You can't help but be a little jealous of Michael Barnes and Ryan Jones. Sitting at first and second in the Swiss, both were 12-2 heading into their fifteenth-round match, meaning that a mere 4-3 over the final seven rounds should be good enough to take them to Sunday's Top 8. Of course, going 4-3 isn't quite so easy when you're playing against the top players in the toughest tournament in the world.

 

Barnes drafted a Manhunter-heavy deck that had thus far taken him to a 1-1 record, while Jones's very strong Emerald Enemies-heavy draft had worked out perfectly for him. He started the day with two wins. The winner of this match would be more than ready for the home stretch. For Barnes, that meant a chance to showcase his amazing Xavier's Dream deck. For Jones, it meant a chance at an unprecedented second PC championship, as he tries to round out his EA Savage Beatdown playset.

 

Barnes, an Oklahoma resident, lost the die roll and got the even initiative. He had to mulligan, while Jones kept a hand with a curve starting at six. The game was on.

 

Michael started the action off by playing Lana Lang, Manhunter Sleeper, the 0 ATK/1 DEF character who moves an opponent's deck into the KO'd pile. Ryan had no play, so Michael activated Lang, to which Jones responded, “On who?” This caught Barnes by surprise, because he'd never considered the possibility that she could be used on his own deck for advantage. He read the card over to make sure it was legal for the future, and then he chose to get rid of Jones's top card.

 

Barnes's curve continued to assert itself with Manhunter Protector on turn 2. Ryan's play was the optimal Gnaxos. Lana flipped Ryan's Malvolio, both players passed, and they moved to turn 3.

 

Ryan played Hector Hammond, and Michael brought out Space Bears. Gnaxos attacked the Bears, who suffered from a Yellow Impurity. Both characters stunned, Lana unburdened Ryan's deck of Power Ring (“You have three of those!”), and Ryan flipped Sweeping Up, the powerhouse plot twist that gives as strong a tempo advantage as any in the set. The Space Bears were sent to find some space honey. Ryan looked at the top two cards of his deck and sighed, “I'll keep them both.” Michael activated Lana, and Ryan lost Gnaxos while announcing, “I knew you were going to do that.”

 

Michael's turn-4 play was a visible Frostbite, who was placed behind Manhunter Protector. Ryan played the insidious Dr. Ub'X in the hidden area and placed Gnaxos in front of double-H.

 

Frostbite attacked Hector Hammond, taking the endurance totals to 47-41 in favor of Barnes. Ub'X attacked the Protector, which activated and then got powered-up after Barnes flipped In Remembrance. Hammond got KO'd by Ub'X's ability.

 

Ryan started turn 5 by playing the second of his Power Rings, leaving it visible and protected by Gnaxos. Barnes played In Evil Star's Evil Clutches, flipped Plans Within Plans, and played Fiero in the hidden area behind lady Lang. Ryan flipped Banished to the Anti-Matter Universe on the Protector and attacked Frostbite with Power Ring, but Barnes was waiting for him. He flipped Shock Troops and played a second copy from his hand. Ryan played Light Armor from his hand, and Mike used Lang's ability on himself and sacrificed Plans Within Plans for Sleeper Agent. Both Frostbite and Power Ring were stunned, putting the endurance totals at 32-20 in favor of Barnes. Fiero attacked Gnaxos, Ub'X KO'd Frostbite, and Gnaxos went to the KO'd pile.

 

Barnes played Grayven on turn 6, to which Ryan replied with Sinestro, Lantern in Exile. The two collided as Barnes attacked. Ryan flipped Mosaic World despite not needing to reinforce. He then moved Grayven to the hidden area with Sinestro's ability. Mike flipped Mosaic World as well, allowing Fiero and Manhunter Protector to team attack Power Ring. He then played Manhunter Transphere, sacrificed a second copy of Plans Within Plans for the Transphere, and played it again. The endurance totals were 20 to 19 in Mike's favor. But Ub'X attacked Mike directly, moving the totals to 19-14, and then the card KO'd Fiero at the beginning of the recovery phase.

 

As if Ryan weren't looking strong enough, he played Azrael ◊ Batman. Mike could only respond with a horde of weenies, playing Space Bears (which should demonstrate just how strong returning a character to its owner's hand is) and Dr. Light, Master of Holograms. He activated Dr. Light to bring out Manhunter Protector, and then he flipped Sleeper Agent. It was a case of quality being better than quantity. Ub'X successfully attacked the Protector, taking the endurance totals to 19-10 in Ryan's favor. Sinestro attacked Space Bears, and Barnes knew his time had run out. He extended his hand in an act of resignation.

 

Ryan Jones moves to 13-2 with a 3-0 record in the pod, taking over the top spot and moving one step closer to Sunday play.