Shuhei Nakamura
{{Short description|Japanese Magic: The Gathering player}}
{{update|date=July 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox Magic: The Gathering Player
| name = Shuhei Nakamura
中村 修平
| image = Shuhei Nakamura.JPG
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|11|3|df=y}}
| death_date =
| death_place =
| residence = Hirakata-Shi (Japan)
| nationality = {{flagicon|JPN}} Japanese
| debut = 2002 Pro Tour San DiegoShuhei Nakamura 2007 Pro Player card (from the Magic: The Gathering Time Spiral expansion)
| lifetime_pro_points = 595
| highest_constructed_rating =
| highest_limited_rating =
| pw_level = 50 (Archmage)
| matches_played = 4,356
| footnotes =
}}
{{nihongo|Shuhei Nakamura|中村 修平|Nakamura Shūhei|extra=born 3 November 1981}} is one of the most successful professional Magic: The Gathering players. He has reached the Top 8 of six Pro Tours and won seven Grands Prix, as well as being the 2008 Pro Player of the Year. In 2011, he was inducted into the Magic: The Gathering Hall of Fame.
Career
Nakamura's first success came in a second place at Grand Prix Kobe in 2001. This qualified him for Pro Tour New Orleans. However, he chose not to attend. In January 2002 he played his first Pro Tour in San Diego.
Managing several Top 8 at Japanese Grand Prix, a Top 8 appearance at Pro Tour Columbus in 2005 was his first major showing on the Pro Tour.{{cite web|title=Canali Crushes Columbus|date=2004-10-31|accessdate=2009-11-12|publisher=Wizards of the Coast|url=http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Events.aspx?x=mtgevent/ptcol05/welcome|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011012954/http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Events.aspx?x=mtgevent/ptcol05/welcome|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 October 2008}} He followed this finish with another Top 8 at the World Championship the same season.{{cite web|title=Worlds 2005: Japan's Crowning Achievement|date=2005-12-04|accessdate=2009-11-12|publisher=Wizards of the Coast|url=http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Events.aspx?x=mtgevent/worlds05/welcome|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009153312/http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Events.aspx?x=mtgevent/worlds05/welcome|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 October 2008}} Ultimately, Nakamura would finish fourth in the Player of the Year standings with 66 Pro Points.
In 2006 Nakamura achieved several high finishes at Limited events, including third places at PT Prague{{cite web|title=Osawa's Wurms Flog Prague|date=2006-05-07|accessdate=2009-11-12|publisher=Wizards of the Coast|url=http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Events.aspx?x=mtgevent/ptpra06/welcome|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20090601230107/https://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Events.aspx?x=mtgevent/ptpra06/welcome|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 June 2009}} and GP Toulouse. Eventually he also won his first major tournament, Grand Prix St. Louis 2006, immediately backing up the victory by winning the next Grand Prix event in Hiroshima four weeks later. As both of his Grand Prix wins were in the Coldsnap limited format, Shuhei earned the nickname 'Snowmaster'.{{cite web|title=Pro Tour Hall of Fame 2011: Shuhei Nakamura|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoaKVm_Pf9U |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/UoaKVm_Pf9U |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|publisher=Wizards of the Coast|accessdate=1 June 2012|format=Video}}{{cbignore}} Nakamura gained 56 Pro Points throughout the season placing him second in the 2006 Player of the Year Race, only four points behind winner Shouta Yasooka.{{cite web|title=2006 Player of the Year Race|url=http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=protour/standings/poy06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602041005/https://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=protour/standings/poy06|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 June 2009|publisher=Wizards of the Coast|accessdate=1 June 2012}}
The 2007 season was not quite as successful for Nakamura, however, he did manage to make his fourth Pro Tour Top 8 appearance at PT Valencia.{{cite web|title=Fortier Reigns in Spain|date=2007-10-14|accessdate=2009-11-12|publisher=Wizards of the Coast|url=http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Events.aspx?x=mtgevent/ptval07/welcome|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002011051/http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Events.aspx?x=mtgevent/ptval07/welcome|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 October 2008}}
The 2008 season started off perfect with a victory in the first professional tournament of the season, Grand Prix Stuttgart. This victory made him only the third player to have won a Grand Prix in Europe, Asia, and North America. Nakamura proceeded to manage Top 4 finishes at Pro Tour Hollywood,{{cite web|title=Gindy Puts Name in Lights|date=2008-05-28|accessdate=2009-11-12|publisher=Wizards of the Coast|url=http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Events.aspx?x=mtgevent/pthol08/welcome|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828225135/http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Events.aspx?x=mtgevent/pthol08/welcome|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 August 2008}} Grand Prix Copenhagen, and Grand Prix Rimini. He finished the season with 70 Pro Points to become Pro Player of the Year.{{cite web|title=2008 Pro Tour Player of the Year|date=2008-12-22|accessdate=2009-11-12|publisher=Wizards of the Coast|url=http://www.wizards.com/magic/Magazine/Events.aspx?x=protour/standings/poy08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827082637/http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Events.aspx?x=protour/standings/poy08|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 August 2008}} Nakamura was the fourth of five Japanese players to win the Player of the Year title in a row, preceded by Kenji Tsumura, Shouta Yasooka, Tomoharu Saito and followed by Yuuya Watanabe. Nakamura has personally referred to this period as a 'golden age' for Magic in Japan.{{cite web|last=Nakamura|first=Shuhei|authorlink=Shuhei Nakamura|title=Feature Article – Shouta Yasooka – English|url=http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/feature-article-shouta-yasooka/|publisher=ChannelFireball.com|accessdate=1 June 2012|date=29 September 2011}}
In 2009 Nakamura finished third at Grand Prix Rotterdam in February, but achieved no further final eight appearances until his victory at the Japanese Nationals in July.{{cite web | title = Shuuhei Rocks Japan! | publisher = Wizards of the Coast | date = 20 July 2009 | accessdate = 2009-07-20 | url = http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/eventcoverage/jpnat09/welcome| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090722002052/http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/eventcoverage/jpnat09/welcome| url-status = dead| archive-date = 22 July 2009}}
On 19 August 2011 it was announced that Nakamura will be inducted into the Magic: The Gathering Hall of Fame along with Steven O'Mahoney-Schwartz and Anton Jonsson.{{cite web|title=Introducing the 2011 Hall of Fame Class|date=2011-08-19|accessdate=2011-08-19|publisher=Wizards of the Coast|url=http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/twtw/156|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912012201/http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/twtw/156|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 September 2011}} The ceremony took place on 17 November at the 2011 Magic: The Gathering World Championship.
In the 2012 season, Shuhei placed tenth in the Pro Players Club Standings at the end of the season with 51 Pro Points.{{cite web|title=2012 Pro Players Club Standings|url=http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Events.aspx?x=protour/standings/ppc201213|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108181757/http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Events.aspx?x=protour/standings/ppc201213|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 January 2012|publisher=Wizards of the Coast|accessdate=1 June 2012}} This performance earned Nakamura an invite to the inaugural 2012 Magic Players Championship. Shuhei would take fifth place at the inaugural event, narrowly missing the cut to Top 4.
Accomplishments
{{MTG pth header}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2001–02
|et= gp
|l = Kobe
|c=Japan
|f = blc
|d = {{sort|2001-08-19|18–19 August 2001}}
|p = 2
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2001–02
|et= gp
|l = Fukuoka
|f = l
|d = {{sort|2002-02-17|16–17 February 2002}}
|p = 8
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2001–02
|et = gp
|l = Nagoya
|f = tl
|d = {{sort|2002-05-11|11–12 May 2002}}
|p = 2
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2002–03
|et= gp
|l = Utsunomiya
|f = l
|d = {{sort|2002-10-13|12–13 October 2002}}
|p = 2
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2003–04
|et= n
|l = Osaka
|f = sp
|d = {{sort|2004-06-13|11–13 June 2004}}
|p = 4
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2003–04
|et= gp
|l = Yokohama
|f = blc
|d = {{sort|2004-08-24|23–24 August 2004}}
|p = 6
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2005
|et= pt
|l = Columbus, Ohio
|f = e
|d = {{sort|2004-10-31|29–31 October 2004}}
|p = 2
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2005
|et= gp
|l = Seattle
|f = e
|d = {{sort|2005-03-06|5–6 March 2005}}
|p = 3
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2005
|et= gp
|l = Matsuyama
|f = l
|d = {{sort|2005-05-15|14–15 May 2005}}
|p = 6
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2005
|et= w
|l = Yokohama
|f = sp
|d = {{sort|2005-12-04|30 November – 4 December 2005}}
|p = 5
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2006
|et= pt
|l = Prague
|f = l
|d = {{sort|2006-05-07|5–7 May 2006}}
|p = 3
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2006
|et= gp
|l = Toulouse
|f = l
|d = {{sort|2006-06-25|24–25 June 2006}}
|p = 3
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2006
|et= gp
|l = St. Louis
|f = l
|d = {{sort|2006-07-23|22–23 July 2006}}
|p = 1
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2006
|et= gp
|l = Hiroshima
|f = l
|d = {{sort|2006-08-20|19–20 August 2006}}
|p = 1
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2007
|et= pt
|l = Valencia, Spain
|f = e
|d = {{sort|2007-10-14|12–14 October 2007}}
|p = 4
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s=2007
|l=Essen
|et=i
|f=sp
|d={{sort|2007-10-21|18–21 October 2007}}
|p=6
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2008
|et= gp
|l = Stuttgart
|f = l
|d = {{sort|2007-12-16|15–16 December 2007}}
|p = 1
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2008
|et= pt
|l = Hollywood
|f = s
|d = {{sort|2008-05-25|23–25 May 2008}}
|p = 3
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2008
|et= gp
|l = Copenhagen
|f = s
|d = {{sort|2008-08-24|23–24 August 2008}}
|p = 4
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2008
|et= gp
|l = Rimini
|f = blc
|d = {{sort|2008-09-14|13–14 September 2008}}
|p = 2
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2009
|et= gp
|l = Rotterdam
|f = l
|d = {{sort|2009-02-22|21–22 February 2009}}
|p = 3
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2009
|et= n
|l = Hiroshima
|f = s+bd
|d = {{sort|2009-09-20|18–20 July 2009}}
|p = 1
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2010
|d = {{sort|2010-04-03|3–4 April 2010}}
|l = Houston
|et = gp
|f = e
|p = 5
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2010
|d = {{sort|2010-11-27|27–28 November 2010}}
|l = Florence
|et = gp
|f = s+b
|p = 3
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2011
|d = {{sort|2011-05-21|21–22 May 2011}}
|l = Prague
|et = gp
|f = s+b
|p = 3
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2012
|d = {{sort|2012-03-17|17–18 March 2012}}
|l = Nashville
|et = gp
|f = s+b
|p = 8
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2012–13
|et = gp
|d = {{sort|2011-09-16|15–16 September 2012}}
|l = San Jose, Costa Rica
|f = s+b
|p = 1
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2012–13
|et = gp
|l = Philadelphia
|f = s+b
|d = {{sort|2012-10-27|27–28 October 2012}}
|p = 1
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2013–14
|et = gp
|l = Providence
|f = tl
|d = {{sort|2013-06-09|8–9 June 2013}}
|p = 4
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2013–14
|et = gp
|l = Houston
|f = s+b
|d = {{sort|2013-06-16|15–16 June 2013}}
|p = 7
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2013–14
|et = gp
|l = Hong Kong
|f = s+b
|d = {{sort|2013-10-20|19–20 October 2013}}
|p = 1
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2013–14
|et = gp
|l = Beijing
|f = s
|d = {{sort|2014-03-30|29–30 March 2014}}
|p = 5
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2014–15
|et = gp
|l = Shanghai
|f = s+b
|d = {{sort|2014-10-05|4–5 October 2014}}
|p = 5
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2014–15
|et = gp
|l = Dallas/Fort Worth
|f = s+b
|d = {{sort|2015-07-26|25–26 July 2015}}
|p = 1
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2015–16
|et = gp
|l = Kobe
|f = s
|d = {{sort|2015-11-22|21–22 November 2015}}
|p = 8
}}
{{MTG pth event
|s = 2015–16
|et= pt
|l = Atlanta
|f = m+bd
|d = {{sort|2016-02-07|5–7 February 2016}}
|p = 5
}}
{{MTG pth footer|u = 7 February 2016
|s = [http://magic.wizards.com/en/events/coverage Event Coverage Archive at Wizards.com]
|date=February 2016}}
Other accomplishments
- 2008 Pro Player of the Year
- 2011 Hall of Fame class (vote leader)
- Most Grand Prix wins (7), tied with Kai Budde and Yuuya Watanabe
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{succession box | title=Pro Player of the Year | before={{flagicon|JPN}} Tomoharu Saitou | years=2008| after={{flagicon|JPN}} Yuuya Watanabe}}
{{succession box | title=Magic Japanese National Champion | before=Masashi Oiso | years=2009| after=Katsuhiro Mori}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nakamura, Shuhei}}