Five representatives of RIW Hobbies were undefeated going into this round. Dan Clark was part of the nine-person Lavonia, Michigan team that was dominating the day thus far.

“Wow! The whole internet community gets to see what a bad Vs. player I am!” exclaimed Peddle with a grin. Matt Peddle is one of Canada’s most well-recognized Yu-Gi-Oh! stars, and after impressive showings at Canadian Yu-Gi-Oh! Nationals and Shonen Jump Championship Indy, he was looking to branch out his success.

He lost the die roll and opted to pitch his opening hand, while Clark decided to keep. Clark took the odd initiatives. Neither player recruited for turn 1, and play moved to turn 2.

Peddle recruited Natasha Romanoff ◊ Black Widow, Super Spy and attacked directly. This was a very good start, considering the amount of board control that Black Widow can generate. Combined with the fact that Clark had missed his drop, things looked good for Peddle. Clark had Lamprey for turn 3, though, and gave him a Force Field Belt. Peddle recruited Speed Demon, Second Chance Speedster and passed. Lamprey smacked Natasha and that was the turn.

Turn 4 was Peddle’s initiative, and with both Black Widow and character advantage backing him, he looked to make the most of it. He recruited Kang, Master of Time while Clark brought up Carol Danvers ◊ Warbird and hid her behind Lamprey. Speed Demon attacked the protector for the double stun, but Peddle had no way to capitalize—being unable to team up was hurting him badly. Natasha went down hard to an attack from Warbird, and Peddle KO’d Speed Demon. He drew two cards for the Master of Time and play progressed to turn 5.

Nighthawk swooped onto the battlefield, and was joined in the front row by the rest of Clark’s characters. On Peddle’s side, the newly-recruited Wasp was protected by the equally fresh Moonglow. He formed into an L with Black Widow next to Wasp. Lamprey quickly peeled apart the formation, flying over Moonglow to smack Wasp. Black Widow reinforced, but was then stunned herself by Nighthawk. Nighthawk’s effect then permitted Warbird to attack Kang, and Clark had three un-stunned characters to Peddle’s three stunned ones. Moonglow activated to dig for a copy of Behavior Modification Device and that was the turn. Endurance was a brutal 21 to 44 in Clark’s favor.

Doctor Spectrum attempted to come to Peddle’s rescue, but Clark recruited Iron Man, Invincible and transferred the Force Field Belt to him in hopes of a risk-free attack back. Peddle needed to do something big to turn the game around.

He flipped Supreme Sanction, then team attacked with Moonglow and Black Widow. A Legendary Battles assisted in the stun of Nighthawk. A quick round fired by the Super Spy dropped Lamprey. Doctor Spectrum then attacked Warbird, and after some deep thought, Clark reinforced with Iron Man. Clark was still leading 32 to 21—but if he missed his 7-drop, or couldn’t finish the game next turn and wasn’t packing an 8-drop, Peddle might have a chance.

Sure enough, Clark gave him some hope: he recruited Executioner, unable to recruit a 7-drop. Peddle recruited Beetle ◊ Mach 4 and labored over his formation.

He eventually decided to set Moonglow and Black Widow up front to protect Beetle and Spectrum respectively. Clark was low on flight—all three of his characters were stuck to the ground, aside from Iron Man.

Iron Man made use of those flight capabilities and flew at Beetle, backed by Nighthawk’s effect, his own equip, a power up, and Repulsor Ray. Iron Man was a 17 ATK/ 15 DEF and there was nothing Peddle could do. Beetle stunned, his Leader bonus faded from Moonglow, and Peddle’s board was left wide open.

Executioner tore apart Moonglow, and from there the game was elementary—RIW hobbies claims another win!