Players and fans are gathering in Las Vegas from Sept. 22 to 24 for the Magic: The Gathering World Championship XXIX at MagicCon, which will determine the world champion and best player of the year.
Paper MTG competition returned through the 2022-2023 season, highlighting Pro Tour tournaments and the Magic World Championship. Players who earned a seed to Worlds competed in the Wilds of Eldraine (WOE) Draft format and Standard Constructed. Days one and two featured both formats and only Standard Constructed was played during the final day at MTG Worlds 2023.
Sept. 22 MTG Worlds 2023 standings
Day one of the Magic World Championship began with three rounds of WOE draft, followed by four rounds of Standard Constructed. Players advancing to day two needed 12 match points or a 4-3 record. Top MTG players who started the day with a win during round one of the WOE Draft were Chris Ferber, Javier Dominguez, Eli Kassis, Karl Sarap, Seth Manfield, and Miguel Castro.
A total of 12 players began Magic Worlds 2023 with undefeated 3-0 records following the WOE Draft rounds.
After five rounds, only two players remained undefeated for the day: Jitse Goutbeek and Mitchell Tamblyn. Both Gabriel Nassif and Anthony Lee were close behind with 4-0-1 records. Sitting at 4-1 were veterans like Eli Kassis, Javier Dominguez, Reid Duke, and Seth Manfield.
Anthony Lee was the only player to go undefeated, but it wasn’t spotless, having one drawn match. What stood out from Lee going 6-0-1, though, was that he brought Golgari Midrange to the Magic World Championship for Standard Constructed play. All players with 4-3 records advanced onto day two.
Sept. 23 MTG Worlds 2023 standings
Players who advanced to day two of the Magic World Championship were seeking 10 match wins, guaranteeing an advancement to day three and the top eight. After nine rounds played between both days one and two, Reid Duke sat atop the leaderboard with an 8-1 record, tied with Jitse Goutbeek. Sitting at seven wins were Lee, Kassis, Takahama, Nielsen, and Ferber.
Duke continued his win streak during the WOE Draft rounds, ending day two after the Limited games with a 9-1 record. Players needed 10 match wins to make it into the top eight.
Duke was the first to earn qualification into the top eight during round 10, followed by Nielsen piloting Azorius Soldiers during round 11. Kazune Kosaka was the third player to lock a seat in the top eight in an Esper Mirror match against Ken Takahama.
Kazune Kosaka was the third player to lock a seat in the top eight in an Esper Mirror match against Ken Takahama, followed by Anthony Lee piloting Golgari Midrange.
Round 14 showcased three wild matches that went into overtime and came down to a draw, preventing either player from advancing to the top eight. Players were cordial, though, and each match ended with a concession.
Here were the top eight players who advanced to the final day of the Magic World Championship.
- Reid Duke: Domain Ramp
- Simon Nielson: Azorius Soldiers
- Kazune Kosaka: Esper Midrange
- Willy Edel: Domain Ramp
- Jean-Emmanuel Depraz: Esper Legends
- Greg Orange: Bant Control
- Lorenzo Terlizzi: Esper Midrange
- Anthony Lee: Golgari Midrange
Sept. 24 MTG Worlds 2023 standings
The top eight playoff bracket featured single elimination best-of-five games in the Standard Constructed format. Players were allowed to start using sideboard cards after the first two games played.
Azorius Soldiers did soldier things against Esper Midrange with Nielsen advancing to the Semifinals. Lee knocked out Duke to also advance, while Jean-Emmanuel Depraz came back from 0-2 start to win against Greg Orange. And another Domain Ramp piloted by Edel fell in the Quarterfinals to Kosaka’s Esper Midrange.
Nielsen’s run came to an end in the Quarterfinals, getting swept by Kosaka, while also earning Player of the Year. Depraz swept Lee to advance to the finals in a matchup of Esper Legends against Esper Midrange.
Jean-Emmanual Depraz then won the MTG Worlds 2023 title, sweeping Kosaka in the final match 3-0.
Update Sept. 24 6:15pm CT: Day three standings were added for the completion of the 2023 MTG World Championship.
