KENJI TSUMURA
Class of: 2012
Hometown: Hiroshima, Japan
Debut: Pro Tour Chicago 2002-03
Lifetime Pro Points: 250
Six Pro Tour Top 8 appearances ... Twelve Grand Prix Top 8 finishes, with two wins ... Won the Player of the Year in 2005, the first time a Japanese player won the honor ... Dedicated himself to mastering Limited after winning Player of the Year and subsequently won two Limited Grand Prix ... Known for his tremendous sportsmanship and good humor.
KENJI TSUMURAPROFILE
Kenji Tsumura made history in 2005 when he became the first Japanese player in the game to win the Player of the Year title during an amazing breakout season that saw him playing on Sunday three times—Pro Tour Atlanta, Pro Tour Los Angeles, and Pro Tour Philadelphia—and quickly become a fan favorite for his keen play skill and abundantly evident good sportsmanship.
His Pro Tour career started a few years earlier at Pro Tour Chicago 2002, which was the first time he was able to travel outside of his country and get a true measure of himself as a Magic player.
"To be honest, I thought I could make Day Two before attending the PT, though my score was 3–4 and I wouldn't make Day Two until my fifth Pro Tour," recalled Tsumura. "I watched some games of Kai (Budde) and Masashi (Oiso) and I realized that I needed more skills to win. However, I was really lucky because I met a ton of good friends and I could improve my skills with them. I made a lot of friends with Magic. Magic gave me everything: friends, experiences, and vital things for my life. It is not a mere game for me. It's my life."
Despite his successes, Kenji was not confident he would get elected this year and was nervous that voters would have forgotten about him and his good friend Oiso.
"No, I didn't [think so] because there were so many good candidates," he admitted. "Hall of Fame is the most honorable thing for me, and furthermore, getting into Hall of Fame with my best friend is the best damn thing."
Tsumura achieved six Pro Tour Top 8s in his career and became a powerhouse on the Grand Prix scene with twelve Top 8s and two wins. Tsumura is driven by the lack of a Pro Tour win and will avail himself of the opportunity to play on the Pro Tour now that he can.
"I will play most of all Japanese GPs and PTs and some foreign PTs. Becoming a PT champion—maybe seven times—is still my dream," Tsumura said before tempering that with a nod to his adult life. "But I must spend my time for job hunting. Therefore, I will skip some GPs and PTs next year."
Stories about Kenji Tsumura are woven through his career and take on the flavor of Tall Tales. His despair over not being able to stop all of his opponents at Grand Prix from losing to their own Pacts was even more amazing than the fact they he did stop multiple opponents in time and reminded them to pay their upkeep costs.
His run to the 2005 Player of the Year title saw him vying with his best friend on the Pro Tour in Masashi Oiso while forging a new bond with France’s Olivier Ruel. The three of them continued to race down to the wire—all three earned Top 8 finishes at Grand Prix Beijing the week before Worlds in Yokohama, where Kenji secured the title on the final round of Swiss play.
In his post-tournament remarks after becoming the first of what would be many Japanese players to win the Player of the Year crown, Kenji announced that he hoped to become better at Limited during the coming year. He apprenticed under the finest Limited players he could find and promptly went out and won two Limited Grand Prix that year. It was a stunning announcement in the light of his amazing season that was backed by stunning results.
He also posted a Limited Top 8 on the Pro Tour that season when he found himself with no losses to give on Day Two of Pro Tour Kobe. He rattled off win after win playing with briskness and determination through a Day Two that was essentially a single elimination tournament for him.
Even with his Hall of Fame induction Tsumura felt the need to give something back in the wake of his election.
"Again, it is the most honorable thing for me, and I feel that now is the time to do something good for the Magic community," said Tsumura. "Playing on the Pro Tour as a Hall of Famer is the kind of act which I can do, and I want to write more articles to contribute to the community."
Tsumura wanted to express his thanks to the people who have contributed to his career.
"I want to thank almost all my Magic friends, but especially Itaru Ishida, Katsuhiro Mori, Chikara Nakajima, Masahiko Morita, Rich Hoaen, and Masashi Oiso. I couldn't make good results, even make Day Two, without their help. I really want to say thank you for my family too. I was a really bad student and bad boy, but they always treated me with kindness and cheered me up even when they knew I was not good at Magic. I don't have a word which can describe my mind perfectly, but I want to say… thank you."
THE POWER OF KENJI
Pro Tour: Grand Prix: |
Creature (16)
1 Azami, Lady of Scrolls 4 Glen Elendra Archmage 3 Sower of Temptation 4 Spellstutter Sprite 4 Vendilion CliqueSorcery (4)
4 Ancestral VisionLand (25)
6 Island 1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge 4 Mutavault 3 Polluted Delta 2 Riptide Laboratory 4 River of Tears 4 Secluded Glen 1 Watery GraveBlue (35)
1 Azami, Lady of Scrolls 4 Glen Elendra Archmage 3 Sower of Temptation 4 Spellstutter Sprite 4 Vendilion Clique 4 Mana Leak 4 Spell Snare 3 Stifle 4 Negate 4 Threads of DisloyaltyColorless (34)
6 Island 1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge 4 Mutavault 3 Polluted Delta 2 Riptide Laboratory 4 River of Tears 4 Secluded Glen 1 Watery Grave 4 Ancestral Vision 2 Engineered Explosives 3 Umezawa's Jitte5 (1)
1 Azami, Lady of ScrollsUncommon (4)
4 Spell SnareRare (49)
1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge 4 Mutavault 3 Polluted Delta 2 Riptide Laboratory 4 River of Tears 4 Secluded Glen 1 Watery Grave 1 Azami, Lady of Scrolls 4 Glen Elendra Archmage 3 Sower of Temptation 4 Ancestral Vision 2 Engineered Explosives 3 Stifle 3 Umezawa's Jitte 4 Bitterblossom 2 Thoughtseize 4 Threads of DisloyaltyMythic (4)
4 Vendilion CliquePlaneswalker (3)
3 Jace BelerenSorcery (4)
4 ThoughtseizeEnchantment (4)
4 BitterblossomLand (25)
1 Faerie Conclave 5 Island 4 Mutavault 4 Secluded Glen 4 Sunken Ruins 3 Swamp 4 Underground RiverSideboard (15)
2 Curse of Chains 3 Flashfreeze 3 Infest 2 Liliana Vess 1 Oona, Queen of the Fae 2 Puppeteer Clique 2 TerrorBlue (26)
4 Mistbind Clique 4 Scion of Oona 4 Spellstutter Sprite 4 Broken Ambitions 4 Cryptic Command 3 Jace Beleren 3 FlashfreezeColorless (25)
1 Faerie Conclave 5 Island 4 Mutavault 4 Secluded Glen 4 Sunken Ruins 3 Swamp 4 Underground River6 (1)
1 Oona, Queen of the FaeCommon (24)
5 Island 3 Swamp 4 Spellstutter Sprite 4 Agony Warp 4 Broken Ambitions 2 Curse of Chains 2 TerrorRare (39)
4 Mutavault 4 Secluded Glen 4 Sunken Ruins 4 Underground River 4 Mistbind Clique 4 Scion of Oona 4 Bitterblossom 4 Cryptic Command 4 Thoughtseize 1 Oona, Queen of the Fae 2 Puppeteer CliqueCreature (8)
1 Hana Kami 1 Meloku the Clouded Mirror 1 Myojin of Night's Reach 1 Myojin of Seeing Winds 4 Sakura-Tribe ElderInstant (11)
3 Gifts Ungiven 3 Hideous Laughter 1 Horobi's Whisper 1 Soulless Revival 2 Time Stop 1 Wear AwayArtifact (4)
4 Sensei's Divining TopEnchantment (3)
3 Heartbeat of SpringLand (23)
7 Forest 3 Island 2 Plains 1 Shizo, Death's Storehouse 5 Swamp 4 Tendo Ice Bridge 1 Tranquil GardenSideboard (15)
1 Meloku the Clouded Mirror 2 Cranial Extraction 2 Wear Away 2 Hero's Demise 1 Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni 3 Kodama of the North Tree 4 Nezumi GraverobberWhite (4)
4 Final JudgmentBlack (17)
1 Myojin of Night's Reach 3 Cranial Extraction 3 Hideous Laughter 1 Horobi's Whisper 1 Soulless Revival 1 Stir the Grave 2 Hero's Demise 1 Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni 4 Nezumi GraverobberGreen (19)
1 Hana Kami 4 Sakura-Tribe Elder 3 Heartbeat of Spring 4 Kodama's Reach 1 Time of Need 3 Wear Away 3 Kodama of the North TreeColorless (27)
7 Forest 3 Island 2 Plains 1 Shizo, Death's Storehouse 5 Swamp 4 Tendo Ice Bridge 1 Tranquil Garden 4 Sensei's Divining Top2 (15)
4 Sakura-Tribe Elder 1 Soulless Revival 1 Time of Need 3 Wear Away 2 Hero's Demise 4 Nezumi Graverobber8 (1)
1 Myojin of Night's Reach10 (1)
1 Myojin of Seeing WindsCommon (31)
7 Forest 3 Island 2 Plains 5 Swamp 1 Hana Kami 4 Sakura-Tribe Elder 4 Kodama's Reach 1 Soulless Revival 1 Stir the Grave 3 Wear AwayUncommon (10)
1 Tranquil Garden 3 Hideous Laughter 1 Horobi's Whisper 1 Time of Need 4 Nezumi GraverobberRare (29)
1 Shizo, Death's Storehouse 4 Tendo Ice Bridge 2 Meloku the Clouded Mirror 1 Myojin of Night's Reach 1 Myojin of Seeing Winds 3 Cranial Extraction 4 Final Judgment 3 Gifts Ungiven 3 Heartbeat of Spring 2 Time Stop 2 Hero's Demise 3 Kodama of the North TreeSorcery (1)
1 Life from the LoamInstant (25)
1 Circular Logic 4 Counterspell 4 Cunning Wish 1 Darkblast 3 Force Spike 3 Gifts Ungiven 2 Last Gasp 2 Mana Leak 1 Oxidize 3 Putrefy 1 SmotherEnchantment (3)
3 Pernicious DeedLand (26)
1 Barren Moor 3 Bloodstained Mire 1 Darkwater Catacombs 4 Island 1 Lonely Sandbar 1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds 3 Overgrown Tomb 4 Polluted Delta 1 Swamp 1 Tranquil Thicket 1 Underground River 2 Watery Grave 3 Yavimaya CoastSideboard (15)
1 Circular Logic 1 Gifts Ungiven 1 Oxidize 3 Duress 1 Ghastly Demise 1 Hideous Laughter 1 Krosan Reclamation 1 Mana Short 1 Natural Affinity 1 Naturalize 1 Tsabo's Decree 2 Viridian ShamanBlue (21)
1 Wonder 2 Circular Logic 4 Counterspell 4 Cunning Wish 3 Force Spike 4 Gifts Ungiven 2 Mana Leak 1 Mana ShortBlack (10)
1 Darkblast 2 Last Gasp 1 Smother 3 Duress 1 Ghastly Demise 1 Hideous Laughter 1 Tsabo's DecreeGreen (8)
1 Life from the Loam 2 Oxidize 1 Krosan Reclamation 1 Natural Affinity 1 Naturalize 2 Viridian ShamanColorless (26)
1 Barren Moor 3 Bloodstained Mire 1 Darkwater Catacombs 4 Island 1 Lonely Sandbar 1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds 3 Overgrown Tomb 4 Polluted Delta 1 Swamp 1 Tranquil Thicket 1 Underground River 2 Watery Grave 3 Yavimaya Coast2 (12)
4 Counterspell 2 Last Gasp 1 Life from the Loam 2 Mana Leak 1 Smother 1 Krosan Reclamation 1 Naturalize3 (20)
4 Psychatog 2 Circular Logic 4 Cunning Wish 3 Pernicious Deed 3 Putrefy 1 Mana Short 1 Natural Affinity 2 Viridian Shaman6 (1)
1 Tsabo's DecreeCommon (24)
1 Barren Moor 4 Island 1 Lonely Sandbar 1 Swamp 1 Tranquil Thicket 4 Counterspell 3 Force Spike 2 Last Gasp 2 Mana Leak 3 Duress 1 Ghastly Demise 1 NaturalizeUncommon (18)
4 Psychatog 1 Wonder 2 Circular Logic 1 Darkblast 2 Oxidize 3 Putrefy 1 Smother 1 Hideous Laughter 1 Krosan Reclamation 2 Viridian ShamanRare (33)
3 Bloodstained Mire 1 Darkwater Catacombs 1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds 3 Overgrown Tomb 4 Polluted Delta 1 Underground River 2 Watery Grave 3 Yavimaya Coast 4 Cunning Wish 4 Gifts Ungiven 1 Life from the Loam 3 Pernicious Deed 1 Mana Short 1 Natural Affinity 1 Tsabo's DecreeCreature (21)
3 Aven Riftwatcher 2 Body Double 1 Mirror Entity 4 Mulldrifter 4 Reveillark 4 Riftwing Cloudskate 2 Sower of Temptation 1 Venser, Shaper SavantSorcery (3)
3 Wrath of GodArtifact (4)
4 Mind StoneSideboard (15)
1 Aven Riftwatcher 1 Sower of Temptation 2 Crovax, Ascendant Hero 2 Pact of Negation 3 Remove Soul 3 Teferi's Moat 3 WispmareWhite (19)
4 Aven Riftwatcher 1 Mirror Entity 4 Reveillark 2 Momentary Blink 3 Wrath of God 2 Crovax, Ascendant Hero 3 WispmareBlue (23)
2 Body Double 4 Mulldrifter 4 Riftwing Cloudskate 3 Sower of Temptation 1 Venser, Shaper Savant 2 Careful Consideration 4 Rune Snag 3 Remove SoulMulti colored (3)
3 Teferi's MoatColorless (30)
4 Adarkar Wastes 8 Island 2 Mutavault 4 Nimbus Maze 6 Plains 4 Mind Stone 2 Pact of Negation6 (2)
2 Crovax, Ascendant HeroCommon (33)
8 Island 6 Plains 4 Aven Riftwatcher 2 Momentary Blink 4 Rune Snag 3 Remove Soul 3 Teferi's Moat 3 WispmareRare (27)
4 Adarkar Wastes 2 Mutavault 4 Nimbus Maze 2 Body Double 1 Mirror Entity 4 Reveillark 3 Sower of Temptation 3 Wrath of God 2 Crovax, Ascendant Hero 2 Pact of NegationMythic (1)
1 Venser, Shaper SavantCreature (19)
3 Brine Elemental 1 Fathom Seer 4 Riftwing Cloudskate 3 Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir 2 Venser, Shaper Savant 4 Vesuvan Shapeshifter 2 WillbenderSorcery (4)
4 Ancestral VisionArtifact (2)
2 Serrated ArrowsSideboard (15)
1 Brine Elemental 1 Fathom Seer 1 Venser, Shaper Savant 2 Willbender 1 Cancel 2 Serrated Arrows 3 Aeon Chronicler 2 Snapback 2 Take PossessionBlue (39)
4 Brine Elemental 2 Fathom Seer 4 Riftwing Cloudskate 3 Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir 3 Venser, Shaper Savant 4 Vesuvan Shapeshifter 4 Willbender 4 Cancel 4 Delay 3 Aeon Chronicler 2 Snapback 2 Take PossessionColorless (36)
4 Desert 4 Dreadship Reef 18 Island 2 Urza's Factory 4 Ancestral Vision 4 Serrated ArrowsUncommon (24)
4 Dreadship Reef 2 Urza's Factory 4 Brine Elemental 4 Riftwing Cloudskate 4 Willbender 4 Delay 2 Take PossessionEnchantment (3)
3 Seismic AssaultLand (25)
1 Blood Crypt 4 Bloodstained Mire 2 Forest 4 Forgotten Cave 2 Mountain 1 Overgrown Tomb 2 Stomping Ground 1 Swamp 4 Tranquil Thicket 4 Wooded FoothillsSideboard (15)
1 Cabal Therapy 1 Devastating Dreams 1 Life from the Loam 1 Chainer's Edict 3 Darkblast 1 Deathmark 1 Hull Breach 2 Krosan Grip 1 Nostalgic Dreams 3 Shattering SpreeGreen (19)
4 Birds of Paradise 4 Terravore 4 Wall of Roots 4 Life from the Loam 2 Krosan Grip 1 Nostalgic DreamsMulti colored (1)
1 Hull BreachColorless (25)
1 Blood Crypt 4 Bloodstained Mire 2 Forest 4 Forgotten Cave 2 Mountain 1 Overgrown Tomb 2 Stomping Ground 1 Swamp 4 Tranquil Thicket 4 Wooded Foothills2 (22)
4 Dark Confidant 4 Wall of Roots 4 Burning Wish 3 Devastating Dreams 4 Life from the Loam 1 Chainer's Edict 1 Hull Breach 1 Nostalgic DreamsCommon (22)
2 Forest 4 Forgotten Cave 2 Mountain 1 Swamp 4 Tranquil Thicket 4 Wall of Roots 4 Duress 1 Hull BreachRare (35)
1 Blood Crypt 4 Bloodstained Mire 1 Overgrown Tomb 2 Stomping Ground 4 Wooded Foothills 4 Birds of Paradise 4 Terravore 4 Burning Wish 3 Devastating Dreams 4 Life from the Loam 3 Seismic Assault 1 Nostalgic DreamsCreature (13)
1 Entropic Eidolon 1 Exhumer Thrull 1 Helium Squirter 1 Izzet Chronarch 1 Moroii 1 Mourning Thrull 1 Petrahydrox 1 Rakdos Guildmage 1 Rakdos Ickspitter 1 Snapping Drake 1 Stinkweed Imp 1 Terraformer 1 Viashino FangtailEnchantment (1)
1 Clinging DarknessSideboard (18)
1 Beastmaster's Magemark 1 Carom 1 Caustic Rain 1 Cremate 2 Dizzy Spell 1 Enemy of the Guildpact 1 Ghost Quarter 1 Gigadrowse 1 Hunted Phantasm 1 Lore Broker 1 Magewright's Stone 1 Muddle the Mixture 1 Rain of Embers 1 Runeboggle 1 Sandstorm Eidolon 1 Siege of Towers 1 Whiptail MolochWhite (1)
1 CaromBlue (11)
1 Helium Squirter 1 Snapping Drake 1 Terraformer 1 Train of Thought 2 Dizzy Spell 1 Gigadrowse 1 Hunted Phantasm 1 Lore Broker 1 Muddle the Mixture 1 RuneboggleBlack (10)
1 Entropic Eidolon 1 Exhumer Thrull 1 Stinkweed Imp 1 Clinging Darkness 1 Douse in Gloom 1 Macabre Waltz 1 Seize the Soul 1 Caustic Rain 1 Cremate 1 Enemy of the GuildpactRed (5)
1 Viashino Fangtail 1 Rain of Embers 1 Sandstorm Eidolon 1 Siege of Towers 1 Whiptail MolochGreen (1)
1 Beastmaster's MagemarkMulti colored (9)
1 Izzet Chronarch 1 Moroii 1 Mourning Thrull 1 Petrahydrox 1 Rakdos Guildmage 1 Rakdos Ickspitter 2 Consult the Necrosages 1 Wrecking BallColorless (21)
6 Island 1 Izzet Boilerworks 4 Mountain 1 Orzhov Basilica 1 Rakdos Carnarium 4 Swamp 1 Dimir Signet 1 Rakdos Signet 1 Ghost Quarter 1 Magewright's Stone2 (13)
1 Mourning Thrull 1 Rakdos Guildmage 1 Clinging Darkness 1 Dimir Signet 1 Macabre Waltz 1 Rakdos Signet 1 Train of Thought 1 Carom 1 Lore Broker 1 Magewright's Stone 1 Muddle the Mixture 1 Rain of Embers 1 Siege of Towers3 (9)
1 Rakdos Ickspitter 1 Stinkweed Imp 1 Terraformer 2 Consult the Necrosages 1 Douse in Gloom 1 Beastmaster's Magemark 1 Hunted Phantasm 1 Runeboggle4 (9)
1 Entropic Eidolon 1 Moroii 1 Petrahydrox 1 Snapping Drake 1 Viashino Fangtail 1 Seize the Soul 1 Wrecking Ball 1 Caustic Rain 1 Sandstorm Eidolon6 (1)
1 Exhumer ThrullCommon (48)
6 Island 1 Izzet Boilerworks 4 Mountain 1 Orzhov Basilica 1 Rakdos Carnarium 4 Swamp 1 Entropic Eidolon 1 Helium Squirter 1 Izzet Chronarch 1 Mourning Thrull 1 Petrahydrox 1 Rakdos Ickspitter 1 Snapping Drake 1 Stinkweed Imp 1 Terraformer 1 Viashino Fangtail 1 Clinging Darkness 2 Consult the Necrosages 1 Dimir Signet 1 Douse in Gloom 1 Macabre Waltz 1 Rakdos Signet 1 Train of Thought 1 Wrecking Ball 1 Beastmaster's Magemark 1 Carom 1 Cremate 2 Dizzy Spell 1 Enemy of the Guildpact 1 Gigadrowse 1 Muddle the Mixture 1 Rain of Embers 1 Runeboggle 1 Sandstorm Eidolon 1 Whiptail MolochUncommon (7)
1 Exhumer Thrull 1 Moroii 1 Rakdos Guildmage 1 Caustic Rain 1 Ghost Quarter 1 Lore Broker 1 Magewright's StoneCreature (10)
1 Drift of Phantasms 1 Helium Squirter 1 Mausoleum Turnkey 1 Mourning Thrull 1 Ogre Savant 1 Petrahydrox 1 Rakdos Ickspitter 1 Sewerdreg 1 Steamcore Weird 1 Surveilling SpriteSorcery (5)
1 Consult the Necrosages 1 Kindle the Carnage 1 Macabre Waltz 1 Train of Thought 1 Twisted JusticeArtifact (2)
2 Izzet SignetEnchantment (1)
1 Clinging DarknessSideboard (19)
1 Beastmaster's Magemark 1 Chant of Vitu-Ghazi 1 Crystal Seer 1 Drekavac 1 Gate Hound 1 Gruul Scrapper 1 Instill Furor 1 Moonlight Bargain 1 Muddle the Mixture 1 Necromancer's Magemark 2 Ogre Gatecrasher 1 Runeboggle 1 Sandstorm Eidolon 1 Simic Guildmage 1 Skarrgan Pit-Skulk 2 Steeling Stance 1 Whiptail MolochBlue (10)
1 Drift of Phantasms 1 Helium Squirter 1 Steamcore Weird 1 Surveilling Sprite 1 Convolute 1 Repeal 1 Train of Thought 1 Crystal Seer 1 Muddle the Mixture 1 RuneboggleBlack (8)
1 Mausoleum Turnkey 1 Sewerdreg 1 Clinging Darkness 1 Disembowel 1 Macabre Waltz 1 Drekavac 1 Moonlight Bargain 1 Necromancer's MagemarkRed (8)
1 Ogre Savant 1 Cackling Flames 1 Kindle the Carnage 1 Instill Furor 2 Ogre Gatecrasher 1 Sandstorm Eidolon 1 Whiptail MolochMulti colored (8)
1 Mourning Thrull 1 Petrahydrox 1 Rakdos Ickspitter 1 Consult the Necrosages 1 Perplex 1 Research // Development 1 Twisted Justice 1 Simic Guildmage2 (11)
1 Mourning Thrull 1 Surveilling Sprite 1 Clinging Darkness 2 Izzet Signet 1 Macabre Waltz 1 Train of Thought 1 Drekavac 1 Instill Furor 1 Muddle the Mixture 1 Simic Guildmage3 (12)
1 Drift of Phantasms 1 Rakdos Ickspitter 1 Consult the Necrosages 1 Convolute 1 Kindle the Carnage 1 Perplex 1 Beastmaster's Magemark 1 Gate Hound 1 Necromancer's Magemark 1 Runeboggle 2 Steeling Stance4 (8)
1 Mausoleum Turnkey 1 Petrahydrox 1 Steamcore Weird 1 Cackling Flames 1 Gruul Scrapper 2 Ogre Gatecrasher 1 Sandstorm Eidolon5 (7)
1 Helium Squirter 1 Ogre Savant 1 Sewerdreg 1 Research // Development 1 Crystal Seer 1 Moonlight Bargain 1 Whiptail Moloch6 (1)
1 Twisted Justice8 (1)
1 Chant of Vitu-GhaziCommon (50)
6 Island 3 Mountain 1 Orzhov Basilica 1 Rakdos Carnarium 5 Swamp 1 Drift of Phantasms 1 Helium Squirter 1 Mourning Thrull 1 Ogre Savant 1 Petrahydrox 1 Rakdos Ickspitter 1 Sewerdreg 1 Steamcore Weird 1 Surveilling Sprite 1 Cackling Flames 1 Clinging Darkness 1 Consult the Necrosages 1 Convolute 1 Disembowel 2 Izzet Signet 1 Macabre Waltz 1 Perplex 1 Repeal 1 Train of Thought 1 Beastmaster's Magemark 1 Crystal Seer 1 Gate Hound 1 Gruul Scrapper 1 Muddle the Mixture 1 Necromancer's Magemark 2 Ogre Gatecrasher 1 Runeboggle 1 Sandstorm Eidolon 1 Skarrgan Pit-Skulk 2 Steeling Stance 1 Whiptail MolochUncommon (7)
1 Mausoleum Turnkey 1 Kindle the Carnage 1 Twisted Justice 1 Chant of Vitu-Ghazi 1 Drekavac 1 Instill Furor 1 Simic GuildmageInstant (22)
3 Circular Logic 4 Counterspell 1 Darkblast 3 Force Spike 4 Gifts Ungiven 2 Mana Leak 1 Putrefy 4 SmotherEnchantment (3)
3 Pernicious DeedLand (26)
1 Barren Moor 2 Bloodstained Mire 1 Cephalid Coliseum 5 Island 2 Lonely Sandbar 1 Mikokoro, Center of the Sea 1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds 2 Overgrown Tomb 4 Polluted Delta 2 Swamp 3 Watery Grave 2 Yavimaya CoastSideboard (15)
1 Meloku the Clouded Mirror 1 Boseiju, Who Shelters All 1 Bottle Gnomes 4 Duress 3 Ghastly Demise 2 Haunting Echoes 1 Oxidize 2 Viridian ShamanBlue (19)
2 Meloku the Clouded Mirror 1 Wonder 3 Circular Logic 4 Counterspell 3 Force Spike 4 Gifts Ungiven 2 Mana LeakColorless (28)
1 Barren Moor 2 Bloodstained Mire 1 Cephalid Coliseum 5 Island 2 Lonely Sandbar 1 Mikokoro, Center of the Sea 1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds 2 Overgrown Tomb 4 Polluted Delta 2 Swamp 3 Watery Grave 2 Yavimaya Coast 1 Boseiju, Who Shelters All 1 Bottle GnomesCommon (26)
1 Barren Moor 5 Island 2 Lonely Sandbar 2 Swamp 4 Counterspell 3 Force Spike 2 Mana Leak 4 Duress 3 Ghastly DemiseUncommon (19)
4 Psychatog 1 Wonder 3 Circular Logic 1 Darkblast 1 Nightmare Void 1 Putrefy 4 Smother 1 Bottle Gnomes 1 Oxidize 2 Viridian ShamanRare (28)
2 Bloodstained Mire 1 Mikokoro, Center of the Sea 1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds 2 Overgrown Tomb 4 Polluted Delta 3 Watery Grave 2 Yavimaya Coast 1 Genesis 2 Meloku the Clouded Mirror 4 Gifts Ungiven 1 Life from the Loam 3 Pernicious Deed 2 Haunting EchoesCreature (20)
4 Arcbound Ravager 4 Arcbound Worker 4 Disciple of the Vault 4 Frogmite 4 Myr EnforcerSorcery (4)
4 ThoughtcastInstant (3)
3 Shrapnel BlastBlack (4)
4 Disciple of the VaultColorless (49)
3 Darksteel Citadel 3 Glimmervoid 4 Great Furnace 4 Seat of the Synod 4 Vault of Whispers 4 Arcbound Ravager 4 Arcbound Worker 4 Frogmite 4 Myr Enforcer 4 Chromatic Sphere 3 Pyrite Spellbomb 4 Skullclamp 4 Welding Jar3 (3)
3 Seething Song4 (4)
4 Frogmite5 (4)
4 Thoughtcast6 (4)
4 Somber Hoverguard7 (4)
4 Myr Enforcer9 (4)
4 Furnace DragonCommon (53)
3 Darksteel Citadel 4 Great Furnace 4 Seat of the Synod 4 Vault of Whispers 4 Arcbound Worker 4 Disciple of the Vault 4 Frogmite 4 Myr Enforcer 4 Chromatic Sphere 3 Pyrite Spellbomb 4 Thoughtcast 4 Welding Jar 3 Seething Song 4 Somber HoverguardKENJI TSUMURA CAREER STATISTICS
BY FORMAT
Format | W | L | D | BYE | Matches | Win % |
Limited | 273 | 160 | 10 | 79 | 520 | 61.57% |
Constructed | 295 | 176 | 27 | 71 | 567 | 59.27% |
Total | 568 | 336 | 37 | 150 | 1091 | 60.36% |
BY EVENT TYPE
Event | W | L | D | BYE | Matches | Win % |
Worlds | 59 | 33 | 1 | 0 | 93 | 63.44% |
Pro Tour | 145 | 94 | 8 | 3 | 250 | 58.70% |
Nationals | 68 | 40 | 1 | 1 | 110 | 62.38% |
Grand Prix | 296 | 169 | 27 | 146 | 638 | 60.16% |
Total | 568 | 336 | 37 | 150 | 1091 | 60.36% |
KENJI TSUMURA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- Was not even qualified for Nationals in 2004 and had to grind into the event the night before, resulting in one of the greatest National teams of all time alongside fellow Hall of Famers Shuhei Nakamura and Tsuyoshi Fujita.
- Broke out on the Pro Tour in 2005 with three Top 8s finishes at Pro Tours Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia.
- Posted six Pro Tour Top 8 finishes in his career, including a memorable Day Two run at PT Kobe that saw him make it to the elimination rounds without a match to give.
- Became the first Japanese player to win the Player of the Year title in 2005 after a memorable Player of the Year race with fellow Hall of Famers Olivier Ruel and Masashi Oiso.
- Formed lasting friendships with players all over the world and is considered one of the game's great ambassadors.
- After being at the top of the game in 2005 with three Pro Tour Top 8s and the Player of the Year title, announced he was dedicating himself to learning how to play Limited in 2006 and won two Limited Grand Prix.
- Made the Top 8 at twelve Grand Prix, including those wins in Kuala Lumpur and Toulouse in 2006.
- Known for his incredibly good sportsmanship, famously bemoaned not being able to stop all of his opponents from dying to their own Pact triggers.
- In addition to a prolific strategy-writing career in Japan, has written for an English-language audience.
RECORD VS. HALL OF FAME | W | L | D |
Jon Finkel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Darwin Kastle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Tommi Hovi | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Alan Comer | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Olle Råde | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bob Maher | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Dave Humpherys | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Raphaël Lévy | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Gary Wise | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rob Dougherty | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Kai Budde | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Zvi Mowshowitz | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Tsuyoshi Fujita | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Nicolai Herzog | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Randy Buehler | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Dirk Baberowski | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Jelger Wiegersma | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Mike Turian | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Olivier Ruel | 2 | 4 | 1 |
Ben Rubin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kamiel Cornelissen | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Antoine Ruel | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Frank Karsten | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Gabriel Nassif | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bram Snepvangers | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Brian Kibler | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Anton Jonsson | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Shuhei Nakamura | 5 | 3 | 0 |
Steven O'Mahoney Schwartz | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Masashi Oiso | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Patrick Chapin | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Career Total | 25 | 26 | 2 |