William Jensen
| William Jensen | |
|---|---|
|
[[File:{{#setmainimage:William Jensen.jpg}}|250px]] | |
| Demographics | |
| Nickname | Huey |
| Residence | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
| Nationality |
 American |
| Professional Career | |
| Pro Tour debut | Pro Tour Rome 1998 |
| Top Finishes | 8 (2 win) |
| GP top 8s | 25 (6 wins) |
| Awards | |
| Hall of Fame | |
| World Champion | |
| PT Champion | |
William "Huey" or "Billy" Jensen is the Director of Play Programs for Magic: The Gathering at Wizards of the Coast, since 2022.[1] He is also a former American professional player and World Champion, having won the 2017 World Championship. He also won Pro Tour Boston 2003 alongside teammates Brock Parker and Matt Linde, and has finished in the top eight of four additional Pro Tours. He also has 25 Grand Prix top eights, including six wins. In 2013, he was voted into the Hall of Fame. He is the current record holder of most Grand Prix top eight finishes within a single season, with eight in 2013–14.[2] He also regularly commentated on North American GPs.
Professional play
William Jensen started playing Magic in 1995 at age 13,[3] and his first Pro Tour was Pro Tour Rome 1998. One year later, at Pro Tour London 1999, he got his major breakthrough by making the top 8, ultimately finishing 6th, losing to eventual champion Kyle Rose. Only one month later, at Grand Prix San Diego, Jensen experienced his first Grand Prix success by not only making the top 8, but winning the event.[4]
The 2000–01 Pro Tour season started with Jensen winning the inaugural Masters event, beating among others eventual Hall of Famers Nicolai Herzog, Olivier Ruel, and Bob Maher en route to the title.[5] Jensen continued to be a mainstay on the professional scene, putting up additional Grand Prix top 8s, including another win at Grand Prix Pittsburgh 2000,[6] as well as solid Pro Tour finishes. In 2003, Jensen returned to the top 8 of the Pro Tour, finishing 8th at Pro Tour Chicago, once again losing to the eventual champion, in this case Kai Budde.[7] However, Jensen made another top 8 appearance at the very next Pro Tour, finishing 4th at Pro Tour Venice 2003.[8]
The first Pro Tour of the next season, the 2003–04 Pro Tour season, was a Team Rochester draft Pro Tour in Boston. Teaming up with Brock Parker and Matt Linde as 'The Brockafellars', Jensen won his first Pro Tour.[9] The team defeated the German team 'Phoenix Foundation', the winners of the previous two Team Limited Pro Tours, with Jensen defeating Kai Budde 2–0 in his match. In the finals, they faced the Norwegian team 'Unoriginal Slackers', where Jensen won his match 2–0 over Jake Smith. Jensen continued to play on the pro circuit for one more year, his final Pro Tour being the 2004 World Championships before he retired from professional play. Jensen has cited being tired of traveling and friends leaving the scene as the reasons for quitting.[3]
In 2012, despite not having played a professional event in almost eight years, William Jensen was among the top candidates for getting voted into the Hall of Fame. He eventually missed by a single vote,[10] partly due to Brad Nelson, who intended to vote for Jensen, mistakenly voted for Eugene Harvey instead.[11][I] Instead, Jensen received a special invitation to play at Pro Tour Return to Ravnica.[12] He playtested for the event with team StarCityGames Black (currently known as Team Pantheon[13]), featuring players like Jon Finkel, Gabriel Nassif, and Jelger Wiegersma. This reignited his interest in competitive Magic. One year later, he was voted into the Hall of Fame, garnering a total of 59.97% of the votes.[14]
The 2013–14 Pro Tour season was Jensen's comeback season. He won his third Grand Prix shortly after being voted into the Hall of Fame by defeating Neal Oliver in the final of Grand Prix Oakland.[15] He continued to make additional Grand Prix top 8s throughout the season, though without winning another one. At the end of the season, he had made the top 8 of eight total Grand Prix, setting the record for most Grand Prix top 8 finishes within a single season.[2] In the final event of the season, Pro Tour Magic 2015 in Portland, Jensen made his fifth Pro Tour top 8, finishing 7th.[16] His overall performance in the season earned him an invitation to the 2014 World Championship.[2]
The very first Grand Prix of the 2014–15 Pro Tour season, Grand Prix Portland, was won by Jensen's team, Peach Garden Oath, with teammates Reid Duke and Owen Turtenwald.[17] This was Jensen's fourth Grand Prix win. At the 2014 World Championship, Jensen came close to reaching the top 4, but lost the last round of Swiss to Yuuya Watanabe, resulting in an 8th-place finish.[18] He finished the season on 47 points, enough for Platinum status in the Pro Players Club, but not enough to qualify for the 2015 World Championship. The 2015–16 season went very similarly; thanks to three Grand Prix top-eight finishes, 9th-place at Pro Tour Oath of the Gatewatch, and an 11–5 result at Pro Tour Eldritch Moon, he renewed his Platinum membership but did not qualify for the 2016 World Championship.
In 2016–17, Jensen started the season unevenly and didn't attend many Grand Prix events, instead he provided play-by-play commentary; it looked like for the first time since returning to the professional scene, he wouldn't achieve Platinum status in the Pro Players Club. However, thanks to a very strong finish to the season, including 13th-place at Pro Tour Amonkhet as well as back-to-back Grand Prix wins at Cleveland and then Kyoto (the last Grand Prix of the season), Jensen propelled to not only renewed Platinum status but also an invitation to the 2017 World Championship. For that event, taking place in his hometown of Boston, he practiced extensively with teammates Owen Turtenwald and Reid Duke and was rewarded with a runaway performance that saw him starting the event 12–0, and he finished first after the Swiss with a margin of 9 match points. He won his semifinal match against Kelvin Chew 3–1 and then faced Spain's Javier Dominguez. Jensen once again won 3–1, and was crowned World Champion, earning $100,000, which was the largest cash prize ever awarded at a Magic tournament. He also became the first player to become World Champion post-Hall of Fame induction. The rest of the 2017–18 season was unremarkable, however, leaving Jensen without an invitation to the 2018 World Championship. In December 2018, it was announced that Jensen would be one of the 32 players joining the upcoming 2019 Magic Pro League. Because he finished in the Top 20, he could continue in the 2020 Season, but was relegated to the Rivals league in the 2021 season.
In 2022, Jensen retired from the Rivals League for a position at WoTC as the Director of Play Programs.[1] In this capacity he oversees the full range of Magic organized play programs from high level competitions to new suits of social and casual play.
League play
| Season | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2019 Magic Pro League | 14 |
| 2020 Magic Pro League | 3 |
| 2020-21 Magic Pro League | 12 |
| 2021–22 Rivals League | 47 |
Accomplishments
| Season | Event type | Location | Format | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–00 | Pro Tour | London | Block Constructed | 15–17 October 1999 | 6 |
| 1999–00 | Grand Prix | San Diego | Limited | 20–21 November 1999 | 1 |
| 1999–00 | Grand Prix | Philadelphia | Extended | 19–20 February 2000 | 5 |
| 1999–00 | Grand Prix | Cannes | Team Limited | 26–27 February 2000 | 4 |
| 1999–00 | Grand Prix | Pittsburgh | Team Limited | 24–25 June 2000 | 1 |
| 2000–01 | Masters | New York City | Extended | 29 September–1 October 2000 | 1 |
| 2000–01 | Grand Prix | Detroit | Limited | 31 March–1 April 2001 | 5 |
| 2000–01 | Nationals | Orlando | Standard and Booster Draft | 1–3 June 2001 | 6 |
| 2001–02 | Grand Prix | Houston | Extended | 5–6 January 2002 | 3 |
| 2001–02 | Grand Prix | Milwaukee | Standard | 11–12 May 2002 | 7 |
| 2002–03 | Pro Tour | Chicago | Rochester Draft | 17–19 January 2003 | 8 |
| 2002–03 | Pro Tour | Venice | Block Constructed | 21–23 March 2003 | 4 |
| 2003–04 | Pro Tour | Boston | Team Limited | 12–14 September 2003 | 1 |
| 2003–04 | Grand Prix | Orlando | Block Constructed | 24–25 July 2004 | 5 |
| 2013–14 | Grand Prix | Oakland | Limited | 24–25 August 2013 | 1 |
| 2013–14 | Grand Prix | Louisville | Standard | 19–20 October 2013 | 8 |
| 2013–14 | Grand Prix | Toronto | Limited | 30 November–1 December 2013 | 3 |
| 2013–14 | Grand Prix | Dallas/Fort Worth | Standard | 7–8 December 2013 | 2 |
| 2013–14 | Grand Prix | Barcelona | Team Limited | 1–2 March 2014 | 3 |
| 2013–14 | Grand Prix | Philadelphia | Limited | 12–13 April 2014 | 6 |
| 2013–14 | Grand Prix | Atlanta | Limited | 24–25 May 2014 | 3 |
| 2013–14 | Grand Prix | Washington, D.C. | Limited | 28–29 June 2014 | 5 |
| 2013–14 | Pro Tour | Portland | Standard and Booster Draft | 1–3 August 2014 | 7 |
| 2014–15 | Grand Prix | Portland | Team Limited | 9–10 August 2014 | 1 |
| 2014–15 | Grand Prix | Denver | Standard | 3–4 January 2015 | 6 |
| 2015–16 | Grand Prix | Detroit | Team Limited | 15–16 August 2015 | 3 |
| 2015–16 | Grand Prix | Washington, D.C. | Team Limited | 12–13 March 2016 | 3 |
| 2015–16 | Grand Prix | Barcelona | Limited | 16–17 April 2016 | 3 |
| 2016–17 | Grand Prix | San Antonio | Team Modern | 1–2 April 2017 | 2 |
| 2016–17 | Grand Prix | Cleveland | Team Limited | 24–25 June 2017 | 1 |
| 2016–17 | Grand Prix | Kyoto | Limited | 22–23 July 2017 | 1 |
| 2017–18 | Grand Prix | Providence | Team Limited | 30 September–1 October 2017 | 2 |
| 2017–18 | Worlds | Boston | Standard and Booster Draft | 6–8 October 2017 | 1 |
| 2017–18 | Pro Tour Team Series | Las Vegas | Team Limited | 23 September 2018 | 1 |
| 2018–19 | Mythic Championship | Long Beach (MTG Arena) | Traditional Standard | 18–20 October 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | Players Tour | Phoenix | Pioneer and Booster Draft | 7-9 February 2020 | 2 |
→ Source: Wizards.com
Pro Tour Results
| Season | Pro Tour | Format | Finish | Winnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | Rome | Extended | 124 | |
| 1998–99 | Los Angeles | Rochester Draft | 314 | |
| 1998–99 | New York | Block Constructed | 55 | $460 |
| 1998–99 | Worlds (Tokyo) | Special | 29 | $2,400 |
| 1999–00 | London | Booster Draft | 6 | $5,500 |
| 1999–00 | Chicago | Extended | 97 | |
| 1999–00 | Los Angeles | Booster Draft | 38 | $840 |
| 1999–00 | New York | Block Constructed | 26 | $1,500 |
| 1999–00 | Worlds (Brussels) | Special | 69 | |
| 2000–01 | New York | Team Limited | 13 | $1,100 |
| 2000–01 | Chicago | Standard | 39 | $900 |
| 2000–01 | Los Angeles | Rochester Draft | 22 | $2,100 |
| 2000–01 | Tokyo | Block Constructed | 69 | |
| 2000–01 | Barcelona | Booster Draft | 182 | |
| 2000–01 | Worlds (Toronto) | Special | 56 | $580 |
| 2001–02 | New York | Team Limited | 23 | |
| 2001–02 | New Orleans | Extended | 77 | |
| 2001–02 | San Diego | Rochester Draft | 28 | $1,500 |
| 2001–02 | Osaka | Block Constructed | 242 | |
| 2001–02 | Nice | Booster Draft | 19 | $2,550 |
| 2001–02 | Worlds (Sydney) | Special | 68 | |
| 2002–03 | Boston | Team Limited | 86 | |
| 2002–03 | Houston | Extended | 240 | |
| 2002–03 | Chicago | Rochester Draft | 8 | $6,500 |
| 2002–03 | Venice | Block Constructed | 4 | $13,000 |
| 2002–03 | Yokohama | Booster Draft | 174 | |
| 2002–03 | Worlds (Berlin) | Special | 118 | |
| 2003–04 | Boston | Team Limited | 1 | $20,000 |
| 2003–04 | New Orleans | Extended | 302 | |
| 2003–04 | Amsterdam | Rochester Draft | 247 | |
| 2003–04 | Kobe | Block Constructed | 231 | |
| 2003–04 | San Diego | Booster Draft | 68 | |
| 2003–04 | Seattle | Team Limited | 30 | |
| 2003–04 | Worlds (San Francisco) | Special | 40 | $875 |
| 2012–13 | Return to Ravnica in Seattle | Modern and Booster Draft | 122 | |
| 2013–14 | Theros in Dublin | Standard and Booster Draft | 35 | $1,500 |
| 2013–14 | Born of the Gods in Valencia | Modern and Booster Draft | 120 | |
| 2013–14 | Journey into Nyx in Atlanta | Block Constructed and Booster Draft | 39 | $1,500 |
| 2013–14 | Magic 2015 in Portland | Standard and Booster Draft | 7 | $10,000 |
| 2014–15 | Khans of Tarkir in Honolulu | Standard and Booster Draft | 155 | |
| 2014–15 | Fate Reforged in Washington, D.C. | Modern and Booster Draft | 39 | $1,500 |
| 2014–15 | Dragons of Tarkir in Brussels | Standard and Booster Draft | 171 | |
| 2014–15 | Magic Origins in Vancouver | Standard and Booster Draft | 145 | |
| 2015–16 | Battle for Zendikar in Milwaukee | Standard and Booster Draft | 343 | |
| 2015–16 | Oath of the Gatewatch in Atlanta | Modern and Booster Draft | 9 | $5,000 |
| 2015–16 | Shadows over Innistrad in Madrid | Standard and Booster Draft | 159 | |
| 2015–16 | Eldritch Moon in Sydney | Standard and Booster Draft | 27 | $1,500 |
| 2016–17 | Kaladesh in Honolulu | Standard and Booster Draft | 174 | |
| 2016–17 | Aether Revolt in Dublin | Standard and Booster Draft | 38 | $1,500 |
| 2016–17 | Amonkhet in Nashville | Standard and Booster Draft | 13 | $5,000 |
| 2016–17 | Hour of Devastation in Kyoto | Standard and Booster Draft | 52 | $1,000 |
| 2017–18 | Ixalan in Albuquerque | Standard and Booster Draft | 39 | $1,500 |
| 2017–18 | Rivals of Ixalan in Bilbao | Modern and Booster Draft | 202 | |
| 2017–18 | Dominaria in Richmond | Standard and Booster Draft | 414 | |
| 2017–18 | 25th Anniversary in Minneapolis | Team Constructed | 56 | $1,000 |
| 2018–19 | Guilds of Ravnica in Atlanta | Standard and Booster Draft | 327 | |
| 2018–19 | Mythic Championship Cleveland 2019 | Standard and Booster Draft | 56 | $1,000 |
| 2018–19 | Mythic Championship V | Traditional Standard | 8 | $12,500 |
| 2020 | Players Tour Series 1; Phoenix | Pioneer and Booster Draft | 2 | $30,000 |
→ Source: Wizards.com
External links
- Lifetime Top Finishes
- Lifetime Grand Prix Top 8s
- Top 200 All-Time Money Leaders
- William Jensen's Twitch channel
Notes
- ^I Although Jensen did miss Hall of Fame induction by a single vote, Nelson's vote alone would not have been sufficient. Hall of Fame voters were divided into the Players Committee and the Selection Committee, and the Selection Committee was weighted more. Jensen was one Selection Committee vote away from induction, but not one Players Committee vote.
References
- ↑ a b William Jensen (December 28, 2021). "I'm starting as WoTCStaff in the position of Director of Play Programs.". Twitter.
- ↑ a b c 2014 World Championship Competitors: William Jensen. Wizards of the Coast (2014-11-10). Retrieved on 2014-11-20.
- ↑ a b My Magic Life. StarCityGames (2013-08-07). Retrieved on 2014-11-20.
- ↑ Grand Prix-San Diego November 19-21, 1999. Wizards of the Coast (1999-11-21). Retrieved on 2014-11-20.
- ↑ Masters Series Coverage: New York 2000. Wizards of the Coast (2000-10-01). Retrieved on 2014-11-20.
- ↑ Grand Prix Pittsburgh 2000 Coverage. Wizards of the Coast (2000-06-25). Retrieved on 2014-11-20.
- ↑ Live Coverage of 2003 Pro Tour Chicago. Wizards of the Coast (2003-01-17). Retrieved on 2014-11-20.
- ↑ Live Coverage of 2003 Pro Tour Venice. Wizards of the Coast (2003-03-23). Retrieved on 2014-11-20.
- ↑ Live Coverage of 2003 Pro Tour Boston. Wizards of the Coast (2003-09-12). Retrieved on 2014-11-20.
- ↑ 2012 Ballot. Wizards of the Coast (2012-07-27). Retrieved on 2014-11-20.
- ↑ Brad Nelson (2013-07-05). "The Power Of M14". Star City Games. Retrieved on 2017-07-21.
- ↑ Invitation List for Pro Tour Return to Ravnica 2012. Wizards of the Coast (2012-10-17). Retrieved on 2014-11-20.
- ↑ Team Pantheon. ChannelFireball. Retrieved on 2014-12-18.
- ↑ 2013 Ballot. Wizards of the Coast (2013-08-02). Retrieved on 2014-11-20.
- ↑ He’s back! Jensen shows mastery in Oakland. Wizards of the Coast (2013-08-25). Retrieved on 2014-11-20.
- ↑ FLOCH IMMORTALIZED AT PRO TOUR. Wizards of the Coast (2014-08-04). Retrieved on 2014-11-20.
- ↑ THE PANTHEON CONQUERS PORTLAND. Wizards of the Coast (2014-08-11). Retrieved on 2014-11-20.
- ↑ 2014 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 14 STANDINGS. Wizards of the Coast (2013-12-03). Retrieved on 2014-12-04.