Tillman Bragg is a 22-year-old delivery truck driver who hails from Mufreesboro, Tennessee. He’s friends with $10K New York Champion Doug Tice, and he notched his first Top 8 in that tournament, as well. Thus far today, he’s piloted his Green Lantern Kiwi deck to a 6-2 record but needs one more win to give himself a chance at tomorrow’s Top 8 rounds. Standing in his way is Anthony Justice. After starting 6-0 with The Light Show, Justice has dropped back-to-back matches, and what once looked like a certain Top 8 appearance is now in imminent danger.

Bragg had all the action on turns 1 and 2, recruiting Arisia and following with Kyle Rayner, Last Green Lantern and a Chopping Block that Arisia grabbed on the quick. Justice added “the kids” to his squad on turn 3, putting Kristoff von Doom, The Boy Who Would Be Doom and Valeria Richards, Daughter of Doom into play. Bragg’s turn was no less impressive, using The Ring Has Chosen to fetch Dr. Light, Master of Holograms. He discarded Hector Hammond in the process and used the Doc to bring Hector into play, equipping him with Light Armor. Valeria was moved to the hidden area for protection, but Kristoff was Chopped down before he could put any evil plans into action.

Justice paused for a long time during his build, trying to overcome a sleepless night, eight rounds of grueling competition, and Bragg’s impressive board. He started by recruiting a Dr. Light of his own, then used The Ring Has Chosen to snag Boris, discarding Lacuna. He used Dr. Light to bring Lacuna into play, and then activated her to put Marvel Team-Up face-down in his resource row. He went to flip it up, but Bragg had a Breaking Ground to wreck it. This forced Justice to flip up a second Team-Up, but Bragg again had a Breaking Ground and Justice did not find another Team-Up as a replacement. Bragg’s attack took down Lacuna, and he Chopped her right out of the game. This further complicated Justice’s combo possibilities.

With the initiative on turn 5, Justice recruited Kristoff and then used Millennium to team up Doom and Fantastic Four. Boris joined the cause, pulling Devil’s Due from Justice’s deck. Another Ring Has Chosen grabbed him again and put him to service, putting him into play before Justice passed the turn. At about this time, time expired on the clock. Bragg was well in the lead for the endurance race at this point, and Justice looked at his hand and his board before extending his hand in concession, saying, “Yeah, I couldn’t win that one until turn 7, and we weren’t going to make it there.”

The two Breaking Grounds, Chopping Block, and a bit of a rough draw for Justice spelled his doom.

Bragg 1 – Justice 0