NORWICH - This weekend Serenity Hobbies in downtown Norwich hosted a ‘Magic: The Gathering’ tournament sponsored by a hometown patron. Three floors of the business were filled with more than 100 youths and adults.

The “Baked Ziti Open 2” was a cEDH tournament, Competitive Elder Dragon Highlander event, which is a popular and formal set of rules players enjoy across the country. Every participant also received Baked Ziti from Magros, included with the entry fee.

Serenity Hobbies opened in 2018 and is located at 97 East Main Street in Norwich. It is locally owned and operated by local math teacher Eric Cunningham and his wife, Courtney Cunningham.

Courtney said the recent tournament was made possible by local artist and well-known Magic player Tim Taranto.

She explained, “Local artist Tim 'Goldsabertooth' Taranto is well known in the cEDH scene and travels across the country to play in these events, and so this is his hometown event. He pays to fly judges in, creates playmats with his artwork for participants, and provides expensive Magic the Gathering cards for top prizes. This event's top prize is a Judge-Foil Intuition, which I believe is valued at around $1,000.”

The event was full attendance with 96 players, with registration available online through topdeck.gg.

As one of several major gaming events at the store, it marked the start of a busy two-week stretch that also includes the Lorcana: Whispers in the Well Prerelease, Magic’s Avatar Prerelease, and the launch of Pokémon’s Phantasmal Flames set explained Courtney.

“We might look exhausted - but we’re excited,” she said. “We’re here to make sure players get the best experience and the newest products. Come say hello.”