SCG CON rolls into Los Angeles this weekend, and the Magic: The Gathering community is getting a full menu of competitive play. The Modern Regional Championship headlines the event, carrying Pro Tour invites, World Championship qualifications, and $100,000 in prize money. The tournament runs Saturday and Sunday, with live coverage starting at noon ET on YouTube.
The event also offers a wide range of other games and formats, from Flesh and Blood and Pokémon to the lesser-known Vibes, Sorcery, Bo Jackson Battle Arena, Wonders of The First, Neopets Battledome, Rush of Ikorr, and Warlord: Saga of the Storm. SCG CON Los Angeles runs Saturday and Sunday for the MTG events, with the full schedule available on the SCG website.
The Modern Regional Championship
The Modern Regional Championship is the main event, and it is where the biggest names in the game will be watching. The format rewards players who have followed the evolving metagame closely, especially after the Regional Championship in Baltimore shaped the field.
Day 1 runs Saturday with nine rounds of Swiss. Players need 18 or more match points to advance to Day 2. Day 2 starts Sunday with six rounds of Swiss, followed by a top 8 single elimination playoff. The prizes are substantial:
- 1st: $20,000, World Championship invitation, Pro Tour invitation, Regional Championship invitation
- 2nd: $10,000, World Championship invitation, Pro Tour invitation, Regional Championship invitation
- Top 4: $5,000, Pro Tour invitation, Regional Championship invitation
- Top 8: $3,000, Pro Tour invitation, Regional Championship invitation
- Top 16: $2,000, Pro Tour invitation, Regional Championship invitation
- Top 32: $1,000, Pro Tour invitation, Regional Championship invitation
- Top 64: $250, Regional Championship invitation
- Top 128: $125, Regional Championship invitation
The lower tiers still get meaningful payouts, which means even players who fall short of the top 8 can leave with something to show for their weekend.
Friday’s Qualifiers
Friday is all about getting into the main event. Several qualifiers run throughout the day, giving players multiple paths to earn a spot in the Regional Championship itself.
The Modern Regional Championship LCQs run five rounds of single-elimination matches, starting every 30 minutes from 9:30 AM. Entry costs $25, and the top finishers earn a qualification for the Regional Championship along with Prize Wall Tickets.
The Sealed Regional Championship LCQs use the Reality Fracture set and run four rounds, starting every 60 minutes from 9:30 AM. They cost $50 to enter. Both sets of qualifiers reward their winners with the same combination of qualification and tickets.
There are also smaller $1K events running on Friday. The Modern $1K and Premodern $1K both use Swiss structures based on attendance, cutting to a top 8 playoff. Entry is $35 for both, with payouts capped at $350 for first place and $50 for eighth.
The Mystery Booster 2 Sealed Events run three rounds of Swiss, with sessions at 10:30 AM and 5:30 PM. Entry is $70, and the top finishers earn Prize Wall Tickets rather than cash.
Saturday’s Main Day
Saturday is the busiest day of the weekend. The Modern $5K and cEDH $5K both run, alongside several qualifier events and the full slate of smaller $1K tournaments.
The cEDH $5K uses four-player pods for five rounds of Swiss, followed by a cut to a top 16 playoff. Entry requires a cEDH Weekend Pass, and the prizes include $1,100 for first place, $500 for 2nd-4th, and $200 for 5th-16th. The Modern $5K runs Swiss rounds based on attendance, cutting to a top 8 playoff, with $1,500 for first and $100 for 16th.
The Modern ReCQs and Sealed ReCQ run five rounds of single-elimination matches, with entries at $25 and $50 respectively. The Standard ReCQ also runs, giving players a chance to qualify for future Regional Championships in Standard.
Sunday’s Grand Finale
Sunday wraps up the Modern Regional Championship with the final rounds of Swiss and the playoff. The Limited Championship Qualifier runs a Swiss structure, cutting to a top 32 that drafts into eight-player pods. The winner of each pod qualifies for the Limited Championships in 2027.
The full schedule is available on the SCG website, with times and formats clearly laid out for each day. The event is open to all players, though some events require a Weekend Pass or qualification through earlier rounds.
What the Schedule Looks Like
Here is a quick look at the key events across the weekend, broken down by day and format:
| Day | Time | Event | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | 9:30 AM | Modern Regional Championship LCQs | Modern |
| Friday | 9:30 AM | Sealed Regional Championship LCQs | Reality Fracture Sealed |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM | cEDH $5K | cEDH |
| Saturday | 9:30 AM | Modern $5K | Modern |
| Sunday | 9:00 AM | Modern Regional Championship Day 2 | Modern |
The schedule is dense, and players will need to plan carefully to fit everything in. The live coverage starts at noon ET on Saturday and Sunday, giving those who cannot attend in person a way to follow the action.
Why This Matters for the Game
The Modern Regional Championship is one of the most important tournaments on the calendar, and the $100,000 prize pool makes it a draw for the best players in the world. The Pro Tour invites and World Championship qualifications add weight to the results.
The qualifier structure means players who miss the main event can still earn a spot through the LCQs, which opens the door to a wider group of competitors. The smaller $1K events give casual players a low-stakes way to test their decks and skills.
For the broader card game scene, SCG CON Los Angeles brings together a wide variety of games and formats. The event supports Magic: The Gathering, Flesh and Blood, Pokémon, Vibes, Sorcery, Bo Jackson Battle Arena, Wonders of The First, Neopets Battledome, Rush of Ikorr, and Warlord: Saga of the Storm, showing that the competitive card game landscape is far from limited to one brand.
The event is a reminder that Magic is far from the only card game with a serious competitive scene. Flesh and Blood, Pokémon, and the others each have their own dedicated communities, and SCG CON gives them a shared platform.
How to Follow the Action
The live coverage starts at noon ET on Saturday and Sunday. The cast includes all-star commentators who will guide viewers through the two days of high-level action.
The full schedule is available on the SCG website, and registration is open for all events. Players should check the entry requirements carefully, as some events require a Weekend Pass or qualification through earlier rounds.
The Prize Wall Tickets add a layer of complexity to the rewards. Players who finish well in the smaller events can accumulate enough tickets to make the trip worthwhile, even if they do not win cash.
The weekend promises to be a full showcase of competitive card gaming. From the Modern Regional Championship to the Pokémon events, there is plenty to watch.
Source material: “SCG CON Los Angeles To Host MTG Regional Championship,” Star City Games.
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