Tsuyoshi Ikeda
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese Magic: The Gathering
player. His success include four top eights at the Pro Tour level, and six on the Grand Prix
level, including one win. He is ranked 12th on lifetime pro points.
in 1998. Over the next two seasons, he qualified for the occasional Pro Tour, but without much success. It wasn't until 2000 that Ikeda began to enjoy success in professional Magic. He finished fourth at Grand Prix Kuala Lumpur
and played most of the Pro Tours that season. His success continued over the years that followed, with Ikeda making the top eight of one premier event each season from 2000-01 and 2005
.
His breakout performance on the Pro Tour came at Pro Tour Yokohama
in 2003. Ikeda made the top eight, and finished third, losing to countryman Masashi Oiso
in the semifinals. The following season, Ikeda reached the finals of the team Pro Tour in Seattle. Alongside teammates Itaru Ishida
and Jin Okomoto, Ikeda lost the finals to von Dutch, consisting of Jelger Wiegersma
, Kamiel Cornelissen
, and Jeroen Remie.
After 2005, Ikeda took a break from the game, only to come back in 2008
better than ever. After having top eighted two Grand Prix that season, Ikeda made his third Pro Tour top eight at the World Championship
in Memphis, Tennessee
. A semifinal loss to Jamie Parke saw him finish third.
Ikeda's renewed success continued through 2009
. Ikeda won a premier level event for the first time that season at Grand Prix Niigata. To follow up on his win, Ikeda made another top eight at Pro Tour Austin
. Like in Seattle five years earlier, Ikeda lost the finals again, this time to Brian Kibler
.
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering , also known as Magic, is the first collectible trading card game created by mathematics professor Richard Garfield and introduced in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Magic continues to thrive, with approximately twelve million players as of 2011...
player. His success include four top eights at the Pro Tour level, and six on the Grand Prix
Grand Prix (Magic: The Gathering)
Grands Prix are professional Magic: The Gathering tournaments, awarding cash prizes, Pro Points and invitations to Pro Tours. They are open to all players and are usually the biggest Magic tournaments. The first Grand Prix was held on 22–23 March 1997 in Amsterdam...
level, including one win. He is ranked 12th on lifetime pro points.
Career
Tsuyoshi Ikeda began his Pro Tour career at Pro Tour New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1998. Over the next two seasons, he qualified for the occasional Pro Tour, but without much success. It wasn't until 2000 that Ikeda began to enjoy success in professional Magic. He finished fourth at Grand Prix Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
and played most of the Pro Tours that season. His success continued over the years that followed, with Ikeda making the top eight of one premier event each season from 2000-01 and 2005
Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour season 2005
- Final standings :- Pro Player of the year standings :- Grand Prixs – Helsinki, Brisbane, Yokohama, Porto Alegre, Paris, Chicago, Osaka :GP Helsinki # Olivier Ruel# Mikko Leiviskä# Jean Charles Salvin# Ulrik Tarp# Anton Jonsson...
.
His breakout performance on the Pro Tour came at Pro Tour Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
in 2003. Ikeda made the top eight, and finished third, losing to countryman Masashi Oiso
Masashi Oiso
is a Japanese Magic: The Gathering player. He is one of the most successful players to have played on the Pro Tour, being one of only six players to have reached the top eight six times...
in the semifinals. The following season, Ikeda reached the finals of the team Pro Tour in Seattle. Alongside teammates Itaru Ishida
Itaru Ishida
is a Japanese Magic: The Gathering player. The bulk of his success has been on the Grand Prix circuit. With seventeen top eights, Ishida ranks fourth in this category behind Alex Shvartsman , and brothers Olivier and Antoine Ruel...
and Jin Okomoto, Ikeda lost the finals to von Dutch, consisting of Jelger Wiegersma
Jelger Wiegersma
Jelger Wiegersma is a Dutch Magic: The Gathering player. Formerly a pro he is now considered to be retired, but shows up for a Pro Tour every once in a while. He has won one Pro Tours as a member of team Von Dutch with teammates being Jeroen Remie and Kamiel Cornelissen. He also won a Grand Prix...
, Kamiel Cornelissen
Kamiel Cornelissen
Kamiel Cornelissen is a Dutch Magic: The Gathering player. Once a Pro Tour mainstay, he is now considered retired, despite playing the odd event. He is one of eighteen players with five or more Pro Tour top eights, including back to back second place finishes, and a win with teammates Jelger...
, and Jeroen Remie.
After 2005, Ikeda took a break from the game, only to come back in 2008
Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour season 2008
The 2008 Pro Tour season was the thirteenth season of the Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour. It began on 15 December 2007, with Grand Prix Stuttgart, and ended on 14 December 2008, with the 2008 World Championship in Memphis. The season consisted of twenty-one Grand Prixs, and four Pro Tours, located...
better than ever. After having top eighted two Grand Prix that season, Ikeda made his third Pro Tour top eight at the World Championship
Magic: The Gathering World Championship
The Magic: The Gathering World Championships have been held annually since 1994. It is the most important tournament in the game of Magic: The Gathering, offering to the winner a cash prize of $45,000. Originally open to all competitors, Worlds is now an invitation-only event and the last Pro Tour...
in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. A semifinal loss to Jamie Parke saw him finish third.
Ikeda's renewed success continued through 2009
Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour season 2009
The 2009 Pro Tour season was the fourteenth season of the Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour. It began on 17 January 2009 with Grand Prix Los Angeles, and ended on 22 November 2009 with the conclusion of the 2009 World Championship in Rome. The season consisted of nineteen Grand Prixs, and four Pro...
. Ikeda won a premier level event for the first time that season at Grand Prix Niigata. To follow up on his win, Ikeda made another top eight at Pro Tour Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. Like in Seattle five years earlier, Ikeda lost the finals again, this time to Brian Kibler
Brian Kibler
Brian M. Kibler is an American game designer currently working with Gamer Entertainment, a gaming consultancy. In 2010 Kibler designed Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer with Justin Gary, Rob Dougherty, and John Fiorillo. Previously he worked on Chaotic and was the lead designer of the World of...
.