João Choca knows what it takes to win at the highest level. A Magic: The Gathering Grand Prix champion and multiple Pro Tour competitor, he has spent decades testing himself against the best. Now he has his sights set on a breakthrough in Disney Lorcana.
Last season brought João close to one of his biggest Lorcana goals, but a run of near misses left him with unfinished business. We caught up with him to talk about the result that still sticks with him, what he has learned from it and why he is backing himself in Season 3.
For anyone meeting you for the first time, how did your journey through competitive card games begin?
I picked up a Magic: The Gathering starter pack in the 90s, and my passion for card games has never really gone away. About 20 years ago, I became a regular on the competitive Magic scene. I had a couple of respectable finishes at national level before joining a pro team and finding success internationally.
I’ve won a trophy and had a number of top finishes, which helped me become a known name in the UK. But I still want to achieve more in card games.
What brought you to Lorcana? Did your Magic experience help you find your feet?
A friend kept asking me if I’d checked out “the new Disney game”. Eventually I went to a Set Championship, had absolutely no idea what I was doing, and was immediately hooked!
Lorcana has some of the best parts of Magic alongside a world so many people can connect with. To me, it shares a lot with Magic’s Limited formats. Games often come down to understanding the characters, working through the maths and making the right decisions in the moment. Those skills transferred well.
You came so close a few times last season. Which result stayed with you?
DLC Dortmund. I was in a strong position and, between the main event and passdown invites, I had five chances where a win would have got me into the European Continental Championship.
I didn’t manage my emotions well enough. The nerves and pressure got to me, and after losing the last round of Day 1, I went 0–4 on Day 2.
The lesson was to stay in the moment until the job is done. If there’s still Lorcana to play, I can’t let what might happen afterwards get in the way of the game in front of me.
When you keep getting that close, how do you decide what needs to change?
My philosophy is that consistency is king. If I can keep putting myself one round away from my goal, eventually I’ll find that extra bit of luck that gets me over the line.
I always replay losses in my head and look for the crucial decisions. Was there something I could have done differently? At the same time, you have to remember that you can play a perfect game and still lose. It’s important not to lose sight of that.
What will preparation look like for you this season?
Right now we’re in a bit of limbo while we wait for the full Set 14 spoiler. Once we know the set, I’ll increase my hours online and spend more time learning decks I’m less comfortable with. I want to be flexible if one of them breaks out.
I feel I should have put more time into the Songs deck this set. I don’t want to rule out a strong strategy simply because I haven’t practised it enough to feel confident playing it.
What do you think will make the biggest difference to the UK Lorcana scene this season?
Having the Inkbound series should go a long way towards helping us improve together. It gives us more key tournaments to prepare for, and I’m excited to have more ways to play Lorcana in the UK.
As for players, Bernardo keeps impressing me with how he finds the right metagame choice for big events. But I’m backing myself too. Season 3 is the season I’m targeting for my breakthrough!
If we sit down again at the end of the season, what would you love to tell me?
“The Inkbound series has been fun, but I’m more excited to play Worlds. Sorry, mate!”
João’s answer says it all. The near misses hurt, but they have given him a clear lesson to carry into this season. We can’t wait to see what happens at the Inkbound Invitational Qualifier in Newport Pagnell and for the rest of the season.
Play to the end. Every point matters. This is the JTC Standard.
Luke Franks
Tournament Manager
JTC Events