NPH Leak Aftermath - Major DCI Suspensions

Duelists Convocation International - DCI

I talked recently about the spoiling of New Phyrexia, and it appears that Wizards of the Coast has acted swiftly in regards to the incident. Along with releasing a full official visual spoiler, on Thursday Wizards released a press statement announcing the fact that NPH was indeed leaked well in advance and that they had found out who did it. In the press statement, Wizards stated:

We have received confessions from both Guillaume Matignon and Guillaume Wafo-Tapa describing what happened and apologizing for their actions. Two other players—Martial Moreau and David Gauthier—have also been identified as being involved.

Whoa. That's huge. Four people, 2 of them major MTG pros, had access to the "Godbook" in which every single card is listed with mana costs and oracle text (card rule text). This book is not even given to WoTC employees, and rarely leaves the locked doors of Magic's Research and Development offices.

The internet backlash was huge, not that they got banned, or that the set was spoiled. It was because pro players were given important metagame information that would obviously be used to their advantage when deckbuilding. In Magic, knowledge is power and these guys certainly had that power.

Not that that matters, though. In the same article, Wizards announced:

Unfortunately when we learn of things that harm the integrity of the game and of the Magic community, Wizards cannot stand by without action. Guillaume Matignon has been suspended from the DCI for three years. Guillaume Wafo-Tapa, Martial Moreau, and David Gauthier have been suspended from the DCI until October 2012.

Well folks, there you have it.

Some more reading, if you're interested:
[Gathering Magic]
[WoTC Press Release/DCI Banned Announcement]
[Channel/Fireball]