New Zealand National Championships

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New Zealand
National Championships
Years held: 1995 & 1996 (with AUS)
1997 to 2011
2017 & 2018
Host cities: Auckland
Christchurch
Wellington
Repeat titles: Mark Simpson
Richard Grace

National Championship tournaments for New Zealand started in 1995 in a joint Australasian competition with Australia. The teams sent to Worlds both years, however, consisted only of Australians. From 1997 until 2011, then again in 2017 and 2018, New Zealand held its own Nationals.[1][2] The winner of these events was named New Zealand Champion and headed the national team at that year's World Championship.

Between 2012 and 2016, the title New Zealand Champion was instead given to the New Zealander with the highest amount of Pro Points in a particular Pro Tour season.

History

1996 "National"

A sanctioned New Zealand Nationals was held in Wellington in 1996; however, this was in effect a Regional Championship which fed into the Australasian Nationals in Melbourne. Tim Hammond playing a Black manaRed mana aggro deck beat Doug Burden with Green manaWhite mana Erhnamgeddon. Third place was Allan Grooby, who would go on to top 8 in Melbourne.[3]

1997 National

1997 was the first official NZ National Championship, held over the three days of Queen's Birthday Weekend in June. It also doubled as the Weatherlight Prerelease with a Sealed Deck event on Saturday.

Two different Rochester Draft formats were played: triple Fifth Edition Sunday morning, followed by Mirage, Mirage, Visions in the afternoon. A random 16th Fifth Edition card was added to each booster in both drafts, which lead to situations where James White first-picked a Prodigal Sorcerer from a Mirage pack.

Monday was Type II, with a final Top 16 cut. Eion Gibb was rewarded for predicting a heavy blue metagame, playing Five Color Green with main deck River Boas and the Protection from Blue Karoo Meercat. He become the inaugural New Zealand National Champion after defeating a monoblue player (Whose name is not recorded) in the grand final. Damian Brown-Santirso managed to make the finals playing a unique Taniwha/Jokulhaups deck; Taniwha being mythical figures in New Zealand's indigenous Māori culture.[3]

2000s

From 2001 onwards, Championships rotated between Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington on a three-yearly cycle. These are the three most highly populated cities in New Zealand, each located geographically in a different third of the country's two largest islands: Auckland and Wellington at different ends of the North Island and Christchuch in the middle of the South Island. This would last until the 2011 Christchuch earthquake meant that it was not logistically possible to hold large events there. Consequently, Auckland became the first city to host back-to-back tournaments in 2010 and 2011.[4]

National Championships (1995 to 2011)

National team members for the World Championships, where known, are marked in bold.

  • Between 1997 and 2000, and in 2007, teams had 4 players.[5]
  • Between 2001 and 2006, and 2008 to 2011, teams consisted of three players. The two losing semi-finalists would play off for 3rd place. 4th place still received an invitation as an Alternate. (Italicised)

Invitations could be formally declined and would be offered in turn to the next player in the standings.

Note: An asterisk (*) after a player's name indicates their exact placing is unknown.

1997 National Championship

Location: Wellington
Date: May 30-June 2, 1997
Formats: Standard, Sealed Deck, Rochester
Attendance: ~100

1. NZL flag Eion Gibb
2. NOFLAG flag
3. NZL flag Roger Miller
4. NZL flag Allan Grooby
5. NZL flag Damian Brown-Santirso*
6. NZL flag Shaun Drummond*
7. NOFLAG flag
8. NOFLAG flag

Sources[3][6][7][8]  

1998 National Championship

Location: Christchurch
Date: May 29-30, 1998
Formats: Standard and Sealed Deck
Attendance:

1. NZL flag Mark Simpson
2. NZL flag Chris Wilson
3. NZL flag Jonathan Aumonier-Ward
4. NZL flag David Bocock
5. NZL flag Eion Gibb
6. NOFLAG flag
7. NOFLAG flag
8. NOFLAG flag

Sources[3][7][9][10][11]  

1999 National Championship

Location: Auckland
Date:
Formats: Standard and Rochester Draft
Attendance:

1. NZL flag Mark Simpson
2. NZL flag Damian Brown-Santirso
3. NZL flag David Bullock
4. NZL flag Brett Rogers
5. NZL flag Ben*
6. NZL flag Jonathan Aumonier-Ward*
7. NOFLAG flag
8. NZL flag Jonathan Luey

Sources[3][7][12]  

2000 National Championship

Location: Wellington
Date: June 16-17, 2000
Formats: Standard and Booster Draft
Attendance: 69

1. NZL flag Chris Wilson
2. NZL flag Dave Bullock
3. NZL flag Jonathan Luey
4. NZL flag Roger Miller
5. NZL flag Cole Swannack
6. NZL flag Mark Simpson
7. NZL flag John Denz
8. NZL flag Andrew Hart

Sources[13][14][15]  

2001 National Championship

Location: Auckland
Date: May 12-13, 2001
Formats: Standard and Rochester Draft
Attendance: 48 (60 invites)

1. NZL flag Roger Miller
2. NZL flag James White
3. NZL flag Andrew Plinston
4. NZL flag Kerel Laycock (Bear)
5. NZL flag John Denz
6. NZL flag Chai Yueng Ming (Kevin)
7. NZL flag Digby Carter
8. NZL flag Kelly Laird

Sources[7][16][17][18][19][20]  

2002 National Championship

Location: Christchurch
Date: April 20-21, 2002
Formats: Standard and Booster Draft
Attendance: 52

1. NZL flag Cole Swannack
2. NZL flag Julian Brown-Santirso
3. NZL flag James White
4. NZL flag Anthony Gysberts
5. NZL flag Raymond Anderson
6. NZL flag Nick Forster
7. NZL flag Giles Reid
8. NZL flag Jon Manuuli

Sources[21][22][23][24]  

2003 National Championship

Location: Wellington
Date: April 12-13, 2003
Formats: Standard and Rochester Draft
Attendance:

1. NZL flag Richard Grace
2. NZL flag Gene Brumby
3. NZL flag Cole Swannack
4. NZL flag Enchante Chang (Shawn)
5. NZL flag Nick Forster
6. NZL flag Kerel Laycock (Bear)
7. NZL flag Roger Miller
8. NZL flag Martin Brown-Santirso

Sources[25][26][27][28]  

2004 National Championship

Location: Auckland
Date: July 2-4, 2004
Formats: Standard and Booster Draft
Attendance: unknown (71+ invited)

1. NZL flag Richard Grace
2. NZL flag Roger Miller
3. NZL flag James White
4. NZL flag Cole Swannack
5. NOFLAG flag
6. NOFLAG flag
7. NOFLAG flag
8. NOFLAG flag

Sources[29][30]  

2005 National Championship

Location: Christchurch
Date: August 12-13, 2005
Formats: Standard and Booster Draft
Attendance: unknown (~95 invited)

1. NZL flag Glenn Patel
2. NZL flag Julian Brown-Santirso
3. NZL flag Luke Tsavousis
4. NZL flag Ray Walkinshaw
5. NZL flag Darryn Ying*
6. NZL flag John Manuuli*
7. NZL flag Andrew MacIntyre*
8. NZL flag Martin Jeffreys*

Sources[31][32][33][34]  

2006 National Championship

Location: Wellington
Date: August 5-6, 2006
Formats: Standard and Booster Draft
Attendance: unknown (~95 invited)

1. NZL flag Timothy Aitchison
2. NZL flag Luke Tsavousis
3. NZL flag Kerel Laycock (Bear)
4. NZL flag Dave Marshall
5. NZL flag Ray Walkinshaw*
6. NZL flag Clint Laws*
7. NOFLAG flag
8. NOFLAG flag

Sources[33][35][36][37][38]  

2007 National Championship

Location: Auckland
Date: August 10-11, 2007
Formats: Standard and Booster Draft
Attendance: 74 (~95 invited)

1. NZL flag Kerel Laycock (Bear)
2. NZL flag James White
3. NZL flag Andrew Plinston
4. NZL flag Doug Wilson
5. NZL flag Charles Lee
6. NZL flag Max Botkov
7. NZL flag Dan Bretherton
8. NZL flag Luke Tsavousis

Sources[37][39][40][41][42]  

2008 National Championship

Location: Christchurch
Date: July 25-27, 2008
Formats: Standard and Booster Draft
Attendance:

1. NZL flag Dan Bretherton
2. NZL flag Matthew Ogier
3. NZL flag Jason Chung
4. NZL flag Digby Carter
5. NZL flag Cole Swannack*
6. NZL flag Gene Brumby*
7. NZL flag Scott Richards*
8. NZL flag Nick Tung*

Sources[43][44][45][46]  

2009 National Championship

Location: Wellington
Date: July 4-5, 2009
Formats: Standard and Booster Draft
Attendance:

1. NZL flag Jason Chung
2. NZL flag Remi Pearce
3. NZL flag Matthew Griffin
4. NZL flag Andrew Plinston
5. NZL flag Chris Hall*
6. NZL flag Digby Carter*
7. NZL flag Loren D'Ambrosio*
8. NZL flag Paul Carson*

Sources[47][48][49]  

2010 National Championship

Location: Auckland
Date: August 7-8, 2010
Formats: Standard and Booster Draft
Attendance:

1. NZL flag Scott Richards
2. NZL flag Ivan Schroder
3. NZL flag Xiangxue Song (Snow)
4. NZL flag Matthew Rogers
5. NZL flag Kirk Allen*
6. NZL flag Ivan Schroder*
7. NZL flag Luke Stavousis*
8. NZL flag Remi Pearce*

Sources[50][51][52]  

2011 National Championship

Location: Christchurch Auckland
Date: July 30-31, 2021
Formats: Standard and Booster Draft
Attendance:

1. NZL flag Luke Tsavousi
2. NZL flag Max Botkov
3. NZL flag Paul Carson-Wenmoth
4. NZL flag Andrew Plinston
5. NZL flag Dan Bretherton*
6. NZL flag Geoff Fletcher*
7. NZL flag Dan McKay*
8. NZL flag Aaron Sewell*

Sources[4][53][54][55]  

World Magic Cup (2012 to 2016)

Year Pro Points Champion Qualifier 1 Qualifier 2 Qualifier 3
2012[56] Jason Chung John Seaton Aaron Sewell Matthew Rogers
2013[57] Walker MacMurdo Jingwei Zheng Jason Chung Digby Carter
2014[58] Jingwei Zheng Matthew Rogers Nick Newman Jason Chung
2015[59] Jason Chung Danny Liao Phoenix Taku Gene Brumby
2016[60] Jason Chung Matthew Rogers Zen Takahashi Calum Gittins

National Championships (2017 and 2018)

2017 National Championship

Location: Wellington
Date: October 14-15, 2017
Formats: Standard and Booster Draft
Attendance:

1. NZL flag Yida Guo
2. NZL flag Nathan Samu
3. NOFLAG flag
4. NOFLAG flag
5. NOFLAG flag
6. NOFLAG flag
7. NOFLAG flag
8. NOFLAG flag

Pro Points Champion: Jason Chung
[61][62]  

2018 National Championship

Location: Wellington
Date: September 8-9, 2018
Formats: Standard and Booster Draft
Attendance: 141

1. NZL flag Dan MckKay
2. NZL flag Christian Lee
3. NZL flag Justin Oke
4. NZL flag Jason Chung
5. NZL flag Robert Johnstone
6. NZL flag Leon Meier
7. NZL flag Remi Pearce
8. NZL flag Sean Tilly

Pro Points Champion: Jason Chung
[63][64]  

References

  1. ↑ Helene Bergeot (February 9, 2017). "The Return of Nationals and Changes to Grand Prix". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2018-09-14.
  2. ↑ Elaine Chase (December 6, 2018). "The Next Chapter for Magic: Esports". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2018-12-11.
  3. ↑ a b c d e James White (2005). "The History of New Zealand National Champs (website)". Game Player. Archived from the original on March 8, 2006. Retrieved on December 19, 2025.
  4. ↑ a b Wizards of the Coast (2011). "2011 New Zealand National Championship (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on March 7, 2011. Retrieved on December 19, 2025.
  5. ↑ Tim Willoughby (2007). "Feature: The Teams Competition Explained (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on June 2, 2009. Retrieved on October 26, 2025.
  6. ↑ beatsandskies.bsky.social. Bluesky.
  7. ↑ a b c d Brett Rogers (May 28, 2001). "TEAM CHEESY DEATH AT NATIONALS 2000 (webpage)". saltydog.co.nz. Archived from the original on August 7, 2001. Retrieved on October 22, 2025.
  8. ↑ WiSK and Michelle (August 14, 1997). "Worlds reports every day or as they happen. (Usenet post)". Newsgroup: rec.games.trading-cards.magic.strategy. Usenet. Retrieved on October 22, 2025.
  9. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (1998). "1998 World Championships Coverage (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on October 3, 2008. Retrieved on December 15, 2025.
  10. ↑ Simon Connell (June 6, 1998). "Subject: sHc 5cB [TOURNAMENT] 13th in NZ Nationals type 2 (Usenet post)". The Dojo. Retrieved on October 22, 2025.
  11. ↑ Gathering Stats (November 17, 2025). "Nationals New Zealand 1998 (website)". Gathering Stats. Retrieved on December 20, 2025.
  12. ↑ Jonathan Luey (June 22, 1999). "Subject: [TOURNAMENT] NZ Nationals, Auckland -----8th (website)". The Dojo. Archived from the original on June 8, 2000. Retrieved on October 22, 2025.
  13. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2001). "Team List (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on April 14, 2001. Retrieved on October 31, 2025.
  14. ↑ gameon.net.nz (June 16, 2000). "Final Standings New Zealand National 2000 (website)". gameon.net.nz. Archived from the original on June 29, 2002. Retrieved on October 22, 2025.
  15. ↑ Chris Wilson (August 1, 2000). "1st Place Report by Chris Wilson (website)". mtgparadise.com. Archived from the original on April 21, 2001. Retrieved on October 22, 2025.
  16. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2001). "Day 4 Player List (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on October 29, 2004. Retrieved on October 31, 2025.
  17. ↑ John Denz (June 4, 2001). "New Zealand Nationals Report by John Denz *5th*". mtgparadise.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2002. Retrieved on October 22, 2025.
  18. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2001). "MAGIC: THE GATHERING New Zealand Nationals 2000-2001 (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on June 8, 2001. Retrieved on October 22, 2025.
  19. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2001). "COMPETITOR INFORMATION PACKET (pdf)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on June 3, 2001. Retrieved on October 22, 2025.
  20. ↑ Salty Dog (May 12, 2001). "Round 1 Standings". Salty Dog. Archived from the original on January 30, 2002. Retrieved on December 19, 2025.
  21. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2002). "National Teams (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on June 2, 2009. Retrieved on October 31, 2009.
  22. ↑ saltydog.co.nz (2002). "12yr Cole Swannack wins New Zealand Nationals (website)". saltydog.co.nz. Archived from the original on June 6, 2002. Retrieved on October 22, 2025.
  23. ↑ gameon.net.nz (2002). "New Zealand National Champs 2002 (website)". gameon.net.nz. Archived from the original on April 5, 2002. Retrieved on October 22, 2025.
  24. ↑ saltydog.co.nz (2002). "Welcome to the Salty Dog Tournaments (website)". saltydog.co.nz. Archived from the original on April 2, 2002. Retrieved on October 22, 2025.
  25. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2003). "National Team Rosters (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on June 3, 2009. Retrieved on October 31, 2025.
  26. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2003). "Player List (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on jUne 3, 2009. Retrieved on October 31, 2025.
  27. ↑ saltydog.co.nz (2003). "New Zealand Nationals won by OX! (website)". saltydog.co.nz. Archived from the original on August 11, 2003. Retrieved on October 22, 2025.
  28. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2003). "New Zealand National Championship FAQ (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on April 9, 2003. Retrieved on October 22, 2025.
  29. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2004). "2004 Magic: The Gathering ® World Championships (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on March 1, 2005. Retrieved on October 12, 2025.
  30. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2004). "National Championships (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on February 7, 2005. Retrieved on October 14, 2025.
  31. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2005). "2005 National Champions and Teams (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on June 4, 2009. Retrieved on October 12, 2025.
  32. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2005). "National Championships (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on November 27, 2005. Retrieved on October 14, 2025.
  33. ↑ a b Wizards of the Coast (2006). "New Zealand National Championship FAQ (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on February 14, 2007. Retrieved on December 19, 2025.
  34. ↑ Game Player (January 10, 2008). "New Zealand National Championship - 2005 (website)". Game Player. Archived from the original on October 14, 2008. Retrieved on December 19, 2025.
  35. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (November 25, 2006). "2006 Magic: The Gathering World Championships (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on May 10, 2007. Retrieved on October 12, 2025.
  36. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2006). "2006 National Championships (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on January 1, 2007. Retrieved on October 14, 2025.
  37. ↑ a b Wizards of the Coast (2007). "New Zealand National Championship FAQ (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on November 16, 2007. Retrieved on December 19, 2025.
  38. ↑ Timothy Aitchison (July 12, 2007). "Diary of a Champion - NZ MTG Nationals 2006 (Website)". Game Palyer. Archived from the original on October 14, 2008. Retrieved on December 19, 2025.
  39. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (November 29, 2007). "2007 Magic: The Gathering World Championships (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on June 1, 2008. Retrieved on October 12, 2025.
  40. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2007). "2007 National Championships (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on August 9, 2007. Retrieved on October 14, 2025.
  41. ↑ Game Player (August 13, 2007). "Top 8 Decks - NZ National Champs 2007 (website)". Game Player. Archived from the original on January 21, 2015. Retrieved on December 19, 2025.
  42. ↑ Game Player (August 11, 2007). "Round 1 Pairings / Results / Standings (website)". Game Player. Archived from the original on January 21, 2015. Retrieved on December 19, 2025.
  43. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2008). "2008 World Championships Invitation List (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on October 9, 2008. Retrieved on October 12, 2025.
  44. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2008). "2008 National Championships (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on October 22, 2008. Retrieved on 10, October 2025.
  45. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2009). "2009 New Zealand National Championship Invitations (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on June 2, 2009. Retrieved on December 19, 2025.
  46. ↑ Game Player (August 19, 2008). "Top 8 decks - NZ National Champs 2008 (website)". Game Player. Archived from the original on October 14, 2008. Retrieved on December 19, 2025.
  47. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2010). "2009 World Championships Invitation List (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on October 14, 2009. Retrieved on October 12, 2025.
  48. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2009). "2009 National Championships (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on August 31, 2009. Retrieved on October 12, 2025.
  49. ↑ Game Player (July 9, 2009). "Top 8 Decks - NZ National Championship 2009 (website)". Game Player. Archived from the original on May 26, 2010. Retrieved on December 19, 2025.
  50. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2010). "2010 World Championships Invitation List (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on December 10, 2010. Retrieved on October 12, 2025.
  51. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2010). "2010 National Championships (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on October 21, 2010. Retrieved on October 12, 2025.
  52. ↑ Game Player (August 18, 2010). "M:tG National Championship 2010 (website)". Game Player. Archived from the original on January 15, 2011. Retrieved on December 19, 2025.
  53. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2011). "2011 National Championships (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on October 25, 2011. Retrieved on October 12, 2025.
  54. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2011). "2011 World Championships Invitation List (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on October 7, 2011. Retrieved on October 12, 2025.
  55. ↑ Gathering Stats (November 17, 2025). "Nationals New Zealand 2011 (website)". Gathering Stats. Retrieved on December 20, 2025.
  56. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2012). "2012 World Magic Cup Invitation List (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on August 18, 2012. Retrieved on July 11, 2025.
  57. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2013). "2013 World Magic Cup Invitation List (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on August 8, 2013. Retrieved on July 11, 2025.
  58. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2014). "2014 WORLD MAGIC CUPINVITATION LIST (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on December 22, 2014. Retrieved on July 12, 2025.
  59. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2015). "2015 WORLD MAGIC CUPINVITATION LIST (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on May 2, 2021. Retrieved on July 11, 2025.
  60. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2016). "2016 World Magic Cup Invitation List (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on November 20, 2016. Retrieved on July 11, 2025.
  61. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2018). "2017 Nationals (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved on October 5, 2025.
  62. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2017). "2017 World Magic Cup Day One (Video)". Twitch. Retrieved on October 14, 2025.
  63. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2018). "2018 Nationals (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. Retrieved on October 5, 2025.
  64. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (2018). "2018 World Magic Cup - Day Two (Video)". Twitch. Retrieved on October 14, 2025.
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