Before each Pro Tour (@magicprotour), @WotC_Magic goes over their list and checks it twice, deciding who's been naughty, nice, and deserving of a special invite or a sponsor's exemption, and this year's lucky players got to open their late Christmas presents this week. In response, some consternation arose among Twitter's Magic community about the choices made by the powers that be. And thus a lively discussion arose.
This year, several big names appeared on the list. CFB team member Eric Froelich (@efropoker), Magic writer Melissa DeTora (half of @AllWeDoIsWinMTG), and GP stalwart with several top finishes recently Harry Corvese (@hcorvese) all now have the opportunity to play at the next Pro Tour. You can see the full list for yourself here.
Take a look at how Twitter took the news:
All I want for Tuesday is announcements
— Harry Corvese (@Hcorvese) January 8, 2013
Wait a minute. You mean to tell me that people play Magic "professionally" instead of for fun? Huh. #MTGSponsorExemptions
— MTG Color Pie (@mtgcolorpie) January 8, 2013
#PTGTC Sponsor/Special Invites Announced! Congrats to @efropoker , Melissa DeTora, Adam Yurchick and the rest! bit.ly/WuPCdY
— Evan Erwin (@misterorange) January 8, 2013
Jon Stern and Adam Yurchick get special invites to Pro Tour Montreal. Yay!
— Mana Deprived (@manadeprived) January 8, 2013
NO FREAKIN' WAY !!!Jon Stern gets a well deserved invite to his hometown PT stop !!!Way to go Jon !!!
— Eric J Seltzer (@ejseltzer) January 8, 2013
Just received word that I will be going to PT Gatecrash in Montreal! TY to WotC & all the friends/fans who have supported me! Love you all!!
— eric froehlich (@efropoker) January 8, 2013
Pierre Dagen AND Louis Deltour got Sponsor's Exemptions! Well deserved, and nice to see two Frenchies get out there #mtg #PTGTC
— Kim Warren (@Fellwolf) January 8, 2013
Paul Renie.. that's the guy who Bonfired Kibler and created the worlds greatest GIF right? Because if so then he deserves it.
— Phil Samms (@psamms) January 8, 2013
Sponsor's Exemptions are performance-based and come with plane tickets. Special Invites are for a variety of random reasons, no ticket.
— Aaron Forsythe (@mtgaaron) January 8, 2013
Sponsor's Exemptions for #PTGTC have been awarded to the non Qd players who posted the best results last season (GP, PTQ and PT RTR),
— Helene Bergeot (@HeleneBergeot) January 8, 2013
@psamms There usually is one but not much info in it.Last time @helenebergeot detailed accomplishments on twitter.
— Bing Luke (@prolepsis9) January 8, 2013
For those asking, Special Invites have been given out at Wizard's discretion long before Sponsor's Exemptions started.
— Michael Hetrick (@theshipitholla) January 8, 2013
As well as Sponsor Exemptions and Special Invites, I'd like 5 golden tickets randomly placed in booster packs to Q you for the PT. #mtg #EV
— Ross (@BoltTheBird) January 8, 2013
Anyone watching at home: you're gonna wish the round 1 feature match between Melissa DeTora and @lsv was @hueyjensen vs @lsv instead.=[
— Matt Sperling (@mtg_law_etc) January 8, 2013
I am happy for everyone who got invites to #PTGC and have no interest in attacking any of them. I just want @hueyjensen added to list.
— Tom Martell (@tommartell) January 8, 2013
I dislike invites based on "ptq t4s" and I rly dislike invites based on "contributions to the community"... does it get any more subjective?
— Paulo Vitor (@PVDDR) January 8, 2013
i'm really enjoying the back-and-forth petty sniping and passive aggressiveness regarding PT invites. let's ratchet this up.
— Paul Rietzl (@paulrietzl) January 8, 2013
Morgan chang has two gp t8s in consec seasons and 100% deserves it more than both.
— Chris Mascioli (@dieplstks) January 8, 2013
Really sad to see @jaberwocki not get a #PityInvite. Shame that anything #MTGO is considered a second-class accomplishment.
— Joe Spanier (@FoundOmega) January 8, 2013
I contributed to Sponsor's invite clarity by proving that just one PTQ finals appearance is not enough to get anyone invited.
— Chris Pikula (@meddlingmage) January 8, 2013
So will I be getting a special cosplay invite?
— christine sprankle (@cspranklerun) January 8, 2013
Didn't get a Special Invite. It's like being picked last in gym class all over again.
— Christopher Allen (@psychicbattle) January 8, 2013
How do I know #mtg players are whining about something? The Internet still exists.
— Derek (@ricketyoldshack) January 8, 2013
You can be the greatest, you can be the best! You can Tweet in the hall of fame!
Event Coverage Coordinator and Twitter Admiral for StarCityGames.com
Listen to the @InContention podcast! It's the official podcast of the StarCityGames.com Open Series with @kstube, @affinityforblue, and myself. Listen in at InContentionMagic.com. Our most recent episode, Revelations From The Front Line, can be found here.
About Reuben Bresler
Reuben Bresler is a Coverage Coordinator for SCGLive who lives in Roanoke, VA. When he's not doing coverage, he works on various video projects for StarCityGames.com, like The Newsening.