Jon Finkel facts for kids

Jon Finkel (born May 18, 1978) is a famous American player of the card game Magic: The Gathering. He also plays poker. Many people think Jon Finkel is one of the best Magic players ever. He has won many big tournaments. He won three Grand Prix events. He also reached the Top 8 in 16 Pro Tour events, winning three of them. In 2000, he became the Magic: The Gathering World Champion. His team also won the team part of the competition that year.

Jon Finkel's Amazing Career

Jon Finkel was born in Brockport, New York. In 1992, his family moved to Woking, UK. There, he first learned about Magic: The Gathering at a local game shop. When he moved back to New York in 1995, he became friends with Steven and Daniel O'Mahoney-Schwartz. They were also great Magic players.

Early Days and First Wins

In 1996, the first ever Pro Tour tournament was held in New York. Jon Finkel played in the Junior Division. He made it to the Top 8 and won a $1,000 scholarship. He reached another Top 8 in the Junior Division at Pro Tour Columbus. Then, he played in the main Pro Tour competition at the 1996 World Championship in Seattle. He finished ninth and won $3,200.

During the 1996–97 season, Finkel often finished in the Top 16. His first time in the Top 8 of a main Pro Tour was at Pro Tour Chicago 1997. In the same season, he won his first Grand Prix title in Rio de Janeiro. He also won his first Pro Tour title in New York. He finished third at the US Nationals and the World Championship. He was even named the Pro Player of the Year.

Becoming a World Champion

The 1998–99 season started with Finkel winning another Grand Prix in Boston. He made it to the Top 8 for the third time in a row. This was a rare achievement. He finished second in the Pro Player of the Year race that season.

In the next season, Finkel's team finished third at the first Team Pro Tour in Washington. His teammates were his friends Daniel and Steven O'Mahoney-Schwartz. Later that season, Finkel won the US Nationals. He also won both the team and individual parts of the World Championship. He finished third in the Pro Player of the Year race again.

Later in 2000, Finkel also won the Magic Invitational. This win gave him a special chance to design his very own Magic card. His card, Shadowmage Infiltrator, first appeared in the Odyssey set. It was later printed again in other sets.

Hall of Fame and Beyond

After more Top 8 finishes in the 2000–01 season, Finkel played less in professional Magic. In 2005, he was chosen for the Hall of Fame. He received the most votes in the first group of players to be inducted. Being in the Hall of Fame meant he could play in future Pro Tours without needing to qualify.

In 2008, Finkel played in and won Pro Tour Kuala Lumpur. He was the first player to win a Pro Tour after being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Mark Rosewater, a main designer for Magic, said that Finkel is the most naturally talented player the game has ever seen.

Life After Professional Magic

In recent years, Jon Finkel has also played in big poker tournaments. He is now a managing partner at a company called Landscape Capital Management.

As of 2021, Finkel was the Treasurer for the board of directors of Gamers Helping Gamers. This is a group that helps college students who play Magic: The Gathering by giving them money for school through scholarships.