This match was perhaps an elimination round. Both players had won their first games and were fighting for their lives. It was a matchup worthy of the finals, as Michael Dalton, a runner-up at PC Amsterdam and $10K SoCal, was hungry for his first win, and Batow, a three-time $10K Top 8 finisher, was hungry for his second win. Both players are ranked within the Top 25 in the world in Sealed Pack and the Top 30 in Constructed. This was not a match to miss!

 

Dalton won the toss and chose to take the odd initiative. He decided to mulligan his hand.

 

Turn 1

 

Dalton flipped and used Willworld, taking a copy each of Krona and Invisible Destroyer and discarding Ultraman and No Evil Shall Escape Our Sight. This gave him an immediate, huge advantage—with such a small deck, he would easily be able to see his entire deck before this game was over. The curve wouldn't be a problem for Michael Dalton. He played Arisia, who swung in for 1 endurance loss when Tim played no drop. (Dalton 50, Batow 49)

 

Turn 2

 

Tim played Kyle Rayner, Last Green Lantern, using his recruit effect to search for Helping Hand.

 

Michael used Willworld again to get Major Disaster and Gnaxos. He took Major Disaster and discarded Tattooed Man. He then recruited Major Disaster in the support row beside Arisia.

 

Tim sent Kyle into Arisia, and Michael passed his attack, not wanting to lose a drop. The endurance totals were Dalton at 48 and Batow at 49.

 

Turn 3

 

Michael used Willworld, putting Manhunter Giant and Light Armor on the bottom of his deck. He recruited Invisible Destroyer into his hidden area and put Major Disaster in front of Arisia.

 

Tim played Jade in front of Kyle Rayner.

 

Michael sent Invisible Destroyer after Kyle. Tim powered-up with a 4-drop Kyle Rayner, forcing the double-stun. It was a nice move that helped him gain a little field advantage.

 

Michael sent Major Disaster after Jade and then attacked directly with Arisia. The endurance totals were at Dalton 43 to Batow 41. Tim recovered Jade.

 

Turn 4

 

Tim recruited Myrwhydden, laying him in front of Jade.

 

Michael used Willworld, taking Guy Gardner, Strong Arm of the Corps and Sonar. He discarded Guy Gardner, Warrior and Sonar. He then recruited Myrwhydden in front of Arisia, and Invisible Destroyer was in the hidden area.

 

Tim flipped No Evil Shall Escape Our Sight, teaming Green Lantern with Emerald Enemies and gaining 2 endurance from Jade's ability. Tim then team attacked into Myrwhydden with his Myrwhydden and Jade. With 39 endurance compared to Batow's 40, Michael passed his attack again to avoid losing a drop and any board advantage.

 

Turn 5

 

The game was tight, as were the endurance totals. Michael had a slight advantage, sifting through his deck with Willworld. He would use it again now, taking St'nlli and discarding Tomar Tu.

 

Michael recruited Guy Gardner, Strong Arm of the Corps, placing him in the front row next to Myrwhydden, who was in front of Arisia.

 

Tim recruited John Stewart, putting him in the support row next to Jade. Myrwhydden was in front of Jade.

 

Michael sent Guy into Tim's Myrwhydden. Tim reinforced with Jade. Michael flipped Emerald Twilight, intending to KO the stunned Myrwhydden. Tim played Dimming of the Starheart in response, eliminating the willpower necessary to power Emerald Twilight. Tim remarked, “Thank god for crappy cards!” That was an ironic statement, since that “crappy” card may have saved him the game, nullifying a legitimate attempt by Michael to nab some important board advantage.

 

Michael flipped Coast City and targeted Arisia. He played No Evil Shall Escape Our Sight, teaming up Emerald Enemies and the Green Lanterns. He then team attacked with Myrwhydden and Invisible Destroyer, hunting down John Stewart. He played Damsel in Distress, exhausting Arisia, so that John Stewart would be KO'd. Tim stunned Myrwhydden in return. If Michael had been successful with the Twilight, he would have taken out Tim's 4- and 5-drops, which would have all but guaranteed the win right there. The endurance totals were Dalton at 35 and Batow at 31.

 

Turn 6

 

Tim recruited Kilowog, discarding Ch'p and a 4-drop Kyle Rayner for the card's recruit cost. He put Myrwhydden in front of Jade. Kilowog was in the support row.

 

Michael recruited St'nlli in the visible area. Myrwhydden was in front of Arisia, and St'nlli was in front of Guy. Tim sent Kilowog after St'nlli unopposed. He then pushed forward with his Myrwhydden attacking Michael's Myrwhydden, using a Qwardian Pincer as well. Tim finished with a Jade attack against Arisia.

 

Michael responded with Guy attacking Jade. The endurance totals had shifted to Dalton at 17 and Batow at 20. Michael recovered St'nlli at the end of the turn. The game had shifted a little in favor of Batow, but it was still too close to call who was truly in a better position.

 

Turn 7

 

Michael used Willworld, flipping Gnaxos and Light Armor. Both ended up on the bottom of his deck. He then recruited Krona, moving him in front of St'nlli. Guy was in the support row, and Invisible Destroyer was still hidden.

 

Tim played a boosted Solomon Grundy in front of Jade. Myrwhydden was protecting Kilowog.

 

Michael sent St'nlli into Myrwhydden. He then sent Krona into Jade, but Tim had several responses. He used Ole! and gained 2 endurance from Jade's ability. He then used Helping Hand, also gaining 2 endurance through Jade. Finally, he reinforced with Kilowog.

 

Michael, knowing that Kilowog was no longer an attack threat, team attacked the 15 ATK/15 DEF Grundy, who was an attack threat, with Guy and Invisible Destroyer. Tim stunned Guy in return, and the endurance totals were Dalton at 12 and Batow at 8. Tim recovered Myrwhydden—an interesting choice, being a lower drop, but with his effect, Tim could attack up the curve on turn 8 with a major stat pump.

 

Turn 8

 

Michael used Willworld again, flipping Manhunter Giant and Sweeping Up. Both went to the bottom of his deck.

 

Tim flipped Book of Oa, activated it, took Sinestro Defiant, put Black Hand on the bottom of his deck, and discarded Abin Sur. He recruited Ganthet, playing him in front of Myrwhydden. Kilowog was in the support row.

 

Michael played Hal Jordan ◊ Spectre and equipped Light Armor onto Krona. He moved Krona in front of Spectre and Guy in front of St'nlli. Invisible Destroyer was in the hidden area. At the start of the combat phase, he used Krona to move Guy to his hidden area.

 

Tim sent Ganthet into St'nlli, flipping Mosaic World and Only a Friend Can Betray You. He then used Myrwhydden's ability to KO a resource and get a +7 ATK and DEF boost. That brought Dalton down to 0 endurance, with Batow sitting at 2.

 

Tim then team attacked with Kilowog and Myrwhydden into Krona. Krona stunned Kilowog in return. It was Dalton at -7 to Batow's -4, and Tim was forced to scoop, because he had no more attacks and a Spectre staring him down.