MTG 2023 World Championship: Standings and format from MagicCon Vegas

Over 100 of the best MTG players gathered to win a World Championship title.

Image of title for MTG 2023 World Championship in Las Vegas at MagicCon
Photo via WotC

Players and fans are gathering in Las Vegas from Sept. 22 to 24 for the Magic: The Gathering World Championship XXIX at MagicCon, which will determine the world champion and best player of the year. 

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Paper MTG competition returned through the 2022-2023 season, highlighting Pro Tour tournaments and the Magic World Championship. Players who earned a seed to Worlds competed in the Wilds of Eldraine (WOE) Draft format and Standard Constructed. Days one and two featured both formats and only Standard Constructed was played during the final day at MTG Worlds 2023.

Sept. 22 MTG Worlds 2023 standings

Day one of the Magic World Championship began with three rounds of WOE draft, followed by four rounds of Standard Constructed. Players advancing to day two needed 12 match points or a 4-3 record. Top MTG players who started the day with a win during round one of the WOE Draft were Chris Ferber, Javier Dominguez, Eli Kassis, Karl Sarap, Seth Manfield, and Miguel Castro.

A total of 12 players began Magic Worlds 2023 with undefeated 3-0 records following the WOE Draft rounds.

After five rounds, only two players remained undefeated for the day: Jitse Goutbeek and Mitchell Tamblyn. Both Gabriel Nassif and Anthony Lee were close behind with 4-0-1 records. Sitting at 4-1 were veterans like Eli Kassis, Javier Dominguez, Reid Duke, and Seth Manfield.

Image of Magic World Championship day one Draft standings
Day one top 16 standings | Image via WotC

Anthony Lee was the only player to go undefeated, but it wasn’t spotless, having one drawn match. What stood out from Lee going 6-0-1, though, was that he brought Golgari Midrange to the Magic World Championship for Standard Constructed play. All players with 4-3 records advanced onto day two.

Sept. 23 MTG Worlds 2023 standings

Players who advanced to day two of the Magic World Championship were seeking 10 match wins, guaranteeing an advancement to day three and the top eight. After nine rounds played between both days one and two, Reid Duke sat atop the leaderboard with an 8-1 record, tied with Jitse Goutbeek. Sitting at seven wins were Lee, Kassis, Takahama, Nielsen, and Ferber.

Image of standings from Magic World Championship day two standings Limited rounds
MTG Worlds standings after nine rounds | Image via WotC

Duke continued his win streak during the WOE Draft rounds, ending day two after the Limited games with a 9-1 record. Players needed 10 match wins to make it into the top eight.

Image of standings from Magic World Championship day two standings Limited rounds
MTG Worlds standings after 10 rounds | Image via WotC

Duke was the first to earn qualification into the top eight during round 10, followed by Nielsen piloting Azorius Soldiers during round 11. Kazune Kosaka was the third player to lock a seat in the top eight in an Esper Mirror match against Ken Takahama.

Image of standings from Magic World Championship day two standings Standard rounds
MTG Worlds standings after 12 rounds | Image via WotC

Kazune Kosaka was the third player to lock a seat in the top eight in an Esper Mirror match against Ken Takahama, followed by Anthony Lee piloting Golgari Midrange.

Image of standings from Magic World Championship day two standings Standard rounds
MTG Worlds standings after 13 rounds | Image via WotC

Round 14 showcased three wild matches that went into overtime and came down to a draw, preventing either player from advancing to the top eight. Players were cordial, though, and each match ended with a concession.

Here were the top eight players who advanced to the final day of the Magic World Championship.

Image of top eight at Magic World Championship day two standings
Top eight standings | Image via WotC
  • Reid Duke: Domain Ramp
  • Simon Nielson: Azorius Soldiers
  • Kazune Kosaka: Esper Midrange
  • Willy Edel: Domain Ramp
  • Jean-Emmanuel Depraz: Esper Legends
  • Greg Orange: Bant Control
  • Lorenzo Terlizzi: Esper Midrange
  • Anthony Lee: Golgari Midrange

Sept. 24 MTG Worlds 2023 standings

The top eight playoff bracket featured single elimination best-of-five games in the Standard Constructed format. Players were allowed to start using sideboard cards after the first two games played.

Image of Magic World Championship top eight bracket
Top eight bracket. Image via WotC

Azorius Soldiers did soldier things against Esper Midrange with Nielsen advancing to the Semifinals. Lee knocked out Duke to also advance, while Jean-Emmanuel Depraz came back from 0-2 start to win against Greg Orange. And another Domain Ramp piloted by Edel fell in the Quarterfinals to Kosaka’s Esper Midrange.

Image of Magic World Championship 2023 Quarterfinals
Semifinal standings. Image via WotC

Nielsen’s run came to an end in the Quarterfinals, getting swept by Kosaka, while also earning Player of the Year. Depraz swept Lee to advance to the finals in a matchup of Esper Legends against Esper Midrange.

Jean-Emmanual Depraz then won the MTG Worlds 2023 title, sweeping Kosaka in the final match 3-0.

Image of Magic World Championship 2023 Qurterfinal standings
Final standings. Image via WotC

Update Sept. 24 6:15pm CT: Day three standings were added for the completion of the 2023 MTG World Championship.

Author
Image of Danny Forster
Danny Forster
Staff writer, lead beat writer for MTG and TFT
Danny has been writing for Dot Esports for over five years, first as a freelancer and now as a staff writer. He is the lead beat writer for Magic: The Gathering and Teamfight Tactics. Danny is also a solid Monopoly GO player, having beaten every main event without spending a dime. When Danny isn't writing or gaming, he's chilling by the water in Spacecoast Florida with his family and friends. He's always got a tan, because touching grass is important, and loves playing strategic digital and tabletop games. Past outlets Danny has written for include TheGamer and ScreenRant.