Hello!
I will be head judging my first PTQ this sunday, and I would like to ask about interpretation of this paragraph from MTR -
Generally, decklists are not public information and are not shared with other players during a tournament. At constructed - format, Professional REL tournaments (Pro Tour, World Magic Cup, Magic: The Gathering World Championship, and Grand Prix), copies of opponents’ decklists will be provided to players in the single-
elimination payoffs.
Am I able to use this on PTQ top 8, even if the rel is only “competitive”?
I would like to make “my” ptq as much frienly and fair as I can do, and I would like to provide decklist to T8 players. From previous experience, players who finished sooner were observing others matches, and due to this they know what their opponents are playing and the advantage could be really overwhelming. Also, players ussually trying to get information from their friends, which once at ptq in Wien was considered as outside assistance. This was becouse of language differences (player was thinking he was safe, if nobody from judge team understand his language).
I think that this providing decklist at PTQ is better, becouse I could use it as prevention (mainly becouse of language barrier - our PTQ are visiting players from Austria, Hungary, Poland etc.) and as more fair option for players.

I will appreciate your help with this situation.

“decklists are not public information and are not shared with other players during a tournament.”
This is the standard. There is some exceptions, but at a normal PTQ, you should not be providing decklists to players.
Players are allowed to scout and have friends help them with scouting as long as they don't provide information after the player has gotten to their match. It is not our job to negate the advantages gained by scouting, so don't try to do so.

Could you explain me the philosophy why it is this way? I won't deviate from this, I know that you have much more experience and information which I am probably still missing.
I looked at the philosophy written in IPG - outside assistance
"Tournaments test the skill of a player, not his or her ability to follow external advice or directions. Any strategy advice, play advice, or construction advice from an external source is considered outside assistance."
From my point of view, there is a conflict.
Also, if one of the player is already seated and second is for example at the toilet, should I forbid to talk him to his friends?

The philosophy is explaining the definition. There are specific things and
specific time when you can not ask or receive assistance. The term “once
he or she has sat for his or her match” is used to explain when you are
forbidden from offering assistance. If a player hasn't gotten to his match
yet and is in the bathroom, he is free to get information from others. We
do not prohibit conversations between players if neither are in a match at
the time. Your quote from the IPG explains what type of assistance is not
allowed, but doesn't cover the specific times. You need to read the entire
Outside Assistance section to understand the full meaning.

If I'm not wrong, one of the reasons to provide the lists at Professional
REL Tournaments (Pro Tour, World Magic Cup, Magic: The Gathering World
Championship, and Grand Prix) is that some of those lists may already be
public because of coverage team.

If only some of the lists are public, some players will have advantage. To
avoid that, they provide their opponents' decklist to players in the single
elimination playoffs and none of them will get advantage because of
coverage.


2013/12/4 Jakub Roh <forum-7311-e013@apps.magicjudges.org>

David is correct, re: the reasons we share at Constructed GPs and Pro Tours.

Jakub (and anyone else reading this) here is a very simple and absolute answer:
DO NOT SHARE DECK LISTS AT YOUR PTQs.

Thanks for all answers. I think it would be better to ask than do not know the answer.