This past weekend, 744 players gathered in Lyon, France, for Magic Spotlight: The Avatar. With $50,000 in prizes, dazzling promo cards, and eight coveted Pro Tour invitations on the line, the stakes were high. After fifteen Swiss rounds of Standard followed by a tense Top 8 playoff, Simon Nielsen emerged victorious, piloting the deck that came to define the event: Simic Ouroboroid.

For Nielsen, the victory added another gleaming entry to an already storied resume. He now boasts six Top Finishes, a Pro Tour Modern Horizons 3 title, two Grand Prix wins, a World Magic Cup victory in 2014, and the 2023 Player of the Year award. With this triumph, he can also claim the mantle of Magic Spotlight champion.

"This feels like winning a Grand Prix," Nielsen reflected. "When I won Grand Prix Birmingham in 2018, it was my proudest achievement. It still feels really good to win!"

The Standard Metagame and the Winning Deck

The Standard metagame bore the clear imprint of Magic World Championship 31. At that event, Izzet Lessons burst onto the scene, and it remained a dominant force throughout the weekend in Lyon. However, new innovations surfaced as well. The biggest development was the rise of Simic Ouroboroid, which truly broke out this past weekend.

1 Craterhoof Behemoth 1 Reclamation Sage 4 Botanical Sanctum 3 Willowrush Verge 2 Bounce Off 2 Mockingbird 7 Forest 1 Sentinel of Lost Lore 1 Keen-Eyed Curator 4 Llanowar Elves 4 Badgermole Cub 4 Gene Pollinator 4 Breeding Pool 4 Nature's Rhythm 1 Marang River Regent 4 Multiversal Passage 1 Spider-Sense 4 Spider Manifestation 4 Ouroboroid 4 Quantum Riddler 2 Scrapshooter 2 Surrak, Elusive Hunter 1 Disdainful Stroke 1 Unable to Scream 2 Keen-Eyed Curator 2 Meltstrider's Resolve 1 Vivien Reid 1 Ba Sing Se 1 Spider-Sense 2 Soul-Guide Lantern

The deck's ideal opening is nothing short of breathtaking: Llanowar Elves on turn one leads into Badgermole Cub and Spider Manifestation on turn two. With a second Badgermole Cub or a Mockingbird on turn three, you can suddenly generate ten mana, allowing Nature's Rhythm to fetch Craterhoof Behemoth, untap Spider Manifestation, and end the game as early as turn three.

Even without the perfect draw, the deck excels by flooding the battlefield with cheap creatures and then scaling their power to absurd levels with an early Ouroboroid.

While Simic Ouroboroid already existed a month ago, its earlier incarnations at Magic World Championship 31 looked notably different. Those lists typically relied on Jackal, Genius Geneticist, Innkeeper's Talent, and a dense suite of one- and three-drops to assemble a Jackal chain. The current versions have shed that package entirely, embracing Spider Manifestation, Nature's Rhythm, and Quantum Riddler instead. The ability to mulligan aggressively, backed by broken starts and the safety net of Quantum Riddler, only magnifies the deck's raw power.

Nielsen prepared for the event alongside his teammates from Team Handshake Moxfield, including Guglielmo Lupi in 8th place, Stefan Schütz in 10th place, and Raul Porojan in 130th place. For the group, this Simic Ouroboroid configuration felt like a natural evolution. Most had already tested Golgari Ouroboroid with Spider Manifestation for the World Championship, and in practice, Quantum Riddler consistently proved more powerful than Overlord of the Balemurk.

The Top 8 That Qualified for the Pro Tour

After fifteen rounds of Swiss Standard play, eight players from across Europe and beyond advanced to the single-elimination rounds to compete for the title. The composition of the Top 8 decks told a clear story. Three players piloted Simic Ouroboroid, while three others brought Izzet Prowess, underscoring the firm grip these two strategies held on the weekend. Sharing the spotlight were Gaétan Verdierre's streamlined Mono-Green Landfall deck and Willy Edel's burn-heavy Boros Aggro build.

Each of the Top 8 players in the final standings earned an invitation to Pro Tour Secrets of Strixhaven, set to take place at MagicCon: Las Vegas on May 1–3, 2026. For many, qualifying for or returning to the Pro Tour marked the culmination of years of effort. "For the past two years, it was my main Magic goal," Timothée Blondiaux said. "I can now say my objectives for 2026, for Magic, have been met!"

Even for seasoned veterans like Simon Nielsen and Willy Edel, their qualifications carried real weight. While both already held invitations to Pro Tour Lorwyn Eclipsed later this month in Richmond, neither had locked in a seat for Pro Tour Secrets of Strixhaven. The same was true for Guglielmo Lupi, whose Top 8 finish adds to an impressive recent run that includes a Magic Online Championship Series victory and a 2nd-place finish at a Regional Championship.

Securing a Las Vegas invitation eases their pressure heading into Richmond, guaranteeing each of them a place in the Pro Tour for at least one more event. As Hall of Fame member Willy Edel put it, "Even after all these years, I still get so happy to qualify for a Pro Tour. I feel overjoyed for achieving this, just like when I won my first PTQ."

With their Pro Tour invitations secured, the Top 8 turned their full attention to the biggest prizes of the weekend. After hard-fought quarterfinals and semifinals, the stage was set for a thrilling final to determine who would ultimately emerge as the champion.

The Epic Battle for the Title

In the finals, Nielsen faced off against Lorenzo Gruppi, who was playing Izzet Lessons. Gruppi had good reasons for his choice: "After Worlds, it seemed to be the best deck," he explained. "Artist's Talent just lets you look at so many cards every game, enabling you to find what you need in every situation." Nielsen, however, never allowed that engine to fully come online, closing the match in two brisk games.

The first game turned sharply after Gruppi tapped out for Monument to Endurance. Nielsen took the opportunity to resolve both Badgermole Cub and Ouroboroid, instantly transforming a modest board with 1 power's worth of creatures into a dominating presence—9 power, spread across four creatures. Although Gruppi used removal and bounce spells to slow the assault, Nielsen smoothly shifted into a controlling role, leveraging his carefully chosen one-of suite. Nature's Rhythm found Reclamation Sage to destroy Monument to Endurance, then Sentinel of Lost Lore exiled Gruppi's graveyard. From there, Nielsen's creatures eventually rumbled in for the win.

The second game followed a similar script but at an even faster pace. Gruppi assembled his engine with Artist's Talent and Monument to Endurance, yet Nielsen showcased just how explosive his deck could be, emptying his hand by turn three. Llanowar Elves on turn one accelerated into Badgermole Cub and Keen-Eyed Curator on turn two, setting up a devastating third turn that added another Badgermole Cub, Llanowar Elves, and Ouroboroid. The result was a staggering 20 power on the battlefield by turn three. Without access to a reset button like Day of Judgment, Gruppi had no path back into the game and extended his hand in defeat.

A Magic Spotlight Honeymoon

Open-field events like the Spotlight Series offer more than high-level competition. They give friends, teammates, and even spouses the perfect excuse to embark on a multi-day Magic adventure. That sense of camaraderie, where familiar faces reconnect and new bonds take shape, is a large part of what makes these gatherings feel special.

As always, the tournament floor was rich with travel stories. Top 8 competitor Willy Edel, for instance, made the journey from Brazil while on a family vacation in Europe and seized the chance to stop by. Yet the most remarkable tale in Lyon belonged to Max Staas and Beth Carrington.

On Friday morning, Max and Beth got married in Denmark and then immediately traveled to France for their honeymoon. It was not part of the original plan. Only after booking their wedding did they realize that Magic Spotlight: The Avatar fell on the same weekend. But once they noticed, Beth quickly offered an idea. "Let's play Magic!" she said. On Saturday, Max competed in the main event with Mono-Red Aggro, while Beth spent her day enjoying Chaos Drafts in the side events.

"I didn't play Magic until I met him," Beth shared. "Then we went to all of the Spotlight Series events in Europe together. I love these events. The people make the game amazing."

"I've played since I was a kid," said Max. "I love the game. It's the best game ever, just fun. I love competing. It means everything ..." Max paused, turning to his wife. "No, it means a lot to me. You mean everything!"

With that heartfelt exchange, they were off to a perfect start to their honeymoon. Congratulations to the newlyweds, and may the wins keep coming.

The First-Ever Limited Championship Qualifier

Congratulations to the first four players to qualify for the 2027 Magic Limited Championship! 🎉

✅ Louis Grensing
✅ Noah Bacine
✅ Arià Paco
✅ Dominic Ulke

After seven rounds of Sealed and three rounds of Draft, they proved their mastery of Limited and punched their tickets. pic.twitter.com/JO7KrxuwFX

— PlayMTG (@PlayMTG) January 11, 2026

Beyond the marquee main event, Fanfinity delivered a weekend packed with artists, vendors, and a rich slate of side events. The offerings ranged from Chaos Collector Draft and Dual Commander to eight-slot RCQs, but one event clearly stood out: the inaugural Magic Limited Championship Qualifier.

An impressive 310 players entered, beginning with seven rounds of Sealed Deck before the field narrowed to a Top 32. Those remaining competitors were then split into four draft pods, and after three more rounds of single-elimination play, each pod produced a winner. These four players earned the first-ever invitations to the 2027 Magic Limited Championship, an exciting event whose prize pool mimics a Pro Tour!

This 2027 Magic Limited Championship puts a new spotlight on Limited play. The tournament will span three days, follow a Pro Tour-style structure, and feature Limited formats exclusively. With a $500,000 prize pool, it promises world-class competition and places Limited squarely at center stage. The championship itself will take place in 2027, with qualifying events held throughout 2026.

More Magic Limited Championship Qualifiers will be held at Regional Championships, Spotlight Series events, MagicCons, and MTG Arena in 2026. This first one felt very much like a four-slot Pro Tour Qualifier built specifically for Limited aficionados, and the excitement in the room was unmistakable. All four winners described themselves as Limited players first and foremost, which made the achievement feel even more meaningful for them.

"Feels amazing and unbelievable," Noah Bacine said after winning his draft. "It's great to have more support for Limited, which is my favorite way to engage with the game."

See You at the Next Spotlight Series!

All in all, the weekend in Lyon delivered a memorable showcase of high-level Magic. A star-studded commentary team featuring Andrea Mengucci, Arne Huschenbeth, Filipa Carola, Martin Juza, and Carl Perks brought the action to life, while live coverage on Fanfinity's YouTube channel allowed fans around the world to follow along from home.

The Spotlight Series's next European stop will be Magic Spotlight: Secrets in London, England, from May 8–10, which will once again featuring the Standard format. Open to all, it promises another vibrant, multi-day celebration of Magic!