# Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour season 2006

The 2006 Pro Tour season was the eleventh season of the Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour. On 18 December 2005 the season began with parallel Grand Prixs in Lille and Charlotte. It ended on 3 December 2006 with the conclusion of the 2006 World Championship in Paris. The season consisted of 22 Grand Prixs and 5 Pro Tours, held in Honolulu, Prague, Charleston, Kobe, and Paris. At the end of the season Shouta Yasooka from Japan was proclaimed Pro Player of the year. At the Worlds in Paris the second class of the Hall of Fame was inducted. The inductees were Bob Maher, Jr., Dave Humpherys, Raphaël Lévy, Gary Wise, and Rob Dougherty.

## Pro Tour – Honolulu (3–5 March 2006)

Mark Herberholz won Pro Tour Honolulu piloting a green/red aggro-deck. He defeated Craig Jones in the finals. The final eight included both Ruel brothers, Antoine and Olivier. Notably absent from the Top 8 were the Japanese players after thirteen consecutive final day appearances.

### Tournament data

Prize pool: $240,245 Players: 410 Format: Standard Head Judge: John Shannon

### Top 8

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Craig Jones | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Antoine Ruel | 0 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Antoine Ruel | 0 | Craig Jones | Craig Jones | 3 | | | |
| | | | Olivier Ruel | Olivier Ruel | 2 | | | |
| 4 | Max Bracht | 2 | Olivier Ruel | Olivier Ruel | 2 | | | |
| 5 | Olivier Ruel | 3 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Olivier Ruel | 3 | | | | Craig Jones | Craig Jones | 2 |
| | | | | | | Mark Herberholz | Mark Herberholz | 3 |
| 2 | Osyp Lebedowicz | 1 | | | | | | | Mark Herberholz | Mark Herberholz | 3 |
| 7 | Mark Herberholz | 3 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Mark Herberholz | 3 | Mark Herberholz | Mark Herberholz | 3 | | | |
| | | | Tiago Chan | Tiago Chan | 1 | | | |
| 3 | Tiago Chan | 3 | Tiago Chan | Tiago Chan | 1 | | | |
| 6 | Ruud Warmenhoven | 0 | | | | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Mark Herberholz | $40,000 | 25 | 3rd Final day |
| 2 | Craig Jones | $22,000 | 20 | |
| 3 | Tiago Chan | $15,000 | 16 | |
| 4 | Olivier Ruel | $14,000 | 16 | 5th Final day |
| 5 | Osyp Lebedowicz | $11,500 | 12 | 3rd Final day |
| 6 | Max Bracht | $11,000 | 12 | |
| 7 | Ruud Warmenhoven | $10,500 | 12 | |
| 8 | Antoine Ruel | $10,000 | 12 | 4th Final day |

### Pro Player of the year standings

| Rank | Player | Pro Points |
| 1 | Mark Herberholz | 28 |
| 2 | Olivier Ruel | 22 |
| 3 | Craig Jones | 20 |
| 4 | Tiago Chan | 18 |
| 5 | Max Bracht | 15 |

## Pro Tour – Prague (5–7 May 2006)

Takuya Osawa won Pro Tour Prague, defeating Aaron Brackmann in the finals. In a Top 8 of rather unknown players Shuhei Nakamura was the only one to have made it to the final stage of a PT before.

### Tournament data

Prize pool: $240,245 Players: 415 Format: Booster Draft (Ravnica-Guildpact-Dissension) Head Judge: Jaap Brouwer

### Top 8

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Takuya Osawa | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Joe Crosby | 0 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Joe Crosby | 0 | Takuya Osawa | Takuya Osawa | 3 | | | |
| | | | Shuhei Nakamura | Shuhei Nakamura | 1 | | | |
| 4 | Shuhei Nakamura | 3 | Shuhei Nakamura | Shuhei Nakamura | 1 | | | |
| 5 | Antonino De Rosa | 2 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Antonino De Rosa | 2 | | | | Takuya Osawa | Takuya Osawa | 3 |
| | | | | | | Aaron Brackmann | Aaron Brackmann | 0 |
| 2 | Christian Hüttenberger | 3 | | | | | | | Aaron Brackmann | Aaron Brackmann | 0 |
| 7 | Quentin Martin | 2 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Quentin Martin | 2 | Christian Hüttenberger | Christian Hüttenberger | 0 | | | |
| | | | Aaron Brackmann | Aaron Brackmann | 3 | | | |
| 3 | Aaron Brackmann | 3 | Aaron Brackmann | Aaron Brackmann | 3 | | | |
| 6 | Rasmus Sibast | 2 | | | | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Takuya Osawa | $40,000 | 25 | |
| 2 | Aaron Brackmann | $22,000 | 20 | |
| 3 | Shuhei Nakamura | $15,000 | 16 | 3rd Final day |
| 4 | Christian Hüttenberger | $14,000 | 16 | |
| 5 | Rasmus Sibast | $11,500 | 12 | |
| 6 | Antonino De Rosa | $11,000 | 12 | |
| 7 | Joe Crosby | $10,500 | 12 | |
| 8 | Quentin Martin | $10,000 | 12 | |

### Pro Player of the year standings

| Rank | Player | Pro Points |
| 1 | Mark Herberholz | 32 |
| 1 | Olivier Ruel | 32 |
| 3 | Takuya Osawa | 30 |
| 4 | Craig Jones | 24 |
| 4 | Quentin Martin | 24 |

## Pro Tour – Charleston (16–18 June 2006)

The Japanese team "Kajiharu80" won Pro Tour Charleston, defeating the Brazilian team "Raaala Pumba" in the final. "Kajiharu80" consisted of Tomohiro Kaji, Shouta Yasooka, and Tomoharu Saitou. With 525 competitors in 175 teams Pro Tour Charleston was the biggest Pro Tour ever. It was also the only Team Constructed Pro Tour ever.

### Tournament data

Players: 525 (175 teams) Prize Pool: $234,000 Format: 3-Person Team Block Constructed (Ravnica, Guildpact, Dissension) Head Judge: Sheldon Menery

### Top 4

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals |
| 1 | Raaala Pumba | 2 | | | |
| 4 | Big Timing With Big Oots | 1 | | | |
| 4 | Big Timing With Big Oots | 1 | Raaala Pumba | Raaala Pumba | 1 |
| | | | Kajiharu80 | Kajiharu80 | 2 |
| 3 | Kajiharu80 | 2 | Kajiharu80 | Kajiharu80 | 2 |
| 2 | D-25 | 1 | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Team | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Kajiharu80 | Tomohiro Kaji | $75,000 | 20 | 3rd Final day |
| 1 | Kajiharu80 | Shouta Yasooka | $75,000 | 20 | |
| 1 | Kajiharu80 | Tomoharu Saitou | $75,000 | 20 | 2nd Final day |
| 2 | Raaala Pumba | Celso Zampere | $36,000 | 16 | |
| 2 | Raaala Pumba | Willy Edel | $36,000 | 16 | |
| 2 | Raaala Pumba | Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa | $36,000 | 16 | |
| 3 | D-25 | Chikura Nakajima | $21,000 | 12 | |
| 3 | D-25 | Ryuichi Arita | $21,000 | 12 | 4th Final day |
| 3 | D-25 | Kazuya Mitamura | $21,000 | 12 | |
| 4 | Big Timing With Big Oots | Chris McDaniel | $18,000 | 12 | 2nd Final day |
| 4 | Big Timing With Big Oots | Gadiel Szleifer | $18,000 | 12 | 3rd Final day |
| 4 | Big Timing With Big Oots | John Pelcak | $18,000 | 12 | |

## Pro Tour – Kobe (20–22 October 2006)

German Jan-Moritz Merkel won Pro Tour Kobe. It was his first appearance at a Pro Tour.

### Tournament data

Players: 388 Prize Pool: $240,245 Format: Booster Draft (Time Spiral) Head Judge: John Shannon

### Top 8

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Bastien Perez | Bastien Perez | 3 | | | | | | |
| Kenji Tsumura | Kenji Tsumura | 1 | | | | | | |
| Kenji Tsumura | Kenji Tsumura | 1 | Bastien Perez | Bastien Perez | 1 | | | |
| | | | Jan-Moritz Merkel | Jan-Moritz Merkel | 3 | | | |
| Tomoharu Saitou | Tomoharu Saitou | 2 | Jan-Moritz Merkel | Jan-Moritz Merkel | 3 | | | |
| Jan-Moritz Merkel | Jan-Moritz Merkel | 3 | | | | | | |
| Jan-Moritz Merkel | Jan-Moritz Merkel | 3 | | | | 1 | Jan-Moritz Merkel | 3 |
| | | | | | | | Willy Edel | 1 |
| Thomas Didierjean | Thomas Didierjean | 3 | | | | | | | Willy Edel | 1 |
| Bram Snepvangers | Bram Snepvangers | 2 | | | | | | |
| Bram Snepvangers | Bram Snepvangers | 2 | Thomas Didierjean | Thomas Didierjean | 1 | | | |
| | | | Willy Edel | Willy Edel | 3 | | | |
| Takahiro Suzuki | Takahiro Suzuki | 2 | Willy Edel | Willy Edel | 3 | | | |
| Willy Edel | Willy Edel | 3 | | | | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Jan-Moritz Merkel | $40,000 | 25 | Pro Tour debut |
| 2 | Willy Edel | $22,000 | 20 | 2nd Final day |
| 3 | Bastien Perez | $15,000 | 16 | |
| 4 | Thomas Didierjean | $14,000 | 16 | Pro Tour debut |
| 5 | Kenji Tsumura | $11,500 | 12 | 4th Final day |
| 6 | Bram Snepvangers | $11,000 | 12 | 3rd Final day |
| 7 | Tomoharu Saitou | $10,500 | 12 | 3rd Final day |
| 8 | Takahiro Suzuki | $10,000 | 12 | |

## 2006 World Championships – Paris (29 November – 3 December 2006)

The tournament began with the Hall of Fame induction of Bob Maher, Jr., Dave Humpherys Raphaël Lévy, Gary Wise, and Rob Dougherty. In an all-Japanese final Makihito Mihara defeated Ryo Ogura. The Dutch team of Kamiel Cornelissen, Julien Nuijten, and Robert van Medevoort won the team finals against Japan.

### Tournament data

Prize pool: $255,245 (individual) + $210,000 (national teams) Players: 356 Formats: Standard, Booster Draft (Time Spiral), Extended Head Judge: Jaap Brouwer, Jason Ness

### Top 8

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Paulo Carvalho | 0 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Ryo Ogura | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Ryo Ogura | 3 | Ryo Ogura | Ryo Ogura | 3 | | | |
| | | | Nicholas Lovett | Nicholas Lovett | 2 | | | |
| 4 | Nicholas Lovett | 3 | Nicholas Lovett | Nicholas Lovett | 2 | | | |
| 5 | Katsuhiro Mori | 1 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Katsuhiro Mori | 1 | | | | Ryo Ogura | Ryo Ogura | 0 |
| | | | | | | Makihito Mihara | Makihito Mihara | 3 |
| 2 | Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa | 2 | | | | | | | Makihito Mihara | Makihito Mihara | 3 |
| 7 | Makihito Mihara | 3 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Makihito Mihara | 3 | Makihito Mihara | Makihito Mihara | 3 | | | |
| | | | Gabriel Nassif | Gabriel Nassif | 2 | | | |
| 3 | Tiago Chan | 2 | Gabriel Nassif | Gabriel Nassif | 2 | | | |
| 6 | Gabriel Nassif | 3 | | | | | | |

### Final standings

| Place | Player | Prize | Pro Points | Comment |
| 1 | Makihito Mihara | $50,000 | 25 | |
| 2 | Ryo Ogura | $25,000 | 20 | 2nd Final day |
| 3 | Nicholas Lovett | $16,000 | 16 | 1st Welshmen in a Top 8, Pro Tour debut |
| 4 | Gabriel Nassif | $15,000 | 16 | 7th Final day |
| 5 | Paulo Carvalho | $11,500 | 12 | Pro Tour debut |
| 6 | Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa | $11,000 | 12 | 2nd Final day |
| 7 | Tiago Chan | $10,500 | 12 | 2nd Final day |
| 8 | Katsuhiro Mori | $10,000 | 12 | 2nd Final day |

### National team competition

* The Netherlands (Julien Nuijten, Kamiel Cornelissen, Robert van Medevoort)
* Japan (Hidenori Katayama, Katsuhiro Mori, Shuhei Yamamoto)

## Pro Player of the year final standings

After the World Championship Shouta Yasooka was awarded the Pro Player of the year title.
| Rank | Player | Pro Points |
| 1 | Shouta Yasooka | 60 |
| 2 | Shuhei Nakamura | 56 |
| 3 | Tiago Chan | 51 |
| 3 | Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa | 51 |
| 5 | Tomoharu Saitou | 50 |