Wild video games decide high 8 at MTG World Championship, Duke first to advance

American Corridor of Fame Magic: The Gathering professional participant Reid Duke was the primary to qualify for the highest eight after a wild day of matches on the 2023 MTG World Championship, with Duke adopted intently by veteran compatriot Greg Orange and Frenchman Jean-Emmanuel Depraz.

The 2022-2023 organized play Magic season showcased the return of Professional Tour tabletop play, together with new and veteran gamers making strikes towards a World Championship title. Two codecs have been featured on the Magic World Championship in Vegas from Sept. 22 to 24: Draft and Commonplace Constructed.

Duke, who won Pro Tour Phyrexia, started properly on day one, beginning day two with a 6-1 document after taking one loss throughout the Wilds of Eldraine Draft rounds with a White and Crimson MTG deck. He didn’t waste any time on day two, going undefeated throughout the second set of three Draft rounds with a three-color Sultai (Inexperienced, Black, and Blue) deck that ran three copies of Hamlet Glutton.

Needing just one match win to make the highest eight, Duke shifted over to Commonplace Constructed rounds and defeated Australian Anthony Lee and his Golgari Midrange deck with Area Ramp, making Duke the primary participant on the Magic World Championship to advance into the highest eight playoffs. 

MTG Worlds’ high eight gamers and Commonplace decks

Securing a top-eight playoff seed subsequent was Simon Nielsen piloting Azorius Troopers. Very similar to Duke, Nielsen had a standout 2022-2023 season, ending within the high eight at each the Minneapolis and Barcelona Professional Tour tournaments. 

Spherical 13 had yet another participant advance to the MTG Worlds high eight, with Kazune Kosaka defeating Ken Takahama in an Esper Midrange mirror match, adopted by the remaining gamers to hit 10 match wins throughout the ultimate spherical of day two. 

Right here have been the highest eight gamers on the 2023 Magic World Championship in Vegas, and their Commonplace Constructed decks. 

  • Reid Duke piloting Area Ramp
  • Simon Nielson piloting Azorius Troopers
  • Kazune Kosaka piloting Esper Midrange
  • Willy Edel piloting Area Ramp
  • Jean-Emmanuel Depraz piloting Esper Legends
  • Greg Orange piloting Bant Management
  • Lorenzo Terlizzi piloting Esper Midrange
  • Anthony Lee piloting Golgari Midrange

Lee was a standout performer at MTG Worlds, going 6-0 with one draw on day one as the one undefeated participant. Eight gamers introduced Golgari Midrange as their Commonplace Constructed deck and the construct was greater than robust sufficient to hold Lee into the highest eight on the Magic World Championship. But it surely was the Willy Edel towards Kenji Sego matchup that ended up being the wildest match of day two. 

Edel barely made it into day two of MTG Worlds in a match towards World Champion Yuta Takahashi. Each wanted a fourth win to advance and the sport had maxed out on time and turns which might have resulted in a draw, which was primarily a loss for each gamers. Takahashi ended up conceding the match, permitting Edel to advance. 

The ultimate match of day two between Edel and Sego was one other Golgari Midrange versus Esper Midrange matchup, with the final sport ending in a draw as properly. Sego ended up conceding the match, permitting Edel to advance. In whole, three of the ultimate matches on day two led to a draw that was a concession. 

Followers can watch the top eight action unfold on the 2023 Magic World Championship beginning at 12pm CT. 

In regards to the creator

Danny Forster

Lead MTG and TFT scribe for Dot Esports. Danny is a gamer seaside bum residing in Spacecoast Florida—who additionally enjoys anime, fishing, and Star Wars. You’ll be able to sometimes catch Danny taking part in TCGs and a wide range of strategic video games. He additionally hangs out on Twitter @Dannyspacecoast.

Author: Ronnie Neal