What an exhilarating weekend in Anaheim for the Disney Lorcana Challenge (DLC) North American Championship! I had the privilege of competing in the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) alongside over 35 other players from Arizona. Even more locals attended as spectators, creating an incredible sense of community and support throughout the event.
Day 0 – Friday
The focus of Friday’s competition was the Last Change Qualifier event. Despite a delayed start, the LCQ was a high-energy, fast-paced competition. The format consisted of 32 pods of 32 players, each competing in a single-elimination, best-of-three structure. The prize? A coveted spot in the North American Continental Tournament.
Arizona’s community rallied together both onsite and online, tracking local player progress through a shared Google sheet. As the rounds advanced, the field narrowed, but Arizona maintained a strong presence. By the end of the day, five Arizona players reached the 5th and final rounds of their pods.
The main hall buzzed with excitement, and cheers erupted when Arizona’s Daryl (Daryl436) clinched his pod with a flawless 2-0 win. Moments later, Brad (MrUnlucky13) secured his spot in the tournament, followed by Eddie (Edygordo23) and Gio (Ryouichi23), whose wins brought even more celebrations for Team Arizona.
Day 1 – Saturday
Saturday marked the highly anticipated start of the North American Continentals, the most competitive event yet of the Disney Lorcana Challenge’s first season. The excitement was palpable as players and spectators packed the venue. Arizona was proudly represented by six players who qualified either through prior DLC invites or Friday’s LCQ.
• Dave (TheDave): Qualifying via a pass-down from the Atlanta DLC, Dave piloted an Amber-Steel deck to an impressive 36th-place finish with a 2-1-4 record.
• Andrew (LoafyTCG): Top 16 at the Toronto DLC earned Andrew his spot. He played an Amethyst-Steel deck, finishing 54th with a 2-2-3 record.
• Brad (MrUnlucky13): After a strong showing in Friday’s LCQ, Brad finished 55th with a 2-2-3 record using a competitive deck.
• Eddie (Edygordo23): Eddie brought a Ruby-Sapphire deck to the tournament and placed 81st with a 1-2-4 record.
• Gio (Ryouichi23): Gio, another LCQ champion, ran a Ruby-Sapphire deck and secured 96th place with a 1-3-3 record.
• Daryl (Daryl436): Running an Amber-Steel deck, Daryl placed 115th with a 0-3-4 record.
Beyond the main event, Arizona players immersed themselves in side events, including artist signings, developer meet-and-greets, and casual matches. The highlight? Photos and card signings with Mickey Mouse himself!
Adding to the fun, Arizonans organized a pop-up casual event, bringing even more entertainment to the weekend.
Day 2 – Sunday
With no Arizona players advancing to the Top 16, the local spotlight shifted to the Sunday Revival, an invite-only event for competitors who didn’t make the cut and round 5 LCQ players from Friday. Six Arizonans participated in this highly competitive tournament, with Eddie (Edygordo23) emerging victorious, taking 1st place!
Final Thoughts
Anaheim was a weekend to remember for the Arizona Lorcana community. From thrilling matches to celebratory moments, it showcased the talent, camaraderie, and passion of our local players. Congratulations to everyone who participated and represented Arizona so well on this prestigious stage. Here’s to more success in future Lorcana events!