Normally, registration for the Uthden Troll Cup would be opening around this time…
The bad news: you’ll have to wait a little longer.
The good news: we have a very exciting reason.
This year, the Uthden Troll team got the honour to organise the Old School World Championship! 🏆🦈
We are incredibly proud to carry the legacy of the Shark for this year.
Because of this special honor, we’ve made an important change. Instead of our usual open registration (which sold out in just 4 minutes last year 😅), we will be running an invitational system for the majority of spots. With a Shark on the line, we expect things to go absolutely wild — and this approach allows us to better balance participation throughout the worldwide communities.
Of course, we won’t forget our loyal local players and long-time supporters ❤️
Everyone who has received a Troll of Honour badge (5+ years of attendance) will receive an invite.
📅 Timeline
• Invitations sent: April 20–22
• Confirmation of participation deadline: May 1
• Remaining tickets go live: May 11 at 20:00 CET
(This includes all events: main event, Premodern, drafts, etc.)
🎟️ About capacity & venue
We will have a total of 200 spots available for this year’s event.
Given the number of spots and the overwhelming demand in previous years, we already know that we unfortunately won’t be able to accommodate everyone who would like to attend.
Upscaling to a bigger venue is something we have seriously discussed as a team. However, we’ve chosen not to do so. The Uthden Troll Cup has grown into a large festival, but what matters most to us is preserving the intimate feeling of a ‘small’ event.
Anyone who has attended before knows how much the current venue — with its different rooms and play areas — contributes to that unique atmosphere. It’s something we deeply value and don’t want to lose.
We can’t wait to make this another epic edition of UTC. Stay tuned…
Program overview (provisional)
📅 November 5 – November 8, 2026
🚨 Ticket sales for UTC VIII will open May 11 🚨
Don’t miss your chance to be part of the action.
Buy your tickets here 👉 https://uthdentrollcup.com/shop/
Below is a provisional outline of the events. We definitely will change things over the coming weeks. We are busy preparing a nice program that embodies the spirit of both Trolls and Sharks. There will be artists of course and we are sure we’ll make the Saturday night a a top notch evening with plenty of stuff happening all over the place.
🃏 Thursday, November 5
Casual Meet-Up — From 17:00 onwards
Kick off the weekend in a relaxed setting with casual games, trading, and socializing.
Featured Format: Ante 40K
🏆 Friday, November 6
“Swaffel” World Championship — Start: 11:30
This special 93/94 event features all cards from 1993–1994. It uses the Swedish B&R list and has a unique twist.
93/94 Repack Booster Draft — Start: 19:00
A fan-favorite draft experience using themed repack boosters full of nostalgic classics.
🧙 Saturday, November 7
Old School Swedish Tournament — Start: 11:00
The crown jewel of the weekend. Authentic 93/94 gameplay with deep roots and serious prestige.
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PM Booster Draft or Cube draft — Start: 19:30
Draft your way through a curated pool of cards spanning the Ice Age to Onslaught blocks.
🛡️ Sunday, November 8
Dutch Nationals – PreModern Format — Start: 10:30
The ultimate showdown for Dutch Premodern players. Competitive, community-driven, and full of meta variety.
X-point event — Start: 11:30
Full Festival Program 2025 (we will update soon to the 2026 program)
Please note: This is a provisional schedule and may be subject to changes.
Thursday, October 30
Casual Meet-Up: “Troll Cave”
🕔 17:00 – Around Midnight
Join us for a relaxed evening to kick off the weekend. Bring your decks, hang out, and enjoy some casual games.
Got an Ante 40K deck? This is your chance to play a series of Ante games with fellow enthusiasts.
Friday, October 31
Swaffel World Championships
🕧 Tournament starts at 12:30
🎟️ 80-player cap
💰 Entry: €50 (includes dinner)
Format:
All cards printed in 1993 and 1994 are allowed. This includes the full Swedish legal pool, plus Fallen Empires. It also includes promotional cards like Arena, Sewers of Estark, and Nalathni Dragon.
We follow the Swedish banned/restricted list, with one extra rule: Hymn to Tourach is restricted.
Reprint Policy:
Cards with same art and frame are allowed, including foreign prints and IE/CE. No foils, WCD, or 30th Anniversary Edition.
Structure:
- 6 Rounds of Swiss
- Top 8 playoff
93/94 Repack Booster Draft
🕖 Draft begins at 19:00
🎟️ 128-player cap
💰 Entry: €40 (keep the cards you draft!)
Draft in pods of 8 players. Each player receives 3 repack boosters, each containing:
- 1 Rare
- 3 Uncommons
- 11 Commons
Cards are a mix of originals and reprints. Expect plenty of iconic staples like Swords to Plowshares, Lightning Bolt, Erhnam Djinn, Serra Angel, Counterspell, Hypnotic Specter, and more.
Each draft pod will feature a themed card pool—think Goblins, Zombies, Thallids, Prison, etc.—for a unique drafting experience.
✅ Practice makes perfect. You should check out an example 360-card pool from last year. This will help you get a feel for the format.
After the draft, players will build decks using their drafted cards. A land station will be available, but we kindly ask that you return all borrowed lands. Bringing your own basics is appreciated.
Tournament Structure:
- 3 Rounds of Swiss
- Table winners advance to Top 16
Saturday, November 1
Old School Swedish Tournament
🕤 Doors open at 09:30 | Tournament begins at 11:00
🎟️ 210-player cap
💰 Entry: €70 (includes lunch and dinner)
Legal Sets:
Alpha, Beta, Unlimited, Arabian Nights, Antiquities, Legends, and The Dark.
We follow the Swedish B&R list. Click here for details.
Reprint Policy:
Cards with the same art and frame are allowed, including foreign editions and IE/CE. No foils, WCD, or 30th Anniversary Edition.
Structure:
- 7 Rounds of Swiss
- Top 16 playoff
PreModern Repack Booster Draft
🕗 Draft begins at 20:00
🎟️ 32-player cap
💰 Entry: €40 (keep the cards you draft!)
This draft format features cards from the Ice Age through Onslaught blocks. It also includes select WCD cards for access to high-value staples like Volrath’s Stronghold.
Each player receives:
- 3 repack boosters (1 rare, 3 uncommons, 11 commons each)
- 1 Golden Booster (16 rares) drafted Rochester-style to hint at your pool’s themes
Expect singleton cubes focused around iconic Premodern archetypes like Deadguy Ale, The Rock, Zombies, Goblins, Elves, and Prison.
✅ Want to prepare? Check out the Draft Table 1 pool for UTC V as an example.
Structure:
- 3 Rounds of Swiss
- Table winners advance to Top 4/8
Sunday, November 2
Dutch Nationals – Premodern Format
🕤 Doors open at 09:30 | Tournament begins at 10:30
🎟️ 80-player cap
💰 Entry: €40 (includes lunch)
For full information on legal sets, rules, and the current banned/restricted list, click here.
Reprint Policy:
All reprints from legal sets are permitted.
Structure:
- 6 Rounds of Swiss
- Top 8 playoff
Something something, more about it later
🕤 Doors open at 10:30 | Tournament begins at 11:30
🎟️ 32 teams (64-players) cap
💰 Entry: €25 (includes lunch)
Waitlist Information
If an event is fully booked, you may join the waitlist by registering here (link will follow) We will contact you only if a spot becomes available.
Payment will be requested upon confirmation of your participation.
When do cancellations happen?
- Most cancellations occur in September, as a full refund is offered until October 1.
- Last-minute cancellations (due to illness, emergencies, etc.) are usually filled by players already onsite or local to the venue.
Additional Information
📍 Location
All events at the Uthden Troll Cup will be hosted at the stunning Boutique Hotel Catshuis in Leeuwarden. The venue offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Professional staff are ready to serve you a variety of food and drinks. Their service is available throughout the event.
Please note: We kindly ask that you do not bring your own food or beverages into the venue.
🚗 Travel Information
By Car
The closest parking facility is Parkeergarage Oldehove, where you can park for just €10 per day. Don’t forget to say “Oi, Oi, Oi!” to the pride of Leeuwarden—the leaning tower Oldehove—just around the corner!
By Plane
If you’re flying in, your best option is Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam). From Schiphol, there is a direct train to Leeuwarden every 30 minutes. The journey takes approximately 2 hours. Once you arrive at Leeuwarden Station, the venue is a comfortable 8–10 minute walk.
🏨 Accommodation
We recommend the following nearby hotels, all within walking distance of the venue (5–8 minutes):
- Hotel Paleis Stadhouderlijk Hof
- Post Plaza Hotel (Use code GRUTSK for a 10% discount! PC works better than mobile in most cases)
- Oranje Hotel
Expect premium comfort at a rate of approximately €100–€150 per night.
Budget-Friendly Option
Looking for a more affordable stay or planning to share a room with others? Consider booking at Alibi Hostel, a charming and unique hostel located in a former prison. Beds are available starting at €30 per night, per person.
📘 Vendors
We’re excited to welcome back some of our community’s favorite vendors:
- Wijnand Schoenmakers from Powernegen – always ready to fuel your OS and PM collecting habits.
- Trolls of the Realm – bringing the Sorcery goods once again.
PCG will be offering drop-offs and pick-ups at the event. Visit their website for more info about their grading options. Already a customer or anxious to try out their grading service? Then it might good idea to use the special event pick-up service .
📡 Social Media & Coverage
We’ll be broadcasting live streams throughout the weekend, featuring:
- Timmy Talks
- WakWakMtG
This year’s Social Media Reporters
Friday & Saturday : Wander Notting
Sunday: Daniel Becker
After countless shoots, countless rolls of film, and countless unforgettable moments, Dyan de Rochemont has decided to explore the world of documentary filmmaking. We are very proud to announce that one of his very first projects will be a documentary about the Uthden Troll Cup.
Expect top-tier content all weekend long!
🌟 Special Guests
We are thrilled to welcome Bryon Mutt WackWitz and Marta Molina as this year’s special guests!
Returning favorites include:
- Anders Schmidt (AS Alters)
- Buddy Jonkers (Lost Viking Alters)