Nerd Rage Gaming
Nerd Rage Gaming is a Magic retailer based in Illinois, United States
NRG Championship Series
In 2016, Nerd Rage Gaming introduced the Nerd Rage Gaming Championship Series, known nowadays as The NRG Series. As of 2024, the structure of the series consists of eight (8) different gatherings per year across the Midwest USA where the flagship tournaments of the weekend feature both a $10,000 prize pool and a $5,000 prize pool. These tournaments demonstrate the competitors' prowess in formats like Standard, Pioneer, Modern, Legacy, and Team Trios and the most successful players will earn their spot in the exclusive, end-of-year NRG Championship (#NRGChamp). The 2024 NRG Championship will consist of 24 players battling across two full days in three different formats for a $35,000 prize pool, an invite to the 2025 NRG Champs, AND an invite to the official Wizards Pro Tour.
Most of the $10k events are denoted as "Showdowns" where the winners automatically qualify themselves for the NRG Champs. Players may also qualify for the NRG Championship by earning points on the NRG Leaderboard based on final standing in each NRG event that they play, including the $5k main events, or "Trials", which offer the same amount of NRG points as the $10k events but do not include the automatic Champs invite. The full year of eight NRG weekends is split into two four-event seasons and two unqualified players atop the Leaderboard at the end of each season will earn their spot in the NRG Championship. These Leaderboard points will also qualify three players for the NRG Championship based on their final standing at the end of each year based on total NRG Points across the full year.
Players may also earn additional NRG points by competing in designated Side Events which are offered in a variety of different formats and distribute additional rewards such as Prize Wall tickets that can be redeemed at the NRG Prize Wall for different MTG-related products, accessories, and more, sponsored by Wizards of the Coast and Ultimate Guard. Other designated Side Events can also earn players their qualifications for WotC's official quarterly Regional Championship, the second step of a player's journey to the Pro Tour and the World Championship.