Alex Antonios has proven himself a force to be reckoned with. He took out Brisbane $10K in fine form and is looking to make it a back-to-back success story.
Across from him sits draft pro, Scott Hunstad. The Sydney-sider claims to be weak in the format, but he has proved to be an outright liar after breezing through the swiss with an 8-2 record and finding himself in the finals!
Who will it be? The youngster Alex or the seasoned Scott? Stay tuned for this massive David vs. Goliath match-up!
Game 1
Alex started off, winning the die roll, and selected odds.
Turn 1
Both players passed with no recruit and play moved right on over to turn 2.
Endurance
Scott: 50
Alex: 50
Turn 2
Once again Alex couldn't muster a drop, as the ever-effective Dr. Psycho, Mental Giant came out for Scott.
The 2-drop swung for an impressive 4 ATK, and play moved briskly to turn 3.
Endurance
Scott: 50
Alex: 46
Turn 3
Alex recruited The Calculator, Evil Oracle into his hidden area, while Scott had to under-drop with a copy of Prince Khufu ◊ Hawkman in his front row.
The Villains United character took a rare opportunity to attack — trading with Dr. Psycho for 6 endurance loss. The Prince then snuck in for 3 direct endurance loss and it was off to turn 4.
Endurance
Scott: 44
Alex: 40
Turn 4
Scott had the excellent Katar Hol ◊ Hawkman, Eternal Hero and the Sydney-sider pushed all of his characters into the front row. On Alex’s side of the board, his first visible character came out in the form of Dr. Occult.
Katar Hol swung right on into the Doctor and Scott was more than happy to accept the trade. However, a timely Abjuration from Alex brought the Doctor to a potentially disastrous 10 DEF. It was met with Epic Battle by Scott, and Alex was forced to use a copy of The Phantom Stranger, Fallen Angel from hand to bring his DEF to 11. Scott had the necessary out in Thanagarian Invasion, and Alex was forced to let both characters trade.
Scott used Watch the Birdie! to bring the potentially pesky Calculator into the visible area, and Dr. Psycho slammed into the VU character. With all of Alex's characters stunned, Scott’s Prince was able to sneak in directly for 3.
With a copy of Baddest of the Bad in his resource row, Alex elected to simply let the Calculator hit the KO’d pile, saying later that he already had his optimal curve in hand and wanted to use the surprise-element of a Phantom Stranger pump at a more valuable time.
Endurance
Scott: 38
Alex: 22
Turn 5
A formidable opponent came out in Alex's back row in the form of Mr. Freeze, Brutal Blizzard. Meanwhile, on Scott’s side of the board, Mordru was recruited, becoming a JSA character with version "Sand" in the process. It hinted that he had a copy of the JSA 4-drop in hand that he could combo with Katar Hol. Play moved over to combat.
Dr. Occult attacked into the Prince as a 9 ATK/9 DEF, and Scott simply elected not to reinforce. The Prince went down and Alex had to think for some time about his next attack. Sensing that Katar's defense-boosting ability might be disastrous, Alex passed his attack phase and play went over to Scott. Scott indeed had a copy of Sand for Mordru and the 5-drop smacked into Dr. Occult with for +1 ATK/+2 DEF combo with Katar Hol. The 10 ATK/11 DEF character was able to take down the good doctor without trading and Scott began to plan his next attack. Looking at his Hawkman, Scott decided that he had no good way to attack Mr. Freeze and so Prince Khufu and Dr. Occult were recovered.
Endurance
Scott: 29
Alex: 17
Turn 6
Scott had Superman, Earth 2 come down into his JSA army while Alex had the proverbial arch-enemy in Alexander Luthor, Diabolical Double. He drew two cards via the 6-drop's ability, and play moved on to the combat phase.
Mordru slammed into Dr. Occult once more, and Return of Donna Troy ensured that he became an 11 ATK/10 DEF once more. Without a way to team-up and reinforce, Alex had to take the breakthrough, and Scott widened the gap further.
Superman and the Prince teamed into Alex Luthor with the required attack. Alex took the opportunity to Revitalize Dr. Occult and the 6-drop VU character traded stuns with Prince Khufu. With Alex on a very dangerous 6 endurance and a readied Katar Hol, Scott seemed to have no way to force through the final damage. He passed play over to Alex, but the 17-year-old could see no reasonable attack to make with his readied Mr. Freeze. He eventually decided to pass and both players moved on to the recovery phase.
During recovery Scott took the opportunity to KO the Prince — taking him out of harm’s way for Alex's initiative.
Endurance
Scott: 27
Alex: 6
Turn 7
Alex gained 5 endurance from Abjuration, and then recruited a second copy of The Phantom Stranger, Fallen Angel. Scott, too, had his own Stranger, but in the form of The Phantom Stranger, Wandering Hero.
A Thanagarian Invasion from Alex gave Mr. Freeze the flight he needed to attack Scott's Katar Hol, and he became 10 ATK/10 DEF in the process. Scott couldn't find a way for Katar to trade with Freeze and had to reluctantly reinforce with his Superman. Gaining the advantage from Thanagarian Invasion, Alexander Luthor was then able to bring his ATK to the necesary 12 and bash into Superman. He flew over the Phantom Stranger, and, for the second time that turn, Scott couldn't find a way to trade stuns.
Dr. Occult then swung into Mordru and Collecting Souls made the Doctor an 11 ATK/10 DEF. Losing exactly 1 endurance from the Magic plot twist, Alex was brought to exactly 10 and Dr. Occult turned into an incredible 12 ATK/11 DEF. It was too much for Scott's Mordru who couldn't trade and the Sydney player was forced to take the stun.
For what would clearly be a game determining attack, Alex sent his Phantom Stranger into Scott's. A Baddest of the Bad on Mr. Freeze netted Alex a third copy of The Phantom Stranger, and the 7-drop was used to give Alex's Stranger +2 ATK/+2 DEF. Scott was brought to -1 endurance and it was on to game 2.
Game 2
Scott chose the odd initiative and game 2 was underway!
Turn 1
Count Vertigo came out for Alex and scored an early 2 endurance loss against Scott's empty board.
Endurance
Scott: 48
Alex: 50
Turn 2
Alex had a copy of Ishmael Gregor ◊ Sabbac, Malevolent Marvel, while Scott's always prevalent Dr. Psycho was recruited into his front row. Playing around the 2-drop's vengeance ability, Vertigo swung into Psycho and traded stuns, while Ishmael snuck in for 3 direct endurance loss.
Endurance
Scott: 43
Alex: 49
Turn 3
Scott had his trademark Kendra Saunders ◊ Hawkgirl this game, while Alex, once again, had The Calculator, Evil Oracle.
Dr. Psycho swung into Ishmael, who was promptly reinforced by Count Vertigo. Both characters stunned and, before Psycho's vengeance had triggered, the 1-drop was returned to Alex's hand via Calculator, bumping the 3-drop to 7 ATK/5 DEF. Scott's Hawkgirl then swung in for 5, and Alex's Calculator declined to attack, moving right on over to the recovery phase.
Endurance
Scott: 38
Alex: 42
Turn 4
Alex recruited Dr. Occult into his front row and then the 17-year-old played a copy of Fiddler for free. He discarded Deadshot, Dead Aim in the process, and then exhausted The Calculator to bring the Secret Six 2-drop into play for free, giving him a fantastic 2 characters for the turn. Scott had a copy of Sand, recruiting the 4-drop behind Dr. Psycho, trying to maximize the potential of the JSA 4 drop’s auto-recovery.
Dr. Occult then swung into Kendra, but was met by a natural Kendra Saunders pump from Scott. It brought her ATK to 7 (via the ally trigger), and the characters traded, with Scott choosing not to reinforce.
Fiddler then swung into Dr. Psycho, but Taking up the Mantle gave Psycho 2 DEF. This prompted Alex to return the 1-drop to hand via Calculator and give Ishmael Gregor +2 ATK/+2 DEF instead. Deadshot and Psycho traded stuns (giving Alex a way to send the 2-drop to the KO’d pile) and then play passed over to Scott. With no range, and a readied Sand, Scott was forced to pass and Kendra Saunders and Dr. Occult were recovered.
Endurance
Scott: 30
Alex: 36
Turn 5
Scott started off the turn with a copy of Mordru who was promptly initiated into the JSA and gained Hawkgirl's identity. Alex recruited Bizarro, ME AM BIZARRO #1 and then exhausted the Calculator to bring Deadshot back into play. With a lone resource point remaining, Alex recruited Count Vertigo and passed over to Scott.
Mordru swung right on in to Dr. Occult, and Alex was unable to find a way to trade. He simply took the 6 and then Kendra Saunders attacked Bizarro. Scott used a copy of Chay-Ara ◊ Hawkgirl to bring his ATK to 7 which prompted Alex to use Deflection (exhausting Count Vertigo, Ishmael Gregor, and Deadshot). Bizarro's DEF was brought to 10, but it wasn't meant to be, as another copy of Chay-Ara and a third copy of Kendra Saunders brought Scott's Hawkgirl to a massive 11 ATK.
Alex bounced Vertigo to hand to bring his DEF to 12, but Thanagarian Invasion gave Scott the +1 ATK he needed to make the attack succeed. Occult finally went down and Scott began to plan his next attack.
Sand slammed down on Ishmael Gregor, and Scott was burned for 3 as Alex took a massive 8 endurance. When play moved to recovery, Alex kept Dr. Occult while his Ishmael Gregor and Bizarro were sent to the KO’d pile
Endurance
Scott: 28
Alex: 18
Turn 6
Alex started his recruit with the always-excellent Alexander Luthor, and then played a free copy of Fiddler into his front row. Scott couldn't find his copy of Superman, and had to play a weaker drop in the form of Scandal. She was placed in the front row protecting Hawkgirl, and play moved on to Alex’s Attack Phase.
Alex proved why Luthor is so amazing in draft as the Villains United 6 drop swung into Scandal. With very few options, Scott was forced to play Brothers in Arms, exhausting Sand for +7 ATK. This prompted a jovial "boo" from Alex as he was forced to accept the trade. In a somewhat cheeky move, Fiddler and Deadshot then teamed into Kendra with the necessary 4 ATK. Scott exhausted Hawkgirl to Living Legacy and search for his SIXTH Hawkgirl power-up of the match, boosting her DEF to 5. However, Mystical Binding from Alex made the attack successful, and Hawkgirl simply traded with Deadshot.
Dr. Occult then did what he does best as the 10 ATK/10 DEF was able to swing into Mordru unscathed. Alex decided not to attack the exhausted Sand with his 3-drop Calculator. Scandal and Alex Luthor were recovered and play moved onward and upwards to turn 7.
Endurance
Scott: 13
Alex: 7
Turn 7
Scott had to under-drop on the crucial turn, able to manage only Richard Tyler ◊ Hourman and Weather Wizard. He then pushed his characters into the front row and began to prepare for the difficult turn ahead. Deadshot was once again brought back into play via a Calculator exhaust, and The Phantom Stranger, Fallen Angel was recruited into Alex's back row behind a 10 ATK/10 DEF Dr. Occult.
The Weather Wizard swung into The Phantom Stranger and became stunned, triggering a +1 ATK/+1 DEF and flight across the board for Scott. Sand and Richard Tyler then team-attacked into the Stranger with the exact 14 needed. A potentially devastating Abjuration from Alex brought him down to 2 endurance and Alex then played Collecting Souls, taking him down to a single endurance point. Scott gave Alex 3 endurance back with Hourmans's free ability and brought his ATK to the essential 18 needed.
However, Alex had other plans in mind. Deadshot was returned to hand to give Alexander Luthor +2 ATK/+2 DEF, and the Calculator then disappeared off the board for Baddest of the Bad, fetching Alex a fresh copy of The Phantom Stranger. The Fallen Angel was then used to pump the Stranger by a further +2 ATK/+2 DEF, taking him just out of Scott's reach. With the attack finally, successfully brick-walled, Scott knew that the dream was over, and Alex Antonios racked up a sixth straight Australian Tournament.
Congratulations to Alex Antonios, Winner of $10K Adelaide!