yeah uh, i don't see how that's an implausible power at all there. >_>; or... even an actual 'power' really. good mage in a universe where magic is literally any random combination you can come up with. it can be everything from a special fork to summonings to throwing mud at people to having a special skill against certain types to changing your opponent's mental state, etc etc.
that's the spell contest in a nutshell. 'you're a mage in an f'd up world where magic is anything it can be.'
...thus, the winner really shouldn't be crappy. how you see the opponents who'd fight in a tourney, and the winner of said tourney be, is up to you; variables include the person, the spells in question (e.g., if someone's fielding spells that are more physical oriented, they're probably more physical), and of course whatever leanings you have in general to the setting.
mine are pretty straight forward. all is magic because magic is everything there. there's no way a good mage is gonna suck at mental defenses.
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The future must protect the clone's past.
"Maybe it's a tentacle, molesting the planet itself. - Aschen Brodel.