by William Brinkman

Drew Walden from Ogden, Utah picked up a cool $650 with his Day 2 finish in the World Championship, but he spent his Sunday playing for a prize that was… a little different. And as the winner of the Hero Challenge here at Gen Con, that prize is his! The first place prize of the tournament is a rare treat: his World of Warcraft MMO character will be made into a TCG card!

Abandoning the Marksmanship Hunter deck that took him to a solid finish in the main event, Drew sleeved up a Lord Benjamin Tremendouson deck featuring Betrayer of Humanity, and a Bulwark of Ancient Kings. “I wanted something that could ‘ten them out of nowhere,’” commented Walden.

Drew’s opponent in the finals was Pat Eshghy, who had also had a great day on Saturday, with only tiebreaks standing between him and the Top 8. In the end, it was Drew that emerged victorious, earning his unique first prize. Pat didn’t leave empty-handed, of course, picking up a framed collection of signed Cryptozoic employee cards that made it into the TCG, like Gwon and Sullivan Holmes. Now, Warbul of <Throwdown With Bobby Flay> on the Illidan server will be made immortal – well, provided the cards don’t get wet, catch on fire, or anything equally unfortunate. You get the idea.

“I think it’s a cool prize. Usually, you just win ‘stuff’. And I know people usually want money, but it’s cool to get my name in the card game,” said Drew with a smile. Money may come and go, after all, but fame is forever.