Part of the fun of World Championships is watching the National Team standings. For too long, the United States has had a stranglehold on the Teams Competition, but this year, with powerhouse teams showing up from Germany, The Netherlands, France and Sweden, it's really anyone's game.

As Day 1 drew to a close, only one of the five hot picks was fighting for top spot: Sweden. Round six ended and Sweden was in second by four points. The day belonged to Ireland.

Team Captain and three-time Irish National Champion John Larkin is as surprised as anyone to find his crew in the lead. For him, Standard Constructed was the big hurdle. He was confident in his Psychatog deck, but felt that it would come down to matchups. He faced five mirror matches in the day. Teammate Dave Kearney, also playing 'Tog ran into four. It's a credit to Cormac Smyth that he read the field well enough to run 'Tog's nemesis: Squirrel-Opposition. He faced four 'Tog decks, and closed the day at 4-0-2. Alternate Robert McKeon is 4-2, with red-green beatdown.

Larkin knows that eyes are on him and his teammates and that they'll need to pour it on today to keep their place. He also knows they're up to the task. Part of that confidence in his team comes from their being good friends. Smyth, Kearney and Larkin have played and tested together for years now. The Irish Magic community is somewhat smaller than most, and much more tight-knit. The difference is pronounced at tournaments, where the focus is on having a good time, and not cutthroat competition. Just don't make the mistake of thinking that that makes them somehow less equipped to win.

In fact, the Team Draft portion is the only part of the tournament that has the Irish worried. They've had only a few practice sessions, and in those they were working with a different seating arrangement. Larkin jokes "If we put Cormac in the middle and he drafts blue-white, he'll draw every time." However, with Standard Constructed out of the way and a success, they're confident that their ability as drafters can keep them on top. And as for Block Constructed, they've got a deck that they're really excited about. Of course, that's top secret.

	2002 Worlds (Type 2): UB Psychatog John Larkin, Irish National Champion Main Deck 60 cards 1  Cephalid Coliseum 2  Darkwater Catacombs 10  Island 4  Salt Marsh 3  Swamp 4  Underground River 24 lands 4  Nightscape Familiar 4  Psychatog 8 creatures 4  Chainer's Edict 3  Circular Logic 4  Counterspell 3  Cunning Wish 4  Fact or Fiction 3  Force Spike 2  Memory Lapse 3  Repulse 2  Upheaval 28 other spells Sideboard 2  Alter Reality 3  Deep Analysis 3  Ghastly Demise 1  Hibernation 1  Mana Short 1  Opportunity 1  Psychotic Haze 1  Recoil 1  Teferi's Response 1  Undermine 15 sideboard cards

	2002 Worlds (Type 2): Squirrel Opposition Cormac Smyth, Irish National Team Main Deck 60 cards 7  Forest 4  Island 3  Karplusan Forest 3  Shivan Reef 4  Yavimaya Coast 21 lands 4  Birds of Paradise 3  Flametongue Kavu 3  Llanowar Elves 4  Merfolk Looter 3  Phantom Centaur 4  Wild Mongrel 21 creatures 4  Circular Logic 3  Deep Analysis 3  Fire/Ice 4  Opposition 4  Squirrel Nest 18 other spells Sideboard 1  Flametongue Kavu 2  Gainsay 1  Krosan Reclamation 1  Phantom Centaur 2  Rushing River 2  Seedtime 2  Shivan Wurm 2  Simoon 2  Unnatural Selection 15 sideboard cards

	2002 Worlds (Type 2): UB Psychatog Dave Kearney, Irish National Team Main Deck 60 cards 1  Cephalid Coliseum 2  Darkwater Catacomb 10  Island 4  Salt Marsh 3  Swamp 4  Underground River 24 lands 4  Nightscape Familiar 4  Psychatog 8 creatures 4  Chainer's Edict 3  Circular Logic 4  Counterspell 3  Cunning Wish 4  Fact or Fiction 3  Force Spike 2  Memory Lapse 3  Repulse 2  Upheaval 28 other spells Sideboard 2  Alter Reality 3  Deep Analysis 3  Ghastly Demise 1  Hibernation 1  Mana Short 1  Opportunity 1  Psychotic Haze 1  Recoil 1  Teferi's Response 1  Undermine 15 sideboard cards

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