Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour season 2000–01

The 2000–01 Pro Tour season was the sixth season of the Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour. On 23 September 2000 the season began with parallel Grand Prixs in Sapporo and Porto. It ended on 12 August 2001 with the conclusion of the 2001 World Championship in Toronto. The season consisted of 27 Grand Prixs and 6 Pro Tours, held in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Barcelona, and Toronto. Also special Master Series tournaments were held at four Pro Tours. These tournaments featured huge cash prizes, but were open to only 32 players. At the end of the season Kai Budde was proclaimed Pro Player of the Year, making him the only player to win the title more than once.

2000–01 Pro Tour season
Pro Player of the YearGermany Kai Budde
Rookie of the YearJapan Katsuhiro Mori
World ChampionNetherlands Tom Van de Logt
Pro Tours6
Grands Prix27
Masters4
Start of season23 September 2000
End of season12 August 2001

Grand Prixs – Sapporo, Porto

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Pro Tour – New York (29 September – 1 October 2000)

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New York was the second team Pro Tour. Scott Johns made his fifth final day appearance. His team, "Potato Nation", did not lose a match throughout the tournament.[1] At PT New York the master series had its debut. This was a tournament series featuring huge cash prizes, but open only to the very best players in the world. The 25 players with the most Pro Points and the 5 Players with the highest rating in the format of the Masters were invited. Additionally a gateway tournament was held on the day before the Pro Tour. In that tournament each Pro Player with at least six Pro Points could compete for one of two additional slots.

Tournament data

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Prize pool: $202,200
Players: 330 (110 teams)
Format: Team Sealed (Mercadian Masques, Nemesis, Prophecy) – first day, Team Rochester Draft (Mercadian Masques-Nemesis-Prophecy) – final two days
Head Judge: Dan Gray[2]

Top 4

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Semi-finals Finals
      
Potato Nation 2
Draften und Spielen 1
Potato Nation 2
Car Acrobatic Team 0
Car Acrobatic Team 2
Rolled-Up Aces 1

Final standings

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Place Team Player Prize Pro Points Comment
1 Potato Nation   Scott Johns $60,000 24 5th Top 8 finish
  Mike Turian 24
  Gary Wise 24 2nd Final day
2 Car Acrobatic Team   Andrew Cuneo $30,000 12
  Aaron Forsythe 12
  Andrew Johnson 12
3 Rolled-Up Aces   Dan Clegg $18,000 10
  Shawn Keller 10 2nd Final day
  Thomas Keller 10
4 Draften und Spielen   Christian Lührs $15,000 10 3rd Final day
  Patrick Mello 10
  Stephan Valkyser 10

Masters – Extended

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1st Round 2nd Round Quarter-finals Semi-finals Finals
               
1 Kai Budde
Jason Zila 2
Jason Zila 2
Tony Dobson
16 Mark Le Pine
Tony Dobson 2
Jason Zila 2
8 Ben Rubin 0
8 Ben Rubin 2
Gary Wise
Ben Rubin 2
Trevor Blackwell
9 Trevor Blackwell 2
Jon Finkel
Jason Zila 2
12 Sigurd Eskeland 0
4 Kyle Rose 2
Raffaele Lo Moro
Kyle Rose
Warren Marsh 2
13 Warren Marsh 2
Justin Gary
13 Warren Marsh 0
12 Sigurd Eskeland 2
5 Alex Shvartsman 2
Zvi Mowshowitz
Alex Shvartsman
Sigurd Eskeland 2
12 Sigurd Eskeland 2
Steven O'Mahoney-Schwartz
Jason Zila 1
6 William Jensen 2
2 Darwin Kastle
Trey Van Cleave 2
Trey Van Cleave 2
Kurt Burgner
15 Raphaël Lévy
Kurt Burgner 2
Trey Van Cleave 2
Dirk Baberowski 1
7 Alan Comer
Dirk Baberowski 2
Dirk Baberowski 2
Christian Lührs
10 Dave Humpherys
Christian Lührs 2
Trey Van Cleave 0
6 William Jensen 2
3 Bob Maher, Jr. 2
Franck Canu
Bob Maher, Jr. 2
Rob Dougherty
14 Rob Dougherty 2
John Masks
3 Bob Maher, Jr. 0
6 William Jensen 2
6 William Jensen 2
Nicolai Herzog
William Jensen 2
Olivier Ruel
11 Matt Linde
Olivier Ruel 2

Pro Player of the year standings

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Rank Player Pro Points
1   Scott Johns 24
  Mike Turian 24
  Gary Wise 24
4   Antoine Ruel 14
5   Olivier Ruel 13

Grand Prixs – Manchester, Helsinki, Dallas, Kyoto, Phoenix, Sydney, Florence, Buenos Aires

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Pro Tour – Chicago (1–3 December 2000)

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Chicago was the first Pro Tour featuring the Standard format since Dallas more than four years before. In a top eight which is considered to be one of the best ever,[1] Kai Budde won the title against Kamiel Cornelissen. He thus became the third player to win two Pro Tours. With the exception of Jay Elarar, every player in the top eight now has at least three Pro Tour top eights, including a win. In the Masters event Ben Rubin defeated Jon Finkel in the final.

Tournament data

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Prize pool: $200,130
Players: 332
Format: Standard
Head Judge: Mike Donais[2]

Top 8

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Quarter-finals Semi-finals Finals
         
1 Kai Budde 3
8 Jay Elarar 2
Kai Budde 3
Brian Kibler 1
4 Zvi Mowshowitz 1
5 Brian Kibler 3
Kai Budde 3
Kamiel Cornelissen 0
2 Jon Finkel 1
7 Kamiel Cornelissen 3
Kamiel Cornelissen 3
Rob Dougherty 1
3 Michael Pustilnik 1
6 Rob Dougherty 3

Final standings

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Place Player Prize Pro Points Comment
1   Kai Budde $30,000 32 2nd Final day, 2nd Pro Tour win
2   Kamiel Cornelissen $20,000 24
3   Brian Kibler $15,000 16
4   Rob Dougherty $13,000 16 3rd Final day
5   Jon Finkel $9,000 12 8th Final day
6   Michael Pustilnik $8,500 12 2nd Final day
7   Zvi Mowshowitz $8,000 12 2nd Final day
8   Jay Elarar $7,500 12

Masters – Booster Draft

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1st Round 2nd Round Quarter-finals Semi-finals Finals
               
1 Bob Maher, Jr.
32 Kai Budde
Bob Maher, Jr. 2
Brian Davis
16 Brian Davis
17 Zvi Mowshowitz
Bob Maher Jr. 1
Kyle Rose 2
8 Gary Wise 2
25 Dan Clegg
Gary Wise
Kyle Rose 2
9 Kyle Rose 2
24 Jelger Wiegersma
Kyle Rose ?
Ben Rubin 2
4 Ben Rubin 2
29 Igor Freayman
Ben Rubin 2
Thomas Preyer
13 Raphaël Lévy
20 Thomas Preyer 2
Ben Rubin 2
David Williams ?
5 William Jensen
28 David Williams 2
David Williams 2
Michael Long
12 Warren Marsh
21 Mike Long 2
Ben Rubin 2
Jon Finkel 0
2 Jon Finkel 2
31 John Ormerod
Jon Finkel 2
Joe Weber
15 Stephan Valkyser
18 Joeb Weber 2
Jon Finkel 2
Mike Bregoli 1
7 Trevor Blackwell
26 Mike Bregoli 2
Mike Bregoli 2
Jakub Slemr
10 Sigurd Eskeland
23 Jakub Slemr 2
Jon Finkel 2
Alex Shvartsman 0
3 Alex Shvartsman 2
30 Andrew Cuneo
Alex Shvartsman 2
Ryan Fuller
14 Mike Turian
19 Ryan Fuller 2
Alex Shvartsman 2
Christian Lührs 1
6 Darwin Kastle
27 Satoshi Nakamura 2
Satoshi Nakamura
Christian Lührs 2
11 Chris Benafel
22 Christian Lührs 2

Pro Player of the year standings

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Rank Player Pro Points
1   Kai Budde 40
2   Scott Johns 35
3   Mike Turian 29
4   Kamiel Cornelissen 28
  Gary Wise 28

Grand Prixs – Singapore, New Orleans, Amsterdam, Hiroshima

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Pro Tour – Los Angeles (2–4 February 2001)

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The 2001 Pro Tour Los Angeles was the last Pro Tour held on the Queen Mary, were all previous Pro Tours in Los Angeles had been held. In a final eight featuring three players, who had also been amongst the last eight in Chicago, Michael Pustilnik took the title and thus the lead in the Pro Player of the year standings.[1] Kamiel Cornelissen also made his second consecutive second place Pro Tour finish, the first person to do so in Pro Tour history.[1]

Tournament data

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Players: 327
Prize Pool: $200,130
Format: Rochester Draft (Invasion)
Head Judge: Collin Jackson[2]

Top 8

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Quarter-finals Semi-finals Finals
         
1 Michael Pustilnik 3
8 Lawrence Creech 1
Michael Pustilnik 3
Benedikt Klauser 1
4 Benedikt Klauser 3
5 Erno Ekebom 1
Michael Pustilnik 3
Kamiel Cornelissen 2
2 Michael Gurney 1
7 Jon Finkel 3
Jon Finkel 0
Kamiel Cornelissen 3
3 Kyle Rose 1
6 Kamiel Cornelissen 3

Final standings

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Place Player Prize Pro Points Comment
1   Michael Pustilnik $30,000 32 3rd Final day
2   Kamiel Cornelissen $20,000 24 2nd Final day
3   Benedikt Klauser $15,000 16 3rd Final day
4   Jon Finkel $13,000 16 9th Final day
5   Kyle Rose $9,000 12 4th Final day
6   Michael Gurney $8,500 12
7   Erno Ekebom $8,000 12 2nd Final day
8   Lawrence Creech $7,500 12

Pro Player of the year standings

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Rank Player Pro Points
1   Michael Pustilnik 55
2   Kamiel Cornelissen 52
3   Kai Budde 47
4   Scott Johns 40
5   Gary Wise 37

Grand Prixs – Kaohsiung, Valencia, Cologne, Boston, Prague, Rio de Janeiro

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Pro Tour – Tokyo (16–18 March 2001)

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The 2001 Pro Tour Tokyo saw a number of interesting firsts for the Pro Tour. Canadian player Ryan Fuller became the first player to go undefeated in the Swiss rounds of a Pro Tour, finishing with a 14–0 record.[1] Also, Tsuyoshi Fujita became the first Japanese player to make a Pro Tour Top 8.[1] Ultimately it was future Hall of Fame member Zvi Mowshowitz who would take the title, winning his first individual Pro Tour.

Tournament data

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Players: 270
Prize Pool: $200,130
Format: Invasion Block Constructed (Invasion, Planeshift)
Head Judge: Chris Zantides[2]

Top 8

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Quarter-finals Semi-finals Finals
         
1 Ryan Fuller 2
8 Chris Benafel 3
Chris Benafel 1
Zvi Mowshowitz 3
4 Frederico Bastos 0
5 Zvi Mowshowitz 3
Zvi Mowshowitz 3
Tsuyoshi Fujita 0
2 David Williams 1
7 Tsuyoshi Fujita 3
Lucas Hager 1
Tsuyoshi Fujita 3
3 Philip Freneau 0
6 Lucas Hager 3

Final standings

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Place Player Prize Pro Points Comment
1   Zvi Mowshowitz $30,000 32 3rd Final day
2   Tsuyoshi Fujita $20,000 24 1st Asian Player in a Top 8, 1st Japanese Player in a Top 8
3   Lucas Hager $15,000 16
4   Chris Benafel $13,000 16 2nd Final day
5   Ryan Fuller $9,000 12 2nd Final day
6   Philip Freneau $8,500 12
7   David Williams $8,000 12
8   Frederico Bastos $7,500 12 1st Portuguese Player in a Top 8

Masters – Team Rochester Draft

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Quarter-finals Semi-finals Finals
         
1 Your Move Games 1
8 Car Acrobatic Team 2
Car Acrobatic Team ?
Panzer Hunter 2
4 Team Outland 0
5 Panzer Hunters 2
Panzer Hunter 1
AlphaBetaUnlimited.com 2
2 Potato Nation ?
7 AlphaBetaUnlimited.com 2
AlphaBetaUnlimited.com 2
Black Ops 0
3 Black Ops 2
6 Game Empire ?
Team Player Team Player
AlphaBetaUnlimited.com   Ryan Fuller Panzer Hunter   Momose Kazuyuki
  Noah Boeken   Itaru Ishida
  Chris Benafel   Reiji Ando
Black-Ops   Florent Jeudon Potato Nation   Scott Johns
  Antoine Ruel   Gary Wise
  Olivier Ruel   Mike Turian
Car Acrobatic Team   Andrew Johnson Team Outland   Nicolai Herzog
  Andrew Cuneo   Eivind Nitter
  Aaron Forsythe   Bjorn Jocumsen
Game Empire   Kurt Burgner Your Move Games   Rob Dougherty
  Alan Comer   Dave Humpherys
  Brian Selden   Darwin Kastle

Pro Player of the year standings

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Rank Player Pro Points
1   Michael Pustilnik 60
2   Kamiel Cornelissen 58
3   Kai Budde 50
4   Scott Johns 49
  Zvi Mowshowitz 49

Grand Prixs – Gothenburg, Detroit, Moscow

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Pro Tour – Barcelona (4–6 May 2001)

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In Barcelona Kai Budde became the first player to win three Pro Tours overall and also the first to win two Pro Tours in a single season.[1] Ben Rubin won the Masters and thus became the only player to win two Masters tournaments.

Tournament data

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Players: 335
Prize Pool: $200,130
Format: Booster Draft (Invasion-Planeshift)
Head Judge: Thomas Bisballe[2]

Top 8

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Quarter-finals Semi-finals Finals
         
1 Dan Clegg 3
8 Chad Ellis 0
Dan Clegg 2
Alan Comer 3
4 Alan Comer 3
5 Brad Swan 0
Alan Comer 1
Kai Budde 3
2 Kai Budde 3
7 Albertus Law 0
Kai Budde 3
Patrick Mello 1
3 Patrick Mello 3
6 Yuri Kolomeyko 0

Final standings

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Place Player Prize Pro Points Comment
1   Kai Budde $30,000 32 3rd Final day, 3rd Pro Tour win
2   Alan Comer $20,000 24 5th Final day
3   Dan Clegg $15,000 16 2nd Final day
4   Patrick Mello $13,000 16 2nd Final day
5   Brad Swan $9,000 12
6   Albertus Law $8,500 12 1st Singaporean in a Top 8
7   Yuri Kolomeyko $8,000 12 1st Ukrainian in a Top 8
8   Chad Ellis $7,500 12

Masters – Invasion Block Constructed

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1st Round 2nd Round Quarter-final Semi-finals Finals
               
1 Jon Finkel
32 Arto Hiltunen
Jon Finkel 2
Benedikt Klauser
16 Benedikt Klauser 2
17 William Jensen
Jon Finkel 2
Ryan Fuller 1
8 Ryan Fuller 2
25 Darwin Kastle
Ryan Fuller 2
Dave Humpherys
9 Tsuyoshi Fujita
24 Dave Humpherys 2
Jon Finkel 0
Ben Rubin 2
4 Kamiel Cornelissen
29 Ben Rubin 2
Ben Rubin 2
Rob Dougherty
13 Rob Dougherty 2
20 Philip Freneau
Ben Rubin 2
Tuomo Nieminen 1
5 Kai Budde
28 Tuomo Nieminen 2
Tuomo Nieminen 2
David Williams
12 Sigurd Eskeland
21 David Williams 2
Ben Rubin 2
Jay Elarar 0
2 Zvi Mowshowitz 2
31 Warren Marsh
Zvi Mowshowitz 2
Noah Boeken
15 Noah Boeken 2
18 Antoine Ruel
Zvi Mowshowitz 2
Markus Bell 0
7 Chris Benafel
26 Tommi Hovi 2
Tommi Hovi
Markus Bell 2
10 Scott Johns
23 Markus Bell 2
Zvi Mowshowitz 0
Jay Elarar 2
3 Michael Pustilnik
30 Mike Turian 2
Mike Turian 2
Alex Shvartsman
14 Alex Shvartsman 2
19 Olivier Ruel
Mike Turian 0
Jay Elarar 2
6 Bob Maher, Jr.
27 Jay Elarar 2
Jay Elarar 2
Gary Wise
11 Gary Wise 2
22 Satoshi Nakamura

Pro Player of the year standings

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Rank Player Pro Points
1   Kai Budde 83
2   Michael Pustilnik 66
3   Kamiel Cornelissen 64
4   Ryan Fuller 55
  Scott Johns 55

Grand Prixs – Yokohama, Turin, Taipei, Columbus

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2001 World Championships – Toronto (8–12 August 2001)

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Tom Van de Logt won the World Championship while the United States took the team title. The final eight featured amongst several rather unknown players Antoine Ruel, Tommi Hovi, Mike Turian and David Williams, who had the dubious honour of becoming the first player to be disqualified from a Top 8.

Tournament data

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Prize pool: $210,200 (individual) + $189,000 (national teams)
Players: 296
Formats: Standard, Rochester Draft (Invasion-Planeshift-Apocalypse), Extended
Head Judge: Mike Donais[2]

Top 8

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Quarter-finals Semi-finals Finals
         
1 Antoine Ruel 3
8 Tommi Hovi 2
Antoine Ruel 2
Tom Van de Logt 3
4 Tom Van de Logt
5 David Williams DQ
Tom Van de Logt 3
Alex Borteh 0
2 Alex Borteh 3
7 Jan Tomcani 2
Alex Borteh 3
Andrea Santin 1
3 Andrea Santin 3
6 Mike Turian 2

Final standings

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Place Player Prize Pro Points Comment
1   Tom Van de Logt $35,000 32 2nd Final day, 1st Dutch Player to win a Pro Tour
2   Alex Borteh $23,000 24
3   Antoine Ruel $15,000 16
4   Andrea Santin $13,000 16
5   Mike Turian $9,000 12 2nd Final day
6   Jan Tomcani $8,500 12 1st Slovakian in a Top 8
7   Tommi Hovi $8,000 12 4th Final day
8   John Ormerod $7,500 12 2nd Final day*

* John Ormerod did not actually play in the final eight. When David Williams was disqualified he advanced to the eight place in the final standings, though.

National team competition

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  1.   United States (Trevor Blackwell, Brian Hegstad, Eugene Harvey)
  2.   Norway (Nicolai Herzog, Oyvind Odegaard, Jan Pieter Groenhof)

Pro Player of the year final standings

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After the World Championship Kai Budde was awarded the Pro Player of the year title. He thus became the first player to win the title more than once.

Rank Player Pro Points
1   Kai Budde 88
2   Kamiel Cornelissen 75
3   Michael Pustilnik 71
4   Chris Benafel 65
5   Ryan Fuller 64
  Zvi Mowshowitz 64

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Rosewater, Mark (9 August 2004). "On Tour, Part 2". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2 March 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Head Judges of Pro Tours and World Championships". XS4ALL. 30 October 2009. Retrieved 16 November 2009.