Regional Recap: Pony Finalist

By Jorge Rangel

Yo what up. Current World Champion “Jorge Rangel” part of team Let’s Talk UVS and honorary Cabal member here. This past weekend I got 2nd place at the Las Vegas Universus 2026 regional. I did my best but it was not enough sadly as I don’t know about you but I just checked a 2. Let’s get into the thick of it! 

Day 0 

I drove up to Vegas with my best buddies, (pun intended,) to play at the win a box tournament that was happening as we waited for our airbnb to allow us to check in. I was playing Gigan as I could not physically play Pony due to borrowing cards from teammates. Got 5th when they cut to top 4 was truthfully brutal lol. I had a lot of fun and got to hangout with some awesome people who enjoy Universus! 

Day 1

It was Friday morning now and I had the Pony deck assembled and ready to rock for the premier teams event! The event hall opened and I was ready to play some games…… Or so I thought. I went to the website to pay for entry of teams and was met with a big ol CARD DECLINED GG. Not knowing what happened I asked if I could borrow some money for the time being from my good pal Steven (Surfwiz) the goat and he pulled through. I was on stream round 2 of teams and defeated Calvin Tahan the best Titan of Terror player (before the character got an errata gg.) My team went on to top 8 by going X-1 on the day and got to the finals which had to be played on Sunday since we ran out of time in the venue. I attended the cool new Judge seminar as I wanted to see what they were doing to promote the judge program! We ended the day going back to the bnb and having fun until 3AM. Safe to say we might be fried guys lol. 

Day 2

Saturday arrives and I arise. Get ready to go to the venue where I forgot to sign up for the main event oops. As I was low on funds I completely forgot to sign up for the main event. This is where Disaster Dan and Marvin Emory, the leaders of The Cabal came to my rescue and paid for my entry. I got to use one of my 4 round 1 byes so I did not have to play that match. I cruised through the rest of my rounds that day truthfully. Won all my matches but lost a few games against some really good players. Ended the day by going 5-0-2 Five matches won and intentionally drew twice to secure a 4th place for day 3 on Sunday. The hardest match by far was Patrick on Shin Godzilla. That deck was insanely efficient at keeping me off resources to be able to string out. I got there in the end with a 2-1 victory but that was tough and truthfully the hardest game I had to play all day. This is when we got to see Disaster Dan get his first swiss champ at an in person regional and we were all very proud of him. After the brutal swiss rounds we went out to eat to celebrate Dan, my teammate Andrew Porat and I top cutting. We went to a rooftop restaurant and had a lot of fun taking pictures and celebrating together. The event was not over though so we headed home to rest up and go forward to day 3, the final day of the event. 

Day 3

Top Cut day aka Sunday funday has arrived just like Battra. I go to the venue nice and early to get my deck checked. I pass with flying colors and get to go sit down in front of my top 8 opponent Barlow Guess. This match was by far the hardest match to maneuver through a win. I was the higher seed but LOST game 1. I thought it was over straight up gg. I clutched game 2 with a line that required many many many moving parts to get through the machine that is Rodan. Game 3 ended about how we both expected the first game to go. I built 6 and turn 2’d him not much more to say other than that truthfully. That match was very good and truthfully peak UniVersus. Moving on to the top 4 for the day. They put me on stream once again against Calvin Tahan. It was a wash. Total destruction and domination by me. The match went my way with a swift 2-0 in my favor. In the finals match I went against Justin Martin playing Mitchell Cimino the champ card. Games felt super winnable at all times but it was at this moment my deck decided it was time to check 2s and lose. There was nothing I could do differently there and I was okay with that. We both played the best we could. The match was over and I got to live yet again another princess story of 2nd place at a regional. This event was very fun and I thoroughly enjoyed it all. The ups and downs through it all I am content and glad I did the best I could. BUT ONE MORE THING TO DO BEFORE THE EVENT IS OVER!!!!! Teams finals. I played teams finals against you would never guess it, Justin Martin again. This time I won 2-1 (I think lol I forgot I just knew I won) and it was up to my other teammates to finish out the event strong. My team known as the Gorgeous Jorges was Jorge Zhang, Ross Aubrey and I. I sat there waiting for my team to finish as the other matches went to game 3. Jorge Zhang finished his match as he won against the opposing team member known as Brodey aka Brodenkainen. The team's event is over and we have won the premier event to collect our championship belt. The last team member on Justin Martin’s team known as Dean/Constantine/Pringlesman123 was looking pretty down in the dumps as his team lost the match not getting the belt. Me not needing the belt and felt it would be a better look on him decided to just give him mine. Ending the event on a very happy note and everyone leaving happy. 

What now? 

I enjoyed myself and will try to attend at least one more regional this year and worlds to defend my title. Thanks for reading my one of a kind experience at the Las Vegas Regional! I look forward to seeing many more people at future events. This was fun and I cannot wait for the next one! TheMasterJorge signing off for now peace!!!!