You've probably heard a lot about how important Regional Championships are. We—myself, Frank Karsten, and Magic content specialists at large—have written a lot about the Regional Championship series. You've heard about how it offers the largest one-shot chunk of seats at the Pro Tour, how it even sends players directly to the World Championship itself, the cash prizes, and future Regional Championship qualifications. It's the first big step on many players' path to the highest level of Magic.

What sometimes gets lost in the coverage is that Regional Championships are really just that: regional. The reality is that for 95% of competitors of a given Regional Championship (don't check my math, Frank), the event won't be their one-shot ticket to Magic World Championship 31. There's only one or two seats against a field of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of players. While our coverage naturally tends to focus on the glorious victories, the truth is that these events have evolved into much more than just feeding grounds for the Pro Tour. Regional Championships have been vibrant competitions that bring together the best players for what's essentially a mini Pro Tour. Players can (and have) become Regional Championship end bosses, even if that pedigree hasn't yet translated to the international level.

It makes sense. In a different era of Magic, becoming a regional or national champion would be a player's most prideful accomplishment, even if it didn't carry the same prize money or competition as other events. But there's something to being "the best in the nation," as well as the often underappreciated metric: simplicity. Telling someone you won Pro Tour Aether Revolt is certainly impressive, especially if you're in the know. But it does require a bit of setup at the holiday table to explain to your grandparents. But "I'm the National Champion?" That rolls off the tongue, no questions from grandparents required.

I think that the title of Regional Champion falls into the same category. In some regions, like the United States, it's a de facto national championship anyway. In regions with more countries represented, it has the same vibes. In short, Regional Championships matter. They're not just a checklist on the way to the Pro Tour.

Which brings me to Brazil.

Brazil is the region that gave us the unforgettable Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa: the legend that tied with Jon Finkel for most career Top Finishes at seventeen and is considered the best to ever open a booster pack by many. Aside from the Elite Spellbinder, Brazil has continued to deliver a stream of excellent players in the Regional Championship era. At the start of this new year, this tight-knit community is poised to bring that powerful presence to the Pro Tour.

I mentioned Regional Championship end bosses, and that's where several of Brazil's best sit. They've become consistent Pro Tour presences but haven't quite made their mark on the international stage. Yet.

At the City Class Showdown in Brazil, William Bossaneli Araujo and Jonathan Lobo Melamed can't be beat. The pair has an astounding seven Top 8 finishes at Regional Championships between them, with each taking home a trophy in that time. That includes back-to-back appearances in the finals for Melamed.

"Brazil has a lot of really strong players, and we're starting to show that. The level of competition at the Regional Championship is really impressive," Melamed said. "Even in the last few years, there are still more really impressive players coming up."

No one exemplifies that more than Araujo, who has established himself as a prominent force at the City Class Showdown, even if he hasn't had a highlight moment at the Pro Tour. But the Regional Championship mainstays of today are the Pro Tour Top 8 finishers of tomorrow, and no one has been more consistent than Araujo. He made his mark on the series with a win in November 2023 in Sao Paulo and did so in style, taking Boros Convoke in Pioneer to an undefeated run and his place atop the region.

That was only the beginning for Araujo, and his 2024 run was off the charts. He kicked off the year with a Top 8 apperance in Sao Paulo in January at the City Class Showdown, playing alongside his friend Guilherme Merjam. Merjam, ever the crafty deck builder, won the entire event and had a hand in four of the Top 8 decklists. Araujo finished 3rd in the event and at the next Regional Championship. By September, Araujo was back and at his fourth Regional Championship Top 8 in a row, this time finishing 4th.

It was a dream season, and one that Araujo hopes to replicate at the Pro Tour.

"This season has meant a lot to me. I've played since 1996, and Magic is a really a huge part of my life. This year, I finally achieved my goal of qualifying for three Pro Tours and the World Championship," Araujo said. "It feels like living a dream."

It's a dream that Araujo has been chasing for a very long time, not just for himself, but for the Magic community that he has helped lead for decades. Brazil has a storied history of Magic mentorship that's unprecedented, and players like Melamed have been shepherding a long line of excellent players in the region.

Last year was Melamed's breakout season, though he's quick to deflect credit to his teammates and peers. But when he won the City Class Showdown in May 2024—even facing Araujo in the semifinals—Melamed proved that his Regional Championship Top 8 appearance a year prior was no fluke, and he was no chaperone. Melamed is among the best players in the region.

Like Araujo, Melamed hasn't had a breakout Pro Tour moment. But also like Araujo, his consistently strong play across 2024 leaves little doubt that he could take the Pro Tour by storm, especially after he posted another finals appearance during the last Regional Championship cycle. Even as Vinicius Karam conquered the event, he was only able to do so after a grueling Top 8 against Melamed and Araujo.

The victories haven't slowed down, with Melamed already putting up results during this year's Regional Championship cycle.

Won the first RCQ of the season with BG good cards!
Deck was still sleeved from MTGWorlds, changed some cards and GG :)
I missed Scavenging Ooze!
Welcome back my old friend!

Team @worldlycounsel
Testing thanks to @cardhoarder pic.twitter.com/QKNsF0k6l0

— Jonathan Lobo Melamed (@InsideMTG) November 16, 2024

Melamed and Team Worldly Counsel are far from the only squad to establish Regional Championship dominance and extend it to the Pro Tour. Team Sanctum of All, based in the United States, has been slowly but steadily increasing the size of both its Regional Championship and Pro Tour roster, building upon their successes at the RC level. We've also seen fresh faces from Asia and Europe break out at their own Regional Championships. The next generation of Pro Tour stars is being developed in front of our eyes, and Melamed is enjoying it all from his seat in the front row.

"It's been a really great year of Magic. Lots of fun traveling with friends, and success at Magic tournaments both on the Regional Championship circuit and on our own circuit," he reflected. "Working with the teammates I did for all of these events was really special, and I look forward to seeing what we can do next."

Team pictures with the awsome Team @worldlycounsel ! pic.twitter.com/rzBZ9sbIRm

— Jonathan Lobo Melamed (@InsideMTG) October 25, 2024