Magic: The Gathering announces Magic esports: new Pro League and Mythic Championships

Wizards of the Coast announced a new Magic esports program, which is both an expansion and reorganization of the current pro Magic: The Gathering scene, at tonight’s The Game Awards show in Los Angeles. This shuffles a new challenger is shuffling in some magic into the esports arena, one that market research firm Newzoo projects could be worth nearly $140 billion by the end of the year.

These Magic esports announcement integrate paper Magic tournaments with Arena, Wizards’ new digital collectible card game. They also bring a host of other additions and changes as well. Wizards is introducing the new Magic Pro League along with a $1 million tournament — the first of a new series of Mythic Championships — at PAX East next spring and a $10 million prize pool for 2019. The move is a significant step in the growth of the card-playing portion of the esports market. Wizards esports VP Elaine Chase made the announcement.