Invitations to the 2009 World Championships are awarded in the following manner:
# The current World Champion.
# The Top 8 finishers from the previous World Championship.
# The current Pro Tour Player of the Year.
# For countries that hold an invitation-only National Championship, the members of each national team, including that team’s designated alternate, if any.
# For countries that hold an open National Championship, the winner of that National Championship.
# Players with Pro Tour Players Club level 3 or higher. Level 3 players may only attend one Pro Tour and/or Worlds of their choice in a season.
# The Top 25 DCI Composite–ranked players from the APAC region (published on October 7, 2009).
# The Top 25 DCI Composite–ranked players from the Japan region (published on October 7, 2009).
# The Top 50 DCI Composite–ranked players from the Europe region (published on October 7, 2009).
# The Top 50 DCI Composite–ranked players from the Latin America region (published on October 7, 2009).
# The Top 50 DCI Composite–ranked players from the North America region (published on October 7, 2009).
# The Top 25 DCI Total–ranked players from the APAC region (published on October 7, 2009).
# The Top 25 DCI Total–ranked players from the Japan region (published on October 7, 2009).
# The Top 50 DCI Total–ranked players from the Europe region (published on October 7, 2009).
# The Top 50 DCI Total–ranked players from the Latin America region (published on October 7, 2009).
# The Top 50 DCI Total–ranked players from the North America region (published on October 7, 2009).
# Participants in the 2009 Magic Online Championship.
Publicity. You think if someone like Tiger Woods (much bigger name, I know, but both are known outside Magic circles) said he wanted to played in Worlds, they would say no?
Honestly there should be an ESPN poker/magic broadcast. Like 1 draft pod and 1 table.
Table look something like this:
Gabriel Nassif (magic/poker player, known more for magic, brings an international view)
Justin Bonomo (poker/magic player, known more for poker, high results in poker)
David Williams (poker/magic player, known more for poker HOWEVER he has a big history in the game of magic)
Jon Finkel (one of the greatest magic players ever, from what I've read an avid poker player)
Chris Pikula (magic/poker player)
Brock Parker (2 time bracelet winner and magic player)
Adam "Roothlus" Levy (magic/poker player, known more for poker, has had multiple tv coverage, over 600k in tournament wins live and 500k online).
Ben Stark (probably the next finkel when it comes to U.S. players. Solid poker player as well, although I'd have a vested interest to vote for him on a magic/poker table)
Honestly, I have no problem with this at all. He is a very well-known player (albeit more known for his poker) who can directly help to improve the game's image just by being visible on the tournament scene.
Basically, the game could grow and benefit from this move, so I'm fine with it.
He is by far the most recognizable competitive Magic player outside the community, best known for coming in 2nd place in the 2004 World Series of Poker.
Then again, he was also once suspended for a year for using marked cards...so...take that for what you will.
They did several years back for Kai Budde as well. No real problem; the Pro Tour is a marketing tool, and Dave Williams is a good person to have playing your card game if you want to advertise.
I recall hearing a couple years back that Dave Williams had a lifetime invite to all PTs and Worlds. It was an apology from Wizards and/or the DCI for that one year ban he famously got for his "marked" Accumulated Knowledges, which they later decieded was excessive.
I don't know if that story is true, it's just what I remember hearing.
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GDS1 & GDS2 entrant. Former Rules Advisor & casual-level TO. Semi-lapsed player in general.
Yeah, as far as I know this has been going on for awhile. Seems kind of unfair to all those slaving at PTQs and such, but I guess those idiots should just get with the program and make a WSOP final.
he was also once suspended for a year for using marked cards.
Well, let´s see:
Bob Maher cheated. His punishment? he got his own Magic card.
Mike Long cheated. His punishment? he got his own Magic card.
Dave Williams cheated: His punishment? gets an invitation to Worlds.
Wizards: you are totally unfair with the decent and honest players. If you want promotion, send an invitation to Marylin Manson, but don´t do things like this.
I'm all for it. It's not like if Phil Ivey decided tomorrow to pick up Magic he would get invited to Professional level events. David Williams is a historically great Magic player, and him being a great poker player as well helps with publicity.
If his invitation gets even one new player to the game, I think it's worth it.
i won a qualifier to get to my countries nationals i got top 12 at nationals wanted to go as the 4th invite from my country but couldn't go because i did not get invite on time to get my visa. This really ticks me of
They've done this 'Sponsors Exception' before, with Kai as well as Dave. This isn't a new thing. I think the first time he got the invite there was a fuss over it, but nothing happened.
This is BS. The things you list are completely unconnected. Wizards take very good precautions towards cheaters.
Unless of course your a famous or charismatic character within the game that can help promote it.
Then cheating can just become your gimmick. I point you towards Mark Rosewater and others calling people like Mike Long a good thing for the game.
Only your regular 'scrubs' aren't allowed to cheat.
As for Williams, it makes perfect sense why he'd get an invite and anything to promote the game seems good. It's just a shame cheaters can be awarded so blatantly.
I recall hearing a couple years back that Dave Williams had a lifetime invite to all PTs and Worlds. It was an apology from Wizards and/or the DCI for that one year ban he famously got for his "marked" Accumulated Knowledges, which they later decieded was excessive.
I don't know if that story is true, it's just what I remember hearing.
also, there's a 0% chance this story is true. cmon now.
Honestly there should be an ESPN poker/magic broadcast. Like 1 draft pod and 1 table.
Table look something like this:
Gabriel Nassif (magic/poker player, known more for magic, brings an international view)
Justin Bonomo (poker/magic player, known more for poker, high results in poker)
David Williams (poker/magic player, known more for poker HOWEVER he has a big history in the game of magic)
Jon Finkel (one of the greatest magic players ever, from what I've read an avid poker player)
Chris Pikula (magic/poker player)
Brock Parker (2 time bracelet winner and magic player)
Adam "Roothlus" Levy (magic/poker player, known more for poker, has had multiple tv coverage, over 600k in tournament wins live and 500k online).
Ben Stark (probably the next finkel when it comes to U.S. players. Solid poker player as well, although I'd have a vested interest to vote for him on a magic/poker table)
Add EFro (Eric Froelich) with WSOP bracelets and Noah Boeken (WPT final tables)
http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Events.aspx?x=events/magic/worlds09-inv
Invitations to the 2009 World Championships are awarded in the following manner:
# The current World Champion.
# The Top 8 finishers from the previous World Championship.
# The current Pro Tour Player of the Year.
# For countries that hold an invitation-only National Championship, the members of each national team, including that team’s designated alternate, if any.
# For countries that hold an open National Championship, the winner of that National Championship.
# Players with Pro Tour Players Club level 3 or higher. Level 3 players may only attend one Pro Tour and/or Worlds of their choice in a season.
# The Top 25 DCI Composite–ranked players from the APAC region (published on October 7, 2009).
# The Top 25 DCI Composite–ranked players from the Japan region (published on October 7, 2009).
# The Top 50 DCI Composite–ranked players from the Europe region (published on October 7, 2009).
# The Top 50 DCI Composite–ranked players from the Latin America region (published on October 7, 2009).
# The Top 50 DCI Composite–ranked players from the North America region (published on October 7, 2009).
# The Top 25 DCI Total–ranked players from the APAC region (published on October 7, 2009).
# The Top 25 DCI Total–ranked players from the Japan region (published on October 7, 2009).
# The Top 50 DCI Total–ranked players from the Europe region (published on October 7, 2009).
# The Top 50 DCI Total–ranked players from the Latin America region (published on October 7, 2009).
# The Top 50 DCI Total–ranked players from the North America region (published on October 7, 2009).
# Participants in the 2009 Magic Online Championship.
# Be David Williams
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Quotes:
He's a successful poker pro who they want to have playing the game.
Table look something like this:
Gabriel Nassif (magic/poker player, known more for magic, brings an international view)
Justin Bonomo (poker/magic player, known more for poker, high results in poker)
David Williams (poker/magic player, known more for poker HOWEVER he has a big history in the game of magic)
Jon Finkel (one of the greatest magic players ever, from what I've read an avid poker player)
Chris Pikula (magic/poker player)
Brock Parker (2 time bracelet winner and magic player)
Adam "Roothlus" Levy (magic/poker player, known more for poker, has had multiple tv coverage, over 600k in tournament wins live and 500k online).
Ben Stark (probably the next finkel when it comes to U.S. players. Solid poker player as well, although I'd have a vested interest to vote for him on a magic/poker table)
My have/wants trade list.
This is probably ok though. Im tired of hearing **** about how Magic is for kids.
PTQ Top 8: 11/21/2009 Zendikar Sealed 4th
Basically, the game could grow and benefit from this move, so I'm fine with it.
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My latest data-driven Magic the Gathering strategy article
(TLDR: Analysis of the Valakut matchups. UB rising in the rankings. Aggro correspondingly taking a dive.)
Then again, he was also once suspended for a year for using marked cards...so...take that for what you will.
I don't know if that story is true, it's just what I remember hearing.
Sig banner by Xyre.
My MTG Blog (inactive)
GDS1 & GDS2 entrant. Former Rules Advisor & casual-level TO. Semi-lapsed player in general.
Modern: Dominium Eminens
Legacy: UB Tezz (Check out My Primer at TheSource)
Vinitage: Oath
I used to judge alot.
Well, let´s see:
Bob Maher cheated. His punishment? he got his own Magic card.
Mike Long cheated. His punishment? he got his own Magic card.
Dave Williams cheated: His punishment? gets an invitation to Worlds.
Wizards: you are totally unfair with the decent and honest players. If you want promotion, send an invitation to Marylin Manson, but don´t do things like this.
If his invitation gets even one new player to the game, I think it's worth it.
http://quazen.com/games/card-games/how-i-followed-my-guts-and-got-an-invite-to-worlds-bolivian-nationals-report-2nd/
also featured at the Starkinton Post
http://www.thestarkingtonpost.com/articles/-/Bolivia_Nationals_2nd
Unless of course your a famous or charismatic character within the game that can help promote it.
Then cheating can just become your gimmick. I point you towards Mark Rosewater and others calling people like Mike Long a good thing for the game.
Only your regular 'scrubs' aren't allowed to cheat.
As for Williams, it makes perfect sense why he'd get an invite and anything to promote the game seems good. It's just a shame cheaters can be awarded so blatantly.
2-Control changing effects
3-Text changing effects
4-Type changing effects
5-Color changing effects
6-Giving/Taking Abilities
7a-*/* setting effects
7b-All effects not described in other layer 6 effects
7c-Counters
7d-Static abilities that don't set P/T (Crusade effects)
7e-Switching P/T
also, there's a 0% chance this story is true. cmon now.
Add EFro (Eric Froelich) with WSOP bracelets and Noah Boeken (WPT final tables)
Perhaps their jealous that he was a runner-up in the WSOP main event.
Dude, please tell me you aren't serious. He has over $6 million in tournament winnings. He's won quite a bit in cash games.
He's won 4 major tournaments, made several final tables of big events (including WPTs) and he's got a WSOP bracelet. What more does he need to do?