Despite being at the tip-top of the standings throughout the closing rounds of Dutch Nationals, potential Hall of Famer Frank Karsten lost in the quarterfinals of this year’s Dutch Nationals. It was a missed an opportunity for the Netherlands bring the same star power to the Team Championships as the U.S., Brazil, and Japan. Kevin Grove is the Dutch National Champion, playing Cruel Control The team will also include; Niels Noorlander, who wwas playing Faeries; Tom van Lamoen, who was playing an exciting red-white control deck with Swans of Bryn Argoll and Baneslayer Angel; and Johnny Niemeijer, playing JundBlood, as the alternate.

Tom van Lamoen was the reigning champ from last year’s Dutch National team and earned that title on the back of another unusual, non-combo Swans deck. After virtually dissapearing from the Magic scene for a year he made the team again with another unexpected Swans deck. He has reportedly said it will be his last National team berth since his pet card will not be legal next year.

Tip of the hat to Sven Dijt of manamaze.com for the link to the coverage and the decklists, which I have copied here for your convenience, as well as the story about Tom’s Swans (no relation to Tom Swan).

Dutch Champion Kevin Grove

Cruel Control
Kevin Grove - Champion
2009 Dutch National Championship

3 Island
4 Reflecting Pool
4 Vivid Creek
3 Vivid Meadow
2 Vivid Crag
2 Vivid Marsh
2 Mystic Gate
2 Sunken Ruins
2 Flooded Grove
2 Cascade Bluffs
3 Kitchen Finks
3 Plumeveil
2 Shriekmaw
4 Mulldrifter
1 Reveillark
2 Cloudthresher
1 Essence Scatter
1 Agony Warp
3 Firespout
2 Makeshift Mannequin
4 Cryptic Command
2 Hallowed Burial
1 Cruel Ultimatum
1 Martial Coup
1 Pithing Needle
3 Jace Beleren
1 Ajani Vengeant
1 Liliana Vess

Sideboard:
4 Great Sable Stag
4 Anathemancer
4 Volcanic Fallout
2 Runed Halo
1 Identity Crisis

Faeries
Niels Noorlander - Finalist
2009 Dutch National Championship

4 Bitterblossom
4 Spellstutter Sprite
4 Cryptic Command
3 Broken Ambitions
2 Thoughtseize
3 Scion of Oona
2 Vendilion Clique
4 Mistbind Clique
3 Agony Warp
3 Peppersmoke
2 Jace Beleren
1 Sower of Temptation
4 Drowned Catacomb
4 Sunken Ruins
4 Secluded Glen
4 Mutavault
3 Swamp
6 Island

Sideboard:
2 Thoughtseize
2 Deathmark
1 Flashfreeze
2 Stillmoon Cavalier
3 Sower of Temptation
1 Jace Beleren
2 Puppeteer Clique
2 Warren Weirding

Angel Burn
Tom van Lamoen – 3rd Place
2009 Dutch National Championship

4 Swans of Bryn Argoll
4 Baneslayer Angel
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Intimidation Bolt
4 Flame Javelin
2 Banefire
3 Pyroclasm
3 Volcanic Fallout
4 Ajani Vengeant
3 Hallowed Burial
4 Mutavault
4 Rugged Prairie
4 Reflecting Pool
4 Jungle Shrine
4 Plains
5 Mountain

Sideboard:
2 Banefire
1 Volcanic Fallout
2 Manabarbs
1 Hallowed Burial
1 Austere Command
3 Runed Halo
4 Kitchen Finks
1 Elspeth, Knight Errant

JundBlood
Johnny Niemeijer – 4th Place
2009 Dutch National Championship

3 Anathemancer
4 Bloodbraid Elf
4 Boggart Ram-Gang
3 Chameleon Colossus
4 Putrid Leech
4 Wren’s Run Vanquisher
4 Jund Charm
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Maelstrom Pulse
3 Nameless Inversion
4 Auntie’s Hovel
2 Fire-Lit Thicket
4 Forest
4 Gilt-Leaf Palace
2 Mountain
4 Savage Lands
4 Twilight Mire

Sideboard:
1 Anathemancer
1 Chameleon Colossus
2 Deathmark
4 Great Sable Stag
4 Infest
3 Thoughtseize

Faeries
Frank Karsten – Top 8
2009 Dutch National Championship

4 Drowned Catacomb
4 Secluded Glen
4 Sunken Ruins
4 Mutavault
3 Swamp
1 Doom Blade
4 Bitterblossom
4 Cryptic Command
3 Broken Ambitions
3 Agony Warp
2 Thoughtseize
2 Peppersmoke
6 Island
1 Essence Scatter
1 Vendillion Clique
2 Sower of Temptation
4 Mistbind Clique
4 Spellstutter Sprite
4 Scion of Oona

Sideboard:
2 Gargoyle Castle
3 Infest
2 Vendillion Clique
2 Sower of Temptation
2 Thoughtseize
1 Flashfreeze
1 Puppeteer Clique
1 Deathmark
1 Countersquall

Combo Elves
Steffen van de Veen - Top 8
2009 Dutch National Championship

4 Llanowar Elves
4 Heritage Druid
4 Nettle Sentinel
4 Devoted Druid
4 Elvish Visionary
4 Elvish Archdruid
1 Gilt-Leaf Archdruid
4 Regal Force
1 Burrenton Forge-Tender
4 Ranger of Eos
3 Manamorphose
4 Primal Command
7 Forest
1 Plains
1 Windbrisk Heights
3 Mosswort Bridge
3 Sunpetal Grove
4 Wooded Bastion

Sideboard:
3 Burrenton Forge-Tender
3 Path to Exile
2 Guttural Response
4 Great Sable Stag
1 Cloudthresher
1 Qasali Pridemage
1 Oversoul of Dusk

Faeries
Frank Roelofs - Top 8
2009 Dutch National Championship

4 Mistbind Clique
2 Vendilion Clique
4 Spellstutter Sprite
2 Sower of Temptation
3 Scion of Oona
2 Jace Beleren
4 Bitterblossom
4 Agony Warp
3 Peppersmoke
4 Cryptic Command
3 Broken Ambitions
4 Secluded Glen
4 Drowned Catacombs
4 Sunken Ruins
1 Gargoyle Castle
4 Mutavault
5 Island
3 Swamp

Sideboard:
2 Puppeteer Clique
3 Infest
3 Thoughtseize
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Sower of Temptation
1 Flashfreeze
3 Warren Weirding
1 Jace Beleren

Blightning Beatdown
Kenny Koornneef - Top 8
2009 Dutch National Championship

4 Graven Cairns
4 Auntie’s Hovel
4 Dragonskull Summit
11 Mountain
2 Reflecting Pool
4 Demigod of Revenge
4 Figure of Destiny
4 Boggart Ram-Gang
4 Goblin Outlander
4 Flame Javelin
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Terminate
4 Blightning
3 Volcanic Fallout

Sideboard:
4 Anathemancer
3 Doom Blade
1 Volcanic Fallout
3 Infest
1 Earthquake
3 Chaotic Backlash