Tournaments and Drafts
One of the more common ritual-type activities that occur within the Magic: the Gathering community is the activity known as tournaments or drafting. In which players utilize their cards to compete for prizes and status within the community. Tournaments are designed in the typical fashion wish multiple people pairing off and the winner moving on to the next round.
What makes Drafting different than a standard tournament is that it typically occurs around the release of a new card set. It consists of players opening a pack of cards then selecting a single card from the pack before passing it on to the next player who does the same thing. This continues until everyone has enough to play. This creates a complex and unique gaming experiences in every draft as no build will be the same. Regardless of it being a standard or draft style tournament, both serve to build the community.
What makes Drafting different than a standard tournament is that it typically occurs around the release of a new card set. It consists of players opening a pack of cards then selecting a single card from the pack before passing it on to the next player who does the same thing. This continues until everyone has enough to play. This creates a complex and unique gaming experiences in every draft as no build will be the same. Regardless of it being a standard or draft style tournament, both serve to build the community.
Grand Prix (Worlds)
With over 20 million active players world-wide, Magic: The Gathering is a formidable force to be reckoned with. With a large following, active development, current themes and rituals such as tournaments and traditions such as gaming conventions have established the folklore of Magic: The Gathering over the last 30 years.
The largest event they used to host was known as the Grand Prix. It is a worlds event meaning that people from around the globe are invited to compete. The event consists of cash prizes, Pro Points and invitations to Pro Tours. These were replaced in 2020 with regional player tours with worlds based events turning to a new style of tournaments.
There are four levels of tabletop play, culminating in the World Championship currently:
The largest event they used to host was known as the Grand Prix. It is a worlds event meaning that people from around the globe are invited to compete. The event consists of cash prizes, Pro Points and invitations to Pro Tours. These were replaced in 2020 with regional player tours with worlds based events turning to a new style of tournaments.
There are four levels of tabletop play, culminating in the World Championship currently:
- Regional Championship Qualifiers — largely held at the WPN store level and are organized by regional tournament organizers.
- Regional Championships — big events in (inter)national regions. Run by the same groups that organize the local qualifiers.
- Pro Tours — Three times a year, qualifiers from the Regional Championships will gather to compete for their share of $500,000 in prizes and invites to the World Championship. Hosted by Wizards of the Coast
- World Championship — Around 128 players will compete for their share of $1,000,000.