Europe's latest Regional Championship, the Ultimate Guard European Magic Series in Turin, Italy, brought together a staggering 1,025 competitors, all vying for cash prizes, Pro Tour qualification, and two coveted seats at Magic World Championship 32. After fourteen tense rounds of Standard and a razor-sharp Top 8, it was Italy's Andrea Fortunati who hoisted the trophy, showing everyone that Bant Rhythm remains a force to be reckoned with.

Congratulations to Andrea Fortunati, the new Regional Champion!

The finals featured an all-Italian showdown between Fortunati and Samuele Estratti, the champion of 2011's Pro Tour Philadelphia. Estratti brought Esper Pixie, his pet deck. However, his combination of Nurturing Pixie and Nowhere to Run ultimately could not keep up with Fortunati's card-advantage engine of Brightglass Gearhulk and Mockingbird. With a commanding performance, Andrea Fortunati claimed the title and the $20,000 1st-place prize.

Andrea Fortunati and Samuele Estratti face off in the finals, both with a home-country advantage.

Both finalists earned an invitation to Magic World Championship 32, the yearly pinnacle of organized play, which will take place at MagicCon: Atlanta in November 2026.

Congratulations to the Top 8 players! Top row, left to right: Matyáš Kalužný, Valentin Orru, George Berrett, Alejandro Mora Romero. Bottom row, left to right: Jaime Gonzalo, Samuele Estratti, Víctor Martínez Medina, Andrea Fortunati

The Top 8 showcased a diverse mix of decks emblematic of Standard's depth. While Bant Rhythm claimed the title and Esper Pixie reached the finals, the Top 8 elimination rounds also featured representatives of Momo White, Izzet Lessons, Izzet Elementals, Boros Dragons, and Izzet Spellementals. Although Izzet Prowess was the most-played deck in the field, it did not convert a pilot into the Top 8. Momo White was the breakout new deck of the weekend. A wide variety of strategies also appeared among the Top 36 Standard decklists at the event.

The release of Magic: The Gathering® | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brought only a few new cards to the weekend's metagame. These provided minor boosts to established archetypes. The most-played new-to-Standard cards were Leatherhead, Swamp Stalker (primarily in Mono-Green Landfall); Cool but Rude (primarily in Rakdos Discard); and Dream Beavers (primarily in Dimir Midrange). These cards served as interesting role-players. While the finalists' decklists featured a copy of Leatherhead, Swamp Stalker and two copies of Dream Beavers, the overall impact of the new set was modest.

With 36 invitations to Pro Tour Secrets of Strixhaven at stake, Turin delivered a weekend of intense competition and memorable camaraderie. The hall buzzed throughout the weekend as hundreds more joined side events, battled in Last Chance Qualifiers, or earned qualifications for the 2027 Magic Limited Championship. Live coverage aired on Fanfinity's YouTube channel, allowing fans to follow the action closely.

A crowd of 1,025 players converged upon Lingotto Fiere Torino to test their mettle in the Ultimate Guard European Magic Series.

Congratulations again to Andrea Fortunati, Europe's newest Regional Champion, and the full roster of players who earned invitations to upcoming events. The road to the next Pro Tour grows closer, and Turin offered a thrilling glimpse at the talent and creativity that continues to shape the European competitive scene.