Local Magic the Gathering Player to Compete in San Juan

Put your wands away Harry Potter lovers, there's another wizard in town.

Doug Hauca, a local Magic the Gathering card player, will be representing the West Michigan area this Memorial Day weekend in San Juan, Puerto Rico at the Wizards Play Network Championship.

Magic the Gathering is a collectible card game where players battle as wizards by casting spells and collecting life points. Over the month of May, individuals competed in Magic the Gathering events at local venues and Hauca earned an invitation-only spot in the tournament shown by his talent at playing the card game.

Because the Magic the Gathering championship is through invitation-only, those who are invited may not be guaranteed sponsorship or funding to attend the tournament. GrandLAN Gaming Center (56 Division N. Ave., Grand Rapids) owner, Erik Bauer, was so impressed by Hauca's performance at a GrandLAN Magic event that the computer and video game store is sponsoring Hauca by providing airfare and hotel for the trip.

With only a year of playing the card game under his belt, Hauca has already established himself as a reputable player in the area and will continue to represent West Michigan this weekend at the Wizards Play Network Championship. The winner of the tournament will receive a roundtrip ticket to Amsterdam and hotel accommodations to attend the Magic the Gathering Pro Tour Amsterdam 2010 Tournament in September.