75% reduction in the Magic World Championship prize pool
WIzards of the Coast has announced that it’s officially set the Magic: The Gathering World Championship XXVII tournament’s prize pool at $250,000, making it $750,000 less than the expected $1 million prize pool.
The $250,000 prize pool change was confirmed in a postseason event update on Thursday, leading professional players and the Magic community to call out the 75 percent reduction in total prize pool, despite WotC’s revenue increase.
The huge reduction in the prize pool just adds heat to the poorly-received announcements regarding the competitive MTG scene. Last month, WotC announced that competitive Magic will be reconstructed over the next year. The 2022 season will remove League Weekends and postseason gauntlets, reducing the number of events Magic Pro League (MPL) and Rivals League players compete in. After that season, the MPL and Rivals League will be dissolved.
Here are the reactions from the MTG community about the reduction of the Magic World Championship prize pool:
Worlds prize pool gutted by 750k which was expected, but still kinda sad.
— Ondřej Stráský (@OndrejStrasky) June 17, 2021
Not sure how much I'll prep, feeling 0 motivation to play Magic at the moment so I'm kinda hoping for flat payout, so I can just "skip it".https://t.co/V1hulP1baV
@blakepr can you make a statement on the cutting of $750k from the world Championship? During this last scenario you spoke about how much you cared about pro magic but now you guys have made a terrible decision that only hurts pro play and directly contradicts this statement pic.twitter.com/3Beghzc4Uy
— willow allen (@shadewarrior272) June 18, 2021
Wizards revenue was $812 million last year. Why is it necessary to pinch pennies to save $750k? Why are some promises okay to break while others are held to for decades no matter how much everyone hates them? So many questions. So few answers.
— Saffron Olive (@SaffronOlive) June 18, 2021
Can all the participants just boycott the @wizards_magic World Championship? Cutting the prize by 75% when you're making "record profits" is just so fucking scummy.
— Todd Anderson (@TandyMTG) June 17, 2021
WoTC literally prints money with Secret Lair. They could do a SL Champion edition with all the cards with players on them (Meddling Mage, Fervent Champion etc…) as a way to help fund the World Championship prize support instead @wizards_magic decided to be scummy.
— @BRAMerican (@BRAMerican) June 18, 2021
The next Magic Worlds is scheduled to begin on October 8 to 10, and will feature the top players through the MPL and Rivals League seasons and the top finishers in the postseason gauntlet events.
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Worlds is scheduled for Oct. 8 to 10 and will include the top-performing players through the MPL and Rivals League seasons and the top finishers in the postseason gauntlet tournaments.