Choke

The Choke card included in the 1999 World Championship Decks was issued as a direct reproduction of the deck list used by Mark Le Pine during the 1999 Magic: The Gathering World Championships. These boxed sets were designed by Wizards of the Coast as a commemorative product, allowing players to experience the high-level tournament strategies that defined the competitive meta of the late 1990s. The card features a distinct gold-bordered back, signifying that it is a tournament-legal replica rather than a standard card from the Urza's Saga expansion.

The art for Choke was originally created by artist Donato Giancola, whose evocative style was central to the aesthetic of the era's blue-hate cards. The design concept focused on the mechanical theme of taxing players who relied on Islands, a powerful strategic choice in the tournament environment of the time. Upon its initial release, the card was received as a potent sideboard option that forced blue-aligned decks to navigate severe mana restrictions, cementing its status as a memorable tool in professional-level competitive play.