We revisit these two players in the eighth round of the tournament at table one. Michael was previously featured in round 2 and is currently undefeated. Ben, who was featured in round 4, has only a single loss. Ben won the die roll and chose the odd initiatives—“Thank God,” said Michael—and both players mulliganed.

Michael kicked off the game with a first turn Mikado and Mosha, which got to attack directly for a point. On turn 2, Michael had his Poison Ivy, Deadly Rose. How lucky! Ben recruited Dane Whitman ◊ Black Knight. Still in the build, Michael played Straight to the Grave to get Puppet Master in his KO’d pile. Mikado was KO’d to replace the Straight to the Grave with Avalon Space Station. Michael traded 2-drop for 2-drop, then discarded Scarlet Witch, Wanda Maximoff to the Space Station to recur his other two characters.

Ben had Black Panther, T’Challa for turn 3, revealing three reservists. Michael kicked off his recruit with Enemy of My Enemy for Sunfire, Shiro Yoshida, discarding Puppet Master. He played Dr. Light, Master of Holograms and activated it to return Puppet Master to play. Dr. Light protected Puppet Master, and Michael passed. Ben attacked Dr. Light with Black Panther, and Michael used Puppet Master to shut down Dane. In recovery, Michael used Poison Ivy to KO Puppet Master and fetch Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. He also discarded Imperiex to the Space Station recur Scarlet Witch.

Turn 4 was Michael’s initiative, and he recruited Rogue, Power Absorption. Michael brought back Puppet Master with Dr. Light and immediately used it. Dane was exhausted. Michael used his Space Station to trade his Jean Grey for Imperiex. He KO’d Puppet Master again, turning his Space Station into a UN Building, which he flipped. Dr. Light, now teamed-up with X-Men, was readied, and it brought back Puppet Master. Michael passed to Ben, who recruited Hawkeye, Clinton Barton. Michael locked down Ben’s board, and there was no combat. In recovery, Michael flipped another Space Station, as well as an X-Corporation, which he used. At the end of the turn, Ben led 47-44.

Ben kicked off turn 5 with Enemy of My Enemy for a Scarlet Witch of his own. The 5-drop was recruited, and Michael had responses. He activated Puppet Master to exhaust Dane, then passed. Ben discarded another Dane from his hand to recruit Rick Jones, and then passed to Michael’s recruit. Michael played his Sunfire and set up with Sunfire protecting Puppet Master, Rogue protecting Dr. Light, and Poison Ivy next to Dr. Light in the support row. Rogue copied Puppet Master at the beginning of combat. Ben declared Black Panther into Sunfire, and before the attack was legal, Michael discarded Mikado to stun Rick Jones. The attack was legal, and Michael exhausted Sunfire to stun the Panther. Rogue exhausted to exhaust Hawkeye, and Ben declared an attack of Scarlet Witch into Rogue. The attack was legal, and Michael reinforced. In recovery, Michael KO’d Puppet Master to get Birthing Chamber, which he used. Ben lost Rick Jones in recovery, but he led the endurance race 43-30.

Michael had the initiative on turn 6, and he began by returning Puppet Master to play with Dr. Light. He drew a card with Birthing Chamber, and then recruited his own Scarlet Witch. Michael set up with Scarlet Witch in front of Dr. Light, Rogue in front of Sunfire, and Poison Ivy in front of Puppet Master. He passed to Ben, who recruited Wonder Man, targeting Rogue. Michael allowed the stun, and Rogue went down when Ben revealed five reservists. Ben set up with Wonder Man protecting Scarlet Witch and Hawkeye protecting Dane. Michael went into the tank to figure out his attacks. He sent Scarlet Witch into Ben’s Hawkeye; Ben simply reinforced. Sunfire attacked Scarlet Witch, and Jacob powered-up twice with help from the Space Station. Both characters stunned. Jacob KO’d Sunfire to Poison Ivy to get X-Corp: Amsterdam, and then attacked Poison Ivy into Dane. Again, they traded. Michael passed, exhausting Black Panther with Puppet Master. Wonder Man went after Scarlet Witch, and Michael KO’d Amsterdam to get X-Men United. He replaced to reinforce, and gained 4 with his X-Corporation in recovery. Ben still led, 32-13.

Turn 7 was Ben’s initiative, and he under-dropped with Sub-Mariner, Namor. He also had Natasha Romanoff ◊ Black Widow, and Michael responded by using Puppet Master to exhaust Black Panther. Ben played two copies of Null Time Zone, naming Cover Fire and Burn Rubber (neither card is in Michael’s deck). He set up with Submariner protecting Natasha in the center of a T-formation, and then passed. Michael had Professor X, World’s Most Powerful Telepath . . . but it was clear that it wouldn’t be enough. Michael conceded, but he still remains at the very top of the standings.

Ben Rislove wins!