The northern most of our organisers, Nick hails from Brisbane, and is no stranger to travelling long distances for Magic: The Gathering. Back when Magic Grand Prixes were still a thing, Nick could be found vending the Australian events, and occasionally playing the overseas ones! Nowadays, Nick runs and builds MTG MATE, but occasionally gets to travel, usually in search of cards for his Australian customers!

Nick answered a few questions for us about his story, with Magic: The Gathering.

How did you first discover the world of Magic: The Gathering, and what hooked you into the game?

As for my start, my parents and I went into this game store, and it had a really big focus on this card game called Magic: The Gathering. I knew of TCGs from Pokemon being the big thing a few years ago, but not been exposed to this one much. Before we left, I had an Eight Edition Starter, and the rest is history. As for what got me hooked, I think it’s a culmination of a lot of things. I’ve always loved collection and Magic obviously scratches that itch, but I’ve met and keep meeting so many interesting people through the game, that I just haven’t left.

Magic offers a diverse range of formats for players to enjoy. What’s your favorite format, and what about it appeals to you the most?

I’m a big fan of Eternal formats. When I first started in 2003, I quickly got into playing Standard, but I always had this desire to play with the cards from the sets that came before I started. Back then, Extended scratched that itch, but it was never really popular outside of Pro Tour qualifying season. I picked up Legacy in about 2008 and it’s been the format I’ve played the most. As 7PH has risen in popularity in Queensland, I find myself more and more drawn to it, because there’s so many cool decks and so many different cards to play with that you might not normally cast in other formats.

Everyone has that one Magic card that holds a special place in their heart. What’s your all-time favorite Magic card, and is there a memorable moment connected to it?

For a very long time, Tooth and Nail held a soft spot in my heart as it was the first deck I ever won a Friday Night Magic with. These days though, my favourite card would have to be Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle. I’m known for always playing some deck featuring it in Modern. I like cards that can’t be countered or avoided easily, and the 3 damage caused by playing lands fits that criteria.

Beyond the world of gaming, what are some of your passions or hobbies? How do these interests complement your involvement in Magic: The Gathering?

I’m big fan of travelling and Magic’s definitely afforded me that opportunity. It would always provide the perfect excuse for a group of friends to go somewhere cool and hang out, be it Sydney, or Kuala Lumpur. While a lot of those friends have moved on or have other life commitments, I’ve been able to keep the travel aspect as part of my experience with Magic, it’s just translated more into sourcing cards for MTG MATE rather than playing Grand Prixes and chasing Pro Tours.

Organizing an event like “The Mana Clash” requires dedication and passion. What inspired you to take on the responsibility of hosting this Magic gathering, and what do you hope participants will take away from the experience?

The social and travel aspect of Magic has always been one of the biggest draw cards for me. I’ve got so many friends from this game, that I would get to see a couple of times a year at the various large events around Australia. With the Pandemic turning everything on it’s head, and large events being supported less and less, there’s been a hole in Magic for a bunch of the community, and I hope that takes steps to fill it. There’s also a whole wave of players that have picked up the game in the last 5 years and never really experienced larger events, so hopefully this serves as a good introduction for them too.