I had the pleasure of participating in the latest tournament entry of the legendary Raging Bull Series. The journey to this tournament was as exciting as the event itself. I managed to received an invite to join the tournament by winning a rather unconventional (and somewhat rigged) arm-wrestling match against Dremmer at last years Uthden Troll Cup. It was an unforgettable and amusing experience that set the stage for the adventures to come at Raging Bull.

Amsterdamned

Sharing beers with friends is an integral part of the Old School tournament experience, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie. Typically, I embrace the full experience by ‘staying to play’ and booking a nearby hotel. However, the lack of affordable options in Amsterdam presented a unique challenge this time around, leaving me with two options: either stay sober or find a driver. Luckily for me, my brother Rudy and one of my oldest friends, Clint, also got an invite. After some persuading, I convinced my brother to pick me up on his way to the event with Clint on Friday.

On Friday night, Richard, the host of Raging Bull, organized an exhilarating Sealed Ice Age event. I was really happy to attend this particular event with Rudy and Clint because Ice Age was “our” set when we started playing together back in ’95.

After enduring a two-and-a-half-hour drive through a labyrinth of relentless traffic jams and heavy congestion, we finally arrived at our destination: De Twee Klaveren in Amsterdam. The bustling cityscape and vibrant atmosphere instantly welcomed us, making the grueling journey worthwhile. Upon our arrival, we were instantly greeted by many familiar and friendly faces. Despite our delay, we still had some time for a quick meal and some drinks at De Twee Klaveren. If you ever get the chance to join the Raging Bull Series or visit De Twee Klaveren, you really should try the steak with fries; it’s really good!

Winter is coming

Participating in the sealed Ice Age event felt like stepping into a nostalgic time machine, transporting me back nearly 30 years to the formative days of my Magic. As we all opened our Ice Age starter pack, accompanied by two boosters of Homelands and two boosters of Alliances, I was immediately transported to a bygone era. The distinct smell of freshly printed cards filled the air, awakening a flood of nostalgia. As everyone sifted through the packs, legendary cards like Lake of the Dead, Helm of Obedience and Force of Will, emerged, each one greeted by a sigh of nostalgia. The thrill of seeing these iconic staples was only surpassed by the joy of my own exceptional pulls: Icy Manipulator, Stormbind, Order of the White Shield, Exile, and Blinking Spirit. I felt like I had one of the best starter packs opened that day, a perfect reminder of why I fell in love with the game all those years ago.

The quality of my pulls made deck brewing an absolute breeze. Icy Manipulator offered unmatched board control, while Stormbind provided both offense and defense in a single card. Blinking Spirit’s ability to dodge removal, adding cards like Order of the White Shield, Pyroclasm and Exile into my deck added even more potent offensive and defensive capabilities. The process of deck-building was a delightful nostalgic experience, each card sparking memories of past strategies and victories. As I assembled my deck, the synergy between the cards became evident, making each game a joy to play.

In dog beers, I’ve only had one!

I had initially planned to meticulously track my plays and strategies throughout the event, but those intentions quickly fell by the wayside after the second match and one too many beers. Clint, ever the enthusiast for keeping the alcohol consumption in high gear, turned our pints into mugs at an alarming pace. My good intentions to keep a detailed log of my games ended up in the bin as the fun and camaraderie took over. The event became less about the plays and more about enjoying the moment, the laughter, and the shared love for the game, as it should be at an Old School event! Despite losing track of my plays, the experience was unforgettable, and the memories made were well worth the sacrifice of my planned notes. I do remember beating Uthden Ron with Stormbind and having a fun match against Alex, which I lost due to a color hoser and playing one of the (in)famous Norwegian Daltons. But the rest is one big blur to me. I do know that one to many beer stood between me an a good result.

Sharky the Sharkdog

As the night progressed, Reindeer (and his mustache) made a grand entrance with his infectious charisma, bringing me a delightful surprise that took the night for me to another level—an invitation to Noobfest 2025. This was an absolute highlight, filling me with excitement and a deep sense of honor. With even more reason to celebrate, the beers kept flowing, and the camaraderie intensified. By 1 AM, Richard had swept The Klaaveren clean, signaling it was time to head home. Despite our significant intoxication, we couldn’t resist making a detour to McDonald’s. There, we savored the comforting familiarity of late-night junk food, each bite a satisfying conclusion to a night of celebration and nostalgia. The journey home was a blur of laughter and camaraderie (with Clint fast asleep at the back seat). I finally got to bed around 3 AM, setting my alarm for 7 AM to ensure I could head back to Amsterdam for the main event at Raging Bull. The night was a perfect blend of surprises, joy, and celebration, making it an unforgettable experience I got to share with so many friends, old and new!

Stay tuned, as I’ll be blogging soon about the second day of the tournament, which will focus more on the intense games and strategic plays at the main event. Day two at Raging Bull brought a different kind of excitement, as we moved from the lighthearted fun of Friday night to the semi serious competition of the main tournament. I’ll be sharing detailed accounts of my matchups, standout plays, and the thrilling moments that defined the day soon.