I am honored to have been included in the selection committee for the Hall of Fame this year. I got my ballot and have tossed it around for a week now, so it's time I settle on my votes. Of the names on the list, there are a number of eligible players to be considered. Some greats, some well known, some deck builders, and more.

Of the 73 players on this year's ballot, we are tasked with whittling it down to, at most, five names. Some from previous ballots, most are newly introduced to the ballot. Looking over the list, a number jump to my attention right away:

• Patrick Chapin
• Justin Gary
• Tsuyoshi Ikeda
• Scott Johns
• Anton Johnsson
• Mark Justice
• Brian Kibler
• Katsuhiro Mori
• Gabriel Nassif
• Steve O'Mahoney-Schwartz
• Chris Pikula
• Tomoharu Saito
• Bram Snepvangers
• Guillaume Wafo-Tapa
• Shouta Yasooka

That is about a fourth of the list. So many names! Initially I wanted to pull tournament data beyond what Wizards has provided and try to do a ballot to only the top five finishers based on some function of tournament finishes, tournaments played, and a number of other variables. But the more I thought about it, the more I began wondering if perhaps that was being unfair.

I began building and exploring each of the eligible players, looking up their stats and history. I asked some friends for opinions or information where my knowledge ended. Usually it was asking judges about shady or questionable behavior, or asking after other sort of information.

I chose to take a hard line on suspensions. Saito was the second name on my ballot until last week as I learned more about his early years and the questionable practices at that time. Does he deserve to be in the Hall of Fame? Without question. Especially as a number of other Hall of Fame members have similar behavior and penalties on their records. But I will not vote for someone with that sort of disciplinary history on their first round on the ballot.

My Official Ballot

Gabriel Nassif - With nine Pro Tour top eights, nearly double of any other person on this year's ballot, and six GP Top 8s, his competitive prowess cannot be doubted. Combine that with a strong history as a deckbuilder and Nassif becomes the first name to be locked into my ballot. He was the easiest pick for me on this year's ballot.

Anton Johnsson - Though retired, he is among the most qualified names on this list. I admit I overlooked him on first reading the ballot because I am one of the people who forgot about him. I don't know how. I don't know why. But five PT top eights and eight GP top eights, all in the "modern era" of Magic. Largely a limited player, he does have a Constructed PT top eight to his credit. I honestly hope that the HoF might perhaps bring him out of retirement.

Brian Kibler - Three PT top eights, ten GP top eights. Including a lapse where he retired from the game, then when he returned to the game he hit with a bang and won a PT and a GP in the same year. I think the thing that speaks to me most is that he has become a face for Magic, like Jon Finkel before him. It's his third year on the ballot and I feel confident that his time has come given his performance last year.

Guillaume Wafo-Tapa - With two PT top eights and six GP top eights, his competitive finishes are nothing to sneeze at, but more importantly to me is that Guillaume is a brilliant deck builder. His decks regularly take over the net, as well as store metagames. In every metagame it seems at least one of his deck designs has proven top tier. A respectful and thoughtful player, I have the utmost respect for him.

Chris Pikula - He reached his height during my sabbatical from Magic, but I have come to greatly respect him for his stance on cheating and his prowess at the game. Of the names on this ballot he is the least impressive with "only" three PT top eights and four GP top eights. Having been enshrined on Meddling Mage, I would like to see him enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

I never expected to think so hard about who to vote for but this year was tough. Bram Snepvangers was perhaps the next name had I had a sixth slot on my ballot, but despite his truly epic run and presence on the tour, these other names rose to the top for me. Patrick Chapin also can't be overlooked, he is perhaps the most well name on this year's ballot. Justin Gary, Ikeda, Shouta, Mori, Scott Johns... that whole list at the top of the page are names I respect and who are infinitely better at this game than I am. I salute you all.

I'm not joking when I say that my ballot underwent some drastic changes in the last few days as I changed my perspective and opinions. Moving names on and off the list in a myriad of variations, I am finally happy with my ballot.

Best wishes to all the eligible names on this year's ballot!

-- Trick