When the sun rose on Sunday's Pro Tour Battle for Zendikar Top 8, there were two Hall of Famers in the field and a combined 38 Pro Tour Top 8 appearances. By the end of the day, it was a player in his first such appearance hoisting the trophy. Kazuyuki Takimura and his Abzan deck overtook countryman Ryohichi Tamada and his take on Jeskai. It took five games, but Takiumra managed to outlast Tamada, a member of Japan's 2015 World Magic Cup team, to take home the trophy and the title.

The Top 8 itself was stacked, featuring Hall of Famers Jon Finkel and Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa collecting their respective 15th and 10th Pro Tour Sunday appearance, Owen Turtenwald racking up his third, and surging Pro Martin Mueller collecting his first. Finkel took out PVDDR in the quarterfinals while Owen fell to Paul Dean. Mueller was taken out by Takimura. Takimura then took on Paul Dean to secure his spot in the finals. Finkel had three hard fought games against Tamada in the semifinals but was unable to earn the chance at his fourth Pro Tour Trophy.

Abzan? Battle for Zendikar Standard | Kazuyuki Takimura, Winner Pro Tour Battle for Zendikar

• Creatures (21)
• 4 Anafenza, the Foremost
• 4 Den Protector
• 3 Hangarback Walker
• 4 Siege Rhino
• 4 Warden of the First Tree
• 2 Wingmate Roc

• Planeswalkers (4)
• 4 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar

• Spells (9)
• 4 Abzan Charm
• 4 Dromoka's Command
• 1 Murderous Cut

• Lands (26)
• 2 Canopy Vista
• 4 Flooded Strand
• 2 Forest
• 2 Llanowar Wastes
• 2 Plains
• 4 Shambling Vent
• 1 Smoldering Marsh
• 1 Sunken Hollow
• 4 Windswept Heath
• 4 Wooded Foothills

• Sideboard (15)
• 1 Wingmate Roc
• 1 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
• 2 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
• 2 Duress
• 1 Self-Inflicted Wound
• 3 Silkwrap
• 3 Transgress the Mind
• 2 Ultimate Price

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Congratulations to Kazuyuki Takimura, your Pro Tour Battle for Zendikar Champion!

For more information about the tournament, including all the top performing decks in the new standard, be sure to check out the official coverage.