Tomoharu Saito
| Tomoharu Saitou 齋藤 友晴 |
|
|---|---|
 |
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| Born | 14 December 1983 Tokyo, Japan |
| Residence | Toshima-ku (Japan) |
| Nationality |
 Japanese
|
| Pro Tour debut | 2000 Pro Tour Chicago |
| Winnings | $262,092 |
| Pro Tour wins (Top 8) | 1 (5) |
| Grand Prix wins (Top 8) | 4 (24) |
| Lifetime Pro Points | 506 |
| Planeswalker Level | 50 (Archmage) |
Tomoharu Saitou (齋藤 友晴 Saitō Tomoharu) is one of the most successful professional Magic: The Gathering players and the owner of Hareruya Store in Tokyo.
Saitou debuted at Pro Tour Chicago 2000. An 83rd-place finish meant he fell just short of making money. Later the same season, he made his first standout finish by reaching the top eight of the Asia Pacific Championship. His quarter-final opponent was to have been Peter Chao of Taiwan. However, Chao was not able to attend the final day of competition, and asked Saitou for a prize split. The judges ruled this to be bribery and disqualified Saitou, Chao, and Satoshi Nakamura who had acted as their interpreter.
After two seasons off tour, Saitou returned the Pro Tour in 2003–04, and to the elimination rounds at the premier level by finishing eighth at Grand Prix Nagoya. In 2005, he made his first Sunday appearance on the Pro Tour. Alongside Tomohiro Kaji, and Kenji Tsumura, he reached the top four of Pro Tour Atlanta. Saitou's team, One Spin, lost in the semifinals to the eventual champions Nova, with Saitou losing to Gabriel Nassif.
In 2006, Saitou won Pro Tour Charleston as a member of Team Kajiharu80, along with Tomohiro Kaji and Shouta Yasooka. At the next Pro Tour, held in Kobe, Saitou made his first individual top eight appearance. He lost in the quarterfinals to Pro Tour first-timer and eventual champion Jan-Moritz Merkel. At the end of the 2006 season, Saitou was dubbed the PoY maker, because in the past two seasons his teammates, Tsumura and Yasooka, had won the Player of the year title. The following year, it would be his turn.
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