Two TGC juggernauts face off this last round with their first Vs. System Top 8 on the line. Both are quite accustomed to success on the TCG front, with both having multiple Top 8’s in Magic premier events, but they’re missing any Vs. System trophies to decorate their mantlepieces. Rob is probably in with a win, while Frank is on a win and pray plan. But even if either of them doesn’t end up gracing the Top 8, they’ll still end up with oodles of money, so the pressure is definitely on.

Rob won the die roll and chose the odds, which seems to be the consensus right choice, with people complaining about “losing to the die roll” all day.

Action didn’t start until turn 3 in this match, with just a Kurin for Rob poking away until a Superman Robots showed up for Frank, matching up with Rob’s freshly recruited Charger. Charger battled the Robots and supercharged himself to take them down, and Kurin got in for another point. Frank recruited Alpha Centurion in the front row and allowed the Robots to get their revenge on Charger. Then Alpha Centurion bashed Parasite, forcing Rob to KO his Charger.

Devilance showed up to put the hurting on Frank. Scorn was his answer, and he positioned it in front of Alpha Centurion. A usually unexciting Play Time forced Frank to move Alpha Centurion in front of Superman Robots, allowing Devilance to smash him, although the Robots reinforced the Centurion. Parasite then stunned the Robots, getting a nice cosmic counter as a result. Kurin suicided into Scorn to finish the turn, making sure Scorn couldn’t attack him and cause lots of breakthrough endurance loss.

Rob was looking good after this turn with a sizeable 38 to 26 lead, but he missed his turn 6 drop, only boosting a Steppenwolf to Frank’s considerably more threatening John Henry Irons ◊ Steel. Scorn exchanged blows with Steppenwolf, which ended in a stun for both. Then Steel beat up Daredevil with no effects from either player again. Alpha Centurion finished the beat-up-Rob parade off with a little help from I Hate Magic! to leave Rob’s side completely stunned and Frank with a 22 – 19 lead in endurance scores.

Rob’s last ditch effort was Kalibak, whom he put in front of Devilance. Frank recruited Kara Zor-El ◊ Supergirl and thought a lot about how to set up his formation. In the end he settled on Scorn in the front row, protecting Steel and Supergirl and Alpha Centurion in the support row. Devilance challenged Alpha Centurion to a fight, but the Centurion got a Heat Vision and took Devilance with him before getting stunned. Kalibak then took on Supergirl, but Frank wasn’t out of tricks yet, playing Boom Tube to minimize the damage. A subsequent team attack stunned Kalibak triggering his ability and Rob’s defeat.

Frank 1 – Rob 0

Frank now has to hope for the slim chance to make Top 8. Rob will have to come back some other day.