# Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour season 2007

The 2007 Pro Tour season was the twelfth season of the Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour. On 9 February 2007 the season began with Pro Tour Geneva. It ended on 9 December 2007 with the conclusion of the 2007 World Championship in New York. The season consisted of 16 Grand Prixs and 5 Pro Tours, held in Geneva, Yokohama, San Diego, Valencia, and New York. At the end of the season Tomoharu Saitou from Japan was proclaimed Pro Player of the year. At the Worlds in New York the third class of the Hall of Fame was inducted. The inductees were Kai Budde, Zvi Mowshowitz, Tsuyoshi Fujita, Nicolai Herzog, and Randy Buehler.

## Pro Tour – Geneva (9–11 February 2007)

Mike Hron of the United States won the Pro Tour, defeating Takuya Oosawa in the Japanese player's second finals appearance. Willy Edel of Brazil became the first South American player with three top eight finishes, and former of player of the year Kenji Tsumura reached the quarter finals for the fifth time.

### Tournament data

Prize pool: $240,245 Players: 387 Format: Booster Draft (Time Spiral-Planar Chaos) Head Judge: David Vogin

### Top 8

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Shingou Kurihara | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Ervin Tormos | 1 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Ervin Tormos | 1 | Shingou Kurihara | Shingou Kurihara | 1 | | | |
| | | | Takuya Oosawa | Takuya Oosawa | 3 | | | |
| 4 | Jim Herold | 0 | Takuya Oosawa | Takuya Oosawa | 3 | | | |
| 5 | Takuya Oosawa | 3 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Takuya Oosawa | 3 | | | | Takuya Oosawa | Takuya Oosawa | 2 |
| | | | | | | Mike Hron | Mike Hron | 3 |
| 2 | Kenji Tsumura | 3 | | | | | | | Mike Hron | Mike Hron | 3 |
| 7 | Willy Edel | 1 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Willy Edel | 1 | Kenji Tsumura | Kenji Tsumura | 1 | | | |
| | | | Mike Hron | Mike Hron | 3 | | | |
| 3 | Mike Hron | 3 | Mike Hron | Mike Hron | 3 | | | |
| 6 | Marijn Lybaert | 1 | | | | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Mike Hron | $40,000 | 25 | |
| 2 | Takuya Oosawa | $22,000 | 20 | 2nd Final day |
| 3 | Kenji Tsumura | $15,000 | 16 | 5th Final day |
| 4 | Shingou Kurihara | $14,000 | 16 | |
| 5 | Marijn Lybaert | $11,500 | 12 | |
| 6 | Jim Herold | $11,000 | 12 | |
| 7 | Willy Edel | $10,500 | 12 | 3rd Final day |
| 8 | Ervin Tormos | $10,000 | 12 | 2nd Final day |

## Pro Tour – Yokohama (20–22 April 2007)

Frenchman Guillaume Wafo-Tapa won the second Pro Tour of the year, emerging from a Top eight in which every other contestant has at least twice appeared in a PT final eight. Masashi Oiso became only the fifth player to reach the quarter finals more than five times, Portugal's Paulo Carvalho put up his second top eight in three events, and Raphaël Lévy continued his hot streak with his first Pro Tour top eight since 1999.

### Tournament data

Prize pool: $240,245 Players: 387 Format: Time Spiral Block Constructed Head Judge: Sheldon Menery

### Top 8

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Kazuya Mitamura | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Sebastian Thaler | 0 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Sebastian Thaler | 0 | Kazuya Mitamura | Kazuya Mitamura | 3 | | | |
| | | | Tomoharu Saitou | Tomoharu Saitou | 2 | | | |
| 4 | Raphaël Lévy | 1 | Tomoharu Saitou | Tomoharu Saitou | 2 | | | |
| 5 | Tomoharu Saitou | 3 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Tomoharu Saitou | 3 | | | | Kazuya Mitamura | Kazuya Mitamura | 1 |
| | | | | | | Guillaume Wafo-Tapa | Guillaume Wafo-Tapa | 3 |
| 2 | Mark Herberholz | 3 | | | | | | | Guillaume Wafo-Tapa | Guillaume Wafo-Tapa | 3 |
| 7 | Masashi Oiso | 0 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Masashi Oiso | 0 | Mark Herberholz | Mark Herberholz | 2 | | | |
| | | | Guillaume Wafo-Tapa | Guillaume Wafo-Tapa | 3 | | | |
| 3 | Paulo Caravlho | 2 | Guillaume Wafo-Tapa | Guillaume Wafo-Tapa | 3 | | | |
| 6 | Guillaume Wafo-Tapa | 3 | | | | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Guillaume Wafo-Tapa | $40,000 | 25 | |
| 2 | Kazuya Mitamura | $22,000 | 20 | 2nd Final day |
| 3 | Mark Herberholz | $15,000 | 16 | 4th Final day |
| 4 | Tomoharu Saitou | $14,000 | 16 | 4th Final day |
| 5 | Paulo Carvalho | $11,500 | 12 | 2nd Final day |
| 6 | Raphaël Lévy | $11,000 | 12 | 3rd Final day |
| 7 | Masashi Oiso | $10,500 | 12 | 6th Final day |
| 8 | Sebastian Thaler | $10,000 | 12 | |

## Pro Tour – San Diego (29 June – 1 July 2007)

Pro Tour San Diego was the inaugural and as yet only event for the Two-Headed Giant format at the Pro Tour level. Chris Lachmann and Jacob van Lunen won the tournament, both in their first Pro Tour, playing an innovative sliver strategy. They won the elimination bracket in a combined nine turns making it the shortest semi-final and final ever.

### Tournament data

Prize pool: $240,500 Players: 390 (195 teams) Format: Two-Headed Giant Booster Draft (Time Spiral-Planar Chaos-Future Sight) Head Judge: Toby Elliott

### Top 4

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Eugene Harvey John Fiorillo | 0 | | | |
| 4 | Yuuta Takahashi Kentaro Yamamoto | 1 | | | |
| 4 | Yuuta Takahashi Kentaro Yamamoto | 1 | Yuuta Takahashi Kentaro Yamamoto | Yuuta Takahashi Kentaro Yamamoto | 0 |
| | | | Chris Lachmann Jacob van Lunen | Chris Lachmann Jacob van Lunen | 1 |
| 3 | Masami Kaneko Genki Taru | 0 | Chris Lachmann Jacob van Lunen | Chris Lachmann Jacob van Lunen | 1 |
| 2 | Chris Lachman Jacob van Lunen | 1 | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Players | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Chris Lachman | $50,000 | 20 | Pro Tour debut |
| 1 | Jacob van Lunen | $50,000 | 20 | Pro Tour debut |
| 2 | Yuuta Takahashi | $30,000 | 16 | |
| 2 | Kentaro Yamamoto | $30,000 | 16 | |
| 3 | John Fiorillo | $22,000 | 12 | |
| 3 | Eugene Harvey | $22,000 | 12 | 4th Final day |
| 4 | Masami Kaneko | $20,000 | 12 | |
| 4 | Genki Taru | $20,000 | 12 | |

## Pro Tour – Valencia (12–14 October 2007)

Pro Tour Valencia began with a bumpy start. The first day of play to be canceled due to flooding. On the other two days the schedule had to be altered somewhat, including additional rounds on Saturday and three rounds on Sunday before Top 8. In the end, Frenchman Remi Fortier defeated Germany's André Müller in the final, making Valencia the third consecutive extended Pro Tour to be won by a French player.

### Tournament data

Prize pool: $240,245 Players: 424 Format: Extended Head Judge: Jaap Brouwer

### Top 8

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Giulio Barra | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Makihito Mihara | 0 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Makihito Mihara | 0 | Giulio Barra | Giulio Barra | 1 | | | |
| | | | Remi Fortier | Remi Fortier | 3 | | | |
| 4 | Tine Rus | 2 | Remi Fortier | Remi Fortier | 3 | | | |
| 5 | Remi Fortier | 3 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Remi Fortier | 3 | | | | Remi Fortier | Remi Fortier | 3 |
| | | | | | | André Müller | André Müller | 2 |
| 2 | Takayuki Koike | 1 | | | | | | | André Müller | André Müller | 2 |
| 3 | Shuhei Nakamura | 3 | | | | | | |
| 3 | Shuhei Nakamura | 3 | Shuhei Nakamura | Shuhei Nakamura | 2 | | | |
| | | | André Müller | André Müller | 3 | | | |
| 3 | André Müller | 3 | André Müller | André Müller | 3 | | | |
| 6 | Sam Stein | 1 | | | | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Remi Fortier | $40,000 | 25 | |
| 2 | André Müller | $22,000 | 20 | 2nd Final day |
| 3 | Giulio Barra | $15,000 | 16 | |
| 4 | Shuhei Nakamura | $14,000 | 16 | 4th Final day |
| 5 | Takayuki Koike | $11,500 | 12 | Pro Tour debut |
| 6 | Tine Rus | $11,000 | 12 | 1st Slovenian in a Top 8, Pro Tour debut |
| 7 | Sam Stein | $10,500 | 12 | |
| 8 | Makihito Mihara | $10,000 | 12 | 2nd Final day |

## 2007 World Championships – New York City (6–9 December 2007)

The World Championships began with the induction of the third class into the hall of fame. The inductees were Kai Budde, Zvi Mowshowitz, Tsuyoshi Fujita, Nicolai Herzog, and Randy Buehler. In the individual competition Uri Peleg became the first Israeli, not only to reach the top eight, but also to win a Pro Tour. For Mori it was his third consecutive Worlds Top 8 appearance. In the team competition, the Swiss defeated the Austrian team in the finals

### Tournament data

Prize pool: $215,600 (individual) + $192,200 (national teams) Players: 386 Formats: Standard, Booster Draft (Lorwyn), Legacy Head Judge: Mike Guptil

### Top 8

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Christoph Huber | 1 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Koutarou Ootsuka | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Koutarou Ootsuka | 3 | Koutarou Ootsuka | Koutarou Ootsuka | 1 | | | |
| | | | Uri Peleg | Uri Peleg | 3 | | | |
| 4 | Katsuhiro Mori | 0 | Uri Peleg | Uri Peleg | 3 | | | |
| 5 | Uri Peleg | 3 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Uri Peleg | 3 | | | | Uri Peleg | Uri Peleg | 3 |
| | | | | | | Patrick Chapin | Patrick Chapin | 1 |
| 2 | Gabriel Nassif | 3 | | | | | | | Patrick Chapin | Patrick Chapin | 1 |
| 7 | Roel van Heeswijk | 1 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Roel van Heeswijk | 1 | Gabriel Nassif | Gabriel Nassif | 2 | | | |
| | | | Patrick Chapin | Patrick Chapin | 3 | | | |
| 3 | Yoshitako Nakano | 2 | Patrick Chapin | Patrick Chapin | 3 | | | |
| 6 | Patrick Chapin | 3 | | | | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Uri Peleg | $40,000 | 25 | 1st Israeli to win a Pro Tour |
| 2 | Patrick Chapin | $22,000 | 20 | 3rd Final day |
| 3 | Gabriel Nassif | $15,000 | 16 | 8th Final day |
| 4 | Koutarou Ootsuka | $14,000 | 16 | |
| 5 | Christoph Huber | $11,000 | 12 | |
| 6 | Yoshitako Nakano | $10,000 | 12 | |
| 7 | Katsuhiro Mori | $9,000 | 12 | 3rd Final day |
| 8 | Roel van Heeswijk | $8,000 | 12 | |

### National team competition

* Switzerland (Nico Bohny, Manuel Bucher, Raphael Genari, Christoph Huber)
* Austria (Thomas Preyer, Stefan Stradner, David Reitbauer, Helmut Summersberger)

## Pro Player of the year final standings

After the World Championship Tomoharu Saitou was awarded the Pro Player of the year title.
| Rank | Player | Pro Points |
| 1 | Tomoharu Saitou | 68 |
| 2 | Kenji Tsumura | 62 |
| 3 | Guillaume Wafo-Tapa | 59 |
| 4 | Shingou Kurihara | 57 |
| 5 | Olivier Ruel | 54 |

## Performance by country

Japan players dominated the season, making 16 Top 8 appearances although they had only about half as many players on the Pro Tour as the United States, which had the secondmost Top 8 appearances at 9. Both countries generated 21 level 4+ pro players in this season. For the Netherlands despite having generated 7 level 4+ pro players in the season success on the Pro Tour was almost elusive with a single 8th place being their only Top 8 appearance.
| Country | T8 | Q* | Q/T8 | GT | Best Player (PPts) |
| Japan | 16 | 171 | 11 | 21 | Tomoharu Saitou (68) |
| United States | 9 | 330 | 37 | 21 | Paul Cheon (52) |
| France | 4 | 108 | 27 | 7 | Guillaume Wafo-Tapa (59) |
| Germany | 3 | 83 | 28 | 6 | André Müller (36) |
| Italy | 1 | 61 | 61 | 0 | Giulio Barra (18) |
| Netherlands | 1 | 54 | 54 | 7 | Frank Karsten (37) |
| Spain | 0 | 55 | 55 | 1 | Saul Aguado (20) |
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 (PT San Diego is missing as no country breakdown is available for that event); GT = Gravy Trainers (aka players with a Pro Players Club level of 4 or more) from that country generated in the 2007 season; Best Player (PPts) = Player with the most Pro Points from that country, Pro Points of that player in brackets.