Source: Inquest #22 (Feb 1997), p.71; author: Beth Moursund

Won Pro Tour V Junior Championship

"Justin Schneider, protege of two-time U.S. national team member Michael Long, looked much like his mentor as he sat down for the finals in bare feet and backward baseball cap.  At tense moments he was very serious, but when duels were going his way he often started whistling through his curled tongue.

When asked about his deck, Schneider was quick to disclaim credit.  'It's not my deck, it's Michael Long's deck.  We fell asleep making decks yesterday, and we woke up and had just 10 minutes to make this deck.'  Long himself ended up choosing a five-colour deck, which didn't do nearly as well.

The card in Schneider's deck that drew the most comments was the Soul Echo in his sideboard.  Though he didn't use it in the finals, Schneider said it had worked well for him.  'Soul Echo has actually won me two games so far this tournament.  I was down to like negative 20 from a Forsaken Wastes.  With a Soul Echo you only lose a counter to damage, not when you lose life, so it was really good.'

Another sideboard card. Tidal Wave, lent itself to Schneider's semifinal win over Jeff Simoneau by killing an attacking Ihsan's Shade in two consecutive games.

In the finals, Schneider proved the superiority of Marble Diamonds over Fellwar Stones.  After one Armageddon, he played no lands, thus rendering [Jeremy] Baca's Stones useless.

Schneider's blue spells were also critical in several games.  Hurkyl's Recall followed by Armageddon left his opponent without mana and forced to discard vital cards.  Political Trickery allowed him to steal a vital Kjeldoran Outpost in at least one game."