September 12 – 13, 2025
Kendall Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts
WHAT IS THIS?
This is a community-organized Magic: The Gathering weekend in Greater Boston, featuring the 2025 Old School Magic (93/94) World Championships. Since 2018, LOBSTERCON has been New England Old School’s marquee event, continuing as an annual charity fundraiser for Room to Grow, a non-profit organization based in Boston. New England Old School is proud to host this year’s tournament to award a Giant Shark and the title of World Champion at LOBSTERCON, continuing a long and strange tradition in 93/94 Magic, originating in Gothenburg, Sweden in the late twenty-aughts.
An entry fee of $90 for all players will cover registration in any and all of the weekend’s events: the SWE Old School MAIN EVENT (Friday, September 12), the X-Point Old School American Open (Saturday, September 13), and the ATL/7pt/A2A Team Trios (Saturday, September 13).
Please note that there are no “official” Premodern MTG events planned during this weekend, as the Premodern LOBSTERCON for 2025 will already have been held in early May. For more information about LOBSTERCON’s two-event structure in 2025 — Premodern in May, Old School in September — take a look at the FAQ page here.
As of 10:00pm Eastern on April 6, the open registration period for Old School LOBSTERCON has closed.
THE EVENTS
The 2025 Old School Magic (93/94) World Championships
FRIDAY, September 12, 10:30am – 9pm. The eighth-annual edition of our seafood-driven Old School charity tournament. This year will be a bit different, as the Giant Shark swims to Boston: the format for the main event will be Swedish 93/94, no proxies allowed, and with typical EC/American reprint allowances as with past LOBSTERCON events: all original art, original frame, non-foil printings (including Revised, 4th/Chronicles, FBB/FWB, CE/IE, WC, APs) are allowed. Deck photos will be required, to be submitted before the first round of the main event.
This is expected to be the largest Old School Magic event held anywhere to date. Nine (9!) rounds of Swiss will be played on Friday, September 12, with a cut to Top 16 that will be played out on the morning of Saturday, September 13. Registration will be capped at ~330 players and there will be no waitlist or other accommodations after registration closes.
X-Point Old School American Open
Saturday, September 13, 10:30am – 8pm. The recent LOBSTERCON tradition continues with another big opportunity to jam this popular and accessible 93/94 variant. Deck construction rules at the X-Point Old School website. Tournament structure will be straight Swiss (7 or 8 rounds).
Old School / Singleton / Alpha to Alliances Team Trios Tournament
Saturday, September 13, 3pm – 9pm. New for this year: Team Trios Constructed! In a Team Trios event, each player on a team of three plays a deck from one of three different formats, facing players from other teams playing the same format. The formats for this event will be Atlantic 93/94, 7pt Singleton OS, and Alpha to Alliances (Nashville version: EC 93/94 plus Ice Age, Homelands, Alliances; Demonic Consultation and Mana Crypt are restricted). Tournament structure will be five rounds of Swiss.
THE FOOD SITUATION
Lobster rolls will once again be available from Kelly’s Roast Beef for lunch on FRIDAY, with pre-orders opening up about 10 days before the event. We’re also planning on running back the Friday night pizza order, no additional charge to paid registrants. Otherwise, the events will be “bring your own food,” with lists of take-out suggestions to be provided. Dedicated bartenders with a cash bar will be available throughout the weekend.
SPECIAL GUESTS: OLD SCHOOL ARTISTS
We’ll be joined by some early Magic artists at Old School LOBSTERCON 2025! The following artists will be with us in Boston, offering sigs and alters, selling their merch, sharing stories, and otherwise enjoying the weekend with our community. PLEASE NOTE that due to capacity constraints in the venue, only registered and paid attendees will be allowed in the event hall.
Rob Alexander
Phil Foglio
Jeff A. Menges
Richard Thomas
Susan Van Camp
Bryon Wackwitz
VENDORS
LOBSTERCON will also have one or more top-notch vendors on-site — check back for our full line-up closer to the event. PLEASE NOTE that due to capacity constraints in the venue, only registered and paid attendees will be allowed in the event hall.
A wide range of Old School and Premodern staples and playables will be available for purchase and trade throughout the weekend’s activities (Friday and Saturday).
TRAVEL LOGISTICS
Best airport to fly into is Boston Logan Airport (BOS). We have an official room block at the Residence Inn Boston Cambridge at a base rate of $269 / night, breakfast included, available on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage booking as soon as possible, as the block will almost certainly sell out, and the hotel will re-claim any unbooked rooms well in advance of the event.
The tournament venue is in Kendall Square, which is served by the MBTA Red Line, providing easy accessibility from other points in/around Boston, including Alewife Station parking garage and South Station. There will also be all-day off-street parking available at the One Kendall Square Garage — and the Dante’s discounted rate is BACK for 2025, with $10 all-day parking validation for LOBSTERCON attendees.
REGISTRATION FORM
As of 10:00pm Eastern on April 6, the open registration period for Old School LOBSTERCON has closed.
WHO ALL IS GOING?
The Sentinel 