Kevin Yap

@kevinyap.ca

229 Followers 765 Following

Software engineer at @relay.app. Previously: Google, Riot Games, and MLSE Digital Labs. I made @zeal.gg and @surveil.land, and post about code, games, and baseball. kevinyap.ca 🇨🇦

Magic Online screenshot of a decklist titled "Ruby Storm [Hex Magic]". There is a screenshot overlayed of the top 8 standings:

1. Backoff (8-1)
2. Suechtier (7-2)
3. Polikasoill (7-1)
4. LegendaryHuman (6-2)
5. Coradorable (5-2)
6. pwqz (me!) (5-2)
7. jev_ (5-2)
8. Alakai (4-3)

The decklist is as follows:

Maindeck:
4 Pyretic Ritual
1 Flashback
1 Elegant Parlor
1 Gemstone Caverns
1 Grapeshot
2 Arid Mesa
4 Reckless Impulse
2 Wooded Foothills
4 Manamorphose
4 Ruby Medallion
2 Wish
3 Past in Flames
4 Wrenn's Resolve
4 Desperate Ritual
4 Ral, Monsoon Mage
2 Valakut Awakening
1 Sacred Foundry
2 Artist's Talent
3 Scalding Tarn
2 Bloodstained Mire
1 Steam Vents
4 Mountain
3 Hex Magic
1 Thundering Falls

Sideboard:
2 Wear // Tear
1 Untimely Malfunction
1 Past in Flames
1 Empty the Warrens
1 Grapeshot
3 Prismatic Ending
2 Brotherhood's End
1 Blood Moon
3 Flusterstorm

Overhead marketing photo of the Ferrari Luce with an Apple Magic Mouse edited in next to it.

Screenshot from Moxfield of my Ruby Storm decklist.

Maindeck:
2 Artist's Talent
3 Bloodstained Mire
4 Desperate Ritual
2 Elegant Parlor
2 Flashback
1 Gemstone Caverns
2 Glimpse the Impossible
1 Grapeshot
1 Lindblum, Industrial Regency
4 Manamorphose
3 Mountain
3 Past in Flames
4 Pyretic Ritual
4 Ral, Monsoon Mage
4 Reckless Impulse
4 Ruby Medallion
2 Sacred Foundry
3 Scalding Tarn
1 Thundering Falls
1 Valakut Awakening
2 Wish
3 Wooded Foothills
4 Wrenn's Resolve

Sideboard:
1 Blood Moon
1 Brotherhood's End
1 Empty the Warrens
1 Fire Magic
1 Grapeshot
3 Orim's Chant
1 Past in Flames
1 Untimely Malfunction
2 Vexing Bauble
3 Wear // Tear

Screenshot of a Discord conversation. Transcript:

pwqz (Yesterday at 18:27):
I didn't even know there was a coin flip tool in the Companion app lol. I'd recommend just rolling a D6 and assigning some set of values to heads (odds, evens, primes, etc)

junshiro (Yesterday at 19:02):
@pwqz prime = I win is just so good

nubbet (Yesterday at 19:48):
@pwqz This will be my ral rule. Primes I win is gas

Deck screenshot for "Ruby Storm [Jeskai Flash]" in Magic Online, with the 5-0 league record added to the screenshot. The match records are as follows:

Match 1: RecklessTempest (2-1) — Izzet Wizards (Twin)
Match 2: Triicky (2-1) — Ruby Storm (Jeskai)
Match 3: TheRightStuff (2-0) — Boros Energy
Match 4: Puff-Sun (2-0) — Phoenix Dredge
Match 5: albert62 (2-0) — Jeskai Blink

The decklist is as follows:

Maindeck:
2 Arid Mesa
2 Artist's Talent
2 Bloodstained Mire
4 Desperate Ritual
2 Elegant Parlor
2 Flame of Anor
2 Flashback
1 Gemstone Caverns
1 Grapeshot
1 Lindblum, Industrial Regency
4 Manamorphose
3 Mountain
3 Past in Flames
4 Pyretic Ritual
4 Ral, Monsoon Mage
4 Reckless Impulse
4 Ruby Medallion
1 Sacred Foundry
3 Scalding Tarn
1 Steam Vents
1 Thundering Falls
1 Valakut Awakening
2 Wish
2 Wooded Foothills
4 Wrenn's Resolve

Sideboard:
1 Empty the Warrens
2 Fire Magic
3 Flusterstorm
1 Grapeshot
2 Into the Flood Maw
2 Orim's Chant
1 Past in Flames
3 Wear // Tear

Photo of my Sealed deck from Magic Spotlight: Eclipsed. Text list is as follows:

1 Ajani, Outland Chaperone
1 Flock Impostor
1 Gallant Fowlknight
1 Kinscaer Sentry
1 Liminal Hold
1 Spiral into Solitude
1 Timid Shieldbearer
1 Winnowing
1 Blight Rot
1 Blighted Blackthorn
1 Dose of Dawnglow
1 Dream Seizer
1 Gloom Ripper
1 Nameless Inversion
1 Scarblade Scout
1 Unbury
1 Brigid, Clachan's Heart
1 Eclipsed Kithkin
1 Kirol, Attentive First-Year
2 Mischievous Sneakling
1 Stoic Grove-Guide
1 Chronicle of Victory
1 Overgrown Tomb
9 Plains
6 Swamp
1 Forest

Magic Online screenshot of a Sealed decklist and overlay of the prizing from going 5–0 in a Competitive Sealed League. The decklist is as follows:

1 Evolving Wilds
5 Forest
9 Plains
2 Swamp
2 Wanderbrine Trapper
1 Goldmeadow Nomad
1 Thoughtweft Lieutenant
1 Personify
2 Wanderbrine Preacher
1 Spiral into Solitude
1 Surly Farrier
1 Feisty Spikeling
1 Adept Watershaper
1 Moonlit Lamenter
1 Crossroads Watcher
1 Reluctant Dounguard
1 High Perfect Morcant
1 Morningtide's Light
1 Liminal Hold
1 Pitiless Fists
1 Kinbinding
1 Pummeler for Hire
1 Deceit
1 Emptiness
1 Sun-Dappled Celebrant

Screenshot of the decklist from the MTGO website.

Maindeck:
2 Arid Mesa
2 Artist's Talent
2 Bloodstained Mire
4 Desperate Ritual
2 Elegant Parlor
1 Gemstone Caverns
2 Glimpse the Impossible
4 Manamorphose
3 Mountain
3 Past in Flames
4 Pyretic Ritual
4 Ral, Monsoon Mage
4 Reckless Impulse
4 Ruby Medallion
1 Sacred Foundry
3 Scalding Tarn
1 Stormscale Scion
2 Strike It Rich
1 Sunbaked Canyon
2 Valakut Awakening
2 Wish
3 Wooded Foothills
4 Wrenn's Resolve

Sideboard:
1 Empty the Warrens
1 Grapeshot
4 Orim's Chant
1 Past in Flames
3 Prismatic Ending
2 Untimely Malfunction
3 Wear/Tear

Screenshot of Hexing Squelcher (https://scryfall.com/card/ecl/145/hexing-squelcher)

Image export of a Ruby Storm Moxfield decklist. The deck is as follows:

Maindeck:
1 Arena of Glory
2 Artist's Talent
3 Bloodstained Mire
4 Desperate Ritual
1 Elegant Parlor
2 Flame of Anor
1 Gemstone Caverns
2 Glimpse the Impossible
1 Lindblum, Industrial Regency
4 Manamorphose
3 Mountain
3 Past in Flames
4 Pyretic Ritual
4 Ral, Monsoon Mage
4 Reckless Impulse
4 Ruby Medallion
2 Sacred Foundry
3 Scalding Tarn
1 Steam Vents
1 Stormscale Scion
1 Thundering Falls
1 Valakut Awakening
2 Wish
2 Wooded Foothills
4 Wrenn's Resolve

Sideboard:
2 Flusterstorm
1 Galvanic Relay
1 Grapeshot
3 Orim's Chant
1 Past in Flames
2 Phlage, Titan of Fire's Fury
3 Prismatic Ending
1 Spell Pierce
1 Untimely Malfunction

Screenshot of a Magic Online decklist and the match history of the League. The decklist is as follows:

Maindeck:
2 Bloodstained Mire
3 Surgical Extraction
4 Desperate Ritual
1 Elegant Parlor
1 Gemstone Caverns
1 Thundering Falls
3 Mountain
2 Past in Flames
4 Pyretic Ritual
4 Ral, Monsoon Mage
4 Reckless Impulse
4 Ruby Medallion
4 Manamorphose
2 Sacred Foundry
1 Valakut Awakening
2 Wish
2 Wooded Foothills
4 Wrenn's Resolve
1 Arena of Glory
2 Flame of Anor
1 Steam Vents
1 Lindblum, Industrial Regency
1 Stormscale Scion
1 Arid Mesa
3 Scalding Tarn
2 Glimpse the Impossible

Sideboard:

1 Grapeshot
1 Brotherhood's End
1 Past in Flames
1 Stormscale Scion
2 Untimely Malfunction
3 Prismatic Ending
2 Phlage, Titan of Fire's Fury
3 Flusterstorm
1 Galvanic Relay

The following is the match history:

1. theycouldbestarlings (2-0): Dimir Frogtide
2. m0sc0wmitch (2-0): Mono-R
3. pan0ptic (2-0): UW Control
4. Vekx3r (2-0): Boros Energy
5. chachibuoh (2-1): Eldrazi Tron

Ranked level up screen from 2XKO titled "Congratulations" with a subtitle of "Platinum 1" and the Platinum 1 ranked icon.

Screenshot of a Magic Online decklist and the match history of the League. The decklist is as follows:

Maindeck:
2 Bloodstained Mire
4 Desperate Ritual
1 Gemstone Caverns
4 Mountain
3 Past in Flames
4 Pyretic Ritual
4 Ral, Monsoon Mage
4 Reckless Impulse
4 Ruby Medallion
4 Manamorphose
2 Valakut Awakening
2 Wish
2 Wooded Foothills
4 Wrenn's Resolve
1 Strike It Rich
2 Flame of Anor
2 Steam Vents
1 Fiery Islet
1 Arid Mesa
2 Opera Love Song
2 Thundering Falls
3 Scalding Tarn
1 Dragon's Rage Channeler
1 Stormscale Scion

Sideboard:
1 Grapeshot
1 Past in Flames
2 Spell Pierce
1 Empty the Warrens
3 Into the Flood Maw
2 Brotherhood's End
2 Swan Song
1 Strix Serenade
1 Galvanic Relay
1 Into the Flood Maw

The following is the match history:

1. Brent-C (2-1): Simic Ritual
2. HDG_BorisE (2-1): UW Affinity
3. jamojisan (2-1): Amulet Titan
4. Psyjedi (2-0): UB Affinity
5. Alan07 (2-0): Esper Ketramose

Photo of my Ruby Storm deck, including the promos from the RCQ and the qualification card. The deck list is as follows:

Maindeck:
3 Bloodstained Mire
4 Desperate Ritual
2 Dragon's Rage Channeler
1 Fiery Islet
2 Flame of Anor
1 Gemstone Caverns
4 Manamorphose
4 Mountain
3 Past in Flames
4 Pyretic Ritual
4 Ral, Monsoon Mage
4 Reckless Impulse
4 Ruby Medallion
3 Scalding Tarn
2 Steam Vents
1 Stormscale Scion
2 Strike It Rich
2 Thundering Falls
2 Valakut Awakening
2 Wish
2 Wooded Foothills
4 Wrenn's Resolve

Sideboard:
2 Brotherhood's End
1 Empty the Warrens
1 Galvanic Relay
1 Grapeshot
4 Into the Flood Maw
1 Past in Flames
3 Spell Pierce
1 Strix Serenade
1 Swan Song

Screenshot of a Magic Online decklist and the match history of the League. The decklist is as follows:

Maindeck:
3 Bloodstained Mire
4 Desperate Ritual
1 Gemstone Caverns
2 Thundering Falls
5 Mountain
3 Past in Flames
4 Pyretic Ritual
4 Ral, Monsoon Mage
4 Reckless Impulse
4 Ruby Medallion
4 Manamorphose
1 Valakut Awakening
2 Wish
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Wrenn's Resolve
2 Dragon's Rage Channeler
2 Flame of Anor
2 Steam Vents
1 Fiery Islet
1 Stormsplitter
1 Arid Mesa
1 Stormcatch Mentor
1 Strike It Rich

Sideboard:
1 Grapeshot
1 Past in Flames
2 Spell Pierce
1 Empty the Warrens
4 Into the Flood Maw
2 Brotherhood's End
2 Swan Song
1 Stormscale Scion
1 Galvanic Relay

The following is the match history:

1. PurpleHayes152 (2-1): Helga Keruga
2. Strubb (2-0): Boros Energy
3. MTGeeGee (2-0): Eldrazi G-Tron
4. camr0n_1 (2-1): Broodscale Combo
5. PatrizioSpadoni (2-0): Jeskai Control

Moxfield screenshot of a Modern decklist titled "[UR] Ruby Storm ⛈". The decklist is as follows:

Maindeck:
2 Artist's Talent
3 Bloodstained Mire
4 Desperate Ritual
1 Fiery Islet
2 Flame of Anor
1 Gemstone Caverns
4 Manamorphose
5 Mountain
3 Past in Flames
4 Pyretic Ritual
4 Ral, Monsoon Mage
4 Reckless Impulse
4 Ruby Medallion
3 Scalding Tarn
2 Steam Vents
1 Stormscale Scion
2 Strike It Rich
2 Thundering Falls
1 Valakut Awakening
2 Wish
2 Wooded Foothills
4 Wrenn's Resolve

Sideboard:
2 Brotherhood's End
1 Empty the Warrens
1 Grapeshot
2 Hurkyl's Recall
4 Into the Flood Maw
1 Past in Flames
4 Spell Pierce

Screenshot of Dom Harvey's tweet about placing 2nd in this challenge (permalink: https://x.com/dominharvia/status/1921830743325458765). It includes a screenshot of the decklist (https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/7097579) and a couple screenshots of his gamepay.

The text of the tweet is as follows:

Got 2nd in Modern Challenge with fair & balanced Neoform I built as a bit – it’s very sus but has incredible screenshot equity. Look how I massacred your boy @finalnub @argzax!

BWu Blink LWL
Burn WLW
Eldrazi WLW
Eldrazi WW
Amulet WW
Prowess WW

Boros WW
Miracles WW
Storm LL
🦖

Screenshot of the bracket for the Modern 32 Challenge on Magic Online for May 11 (https://www.mtgo.com/decklist/modern-challenge-32-2025-05-1212777370). It shows myself (pwqz) 2-0ing quarterfinals vs. SickSoSick, semifinals vs. PJKP, and finals vs. Capriccioso.

Moxfield screenshot of a deck titled "Temur Otters 🦦". The decklist is as follows:

3 Analyze the Pollen
4 Botanical Sanctum
2 Burst Lightning
4 Bushwhack
4 Copperline Gorge
1 Dreamdew Entrancer
4 Enduring Vitality
1 Fabled Passage
2 Forest
2 Island
2 Karplusan Forest
1 Mountain
3 Questing Druid // Seek the Beast
2 Roaring Furnace // Steaming Sauna
1 Song of Totentanz
2 Stock Up
4 Stormchaser's Talent
4 This Town Ain't Big Enough
4 Thundertrap Trainer
4 Torch the Tower
3 Valley Floodcaller
1 Willowrush Verge
2 Yavimaya Coast

SIDEBOARD:
1 Dissection Tools
1 Ghost Vacuum
3 Lithomantic Barrage
2 Obstinate Baloth
2 Pawpatch Formation
2 Pyroclasm
1 Reclamation Sage
1 Song of Totentanz
2 Spell Pierce

Screenshot of my own all-time stats from the site linked in the post. It shows me being 25th overall with 9450 total points, and summarizes my performance in each year in a table below.

2024: 357th, 176 points, 2 P1 top 100s, 3 P2 top 100s
2023: 169th, 404 points, 5 P1 top 100s, 5 P2 top 100s
2022: 119th, 538 points, 5 P1 top 100s, 4 P2 top 100s
2021: 100th, 689 points, 9 P1 top 100s, 4 P2 top 100s
2020: 132nd, 501 points, 8 P1 top 100s, 4 P2 top 100s
2019: 61st, 1,159 points, 14 P1 top 100s, 8 P2 top 100s
2018: 39th, 1,409 points, 11 P1 top 100s, 13 P2 top 100s
2017: 48th, 1,344 points, 12 P1 top 100s, 15 P2 top 100s
2016: 11th, 2,546 points, 18 P1 top 100s, 19 P2 top 100s
2015: 81st, 684 points, 6 P1 top 100s, 4 P2 top 100s

Screenshot of the completed Advent of Code 2024 home page, showing "10" drawn in ASCII art containing throwbacks to all previous years, and 50 stars collected.

Screenshot of my "Going Fast in Advent of Code" blog post, with my recent site redesign (https://kevinyap.ca/2019/12/going-fast-in-advent-of-code/)

Screenshot of the "Change Handle" modal on the Bluesky account page, attempting to change my Bluesky handle to "ikeviny.bsky.social". It shows an error stating: "This handle is reserved. Please try a different one."

Screenshot of a Google Doc titled "Conversation with Eric". Text is as follows:

The big change this year is that it's the first time "asking the community nicely" has failed to fix a problem. For the past nine years, I've been able to (for the most part) keep people from overwhelming the site, sharing answers, streaming early, making copies of the site, or even using LLMs on the global leaderboard, all by just asking nicely. This year, I'm not sure what changed, but people have been very brazen about their cheating.

I do not mean "more people are cheating". I mean that people this year have been emailing me to explicitly state that they see the request to not use LLMs, but that they do not respect me or my work, and as such will be using LLMs to place on the global leaderboard regardless of what I say. This change in behavior is disappointing to me; it leads me to believe that any solution to our immediate problem which relies on users being honest will likely fail.

Screenshot of the Mythic rank-up animation in MTG Arena.

Twitch chat from one of twitch.tv/alfrea's VODs. The messages in order:

- woodenfish0923: !rank
- Nightbot: げまげまの現在のレート [グラフ] https://zeal.gg/pde3wLx [deeplol] https://www.deeplol.gg/event

However, Nightbot's links are not hyperlinked, and just render as text.

Screenshot of deeplol.gg/event, which shows 4 players and their current ranks (which aligns with those in the zeal.gg leaderboard being hit), and the following banners:

- "Let's check out the latest game records from the four members of the Gamegamer team!"
- "Japan's Gamergamer is off to Korea for the KR Server Challenge, with DEEPLOL cheering them on!"

Screenshot of the most visited URL (https://zeal.gg/pde3wLx). It shows a graph of 4 users on the KR League of Legends server, climbing from low Platinum on November 12 to Master tier on November 20.

Screenshot of the paths visited by zeal.gg users over the last 30 days. 18684 visitors land on `/pde3wLx`, followed by 134 landing at the root page.

Acquisition channels for zeal.gg over the past 30 days. The top category is "direct" with 18817 visitors and 38652 views, followed by "organic search" making up 72 visitors and 109 views.

Screenshot of zeal.gg's PostHog dashboard, showing 23551 unique users over the last month ("up 3946.56% from the previous period").

Screenshot of the "Use in sequences" section of the Inflatable Face Emoji Proposal. It cites "Sportsball" as an example use case, depicting the inflatable face being kicked by the foot emoji as if it were a ball.