The spring day of May 3, 2025 in Podgorica turned into a real holiday for fans of Magic: The Gathering, because it was here, in the cozy walls of the Bike Tavern cafe, that the next Pioneer Tournament was held, bringing together players from Bar and Podgorica. And of course, the Starlight group made a loud statement.
The atmosphere where Magic lives
The venue itself — Bike Tavern — was ideal for the tournament. This cozy bar, where wooden furniture and a pleasant coolness, seemed to be created for players to have heated discussions about the rules and mechanics. On the tables — Rakdos Midrange, Mono-White Humans, Lotus Field Combo and dozens of other decks, each with its own history and strategy. Winners — experience and luck in alliance
As it usually happens in MTG, experienced players got their way. The final saw two strategically verified decks, each controlled by a player who has been known in the community for a long time. Interestingly, the final went almost without mistakes — every decision was verified down to the card, every tap of lands — like a brush stroke of a master.
Experience, fun and… Podgorica bars
But, as they say, the tournament is just the beginning. After the final, when the last cards were removed, points were counted, prizes were awarded, something began that is no less memorable — the evening part.
The players, including the “Starlight” team, went on a bar crawl around Podgorica. The city turned out to be very friendly, the daytime heat gave way to the evening coolness: we discussed who played how, argued about the balance of the format and shared vintage stories about old metagames. Summing up
The Pioneer tournament in Podgorica showed that MTG is not only a game, but also a culture, a community, and a way to live one day with special depth. The Starlight team brought a note of artistry and drive to this event, and the winners – skill and calculation.
We left Podgorica not with a cup, but with a feeling of a real holiday. And most importantly, we took with us experience, inspiration and new friends, whom we will definitely meet at the gaming table in the future.
