2015 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Seth Manfield tore through the world's very best players all weekend to become the 2015 Magic: The Gathering World Champion!

2015 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

SUNDAY COVERAGE

For Seth Manfield, 2015 has been a year of firsts. In February, he earned his very first Sunday showing at Pro Tour Fate Reforged. This year marks the first time that Manfield achieved Platinum status in the Pro Tour Players Club, and also the first time that the young Maryland resident has competed in a Magic: The Gathering World Championship tournament. This is also the year where Seth Manfield became a father. His daughter was born two months ago.

Now, Manfield can add one more first to a momentous year. The 2015 Magic: The Gathering World Championship showcased 24 of the 2014-15 Premier Play season’s very best players. Twelve of those players were competing in the World Championship for the very first time, including Manfield. However, that did not stop the new competitor from making an incredible run through a field featuring the world’s very best. He was the first player to lock his seat in Sunday’s Top 4 playoffs with an unfathomable 13-1 record, and he didn’t stop there. He blasted past Samuel Black in the semifinals on his way to an edge-of-your-seat final match against one of the very best Magic players in the United States: Owen Turtenwald.

In a match that went to five games, Manfield was able to overcome Ugin, the Spirit Dragon, and a clash of Siege Rhinos gave Manfield the win over Turtenwald in the fifth and final game of the tournament.

The $50,000 first place prize is a big deal for the new dad, but this win is also the culmination of many years of success on the Grand Prix circuit, hard work, teamwork, and perseverance. Congratulations to Seth Manfield, the 2015 Magic: The Gathering World Champion. He played amongst the very best, conquered the best, and can now claim the title of being the world’s best.

Article

August 31 2015

Top 5 Cards by Event Coverage Staff

Which cards had the biggest impact on the 2015 Magic: The Gathering World Championship? Let's take a look. 5. Archangel of Tithes While this impressive mythic rare from Magic Origins has...

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Article

August 31 2015

Finals: (4) Seth Manfield vs. (10) Owen Turtenwald by Adam Styborski

The relentless pursuit of winning in Magic led tenth-ranked Owen Turtenwald to the finals of the 2015 World Championship. As a rising star, he was among the best players without a Grand Prix...

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Aug 31 2015

Article

Semifinals: (3) Paul Rietzl vs. (10) Owen Turtenwald

by Chapman Sim

Prior to this weekend, (3) Paul Rietzl mentioned that, of the players he most wants to beat in the finals, it's (10) Owen Turtenwald. That prophecy wasn't going to materialize, as they've been...

Aug 30 2015

Article

Semifinals: (8) Samuel Black vs. (4) Seth Manfield

by Adam Styborski

The 2015 World Championship Top 4 was a surprise for eighth-ranked Samuel Black. Defeating Owen Turtenwald in the final round of Swiss to enter the tiebreaker showdown, Black was the last to be...

Aug 30 2015

Article

Top 4 Decklists

by Wizards of the Coast

Congratulations to the Top 4 competitors at the 2014 Magic: The Gathering World Championship! You can see what they will be playing in Sunday's playoffs below! ...

Aug 29 2015

Article

Top 4 Player Profiles

by Event Coverage Staff

Four of the very best players in the world have reached the Sunday playoffs for the 2015 Magic: The Gathering World Championship. Learn a little more about these four by reading their player...

FRIDAY COVERAGE

The Top 4 of the 2015 Magic: The Gathering Championship is set, featuring four of the best players from the United States. Leading the field is fourth-ranked Seth Manfield, who locked his place in the Sunday playoffs with a stellar 13-1 record. Following him is tenth-ranked Owen Turtenwald, third-ranked Paul Rietzl, and eighth-ranked Samuel Black, showcasing some of the 2014-15 season’s top Pro Points earners.

Which of these players will be walking home with the $50,000 first place prize, the trophy, and Magic’s greatest title of World Champion? Tune in on Sunday at 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET/6 p.m. UTC to find out!

Article

August 28 2015

Standard Decklists by Wizards of the Coast

Samuel Black's White Devotion - 2015 Magic World Championship ...

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Article

August 29 2015

The Old Guard by Marc Calderaro

For many players, just being in this venue is a feat. It's "big game" as some might say. Yesterday I talked to some of the twelve players who are here for the first time. But today I talked to...

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Aug 29 2015

Article

Round 14: (8) Samuel Black vs. (10) Owen Turtenwald

by Adam Styborski

The last round of the 2015 World Championship was a flurry of players battling for the best tiebreakers and records as fourth-ranked Seth Manfield dominated the field to a one loss finish over two...

Aug 29 2015

Article

A Good Start

by Adam Styborski

There's always jockeying for Top 4 position in the final rounds of the World Championship. While the flash of technology and deck choices always draw the most attention, it's the first three...

Aug 29 2015

Article

Striving for Sunday

by Chapman Sim

With just a few more rounds to go, the Top 4 announcement draws near. Historically, a 10-4 record pretty much ensures a spot in the final day. It is also possible to break through with five...

Aug 29 2015

Article

Round 13: (3) Paul Rietzl vs. (10) Owen Turtenwald

by Marc Calderaro

For both Paul Rietzl and Owen Turtenwald, this is where the rubber meets the road. A win here could lock either player for the Top 4, though it's not guaranteed. Third-ranked Rietzl's tiebreakers...

Aug 29 2015

Article

Round 12: (17) Steve Rubin vs. (6) Jacob Wilson

by Chapman Sim

The prestigious World Championship is the most difficult tournament to qualify for, and for good reason. It is the gateway to becoming a World Champion and entry is kept extremely exclusive....

Aug 28 2015

Article

Round 11: Thiago Saporito vs. Ondřej Stráský

by Marc Calderaro

These two testing partners sat down against one another, and immediately started joking around. They are both first-timers at the World Championship, and over the past three weeks have been...

Aug 28 2015

Article

The Art of War

by Chapman Sim

In a tournament as small and as exclusive as the World Championship, the preparation process is somewhat different from a larger event. The metagame is contained, and rather difficult to grasp....

Aug 28 2015

Article

Round 10: (24) Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa vs. Martin Müller

by Chapman Sim

To measure experience and success in the world of Magic, we can start of by taking a quick look at Lifetime Pro Points since it is a rather accurate indication. If you were to compare the gap...

Aug 28 2015

Article

Standard Metagame Breakdown

by Adam Styborski

As with yesterday's breakdown of the archetypes players brought for Modern, the decisions of a few players can radically skew the field into a few ways. Standard turned out to be a tighter...

Aug 28 2015

Article

Round 9: (8) Samuel Black vs. (3) Paul Rietzl

by Marc Calderaro

"You don't have a lot of artifacts for your Thopter Spy Network," eighth-ranked Samuel Black said while perusing over third-ranked Paul Rietzl's Magic Origins draft pool. "No," was Rietzl's reply...

Aug 28 2015

Article

Draft Viewer - Draft 2, Pod 1

by Wizards of the Coast

Aug 28 2015

Article

Round 8: (10) Owen Turtenwald vs. (12) Yuuya Watanabe

by Adam Styborski

It was a solid 2-1 Day 1 start for the number one target of competitors at the World Championship. Rattling off a Modern record of 3-1, twelfth-ranked Yuuya Watanabe finished Day 1 at 5-2, setting...

THURSDAY COVERAGE

Fourth-ranked Seth Manfield and Denmark’s Martin Müller lead the field of superstars at 6-1, putting them in a good position going into Day 2 of the 2015 Magic: The Gathering World Championship.

Will their records hold through tomorrow’s Magic Origins booster draft and Standard rounds? Or will the players at 5-2 leapfrog them by the end of the day? Tune in tomorrow to find out!

Article

August 27 2015

Modern Decklists by Wizards of the Coast

Alexander Hayne's Affinity - 2015 World Championship ...

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Article

August 28 2015

The Magic of Family by Adam Styborski

Magic is not a solitary experience. Every game features at least one opponent to sit down and play against. Players create friendships in the journey through the rising ranks of competition,...

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Aug 28 2015

Article

Round 7: (4) Seth Manfield vs. (12) Yuuya Watanabe

by Chapman Sim

(12) Yuuya Watanabe has incredibly scary career statistics. Every twelve times he's played on the Pro Tour, he's made the Top 8 once. Watanabe has also competed in 89 Grand Prix, winning seven...

Aug 28 2015

Article

Growing Up with the Game

by Chapman Sim

A while ago, Magic: The Gathering celebrated its 22nd birthday. To be more specific, Alpha was released on August 5, 1993, which makes Magic: The Gathering approximately 22 years and three weeks...

Aug 28 2015

Article

There's Always a First Time

by Marc Calderaro

"Don't be nervous; it'll be ok." These were Hall of Famer Paul Rietzl's broadcasted words to his feature draft pod before drafting began. Everyone got a good laugh, but some of that was nervous...

Aug 28 2015

Article

Round 6: (3) Paul Rietzl vs. (11) Ondřej Stráský

by Adam Styborski

"I don't even know how I'm here." It might be an off-putting sentence to hear from a World Championship competitor in the abstract, but from Pro Tour Hall of Fame member and third-ranked Paul...

Aug 28 2015

Article

Round 5: (4) Seth Manfield vs. (6) Jacob Wilson

by Marc Calderaro

Fourth-ranked Seth Manfield and sixth-ranked Jacob Wilson sat across the table and studied each of their decklists. Both these players had 3-0'd their draft pods, but neither could translate that...

Aug 27 2015

Article

Round 4: (24) Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa vs. (2) Mike Sigrist

by Chapman Sim

Ripping off George Orwell, I'm going to point out that all the competitors in the room today are formidable opponents, but some are more formidable than others. As mentioned in the 2015 World...

Aug 27 2015

Article

Round 3: (1) Eric Froehlich vs. (15) Joel Larsson

by Adam Styborski

Starting off with a winning record from the first draft is a relief for players competing in the World Championship. Emerging with two or three wins—draft perfection—sets up the Constructed...

Aug 27 2015

Article

Modern Metagame Breakdown

by Adam Styborski

The metagame of a 24 player tournament is an interesting exercise in skew. Having just a handful of players coming to the same decision for a deck to play tilts the balance of things into a few...

Aug 27 2015

Article

The Modern Master and Underdog

by Chapman Sim

The two formats that all 24 of our competitors will be competing in today have relations to Modern. After three rounds of Modern Masters 2015 Edition Booster Draft, they will proceed to play four...

Aug 27 2015

Article

Drafting Modern Masters 2015 Edition with Paul Rietzl

by Marc Calderaro

"This is probably my only Magic superstition: I throw away the first and last sleeve of every pack," Pro Tour Hall of Fame member and third-ranked Paul Rietzl said as he was putting the finishing...

Aug 27 2015

Article

Round 2: (6) Jacob Wilson vs. Thiago Saporito

by Marc Calderaro

Though many competitors here chatted amicably as they were shuffling up and comparing card pools, sixth-ranked Jacob Wilson and top Brazilian Pro Point earner Thiago Saporito were silent. Both...

Aug 27 2015

Article

Draft Viewer - Draft 1, Pod 3

by Wizards of the Coast

Aug 27 2015

Article

Round 1: (17) Alexander Hayne vs. (14) Shaun McLaren

by Chapman Sim

Every match at the World Championship promises to be an epic one. It was impossible not to be, when 24 of the best have converged for the greatest tournament of the year. Today, we're...

PRE-SHOW COVERAGE

Who will dethrone back-to-back winner Shahar Shenhar in the 2015 Magic: The Gathering World Championship? Tune in to find out! Live video coverage begins Thursday at 9 a.m. local time (PT)/12 p.m. ET/4 p.m. UTC.

Article

August 24 2015

World Championship Preview by Rich Hagon

Three days. Four formats. 24 players. The single greatest display of Magic firepower, assembled in one place, ready to stand toe-to-toe for your entertainment. If you believe William...

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Article

August 21 2015

2015 World Championship Coverage Roundtable by Brian David-Marshall

Last week, I wrote about two-time World Champion Shahar Shenhar as he embarks on a quest to win a third straight title at this event. Next week the event itself will be upon us, and I gathered...

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Aug 21 2015

Article

World Championship Countdown

by Mike Rosenberg

Seattle, Washington, will soon host 24 of the world's best players, as they converge at PAX Prime to compete on Magic's most prestigious stage at the 2015 Magic: The Gathering World Championship....

Aug 14 2015

Article

The Thing About Shahar

by Brian David-Marshall

In this Issue: All about Shahar | July Player of the Month The Magic World Championship looms large, taking place in Seattle during PAX Prime. It's large for Magic, large for the competitors,...

Aug 07 2015

Article

Top 5 World Championship Storylines

by Brian David-Marshall

In this issue: Five Times for Thommo | Four for Four | Three-peat Champion? Heads Up! | First Time's the Charm? | July Player of the Month As we headed into the semifinals of Pro Tour Magic...

Aug 28 2015

Article

Event Information

by Wizards of the Coast

Top 4 Decklists

Select a Deck

Seth Manfield's Abzan Control

2015 Magic World Championship

Decklist Stats Sample Hand

Planeswalker (3)

3 Elspeth, Sun's Champion

Creature (14)

4 Courser of Kruphix 3 Den Protector 2 Nissa, Vastwood Seer 4 Siege Rhino 1 Tasigur, the Golden Fang

Sorcery (7)

2 Languish 4 Thoughtseize 1 Tragic Arrogance

Instant (10)

4 Abzan Charm 1 Bile Blight 3 Hero's Downfall 1 Silence the Believers 1 Ultimate Price

Land (26)

2 Caves of Koilos 3 Forest 2 Llanowar Wastes 2 Plains 4 Sandsteppe Citadel 4 Temple of Malady 4 Temple of Silence 1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth 4 Windswept Heath

60 Cards

Sideboard (15)

1 Bile Blight 1 Tragic Arrogance 1 Ultimate Price 1 Ajani, Mentor of Heroes 1 Sorin, Solemn Visitor 1 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon 2 Fleecemane Lion 1 Dromoka's Command 2 Drown in Sorrow 1 Duress 2 Glare of Heresy 1 Unravel the Æther

Deal Another Hand

Owen Turtenwald's Abzan Control