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[[File:Rivals logo.png|300px|thumb|right]]
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[[File:Rivals League logo.png|thumb|right]]
The '''Rivals League''' is an ongoing ''[[Magic]]'' [[Esports]] competition that will be introduced in 2020.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.magic.gg/news/the-future-of-magic-esports|title=The Future of ''Magic'' Esports|author=[[Elaine Chase]]|date=August 14, 2019|publisher=[[Magic Esports]]}}</ref> It is a stepping stone to the [[Magic Pro League]] (MPL).
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The '''Rivals League''' is an ongoing ''[[Magic]]'' [[Esports]] competition that was introduced in 2020.<ref name="Future"/> It is a stepping stone to the [[Magic Pro League]] (MPL).
   
Rivals will make it into the MPL either through sustained success over the course of a season or through an new tournament called the [[MPL Gauntlet]].
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Competitors, called '''Rivals''', can make it into the MPL either through sustained success over the course of a season or through a tournament called [[Gauntlet]].
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==2020 season==
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{{Main|2020 Rivals League}}
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Starting in August 2020, ''Magic: the Gathering’s'' [[Organized Play]] calendar moved away from seasons that follow the calendar year (the 2019 season) back to seasons that are split over multiple calendar years (the 2020–2021 season). The 2019 season ended in December 2019, so in order to fill the gap between then and the beginning of the 2020–2021 season, the [[Magic Pro League]] held a shortened seven-month season.<ref name="Future">{{WebRef|url=https://www.magic.gg/news/the-future-of-magic-esports|title=The Future of ''Magic'' Esports|author=[[Elaine Chase]]|date=August 14, 2019|publisher=[[Magic Esports]]}}</ref><ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.hipstersofthecoast.com/2019/08/the-magic-pro-league-will-have-a-partial-8-month-season-to-start-2020/|title=The Magic Pro League Will Have a Partial 8-Month Season to Start 2020|author=David McCoy|date=August 14, 2019|publisher=[[Hipsters of the Coast]]}}</ref> The MPL was reduced to a 24-player league with players able to earn up to $50,000 in appearance fees in addition to prizes earned at tournaments.<ref name="Future"/>
   
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At the same time, the Rivals League was introduced, which essentially is a second division for the Esports. The Rivals League is a talent-development [[league]] that feeds the MPL.
The Rivals League will consist of 46 players as follows:
 
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For the shortened 2020 season, the Rivals League roster featured 32 players. Participants were 2019's bottom twelve MPL players based on [[Mythic Points]]. The eight 2019 MTG Arena and eight tabletop highest ranked [[Challenger]]s who were not invited to the MPL were also eligible. Their rankings were based on [[Mythic Points]] earned in the appropriate types of events. Four participants to the Rivals League were invited at [[Wizards of the Coast]]'s discretion.
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Because the 2020 partial season would have fewer events, both MPL and Rivals players would make less than a full season. Rivals players would have earned earned up to $15,000 in appearance fees, in addition to any prize money earned. The season was cut short as a consequence of the [[Wikipedia:2019–20 coronavirus pandemic|coronavirus pandemic]].
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==2020-2021 season==
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{{main|2020-21 Rivals League}}
 
At the start of the 2020–2021 season, the Rivals League consisted of 46 players as follows:
 
* 1st–12th ranked digital players (not previously in the MPL)
 
* 1st–12th ranked digital players (not previously in the MPL)
 
* 1st–12th ranked [[tabletop]] players (not previously in the MPL)
 
* 1st–12th ranked [[tabletop]] players (not previously in the MPL)
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* The bottom 4 players from the previous MPL season
 
* The bottom 4 players from the previous MPL season
 
* 6 discretionary invites
 
* 6 discretionary invites
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Throughout the season, Rivals were to receive invites to events, including [[Players Tour]] events and their own [[Mythic Qualifier]] and could earn up to $20,000 in appearance fees in addition to prizes earned at tournaments.
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However, with the cancellation of the [[2020 Players Tour Season]] due to the coronavirus pandemic, only the first Players Tour was completed. Hence, the 2020 Rivals league was to be retained, and fifteen players would be added.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.magic.gg/news/esports-update-mpl-rivals-and-competitor-2020-partial-season-changes|title=Esports Update: MPL, Rivals, and Competitor 2020 Partial Season Changes|author=[[Wizards of the Coast]]|date=April 1, 2020|publisher=[[Magic.gg]]}}</ref> These were the top eight Mythic Point earning players From MTG Arena who were not already a member of the MPL or Rivals League, and the top eight players in [[Player Points]] from tabletop ''Magic'' who were not already a member of the MPL or Rivals League. While originally there were seven new Rivals League slots available each for tabletop ''Magic'' and Arena players, both ended up with a two-person tie at 7th, so all were invited.
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In this season, Rivals played against each other in recurring tournaments — [[League Weekend]]s — where each match win awarded one point toward their league standings.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.magic.gg/news/the-2020-2021-magic-pro-league-season-overview|title=The 2020-2021 Magic Pro League Season Overview|author=[[Wizards of the Coast]]|date=July 14|publisher=[[Magic.gg]]}}</ref> Final league standings at the end of the season, after seven total League Weekends, will place players into the [[Rivals Gauntlet]] to determine the new invitees to the following season's MPL and Rivals League. All competitors who continue to succeed in their events across the entire 2020-2021 season will receive the best opportunities for an invitation to the next [[World Championship]].
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==2021-22 season==
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{{Main|2021–22 Rivals League}}
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In May 2021, [[Magic Esports]] announced a return to in-person play post COVID-19 for the [[2022–23 Players Tour Season]].<ref name="The End">{{WebRef|url=https://magic.gg/news/esports-transitions-and-getting-back-to-gathering|title=Esports: Transistions And Getting Back To The Gathering|author=[[Wizards of the Coast]]|date=May 13, 2021|publisher=[[Magic.gg]]}}</ref> Although digital play is considered a lasting feature of play it is supposed to be only part of the equation going forward. As a result, the 2021–22 Players Tour Season is going to be the last season featuring the [[MPL]] and the Rivals League. Players will not be competing for another League season. Instead, they'll be competing for a place in the [[2022 World Championship]].
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==Gallery==
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<gallery>
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File:Rivals logo.png|2019 logo
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</gallery>
   
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
{{Reflist}}
 
{{Reflist}}
   
[[Category:Magic tournaments]]
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[[Category:Rivals League| ]]
[[Category:Magic Arena]]
 

Revision as of 07:42, 15 May 2021

Rivals League logo

The Rivals League is an ongoing Magic Esports competition that was introduced in 2020.[1] It is a stepping stone to the Magic Pro League (MPL).

Competitors, called Rivals, can make it into the MPL either through sustained success over the course of a season or through a tournament called Gauntlet.

2020 season

Main article: 2020 Rivals League

Starting in August 2020, Magic: the Gathering’s Organized Play calendar moved away from seasons that follow the calendar year (the 2019 season) back to seasons that are split over multiple calendar years (the 2020–2021 season). The 2019 season ended in December 2019, so in order to fill the gap between then and the beginning of the 2020–2021 season, the Magic Pro League held a shortened seven-month season.[1][2] The MPL was reduced to a 24-player league with players able to earn up to $50,000 in appearance fees in addition to prizes earned at tournaments.[1]

At the same time, the Rivals League was introduced, which essentially is a second division for the Esports. The Rivals League is a talent-development league that feeds the MPL.

For the shortened 2020 season, the Rivals League roster featured 32 players. Participants were 2019's bottom twelve MPL players based on Mythic Points. The eight 2019 MTG Arena and eight tabletop highest ranked Challengers who were not invited to the MPL were also eligible. Their rankings were based on Mythic Points earned in the appropriate types of events. Four participants to the Rivals League were invited at Wizards of the Coast's discretion.

Because the 2020 partial season would have fewer events, both MPL and Rivals players would make less than a full season. Rivals players would have earned earned up to $15,000 in appearance fees, in addition to any prize money earned. The season was cut short as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic.

2020-2021 season

Main article: 2020-21 Rivals League

At the start of the 2020–2021 season, the Rivals League consisted of 46 players as follows:

  • 1st–12th ranked digital players (not previously in the MPL)
  • 1st–12th ranked tabletop players (not previously in the MPL)
  • Bottom 12 players from the MPL Gauntlet
  • The bottom 4 players from the previous MPL season
  • 6 discretionary invites

Throughout the season, Rivals were to receive invites to events, including Players Tour events and their own Mythic Qualifier and could earn up to $20,000 in appearance fees in addition to prizes earned at tournaments.

However, with the cancellation of the 2020 Players Tour Season due to the coronavirus pandemic, only the first Players Tour was completed. Hence, the 2020 Rivals league was to be retained, and fifteen players would be added.[3] These were the top eight Mythic Point earning players From MTG Arena who were not already a member of the MPL or Rivals League, and the top eight players in Player Points from tabletop Magic who were not already a member of the MPL or Rivals League. While originally there were seven new Rivals League slots available each for tabletop Magic and Arena players, both ended up with a two-person tie at 7th, so all were invited.

In this season, Rivals played against each other in recurring tournaments — League Weekends — where each match win awarded one point toward their league standings.[4] Final league standings at the end of the season, after seven total League Weekends, will place players into the Rivals Gauntlet to determine the new invitees to the following season's MPL and Rivals League. All competitors who continue to succeed in their events across the entire 2020-2021 season will receive the best opportunities for an invitation to the next World Championship.

2021-22 season

In May 2021, Magic Esports announced a return to in-person play post COVID-19 for the 2022–23 Players Tour Season.[5] Although digital play is considered a lasting feature of play it is supposed to be only part of the equation going forward. As a result, the 2021–22 Players Tour Season is going to be the last season featuring the MPL and the Rivals League. Players will not be competing for another League season. Instead, they'll be competing for a place in the 2022 World Championship.

Gallery

References