Format
Previously, all Pro Tours other than World Championships have been held in a single format. However, beginning with the 2009 season, Pro Tours host one constructed and one limited format. Constructed Pro Tours utilized either Block Constructed, Standard, or Extended, while Limited Pro Tours were usually the Booster Draft format. Until PT Nagoya in 2005, Booster Draft and Rochester Draft had been used alternatingly, but Rochester Draft was dropped afterwards. Also, for several years beginning in 1999, every season included a team Pro Tour, but since 2007 no team event has been held.
Beginning with the 2009 season each Pro Tour features a constructed format as well as a booster draft format. Day one and two of each PT will each consist of constructed rounds as well as a Booster Draft rounds. The third day will use one of the previously utilized formats.
World Championships are special Pro Tours in that they always feature multiple formats. Typically the tournament will use Standard on the first day, Booster Draft on the second, and another constructed format on the third. The final eight have always been played using the Standard decks from the first day. Earlier Worlds occasionally used Rochester Drafts instead of Booster Drafts, also the fourth day of Worlds hosted a team format, for the national teams to compete in, but beginning with the 2007 Worlds, World Championships have been shortened to four days instead of five. The schedule has been altered accordingly, but no consistent pattern has emerged yet.
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