June 16, 2003 (Renton, WA) � From Moscow (Indiana) to Vienna (Virginia) and from North Wales (Pennsylvania) to Windsor (Connecticut), hundreds of players of the world�s premiere trading card game will converge on San Diego June 26-29 for the Magic: The Gathering National Championship. In heated competition, die-hard Magic® players will vie for $100,000* in scholarship monies and $70,000 *in cold, hard cash, as well as bragging rights and the opportunity to represent the U.S. at the Magic: The Gathering World Championship in Berlin (Germany) this August.
San Diego's Prodigal Player
San Diego's leading professional Magic player, David Humpherys, 31, is expected to be a top contender at the Magic U.S. National Championship. "I'm hoping to claim a big prize and represent the U.S. team at the World Championship with a strong performance on my home turf at the Nationals," said Humpherys, who has amassed more than $120,000 playing in Magic tournaments over the past nine years.
Top-Ranked Players From Across the U.S. � Ages 11-37
San Diego's Humpherys is one of the nearly 300 Magic players of all ages (ranging from 11 to 37) who have been invited to the National Championship based on their all-star performances in tournaments held across the country over the past year. The highly-anticipated Magic: The Gathering National Championship will be held in San Diego (at the San Diego Convention Center) for the first time in the game's 10-year history.
"The Magic: The Gathering trading card game created a whole new genre of games when it debuted a decade ago," commented Wizards of the Coast Chief Executive Officer Chuck Huebner. "In this, its tenth anniversary year, Magic continues to set the standard for trading card games, with the best game play and the most exciting schedule of events for players to participate in. We're thrilled to be in San Diego for the Nationals."
Going Pro: Of Big Bucks, Bragging Rights and Wild Cards
The Magic: The Gathering National Championship will award a total of $70,000* cash to tournament winners. Competition should be fierce, as the elite players, deemed "pros," have earned hundreds of thousands of dollars simply by playing their favorite game.
Adding a wild-card element to the National Championship, a US Nationals Open event will be held the day before the tournament where additional players will contend for 20 last-minute invitations to compete in the Championship � and the chance to be among the top three who will go on to represent the United States at the World Championships taking place in Berlin, Germany this August.
The Next Hometown Favorites?
In addition to the pro competition, younger Magic players (ages 15 & under) will try their hands at the Junior Super Series™ National Championships, which will award $100,000 * in college scholarships, with the winner receiving a $20,000 college scholarship. San Diego boasts four top Juniors competitors, including: Ross Bernet, 15; Eric Heumann, 14; Mike Linn, 15; and Francis Roberts, 15.
The National Championship Schedule
The Magic: The Gathering US Nationals takes place June 26-29, at the San Diego Convention Center. The following events will be featured:
- June 26 � all day - US Nationals Open (open tournaments to give 20 invitations to National Championship)
- June 27 � all day � Junior Super Series Open
- June 27-29- US National tournament rounds- most events begin at 9 a.m. Call for times of specific events
In the Magic game, players try to reduce their opponent's score from 20 to 0, casting from their deck creatures, spells, artifacts and other cards of varying power-levels and abilities in a series of attack and defense moves. The event will feature special card-signings with Magic artists Alan Pollack and Darrell Riche and Southern Californian Magic artists Thomas M. Baxa and Ben Thompson.
About the Magic: The Gathering game
Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the Magic: The Gathering trading card game has a worldwide fan base of more than six million players in over 50 countries. Today there are several billion Magic cards in circulation across the world. For some, playing the Magic game is a full-time job, providing the chance to win thousands of dollars while earning prestigious titles within the trading card game community. For the complete results of the Magic: The Gathering Nationals San Diego, and general information about the game, visit www.magicthegathering.com.
Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., is the worldwide market share leader in the trading card game and tabletop roleplaying game categories. A leading developer and publisher of game-based entertainment products, the company holds an exclusive patent on the play mechanic of trading card games. For more information on the 2003 Magic: The Gathering World Championship, visit www.magicthegathering.com.
*Prize totals are cumulative. For a breakdown of prize amounts, visit www.wizards.com/nationals.
Magic: The Gathering and Magic are registered trademarks of Wizards of the Coast Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro Inc. ©2003 Wizards.
