Brian Kibler
Encyclopedia
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 Warcraft Trading Card Game
. In the World of Warcraft video game there is a non-player character bearing the name "Kibler" as well as quests and items.
Kibler is also a professional card player and has had great success at Magic the Gathering with four Pro Tour
Top 8s, winning Pro Tour Austin in 2009. He also has 10 Grand Prix
Top 8s, winning three of them including the first one held in the 1997–98 season and most recently Grand Prix Sendai. In August 2004 he won the inaugural VS System
Pro Circuit event taking home $40,000 and a spot in history as the game's first champion.
career at the age of fifteen, placing 30th in the Junior Division of the first-ever Pro Tour, Pro Tour New York 1996. Kibler would not qualify for the senior Pro Tour until Pro Tour Chicago 1998, which he qualified for by winning Grand Prix Toronto 1997. Kibler notes that all his opponents in the Top 8 of Grand Prix Toronto went on to work at Wizards of the Coast
, including Mike Turian
, Matt Place and Erik Lauer. Kibler would also attend Pro Tour Los Angeles in the 1997-1998 season, placing within the Top 64, however he would not return to the Pro Tour until the 1999-2000 season
.
Kibler made his first Pro Tour Top 8 at Pro Tour Chicago 2000. This was also the tournament where Kibler would earn the nickname of The Dragonmaster, after beating Jon Finkel
in the swiss rounds and Zvi Mowshowitz
in the quarterfinals with a combination of and . He would go on to lose to Kai Budde
in the semi-finals, taking third place in the overall standings. This would be Brian's best Pro Tour performance before he retired from the game at the end of the 2004 season
. In 2005, Brian was one of a small number of players commemorated by Wizards of the Coast with a "Pro Player" collectible reference card.
After taking several years away from Magic (while working at Wizards
direct competitor Upper Deck
) he returned in 2009. Kibler claims that a major motivating factor for his return was his desire to enter the Pro Tour Hall of Fame
, which was created the year following his retirement. Kibler would make consecutive Pro Tour Top 8s upon his return, making Top 8 at Pro Tour Honolulu before going on to win his first Pro Tour at Pro Tour Austin, defeating Tsuyoshi Ikeda
in the tournament finals. By the end of the year he placed in the top 10 of the year's best performers on the Magic Pro Tour achieving enough points to guarantee him invites to major championships, free air travel, and a guaranteed appearance fee for attending all 2010 events. Additionally, he was tied for 6th among player committee votes of the possible entrants for the 2009 Magic: The Gathering Hall of Fame
carrying around 20% of their vote. In 2010, Kibler's high performance continued, granting him his third Grand Prix title, another Pro Tour Top 8 and finally induction into the Hall of Fame. Kibler was inducted in the Hall of Fame
Class of 2010 alongside Gabriel Nassif
and Bram Snepvangers
.
and attended boarding school at Phillips Academy
in Andover, Massachusetts
. Kibler would later attend Emory University
in Atlanta, Georgia
, majoring in Philosophy and Religion.
Justin Gary
Justin Gary is an American Magic: The Gathering player. His most notable Pro Tour finish is his win at Pro Tour Houston 2002. Rob Dougherty and Darwin Kastle who both tested with Gary finished second and third respectively at the same event.-Achievements:...
, Rob Dougherty
Rob Dougherty
Robert R. Dougherty is a professional Magic: The Gathering player from Framingham, Massachusetts. He was inducted to the Magic Hall of Fame in November 2006. He is also a tournament organizer and the founder of Your Move Games...
, and John Fiorillo. Previously he worked on Chaotic
Chaotic
Chaotic is originally a Danish trading card game. It expanded to an online game in America which then became a television program based on the game. The program is seen on 4Kids TV , Jetix, The CW4Kids, Cartoon Network and Disney XD. It was brought over to the United States from Denmark by Bryan C...
and was the lead designer of the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game
World of Warcraft Trading Card Game
The World of Warcraft Trading Card Game is a collectible card game based on Blizzard Entertainment's MMORPG, World of Warcraft. The game was announced by Upper Deck Entertainment on August 18, 2005, and released on October 25, 2006...
. In the World of Warcraft video game there is a non-player character bearing the name "Kibler" as well as quests and items.
Kibler is also a professional card player and has had great success at Magic the Gathering with four Pro Tour
Pro Tour (Magic: The Gathering)
The Pro Tour is the highest form of competitive play for the Magic: The Gathering collectible card game. It consists of a series of payout tournaments held throughout the world, each requiring an invitation to participate. Every PT awards a total of $230,000 in cash prizes, with $40,000 going to...
Top 8s, winning Pro Tour Austin in 2009. He also has 10 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...
Top 8s, winning three of them including the first one held in the 1997–98 season and most recently Grand Prix Sendai. In August 2004 he won the inaugural VS System
VS System
Vs. System , also written as VS System and abbreviated as VS, is a collectible card game designed by Upper Deck Entertainment . In the game, players build and play a deck of Vs. System cards in an attempt to win a game against their opponent. It was first published in 2004 and is set in the...
Pro Circuit event taking home $40,000 and a spot in history as the game's first champion.
Magic: The Gathering
Kibler began his Magic: The GatheringMagic: 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...
career at the age of fifteen, placing 30th in the Junior Division of the first-ever Pro Tour, Pro Tour New York 1996. Kibler would not qualify for the senior Pro Tour until Pro Tour Chicago 1998, which he qualified for by winning Grand Prix Toronto 1997. Kibler notes that all his opponents in the Top 8 of Grand Prix Toronto went on to work at Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
, including Mike Turian
Mike Turian
Michael Turian is a successful professional player of Magic: The Gathering. He won Pro Tour New York with Team Potato Nation. Turian also won two Grand Prixs. In 2008 Mike Turian was voted in the Hall of Fame. He was inducted during the World championship in Memphis.- Career :Mike Turian qualified...
, Matt Place and Erik Lauer. Kibler would also attend Pro Tour Los Angeles in the 1997-1998 season, placing within the Top 64, however he would not return to the Pro Tour until the 1999-2000 season
Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour season 1999–2000
The 1999–2000 Pro Tour season was the fifth season of the Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour. It began on 3 September 1999 with Pro Tour Boston and ended on 6 August 2000 with the conclusion of 2000 World Championship in Brussels. The season consisted of twenty Grand Prixs, and six Pro Tours, located in...
.
Kibler made his first Pro Tour Top 8 at Pro Tour Chicago 2000. This was also the tournament where Kibler would earn the nickname of The Dragonmaster, after beating Jon Finkel
Jon Finkel
Jon Finkel is an American Magic: The Gathering and poker player. In the year 2000, he became the world champion of Magic, as well as being on the team that became the team world champion.-Career:...
in the swiss rounds and Zvi Mowshowitz
Zvi Mowshowitz
-External links:*...
in the quarterfinals with a combination of and . He would go on to lose to Kai Budde
Kai Budde
Kai Budde , is a professional Magic: The Gathering player, who holds the records for earnings, Pro Tour victories and lifetime Pro Points. His performances earned him the nicknames "The Juggernaut" and "King of the Grand Prix"...
in the semi-finals, taking third place in the overall standings. This would be Brian's best Pro Tour performance before he retired from the game at the end of the 2004 season
Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour season 2003–04
The 2003–04 Pro Tour season was the ninth season of the Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour. On 23 August 2003 the season began with parallel Grand Prixs in Yokohama and London. It ended on 5 September 2004 with the conclusion of the 2004 World Championship in San Francisco...
. In 2005, Brian was one of a small number of players commemorated by Wizards of the Coast with a "Pro Player" collectible reference card.
After taking several years away from Magic (while working at Wizards
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
direct competitor Upper Deck
Upper Deck Company
The Upper Deck Company, LLC , founded in 1988, is a private company primarily known for producing trading cards...
) he returned in 2009. Kibler claims that a major motivating factor for his return was his desire to enter the Pro Tour Hall of Fame
Magic: The Gathering Hall of Fame
The Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour Hall of Fame was started in 2005 to honor the most successful Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour players. The first inductions came on the tenth anniversary of the first Pro Tour event, and new Hall of Famers will be determined annually...
, which was created the year following his retirement. Kibler would make consecutive Pro Tour Top 8s upon his return, making Top 8 at Pro Tour Honolulu before going on to win his first Pro Tour at Pro Tour Austin, defeating Tsuyoshi Ikeda
Tsuyoshi Ikeda
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.-Career:...
in the tournament finals. By the end of the year he placed in the top 10 of the year's best performers on the Magic Pro Tour achieving enough points to guarantee him invites to major championships, free air travel, and a guaranteed appearance fee for attending all 2010 events. Additionally, he was tied for 6th among player committee votes of the possible entrants for the 2009 Magic: The Gathering Hall of Fame
Magic: The Gathering Hall of Fame
The Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour Hall of Fame was started in 2005 to honor the most successful Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour players. The first inductions came on the tenth anniversary of the first Pro Tour event, and new Hall of Famers will be determined annually...
carrying around 20% of their vote. In 2010, Kibler's high performance continued, granting him his third Grand Prix title, another Pro Tour Top 8 and finally induction into the Hall of Fame. Kibler was inducted in the Hall of Fame
Magic: The Gathering Hall of Fame
The Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour Hall of Fame was started in 2005 to honor the most successful Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour players. The first inductions came on the tenth anniversary of the first Pro Tour event, and new Hall of Famers will be determined annually...
Class of 2010 alongside Gabriel Nassif
Gabriel Nassif
Gabriel Nassif is a French professional card player. He is known for his continuous success on the Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour and was the 2004 Pro Tour Player of the Year. He also enjoys playing poker, having moderate success at the World Series of Poker in recent years...
and Bram Snepvangers
Bram Snepvangers
Bram Snepvangers is a Dutch Magic: The Gathering player. He is now considered retired, but has been on and off the Pro Tour for twelve years. In addition to his success playing Magic, he is known as a community builder both as a judge and a tournament organiser. Each year he hosts an invitational...
.
Achievements
Other accomplishments- Class of 2010 Hall of FameMagic: The Gathering Hall of FameThe Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour Hall of Fame was started in 2005 to honor the most successful Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour players. The first inductions came on the tenth anniversary of the first Pro Tour event, and new Hall of Famers will be determined annually...
Inductee
Personal Life
Kibler grew up in Hampstead, New HampshireHampstead, New Hampshire
Hampstead is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 8,523 at the 2010 census. Hampstead, which includes the village of East Hampstead, is home to a portion of the Rockingham Recreational Trail.- History :...
and attended boarding school at Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy is a selective, co-educational independent boarding high school for boarding and day students in grades 9–12, along with a post-graduate year...
in Andover, Massachusetts
Andover, Massachusetts
Andover is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It was incorporated in 1646 and as of the 2010 census, the population was 33,201...
. Kibler would later attend Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, majoring in Philosophy and Religion.