Robert Maher Jr. (born July 10, 1978
[Bob Maher 2007 Pro Player card (from the ''Magic: The Gathering'' '']Lorwyn
The Lorwyn block is a ''Magic: The Gathering'' expert-level block consisting of two sets: ''Lorwyn'' (October 2007) and ''Morningtide'' (February 2008). A third set, codenamed "Jelly", was originally planned as part of the Lorwyn block, but partway ...
'' expansion) in
Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
), is a professional ''
Magic: The Gathering
''Magic: The Gathering'' (colloquially known as ''Magic'' or ''MTG'') is a Tabletop game, tabletop and Digital collectible card game, digital Collectible card game, collectable card game created by Richard Garfield. Released in 1993 by Wizards ...
'' player. He picked up the ''Magic'' game after sustaining a football injury in high school, and has gone on to become one of the most celebrated players in the game's history, earning the nickname "The Great One".
''Magic: The Gathering''
Maher played in the junior division of the very first
Pro Tour in 1996.
His first senior
Pro Tour would be in Los Angeles in 1997.
The
1999–2000 Pro Tour season would be Maher's most successful season. He would win
Pro Tour Chicago and Grand Prix Seattle, make the Top 8 of Grand Prix Nagoya and take second place at the
2000 World Championship. Maher's success throughout the season earned him the
Pro Player of the Year title.
In 2002, Maher was suspended from the DCI for 6 months for committing tournament fraud. He participated in false tournaments with Jason Moungey and Chad Butterfield and used the rating points gained to qualify for the World Championships.
Maher won the
Masters Series in Yokohama in 2003 and the 2004
Magic Invitational, thus becoming the third player to win a Pro Tour, a
Grand Prix
Grand Prix ( , meaning ''Grand Prize''; plural Grands Prix), is a name sometimes used for competitions or sport events, alluding to the winner receiving a prize, trophy or honour
Grand Prix or grand prix may refer to:
Arts and entertainment ...
, a Masters, and an Invitational. , the card-design he submitted for winning the Invitational, appeared in the ''
Ravnica: City of Guilds'' set, bearing his likeness. The card has been well received and has seen considerable play in nearly every sanctioned format it has been legal in. In 2010, ChannelFireball.com ranked as the best Invitational card. In 2006, Maher was inducted into the
''Magic: The Gathering'' Hall of Fame as the vote leader in the Class of 2006.
From 2005 to 2014 Maher played only very infrequently on the Pro Tour. He played Pro Tour ''Journey Into Nyx'' and Pro Tour ''Magic 2015'', and participated in Pro Tour ''Fate Reforged'' as a member of a new team.
Accomplishments
Other accomplishments:
*
Pro Player of the Year 1999–2000
*
Magic Hall of Fame class of 2006
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maher, Bob
1978 births
Living people
American Magic: The Gathering players
People from Madison, Wisconsin