[Article] Tomoharu Saito Suspended 18 Months by DCI

[JACO]

As we brought you the news of Tomoharu Saito’s disqualification for Stalling at Grand Prix Florence 2010 earlier this week, we also bring you the news that Tomoharu Saito has been suspended by the DCI for 18 months. After what appears to be an extremely quick investigation and decision on the DCI’s part the following appeared sometime late Tuesday night on the DCI’s Suspended Memberships page:
http://i1035.photobucket.com/albums/a435/eternalcentral/Articles/saitobanned.jpg

Tomoharu Saito has been banned from sanctioned play as of 11-30-2010 through 05-30-2012. Check out our full analysis after the jump!
http://www.eternal-central.com/?p=1255


This serves as the follow up to our article from a couple of days ago, Saito Busted at GP Florence and What it Means (http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/showthread.php?19391-[Article]-Saito-Busted-at-GP-Florence-and-What-it-Means). We are still trying to get a hold of someone for comment, but let us know your thoughts on this article please. There is another funny graphic for the eagle eyed (and I apologize in advance if I have offended your sensibilities).

[Julian23]

You know what would be funny? If BDM would stall like crazy at Saito's introduction into the HoF. Always watching the clock, re-reading his notes, telling stories from little Tomoharu's childehood etc.THAT would be really classy!

[BWM]

NO... Tasteless

[Julian23]

If you're a conservative kind of person with antiquated morals and no sense for sarcasm, yes tasteless.

[Solaran_X]

You know what would be funny? If BDM would stall like crazy at Saito's introduction into the HoF. Always watching the clock, re-reading his notes, telling stories from little Tomoharu's childehood etc.THAT would be really classy!
The classy thing to do would be to not induct him into the Hall less than two weeks after suspending him for cheating. The fact that the DCI took such quick and appropriate action against one of the top players who had a habit of bending and, at times, outright breaking the rules for his own benefit.

To induct him into the HoF after suspending him is a slap in the face to every player of the game.

"Hey...yeah...we just suspended this guy for being a cheat, but we're still going to let him join the Hall."

That would be a pretty bad move.

[Nihil Credo]

cdr said that post-DQ investigations are almost never this fast. Since it's explicitly stated on the HoF page that being currently suspended doesn't allow you to be inducted, it's almost certainly a deliberate choice to avoid him being suspended shortly after his induction - now that would have been really awkward.

[Julian23]

In order to appear on the Hall of Fame selection ballot, a player must meet the following three requirements:

1. The player must have 100 lifetime Pro Points
2. The player must have participated in his first Magic: the Gathering Pro Tour at least 10 seasons prior to the current voting year.
3. The player must not be currently suspended by the DCI.


It doesn't say anything explicitly about induction.

[Skeggi]

It doesn't say anything explicitly about induction.
I think NC and cdr are making the point that because the DCI went out of their way by breaking protocol for a quick suspension, chances are they've done that in order to deny his induction into the HoF. No it's not in the (posted) rules, but it looks like they might bend them a bit.

[Nihil Credo]

No, I just remembered wrong - I thought it said "In order to be eligible for the HoF, a player must [etc.]". Indeed, I checked BDM's Twitter and someone asked him what would happen, his answer: "Unknown".

That said, I still expect Saito's induction to be cancelled. After all, there is this nice tidbit at the end of the rules page:

Wizards of the Coast reserves the right, at its discretion, to change this document at anytime without notice.

[Sims]

No, I just remembered wrong - I thought it said "In order to be eligible for the HoF, a player must [etc.]". Indeed, I checked BDM's Twitter and someone asked him what would happen, his answer: "Unknown".

That said, I still expect Saito's induction to be cancelled. After all, there is this nice tidbit at the end of the rules page:

Wizards of the Coast reserves the right, at its discretion, to change this document at anytime without notice.

And I hope they do. It's not like he got DQ'd and suspended once and he reformed. This is DQ number 3, and (i believe, i could be wrong) there was a suspension following one of his prior DQ's.

Three strikes, Mr. Saito. Please don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[Julian23]

In my opinion the easiest and least troublesome option for everybody invovled would be for Saito to volunatrily pass on his induction.

[lorddotm]

We Legacy players have no love for this man.

He fuckin' stole a GP from us!

[Vacrix]

He might be a dick, but I still consider him to be a great deck designer and a good player. I don't care either way if he gets inducted. Whether or not you like him, he is partly responsible for shifting the metagame toward ANT, and popularized black splash folk. I can't say I love him but I don't hate him either.

[dahcmai]

I give the guy credit, he's a hell of a player and doesn't miss much of anything. His deck building seems to be pretty good also judging from playing Merfolk in a Zoo infested meta. I loved that. You can't deny he's a damned good player, but there's a line. He just stepped a little far.

[Koby]

I give the guy credit, he's a hell of a player and doesn't miss much of anything. His deck building seems to be pretty good also judging from playing Merfolk in a Zoo infested meta. I loved that. You can't deny he's a damned good player, but there's a line. He just stepped a little far.

I would argue playskill more than deck building, but the point skill remains the same. It's just a shame he played loose and dirty with time management. Oh well, cheaters will never prosper in the long run.

[alderon666]

He might be a dick, but I still consider him to be a great deck designer and a good player. I don't care either way if he gets inducted. Whether or not you like him, he is partly responsible for shifting the metagame toward ANT, and popularized black splash folk. I can't say I love him but I don't hate him either.

You might be the fu**ing world champion, once you start cheating to get somewhere you just completely lost my respect.

Saitou has had some problems before, so it is probably safe to say that this DQ was not a judge mistake. So I think we just let him go and open space for worse player that don't need to cheat.

[JACO]

Not sure if everybody had seen this, but I called WotC Wednesday and updated the article.

[UPDATE 12-01-2010]: After reaching Wizards of the Coast today seeking comment on the Saito suspension I was directed to an official spokesperson who could speak on behalf of the DCI, and they were unwilling to comment or answer any questions. However they did say that there would be an article posted later this week that would address the Saito issue, so we will keep an eye out for it and keep you informed.

/end update

So we can expect an update from WotC allegedly sometime this week. I have a feeling he's going to be held out of the Hall of Fame, but will be eligible again down the road.

[alphacat]

It's pretty hilarious that people are now denying Saito has any skills and attributes all his wins to 'cheating'. I mean, are you guys seriously blind to his achievements? He's a great player, a great strategist, a great deck building, and yes, he plays dirty from time to time. However, to say that he 'stole a GP', or can win tournament after tournament based on playing the clock is ludicrous. It is hard enough to win a game by manipulating library, to win multiple tournies by stalling? Are you guys kidding?

It's sad to see people celebrating the fall of titans like this. Schadenfreude at its worst, I'd say.

[Julian23]

@alphacat: You're taking it to easy; sometimes things just aren't black or white. Stop the polemic. NOBODY in this thread (and you know this!) is threatining Saito's playskills. In fact the only reaction (except lorddodtm's) we observe is people defending his abilities as a player. Are you kidding?

[alphacat]

@alphacat: You're taking it to easy; sometimes things just aren't black or white. Stop the polemic. NOBODY in this thread (and you know this!) is threatining Saito's playskills. In fact the only reaction (except lorddodtm's) we observe is people defending his abilities as a player. Are you kidding?

I specifically quoted Lorddodtm saying Saito, and I quote again "stole a GP". That's a pretty ridiculous accusation wouldn't you say?

[Sims]

I specifically quoted Lorddodtm saying Saito, and I quote again "stole a GP". That's a pretty ridiculous accusation wouldn't you say?

Nope. He's a rotten thief /shakes cane

now get off my lawn.

[Nihil Credo]

I specifically quoted Lorddodtm saying Saito, and I quote again "stole a GP". That's a pretty ridiculous accusation wouldn't you say?
Hardly - he only need to have stalled in one Swiss match to have 'stolen' the gp, although he would have earned a Top 16/32.

Know what's pretty ridiculous? To use an indefinite plural while attacking one specific poster. Good way to get flak.

[dschalter]

Hardly - he only need to have stalled in one Swiss match to have 'stolen' the gp, although he would have earned a Top 16/32.

Know what's pretty ridiculous? To use an indefinite plural while attacking one specific poster. Good way to get flak.

Well, he would have had to stall in multiple matches (he finished with 43 points, while some people made top 8 with 39), but that is not incredibly important in the grand scheme of things.

[scrumdogg]

Nope. He's a rotten thief /shakes cane

now get off my lawn.

You, sir, are my hero :)

And on a related note, Saito and any other cheating cheaters can spontaneously combust or catch Ebola, hope they deny him entry to the HoF at Chiba

[dschalter]

Latest blog post from Saito: http://harurumtg.blog41.fc2.com/blog-entry-157.html

He confirms that his hall of fame membership has indeed been revoked and says a bunch things that google translator gives me a vague idea of.

[Arsenal]

Official Wizards Announcement re: Saito's HOF revocation: http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/news/120810

[alphacat]

Official Wizards Announcement re: Saito's HOF revocation: http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/news/120810

Well that's a bunch of nothing being said.