and some more factions, items, allies and characters in the sideboard. The idea is to get GOM into play and defend it with twilights, play multiple Stars of High Hope and keep them into play with echo of all joy. The crowns of flowers are there in case my gates are at the bottom of my deck. Once I have 1 or more stars and/or weapons in play I go after my opponent. Pallando and Cirdan sit in grey havens for a big hand.
Second game I played Simon Kort (minion) who is famous for his minion One Ring decks and amazing rolls. I got nothing but resources in my first few hands so I caught an undead with my elven rope. Then I went for Simon's ring gathering company. Elrond killed the Lieutenant of Dol Guldur and the elven brothers wounded 2 of his other main characters and that was it. Got some items, factions and kill points and lost Elrond during a Vilya-check, but won 4-2.
Game 3 against Martijn Steultjens (Balrog), who you are all familiar with. I managed to get some stars in to play and kept them for the rest of the game. My elven company was almost untouchable and martijn didn't draw his MPs. Most of the time Martijn was going sites that heros don't know so i couldn't reach him. I should have won this game 6-0, but time was called without 10 minute warning and Tom Bombadil in my hand for several turns. Martijn doubled his allies: 4-2.
Last game against Robert van Grieken (balrog). He was at 12 TP, me at 10. He played classic underdeeps balrog with roadblock, a strategy that could potentially hurt me. For most of the game I managed to keep GOM in play and twilight his twilights/doors, although I had to use the mouth and outposts to recycle them. The cock crows took care of his banes, so everything under control. Kept him back with the way is shut and he wouldn't play any hazard creatures, so I got my MPs fairly easy. Last turn I went in for the kill at Mount Gundabad, but none of his characters got eliminated. 4-2 14 TPs got me 5th place, so no worlds for me, but instead lots of fun during sealed deck, booster draft and MEtDG.
Congratulations to last years vice-champ Maarten for taking over the title. Also good to see veterans Martijn, Arjan and Ewout play and do so well and qualify for worlds (except for Martijn) and one of the most active current players Jean-Paul as well. Thanks to the Schipstra brothers and the Council of the Isles of the Dead that Live (perfect description of The Netherlands) for organising this (hope I didn't leave anyone out). Somebody please list the complete results and their own experiences.
[Go here for his deck]