I just flew back from Spokane, WA this morning. I was prepared to play in the constructed deck Vs. System Pro Circuit qualifier, but had some time to play the sealed PCQ first. With each round only a half hour long, we were able to play all 6 Swiss rounds before cutting to a top 8. I went 4-2, losing round 1 to bad luck (Black Cat crossed my path too many times) and round 5 to tournament winner Jason Kurtzhall. That was good enough to put me in 6th place in the final standings.
Before the final 8 draft round, 2nd-place player Peter Sundholm dropped out of the sealed pack PCQ to play constructed, promoting me to 5th place. In the Top 8 draft, I sat to Jason's left. (In case you've never drafted, all you need to know is that it's painful to sit to the left of the best drafter at the table.) At that point, my hope was that I'd get to face him in the final round and take 2nd place.
Unfortunately for me, I met Jason in round 2 and got mercilessly beat down 2-0. I learned a few valuable lessons about limited play, earned 2 pro credits and 10 Web of Spider-Man booster packs, and traded like a fiend. The only thing I didn't get to do was play the constructed deck I painstakingly assembled and tested with for the last two weeks!
It's a start, just wait until Anaheim when we got your back.
This is gonna be a wild ride...