Do you have questions or comments on anything you’d like to add to my ongoing interview segments? Look here first for the word from professional Magic players all over the world!
Joshua Claytor: Please list your Magic achievements for your fans.
Jon Finkel: Well, I won the 2000 World Championships and US Nationals, as well as 1998 PTNY as well as a couple of Grand Prixs. Boston, Rio, and I think possibly one other-St. Louis as a team. I came in second at LA ’99 and Third in Chicago ’97, Worlds ’98, DC ’99(Team PT). Fourth in the ’98 Nationals and fifth in Chicago ’98. I also was on the winning Worlds team in ’98 and 2000.
JC: One of the Magic Magazine ads has a quote, saying,”Finkel signed my Ophidians.” You have come so far in the game; how does it make you feel to get name recognition in some of the world’s top gaming magazines?
JF: Well, it’s always nice to be recognized for skill in anything, and Magic is no exception. Never again in my life will I have the opportunity to be the best in the world at something.
JC: The Magic Invitational is known for its use of wacky formats. This year is no different. What do you think of the BYOB format, and do you have any ideas setwise for it? (By this, I mean what sets are you thinking of using?)
JF: Well I haven’t thought about it much. I think you could make a pretty good Sligh deck, though, with Tempest and Visions.
JC: Have you given any thought to what deck you will pursue in the Auction?
JF: Not Zak Dolan. Or Olle’s. Or Sigurd’s.
JC: The last question dealing with the Invitational is this: Have you put any thought into what card you will make if you win this year?
JF: I’d like to have another go at the Hand of Leknif, perhaps – 2UU, discard an island: Gain control of target permanent. As an instant. Probably overpowered, but so be it.
JC: What is the bigger achievement? Winning Worlds, Nationals, a Pro Tour, or finally breaking into your first Pro Tour?
JF: I think I’m going to have to go with Worlds here. It is, after all, the rarest of the achievements.
JC: Starting in the year 2001, the United States will have a Grand Prix in each month. Do you see this as a boon to the game, or is it overkill for the players who can not afford to make each premiere event?
JF: I think increased organized play can’t be anything but a boon to the game. You have to make choices with everything, and more options are never bad.
JC: The Masters series recently started in Pro Tour New York. If you could change anything about it, what would you change?
JF: Well, some jackass thought it’d be a good idea to play Forbidian. I’d talk some sense into him. 🙂
JC: To many people in the Magic world, you are thought of as the Tiger Woods of Magic. Does this give you any pressure to perform better?
JF: Obviously – but I like pressure. I tend to work better under it and it makes things more exciting.
JC: Who do you hang out with while on Tour?
JF: So many people, so little space. The O’s (Steve and Dan O’Mahoney-Schwartz), the Deadguys, Dave Williams, Bob Maher; I’m going to stop there, so I don’t list too many people and leave something out.
JC: With Pro Tour Chicago approaching, what impact does Invasion have to Standard?
JF: Well, Invasion has a huge impact, but it’s hard to look at it in a vacuum, as we’re losing so many cards from Urza’s Block.
JC: What cards are you going to miss from Urza’s Block?
JF: I suppose I should probably say Tinker.
JC: Finally, to end all of this madness, I would like to play a little game. I give you a word, and you give me the first one that pops into your head. Forbidian.
JF: Blue.
JC: Bob Maher, Jr.
JF: The Great One.
JC: Worlds team competition.
JF: USA.
JC: And to close, who is the man?
JF: Dave Price.