If you’ve played competitive Magic in Melbourne in the last 20 years, it’s unlikely you’ve not heard of Isaac Lee. Isaac has won countless Highlander Events, represented Australia on the world stage for Magic, and worked, owned and run multiple games stores! After completing his tertiary studies to become a Psychologist, Isaac took a break from the retail side of things, before coming back full swing with Plenty of Games in Melbourne’s CBD.
We picked Isaac’s brain to get his thoughts on Magic
When did you first pick up Magic: The Gathering, and what’s kept you playing this game?
Way back in 1996 my brother needed someone to play with, so together we built decks, battled and we were hooked (along with my 2 other brothers that joined us 6 months later)
Flash foward to my first year of university, my mate Luke Nott told me the story of how he won a Mox playing 7 Point Highlander. I was enthralled and immediately stopped focusing on my uni work to dedicate my time to gatherer searches to build my first highlander deck. Many many years later I still absolutely love brewing highlander and battling.
Over your almost 30 years of play you’ve played with a lot of cards across Magic’s many eras. Can you share with us a card that stands out amongst all others for you?
The Akroan War: Was the spice that got me my first PT top8 along with Bolas’s Citadel. My wife Wan Chin got me a print for my birthday that is framed in our house.
Beyond the world of gaming, what are some of your passions or hobbies? How do these interests complement your involvement in Magic: The Gathering?
There is no world beyond gaming.
Running a big event like The Mana Clash isn’t something that was surely decided on the spot. What’s your main motivation for bringing this event to the players of Australia?
I love playing magic, I love watching people play magic, I love seeing smiles on people’s faces, people getting excited as they test before a big event, I love the community and so it’s a no brainer to try to contribute as much as I can to putting on events that will make me and many others have an awesome weekend.
