pro tour qualifier

How to Qualify for the MTG Pro Tour?

The Pro Tour is the most iconic Magic the Gathering tournament, where hundreds of players compete for monetary prizes and glory. The tournament went on a hiatus during the pandemic years, but has since returned recently in 2023. You might want to test your Magic prowess and battle against the best players yourselves, so you’re wondering, how to qualify for the Pro Tour?

There are multiple ways to do so, and since some can be quite convoluted, we gathered all the information and presented it in a simple manner. You’ll be able to each way on how to qualify to the PT in this article.

To quickly recap, the five ways to get to the MTG Pro Tour are:

• Finish in the top X (number varies) at a Regional Championship
• Reaching 7 wins on a Day 2 of the Arena qualifier
• Winning a Pro Tour qualifier
• Doing well on previous Pro Tours
• Being in the MTG Hall of Fame

We’ll first take a look at each of those, and then we’ll talk about which one is the “easiest” way of achieving your goal.

Regional Championship

Doing well at the Regional Championship will reward you with a Pro Tour qualification. There are twelve different RCs around the world, and you can find them in the following table:

As you can see, the numbers of invites vary from region to region. In China, you’ll have to finish in the Top 8, while in EMEA region a 36th place would be enough. Besides the qualifications, this tournament also offers monetary prizes, which makes it quite enticing.

You also have to qualify for the Regional Championship. You can do so by playing in a Regional Championship Qualifier. Use Wizards’ Store Locator to find those. Additionally, you have the option of qualifying via MTG Online. You’ll be able to find more information about how to qualify for the RC in a separate article, which will be posted in the following days.

Arena Qualifier

The other common option to qualify is via MTG Arena’s Qualifier. That is a 2-day event that happens during the weekend, once per month.

On Day 1, you need to win seven matches, before you lose two. If you manage to achieve that, you are eligible to play on Day 2. There, the same scenario occurs. You need once again win seven matches, before you lose two. Your reward is a qualification for both Pro Tour and Arena Championship .

However, you can’t just enter the Arena Qualifier. You need to qualify for it also. The most common ways to do so are by finishing on the top 250 spots of the Ranked Ladder (either in Constructed or Limited) or by winning a Qualifier Play-In event.

Pro Tour Qualifier

This is a tabletop, one day event with a simple premise. You win the tournament , and you’re qualified for the Pro Tour .

The problem with Pro Tour qualifiers is that they are extremely rare.

These three paths are the only option for a newcomer. However, there are other ways of getting a PT qualification, which we’ll just quickly mention, since they are applicable for a much smaller group of players.

Excellent Results on Previous Pro Tours

Once you manage to get to that first Pro Tour, you unlock another qualification path, by having excellent results on the PT itself.

If you manage to get to 10 or more wins in a Pro Tour, you are qualified for the next one. (This is a 10-6 result or better.) This option is pretty straightforward, the next one is a bit more complicated.

Adjusted Match Points

This option is here to reward consistent, but not quite good enough results over the multiple Pro Tours.

Adjusted Match Points (AMP) are the number of match points earned in a Pro Tour after the first 9 match points. So, you could count a number of match points you earned during a Pro Tour, subtract nine, and you get your AMP for that tournament. (The number can’t be negative.) On top of that, players who make the Top 8 get an additional 12 AMP.

If you earned 39 Adjusted Match Points in the last three Pro Tours , you’re qualified for the next one .

Hall of Fame

Finally, the best of the best Magic players get inducted in the Hall of Fame. There used to be a voting process each year, but that stopped in 2019. It’ll be interesting to see if Wizards have any future plans for Hall of Fame, or are just going to leave it as is. Currently, there are 48 players in the HoF.

Each of the players can choose any single Pro Tour in a calendar year and attend it.

The Easiest Way to Qualify for The Pro Tour

Now you know which options you have to qualify for the MTG Pro Tour. But, which one should you choose that you’d give yourself the best odds of achieving this hefty goal?

It has to be said—there is no easy path to the Pro Tour. You’ll have to both play extremely well, and get at least somewhat lucky. Nevertheless, some options will make it more likely for you to succeed than the others.

As we talked about before, the last two options are only applicable when you’re already doing well at the Pro Tour. This means we can cross them off the list.

Pro Tour qualifier seems an unlikely choice. Only one player qualifies, but the bigger problem is that it’s happening so rarely, and only at specific events. Sure, if you’re nearby, go for it! However, it’s probably not the greatest idea to fly across half the globe in hopes of winning a PTQ.

Finally, this leaves us with…

The Two Best Options

If you want to qualify for the Pro Tour, you’ll want to do well at the Regional Championship , or at the Arena Qualifier . Both have their pros and cons.

You can play the Arena qualifier from the comforts of your home. You don’t need to spend money on travel, accommodation, and so on. Besides, it will typically take less of your time. For players who live in more remote areas, Arena qualifier might be the only realistic option.

However, there’s a big downside to it. The odds really aren’t in your favor. For every 1,000 players who enter Day 1, only around 35 make it to Day 2. From among those, only a single player qualifies for the Pro Tour.

So, if we presume all players are of the same skill level, you have around 0.1% chance to qualify via MTGA qualifier. Of course, if you improve your skills, you can increase that percentage slightly, but it’s still a very hard feat to accomplish.

Your odds improve significantly at Regional Championships. We assumed the maximum capacity for each event (even tough it’s rarely reached) , and took into account how many spots each RC awards. Some are more generous than the others, with the best ones qualifying 7.2% and the worst ones 1.6% of the maximum amount of players.

We have to take into account that the number of qualification slots will be reduced (by around 50%) after the third Pro Tour in 2023. They currently qualify more players, to make up for the fact that there aren’t many invites coming from previous Pro Tours. (As there weren’t any between 2019-2022.)

However, even if we look at the worst odds, and split them in half, we get to 0.8% of players being qualified. These odds are eight times better than the ones at Arena qualifier. So, even under the worst circumstances, you’ll have a significantly better chance of getting to the Pro Tour with the Regional Championship.

So the easiest way to qualify for the Pro Tour is via Regional Championship. If that isn’t working for you, the second-best option is via Arena qualifier.

Anyway, that’s it for today. If you have any other questions about the qualification path, leave a comment below, and we’ll get back to you soon.

If you want to get to the Pro Tour, you’ll also want to improve your game. We’ve gathered some tips on how to get better at MTG here .

Until next time, have fun, and good luck with reaching the Pro Tour stage!

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Mar 31, 2022 — Organized Play

Pro Tour Returns! Re-Ignite Your Store's Competitive Play

Prepare to host qualifier events at your store and get a rundown of the upcoming competitive season.

Get ready—the return of competitive play is here! Regardless of your players' experience level within the community, you can encourage them all to get involved with a local qualifier at your local store, kick-starting their journey toward the Magic: The Gathering World Championship.

Depending on your region, WPN Premium stores may have access to perks, such as additional Regional Championship invitations or larger promo allocations. Please check with your regional organizer for specific information.

Today we'll be discussing the four levels of tabletop play: local qualifiers, Regional Championships, Pro Tours, and finally, the Magic: The Gathering World Championship.

Regional Championship Qualifiers

Regional tournament organizers will be working with you directly to schedule Regional Championship Qualifier events at your store through Wizards EventLink . This offers more flexibility in planning the events, for regional organizers and players.

Your Regional Tournament Organizer will sell and distribute your qualifier kit, set your event date and be your first point of contact.

Encourage your players to bookmark these organizers’ websites, too—they'll serve as information hubs for qualifying and finals events in each region:

• USA - Dreamhack
• Canada - Face to Face
• Europe - Legacy
• Australia/New Zealand - Good Games
• China - Beijing Kadou Culture
• Japan/Korea - Big Magic
• Southeast Asia - Oracle Events
• Taiwan - GameSquare
• Brazil - City Class Games
• Mexico/Central America/Caribbean - Yellow Rabbit
• South America - Magicsur

If you haven't run a large-scale tournament yourself, or it's been a long time and you'd like additional support, you may look to Judge Academy to assist you in connecting with an official Magic: The Gathering judge to help with your event.

By signing up for these events through your regional organizer, you'll receive Promos to celebrate at the local and regional level while supplies last!

The Regional Championship Qualifier Promos, as well as their usage, are as follows:

• Lava Spike: Nonfoil for participating in local qualifiers. Foil for participating in larger local qualifiers and side events at Regional Finals.
• Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx: Nonfoil for top finishers at local qualifying events. Foil for the winners of local qualifiers.*

*Please note that kits for multi-slot qualifiers will have a foil Nykthos for each invitation slot, not purely for the winner.

Again, all Promos are available in limited quantities while supplies last. With any questions regarding the exact breakdown of promo prize support, contact your regional organizer.

Regional Championships

Regional Championship details will differ based on each individual region, though the first Regional Championship will be held in late 2022. The number of invites to the Pro Tour awarded, prizes, and any additional information will be communicated for each region by the regional organizer noted above.

Players from the following categories will receive invites to the Regional Championships:

• Regional Championship Qualifier Winners
• Players qualified for the next Pro Tour
• MTGO Qualifiers
• MTG Arena Qualifiers

In addition, members of the MPL/Rivals from 2021–22 and the Top 16 (not already invited) Challengers from 2022 Worlds Standings will be invited to the first three Regional Championships.

The Promo for Regional Championship is as follows:

• Teferi, Hero of Dominaria: Nonfoil for participants and foil for top finishers.

Three times a year, top finishers from the Regional Championships will compete for their share of $500,000 in prizes, an invite to the World Championship, and bragging rights as they claim their place as the best in their region.

Pro Tours will be held in the United States in 2023. While we are mindful of the fluctuating state of international travel, we are hoping to expand outside of the U.S. as soon as we can. The location of each Pro Tour will be announced closer to each event's date.

Magic: The Gathering World Championship

This event will be held later in 2023, in the United States, where approximately 128 players will play for the featured prize pool of $1 million. The exact breakdown by place will be published closer to the event.

While the state of international travel is always in flux, we hope that the World Championships will be held in person.

We've prepared an FAQ to answer some of the questions you may have , and we will share more information about these events as it becomes relevant. You may also reference more details on the Magic website to help answer any questions your players have.

The first local qualifiers will begin July 2 and will be run using Pioneer, Modern, Sealed Deck, or Standard formats. Schedule practice events early to give your players ample time and space to prepare their decks and practice ahead of time.

Plus, the competition has been made more accessible than ever, as players can qualify through digital play using Magic: The Gathering Arena or Magic: The Gathering Online . Please remember that for tabletop events, players must be 13 years or older with parental permission, or 18 years or older without. For digital events, all players must be 18 years or older (no exceptions).

The return of competitive play is bound to be an exciting time for your community—make sure you start planning and contact your Regional Organizer noted above to join.

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Everything about MTG organized play 2022-2023 season and Premier Play system

A new Magic: The Gathering Premier Play system has been introduced by Wizards of the Coast for the 2022-2023 season, showcasing competitive tabletop and digital paths to the Pro Tour and World Championship. 

Competitive tabletop Magic returns via the 2022-2023 season. The new premier play system from WotC will feature tabletop Regional Championship qualifiers, Regional Championships, Pro Tour tournaments, and the MTG World Championship. Regional organizers will handle broadcasts at the regional level and WotC will provide broadcasts for Pro Tour events and the Magic World Championship. 

Digital paths toward high-level tournaments like the Pro Tour and the World Championship will still exist via Magic Online and MTG Arena . But the Pro Tour and World Championship will be played via tabletop moving forward and not on Magic digital platforms. 

The Premier Play system will not get overhauled during a Magic season and any problems that arise will get resolved right away by WotC. Qualifiers at a regional level will start around July 2 and the first PT will take place in early 2023. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the MTG 2022-2023 Premier Play system via WotC.

MTG tabletop Premier Play system

The path toward competitive organized MTG tabletop play has been simplified by WotC. At the most basic level, players will compete at local games stores and Regional Qualifiers to earn an invite to a Regional Championship. At a Regional Championship, players can earn an invite to the Pro Tour, competing against the best MTG players from a total of 11 regions and potentially advancing to the 2022-2023 Magic World Championship.

Regional MTG organized play

Everything that takes place on a regional level is managed by regional organizers and not WotC. Each region will contain a pathway starting at WPN stores that feeds into that region’s Regional Championship. The first regional qualifiers are expected to start around July 2. There are a total of 11 regions that will showcase a Regional Championship and manage regional play. 

• United States : DreamHack
• Canada : Face to Face
• Europe/Middle East/Africa : Legacy
• Australia/New Zealand : Good Games
• China : Beijing Kadou Culture
• Japan/Korea : Big Magic
• Southeast Asia : Oracle Events
• Taiwan : Game Square
• Brazil : City Class Games
• Mexico/Central America/Caribbean : Yellow Rabbit
• South America : Magic Sur

Regional Championships are the way to qualify to compete at a Magic Pro Tour event. There are a total of three cycles at the regional level, each providing an invite to the next Pro Tour. The winner of a Regional Championship earns a direct invite to the MTG World Championship. Players who finish second at a larger Regional Championship (U.S., EMEA, JP/Korea) will also earn a direct invite to the World Championship. 

Qualifying events that feed into a Regional Championship will take place at the same time on a global level, featuring pathways via WPN stores and individual qualifier events by that specific region. All Regional Championships will take place during a predetermined four-week window and the structure of these events may differ from region to region based on market size/attendance. 

Despite some regional differences, WotC has implemented details that are consistent across all regional events. 

• Regional Championship tournaments will last one to two days based on event size. 
• Players can participate in Last Chance Qualifiers held on Friday and an Open Qualifier for the next Regional Championship will get held on Sunday. 
• In total, a Regional Championship and additional events will take place over the course of three days. 

In addition to a region’s qualifying system, players can earn an invite to a Regional Championship via four other methods. 

• Being qualified for the Pro Tour at the time of a Regional Championship taking place
• Magic Online : TBA
• MTG Arena : TBA
• Ancillary events

For the 2022-2023 MTG season only, select players will earn an invite to one Regional Championship. This includes all Magic Pro League and Rivals League members, all Challengers who competed in the 2022 World Championship, and the top-16 Challengers from the 2021-2022 World Championship points standings who were not invited to the 2022 MTG World Championship. 

Regional MTG promo cards

Promo cards will get offered to all players who participate in regional WPN qualifiers and Regional Championships. 

First WPN regional cycle

• WPN participation promo card: Lava Spike
• WPN top finishers promo card: Non-foil Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
• WPN Regional Championship invitations: Foil Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx

Regional Championships

• Participants: Non-foil Teferi, Hero of Dominaria
• Top finishers: Foil Teferi, Hero of Dominaria

MTG Pro Tour

A total of three Pro Tours are scheduled for the 2022-2023 MTG season, with all three taking place in 2023. Each Pro Tour will showcase around 300 players, a total prize pool of $500,000, and feature tabletop gameplay via a variety of Magic formats. All PT events are run by WotC and not the regional organizers. 

Similar to tabletop tournaments prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pro Tour events will take place over the course of three days and showcase a total of 16 Swiss rounds that cuts into the top eight. Each Pro Tour will have a split format via Limited Draft and Constructed. The first Pro Tour in 2023 will get played via the Pioneer format and the other two PTs will showcase the MTG formats Standard and Modern. All three Pro Tour events will have a WotC broadcast. 

Qualifying for a Pro Tour

Players can qualify to compete at a Pro Tour event via the Regional Championships. For the 2022-2023 season, there are additional invites getting offered to a variety of players.

• The top four players from the MTG World Championship XXVIII will receive invites to all three PT tournaments during the 2022-2023 season.
• The top eight players from the MTG World Championship XXIX will receive invites to all three PT tournaments for the 2023-2024 season.
• Players who place 9-7 or better at the first two PT tournaments of the 2022-2023 season.
• Players who finish 9-6 or better at the SNC Championship in May will qualify for the first Pro Tour tournament.
• Top finishers at Regional Championships.
• A total of 64 bonus invites for Regional Championships during the 2022-2023 season to start the system.
• Each Magic Hall of Fame member gains one invite per season.

Players who make it to a Pro Tour can earn invites toward future PT events via adjusted match points . Digital paths to a Pro Tour will also exist. A total of eight players from the Magic Online Champions Showcase will earn an invite to the next PT. And a specific pathway via MTG Arena is scheduled to get announced toward the end of April. 

MTG World Championship XXIX

The 2022-2023 Magic season will contain a World Championship played via tabletop that will take place during the second half of 2023. Worlds will have a total $1 million prize pool and feature around 128 competitors who have qualified in a variety of ways.

• Four players from MTG World Championship XXVIII.
• All players who finish with a 12-4 record or better at a Pro Tour during the 2022-2023 season.
• The top 32 players who have the highest adjusted match points throughout the 2022-2023 season.
• All players tied at 32 via adjusted match points.
• Pathways via Magic Online and MTG Arena that have yet to be announced.
• Winner of a Regional Championship.
• Second-place finishers at a Regional Championship via select regions (U.S., EMEA, JP/Korea).

Updates to digital MTG Premier Play pathways will occur following the release of information via WotC.

The New MTG Pro Tour Is (Almost) Everything We Wanted

A former MTG World Champion weighs in on the new organized play system.

By Seth Manfield | @SethManfield | Published 2/7/2023 | 10 min read

Today is going to go down as one of the most important days in the history of Magic: The Gathering organized play. The COVID-19 pandemic and all of the restrictions that have come along with it essentially halted tabletop Magic for over two years. We've had high-level events on MTG Arena, but as far as official Wizards of the Coast in-person events, there hasn't been anything for quite some time. But that's all about to change.

THE PRO TOUR IS BACK!!

The Pro Tour has such a rich and amazing history. The name "Pro Tour" stopped being used altogether a few years back in favor of names like Mythic Championship and Set Championship. Bringing back the name "Pro Tour"  for the 2022-2023 organized play system is the smartest thing the folks at WotC could have done.

Let's go over the four tiers of this new system.

Regional Championship Qualifiers

Regional Championship Qualifiers will happen at the local level, which means you should be able to play in one without having to get on a plane. While we don't have Pro Tour Qualifiers like players may remember from the past, the Regional Championship Qualifiers will fill a similar role.

We still don't have all the information on Regional Championship Qualifiers, like how many of them there will be, what type of attendance to expect, what the entry fee will be, and all the specific locations. I expect most of this to fall into place quite quickly though. What we do know is there are 11 different regions included in this new system.

Each region will be managed by a different tournament organizer , and that organizer has the freedom to make its own decisions about the tournament structure. However, the qualifying season will last the same four weeks no matter where you live. There will also be Last Chance Qualifiers at the Regional Championships themselves.

Based on what we know so far, there aren't any major issues I can see with the Regional Qualifiers, but a lot will come down to the details. Managing the size of these qualifiers and varying the number of qualifiers based on region will be very important. For instance, Brazil will likely have fewer qualifiers compared to the United States based on the player base.

There will also be event promos! Lava Spike will be awarded for participation in the first season, and copies of Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx in both foil and nonfoil will be awarded to top finishers. Bringing promos into the mix is a great way to drive up attendance and overall interest in these events—good job, WotC.

Regional Championships

Once you do well enough in a Regional Championship Qualifier, you'll get to compete in the Regional Championship! There will be one Regional Championship in each region across the globe, which means 11 total. Each will be a bit different in size, which means we should expect different prizes for each event.

Besides doing well in a Regional Championship Qualifier there will be a couple other ways to qualify for a Regional Championship. One is having been in the Magic Pro League or Rivals League in 2021-2022. Also, top-finishing challengers from the 2021-2022 season and 2022 World Championship competitors will be invited to the Regional Championships. This is a good way to transition out of the previous league play systems.

Regional Championships may be one or two-day events depending on size of the event. Also, a promo version of Teferi, Hero of Dominaria will be given out at Regional Championships. Doing well at the Regional Championships is the primary way to qualify for the Pro Tour.

My hope with Regional Championships is that appropriate adjustments are made based on attendance to these events. WotC has said that prize pools and the number of Pro Tour invites given out in each region will vary, but beyond that we will have to wait for more specific information on Regional Championships.

The Pro Tour

While the qualifier rounds will start this year, the Pro Tours themselves will kick off in 2023. The target number of players in a Pro Tour is 300. The primary way to qualify for the Pro Tour will be doing well at the Regional Championships, though there will also be other routes as well. The Magic Online Showcase and large events on MTG Arena will provide direct paths to the Pro Tour. Doing well at the previous year's World Championship or at previous Pro Tours is another way to get PT invitations.

Pro Tours will use Adjusted Matchpoints (AMPs) to track player performance. This essentially means tracking how many wins a player gets at the Pro Tour. If you have enough AMPs at the Pro Tour level it will lead to additional qualifications. This will let players string together multiple Pro Tour qualifications without needing to go back to the regional level.

Pro Tours look like they will be a mix of Draft and Constructed. The first Pro Tour in 2023 will include the Pioneer format, with Standard and Modern likely being used as well at future Pro Tours. This makes a ton of sense as a way to create interest in Pioneer, as the format is quite fun to play right now . Personally though, I'm looking forward to competitive Limited the most, as that has been largely absent from competitive play over the past two years.

There will be three Pro Tours per year, and they can take place all around the world. These events will each have a $500,000 prize pool. Traveling internationally has been a big part of playing tabletop MTG at the highest level, and I'm very happy to see this aspect of the game returning. We should also expect to see live video coverage at all the Pro Tour events, which should create additional excitement surrounding these tournaments.

The World Championship

There will be 128 slots in the 2022-2023 World Championship, and the prize pool will be $1,000,000. This is more World Championships slots than we have been accustomed to over the past few years . I personally don't mind having this become a larger event. Like all the events being highlighted in today's announcement the World Championship will also be played on tabletop, rather than online. This is a major shift, as even before the pandemic the World Championships had been exclusively on MTG Arena. Tabletop play is clearly a huge priority again.

In order to make it to the World Championship you must do really well at events like the Regional Championships, or accumulate a lot of AMPs at the Pro Tour level across the three Pro Tours in a season. There will also be online paths to making it to the World Championship, as well as the previous World Champion being automatically qualified as well.

Reintroducing the Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame has always been an important part of the Pro Tour, and it will remain a part of the Pro Tour moving forward. Hall of Fame members will receive one Pro Tour invitation of their choice, per season. Hall of Fame members will also be invited to the Regional Championship that feeds the PT they have elected to use their invite on. This essentially means Hall of Fame members receive direct qualification to one third of the Pro Tours and Regional Championships each year.

Hall of Fame members had been promised an invite to every Pro Tour in perpetuity, at the time they were inducted. While this new system of qualifications for Hall of Fame members does not honor that promise, it does give Hall of Fame members more than what they have been receiving over the past few years.

I'm obviously biased as a member of the Hall of Fame, but WotC clearly shouldn't have promised a lifetime of invites if they couldn't live up to that. It would be possible to invite all Hall of Fame members to every Pro Tour in the new system if WotC wished to do so.

Missed Opportunities

Overall, this is a positive announcement for the community at large. Players have been itching for the return of the Pro Tour, and now their wish has been granted. Having some type of system in place that allows players to climb the ranks while playing with physical MTG cards is awesome. I'm excited to get back to playing the game we all love so much.

That said, there are some holes in the announcement I want to cover.

No Mention of Grand Prix

Grand Prix and MagicFests are not part of the new system. These large-scale events had been a big part of previous systems, and I think many players were expecting to see a return of large events that are open to the public and don't require an invitation.

Hopefully Grand Prix or something similar will be announced in the future, even if these events don't directly connect to the Pro Tour system anymore.

The Pro Tour Prize Pools Aren't Large Enough

International travel is expensive. If I were to fly to Japan, I would expect it to cost over $2,000 even with cost-cutting measures. Flights, hotels, food, they all add up. Not to mention the investment of time it takes to qualify for the Pro Tour and travel to the event. Assuming it costs $2,000 to travel to a 300-player Pro Tour with a $500,000 prize pool, the average player will lose money. This isn't good.

I believe the prize pools for Pro Tours should be $1,000,000 like the World Championships to ensure that players who qualify for Pro Tours can afford to play. With a larger prize pool, you could have a large enough minimum prize payout at the Pro Tour that players could mostly recoup their travel costs.

As WotC foreshadowed in their announcement about the end of the League system , prize pools have taken a step backward compared to what they were a couple years ago. The new system is not meant to financially support someone playing MTG—now is not the time to drop out of school to pursue Magic full time. The World Championships seem to be the only event where you should expect to make a profit should you qualify. Even if you do qualify for the World Championships there will still be 127 other world-class players in the event, and the estimated value is less than $8,000 per player before travel costs.

While I'm excited to compete and play MTG at a high level, I still want to push WotC to kick a bit more money into the program. To be fair though, we are coming back from having no tabletop system at all, so the 2022-2023 season may be used to reevaluate how large a financial commitment WotC can afford to make in regards to tabletop play. This announcement doesn't include the online side of organized play, and we should hopefully still see large digital events as well.

Thanks for reading,

Seth Manfield

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DISC GOLF PRO TOUR QUALIFYING SERIES

• What is the Q-Series?
• 2024 Q-Series Schedule
• Points Standings Structure
• Q-Series Finale Qualification & Format
• Awarding Tour Cards & Silver Cards
• Access to DGPT Events for Q-Series Winners
• Displacement Rules: Awards & Points
• Player Eligibility

WHAT IS THE DGPT Q-SERIES?

The Disc Golf Pro Tour Qualifying Series (Q-Series) is a new stand-alone series introduced in 2024, aimed at providing up and coming FPO and MPO competitors with an additional pathway to earn a 2025 tour card. The series includes multiple PDGA A-tier events across the United States, culminating in a finale in the Southeastern U.S. in November.

Structure: Q-Series spans multiple events, leading to a final competition – the Q-Series Finale. The series is designed to award full DGPT tour cards to top performers based on their series performance, with six cards for the Men’s Pro Open (MPO) division and four for the Women’s Pro Open (FPO) division. Additionally, partial tour cards (silver cards) will be made available to regular-season Q-Series champions.

Q-Series Championship: Competitors accumulate points at Q-Series events throughout the season, with the top three finishes counting towards their points total. The finale is open only to those who qualify through the Q-Series points standings or the DGPT World Standings (read more about qualification on the Q-Series Championship tab).

Purpose: As the DGPT continues to grow and competition for Tour Cards becomes more intensive, the Q-Series will serve as the Tour’s  minor league  in the sense that local and regional pros, as well as up-and-coming players competing on Tour, will be able to earn their spot (tour card) on Tour for the following season. The Q-Series is about celebrating competition and giving competitors a chance to earn their tour card instead of seeking an exemption or qualifying for individual DGPT events in the future.

This series is not only for aspiring professional players seeking to join the tour but also for fans interested in the evolving dynamics and emerging talents in the sport. The Q-Series aims to heighten competition, spotlight new talents, and provide clear, merit-based access to the DGPT.

More Information

Use the tabs on this page to learn more about the Q-Series schedule, points structure, and how Tour Card access will be awarded!

Email [email protected].

2024 Q-SERIES SCHEDULE

Below you can find the 2024 DGPT Q-Series schedule. For questions on registration, please contact the Tournament Director. 

POINTS SERIES STRUCTURE

Similar to the DGPT World Standings, the Q-Series will maintain a season-long points standings which will qualify players for the Q-Series finale. Events on the Q-Series will award points to competitors based on event performance using the same points distribution methods as standard DGPT events (100 pts for a win, etc.). 

These Q-Series points and the associated points standings are distinct and separate from the DGPT World Standings. The points earned at Q-Series events only count towards qualifying a player for the Q-Series finale, not the DGPT Championship. Competitors will be allowed to compete at as many Q-Series events as they wish to register for, but the Tour will only count their top three event finishes towards their points standings total.

Q-SERIES FINALE FORMAT

The 2024 Q-Series finale will be a standard three-round stroke play event with no advantages given to competitors based on points standings position.

QUALIFYING FOR THE Q-SERIES FINALE

The Q-Series finale will be a qualification-only event, meaning that a player must earn their way into the competition. The DGPT will award qualifying spots based on both the season-long Q-Series points standings and the DGPT World Standings. 

In addition to awarding Q-Series finale spots to competitors at the top of the Q-Series points standings, we’re also pleased to offer spots to competitors just outside the cut line for earning full 2025 season tour cards via the DGPT World Standings. Our goal with the Q-Series is to provide an additional pathway to tour card qualification for up-and-coming players. By inviting competitors who fell just shy of earning a tour card via the World Standings, we aim to increase the level of competition at the finale and provide one additional opportunity for up-and-coming players on tour to earn a card instead of applying for an exemption. – Jeff Spring, DGPT CEO and Tour Director.

*The Q-Series finale is only open to qualified players who have NOT already earned a 2025 tour card after the 2024 DGPT Championship. If a competitor participates in Q-Series events but then earns their 2025 Tour Card via other methods, they will become ineligible to earn more Q-Series points and ineligible to compete at the Q-Series finale.

**The top 45 FPO and top 90 MPO competitors in the 2024 DGPT World Standings will automatically earn 2025 tour cards and are thus ineligible to compete in the Q-Series finale.

AWARDING TOUR CARDS AND SILVER CARDS

The Q-Series will award full tour cards to competitors based on both the Q-Series points standings and the results of the Q-Series finale. Additional partial tour cards (silver cards) will be awarded to individual Q-series event winners as well as to competitors that place high, but not at the top, of the Q-Series finale. For full details, please refer to the table below. 

Unlike the DGPT Championship, the Q-Series finale will award points towards the Q-Series points standings. This means that the competitors who qualify for the finale will have an additional points-earning opportunity. 

ACCESS TO DGPT EVENTS FOR Q-SERIES WINNERS

The champions of each regular season Q-Series event (in both FPO and MPO) will be awarded an exemption spot at a future regular season DGPT event. These exemption invitations cannot be applied to any of the DGPT Playoff events or the DGPT Championship.

Qualified competitors should list three events of their choice and submit them to [email protected] . The DGPT will assist in entry based on registration availability. Entry into events less than 30 days from the start of the competition is not guaranteed. Competitors must pay the registration fee as well as any other fees associated with ratings-based entry.

Should a qualified competitor not be able to find a suitable event in the same season they qualify for the exemption spot, the Tour will allow the competitor to enter into one event of their choosing during the following season.

DISPLACEMENT RULES: AWARDS & POINTS

The DGPT has created a set of displacement rules to ensure fair distribution of tour cards and silver cards among competitors. These rules apply in scenarios where competitors qualify for multiple awards. Below is a simplified explanation:

2025 Tour Card Holders & Q-Series Participation: Competitors who have already secured a 2025 tour card can participate in Q-Series events but won’t be eligible to earn additional Q-Series points, silver cards, or event exemptions. If such competitors place well in a Q-Series event, any benefits (points, silver cards, exemptions) will be awarded to the next eligible player.

Double Qualification Scenarios

Points Standings + Finale Finish : If a competitor earns a tour card based on both their Q-Series finale performance and points standings, the tour card from the finale takes precedence. Subsequently, the tour cards and silver cards for points standings finishers will be reassigned to the next eligible players.

Points Standings + Individual Tour Event Results : Should a competitor qualify for a tour card through both the points standings and their performance at a Tour Event (DGPT Elite Series or PDGA Pro Major), the tour card from the Tour Event is prioritized. Tour cards and silver cards for points standings will then be reassigned to the next eligible players.

Winning a Q-Series Event + Points Standings : If a player wins a silver card in a regular season Q-series event and also earns a tour card through points standings, they will receive the tour card. No additional silver card will be awarded retroactively to the runner-up of the original Q-Series event.

Winning a Q-Series Event + Finale Finish : In cases where a competitor wins a regular season event (earning a silver card) and then secures a tour card at the Q-Series finale, they will retain the tour card. No additional silver card will be awarded retroactively to the runner-up of the original Q-Series event.

Earning Two Silver Cards : If a competitor earns two silver cards in different scenarios (winning a regular season event and placing high in the finale or points series), the silver card from the regular season win is retained. The other silver card will be reassigned to the next eligible competitor.

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

To participate in a DGPT Q-Series tournament, all competitors must meet the PDGA player requirements for the sanctioning level of the Q-Series event in question and follow any other requirements as set forth by the Tournament Director. Competitors who have already qualified for a 2025 Tour Card may participate in Q-Series events but will be skipped over for the purposes of awarding any associated Q-Series benefits (silver cards, tour cards, exemptions, and points). 

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MTG Arena Premier Play in 2022

When much of public gaming around the world closed down in early 2020, Magic: The Gathering Arena became one of the most practical ways for many players to engage with Magic , and especially with Magic 's competitive system. With the return of the Pro Tour and high-level tabletop play , MTG Arena had an opportunity to update its role in the greater Premier Play system—while also offering its own unique events for digital players.

Alongside new events, we are refreshing how the MTG Arena competitive path works. During the past two years, playing the ranked ladders has been the primary way for a player to begin their competitive journey. As part of reworking our system, and looking to offer a greater variety of paths, we're de-emphasizing ladder play while creating new, flexible pathways for players to find their competitive footing on MTG Arena . Whether you play daily or only once in a while, we hope to have a competitive path that works for you.

Let's dig into the details, starting at the top:

WELCOME TO THE ARENA CHAMPIONSHIP

The new top rung on the MTG Arena competitive track is the Arena Championship! Arena Championships will happen three times per year, just like the new Pro Tour.

Each Championship will feature 32 top players, determined by four months' worth of competitive ladder and event play, competing for a $200,000 prize pool.

Arena Championships will mark the pinnacle of competition within MTG Arena . Those players will also be competing to go to the Magic World Championship—each of the three winners and three runners-up of Arena Championships will also earn a seat at the most prestigious Magic event of the year!

So, how do you claim your seat at an Arena Championship? It's through a familiar path: our monthly Qualifier Weekend event.

QUALIFIER WEEKEND: OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW

Many elements of Qualifier Weekend events on MTG Arena will be recognizable, but the details—and especially the stakes—are changing.

Players can earn their spot in Qualifier Weekends through two paths—ladder play or event play. (Find the details on this in the next section.)

There will be four Qualifier Weekends feeding each Arena Championship. The Qualifier Weekend itself still consists of two days of Best-of-Three matches in a shared format. Players will try to reach seven match wins before taking two match losses on each day, competing for the following:

• Players can win up to 20,000 gems in prizes on Day 1, with those who reach seven wins also earning the ability to continue into Day 2.
• Players who win seven matches during Day 2 qualify for an Arena Championship. This is in effect starting with the very next Qualifier Weekend event taking place on May 28–29.
• After all Qualifier Weekends that feed an Arena Championship are complete, additional players will be invited to bring the event to 32 competitors. These remaining invitations will go to players with the most total match wins in those contributing Qualifier Weekend Day 2 events.
• Beginning in September, in addition to feeding Arena Championship events, Qualifier Weekends will also lead to tabletop play. Players who reach seven wins during Day 2 will qualify for both an upcoming Arena Championship on MTG Arena and a designated upcoming Pro Tour!

Full Qualifier Weekend Structures

Where do i start.

As mentioned above, players must still earn their entry to a Qualifier Weekend, and there are now two main paths to get there.

The first new path to that entry is the Qualifier Play-In event . This open event allows players to earn their seat through a single session of focused play, rather than a month-long ladder climb. Each month will have two Qualifier Play-In opportunities:

• A single-day, Best-of-One Qualifier Play-In takes place one week before the Qualifier Weekend. Players will need to reach six wins before taking two losses to advance.
• A single-day, Best-of-Three Qualifier Play-In takes place one day before the Qualifier Weekend. Players will need to reach four wins before taking one loss to advance.

Players can enter a Qualifier Play-In with a 20,000 gold or 4,000 gem entry fee or by collecting 20 Play-In Points from regular events in MTG Arena . Reaching maximum wins in any evergreen Constructed event (such as a Historic event or Traditional Historic event) or in a Traditional Draft event will now award Play-In Points in addition to gems and packs. (For those new structures, see further below.)

Full Qualifier Play-In Structures

Player Profile: One-Time Oko

Oko doesn't play that much MTG Arena , as his favorite format is Commander in person with friends. But he also enjoys drafting, so he knows the latest set well. He logs on Friday to play the Limited format Qualifier Play-In, and he reaches maximum wins. He then wins out on both Day 1 and Day 2 of the Qualifier Weekend, earning a seat at the next Arena Championship for his weekend's play.

Player Profile: Garruk the Grinder

Garruk spends most of his MTG Arena time playing Traditional Alchemy events to build his collection. He earns maximum-win rewards frequently, sometimes multiple times in a weekend. He has collected enough Play-In Points to enter the Qualifier Play-In, but this month's format is Limited. He decides to save his points for next month when the format will be Alchemy. He expects to have enough points to enter multiple times and make sure he gets his chance at the Qualifier Weekend.

The second main path to a Qualifier Weekend is still a top-ranked ladder finish . Players who finish in the top 250 of either the Constructed or Limited ladder at the end of a month will receive automatic entry into the next month's Qualifier Weekend. (This will now be served by an event entry token instead of a Qualifier Badge as in the past.) Players who finish in the top 1,200 of either ladder (but not the top 250) will instead receive enough Play-In Points for one entry to a Qualifier Play-In event, described above.

Note: Since play is already underway for the April 2022 ranked ladders, players who finish in the top 1,200 of either ladder during this month will still qualify directly for the Qualifier Weekend events. The May ranked ladders will be the first ones to follow the new structure.

Finally, players who reach six, seven, or eight match wins on Day 2 of an Arena Open will also earn entry to a Qualifier Weekend. (Previously, this only applied to players who won seven or eight matches.) This begins with the May 14–15 Arena Open, which will admit players to the June Qualifier Weekend (matching the May ranked ladders that will be in progress at that time). Not every Qualifier Weekend will admit players in this way since Arena Open events happen less frequently than once a month. Note: For players familiar with the current system, be aware that entry to the Qualifier Weekend events will now be driven by event tokens instead of Qualifier Badges.

Player Profile: Huatli the Hopeful

Huatli usually finishes the ranked season in the high percentages, but this month, a strong run on the last day landed her in the low 800s. She earns an entry to the upcoming Qualifier Play-In, and she chooses to play in the Best-of-One event where she feels her Dinosaurs deck will have the best opportunity to do well. She reaches maximum wins and gets into the Qualifier Weekend, but she then reaches only three wins on Day 1. She walks away with 11,000 gems in total from the two events to help fuel her play for next month when she wants to do even better.

NOW YOU KNOW

Time for a quick recap. The three basic steps of the competitive path on MTG Arena are:

• Ladders and Qualifier Play-In events
• Qualifier Weekend events
• Arena Championships

Doing well enough in any of these steps will take you up the path to the next step. If you keep excelling, you will find yourself at the top of the mountain—including at a tabletop Pro Tour or even the Magic World Championship!

GETTING THE POINT

Beginning with the release of Streets of New Capenna , evergreen Constructed events for all permanent MTG Arena formats will now have updated structures that incorporate Play-In Points so that players can use these events to enter the competitive path. They also now have both higher entry fees and higher rewards that replace the previous gold and individual card rewards (ICRs) with gems and packs. These changes are intended to let players build their collection through Constructed play more quickly and reliably. These are the new structures:

Constructed Event Structures

• For Alchemy events, packs will be of the latest Alchemy set.
• For Historic events, packs will be from rotated-out sets.
• For Standard events, packs will be of the latest Standard set.

Also beginning with Streets of New Capenna , Traditional Drafts will have a new structure. This change reduces some of the top-heaviness of the event and incorporates Play-In Points.

Traditional Draft Structure

• Entry fee: 10,000 gold or 1,500 gems (unchanged)
• Event length: 3 matches (unchanged)
• 0 wins: 100 gems and 1 pack
• 1 win: 250 gems and 1 pack
• 2 wins: 1,000 gems and 3 packs
• 3 wins: 2,500 gems, 6 packs, and 2 Play-In Points

Play-In Points earned from any of these events can be combined, and players may use their Play-In Points to enter either type of Qualifier Play-In event in any month.

THE BEGINNING OF THE PATH

Phew, we made it to the end of the article! But really, it's just the beginning of a new competitive dream, and your path to the Arena Championships. Answers to questions, additional dates, and format details will all be available soon, and we are ready to make any needed adjustments along the way to help this path serve all of our different players. We are excited for our first Arena Championship later this year, and we hope you are, too!

Metagame Mentor: How Do You Qualify for the Pro Tour?

In just eight days, the highly anticipated Pro Tour Phyrexia will take place at MagicCon: Philadelphia . But what elevates the Pro Tour as the crown jewel for competitive Magic players, and how does one go about qualifying? In this special edition of Metagame Mentor, we'll explore the different paths to qualification and what it takes to earn your place on the Pro Tour stage.

What is the Pro Tour?

Magic: The Gathering 's Pro Tour is an invitation-only tournament series hosted by Wizards of the Coast, dating back to 1996. Before the advent of the Pro Tour , the tournament scene was unstructured, but the Pro Tour and its system of qualifiers changed the game forever, offering players a chance to prove their skills against the best from around the world. Due to its prestige, large cash prizes, and international reach, the Pro Tour is the highest level of competitive Magic apart from the Magic World Championship.

For players looking to take their game to the highest level, the Pro Tour offers an opportunity to showcase their skills on a global stage with live streaming coverage. The electric atmosphere of high-stakes Magic at a pinnacle tabletop event is something that cannot be matched online. Winning a Pro Tour solidifies a player's status as a top competitor, and those who have claimed multiple victories, such as Jon Finkel, Kai Budde, and Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa, have cemented their place in Magic competition as legends of the game.

For over two decades, Pro Tours were held several times per year, leaving a rich history in their wake. After recent detours involving Mythic Championships, Players Tours, and Set Championships with focus on digital play, the tabletop-made Pro Tour is back . Three Pro Tours are held per year, each offering approximately 250 qualified players the chance to compete for their share of $500,000 in prizes, invitations to the Magic World Championship, and the right to claim their place among the best in the world.

Qualifying for the Pro Tour has come a long way since the first Pro Tour in 1996, where players had to call a phone number and whoever called first got in. Now, players must prove their skills in paper or digital tournaments to earn their place. Let's take a closer look at the various paths to qualification.

The Regional Championship Path: Tabletop

The most common path to Pro Tour qualification is by performing well at Regional Championships. Regional Championships, held three times per yearly season in every geographic region, are invite-only events that players can earn entry to through various means, including Magic Online or Last Chance Qualifiers. But the most common way is via Regional Championship Qualifiers (RCQs) held at local stores or larger conventions. You can find RCQs around you by using the Store & Event Locator or your regional organizer's website . They are open to everyone, and the players who conquer their local scene compete for Pro Tour invites and other prizes at their Regional Championships.

One example of a player who took this path is Miguel Castro , the reigning European champion. After winning an RCQ at Tienda Itaca—"the best Magic store in Madrid (and Spain)" according to him—he triumphed over hundreds of players at the European Championship using the same Pioneer deck: Izzet Phoenix. Having attended Pro Tours several times before, he was excited to qualify again, and he described the return of the Pro Tour as "something really special". While he feels a bit of pressure, he's feeling better about his chances than ever before: "I feel more confident after demonstrating myself that I can compete at the high stakes."

Another example is Alejandro Sepulveda , the reigning South American champion. He won an RCQ at MagicSur Chile and subsequently crushed the South American Championship with his favorite Pioneer deck: Mono-Red Aggro. "Competing at the Pro Tour means a lot to me", he said as he recounted his experience at Pro Tour Ixalan several years ago. "It was a dream come true. I had been grinding local qualifiers until I finally got there, I did terribly at the Pro Tour, but I didn't care much about that at the time." But Pro Tour Phyrexia will be different, and Sepulveda is hungry for more. "I'm working really hard to up my game and unleash the great player I know I can be. I really want to make the most of it not only because it is good for me, but also because it is good for our South American community."

These Regional Champions, along with over 150 other players whose Regional Championship performance was good enough to qualify, may represent their regions at the Pro Tour in the knowledge that they're cheering them on back home. For more details on this first cycle of Regional Championships, including an overview of the region-specific number of invites for Pro Tour Phyrexia and the top Pioneer decks, check out my primer . More information on upcoming RCQ formats and promo cards is available here .

The MTG Arena Path: Digital

Another way to earn a Pro Tour qualification is by reaching seven wins in Day Two of a Qualifier Weekend on MTG Arena . To earn a spot in these monthly Qualifier Weekends, as described in more detail on MTG Arena Premier Play page , there are various methods: by finishing in the Top 250 of the Constructed or Limited ladder at the end of the preceding month, by reaching enough wins in Day 2 of an Arena Open, or—most commonly—via a Qualifier Play-In event.

Seven-win earners from Day Two of a Qualifier Weekend not only earn a Pro Tour qualification but also clinch a spot in the Arena Championship, which represents the apex of the MTG Arena Premier Play pyramid. To bring this thrice-yearly event to 32 competitors, remaining Arena Championship invitations are given to players with the most total Day Two match wins in contributing Qualifier Weekends. However, Pro Tour invitations are only awarded to seven-win earners.

One of the players who reached seven wins at the November Qualifier Weekend was Simon Nielsen . Although the difficulty of having to go 7-1 on both days made him initially hesitant about the effort required, he eventually realized there was a reason why Qualifier Weekends were difficult: "The payoff is through the roof. Not only is it a way to qualify directly for the Pro Tour, it also gives an invite to the Arena Championship, a tournament that's almost like a mini Worlds. With just 32 players and a huge prize pool, it certainly feels like it... I had to take them seriously, and put in an amount of preparation like I would for a Regional Championship. Outside of Regional Championships, these are some of the only events to qualify directly for the Pro Tour and should be treated as such. So for the November Historic Qualifier, Team Handshake spent a week trying out the many deck options in Historic, eventually finding the broken Goblin Trapfinder deck."

Nielsen was eager to return to the Pro Tour, where he has the chance to relive past victories. One of his fondest Pro Tour memories was from Pro Tour Eldritch Moon, where he achieved a new personal best that secured his spot in subsequent Pro Tours. "The feeling of joy as I won my last round was incredible. I remember Christoffer Larsen lifting me in the air in celebration", he reminisced. "Pro Tours offer this unique opportunity to really achieve something. You know that you get nothing for free; everyone tries their hardest. And if you can beat that, the payoff is immense."

The Magic Online Path: Digital

The Magic Online Premier Play program offers two paths to the Pro Tour, one direct and one indirect, and I've created my own flowchart to visualize this for us:

The indirect path involves performing well in one of the many Qualifiers or Super Qualifiers, which grant invitations to a Regional Championship. These Magic Online events come in a variety of formats, including Standard, Pioneer, Modern, Legacy, Vintage, Pauper, and Limited.

The direct path, on the other hand, is through the Magic Online Champions Showcase (MOCS) tournaments. Three times a year, they culminate in the eight-player Champions Showcase. To qualify, players can win an invite-only Showcase Qualifier, a Limited Showcase Open, or secure one of two at-large spots on the Leaderboard. All eight players also earn invitations to the Pro Tour.

One such player who earned his Pro Tour invitation through the Magic Online Championship Showcase is Kiran Dhokia , better known online as Cherryxman. "Whilst the Pro Tour has never been a goal of mine, it is an exciting new opportunity for me to compete at a high level," he told me. And as the Pro Tour features both Constructed and Limited formats, it presents a new challenge to Dhokia: "I am especially excited to develop my skills in Limited as I prefer Constructed, but learning formats that are new to me is very enjoyable."

When asked why Magic Online is his preferred platform, Dhokia had a clear explanation: "it's due to the great diversity of formats, decks, and the huge number of high level players online. The flexibility on offer, through leagues as well, allows for a great opportunity to practice and improve."

Previous Championship Success

World Champion Nathan Steuer

Another qualification path is via top finishes at previous Pro Tours or World Championships. The details get a bit complicated, especially given that 2022-23 is a transitional season. But one thing is clear: The Top 4 players from the 2022 World Championship (Nathan Steuer, Eli Kassis, Jakub Tóth, and Karl Sarap) are qualified for all Pro Tours this season, raising the level of competition.

Additionally, players who score enough match wins at a Pro Tour will automatically earn a qualification for the next one. At Pro Tour Phyrexia specifically, a 9-7 finish or better will grant an invite for Pro Tour March of the Machine. There's also an Adjusted Match Point system, which rewards players with high finishes over the previous three rolling Pro Tours, allowing solid performances to earn Pro Tour invitations as well. However, since Pro Tour Phyrexia is the first tabletop Pro Tour in years, these systems do not yet apply. Instead, all 32 players from Magic World Championshi[ XXVIII and players who finished 9-6 or better at the New Capenna Championship received invitations.

Among the New Capenna Championship qualifiers is Sam Bogue , better known online as IslandGoSAMe. Bogue regards Pro Tour Phyrexia as "definitely the most important tournament of my life so far." As he explained, "it's been a dream of mine to compete at a tabletop Pro Tour ever since I started playing this game 10 years ago; I'm sure the friend group I played with in Middle School would be proud of me. I've played in various Regional events before, but never an event that brings together players from all around the world."

As the Pro Tour features Pioneer just one week after the release of Phyrexia: All Will Be One , it incentives format experts to come up with new and innovative brews. "I was very excited when I realized that this Pro Tour was Pioneer," Bogue said. "Since my Twitch and YouTube content has been Pioneer-focused for about a year now, I'm super ready to put my format knowledge and experience to the test here. Pioneer right now is one of the best formats to brew in, and Phyrexia: All Will be One will definitely give players a ton of new tools and strategies to work with for this event."

Magic Hall of Fame: The Legacy of Success

The Magic Hall of Fame enshrines the most significant and influential competitors of the game, and its members are invited to one Pro Tour per yearly season of their choice. Many Hall of Famers, including the likes of Luis Scott-Vargas, Shota Yasooka, Reid Duke, and Gabriel Nassif, are already qualified for Pro Tour Phyrexia through aforementioned qualification paths, so they don't need to use this special invite. Other Hall of Famers, however, plan to use their once-per-year invite immediately to compete at Pro Tour Phyrexia.

Among them is the record holder for the number of Pro Tours played— Raphaël Lévy . With over 100 Pro Tours under his belt, he's the most experienced player in the field. For years, his life revolved around the Pro Tour, and to him it offered something truly unique: "Recognition from your peers is one of the most precious and hardest thing to achieve in any competitive activities. Being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006 (what seems to be a lifetime away) was a milestone in my career but also an incredible moment. Playing at the Pro Tour with the Hall of Fame tag was and still is a driving force and a source of never-ending motivation."

Although Lévy took great pride on his string of consistent finishes that kept him on the Pro Tour train for decades, the organized play system and his priorities have changed since his competitive heyday. Most notably, he's become the proud father of two young kids. While he remains excited to attend Pro Tour Phyrexia, Lévy's Magic -related goals are different from before.

"Consistency isn't on the menu anymore, so now I'm more interested in posting a few more flashy finishes, if I can," he said. We're looking forward to seeing if his drive and experience can propel Lévy to yet another Top 8 finish, perhaps this time with loud cheers from his family back home.

Pro Tour Qualifiers: Tabletop's Fast Lane

Pro Tour Qualifiers—not to be confused with Regional Championship Qualifiers—are the most direct way to the Pro Tour. The first of these events will be held at MagicCon: Philadelphia . There's one on Friday and one on Saturday, and each will award four invitations to Pro Tour March of the Machine, taking place at MagicCon: Minneapolis on May 5–7. The format for these Pro Tour Qualifiers is Phyrexia: All Will Be One Limited.

To me, these PTQs are reminiscent of the old Grand Prix events. Although they are not held as frequently, they are open to anyone attending MagicCon: Philadelphia, held at a large convention, draw players from all around the world, and reward top performers with direct access to the Pro Tour. As an additional benefit, any Pro Tour qualification (regardless of qualification path) extends to an automatic invitation to the corresponding Regional Championship as well. Especially if you're a Limited expert, these PTQs may be perfect for you, so don't miss out on the opportunity!

Pro Tours: A Part of Magic 's History

There are several qualification paths towards the Pro Tour, ranging from tabletop tournaments to digital avenues: there surely is one that can work for you. Each winner has their name carved into competitive Magic history, making memories that last a lifetime.

We'll watch someone make their own history at Pro Tour Phyrexia, featuring live streaming coverage on February 17—19 with a stacked broadcast team. See you there!

Qualifiers for all 2024 Signature Events, THE PLAYERS and majors

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Oh, the unintentional consequence of beating a tournament record without winning the tournament.

That was Wesley Bryan’s experience at the Corales Puntacana Championship where he closed out a wire-to-wire bid for victory with 4-under 68 to post 21-under 267, two strokes lower than the lowest of the first six champions of the Additional Event. The only problem, at least for him, was the Billy Horschel slingshot around at the finish line with a course-record-tying, 9-under 63 for what officially now is the tournament record of 23-under 265.

Meanwhile, the spoils still belong to the victor.

Horschel climbs to the top spot in the Aon Swing 5. Victories in Additional Events do not yield automatic exemptions into the series of Signature Events, so he is not treated with “SE” beside his name in the alphabetical list below. However, the win guarantees entry into next month’s PGA Championship into which he was all but certain to qualify via his Official World Golf Ranking comfortably inside the top 100 upon arrival to the Dominican Republic, anyway, but he also can book a return to Kapalua for the 2025 edition of The Sentry.

Horschel’s previous PGA TOUR victory at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday in 2022 equipped him with exemptions into THE PLAYERS Championship through 2025, as well as status in the winners category dedicated to that tournament. Now he’s exempt as a winner through 2026 via his title at Corales Puntacana.

Elsewhere on the weekend and Monday, Scottie Scheffler prevailed at the RBC Heritage. It’s his fourth victory in five starts. Not surprisingly, he’s maxed out on exemptions into tournaments that matter on this page through 2028 and a membership extension through 2029, so there’s nothing more than he can pad this season as it concerns playing opportunities.

NOTE: Golfers are omitted if they recently haven’t competed in majors for which they are eligible (e.g., The Open Championship=Justin Leonard).

SE = All Signature Events PGA = PGA Championship US = U.S. Open OPEN = The Open Championship

Recent Additions

SE -- none PGA -- Billy Horschel US -- none OPEN -- none

REMAINING QUALIFYING CRITERIA

Criteria are listed in chronological order where possible. Best estimates are given but all are subject to change.

SIGNATURE EVENTS

• Wells Fargo Championship (May 9-12)
• Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (June 6-9)
• Travelers Championship (June 20-23)

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP (PGA) at Valhalla Golf Club – May 16-19

• Winners of PGA TOUR events through the final week before the 2024 PGA Championship.
• Top 3 from International Federation Ranking List (April 29).
• Top 20 from PGA Professional Championship (May 1).
• *All 2023 Ryder Cup members inside Top 100 of Official World Golf Ranking (May 6).
• Special exemptions per PGA of America. (This likely will include all golfers from Top 100 of Official World Golf Ranking on May 6.)
• If necessary to complete the field of 156, golfers outside Top 70 from special money list (three lines above) will gain entry in order of position.

U.S. OPEN (US) at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club (No. 2) – June 13-16

• Winners of multiple PGA TOUR events that award full FedExCup points allocation since the 2023 U.S. Open.
• Winner of the PGA Championship (May 19).
• Top 5, not otherwise exempt, in the FedExCup at the conclusion of the PGA Championship (May 19).
• Top 2, not otherwise exempt, in the 2023 Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the PGA Championship (May 19).
• Top player, not otherwise exempt, in the 2024 Race to Dubai (May 19).
• Top 60 of Official World Golf Ranking (May 20).
• Final qualifying at one site in Japan (May 20).
• Final qualifying at one site in England (May 20).
• Final qualifying at one site in Texas (May 20).
• Winner of the NCAA Division 1 individual championship, if still an amateur (May 27).
• Final qualifying at one site in Canada (June 3).
• Final qualifying at nine sites in the United States (June 3).
• Top 60 of Official World Golf Ranking (June 10).
• Special exemptions per the USGA.

THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP (OPEN) at Royal Troon – July 18-21

^ - If a golfer who earns this exemption qualifies via another criterion before May 30, this exemption will be extended to the next eligible golfer from the same tournament and not otherwise exempt into The Open.

• ^Top three, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Mizuno Open (May 26).
• Top 50 of Official World Golf Ranking (May 27).
• Top 5 in the Federation Ranking (May 30).
• Top 3, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the RBC Canadian Open (June 2).
• Top player, not otherwise exempt, who makes the cut at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (June 9).
• Winner of the U.S. Open (June 16).
• Winner of the British Amateur, if still an amateur (June 22).
• Top 2, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the KOLON Korea Open (June 23).
• Top 2, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the KLM Open (June 23).
• Top 5, not otherwise exempt, inside the top 20 in the FedExCup at the conclusion of the Travelers Championship (June 23).
• Winner of the European Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (June 29).
• Top 2, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Italian Open (June 30).
• Leader in World Amateur Golf Ranking points accumulated at the St. Andrews Links Trophy (June 9), British Amateur (June 22) and European Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (June 29).
• Final Qualifying. Top 4 at each of four sites: Burnham & Berrow, Dundonald Links, Royal Cinque Ports, West Lancashire (July 2).
• Top 5, not otherwise exempt, inside the top 20 in the Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the BMW International Open (July 7).
• Top 2, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the John Deere Classic (July 7).
• Top 3, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Genesis Scottish Open (July 14).

Rob Bolton is a Golfbet columnist for the PGA TOUR. The Chicagoland native has been playing fantasy golf since 1994, so he was just waiting for the Internet to catch up with him. Follow Rob Bolton on Twitter .

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Meet the content creators battling at the q at myrtle beach for pga tour sponsor exemption, share this article.

Some of the top content creators in golf battling it out for a spot at an official PGA Tour event? Yeah, it’s happening next month.

The Monday qualifer for the 2024 Myrtle Beach Classic is called The Q at Myrtle Beach and it will feature 16 players competing for a sponsor exemption into the tournament at Dunes Golf and Beach Club in South Carolina.

The Myrtle Beach Classic, a new event on the Tour schedule in 2024, will be played May 9-12 and will feature a purse of $3.9 million, with 300 FedExCup points awarded to the champion. It’s an opposite-field event held the same week as the Wells Fargo Championship.

The Q at Myrtle Beach field includes 16 players, many with ties to South Carolina, including eight of the most prominent golf content creators.

All professional and amateur competitors meet the PGA Tour tournament regulations for sponsor exemptions and will be eligible if they qualify.

The 18-hole shootout will be March 4 at TPC Myrtle Beach. It will be closed to the public, but a 90-minute video will be released on Play Golf Myrtle Beach’s YouTube page on April 23, and the content creators will post videos on their respective channels documenting their experiences.

Can a YouTube golfer earn a sport in a @PGATOUR event? We're about to find out. Learn more about the field at The Q below ⬇️. https://t.co/ye4Rv2IhT6 pic.twitter.com/Os3ASqL9y8 — Play Golf Myrtle Beach (@MyrtleBeachGolf) February 16, 2024

Here’s a look at the 16 golfers playing in The Q at Myrtle Beach:

Matt Atkins

Matt Atkins plays a shot from the 12th tee during the second round of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship at Ohio State University Golf Club on September 22, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

The USC Aiken alum played six seasons on the Korn Ferry Tour where he won the 2017 Mexico Championship. Among his 25 PGA Tour starts, Atkins finished T-38 at The RSM Classic in November 2023.

George Bryan

George Bryan hits a tee shot on the 10th hole during the second round of the 2023 Butterfield Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, Bermuda. (Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

The three-time All-American at the University of South Carolina made the cut in his lone PGA Tour start at the 2023 Bermuda Championship. Bryan has more than 410,000 subscribers and followers on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.

Jay Card III

Jay Card III lines up a putt on the eighth green during the first round of the 2023 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship at Ohio State University Golf Club in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo: Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

The High Point University alum has made 39 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour and has three top-10s, most recently at the 2023 Wichita Open (T7).

Morgan Deneen

Morgan Deneen plays his shot on the 15th hole during the first round of the 2022 RBC Heritage at Harbor Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The former Coastal Carolina University standout and 2018 Sun Belt Champion is the assistant pro at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club and has made three PGA Tour starts, most recently the 2023 Fortinet Championship.

Peter Finch

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Peter Finch (@peterfinchgolf)

Based out of the UK, Finch has more than 1.25 million subscribers and followers on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and X.

Grant Horvat

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Golf Channel (@golfchannel)

Played collegiately at Palm Beach Atlantic and has more than 1.35 million combined subscribers and followers on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.

Andrew Johnston of England and playing partners pose for a photo during the Pro-Am prior to the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on January 24, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Member of Good Good Golf, the University of Oklahoma alum has made more than 50 starts across PGA Tour-sanctioned Tours and has one win on PGA Tour China. Kwon has nearly 400,000 subscribers and followers on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Good Good Golf has more than 1.4 million subscribers on YouTube.

Micah Morris

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Micah Morris (@micahmorrisgolf)

The Texas native made one PGA Tour Canada start in 2023 and features more than 1 million subscribers and followers on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.

Turk Pettit

Clemson golfer Turk Pettit celebrates after being crowned NCAA Men’s Golf Championship champion at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale. (Photo: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)

The 2021 NCAA Division I individual champion played college golf at Clemson.

Dan Rapaport

March 4. A spot in a PGA Tour event (!) on the line. Time to get practicing. https://t.co/6OIZMf41US — Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) February 16, 2024

Member of ForePlay and Barstool Sports, he is known as one of the game’s best playing golf media members. The Northwestern alum was featured extensively in Netflix’s “Full Swing,” and has more than 250,000 subscribers and followers on X, Instagram and TikTok.

Scott Stevens

Scott Stevens hits a tee shot on the 14th hole during the final round of the 2023 Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation at The Grove in College Grove, Tennessee. (Photo: Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

The South Carolina alum recorded one victory and three additional top-10s on PGA Tour Canada in 2022 and made 21 Korn Ferry Tour starts in 2023.

Nick Stubbe

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bob Does Sports (@bobdoessports)

Known as Fat Perez, Nick Stubbe is a member of the iconic group Bob Does Sports. Fat Perez features more than 1 million combined subscribers and followers on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.

Tyler Watts

The final spot in the Jones Cup Invitational lineup is claimed by the Jones Cup Junior Invitational Champion each year. In a mere 16 days, Tyler Watts will make his return to Sea Island to compete in the 20th Jones Cup Invitational at Ocean Forest Golf Club.🏌️‍♂️ #JonesCupCountdown pic.twitter.com/SYHTezmnfW — Jones Cup Invitational (@jonescupinv) December 20, 2023

The high school sophomore from Huntsville, Alabama, won the Jones Cup Junior Invitational in December 2023.

Jamie Wilson

View this post on Instagram A post shared by 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ⛳️ (@thecountryclubcollection)

A former All-SEC golfer at South Carolina, Wilson has made two starts on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Mason Nut or Cole Lantz

View this post on Instagram A post shared by BustaJack Golf (@bustajackgolf)

The BustaJack duo will compete in a playoff match to determine who earns a spot in The Q at Myrtle Beach. They have more than 350,000 combined subscribers and followers on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.

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