Skip to main content Download External Link Facebook Facebook Twitter Instagram Twitch Youtube Youtube Discord Left Arrow Right Arrow Search Lock Wreath icon-no-eye caret-down Add to Calendar download Arena copyText Info Close

World Championship XXVI Survival Guide

February 03, 2020
Wizards of the Coast

Sixteen of the best players in the world with $1,000,000 in prizes on the line: Magic World Championship XXVI is here! Streaming live from beautiful Honolulu, Hawaii the culmination of the 2019 season arrives with the largest ever cash prize for the winner of a Magic event.

You don't want to miss a minute of the action.

Where Can I Follow the Event?

Magic World Championship XXVI will be streamed live, February 14-16, 2020 on twitch.tv/magic.

For match-by-match updates, player videos, live streaming, and to #FindYourChampion the Magic World Championship XXVI event on Magic.gg is where to start, with photos, clips, and more exclusive content available by following @MagicEsports on Twitter. You can share your excitement—and sweet Twitch clips—throughout the World Championship celebration with the hashtag #MTGWorlds.

You can even join up with friends for a viewing party—and sweet promo card—at a store near you.

When Will Decklists Be Published?

We'll post all Standard Constructed decklists at 2:30 PM HST (4:30 PM PST / 12:30 AM UTC Feb. 13) on Wednesday, February 12. Deck Techs, as well as Theros Beyond Death Draft highlights, will be published throughout the weekend.

Will There Be Open Decklists?

Yes! All players will be able to review their opponent's Constructed decklist before playing each other.

Prior to each match, players will exchange decklists and have one minute to review their opponent's decklist.

Who Are the Casters?



Broadcast Schedule

Friday, February 14: 9 a.m. HST / 11 a.m. PST / 7 p.m. UTC

  • Broadcast ends after the Winner Group and Elimination Group complete play

Saturday, February 15: 9 a.m. HST / 11 a.m. PST / 7 p.m. UTC

  • Broadcast ends after the Top 4 is determined

Sunday, February 16: 10 a.m. HST / 12 p.m. PST / 8 p.m. UTC

  • Broadcast ends after the Magic World Championship trophy ceremony

You can watch the entirety of Magic World Championship XXVI on twitch.tv/magic!

Who Is Playing?

Sixteen competitors earned the right to battle for the title of Magic World Champion.



#FindYourChampion and choose who you will follow for MTG Arena rewards before entries close at midnight on February 12—then cheer them on to victory in Honolulu.

How Much Money Is on the Line?

The $1,000,000 prize pool of Magic World Championship XXVI features the largest single cash prize for the winner of a Magic: The Gathering tournament in history with $300,000! Here's how it breaks down for the entire field:

Place Prize
1st $300,000
2nd $150,000
3rd $100,000
4th $75,000
5th-6th $62,500
7th-8th $50,000
9th-12th $25,000
13th-16th $12,500
Total $1,000,000

What Is the Format?

As Magic's most prestigious tournament, the World Championship will ensure every match win matters. Tiebreakers won't determine who advances or falls in Hawaii, and players battle as eight-player groups to determine who moves on to the next step in the tournament. Players who win early and often will advance faster and earn seeding advantage in the Top 8.

While players will be able to afford losses, their margin to do so will fall as the tournament progresses and elimination begins with Constructed play.

Day One: Theros Beyond Death Booster Draft, followed by Standard Constructed (Best of Three)

Booster Draft Play:

  • All players begin in eight-player Draft pods.
  • Players' decklists will be imported into MTG Arena for Draft play.
  • After two rounds, players advance to Standard Constructed play or continue Draft play based on record:
    • Four 2-0 players advance to Winner Group
    • Four 0-2 players advance to Elimination Group
    • Eight 1-1 players play a third round of Draft
  • After the third Draft round, the remaining players advance to brackets based on record:
    • Four 2-1 players advance to Winner Group
    • Four 1-2 players advance to Elimination Group

Standard Constructed Play:

  • Winner Group plays two rounds, then advance based on record:
    • Two 2-0 players advance to Top 8 Upper Semifinals
    • Two 0-2 players advance to Saturday Play-In
    • Four 1-1 players play a third round of Constructed
  • Winner Group 1-1 players, after completing a third round, advance based on record:
    • Two 2-1 players advance to Top 8 Upper Semifinals
    • Two 1-2 players advance to Saturday Play-In
  • Elimination Group plays two rounds, then advance or are eliminated based on record:
    • Two 2-0 players advance to Saturday Play-In
    • Two 0-2 players are eliminated
    • Four 1-1 players play a third round of Constructed
  • Elimination Group 1-1 players, after completing a third round, advance or are eliminated based on record:
    • Two 2-1 players advance to Saturday Play-In
    • Two 1-2 players are eliminated

At the conclusion of Day One, four winning players have advanced to the Top 8 on Day Two while eight more remain in the field to fight for those last four slots in the in Top 8.

Day Two: Standard Constructed Saturday Play-In and Top 8 Double Elimination

Standard Constructed Saturday Play-In:

Day Two begins in the morning with the eight-player Saturday Play-In of best-of-three Standard Constructed contending for the World Championship Top 8.

  • After two rounds, players advance to Top 8 or are eliminated based on record:
    • Two 2-0 players advance to Top 8 Lower Bracket
    • Two 0-2 players are eliminated
    • Four 1-1 players play a third round of Constructed
  • After the third round, the remaining players advance to Top 8 or are eliminated based on record:
    • Two 2-1 players advance to Top 8 Lower Bracket
    • Two 1-2 players are eliminated

Standard Constructed Top 8 Double Elimination:

The eight remaining players are seeded into a double-elimination Top 8 playoff to determine the four competitors for the Sunday Top 4 playoff.



  • Top 8 Upper Semifinals are played as best-of-three games.
  • Top 8 Lower Bracket Rounds 1-3, where competitors will be eliminated, are played as best-of-three matches.
  • Top 8 Upper Semifinals are seeded by the 2-0 and 2-1 players from Friday's Winner Group
    • The two players who win their Upper Semifinal match advance to the Upper Finals
    • The two player who lose are seeded into Lower Bracket
  • Top 8 Lower Bracket Round 1 matches are seeded by the 2-0 and 2-1 players from Saturday Play-In
    • The two players who win their Lower Bracket Round 1 match advance to the Lower Bracket Round 2
    • The two players who lose their Lower Bracket Round 1 match are eliminated
  • Lower Bracket Round 2 matches are seeded by losing players from Upper Semifinals and winning players from Lower Bracket Round 1
    • The two players who win their Lower Bracket Round 2 matches advance to Lower Bracket Round 3
    • The two players who lose their Lower Bracket Round 2 match are eliminated

At the conclusion of Day Two, four winning players have advanced to the Sunday Top 4 playoff.

Day Three: Standard Constructed Top 4 Playoff

Day Three is the Sunday showdown among the remaining for World Championship competitors.

The Top 4 is seeded by Top 8 advancement:

  • Upper Finals are seeded by the two players who advanced from the Top 8 Upper Semifinals
    • The winning player advances to the Grand Finals
    • The losing player advances to the Lower Bracket Finals
  • Lower Bracket Round 3 matches are seeded by the two players who advanced from Lower Bracket Round 2
    • The winning player advances to the Lower Bracket Finals
    • The losing player is eliminated
  • Lower Bracket Finals continue this playoff structure:
    • The winning player advances to the Grand Finals
    • The losing player is eliminated

The Grand Finals is seeded by the winners of the Upper Finals and Lower Finals:

  • The player from the Upper Finals, advantaged by losing fewer matches throughout the tournament, must earn two match wins for the title
  • The player from the Lower Finals must earn three match wins for the title

After Sunday's exciting conclusion, one player will win the Grand Finals earn the title of Magic World Champion.

Can I Co-Stream the Event?

Following Twitch's Content Sharing Guidelines, you can co-stream the Magic World Championship broadcast from twitch.tv/magic using OBS or XSplit. This allows anyone on Twitch to cover the event in their voice and with their community. To be clear, co-streamed content is not endorsed by Wizards, and we expect anyone who participates in co-streaming to follow Wizards' Fan Content Policy.

Can I Watch the Event in Person?

While Magic World Championship XXVI is on closed set both Friday, February 14 and Saturday, February 15, fans, friends, eliminated competitors, and anyone ready to watch history made is welcome to join as a spectator on Sunday, February 16.

Hawaiʻi Convention Center
1801 Kalakaua Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
Kalakaua Ballroom A and Ballroom B

The Magic World Championship XXVI tournament area will be set to accommodate spectating on Sunday, February 16 beginning at 10 a.m.—or 9 a.m. for lucky recipients of World Championship tickets—until the winner is crowned. If you're looking to cheer on your favorite pro, you'll be able to do so!

What can you expect by attending?

  • The pinnacle of Magic: The Gathering professional play from the best players around the world
  • The chance to meet professional players and Wizards of the Coast staff
  • MTG Pro Shop's exclusive event merchandise will be available on-site! Check out MTGProShop.com to see what you'll find.

Please note that attendance will be available on a first come, first served basis. Additionally, spectators of all stripes will be expected to adhere to our Code of Conduct for events as well.

Event Code Of Conduct

Wizards is committed to creating a fun, safe, comfortable and enjoyable event experience for everyone. Wizards asks all event participants to assume a role of responsibility for the events success and safety. By entering the event, all attendees agree to be bound by the following. Wizards-issued badges/credentials are revocable and may be revoked and admission refused at the sole discretion of Wizards.

Competitor, Staff, and Guests belongings will be searched upon entry into the event venue and prohibited items may be confiscated. By tendering a Credential and entering the event, you consent to such searches and waive any related claims that you might have against the Wizards, its contractors, its affiliates, or its agents. Attendees who elect not to consent to these searches will be denied entry into the event.

To expedite entry, Wizards strongly encourages competitors and attendees not to bring unnecessary baggage to the event venue. However, if you need to bring personal items to the event please familiarize yourself with the bag policy.

  • To provide a safer environment for participants and speed entry, Wizards will enforce an event-wide policy that limits the size and type of bags that may be brought in to the event venues
  • Personal baggage will be limited to one (1) bag that must be 18" x 18" x 12" or smaller, no exceptions
  • All bags are subject to inspection by event security upon each entry

Wizards reserves the right to refuse admission or eject any person whose conduct is deemed disorderly or fails to comply with the terms and conditions contained herein. Violating any of the items listed below, or others not listed, may result in ejection from the event, prohibition from attending future events, and/or arrest.

  • Alcohol and drugs are not permitted in the event venue
  • Weapons and firearms are not permitted in the event venue
  • Theft of personal, venue, or company property
  • Behavior that is unruly, disruptive or illegal in nature
  • Foul or abusive language or obscene gestures or clothing
  • Interference with the operation of the event
  • Verbal, digital, or physical harassment of any other competitor, staff or attendee
  • Failing to follow or disobeying instructions of Wizards' event staff, security or other event personnel
  • Violation of Magic: The Gathering Tournament Rules
  • Violation of any event venue policies, local city ordinances, state or federal laws

Competitors, staff or attendees who witness or are subject to any of the above should immediately report the action to Event Management or email esports@wizards.com.

Share Article