Ciao Judges! Welcome to another Judge of the Week! This week, we feature a judge who helps others travel, from Italy, and beyond! A man who loves shoes, and wants YOUR suggestions! Here is Level 2, Saverio Adamo!

Location: Prato, Italy

Occupation: Travel agent

Favourite card: Bitterblossom

Least favourite card: Gaddock Teeg

Favourite format: Sealed deck

Favourite non-Magic Game: “Calcio balilla” AKA Table Soccer

Best tournament result: Top 8 at a pick up event

Why did you become a Judge?

I love the grammar of the game. A finite number of rules for an infinite number of interactions as the natural language.

Random fact about yourself:

I love shoes. I buy shoes compulsively like Carrie Bradshaw in “Sex and the City”. The problem comes out because I hate black shoes. I don’t know how many black shoes I’ve bought to judge in two years… but I’m still looking for a good pair (suggestions are appreciated).

How did you get involved in Magic in the first place?

It was 1994. Some friends who played Dungeons and Dragons showed me this “new and strange fantasy game” played with cards. From then on I always stayed tuned to Magic even while I stopped playing for short periods.

How has being a Judge influenced your non-Magic life?

I judge a lot – almost every weekend. I’m in four international projects and I follow the community of Sardegna, an Italian island without any L2s…so in my non-Magic life I’m planning my Magic life 🙂

What motivates you to continue being a Judge?

I love the game, especially the competitive side of it. So I really like to be part of the tournaments, take care of the players and watch the matches.

What is one tip you have for other Judges?

Don’t stop playing Magic! Try to participate in some competitive tournaments as a player if you can. Having first-person experience is important in order to understand what the important things are for the players during the tournament.

What’s the best part about your local Magic community?

We have a big Magic community in Firenze. My friends love the game as much as me (but they are better players than I am), so we play a lot and have a lot of fun together.

What is your favourite non-Judging moment that happened with other Judges?

I was in Dublin to meet Gianluca Bonacchi with Matteo Callegari . We had a very good time walking and singing old Italian songs (ps: Matteo doesn’t know any Italian songs, not even one). That weekend showed me definitively how Judges also become good friends. Is there anything better than working with friends?

What’s the biggest rule-breaking play you’ve ever made as a player?

When I play Magic I [sometimes] forgot the CR and math. The first time I played Sidisi, Brood Tyrant I milled 2 creatures and put 2 Zombie tokens into play.

What has been your favourite Magic event that you’ve judged?

My first PTQ in Sicily. It was the first time I took a plane to go to a tournament. I was hosted at the house of Salvatore La Terra with Donato Del Giudice . We had a lot of fun during the weekend, and we also had a great tournament. After that I’ve judged all the Sicilian PTQs… thank god I’m a travel agent 🙂 What positive aspects has the Judge Program contributed to your everyday life?

Handling mistakes. I was in Vienna Judging my first GP. I made a mistake with a ruling on a missed trigger. It was a really easy call. I thought about the mistake, feeling guilty and stupid the whole weekend, until finally I talked to Emilien Wild , my team leader. He said to me that of course no-one likes to make mistakes, but we grow up as Judges with both successes and mistakes. That phrase was one of the most beautiful revelations I have ever received.

What would you be doing now if Magic no longer existed?

Don’t know what but I know with whom. I don’t want to lose my Judge friends.

What is the strangest card interaction you have seen in a tournament?

Sylvan Library and Chains of Mephistopheles. I thought that this kind of situation could happen only in the Judge tests, but a side event in GP Milan showed me I was wrong.

If you were a Planeswalker what would be your ultimate?

During each players upkeep all players choose up to one creature, then sacrifice the rest.

If you were a creature what would be your creature type?

Rogue. I love the Lorwin Rogue tribal creature type. I love Prowl!!! 🙂

What hobbies do you have outside of Magic?

I studied art in secondary school, so I like to draw and sculpt. Unfortunately I don’t have much time so I can’t make more than one or two little sculptures per year.

Favorite flavor text?

“Some images are so powerful that one glance burns them into your mind forever. Come, let us gaze on nothingness.”

—Szadek

(Wit’s End)

Two Truths and a Lie

Two of the following statements are true and one is false. Figure out which!



I’ve bought 4 pairs of black shoes just for Judging in 2 years. I took 5 flights to Judge PTQs in one year. I’ve bought a new laptop with Windows purely to run WER.

The answer to the last Two Truths and a Lie...

While Jorge’s English has improved after some time in the Judge Community, this is still an area of improvement for him!

Thanks Saverio for sharing your life, love of the game, and time with us!

As usual Judges, don’t forget to keep sharing awesome Judge stories round the world, Nominate a Judge TODAY!