Regional Championships (RCs) are qualifying Magic: The Gathering tournaments introduced in 2022 as part of the Premier Play program. They are the second step en route to the World Championship, after the Regional Championship Qualifiers.[1] Regional Championships are invitation-only events.[2][3]
Description
Each Regional Championship is a major Magic event — a focal point for play in your national or international region. Regional Championships happen three times a year and are typically scheduled several months ahead of their corresponding Pro Tour. In addition to the prize pool, the Championship awards invitations to these Pro Tours.
Regional Championships are run by the same groups who organize the local qualifiers. Note that you can only participate in one region's Regional Championship for each round of Championships.
Win your Regional Championship (or finish second in the USA, EMEA, or Japanese Championship), and you'll earn a qualification straight to the World Championship on top of your Pro Tour invite.
Regional Championship details differs based on each individual region. The number of invites to the Pro Tour awarded, prizes, and any additional information will be communicated by each regional organizer.
Invites
Most of the invites stem from Regional Championship Qualifiers (RCQs) held at local stores or larger conventions. On the Friday before each Regional Championship, the event hall can also hold Last Chance Qualifiers.
Some invites to Regional Championships are the same across regions. Those include:
- Store Qualifier Winners
- Players already qualified for the Pro Tour, which is fed by the corresponding Regional Championship
- Magic Online Qualifiers
- MTG Arena Qualifiers
Members of the Magic: The Gathering Hall of Fame are invited to one Regional Championship and Pro Tour per season. Those events must be in the same round and cannot be in the same round in which they played in a Regional Championship Qualifier.
Regions
The invitation list for the 2024–25 Pro Tour Season consists of the following:
| Region | Organizer | Max. attendance | Prizes | PT invites | WC invites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia/New Zealand | Good Games / Let's Play Games[4] | 400 | $15.000 | 10 | 1 |
| Brazil | City Class Games / Devir BR[4] | 250 | $25.000 | 6 | 1 |
| Canada | Face to Face Games | 500 | $40.000 | 12 | 2 |
| China | Kadou | 180 | $18.000 | 8 | 1 |
| Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) | Game Square | 64 | $5.200 | 3 | 1 |
| Japan/S.Korea | Big Magic | 256 | $27.200 | 16 | 2 |
| Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) | Fanfinity | 500 | $100.000 | 36 | 2 |
| Mexico/Central America/Caribbean (MCAC) | Central American Magic Series | 128 | $25.000 | 4 | 1 |
| South America | Magic Sur / Devir BR[4] | 226 | $15.000 | 4 | 1 |
| Southeast Asia | Oracle Events | 203 | $15.000 | 6 | 1 |
| USA | StarCityGames | 1200 | $130.000 | 64 | 4 |
Promos
Each Regional Championship cycle has its own set of promo cards for participants and top finishers, which are revealed ahead of that cycle's events and awarded while supplies last.
| Year | RC | Format | For Pro Tour | Participation promo Alternate art |
Top Finish Prize card |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 11-12 | Pioneer | Phyrexia (Philadelphia) | Teferi, Hero of Dominaria | Same in foil |
| 2023 | 03-04 | Standard | March of the Machine (Minneapolis) | Gideon, Ally of Zendikar | Same in foil |
| 2023 | 06-07 | Pioneer | The Lord of the Rings (Barcelona) | Snapcaster Mage | Same in foil |
| 2023 | 09-12 | Pioneer | Murders at Karlov Manor (Chicago) | Ugin, the Spirit Dragon | Same in foil Sauron, the Dark Lord (alternate art, foil) |
| 2024 | 01-19 | Modern | Outlaws of Thunder Junction (Seattle) | Dragonlord Silumgar | Same in foil |
| 2024 | 05-04 | Standard | Modern Horizons 3 (Amsterdam) | Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle | Same in foil |
| 2024 | 09-28 | Pioneer | Aetherdrift (Chicago) | Seasoned Pyromancer | Same in foil |
| 2025 | 01-04 | Modern | Final Fantasy (Las Vegas) | Nexus of Fate | Same in foil |
| 2025 | 04-19 | Standard | Edge of Eternities (Atlanta) | Same in foil |
- See also
- Qualifier#Promos
References
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (March 31, 2022). "Return of the Pro Tour, Your Path to Playing Magic at the Highest Level". Magic.gg.
- ↑ Frank Karsten (November 17, 2022). "Metagame Mentor: Pioneer Before the Regional Championships". Magic.gg.
- ↑ Frank Karsten (January 2, 2025). "Metagame Mentor: How to Qualify for the Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour". Magic.gg.
- ↑ a b c Wizards of the Coast (January 15, 2025). "Regional Championship Updates for the 2025–2026 Season". Magic.gg.