Jon Finkel
| Jon Finkel | |
|---|---|
| Nicknames | Jonny Magic The Machine |
| Born |
May 18, 1978 Brockport, New York |
| Residence | New York, USA |
| Nationality | United States |
| Pro Tour debut |
1996 Pro Tour New York (junior) 1996 Worlds–Seattle (senior) |
| Winnings | $400,234 |
| Pro Tour wins (Top 8) | 3 (16) |
| Grand Prix wins (Top 8) | 3 (9) |
| Median Pro Tour Finish | 61 |
| Lifetime Pro Points | 628 |
| Planeswalker Level | 48 (Archmage) |
Jon Finkel (born May 18, 1978 in Brockport, New York) is an American Magic: The Gathering and poker player. Finkel is one of the most decorated players in the history of professional Magic: The Gathering play and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time. During his career he has won 3 Grand Prix events and made the Top 8 of a record 16 Pro Tour events, winning three of those. In the year 2000, he became the Magic: The Gathering World Champion, as well as played for the United States National Team, which won the team portion of the competition.
Finkel moved with his family to Woking, England in the summer of 1992 and learned about Magic: The Gathering shortly thereafter at a local game shop named Fun and Games. After he returned to the New York area in 1995 Finkel quickly made friends with the "OMS brothers", Steven and Daniel O'Mahoney-Schwartz.
In 1996 the first Pro Tour was held in New York. Finkel competed in the Junior Division of the tournament, made it to the Top 8, and won a $1,000 scholarship. After reaching another Top 8 in the Junior Division of Pro Tour Columbus Finkel had his first appearance in the senior competition of the Pro Tour at the 1996 World Championship in Seattle. A ninth-place finish earned him $3,200.
Finkel had three Top 16 finishes in the 1996–97 season, but never made it to the finals. His first Top 8 appearance was at Pro Tour Chicago 1997. In the same season Finkel won his first Grand Prix title in Rio de Janeiro, his first Pro Tour title in New York; finished third at US Nationals and the World Championship, and eventually claimed the Pro Player of the Year title.
...
Wikipedia