This round saw the former PC champion pitted against the repeat $10K champion. Horvath was fighting to prove his PC win wasn't a fluke, and Leander was fighting to prove his sabbatical hadn't caused him to lose his winning edge. Horvath won the roll and took the odds.

 

Adam offered a “Good luck” to Rob, who grinned and replied, “You too. May you miss your drops.”

 

Adam was off to a good start, playing G'Nort. Rob played Lana Lang, Manhunter Sleeper in the hidden area. G'Nort attacked directly (49-50).

 

Rob used Lana, and Adam lost Mosaic World. Lana is a great 1-drop to have, because she can force your opponent to miss important drops or plot twists. It's a bit of a crapshoot to sift through an opponent's deck, but with such a small deck, it's usually worth the risk.

 

 

Rob chained Lana to the draw, and Adam lost Remoni-Notra.

 

Rob played nothing. “And, just like all day, I have no 2-drop . . .”

 

Adam missed as well, however—Rob's curse appeared to be affecting them both. G'Nort attacked again (48-50).

 

 

Lana once again chained to the draw, with Adam losing Kilowog.

 

Adam played Invisible Destroyer in the hidden area. Rob recruited Jade.

 

Adam sent Invisible Destroyer into Jade (44-47). He then sent G'Nort in directly. It was Leander 43, Horvath 47.

 

Rob flipped Book of Oa.

 

Rob used the Book, discarding Slipstream. He then recruited Major Disaster and Hector Hammond, missing his 4-drop and remarking, “This sucks. It's the first time I missed my 4 all day.” His curse on Horvath had backfired.

 

He placed Hammond in front of Major Disaster, with Jade in support and Lana in the hidden area.

 

Adam played Myrwhydden next to G'Nort, his Destroyer still invisible.

 

Rob sent Jade into G'Nort. Adam played Sinestro Defiant and powered-up, forcing the double-stun. (40-44)

 

Adam then retaliated with Invisible Destroyer on Major Disaster. Rob played Locked in Combat for the double-stun, and then Lanterns in Love to recover Jade. (36-41)

 

Adam then sent Myrwhydden into Hector Hammond, making it Leander 30, Horvath 41. Rob used Lana again; Adam lost a Locked in Combat, then recovered Hector.

 

Rob used Lana, causing Adam to lose Gnaxos. He started to play a resource, Adam interrupting “I think it's my initiative, isn't it?” Rob agreed, and Adam smiled and said, “We'll get there, don't worry!”

 

Adam played Hal Jordan, Green Lantern of Sector 2814 in front of Myrwhydden, with Invisible Destroyer in support.

 

Rob played Solomon Grundy in front of Jade, Hector in support.

 

Adam team attacked Grundy with Invisible Destroyer and Myrwhydden. Rob stunned Myrwhydden in return (25-37).

 

Adam flipped Emerald Twilight to KO Grundy, gain some board advantage, and leave Rob without a 3- or 4-drop.

 

Adam sent Hal in on Jade, and it was Leander 17, Horvath 37, and not looking good for Rob.

 

Rob sent Hammond into Hal and played Living Ink for a boost. Adam flipped Helping Hand to ease the damage and lower Hector's ATK boost.

 

Rob remarked, “Wow, it's unbelievable how stupid I am,” playing Golden Death. The double stun left the endurance totals at Leander 15, Horvath 32.

 

Rob recovered Hector, and Adam recovered Hal.

 

 

Rob used Lana, with Adam losing Malvolio. He then used his Book of Oa, discarding Invisible Destroyer.

 

Rob decided to recruit Manhunter Lantern, placing him in front of Hector.

 

Adam flipped and used Book of Oa as well, discarding Frostbite. He then recruited Superwoman in the visible area, behind Hal. With Rob low on drops, this was a great move—her invulnerability ensured that he wouldn't be taking much endurance loss this turn, and being visible ensured he wouldn't be hit directly.

 

Rob sent the Lantern into Hal (15-23), then Hector into Superwoman, with an Uppercut to ensure a stun, but though no breakthrough and no stun endurance loss (13-23).

 

Adam played Sweeping Up, exhausting his Destroyer, sending Hector back to Rob's hand, and making the game as troublesome as possible for Rob. Adam recovered Superwoman.

 

Adam used his Book, discarding Empire of Tears.

 

Adam recruited Krona, setting him in front of Superwoman, with Invisible Destroyer in the support row.

 

Rob used his Book, discarding Fiero.

 

Rob recruited a Sinestro, Green Lantern of Korugar behind his Manhunter Lantern, with Lana Lang still hidden.

 

Krona's effect sent Manhunter Lantern to the hidden area at the start of the combat phase.

 

Adam then sent Superwoman into Sinestro, playing No Man Escapes the Manhunters, dropping Sinestro's DEF by 3. Rob played Helping Hand on Sinestro to minimize the endurance loss (5-23).

 

Krona and Invisible Destroyer then attacked directly, bringing the totals to Leander -13, Horvath 23.

 

Rob used Lantern's Light on the Destroyer to bring him into the visible area. He attacked with his Manhunter Lantern, playing Yellow Impurity, but even with the -2 DEF, it simply wasn't enough. With nothing else to do, the final tally was Leander -13, Horvath -8.

 

Adam Horvath wins!