Editing Magic: The Gathering (section)

==Organized play==
{{Main|Magic: The Gathering Organized Play|Wizards Play Network|Friday Night Magic|l2 = }}
[[File:Magic Players.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|Officially sanctioned ''Magic'' tournaments attract participants of all ages and are held around the world. These players in [[Rostock]], Germany, competed for an invitation to a professional tournament in [[Nagoya]], Japan.]]

The [[Wizards Play Network]] (WPN), formerly the Duelists' Convocation International (DCI), is the organizing body for sanctioned ''Magic'' events; it is owned and operated by Wizards of the Coast. The WPN establishes the set allowances and card restrictions for the [[Magic: The Gathering formats#Constructed|Constructed]] and [[Magic: The Gathering formats#Limited|Limited]] formats for regulation play for tournaments as well as for other events.<ref name="2014Revision">{{cite web |last=Rosenberg |first=Mike |title=Friday Night Magic changes |url=http://magic.wizards.com/en/events/coverage/ptktk/friday-night-magic-changes-2014-10-14 |access-date=23 May 2015 |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |archive-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118141614/https://magic.wizards.com/en/events/coverage/ptktk/friday-night-magic-changes-2014-10-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

"Thousands of games shops" participate in [[Friday Night Magic]] (FNM),<ref name=":8" /> an event sponsored by the WPN; it is advertised as "the event where new players can approach the game, and start building their community".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Troilo |first=Gabriele |title=Marketing In Creative Industries : Value, Experience and Creativity.|date=2015|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=978-0-230-38023-3|location=Basingstoke, UK |pages=110–112|oclc=966560595}}</ref> FNM offers both sanctioned tournament formats and all [[Magic: The Gathering formats#Casual formats|casual]] formats.<ref name="2014Revision" /><ref name=":10">{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Kendra|date=May 1, 2019|title=It's Time to Sanction Pauper|url=https://www.coolstuffinc.com/a/kendrasmith-05012019-its-time-to-sanction-pauper|access-date=2021-09-15|website=www.coolstuffinc.com|language=en|archive-date=September 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915184755/https://www.coolstuffinc.com/a/kendrasmith-05012019-its-time-to-sanction-pauper|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, ''[[The New Yorker]]'' reported that "even as it has grown in popularity and size, Magic flies low to the ground. It thrives on the people who gather at lunch tables, in apartments, or in one of the six thousand stores worldwide that Wizards has licensed to put on weekly tournaments dubbed Friday Night Magic".<ref name="newyorker" /> FNM tournaments can act as a stepping-stone to more competitive play.<ref name="fnm">{{cite web | title = Friday Night Magic | publisher = [[Wizards of the Coast]] | date = June 2009 | access-date = June 14, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Events.aspx?x=events%2Fmagic%2Ffnm&dcmp=ILC-MTGNTOP | archive-date = June 6, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130606041446/http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Events.aspx?x=events%2Fmagic%2Ffnm&dcmp=ILC-MTGNTOP | url-status = dead }}</ref>

=== Tournaments ===
''Magic'' [[tournament]]s regularly occur in gaming stores and other venues. Larger tournaments with hundreds of competitors from around the globe sponsored by Wizards of the Coast are arranged many times every year, with substantial cash prizes for the top finishers.<ref name="prize" /> A number of websites report on tournament news, give complete lists for the most currently popular decks, and feature articles on current issues of debate about the game.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} Additionally, the WPN maintains a set of rules for being able to sanction tournaments, as well as runs its own circuit.<ref name="fnm" />

==== The Pro Tour and Pro Club (2005-2019) ====
[[File:shadowmage infiltrator.jpg|thumb|upright|By winning a yearly Invitational tournament, [[Jon Finkel]] won the right for this card to feature his design and likeness.<ref>{{cite news |last=Barth |first=Chris |date=September 21, 2011 |title=A Magic The Gathering World Champion And Blackjack Pro Tries His Hand At A Hedge Fund |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrisbarth/2011/09/21/a-magic-the-gathering-world-champion-and-blackjack-pro-tries-his-hand-at-a-hedge-fund/?sh=7af0868a7445 |work=Forbes |location= |access-date=January 1, 2024 |archive-date=January 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240101215330/https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrisbarth/2011/09/21/a-magic-the-gathering-world-champion-and-blackjack-pro-tries-his-hand-at-a-hedge-fund/?sh=7af0868a7445 |url-status=live }}</ref>]]
The WPN ran the [[Magic: The Gathering Players Tour|Pro Tour]] as a series of major tournaments to attract interest.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Davis|first=Noah|date=2012-09-20|title=Do you believe in Magic... the Gathering?|url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/9/20/3326708/magic-the-gathering-players-championship|access-date=2021-09-15|website=The Verge|language=en-US|archive-date=September 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915200728/https://www.theverge.com/2012/9/20/3326708/magic-the-gathering-players-championship|url-status=live}}</ref> The right to compete in a Pro Tour had to be earned by either winning a Pro Tour Qualifier Tournament or being successful in a previous tournament on a similar level. The Pro Tour would take place over the course of three days. The first two days were usually structured in a [[Swiss system tournament|Swiss format]]. On the final day, the top eight players would compete with each other in a single-elimination format to select the winner.<ref name="pt">{{cite web | title = Pro Tour | publisher = [[Wizards of the Coast]] | year = 2009 | access-date = June 14, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Events.aspx?x=mtgcom%2Fevents%2Fprotour | archive-date = May 18, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140518133711/http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Events.aspx?x=mtgcom%2Fevents%2Fprotour | url-status = dead }}</ref> At the end of the competition in a Pro Tour, players were awarded [[Magic: The Gathering Players Tour|Pro Points]] depending on their finishing place. If the player finished high enough, they would also be awarded prize money.<ref name="pt"/> Frequent winners of these events made names for themselves in the ''Magic'' community, such as [[Luis Scott-Vargas]], [[Gabriel Nassif]], [[Kai Budde]] and [[Jon Finkel]]. As a promotional tool, the DCI launched the [[Magic: The Gathering Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] in 2005 to honor selected players.<ref name="PTHoF" />

At the end of the year the [[Magic: The Gathering World Championship|''Magic'' World Championship]] would be held. The World Championship functioned like a Pro Tour, except that competitors had to present their skill in three different formats (usually Standard, booster draft, and a second constructed format) rather than one. Another difference was that invitations to the World Championship could not be gained through Pro Tour Qualifiers. They could only be earned via the national championship of a country. Most countries sent their top four players of the tournament as representatives, though nations with minor ''Magic'' playing communities would sometimes only send one player. The World Championship also has a team-based competition, where the national teams compete with each other.<ref name="worlds2009">{{cite web | title = 2009 Magic: The Gathering Worlds Championships | publisher = [[Wizards of the Coast]] | year = 2009 | access-date = June 14, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Events.aspx?x=events%2Fmagic%2Fworlds | archive-date = March 29, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140329155235/https://wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Events.aspx?x=events%2Fmagic%2Fworlds | url-status = dead }}</ref>

At the beginning of the World Championship, new members were inducted into the Hall of Fame. The tournament also concluded the current season of tournament play and at the end of the event, the player who earned the most Pro Points during the year was awarded the title "[[Magic: The Gathering Players Tour#Pro Player of the Year|Pro Player of the Year]]". The player who earned the most Pro Points and did not compete in any previous season was awarded the title "[[Magic: The Gathering Players Tour#Rookie of the Year|Rookie of the Year]]".<ref name="worlds2009"/>

Invitation to a Pro Tour, Pro Points, and prize money could also be earned in lesser tournaments called [[Grand Prix (Magic: The Gathering)|Grand Prix]] that were open to the general public and held more frequently throughout the year.<ref name="gp">{{cite web | title = Grand Prix | publisher = [[Wizards of the Coast]] | year = 2009 | access-date = June 14, 2009 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Events.aspx?x=grandprix%2Fwelcome | archive-date = April 7, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140407000158/http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Events.aspx?x=grandprix%2Fwelcome | url-status = dead }}</ref> Grand Prix events were usually the largest ''Magic'' tournaments, sometimes drawing more than 2,000 players. The largest ''Magic'' tournament ever held was Grand Prix: Las Vegas in June 2013 with a total of 4,500 players.<ref>{{cite web | title = Oliver is the Modern Master in Las Vegas | publisher = [[Wizards of the Coast]] | date = June 23, 2013 | access-date = July 9, 2013 | url = https://magic.wizards.com/en/events/coverage/gplv13 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160125152929/http://magic.wizards.com/en/events/coverage/gplv13 | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 25, 2016 }}</ref>

In 2018, Wizards of the Coast announced that 2019 would be the last season for The Pro Tour and the Pro Club.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=The Next Chapter for Magic: Esports |url=https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/next-chapter-magic-esports-2018-12-06 |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=MAGIC: THE GATHERING |language=en |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920163727/https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/next-chapter-magic-esports-2018-12-06 |url-status=live }}</ref> With these changes, the system eliminated Nationals, the World Magic Cup, and the Team Series.<ref name=":1" />

==== The Magic Pro League and the Player's Tour (2019-2022) ====
Starting with a partial season in 2019, the new organized play structure for Magic: The Gathering split into digital and tabletop play with separate Mythic Championships for ''[[Magic: The Gathering Arena]]'' and tabletop play.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |title=The Future of Magic Esports |url=http://magic.gg/news/the-future-of-magic-esports |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=MAGIC: THE GATHERING {{!}} ESPORT |language=en |archive-date=April 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429035012/https://magic.gg/news/the-future-of-magic-esports |url-status=live }}</ref> The Magic Pro League (MPL) included the top 32 players from the previous season, although two players turned down their spots.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |date=2018-12-14 |title=Magic Pro League aims to establish MTG: Arena as the premier digital card game |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/25534030/arena-premier-digital-card-game |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171452/https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/25534030/arena-premier-digital-card-game |url-status=live }}</ref> The players were notably given a $75,000/year salary and the opportunity to win much more money in exclusive tournaments.<ref name=":15" /> The new system consisted of several interconnected circuits: The Player's Tour, The Magic Pro League, Challengers/Rivals, Tabletop Mythic Championships, and Arena Mythic Championships.<ref name=":12" /> The new organized play system did maintain the yearly World Championship, but it was made a more exclusive 16 player tournament. In order to compete in the World Championship in this structure you must have placed top four in MPL, placed top four in the Challengers/Rivals League, won one of the seven tabletop or arena Mythic Championships, or won of the previous year's World Championship.<ref name=":12" />

While the Mythic Championships and Magic Pro League catered to the highest level of competitive play, the Player's Tour system was meant to give a path for average players to go from their local game store to the World Championship.<ref name=":12" /> There were three regional Player's Tours for Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas.<ref name=":12" /> There were several ways to qualify for a regional Player's Tour, including local store events, accumulating points at Gran Prix/MagicFests, and winning on [[Magic: The Gathering Online]].<ref name=":12" />

In 2021, it was announced that the competitive play system would undergo another shift. Wizards of the Coast stressed a return to in-person play and the disbandment of The Magic Pro League after the 2021–2022 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Esports: Transitions and Getting Back to Gathering |url=http://magic.gg/news/esports-transitions-and-getting-back-to-gathering |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=MAGIC: THE GATHERING {{!}} ESPORT |language=en |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922005754/https://magic.gg/news/esports-transitions-and-getting-back-to-gathering |url-status=live }}</ref> According to several players from the MPL, the messaging they received was that competitive Magic would no longer be supported as a full-time, high-paid esports profession.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Nick |date=2021-05-13 |title=2021-2022 Will Be Last Season For Pro Magic Play |url=https://articles.starcitygames.com/news/2021-2022-will-be-last-season-for-pro-magic-play/ |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=Star City Games |language=en-US |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171409/https://articles.starcitygames.com/news/2021-2022-will-be-last-season-for-pro-magic-play/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===== The Return of The Pro Tour =====
After announcing that The Magic Pro League would no longer be supported, Wizards of the Coast announced a return to the branding of The Pro Tour.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |title=Return of the Pro Tour: Your Path to Playing Magic at the Highest Level |url=http://magic.gg/news/return-of-the-pro-tour-your-path-to-playing-magic-at-the-highest-level |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=MAGIC: THE GATHERING {{!}} ESPORT |language=en |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922001516/https://magic.gg/news/return-of-the-pro-tour-your-path-to-playing-magic-at-the-highest-level |url-status=live }}</ref> With a simplified structure, the new Pro Tour system kept some of the original aspects from the system introduced in 2005, like a point system and the World Championship tournament each year.<ref name=":14" /> The new system starts players at Regional Championship qualifiers, which are exclusively held by local game shops. Winners of local qualifiers advance to Regional Championships which would be comparable to a Grand Prix in the previous systems.<ref name=":14" /> If a player performs well enough at their Regional Championship, they can qualify for a Pro Tour tournament. Players who earned 10 wins in the previous pro tour or have enough Adjusted Match Win (AMW) points from the previous season also earn a Pro Tour Qualification.<ref name=":14" /> The World Championship under the new system will have around 128 players who will compete for a $1,000,000 prize pool.<ref name=":14" />