Brian Kibler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brian Kibler |
|
|---|---|
Kibler being interviewed at the 2018 Hearthstone Fall Invitational tournament
|
|
| Nicknames | The Dragonmaster |
| Born | Idaho, U.S |
| Residence | Carmel Valley, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Pro Tour debut | Pro Tour New York 1996 (junior) Pro Tour Chicago 1997 (senior) |
| Winnings | $279,747 |
| Pro Tour wins (Top 8) | 2 (5) |
| Grand Prix wins (Top 8) | 3 (13) |
| Median Pro Tour Finish | 85 |
| Lifetime Pro Points | 377 |
| Planeswalker Level | 50 (Archmage) |
Brian McCormick Kibler is a famous American collectible card game player, game designer, and streamer. He is known for his amazing skills in card games like Magic: The Gathering and Hearthstone.
Brian has also helped create several popular card games. He designed Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer with friends and was the main designer for the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game. He also worked on games like Chaotic and SolForge.
As a professional card player, Brian Kibler has achieved great success. He reached the Top 8 in five Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour events. He won two of these big tournaments: Pro Tour Austin in 2009 and Pro Tour Honolulu in 2012.
Brian also made it to the Top 8 in 13 Grand Prix events, winning three of them. One of his wins was the very first Grand Prix in the 1997–98 season. In 2004, he won the first-ever VS System Pro Circuit event, earning $40,000. Because of his incredible achievements, he was added to the Magic: The Gathering Hall of Fame in 2010.
Contents
Brian Kibler's Card Game Journey
Brian Kibler started playing Magic: The Gathering when he was just fifteen years old. He placed 30th in the Junior Division of the very first Pro Tour, Pro Tour New York 1996.
He qualified for the main Pro Tour in 1997 by winning Grand Prix Toronto. Many of the players he beat in that tournament later worked at Wizards of the Coast, the company that makes Magic.
Becoming "The Dragonmaster"
Brian reached his first Pro Tour Top 8 at Pro Tour Chicago 2000. This is where he earned his famous nickname, The Dragonmaster. He got this name after winning key matches using a powerful combination of Rith, the Awakener and Armadillo Cloak. He finished third in that tournament.
After this, Brian took a break from Magic in 2004. During this time, he worked for a company that competed with Wizards of the Coast.
Returning to the Game
Brian returned to Magic in 2009. He wanted to join the Magic: The Gathering Hall of Fame, which was created after he had retired. His return was very successful! He made it to the Top 8 in two Pro Tours in a row.
He won his first Pro Tour title at Pro Tour Austin. By the end of 2009, he was one of the top players, earning special invites and travel for future events. In 2010, Brian continued his strong performance, winning another Grand Prix and reaching another Pro Tour Top 8. This led to his induction into the Hall of Fame that year.
Winning a Second Pro Tour Title
In 2012, Brian Kibler reached his fifth Pro Tour Top 8 at Pro Tour Dark Ascension in Honolulu. He played against other Hall of Fame members, including Jon Finkel, in exciting matches. Brian defeated Finkel in the semi-finals in what many called one of the best Magic matches ever.
He then went on to win his second Pro Tour title by defeating his teammate Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa in the finals. This win also secured his spot in the first Magic Players Championship. Brian also became the United States National Champion that year.
By 2017, Brian Kibler had earned over $279,747 from tournaments. This placed him among the top earners in Magic: The Gathering history.
Brian Kibler and Hearthstone
Brian Kibler also plays the popular digital card game Hearthstone. He won the ChallengeStone tournaments in May 2015 and November 2016. The 2016 win happened at BlizzCon, a huge gaming event. He also placed second in the GEICO Brawl #1 in July 2015.
Brian is also a well-known commentator for Hearthstone tournaments, including the big BlizzCon and Championship events. He often streams his Hearthstone games on Twitch. He is known in the community for being calm and fair. He usually prefers playing the "Constructed" game mode over "Arena."
In October 2019, Brian announced he would no longer work as a commentator for Blizzard's events. This decision came after Blizzard's controversial choice to ban an esports player for speaking out about political issues. Brian felt the penalty was too harsh. Even so, he still frequently streams Hearthstone for his fans.
Brian Kibler's Personal Life
Brian Kibler grew up in Hampstead, New Hampshire. He went to boarding school at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. Later, he studied Philosophy and Religion at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Brian married Natalie Warren on October 12, 2014. On December 21, 2019, he shared that he and his wife were separating.
