TopDeck Invitational 2026

The 2026 Championship Series comes down to this: 80 invited players, one cEDH tournament, one title.

Saturday & Sunday, August 22–23, 2026 · Breach the Bay 2 · San Mateo, CA

• 80 players — the biggest Invitational field yet
• 80-minute rounds
• 6 Swiss rounds into a Top 16 cut
• 7 points per win, 1 per draw
• Fully proxy friendly — all proxies must be in color and use the original artwork

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The Playmats

We went big this year: full two-player cloth mats by Yggdrasil Materias, with art by Phil Stone depicting Rograkh and Tymna.

• Entry Mat (Tan) — everyone playing at the Invitational receives the tan mat
• Top 10 Leaderboard (Grey) — the top ten on the leaderboard get the grey instead
• Top 4 (Charcoal with Sky Blue) — make Top 4 and you're playing on the black and sky blue
• Champion (Charcoal with Multicolor) — the winner takes home the multicolor Champion mat

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Schedule

Subject to change.

Day 1 — Saturday, August 22

• 9:00–10:00am — Registration
• 10:00am — Players' Meeting
• 10:30am — Round 1
• Rounds 2–5 to follow

Day 2 — Sunday, August 23

• 9:30am — Round 6
• Top 16 Semifinals
• Top 4 Finals

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Location

This year the Invitational runs inside Breach the Bay 2, Merlion Games' cEDH 25K weekend at the San Mateo County Event Center. There's cEDH going all weekend, so bring your friends.

San Mateo County Event Center, 1346 Saratoga Dr, San Mateo, CA 94403

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Prizing

• $15k in prize support, with payout to everyone that makes Top 16
• 1st place receives $4500, 2nd–4th receive $1500, and 5th–16th receive $500
• Prizes will be paid out within 30 days of the end of the event

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Qualification

There is no ticket for this one. We're inviting 80 players: auto-qualifiers, plus the rest of the field from the 2026 Championship Series leaderboard. The TopDeck.gg team will reach out to everyone with an invite.

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FAQ

Is this event proxy friendly?

Yes. You will need to use "test cards" that are in color and use recognizable art, or MDFC placeholder cards that are clearly written on (limited to 10 MDFC proxies). You will not be allowed to slip printed pieces of paper in front of a Magic card.

Are alters allowed?

All alters must be approved before the event by our head judge.

Is the playmat free for players?

Yes. If you're playing in the TopDeck Invitational 2026, the tan Entry Mat is yours. The other three you have to earn.

What rules does the event run under?

The event runs under the Magic Tournament Rules with our MTR/IPG addendum.

How do I get in contact?

Email [email protected] or join our Discord.