Kai Budde

Kai Budde, born in 1979 in Cologne, Germany, is widely regarded as the greatest professional Magic: The Gathering player in the game's history. Among those who follow Magic as a competitive game, Budde has reached the same level of fame and accomplishment that Michael Jordan, Pelé, and Garry Kasparov have attained in their respective fields of competition.

As of December 2003, he has won five individual Pro Tour titles (no other player has won more than two), and two Team Pro Tour titles (alongside fellow Germans Marco Blume and Dirk Baberowski). Budde also won the 1999 Magic World Championships in Tokyo. His cash winnings in six years of premier Magic: The Gathering tournaments are well over $300,000. He has also been awarded four Player of the Year titles: 1999, 2001, 2002, and 2003.

Budde also won the 2001 Magic Invitational tournament in Cape Town. His prize was the rare opportunity to design an actual card; the result was Voidmage Prodigy.

Here is a definitive list of his notable accomplishments:

Grand Prix:

• 2nd GP Birmingham 98-99
• 1st GP Vienna 98-99
• 1st GP Barcelona 98-99
• 1st GP Amsterdam 98-99
• 3rd GP Florence 00-01
• 1st GP London 01-02
• 2nd GP Biarritz 01-02
• 1st GP Lisbon 01-02
• 1st GP Antwerp 01-02

• 3rd GP Naples 01-02
• 3rd GP Copenhagen
• 4th GP Gotberg 03-04
• 1st GP Madrid 03-04
• 2nd GP Brussels 03-04

Pro Tours:

• 1st Worlds 98-99
• 1st PT Chicago 00-01
• 1st PT Barcelona 00-01
• 1st PT New York 01-02
• 1st PT New Orleans 01-02
• 5th PT Nice 01-02
• 1st Pro Tour Boston 02-03
• 1st PT Chicago 02-03
• 4th PT Boston 03-04

Masters:

• 1st Osaka 01-02
• 8th Chicago

Player of the Year:

• 98-99
• 00-01
• 01-02
• 02-03

Other:

• 1st Cape Town Invitational 01-02
• 1st German Nationals 01-02
• 1st Team Worlds 01-02