Jason Bagari isn’t a constant regular of the Toronto tournament scene, at least not as a player. As Toronto’s number one promoter of the game, he’s the reason for its popularity in the city as it stands. He was going up against Sao Hoang, local tournament player and judge. Both were 5-2, and there was a good chance that x-2 players would make the cut to Top 8.

Bagari opened the game with Nathan Garrett ◊ Black Knight and charged directly at Hoang’s endurance. Shocker came down on Hoang’s side of the board next turn, but Bagari had Melissa Gold ◊ Songbird, Sonic Carapace to answer back. Shocker attacked Black Knight. Hoang had intended to use Combat Maneuvers, but he had forgotten that Maneuvers required its target to be a Thunderbolts character. A double-stun resulted, Songbird attacked directly, and Bagari was up for turn 3.

He dropped Inertia, and at this point Michael Jacob looked over to comment: “Hooooly smokes . . . I wish I’d get that kind of opening.” Hoang was looking at a fistful of nothing but characters, so he needed to play very carefully. He activated Shocker to take down Songbird, then recruited Radioactive Man, Chen Lu. Bagari again smashed Hoang’s board, and by the end of the turn he led 44 to 33 with Inertia and Songbird to Hoang’s lone Shocker.

Hoang recruited Bulldozer, which seemed like a bad play until Bagari announced his . . . nothing. “See? You’re in good shape.” The defeated look faded from Hoang’s face and he sent Bulldozer to stomp Inertia. Shocker then attacked Songbird. Bagari responded with Shrink, but Justice Like Lightning ensured that Shocker would stun. After some deliberation, Bagari made the safe bet of KOing Songbird instead of Inertia.

White Tiger came to Bagari’s rescue next turn, and Hoang had a choice of on- or off-curve drops. He settled on Beetle ◊ Mach 3 and formed into an L protecting Bulldozer with Mach 3. Inertia attacked Shocker, and Bagari discarded for her effect, forcing Bulldozer out of Beetle’s protection. Hoang had to read the effect. “It’s Play Time on a stick,” explained Bagari. Both characters locked in combat stunned.

Tiger then smashed Bulldozer, who was impossible to reinforce. Endurance totals were 21 to 34. Beetle then attacked White Tiger, and Bagari opted not to use evasion. Inertia and Shocker hit the KO’d piles.

Hoang passed up on Erik Josten ◊ Atlas, Ionic Powerhouse next turn in favor of Titania, Vengeful Vixen. Bulldozer’s effect was then used twice, targeting Titania and Beetle, to make them impervious to stuns while attacking. Bagari recruited Hyperion and Hoang sent Beetle into him, forgetting Beetle’s effect. “I love you Beetle!” Bagari rejoiced.

Titania attacked White Tiger, and Bagari contemplated using evasion—he did, and White Tiger ducked, bringing the endurance totals to 27–21, still in his favor. Titania attacked directly and Bulldozer exhausted for Stolen Power—Hyperion was knocked out!

Bagari was still in it, though, despite now being at a disadvantage of 17 to Hoang’s 21. He recruited Kang, Lord of Limbo and stuck him behind White Tiger. Hoang recruited Beetle ◊ Mach 4, and Bagari quickly punted it to the hidden area with Kang’s effect.

White Tiger decimated Bulldozer, pouncing on him and beating him mercilessly. Stormfront-1 had teamed up Thunderbolts and Masters of Evil earlier, so Hoang discarded Techno to minimize breakthrough from the attack. Kang then slammed Titania, bringing the score to 4 to 17.

Beetle ◊ Mach 4 attacked White Tiger, and Bagari took the hit—the game moved to turn 8, and the endurance totals were 4 to 11.

Hoang recruited the Erik Josten ◊ Atlas, Ionic Powerhouse that he had passed on earlier. He did so with boost, making it a 20 ATK/20 DEF. Bagari was devoid of an 8-drop and instead recruited Redstone and Lamprey. He was over-matched, but he only needed to dish out 4 endurance loss while staying above 0 himself to take the win. He formed up, and spent some time carefully doing so before protecting Red Stone with Lamprey and sending Kang to the hidden area in the combat step.

Mach 4 attacked Red Stone, bringing Bagari down to 1 endurance. Atlas, backed by Combat Maneuvers, then beat the tar out of Lamprey. Titania attacked White Tiger for the double-stun, and that left Bagari with nothing for Kang to swing back on.

Sao Hoang escapes a horrible early-game position to steal the win from Jason Bagari!