The author discusses the challenges of judging Magic: The Gathering tournaments in isolated areas, using their experience in Uruguay as an example. Some of the key challenges include a very small player base leading to limited limited tournament experience, overly competitive players, potential for cheating due to high costs, judges and players lacking experience with Competitive REL, difficulty improving skills due to tournaments being far away, little need or opportunity for many judges, and distorted judge level advancement structures with fewer reference figures.

1. JUDGING IN ISOLATED AREAS
...or at least my experience in Uruguay
- “Fred” Donner
L2, Montevideo, Uruguay

2. Disclaimer:
This is my experience in Uruguay, maybe -probably- other isolated areas have different realities and
experiences.

3. Disclaimer:
This is my experience in Uruguay, maybe -probably- other isolated areas have different realities and
experiences. This product is meant for educational purposes only. Any resemblance to real persons, living
or dead is purely coincidental. Void where prohibited. Some assembly required. List each check separately
by bank number. Batteries not included. Contents may settle during shipment. Use only as directed. No
other warranty expressed or implied. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment.
Postage will be paid by addressee. Subject to approval. This is not an offer to sell securities. Apply only to
affected area. May be too intense for some viewers. Do not stamp. Use other side for additional listings.
For recreational use only. Do not disturb. All models over 18 years of age. If condition persists, consult your
physician. No user-serviceable parts inside. Freshest if eaten before date on carton. Subject to change
without notice. Times approximate. Simulated picture. No postage necessary if mailed in the United States.
Breaking seal constitutes acceptance of agreement. For off-road use only. As seen on TV. One size fits all.
Many suitcases look alike. Contains a substantial amount of non-tobacco ingredients. Colors may, in time,
fade. We have sent the forms which seem to be right for you. Slippery when wet. For office use only. Not
affiliated with the American Red Cross. Drop in any mailbox. Edited for television. Keep cool; process
promptly. Post office will not deliver without postage. List was current at time of printing. Return to sender,
no forwarding order on file, unable to forward. Not responsible for direct, indirect, incidental or
consequential damages resulting from any defect, error or failure to perform. At participating locations only.
Not the Beatles. Penalty for private use. See label for sequence. Substantial penalty for early withdrawal.
Do not write below this line. Falling rock. Lost ticket pays maximum rate. Your cancelled check is your
receipt. Add toner. Place stamp here. Avoid contact with skin. Sanitized for your protection. Be sure each
item is properly endorsed. Sign here without admitting guilt. Slightly higher west of the Mississippi.
Employees and their families are not eligible. Beware of dog. Don’t let this presentation bring you down.

4. Disclaimer:
This is my experience in Uruguay, maybe -probably- other isolated areas have different realities and
experiences. This product is meant for educational purposes only. Any resemblance to real persons, living
or dead is purely coincidental. Void where prohibited. Some assembly required. List each check separately
by bank number. Batteries not included. Contents may settle during shipment. Use only as directed. No
other warranty expressed or implied. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment.
Postage will be paid by addressee. Subject to approval. This is not an offer to sell securities. Apply only to
affected area. May be too intense for some viewers. Do not stamp. Use other side for additional listings.
For recreational use only. Do not disturb. All models over 18 years of age. If condition persists, consult your
physician. No user-serviceable parts inside. Freshest if eaten before date on carton. Subject to change
without notice. Times approximate. Simulated picture. No postage necessary if mailed in the United States.
Breaking seal constitutes acceptance of agreement. For off-road use only. As seen on TV. One size fits all.
Many suitcases look alike. Contains a substantial amount of non-tobacco ingredients. Colors may, in time,
fade. We have sent the forms which seem to be right for you. Slippery when wet. For office use only. Not
affiliated with the American Red Cross. Drop in any mailbox. Edited for television. Keep cool; process
promptly. Post office will not deliver without postage. List was current at time of printing. Return to sender,
no forwarding order on file, unable to forward. Not responsible for direct, indirect, incidental or
consequential damages resulting from any defect, error or failure to perform. At participating locations only.
Not the Beatles. Penalty for private use. See label for sequence. Substantial penalty for early withdrawal.
Do not write below this line. Falling rock. Lost ticket pays maximum rate. Your cancelled check is your
receipt. Add toner. Place stamp here. Avoid contact with skin. Sanitized for your protection. Be sure each
item is properly endorsed. Sign here without admitting guilt. Slightly higher west of the Mississippi.
Employees and their families are not eligible. Beware of dog. Don’t let this presentation bring you down.

5. ...WAIT, URU-WHAT?
Uruguay!

6. ...WAIT, URU-WHAT?
Small country 3:000.000 people, 1:5 in the capital
1 hour flight covers the whole country
Main economy is rural 1 big city, some smaller
State policy does not promote international integration

7. ISOLATED
What does isolated mean?

8. ISOLATED
What does isolated mean?
Distance

9. ISOLATED
What does isolated mean? Big brother
Intermediates
Dist. in Latam.
Dist. in Arg.
Dist. in Uy.
Store

10. ISOLATED
What does isolated mean?
Customs
60%

11. ISOLATED
What does isolated mean?
Customs
product cost
+100%

12. ISOLATED
What does isolated mean?
WPN / Promotional material

13. ISOLATED
What does isolated mean?
WPN / Promotional material

14. ISOLATED
What does isolated mean?
All of this means:
Big tournaments far away
International travel necessary
Very expensive product
Tournaments rarely on time
Little (but fair) support from WotC

15. IN URUGUAY

16. IN URUGUAY

17. IN URUGUAY

18. IN URUGUAY
Very small player base roughly 60 players
20 to 30 player FNMs, 47 players qualified for WMCQs
Players in WMCQs: 45, 36, 28
1 store

19. IN URUGUAY

20. IN URUGUAY
4 certified judges: 1 L2, 3 L1s
Only one city where judges
make sense
1 store
A LOT of players interested in getting certified
very few of them go for it

21. CHALLENGES OF JUDGING

22. CHALLENGES OF JUDGING
NO LIMITED PLAY
Prereleases are almost the only limited play available
No sanctioned drafts since nationals 2011
One two-headed giant sealed ever
Limited limited experience

23. CHALLENGES OF JUDGING
VERY COMPETITIVE PLAYERS
Product is very expensive, casual formats are not endorsed
FNMs are the biggest and best tournament available
Vicious circle, positive feedback
Limited limited experience
Overly competitive players

24. CHALLENGES OF JUDGING
CHEATERS
Latin americans are cheaters
Cost-benefit favors cheating
Luckily, DQs are detrimental
Limited limited experience
Cheaters
Overly competitive players

25. CHALLENGES OF JUDGING
NO COMP. REL EXPERIENCE
Players don’t have Competitive REL mentality
Complain about judges performance but don’t call
a judge when they need one
Limited limited experience
Cheaters
Overly competitive players
Regular REL players

26. CHALLENGES OF JUDGING
BIG TOURNAMENTS FAR
Its hard to get to big tournaments to get experience
Compensation can be sold better, almost never enough
Hard to complete checklists
Limited limited experience Improving is hard(er)
Cheaters
Overly competitive players
Regular REL players

27. CHALLENGES OF JUDGING
LITTLE SPACE FOR MORE
Limited limited experience Improving is hard(er)
Cheaters
Overly competitive players
Regular REL players

28. CHALLENGES OF JUDGING
LITTLE SPACE FOR MORE
There is not much room for more judges
Limited limited experience Improving is hard(er)
Cheaters
Overly competitive players
Regular REL players

29. CHALLENGES OF JUDGING
LITTLE SPACE FOR MORE
There is not much room for more judges
The community can get a little bit stagnant
Limited limited experience Improving is hard(er)
Cheaters
Overly competitive players
Regular REL players

30. CHALLENGES OF JUDGING
LITTLE SPACE FOR MORE
There is not much room for more judges
The community can get a little bit stagnant
New judges lose interest, not a lot to do
Limited limited experience Improving is hard(er)
Cheaters
Overly competitive players
Regular REL players

31. CHALLENGES OF JUDGING
LITTLE SPACE FOR MORE
There is not much room for more judges
The community can get a little bit stagnant
New judges lose interest, not a lot to do
Limited limited experience Improving is hard(er)
Cheaters
Overly competitive players Few judges needed
Regular REL players

32. CHALLENGES OF JUDGING
INCOMPLETE STRUCTURES
Harder advancement, less judges at their “right” level
Communities lack reference figures
Judge levels distorted
Limited limited experience Improving is hard(er)
Cheaters
Overly competitive players Few judges needed
Levels distorted Regular REL players

33. CHALLENGES OF JUDGING
Limited limited experience
Overly competitive players
Cheaters
Regular REL players
Improving is hard(er)
Few judges needed
Levels distorted

34. Thanks!