The NRG Series is back for more tabletop Magic in 2023! Read our 2023 announcement here.
Venue Information
NRG Series $15,000 Chicagoland Trial Weekend
Date: March 25-26, 2023
Location: DoubleTree - 510 IL-83, Mundelein, IL 60060
Saturday Event: $10,000 Modern Trial
Sunday Event: $5,000 Pioneer Trial
Pre-register for both events through MTG Melee. Limited on-site registration is available. This event caps at 226 players. On-site registration will be available as space permits, and will cost $5 more than the preregistration rate.
Hotel Room Block Information
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Libertyville-Mundelein
510 East IL Route 83
Mundelein, IL 60060
Book by March 3rd here
Vendors & Special Guests
Need singles? The NRG sales booth will be stocked with a wide array of Magic singles, sealed product, and accessories. Buyers will be available all day to purchase your collection for cash or store credit. You can order singles through NerdRageGaming.com by 4PM CT on the Thursday before the event. Be sure to select “Event Pickup" as your shipping option at check out.
Main Event Information
Sunday’s main event is the $5,000 Pioneer Trial. To enroll in this event, register on MTG Melee. **On-site registration will be available as space permits, and will cost $5 more than the base entry fee. ** This event will be run at Competitive REL and decklists for are required to be submitted through MTG Melee. More information about this event's rules, schedule, and prizes can be found on subsequent tabs.
Side Event Information
Side events will be available all weekend long, including on-demand booster drafts, constructed win-a-box events, and Commander pods. Registration for on-demand events will be available on-site; there is no preregistration available for side events.
Check out our full list of scheduled Side Events at bit.ly/NRGSides or purchase a Command Zone badge today!
Coverage
Coverage of this event will be broadcast on Twitch. Tune in live at twitch.tv/NRGSeries!
COVID-19 Policies
This event will be run in accordance with any COVID-19 health and safety protocols as directed by the venue, municipality, state, and country.
Regardless of vaccination status, all attendees are required to wear face masks covering their nose and mouth while inside the venue.
Do not attend if you or a member of your household is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. The NRG Series reserves the right to modify our policies as we see fit up to the day of the event. We also reserve the right to cancel this event at any time.
Should this event become canceled due to COVID-19, all entry fees will be automatically refunded. However, Nerd Rage Gaming Ltd. is not responsible for covering any outside costs incurred by event attendees, such as hotel, travel accommodations, or other purchases. We urge attendees to only book travel that is 100% refundable.
For paper printouts generated for this tournament, participants' names will be displayed using their full real names, irrespective of their profile's name display settings. This specification applies solely to printed materials.
Main Event Rules
This event will be run by certified judges and in accordance with the Magic Comprehensive Rules, Infraction Procedure Guide and Tournament Rules.
This event will be run at Competitive Rules Enforcement Level (Comp REL).
Players are required to submit their decklists via MTG Melee prior to the beginning of the tournament. Decklists will not be public during the Swiss rounds of the event. Decklists will become public for the Top 8 rounds.
This event will have a variable number of Swiss rounds based on attendance followed by a cut to Top 8. The entirety of the Top Cut will be played same day.
- 65-128 Players: 7 Rounds + Top 8
- 129-226 Players: 8 Rounds + Top 8
- 227+ Players: 9 Rounds + Top 8
Weekend Schedule
NRG Series Chicagoland Trial Weekend (all times US Central Time)
Pre-Event
- Thu, 03/23, 4:00 PM: Deadline for NerdRageGaming.com online orders to be placed with Event Pick-up option.
Saturday
- Sat, 03/25, 9:00 AM: Venue Opens
- Sat, 03/25, 9:50 AM: Modern Trial Registration Closes
- Sat, 03/25, 10:00 AM: Modern Trial Player Meeting & Round 1 Start
[number of Swiss rounds based on attendance, see "Rules" section]
- Sat, 03/25, End of Swiss: Modern Trial Top 8
Sunday
- Sun, 03/26, 9:00 AM: Venue Opens
- Sun, 03/26, 9:50 AM: Pioneer Trial Registration Closes
- Sun, 03/26, 10:00 AM: Pioneer Trial Player Meeting & Round 1 Start
The organizer has agreed to pay out prizes in 14 days or less.
NRG Series $5,000 Trial Prize Payout
NRG Point prizing for our $5k trials has changed!! Check out the details here.
- 1st – $1,200 & 30 NRG Series Points + DreamHack Magic Showdown Invite
- 2nd – $600 & 25 NRG Series Points
- 3rd-4th – $400 & 20 NRG Series Points
- 5th–8th – $200 & 15 NRG Series Points
- 9th–16th – $100 & 10 NRG Series Points
- 17th–32nd – $50 & 5 NRG Series Points
- 33rd–64th – 3 NRG Series Points
- 65th-128th - 2 NRG Series Point
- 129+ - 1 NRG Series Point
NRG Series points are used towards at-large invites to the $25,000 invite-only 2023 Championship. Our invitation structure can be found here.
Prizes are to be paid out within 14 days of the conclusion of the event based on the above distribution. Our default payment method is via check by mail, but players also have the option to receive their payments via Paypal (minus Goods & Services fee). Players may also elect to receive their payment in MTGO Tix (at current market rate) or in NerdRageGaming.com store credit (10% bonus).
Prizes are to be paid out within 14 days of the conclusion of the event based on the above distribution. Our default payment method is via check by mail, but players also have the option to receive their payments via Paypal (minus Goods & Services fee). Players may also elect to receive their payment in MTGO Tix (at current market rate) or in NerdRageGaming.com store credit (10% bonus).