Donald Noland has made three $10K Top 8s, but in the first round of this Professional Circuit, he has to face the current Magic World Champion, Julien Nuijten. Julien won the flip and took the even initiative. Donald kept his first four cards, while Julien traded his in.

Donald brought out Chameleon, hinting that he’s playing Crime Lords/Sinister Syndicate, while Julien flipped a Gravesite that showed he is with X-Statix. Chameleon brought Julien down to 49 endurance. On his second turn, Julien still had no drop, while Donald brought out Cobra and searched for Mr. Hyde. In his attack, he flipped Honor Among Thieves and Doc Ock’s Lab and caused 8 breakthrough endurance loss, bringing Julien down to 41 while going down to 47 himself.

On the third turn, Mr. Hyde came out to play for Donald, while Julien recruited Orphan, Guy Smith. Cobra charged at Orphan with No Fear, stunning both characters. In Donald’s subsequent attack, Julien flipped Spin Doctoring to recover Orphan. Mr. Hyde then tried his hand at Orphan with a little help from Doc Ock’s Lab, but Julien had another Orphan to power it up, and Dead Weight made sure that Orphan would live to fight another turn after KO’ing Cobra. On the fourth turn, Julien finally started to fight back a little with U-Go-Girl, Tragic Teleporter, bouncing both Orphan and Chameleon. Donald played Mysterio with boost to recruit another one. Julien’s U-Go-Girl attacked Mysterio, but it was reinforced by the other Mysterio, bringing endurance totals to 36 each. Donald passed.

Donald played out a Carnage, while Julien replayed his Orphan. Another Honor Among Thieves and an Uprising for Donald made sure his cheaper characters were still a force to be reckoned with. Mr. Hyde attacked U-Go-Girl, but Julien reinforced with Orphan and KO’d the latter with X-Statix HQ. X-Statix Café and Dead Weight made an appearance for the Dutchman, but Donald used his Doc Ock’s Lab to make sure that both characters stunned. His subsequent attacks with both Mysterio and Carnage reduced Julien’s endurance to 9.

In an attempt to stop the beatdown, Julien recruited Zeitgeist while Donald recruited Hammerhead, Rhino, and Mendel Stromm. U-Go-Girl attacked Carnage, who was reinforced by Mysterio, and Rhino was the subject of some Pleasant Distraction. Donald decided to not retaliate. On the seventh turn, Donald KO’d Mendel Stromm to put a +1 ATK/+1 DEF counter on Rhino, and then played out another Mendel Stromm along with Cobra and Chameleon. Julien KO’d U-Go-Girl with his HQ and played out a Sunfire, protecting it with Zeitgeist. A team attack by Donald with Rhino, Cobra, Chameleon, and Mendel Stromm totaled 31 ATK. However, Julien had a Team X-Change to find a Professor X, Mental Master and activated Sunfire, stunning Cobra and Chameleon. A Dead Weight on Zeitgeist made sure it survived this attack. Julien then activated Zeitgeist to stun Carnage. Donald’s next attack was Mr. Hyde with the two copies of Mysterio to stun Zeitgeist, and his final attack brought Julien to negative endurance to win the round.

Julien Nuijten 0 – Donald Noland 1