Kunihiko was coming into today hoping to add a second $10K trophy to his collection, and Yuuta simply wanted to make a name for himself. Kunihiko vanquished Yuuta’s paper with the powerful scissors to get the initiative.

Turn 3 saw a Healer for Kunihiko and another whiff from Yuuta, much to Kunihiko’s excitement. Several attacks later, the endurance totals were 46-43 in Yuuta’s favor. Yuuta attempted to get back on track on turn 4 with a Melissa Gold ◊ Songbird, Sonic Carapace that he then played a Windstorm on. That emptied his hand, and he then played Answer the Call, finding a Shape to join his team. Kunihiko answered with Enemy of My Enemy for Unuscione, and then he crossed over the Energy and Mental traits with Psi-Link. Melissa Gold was then exhausted with Unuscione. Yuuta took a moment to think about his attacks and then flipped Rocket Central and sent Shape after Artie, who evaded to lower Shapes’s ATK. Shape attempted to stun Unuscione but came up short.

Emma Frost, Friend or Foe came down on turn 5 for Kunihiko, and Yuuta was able to hit Albert Gaines ◊ Nuke. Kunihiko flipped down a Mutopia with Melissa Gold’s effect, drawing a card with it again before his attacks. Unuscione activated to exhaust Melissa Gold again, and the rest of the team went after Nuke, stunning Emma Frost in return. With no available attacks, Yuuta used another Answer the Call to find Whizzer. Both players went into the next turn at 39.

On turn 6, Kunihiko chained a Magnetic Force targeting Melissa Gold to her own ability, then flipped it back down. Whizzer came out and received a Windstorm. Jean Grey, Red came out on Kunihiko’s side of the table, and he used Unuscione to exhaust Shape. Whizzer attacked Healer, and Kunihiko used Magnetic Force to exhaust Albert Gaines, as well. Emma Frost then flipped down the Magnetic Force and exhausted to exhaust Ape X before she was stunned by Whizzer. Before passing the turn, Kunihiko replaced two cards with Jean’s ability and moved to the next turn at 17 to Yuuta’s 32.

Exodus came out to play for Kunihiko on the following turn. A Golden Archer joined the Squadron, and Yuuta prepared for the turn’s attacks, which were probably going to hurt. Exodus stunned Nuke, bringing Yuuta down to 22. Unuscione activated to exhaust Melissa Gold again, and then Kunihiko used Enemy of My Enemy to find Rachel Summers ◊ Phoenix. Jean Grey stunned Whizzer, who was reinforced by Shape. Artie evaded to reduce Golden Archer’s attack so that Emma Frost could safely attack (Rocket Central was active). The turn ended with Kunihiko at 10 to Yuuta’s 13.

On Turn 8, Albert Gaines and Lady Lark, Linda Lewis came out of the resource row for Yuuta. Airskimmer was then discarded to pump Whizzer. Kunihiko played Rachel Summers, to which Yuuta responded with an Other-Earth, leaving Yuuta to figure out how he was going to attack. Unuscione exhausted Lady Lark. Melissa Gold then went into Artie, sending Kunihiko to 3 and reducing Whizzer’s ATK. Jean Grey exhausted Nuke with Magnetic Force. Whizzer stunned Unuscione and then readied. Whizzer and Shape tried to team attack Rachel Summers, and Magnetic Force exhausted Whizzer by way of Exodus. Emma Frost then flipped the same Magnetic Force face down to exhaust Shape. An attack from Rachel Summers sealed the victory for Kunihiko.

Kunihiko wins game 1.

Game 2

Yuuta started strong with Joystick and Thunder Jet, while Kunihiko missed his drop. Turn 2 made up for this, though, with a Sage, Tessa coming into play opposite an Ape X, who searched out and equipped Image Inducer. Kunihiko was off to a slow start, though, and was already down to 40 going into the third turn.

Yuuta brought out Shape with an Airskimmer the following turn, and Kunihiko answered with a Leech, who then exhausted Joystick with Magnetic Force. Attacks brought Kunihiko to 32.

On turn 4, Kunihiko used Enemy of My Enemy to find Hawkeye, Clinton Barton, who then stunned both Joystick and Ape X. Golden Archer came out to help Yuuta. Hawkeye was then stunned by an attack from Shape and Leech evaded, allowing Golden Archer to go in directly. Yuuta attempted to play Panacea Potion on Shape, which was met with Sage exhausting to Drain Essence him in response. It was not enough, though, and Kunihiko conceded to an Albert Gaines the following turn in an effort to conserve time, forcing the match into a deciding third game with only ten minutes to go in the round.

Game 3

Kunihiko hit Sage and emphatically kept his hand with no turn 1 play, which Yuuta answered with Joystick. Shape came down the following turn opposite Sage. A discarded Airskimmer and power-up later, Kunihiko was brought to 42.

On turn 3, Leech and Artie joined Kunihiko’s team. Yuuta played Lady Lark, Linda Lewis with two cards left in his hand. A team attack from all of Kunihiko’s characters took down Joystick. He then evaded his field, allowing Yuuta to swing with Shape and Lady Lark to bring him to 21. An Answer the Call in the recovery phase found a Golden Archer for Yuuta.

Yuuta played Golden Archer the following turn, which was answered again with Unuscione, who exhausted Lady Lark. Shape stunned Artie, who was reinforced. A discarded Airskimmer helped Golden Archer stun Unuscione and push extra damage through. Magnetic Force locked down Joystick, leaving Kunihiko at 17.

Time was called during the fifth turn when Kunihiko played Emma Frost, Friend or Foe. He exhausted his board to play two copies of X-Treme Maneuver, exhausting the Nuke that Yuuta had just played and a Golden Archer that burned Kunihiko in response. Leech evaded to avoid an attack from Joystick, and it was on to the next turn.

Genis-Vell ◊ Photon came out on turn 6, to which Kunihiko responded with a Jean Grey, Red. Looking for an answer to the coming onslaught, Kunihiko used Jean Grey. He found nothing and conceded.

Yuuta Takami defeats Kunihiko Kishishita 2-1 to advance to the semifinals.