I’ll get this out the way, since no one else seems to want to say it.
Most of the people that are complaining about Amaz getting an invite to the Pro Tour are either not really going to get there themselves, are entitled brats, or both.
But before I go in, let’s talk about the player.
Amaz is a professional Hearthstone streamer, player, and major personality. He’s someone I’ve followed loosely for a while now, and is about what you’d expect from a gaming personality who’s also a decent human being. He also streams Magic casually, drawing in more viewers than almost any other Magic streamer today, without even being that into it comparatively.
He’s a pretty big deal.
Now, let’s get to the meat of things:
If you feel that the person doesn’t deserve it because they didn’t grind their way to the PT, I would like to see you try to be a public figure for multiple games, enough to be considered for something of the sort. If you feel that the Pro Tour slot it taking away from other slots, then please tell me who exactly is missing out. If you feel that he’s taking away from the “sanctity” or “purity” of the Pro Tour, then I have bad news for you. There is no sanctity or purity of the Pro Tour. It is a high profile tournament. Not a shrine, or sacred ground. It is a tournament that is used as a vehicle for pushing their product. If you don’t like that someone who doesn’t play Magic as seriously as you do gets an invite to the Pro Tour, maybe you should consider that you aren’t entitled to anything just because you play a lot.
The fact of the matter is that anyone who can bring more attention to your product, especially if they come from a competitor, is worth bringing. If there were ten Day[9]’s available to bring to the Pro Tour, you bet your ass I’d be the first one vying to get them on. Because those people are way more valuable to the Pro Tour product than an Anthony Lowry.
The fact of the matter is that you will probably get a major reality check if you think that being a major figure on Twitch and Hearthstone is somehow “easier” than being a Magic grinder. I guarantee you that if it were easier, more people would actually make it.
“But Lowry, didn’t you get a free invite to the Epic World Championships last year?”
Yes. I did. Being a figure in competitive gaming, as previously said, will sometimes come with perks here and there, many times unexpectedly. If you still believe in the word “deserve,” then we can argue that just because you may or may not deserve it, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take an opportunity. Especially when half of the people that would say it, wouldn’t even hesitate to take themselves, then they’re the ones that would have to deal with the very criticism and scrutiny that they’re dishing out.
It’s backwards, and the only reason why the majority of people are complaining is because they want it themselves, but aren’t relevant enough to get it.
If the alternative is that easy to you, then go do it. When you have to deal with the exact thing you’ve put on this topic down the line, maybe some perspective will open up. You can keep grinding and grumbling while you still miss top eights of PTQs and day twos of Grand Prix, while you groan to your friends about how you deserve it more than some “rando.”
Or, you can be someone that people want to use to promote their product.
Just sayin’.
Anthony has been competing in games for the better part of his adult life and is dedicated to improving his game, improving his community, improving himself as a person, and most importantly having fun and enjoying himself while doing so. You can check out his stream to find out which video game is the latest to catch his attention.