The Magic: The Gathering national champions are the players who won National Championships (Nationals) that year. (with the exception of champions between 2012 and 2016, which were awarded to players with the most Pro Points at the end of a Pro Tour season[1])
Nationals took place around the world usually in summer or autumn. Eligibility to play in a national championship was determined on residence instead of nationality. In addition, Nationals required eligible players to qualify. (prior to 2011, countries with smaller populations of Magic players open nationals were held, meaning that any eligible player could compete in this tournament)
After 2011 Nationals were discontinued by Wizards of the Coast when they restructured their Magic: The Gathering organized play program, abandoning national championships, and restructuring the World Championship. From 2012 to 2016 the title of National Champion was awarded to the player with the most Pro Points of any given country at the end of a Pro Tour season. At the end of 2018 Wizards of the Coast announced that in 2019 there would be no National Championships. As of April 2019 it is unclear whether Nationals are on hiatus or abandoned. The title National Champion will not be awarded in 2019.
In 2018, National Champions were determined in 74 nations and regions. In most cases these regions line up with countries, but special exemptions were made in some cases, for example Puerto Rico and the countries of the United Kingdom.