Today, we are joined by Wil Dizon, Editor-in-Chief of The Pinoy Planeswalker — a site dedicated to the Magic: the Gathering scene in the Philippines. Catch more Magic related articles and content beginning today here at eSports Inquirer.

What happens when you fuse together Tolkien-esque fantasy lore, chess-like representational mechanics and the factors of luck and randomness in card games?

More than ten million people play it and hundreds of derivative games are made in its wake. This is exactly what happened in 1993 when Richard Garfield created a game that would change the course of trading card history into what it is today.

Magic: the Gathering (MtG) is a Collectible Card Game (CCG) —  the root and grand daddy of the genre. Garfield, its creator, got Wizards of the Coast to publish the game more than 20 years ago. The game has since skyrocketed to dominate a niche market that grew around its existence. It has been printed in at least a dozen languages and is played in all six habitable continents (I’m willing to bet that someone might have used it to wane off boredom somewhere in Antarctica even).

In the Philippines, the game’s following has steadily grown strong and wide since it hit local shores in the early 90s. As a matter of fact, the Philippines has a well-developed local following for the game that it has been able to host what is known as MtG Grand Prix (GP) – Manila six times to date. MtG GPs are premier international brand tournaments hosted across the world catering to the international MtG community.

There are two Filipino and four Japanese champions of GP – Manila. Since the first GP in the country to the most recent one in 2012, close to 5,000 people have come to participate. The spectacle features international traders who haul with them an overwhelming array of collectible goodies, guest artists whose art appears on the actual cards, a gamut of side events for almost every type of player and the opportunity to play with the best players from around the world.

Czech pro Martin Juza squares off against the country’s own Raymond Tan at the playoffs of GP – Manila 2012 (Photo: Wil Dizon)

The uninitiated is bound to be surprised on how many talented and brilliant people travel around the world to play Magic: the Gathering, to play at venues such as GP – Manila. This year’s GP poses to shatter its own records with a projected attendance of at least 1,500 players. Set to happen at the SMX Convention Center from Jan. 2 to 4, GP – Manila 2015’s main event offers over $30,000 worth of prizes with the champion getting $4,000, a trophy and a ticket to compete in the highest tournament available to the game: the MtG Professional Tour.

As an added attraction, attendance gifts for participants in the form of exclusive playmats and promotional GP-only cards (believed to be collectively worth more than the registration fee itself) are to be distributed while supplies last. There is little doubt that the 1,100+ attendance from GP – Manila 2012 will be dwarfed by that of GP – Manila 2015.

The scene of MtG in the country has never been as vibrant and alive as it is today with local players preparing to fight the battle to keep this year’s Grand Prix gold on Filipino soil. Our cardslingers prepare for yet another a siege; an invasion of the heartland to be determined by both luck and skill.

But as James Porter, GP – Manila 2006 Champion, says, “Luck plays a truly significant role in winning big time tournaments, but luck favors those who are prepared. If a thousand Pinoy players come to the next GP armed and in optimal focus; one of us will certainly luck-out and win the whole thing once again. Kasi yan ang totoo.”

MtG legend Yuuya Watanabe took home the trophy for GP – Manila in 2012. Will the Japanese phenom repeat his performance in 2015? (Photo: Wizards of the Coast)

Will 2015 give us our third Filipino GP – Manila Champion? SMX Convention Center is certain to bear witness to major cardboard carnage.

I am Wil Dizon. Editor-in-Chief of The Pinoy Planeswalker, a national internet media news group that provides timely and relevant information and content for and about the Filipino Magic: the Gathering community and I look forward to seeing you this January.

Event Information for GP – Manila 2015

Main Event Registration Fee: P2,000
Event Venue: SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia.
Registration online until Dec. 30 at 12 a.m.
Registration will be held on-site Friday, Jan. 2 from 2 p.m. – 9 p.m.
There will be no on-site registration on Saturday.

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