====== 5. PLANESWALKER POINTS-BASED INVITATIONS AND BYES ======
Some Premier Events have invitations or byes based on Planeswalker Points. For complete details regarding Planeswalker Points, the Planeswalker Points categories, and to find out which events give points in which categories, please read the information section of the Planeswalker Points website.

The Seasons (defined below) set forth in this Invitation Policy will be updated periodically in this document.

There are three (2) different Planeswalker Points categories that provide for Premier Event invitations and byes:

===== i. YEARLY AWARD POINTS =====
Yearly Award Points are used to invite players to and award byes at World Magic Cup Qualifiers and award byes to Grand Prix.

Each Yearly Award Points Season is comprised of all competitive (non-casual) events during that season’s date range listed in the table below (EXCLUDING Pro Tour, World Magic Cup, and Magic: The Gathering World Championship Tournaments).

During each Yearly Award Season, players that have accumulated the required number of Yearly Award Points will receive an invitation to or award byes at his or her country’s World Magic Cup Qualifiers for a specific year (see table below).

^Yearly Award Season^Date Range^Awards Invitations to^
|2016 Season|June 1, 2015 through May 29, 2016|2016 World Magic Cup Qualifiers|
|2017 Season|May 30, 2016 through May 28, 2017|2017 World Magic Cup Qualifiers|

During each Yearly Award Season, players that have accumulated the required number of Yearly Award Points will receive a one-round or two-round bye for each Grand Prix Event that is held during the remainder of that season and for the designated Yearly Award Season immediately thereafter (see table below).
 
^Yearly Award Season^Date Range^Awards Byes to GPs held in Seasons^
|2015 Season|June 2, 2014 through May 31, 2015|2015 Yearly Season\\ 2016 Yearly Season|
|2016 Season|June 1, 2015 through May 29, 2016|2016 Yearly Season\\ 2017 Yearly Season|
|2017 Season|May 30, 2016 through May 28, 2017|2017 Yearly Season\\ 2018 Yearly Season|

===== ii. PROFESSIONAL POINTS =====
Professional Points are used to determine (a) invitations to the Magic: The Gathering World Championship, (b) membership on national teams invited to the World MagicCup, and (c) membership in the Pro Tour Players Club (see chart below for specific events).

Each Professional Points Season is comprised of Pro Tour, Grand Prix, World Magic Cup, and Magic: The Gathering World Championship events during that season’s date range listed in the table below. Starting with the 2014-2015 Professional Points Season, only a player’s six (6) best Grand Prix finishes will be added to his or her point total.

^Professional Points Season^Date Range^Used for^
|2014-2015 Season|August 4, 2014 through August 2, 2015|2015 World Championship\\ 2015 World Magic Cup\\ 2014-2015 Players Club mid- season advancement\\ 2015-2016 Players Club start of season level determination|
|2015-2016 Season|August 3, 2015 through August 7, 2016|2016 World Championship\\ 2016 World Magic Cup\\ 2015-2016 Players Club mid- season advancement\\ 2016-2017 Players Club start of season level determination|
|2016-2017 Season|August 8, 2016 through July 30, 2017|2017 World Championship\\ 2017\\ World Magic Cup\\ 2016-2017 Players Club mid- season advancement\\ 2017-2018 Players Club start of season level determination|
 
Professional Points are officially awarded on the final day of each tournament after the final standings have been determined, but before invitations are issued, when applicable. Only players who actually compete in a particular tournament will receive Professional Points for that tournament. Professional points are awarded based on the Professional Points charts in Appendix B.