Inside The Upside’s 2k

In this special tournament recap episode of Happy Questing, Danny Tripodi is joined by Upside co-founders Andrew Buchmann and Brandon Barba to relive every twist, turn, and top deck from The Upside’s first-ever $2K Lorcana tournament in Solvay, NY.From deck diversity and spicy top 8 tech, to unexpected mind games and tournament format insights, the crew breaks down what made this 30-player event unforgettable—including highlights from Ivan Annamaria’s championship run and why "for the players, by the players" wasn’t just a motto—it was the mission.You’ll hear about the meta breakdown, standout decklists, strategic plays, the power of best-of-two Swiss rounds, and how this grassroots effort united communities from across Upstate New York.Whether you're a seasoned Illumineer or just love a good underdog story, this is an episode you won't want to miss.