# Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour season 1999–2000

The 1999–2000 Pro Tour season was the fifth season of the Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour. It began on 3 September 1999 with Pro Tour Boston and ended on 6 August 2000 with the conclusion of 2000 World Championship in Brussels. The season consisted of twenty Grand Prixs, and six Pro Tours, located in Washington D.C., London, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Brussels. At the end of the season Bob Maher, Jr. was awarded the Pro Player of the year title.

## Mode

Six Pro Tours and 20 Grand Prix were held in the 1999–2000 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 | Pro Points awarded at |
| Rank | Pro Tour (individual) | Pro Tour (teams) | Grand Prix (individual) | Grand Prix (teams) | Worlds (team) |
| 1 | 32 | 24 | 6 | 4 | 5 |
| 2 | 24 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| 3–4 | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| 5–8 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 9–12 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 13–16 | 8 | 6 | 2 | — | — |
| 17–24 | 7 | 4 | 1 | — | — |
| 25–32 | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | — |
| 33–48 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 49–64 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 65–128 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 129+ | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |

## Pro Tour – Washington D.C. (3–5 September 1999)

Washington D.C. was the first team Pro Tour. In a high-profile Top 8 featuring six players who were later inducted into the Hall of Fame, team Your Move Games (YMG) came out on top. YMG consisted of Dave Humpherys, Rob Dougherty, and Darwin Kastle, all eventual members of the Hall of Fame.

### Tournament data

Players: 243 (81 teams) Prize Pool: $100,230 Format: Urza's Saga Team Sealed (Urza's Saga, Urza's Legacy, Urza's Destiny) – first day, Urza's Saga Team Rochester Draft (Urza's Saga-Urza's Legacy-Urza's Destiny) – final two days Head Judge: Mike Guptil

### Top 8

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals |
| 1 | Game Empire | 2 | | | |
| 4 | THL | | | | |
| 4 | THL | | Game Empire | Game Empire | |
| | | | Your Move Games | Your Move Games | 2 |
| 2 | Your Move Games | 2 | Your Move Games | Your Move Games | 2 |
| 3 | Antarctica | | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Team | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Your Move Games | Rob Dougherty | $30,000 | 24 | 2nd Final day |
| 1 | Your Move Games | Dave Humpherys | $30,000 | 24 | 2nd Final day |
| 1 | Your Move Games | Darwin Kastle | $30,000 | 24 | 4th Final day |
| 2 | Game Empire | Kurt Burgner | $15,000 | 12 | 2nd Final day |
| 2 | Game Empire | Alan Comer | $15,000 | 12 | 3rd Final day |
| 2 | Game Empire | Brian Selden | $15,000 | 12 | 2nd Final day |
| 3 | Antarctica | Jon Finkel | $9,000 | 10 | 6th Final day |
| 3 | Antarctica | Steven O'Mahoney-Schwartz | $9,000 | 10 | 3rd Final day |
| 3 | Antarctica | Daniel O'Mahoney-Schwartz | $9,000 | 10 | |
| 4 | THL | Marc Aquino | $7,500 | 10 | |
| 4 | THL | Richard Jones | $7,500 | 10 | |
| 4 | THL | Drew McLean | $7,500 | 10 | |

## Pro Tour – London (15–17 October 1999)

Kyle Rose won Pro Tour London, defeating Austrian Thomas Preyer in the finals. Darwin Kastle's back to back Top 8 appearances in Washington and London brought him to five final day appearance in his career.

### Tournament data

Players: 310 Prize pool: $151,635 Format: Urza's Saga Booster Draft (Urza's Saga-Urza's Legacy-Urza's Destiny) Head Judge: Carl Crook

### Top 8

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Mike Bregoli | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Darwin Kastle | 0 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Darwin Kastle | 0 | Mike Bregoli | Mike Bregoli | 0 | | | |
| | | | Kyle Rose | Kyle Rose | 3 | | | |
| 5 | Kyle Rose | 3 | Kyle Rose | Kyle Rose | 3 | | | |
| 4 | William Jensen | 0 | | | | | | |
| 4 | William Jensen | 0 | | | | Kyle Rose | Kyle Rose | 3 |
| | | | | | | Thomas Preyer | Thomas Preyer | 1 |
| 3 | Gunnar Refsdahl | 2 | | | | | | | Thomas Preyer | Thomas Preyer | 1 |
| 6 | Thomas Preyer | 3 | | | | | | |
| 6 | Thomas Preyer | 3 | Thomas Preyer | Thomas Preyer | 3 | | | |
| | | | Ben Rubin | Ben Rubin | 2 | | | |
| 7 | Marc Hernandez | 0 | Ben Rubin | Ben Rubin | 2 | | | |
| 2 | Ben Rubin | 3 | | | | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Kyle Rose | $25,000 | 32 | 3rd Final day |
| 2 | Thomas Preyer | $15,000 | 24 | |
| 3 | Mike Bregoli | $10,000 | 16 | |
| 4 | Ben Rubin | $8,000 | 16 | 3rd Final day |
| 5 | Gunnar Refsdal | $6,500 | 12 | |
| 6 | William Jensen | $5,500 | 12 | |
| 7 | Marc Hernandez | $4,800 | 12 | |
| 8 | Darwin Kastle | $4,300 | 12 | 5th Final day |

## Pro Tour – Chicago (3–5 December 1999)

Bob Maher, Jr. won Pro Tour Chicago playing a blue-green-white control deck. He defeated Brian Davis in the finals 3–2. First time Pro Tour attendant Davis reportedly played so horribly, that around spectators the joke went, that Davis was the first to have played 5–0 in the finals and lost, referring to their perception that he could and should have won every single game.

### Tournament data

Prize pool: $151,635 Players: 344 Format: Extended Head Judge: Nat Fairbanks

### Top 8

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Christian Lührs | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Hector Fuentes | 1 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Hector Fuentes | 1 | Christian Lührs | Christian Lührs | 1 | | | |
| | | | Bob Maher, Jr. | Bob Maher, Jr. | 3 | | | |
| 5 | Bob Maher, Jr. | 3 | Bob Maher, Jr. | Bob Maher, Jr. | 3 | | | |
| 4 | Dirk Baberowski | 0 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Dirk Baberowski | 0 | | | | Bob Maher, Jr. | Bob Maher, Jr. | 3 |
| | | | | | | Brian Davis | Brian Davis | 2 |
| 3 | Brian Davis | 3 | | | | | | | Brian Davis | Brian Davis | 2 |
| 6 | Tony Dobson | 1 | | | | | | |
| 6 | Tony Dobson | 1 | Brian Davis | Brian Davis | 3 | | | |
| | | | Raphaël Lévy | Raphaël Lévy | 0 | | | |
| 7 | Raphaël Lévy | 3 | Raphaël Lévy | Raphaël Lévy | 0 | | | |
| 2 | Alan Comer | 0 | | | | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Bob Maher, Jr. | $25,000 | 32 | |
| 2 | Brian Davis | $15,000 | 24 | Pro Tour debut |
| 3 | Christian Lührs | $10,000 | 16 | 2nd Final day |
| 4 | Raphaël Lévy | $8,000 | 16 | 2nd Final day |
| 5 | Alan Comer | $6,500 | 12 | 4th Final day |
| 6 | Dirk Baberowski | $5,500 | 12 | 2nd Final day |
| 7 | Tony Dobson | $4,800 | 12 | |
| 8 | Hector Fuentes | $4,300 | 12 | 1st Spaniard in a Top 8 |

## Pro Tour – Los Angeles (4–6 February 2000)

Trevor Blackwell defeated Chris Benafel in the finals to become Pro Tour Los Angeles champion.

### Tournament data

Prize pool: $151,635 Players: 337 Format: Mercadian Masques Booster Draft (Mercadian Masques) Head Judge: Dan Gray

### Top 8

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Kurt Burgner | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Brian Selden | 0 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Brian Selden | 0 | Kurt Burgner | Kurt Burgner | 0 | | | |
| | | | Trevor Blackwell | Trevor Blackwell | 3 | | | |
| 4 | Trevor Blackwell | 3 | Trevor Blackwell | Trevor Blackwell | 3 | | | |
| 5 | Andrew Nishioka | 0 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Andrew Nishioka | 0 | | | | Trevor Blackwell | Trevor Blackwell | 3 |
| | | | | | | Chris Benafel | Chris Benafel | 1 |
| 3 | Bruce Cowley | 1 | | | | | | | Chris Benafel | Chris Benafel | 1 |
| 6 | Mike Long | 3 | | | | | | |
| 6 | Mike Long | 3 | Mike Long | Mike Long | 2 | | | |
| | | | Chris Benafel | Chris Benafel | 3 | | | |
| 2 | Erno Ekebom | 0 | Chris Benafel | Chris Benafel | 3 | | | |
| 7 | Chris Benafel | 3 | | | | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Trevor Blackwell | $25,000 | 32 | |
| 2 | Chris Benafel | $15,000 | 24 | |
| 3 | Kurt Burgner | $10,000 | 16 | 3rd Final day |
| 4 | Mike Long | $8,000 | 16 | 4th Final day |
| 5 | Erno Ekebom | $6,500 | 12 | |
| 6 | Bruce Cowley | $5,500 | 12 | |
| 7 | Andrew Nishioka | $4,800 | 12 | |
| 8 | Brian Selden | $4,300 | 12 | 3rd Final day |

## Pro Tour – New York (14–16 April 2000)

Sigurd Eskeland won Pro Tour New York, defeating Warren Marsh in the finals. Eskeland played a blue control-deck with the centerpiece of the deck being Rising Waters. His opponent played the deck most present at this tournament, Rebels. PT New York is considered to be the first time where there was a dominant deck at a Pro Tour, the deck did not win the tournament.
43% of the players entering the tournament had chosen rebel decks. On the second day of the tournament rebels were even more present, comprising and unprecedented 57% of the field. These numbers were again topped by the final eight where six of eight decks were rebel decks. In contrast the winning Rising Waters deck comprised only 8.4% of the field on day one and 14.5% on day two. In the top eight the two non-rebel decks were both Rising Waters decks. Rising Waters on both days had the highest winning percentage of all decks played with 60% on day one and 53.8% on day two.

### Tournament data

Players: 310 Prize pool: $151,635 Format: Mercadian Masques Block Constructed (Mercadian Masques, Nemesis) Location: New York State Armory Head Judge: Cyril Grillon

### Top 8

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | John Larkin | 1 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Mattias Kettil | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Mattias Kettil | 3 | Mattias Kettil | Mattias Kettil | 2 | | | |
| | | | Sigurd Eskeland | Sigurd Eskeland | 3 | | | |
| 5 | Sigurd Eskeland | 3 | Sigurd Eskeland | Sigurd Eskeland | 3 | | | |
| 4 | Travis Turning | 1 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Travis Turning | 1 | | | | Sigurd Eskeland | Sigurd Eskeland | 3 |
| | | | | | | Warren Marsh | Warren Marsh | 1 |
| 3 | Mike Bregoli | 0 | | | | | | | Warren Marsh | Warren Marsh | 1 |
| 6 | Warren Marsh | 3 | | | | | | |
| 6 | Warren Marsh | 3 | Warren Marsh | Warren Marsh | 3 | | | |
| | | | Ben Rubin | Ben Rubin | 1 | | | |
| 7 | John Hunka | 1 | Ben Rubin | Ben Rubin | 1 | | | |
| 2 | Ben Rubin | 3 | | | | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Sigurd Eskeland | $25,000 | 32 | 1st Norwegian to win a Pro Tour |
| 2 | Warren Marsh | $15,000 | 24 | |
| 3 | Ben Rubin | $10,000 | 16 | 4th Final day |
| 4 | Mattias Kettil | $8,000 | 16 | |
| 5 | John Larkin | $6,500 | 12 | 1st Irish Player in a Top 8 |
| 6 | Mike Bregoli | $5,500 | 12 | 2nd Final day |
| 7 | Travis Turning | $4,800 | 12 | |
| 8 | John Hunka | $4,300 | 12 | |

### Winner's deck

Sigurd Eskeland played a blue control-deck with the centerpiece of the deck being Rising Waters.
Sigurd Eskeland – 1999–2000 Pro Tour New York champion :
| Main Deck: | Main Deck: | Sideboard: |
| 4 Drake Hatchling 4 Stinging Barrier 4 Waterfront Bouncer 4 Eye of Ramos 3 Seal of Removal 4 Gush 4 Rising Waters 1 Brainstorm 3 Counterspell 4 Thwart 3 Daze | 18 Island 4 Rishadan Port | 2 Bribery 1 Counterspell 1 Hoodwink 2 Island 3 Misdirection 2 Rath's Edge 1 Seal of Removal 4 Stronghold Zeppelin |

### Team Challenge

The Team Challenge was a predecessor to the Masters Series events that were held from 2000 to 2003. These events were open only to the most accomplished players and awarded cash prizes even for entering the tournament. The Team Challenge at Pro Tour New York 2000 awarded $3,000 for entering the tournament, $9,000 to the runners-up team, and $15,000 to the winners. Four teams were invited to enter the tournament. In a field composed of otherwise American teams the French team Black Ops defeated Game Empire and Antarctica to win the tournament.
| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Antarctica | 2 | | | |
| 4 | Your Move Games | 1 | | | |
| 4 | Your Move Games | 1 | Antarctica | Antarctica | 1 |
| | | | Black Ops | Black Ops | 2 |
| 3 | Black Ops | 2 | Black Ops | Black Ops | 2 |
| 2 | Game Empire | 1 | | | |
| Team | Player | Team | Player |
| Antarctica | Daniel O'Mahoney-Schwartz | Game Empire | Brian Selden |
| Antarctica | Jon Finkel | Game Empire | Alan Comer |
| Antarctica | Steven O'Mahoney-Schwartz | Game Empire | Kurt Burgner |
| Black Ops | Florent Jeudon | Your Move Games | Rob Dougherty |
| Black Ops | Antoine Ruel | Your Move Games | Dave Humpherys |
| Black Ops | Olivier Ruel | Your Move Games | Darwin Kastle |

## 2000 World Championships – Brussels (2–6 August 2000)

Jon Finkel won the 2000 World Championship, defeating teammate Bob Maher, Jr. in the finals. The second place allowed Maher to take the Pro Player of the year title, surpassing Darwin Kastle in the final standings. Finkel became the second player to win two Pro Tours and the first with seven Top 8 appearances. The US team won the national team competition, also with Finkel as reigning national champion at its head.

### Tournament data

Prize pool: $201,620 (individual) + $50,000 (national teams) Players: 273 Individual formats: Formats: Mercadian Masques Booster Draft (Mercadian Masques-Nemesis-Prophecy), Mercadian Masques Block Constructed (Mercadian Masques, Nemesis, Prophecy), Standard Team Format: Standard Head Judge: Cyril Grillon

### Top 8

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Dominik Hothow | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Nicolas Labarre | 1 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Nicolas Labarre | 1 | Dominik Hothow | Dominik Hothow | 0 | | | |
| | | | Bob Maher, Jr. | Bob Maher, Jr. | 3 | | | |
| 5 | Helmut Summersberger | 2 | Bob Maher, Jr. | Bob Maher, Jr. | 3 | | | |
| 4 | Bob Maher, Jr. | 3 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Bob Maher, Jr. | 3 | | | | Bob Maher, Jr. | Bob Maher, Jr. | 2 |
| | | | | | | Jon Finkel | Jon Finkel | 3 |
| 3 | Tom van de Logt | 2 | | | | | | | Jon Finkel | Jon Finkel | 3 |
| 6 | Benedikt Klauser | 3 | | | | | | |
| 6 | Benedikt Klauser | 3 | Benedikt Klauser | Benedikt Klauser | 1 | | | |
| | | | Jon Finkel | Jon Finkel | 3 | | | |
| 7 | Janosch Kühn | 1 | Jon Finkel | Jon Finkel | 3 | | | |
| 2 | Jon Finkel | 3 | | | | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Jon Finkel | $34,000 | 32 | 7th Final day, 2nd Pro Tour win |
| 2 | Bob Maher, Jr. | $22,000 | 24 | 2nd Final day |
| 3 | Dominik Hothow | $16,000 | 16 | |
| 4 | Benedikt Klauser | $13,000 | 16 | 2nd Final day |
| 5 | Tom van de Logt | $11,000 | 12 | |
| 6 | Helmut Summersberger | $9,500 | 12 | |
| 7 | Janosch Kühn | $8,250 | 12 | 2nd Final day |
| 8 | Nicolas Labarre | $7,250 | 12 | 3rd Final day |

### National team competition

* United States (Jon Finkel, Chris Benafel, Frank Hernandez, Aaron Forsythe)
* Canada (Ryan Fuller, Murray Evans, Gabriel Tsang, Sam Lau)

## Pro Player of the year final standings

After the World Championship Bob Maher, Jr. was awarded the Pro Player of the year title.
| Rank | Player | Pro Points |
| 1 | Bob Maher, Jr. | 72 |
| 2 | Darwin Kastle | 69 |
| 3 | Jon Finkel | 68 |
| 4 | Alex Shvartsman | 58 |
| 5 | Trevor Blackwell | 50 |
| 5 | Ben Rubin | 50 |