# Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour season 2009

The 2009 Pro Tour season was the fourteenth season of the Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour. It began on 17 January 2009 with Grand Prix Los Angeles, and ended on 22 November 2009 with the conclusion of the 2009 World Championship in Rome. The season consisted of nineteen Grand Prixs, and four Pro Tours, located in Kyoto, Honolulu, Austin, and Rome. At the end of the season, Yuuya Watanabe was awarded the Pro Player of the Year, making him the first player to win both that title and the Rookie of the Year title which he had won two years prior. Frank Karsten, Kamiel Cornelissen, and Antoine Ruel were inducted into the Hall of Fame at the world championships in Rome.

## Mode

Four Pro Tours and nineteen Grand Prixs will be held in the 2009 season. Further Pro Points will be awarded at national championships. These Pro Points will be used mainly to determine the Pro Player club levels of players participating in these events, but also decide which player will be awarded the Pro Player of the year title at the end of the season. Based on final standings Pro Points were awarded as follows:
| Rank | Pro Points awarded at | Pro Points awarded at | Pro Points awarded at | Pro Points awarded at |
| Rank | Pro Tour | Grand Prix | Nationals | Worlds (Team) |
| 1 | 25 | 10 | 10 | 6 |
| 2 | 20 | 8 | 8 | 5 |
| 3–4 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
| 5–8 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| 9–12 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 13–16 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 17–24 | 7 | 2 | | |
| 25–32 | 6 | 2 | | |
| 33–64 | 5 | 1 | | |
| 65–100 | 4 | | | |
| 101–200 | 3 | | | |
| 201+ | 2 | | | |

## Pro Tour – Kyoto (27 February – 1 March 2009)

Pro Tour veteran Gabriel Nassif defeated Luis Scott-Vargas in the finals of Pro Tour Kyoto, giving him his first individual title in his ninth Top 8.

### Tournament data

Prize pool: $230,795 Players: 381 Format: Standard, Booster Draft Head Judge: Riccardo Tessitori

### Top 8

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Luis Scott-Vargas | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Masayasu Tanahashi | 0 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Masayasu Tanahashi | 0 | Luis Scott-Vargas | Luis Scott-Vargas | 3 | | | |
| | | | Brian Robinson | Brian Robinson | 1 | | | |
| 4 | Cedric Philips | 0 | Brian Robinson | Brian Robinson | 1 | | | |
| 5 | Brian Robinson | 3 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Brian Robinson | 3 | | | | Luis Scott-Vargas | Luis Scott-Vargas | 2 |
| | | | | | | Gabriel Nassif | Gabriel Nassif | 3 |
| 2 | Matteo Orsini Jones | 2 | | | | | | | Gabriel Nassif | Gabriel Nassif | 3 |
| 7 | Gabriel Nassif | 3 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Gabriel Nassif | 3 | Gabriel Nassif | Gabriel Nassif | 3 | | | |
| | | | Akimasa Yamamoto | Akimasa Yamamoto | 1 | | | |
| 3 | Akimasa Yamamoto | 3 | Akimasa Yamamoto | Akimasa Yamamoto | 1 | | | |
| 6 | Jan Ruess | 2 | | | | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Gabriel Nassif | $40,000 | 25 | 9th Final day, 2nd Pro Tour win |
| 2 | Luis Scott-Vargas | $20,000 | 20 | 2nd Final day |
| 3 | Akimasa Yamamoto | $15,000 | 16 | |
| 4 | Brian Robinson | $13,000 | 16 | Pro Tour debut |
| 5 | Matteo Orsini-Jones | $11,000 | 12 | |
| 6 | Cedric Philips | $10,500 | 12 | |
| 7 | Jan Ruess | $10,000 | 12 | 2nd Final day |
| 8 | Masayu Tanahashi | $9,500 | 12 | |

### Pro Player of the year standings

| Rank | Player | Pro Points |
| 1 | Luis Scott-Vargas | 30 |
| 2 | Gabriel Nassif | 29 |
| 3 | Brian Robinson | 16 |
| 3 | Akimasa Yamamoto | 16 |
| 5 | Martin Juza | 14 |

## Pro Tour Honolulu (5–7 June 2009)

In his second Pro Tour finals appearance, Kazuya Mitamura defeated Pro Tour newcomer Michal Hebky.

### Tournament data

Prize pool: $230,795 Players: 396 Format: Booster Draft, Block Constructed Head Judge: Toby Elliot

### Top 8

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Christophe Gregoir | 1 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Kazuya Mitamura | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Kazuya Mitamura | 3 | Kazuya Mitamura | Kazuya Mitamura | 3 | | | |
| | | | Paul Rietzl | Paul Rietzl | 0 | | | |
| 4 | Paul Rietzl | 3 | Paul Rietzl | Paul Rietzl | 0 | | | |
| 5 | Tom Ross | 2 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Tom Ross | 2 | | | | Kazuya Mitamura | Kazuya Mitamura | 3 |
| | | | | | | Michal Hebky | Michal Hebky | 2 |
| 2 | Brian Kibler | 1 | | | | | | | Michal Hebky | Michal Hebky | 2 |
| 7 | Conley Woods | 3 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Conley Woods | 3 | Conley Woods | Conley Woods | 2 | | | |
| | | | Michal Hebky | Michal Hebky | 3 | | | |
| 3 | Zac Hill | 2 | Michal Hebky | Michal Hebky | 3 | | | |
| 6 | Michal Hebky | 3 | | | | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Kazuya Mitamura | $40,000 | 25 | 3rd Final day |
| 2 | Michael Hebky | $20,000 | 20 | |
| 3 | Paul Rietzl | $15,000 | 16 | |
| 4 | Conley Woods | $13,000 | 16 | |
| 5 | Christophe Gregoir | $11,000 | 12 | |
| 6 | Zac Hill | $10,500 | 12 | |
| 7 | Brian Kibler | $10,000 | 12 | 2nd Final day |
| 8 | Tom Ross | $9,500 | 12 | |

### Pro Player of the year standings

| Rank | Player | Pro Points |
| 1 | Luis Scott-Vargas | 45 |
| 2 | Gabriel Nassif | 44 |
| 3 | Tomoharu Saitou | 36 |
| 4 | Kazuya Mitamura | 32 |
| 5 | Michal Hebky | 27 |

## Pro Tour Austin (16–18 October 2009)

Both enjoying a comeback to the top level of Magic, Brian Kibler and Tsuyoshi Ikeda met in the finals, with Kibler winning in his second top eight in 2009.

### Tournament data

Prize pool: $230,795 Players: 416 Format: Extended, Booster Draft Head Judge: Riccardo Tessitori

### Top 8

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Tsuyoshi Ikeda | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa | 2 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa | 2 | Tsuyoshi Ikeda | Tsuyoshi Ikeda | 3 | | | |
| | | | Naoki Shimizu | Naoki Shimizu | 1 | | | |
| 4 | Martin Juza | 2 | Naoki Shimizu | Naoki Shimizu | 1 | | | |
| 5 | Naoki Shimizu | 3 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Naoki Shimizu | 3 | | | | Tsuyoshi Ikeda | Tsuyoshi Ikeda | 0 |
| | | | | | | Brian Kibler | Brian Kibler | 3 |
| 2 | Evangelos Papatrarouchas | 2 | | | | | | | Brian Kibler | Brian Kibler | 3 |
| 7 | Brian Kibler | 3 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Brian Kibler | 3 | Brian Kibler | Brian Kibler | 3 | | | |
| | | | Hunter Burton | Hunter Burton | 2 | | | |
| 3 | Yuuya Watanabe | 2 | Hunter Burton | Hunter Burton | 2 | | | |
| 6 | Hunter Burton | 3 | | | | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Brian Kibler | $40,000 | 25 | 3rd Final day |
| 2 | Tsuyoshi Ikeda | $20,000 | 20 | 4th Final day |
| 3 | Naoki Shimizu | $15,000 | 16 | |
| 4 | Hunter Burton | $13,000 | 16 | |
| 5 | Evangelos Papatrarouchas | $11,000 | 12 | |
| 6 | Yuuya Watanabe | $10,500 | 12 | |
| 7 | Martin Juza | $10,000 | 12 | 2nd Final day |
| 8 | Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa | $9,500 | 12 | 5th Final day |

### Pro Player of the year standings

| Rank | Player | Pro Points |
| 1 | Yuuya Watanabe | 62 |
| 2 | Martin Juza | 54 |
| 3 | Tomoharu Saitou | 51 |
| 4 | Gabriel Nassif | 50 |
| 5 | Shuhei Nakamura | 48 |
| 5 | Luis Scott-Vargas | 48 |

## 2009 World Championships – Rome (19–22 November 2009)

The 2009 World Championship marked several firsts in Pro Tour history. For the first time ever, eight different countries were represented in the quarterfinals, and there were no American or Japanese players in the top eight. Playing in his second Worlds top eight, André Coimbra of Portugal defeated Austrian David Reitbauer to become World Champion. In the team event, Austria finished second as well, losing to the Chinese team in the final.

### Tournament data

Prize pool: $245,245 (individual) + $192,425 (teams) Players: 409 (55 National teams) Formats: Standard, Booster Draft, Extended Team Formats: Standard, Extended, Legacy Head Judge: Sheldon Menery

### Top 8

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | David Reitbauer | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Florian Pils | 0 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Florian Pils | 0 | David Reitbauer | David Reitbauer | 3 | | | |
| | | | Terry Soh | Terry Soh | 2 | | | |
| 4 | Terry Soh | 3 | Terry Soh | Terry Soh | 2 | | | |
| 5 | Manuel Bucher | 2 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Manuel Bucher | 2 | | | | David Reitbauer | David Reitbauer | 0 |
| | | | | | | André Coimbra | André Coimbra | 3 |
| 2 | William Cavaglieri | 2 | | | | | | | André Coimbra | André Coimbra | 3 |
| 7 | Bram Snepvangers | 3 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Bram Snepvangers | 3 | Bram Snepvangers | Bram Snepvangers | 2 | | | |
| | | | André Coimbra | André Coimbra | 3 | | | |
| 3 | André Coimbra | 3 | André Coimbra | André Coimbra | 3 | | | |
| 6 | Marijn Lybaert | 1 | | | | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | André Coimbra | $45,000 | 25 | 2nd Final day, first Portuguese player to win a Pro Tour |
| 2 | David Reitbauer | $24,000 | 20 | |
| 3 | Terry Soh | $15,000 | 16 | 3rd Final day |
| 4 | Bram Snepvangers | $14,000 | 16 | 4th Final day |
| 5 | William Cavaglieri | $11,000 | 12 | |
| 6 | Manuel Bucher | $10,500 | 12 | |
| 7 | Marijn Lybaert | $10,000 | 12 | 3rd Final day |
| 8 | Florian Pils | $9,500 | 12 | |

### National team competition

* China (Wu Tong, Bo Li, Zhiyang Zhang)
* Austria (Benedikt Klauser, Benjamin Rozhon, Bernhard Lehner)
* Czech Republic (Lukas Jaklovsky, Lukas Blohon, Jan Kotrla)
* Netherlands (Kevin Grove, Niels Noorlander, Tom van Lamoen)

## Pro Player of the year final standings

After the World Championship, Yuuya Watanabe was awarded the Pro Player of the year title, making him the fifth consecutive Japanese player to win the award.
| Rank | Player | Pro Points |
| 1 | Yuuya Watanabe | 78 |
| 2 | Tomoharu Saitou | 66 |
| 3 | Martin Juza | 64 |
| 4 | Gabriel Nassif | 60 |
| 5 | Shuhei Nakamura | 56 |
| 5 | Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa | 56 |
| 7 | Luis Scott-Vargas | 52 |
| 8 | Kazuya Mitamura | 50 |

## Performance by country

The United States had the most Top 8 appearances at ten, but they also had by far the most players playing in the Pro Tour. With Japan at 17 they share the highest number of level 4+ professional Magic players, too.
| Country | T8 | Q | Q/T8 | M | GT | Best Player (PPts) |
| United States | 10 | 426 | 43 | 208 | 17 | Luis Scott-Vargas (52) |
| Japan | 6 | 175 | 29 | 149 | 17 | Yuuya Watanabe (78) |
| Germany | 2 | 73 | 37 | 168 | 5 | Lino Burgold (32) |
| Belgium | 2 | 34 | 17 | 191 | 4 | Marijn Lybaert (25) |
| Czech Republic | 2 | 35 | 18 | 113 | 3 | Martin Juza (64) |
| France | 1 | 81 | 81 | 198 | 5 | Gabriel Nassif (60) |
| Brazil | 1 | 39 | 39 | 196 | 2 | Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa (56) |
| Italy | 1 | 73 | 73 | 248 | 2 | Riccardo Neri (24) |
T8 = Number of players from that country appearing in a Pro Tour Top 8; Q = Number of players from that country participating in Pro Tours; M = Median finish over all PTs; GT = Gravy Trainers (aka players with a Pro Players Club level of 4 or more) from that country created in the 2009 season; Best Player (PPts) = Player with the most Pro Points from that country, Pro Points of that player in brackets.