Magic: the Gathering's Most Infamous Cheaters | MTG
MTGGoldfish・26 minutes read
Various Magic: The Gathering players, including Tomoharu Saito and Yuya Watanabe, have faced suspensions and bans for cheating, such as presenting incorrect decks and marking sleeves. The text explores the history of cheating in Magic, showcasing infamous cases and the consequences faced by players in the competitive scene.
Insights
- The history of cheating in Magic the Gathering is rife with prominent players like Tomaharu Saito, Steven Speck, and Fabrizio Anteri, who received significant suspensions for various forms of cheating, shedding light on the prevalence and consequences of dishonest behavior in the game's competitive scene.
- Notable Magic players like Yuya Watanabe and Alex Burtoncini have faced suspensions for cheating tactics such as marking cards or playing extra lands, highlighting the ongoing battle against subtle and overt dishonesty within the Magic community.
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What is Mana weaving in Magic the Gathering?
A technique of arranging cards to ensure a good mix.
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Summary
00:00
"Infamous Cheaters in Magic: A History"
- Tomaharu Saito, a control Mage, was suspended for 18 months in 2001 for a mind-blowingly stupid cheat where he shuffled his deck for no reason to try and get his opponent a game loss.
- Saito, after being elected into the Magic the Gathering Hall of Fame, received another 18-month suspension for stalling, leading to his Hall of Fame status being revoked.
- Steven Speck, known for popularizing the Amulet Bloom deck, was caught presenting a 53-card deck at Pro Tour Dragons of Tarkir, resulting in a 36-month ban.
- Fabrizio Anteri was caught Mana weaving his deck to ensure a good mix of lands and spells, claiming he did it to compete against better players in later rounds, leading to an 18-month suspension.
- Jared Batcher cheated by stacking his opponent's deck negatively during shuffling, leading to a ban after being caught on camera at an SCG Invitational.
- The infamous New Phyrexia God Book leak by Guillaume Matignon led to a three-year ban for sharing confidential spoilers, giving an unfair advantage in deck building.
- Trevor Humphries was caught stacking his opponent's deck on camera during SCG Worcester, leading to a four-year suspension and an unhinged response on social media.
- Yuya Watanabe, a top Magic player, marked his Tron deck sleeves to identify specific lands, resulting in a 30-month suspension and removal from the Magic Pro League and Hall of Fame.
- Mark Justice highlights the prevalence of cheating in the early days of professional Magic, with Mana weaving being a common cheat that players thought was acceptable.
- The text delves into the history of cheating in Magic the Gathering, showcasing infamous cheaters and their consequences, shedding light on the prevalence of cheating in the game's competitive scene.
13:29
Magic Players: Cheating, Controversy, and Legacy
- Mike, a fast player in a Magic: The Gathering game, is known for playing quickly and exploiting weaknesses.
- Hammer, an opponent, is reputed to be psychic, predicting opponents' moves through patterns.
- Mark Justice, a former Magic player, rose to fame in the late 90s but fell from grace due to cheating allegations.
- Justice's cheating incident involved acquiring an extra card, a Muscle Sliver, from a vendor during a tournament.
- Mike Long, another prominent Magic player, was known for various cheating incidents, including hiding cards in his lap.
- Long's cheating methods included manipulating his deck to ensure advantageous draws, like with the Howling Wolf card.
- Long and Justice had a contentious match where discrepancies in life totals led to a dispute and Justice's victory.
- Despite controversies, Long's legacy in Magic remains debated, with some advocating for his inclusion in the Hall of Fame.
- Alex Burtoncini, a modern Magic player, gained notoriety for subtle cheating tactics, like playing extra lands or sideboarding incorrectly.
