Every $10K, a new set of players break through into the realm of “VS. players to look out for.” This round 7 feature match highlights two players, Norman Perion and Lauric Tan, who may be on the cusp of their first big finish. Both players hail from Southern California, and both of them started this round at 5-1. A win here would lock the victor into the second day, while the loser would likely need to win the last round to draft tomorrow.

Norman won the choice and took evens, the initiative du jour. Both players kept their first 4. Lauric started the action with Artie while Norman recruited Electric Eve, signaling the start of a very slow burn. The two characters exchanged stuns, and Electric Eve shot Norman for an additional point. Norman recruited another evasion character on the 2nd turn, Toad, Hopalong, while Lauric perpetuated the misery with Leech. Electric Eve and Artie traded again, Toad evaded, and Leech got in for 2. On the 3rd turn, Lauric found Beast, Feline Geneticist, while Norman recruited a slightly bigger Joanna Cargill. Beast and Leech team-attacked into Joanna after Lauric teamed up with Brave New World. Beast and Joanna traded stuns, and Artie decided to hang back on defense. Electric Eve evaded, dealing another point of endurance loss, and Lauric used Artie to fire off The Evil Eye. Norma recruited Absorbing Man on the 4th turn, getting a giggle out of Lauric. At least Absorbing Man is an average sized 4-drop, which could not be said of Lauric’s Xorn. Norman sent Cargill into Beast, which prompted Lauric to evade Artie and replace The Forsaken. Norman fired off The Acolytes for the full amount, which was enough to force the stunback. Norman then evaded Toad and sent Electric Eve into Leech with the help of Retribution, prompting Leech to evade. Absorbing Man then ran over Xorn and Electric Eve got in directly. Norman displayed some savvy during the recovery phase, first evading Electric Eve prior to recovery, then recovering her, and then evading again during recovery and using his end of turn recovery to get Eve back.

Turn 5 featured the iconic Wolverine, the Best At What He Does from Lauric, while Norman had a devastating Marrow. Leech attacked Electric Eve, prompting an evasion. Beast then attacked Joanna Cargill, forcing a trade. Wolverine then attacked Toad, and Toad evaded. Wolverine went after Absorbing Man, again trading stuns. Leech and Artie didn’t want any part of a giant Marrow, but Marrow had other plans, drilling Leech for 12 points of endurance loss. With his board blown out and at very low endurance, Lauric needed an off initiative miracle. Norman kept the pressure up with Hump and Tar Baby, and a concealed Piper from Lauric wasn’t going to stop the bleeding.

Norman won 1-0