#011 - Mike Turian speaks! On early Magic, mastering Limited, and his playing career (Part 1)

"Magic is kind of mind-blowing." Mike Turian is one of the greatest Limited players ever in the history of the Magic Pro Tour, and a bona fide Hall of Famer. He is also a key driving force within Wizards of the Coast, having held key roles in R&D, Organized Play, Technology, Magic Online, and Magic Duels teams. In this no-holds-barred conversation, I talk to Mike about both his illustrious playing career (Part 1) and the decade that he's spent at Wizards of the Coast (Part 2). Mike has tons of great stories and learnings to share, so please do come along for the ride! Time stamps -- Part 1: [03:21] Introduction [09:49] Growing up in Pittsburgh [12:04] Earliest gaming experiences [15:51] Being competitive with his best friend [19:42] Playing Magic for the first time [29:24] Getting hooked on tournaments [32:40] Booster drafts with two packs, not three [34:34] The appeal of the Limited format [36:06] Learning the basics of Limited [38:45] The outside world through The Duelist magazine [41:10] Making a splash in larger events [43:21] Playing against Brian Kibler in Grand Prix Toronto [45:02] Mike’s first Pro Tour in Chicago [46:18] Randy Buehler [50:05] Being part of a team and preparation process [55:17] Teaming up with Gary Wise and Scott Johns [1:00:04] Skills learned through team play [1:01:10] Best Magic memories [1:03:10] On sportsmanship [1:04:16] What the Hall of Fame means to him [1:06:17] Mike’s Hall of Fame achievements [1:09:25] Focusing on Limited vs. Constructed [1:11:16] Mike’s criteria for Hall of Fame membership Photo Credit: Wizards of the Coast