Benjamin "Ben" Stark is an American Magic: The Gathering player. His career accomplishments include back to back Pro Tour Top 8s in 2004 and winning Pro Tour Paris in 2011. In 2013, he was voted into the Magic: The Gathering Hall of Fame.

Magic: The Gathering

Beginning his career in 1999, Stark first came to prominence in 2004, making back to back Pro Tour Top 8s at Pro Tour Kobe and Pro Tour San Diego.

Stark took a break from the game, not returning until late 2009. Since his return, Ben Stark has been considered a Limited expert.

Stark went on to have great success in the 2011 Pro Tour Season, reaching the finals of Grand Prix Atlanta and winning his first Pro Tour at Pro Tour Paris. These finishes, along with other strong finishes throughout the season, led Ben to be a front-runner in the 2011 Pro Player of Year race. Ultimately, Ben would finish in joint 3rd place in the Player of the Year standings, alongside Martin Juza, with 56 pro points. Commentators argued that Stark hurt his chances of winning the Player of the Year title by failing to attend US Nationals and certain Grand Prix events.

The 2012-13 Pro Tour Season was another very successful season for Stark. Stark made the Top 8 of four Grand Prix events, including a win at Grand Prix Indianapolis, and made his fourth Pro Tour Top 8 at Pro Tour Gatecrash. Stark's performance left him with a season total of 61 Pro Points, placing him 5th in the Player of the Year race, and an invite to the 2013 World Championship, where he made it into the Top 4 players after the Swiss rounds of the World Championship. Stark lost to Shahar Shenhar in the semifinals of the World Championship taking 3rd Place overall.

Achievements

Top 8 appearances

SeasonEvent typeLocationFormatDateRank
2003–04Grand PrixKansas City, MissouriRochester Draft18–19 October 20033
2003–04Grand PrixAnaheimExtended13–14 December 20035
2003–04Pro TourKobeBlock Constructed27–29 February 20047
2003–04Pro TourSan DiegoBooster Draft14–16 May 20046
2009Grand PrixBostonSealed and Booster Draft1–2 August 20092
2010Grand PrixTorontoSealed and Booster Draft23–24 October 20104
2011Grand PrixAtlantaExtended22–23 January 20112
2011Pro TourParisStandard and Booster Draft10–13 February 20111
2012–13Grand PrixAtlantaLegacy30 June–1 July 20125
2012–13Grand PrixSan Jose, Costa RicaSealed and Booster Draft15–16 September 20123
2012–13Grand PrixIndianapolisSealed and Booster Draft22–23 December 20121
2012–13Pro TourMontrealStandard and Booster Draft15–17 February 20133
2012–13Grand PrixCharlotteSealed and Booster Draft23–24 February 20137
2013–14Grand PrixProvidenceTeam Limited8–9 June 20134
2013–14Grand PrixRiminiSealed and Booster Draft27–28 July 20135
2013–14WorldsAmsterdamSpecial31 July–4 August 20133
2013–14Grand PrixDetroitModern14–15 September 20134
2013–14Grand PrixDallas/Fort WorthStandard7–8 December 20134
2014–15Grand PrixBaltimoreSealed and Booster Draft13–14 December 20143
2014–15Grand PrixMemphisStandard21–22 February 20152
2014–15Grand PrixLas VegasSealed and Booster Draft30–31 May 20155
2015–16Grand PrixDetroitTeam Limited15–16 August 20152
2015–16Grand PrixParisStandard19-20 March 20162
2015–16Grand PrixSydneyLimited30-31 July 20163
2016–17Grand PrixWarsawStandard29-30 October 20166
2016–17Grand PrixNew JerseyStandard11-12 March 20174
2016–17Grand PrixMexico CityTeam Limited7-9 April 20171
2017–18Grand PrixAtlantaStandard11-12 November 20172
2018–19Pro TourMinneapolisTeam Limited3-5 February 20182

Last updated: 5 August 2018 Source: