The Magic: The Gathering Club is hosting an open invite, free to enter Magic tournament Thursday in the library from after school till about 7 p.m.

“A student doesn’t need anything to participate,” Magic: The Gathering Club adviser Nathaniel Brayton said. “Everything will be provided. They just need a basic understanding of the game, which can be obtained by coming to Magic Club.”

Students can sign up for the tournament at Magic Club or in Brayton’s classroom. The club meets every Thursday from after school till 5:30 p.m. 

“I’ll compete if all the slots aren’t already full,” senior Daphne Davenport said. “Magic Club is important because it’s a space for people to practice stuff they like.” 

The tournament will consist of players opening booster packs of cards as a table, picking cards from that pack, and then building and competing with those cards. Typically, the drafting and creating portion takes an hour, then the game is played with three opponents in a best two out of three style.

“First, one should enter to play Magic: The Gathering with a great community,” Brayton said. “Second, it’s a great way to participate and learn about how tournaments work before going to a real one at a local card shop. Third, you get free cards and free food.”

Players in the tournament get to keep the cards they draft and prizes will be given to winners. Prizes include card sleeves, deck boxes, extra booster packs and potentially a collector booster. Funding for the tournament and prizes is provided by the library.

“We are so appreciative to have an amazing partnership with the library,” Brayton said. “The library has funds allocated for student organizations and events, and all the funds for the cards and food are provided by [secondary librarian Shelly] Myers and the library.” 

Magic Club was started by Brayton and a previous teacher, Kiff Wiemers. Over time it has taken different forms, but this year Brayton, along with fellow adviser Joseph Johnson, has shifted the club back to solely being a trading card club, putting the focus back on to Magic: The Gathering. 

“I would say this year has been a resounding success,” Brayton said. “We have had about 35 – 40 students come to try out the game and about 10 – 15 people show up each week. I think when people try the game it tends to hook them.”

Brayton said his favorite part about Magic Club is that it brings new people into the game, and those new people eventually spread the game further to even more new people. 

“Having people come learn to play and then become passionate about the best game ever created is super cool,” Brayton said. “The biggest thing these games have going for them is the community. These communities are more friendly and inclusive [than] ever. This year, we have had so many different types of people come and play Magic. It’s a game for everyone.”