Sam Kwang is playing teammate Jared Blakemore in this quarterfinal, which had to happen at some point, since there are five players on the same team in the Top 8. The matchup here is favorable to Titans but if the Good Guy player has tested the matchup enough, then the win-loss ratio will undoubtedly be reduced.

Game 1

Turn 1

Both players mulliganed to start and Sam started by playing only a resource.

Jared did the same.

Turn 2

Jared played out Booster Gold in the support row. Sam thought for a good while before playing out Hank Hall ◊ Hawk. Jared smacked into Hawk and powered-up with Magnificent Seven, probably to draw a card, rather than trying to not stun.

Turn 3

Sam played Titan’s best card in the form of Roy Harper ◊ Arsenal behind Hawk. He then flipped up U.S.S. Argus to look for some quality cards. Jared mustered up Connor Hawke ◊ Green Arrow with an Nth Metal which made him a pseudo–3-drop.

Sam decided to team attacking with both his characters into Connor Hawke, Jared decided to stun Roy. Sam still had more tricks and played Teen Titans Go! to attack again but Jared had another Magnificent Seven to swing the tide in his favor, even though he under dropped for this turn. The endurance totals were 48-38 to Jared.

Turn 4

Jared had a good turn and played Katar Hol ◊ Hawkman with an Nth Metal to super-size him. Jared formed with Hawkman protecting the young Green Arrow, and Booster beside the Green Arrow. Sam dug four deep to find him a useful card and then played out Terra, his number-one 4-drop of choice. He formed with both in the support row.

Hawkman dived over to Terra as a 10 ATK/10 DEF, it was legal and Terra chucked some rocks at Green Arrow and hit! Roy reinforced Terra. Booster Gold attacked Roy, but Sam had Tamaran for the power-up, which gutted Jared. However, he used Enemy of my Enemy to get another Booster from his deck and powered-up his Booster Gold, making him a 6 ATK/4 DEF thanks to Hawkman. The attack was legal and both characters turned over. Jared recovered Booster Gold and Sam recovered Terra. Jared extended his lead over Sam with the endurance totals sitting at 29-44.

Turn 5

Sam played a resource and revealed it to be another USS Argus! Sam played Garth ◊ Tempest, Atlantean Sorcerer in the support row with Terra and passed. Jared had another Enemy up his sleeve and discarded Booster to get John Henry Irons ◊ Steel, Steel Drivin’ Man and got an Nth Metal from the KO’d pile. Jared formed up with an L formation with Steel protecting Booster Gold. Jared’s final play was Null Time Zone for Teen Titans Go!. Sam also played his own Null Time Zone and chose Cover Fire.

Sam used Terra to stun Booster Gold and then attacked Garth into the now 11 ATK/9 DEF Hawkman. Neither player had responses and passed. Steel attacked into Terra and all Sam had was a Tamaran activation to prevent 1 endurance loss. Sam recovered Garth and Jared recovered Hawkman. Endurance totals were 16-38.

Turn 6

With Hawkman in the support row, it would be devastating for him to forget about Koriand’r ◊ Starfire. He played Meltdown, replacing a Cover Fire and quoted, “I love Meltdown, didn’t I tell you I love Meltdown?”

He proceeded to play Sue Dibny, getting the last Booster Gold from his deck. He then played out Booster Gold with no boost and played World’s Greatest Heroes from the hand to draw him a card. At this point Jared looked at the Sam’s KO’d pile and laughed and said, “I know about your Koriand’r tricks!” He then placed all of his guys into the front row and flipped up Kooey Kooey Kooey—the one he got from replacing his Cover Fire! He then played Null Time Zone for Press the Attack.

Sam sighed and flipped up his third USS Argus for the turn, then sighed again and paid 3 to Garth and returned Roy from the KO pile. He played Roy and then boosted Hawk to get Dawn Granger ◊ Dove. The couple were placed in the front with Hawk protecting Roy and then Sam passed. Steel tried to attack Roy but before it was legal, he exhausted all his guys and then used Roy on Steel. Jared’s next attack was Hawkman attacking Hawk. How ironic.

Jared’s last attack was Booster Gold and Sue, team-attacking Roy. Sam used Tamaran and then flipped up another Tamaran to power-up again. Jared had no tricks and his Booster Gold stunned. He recovered Steel and that was turn. The endurance totals were 9-31.

Turn 7

“No draw for me,” said Sam as he played a resource before using Argus. He first returned Null Time Zone naming Flame Trap and then boosted Tim Drake ◊ Robin, Young Detective and passed to Jared. If all attacks went well, we’d see a rare turn 8. If it went really well for Sam, then we’d move on to Game 2.

Jared played out Oliver Queen ◊ Green Arrow, Emerald Archer and shot down Dove before passing to Sam. Sam declared a team attack with everyone onto Katar Hol. Jared had no play and just passed back stunning his Katar Hol; thanks to Tim, no one stunned on Sam’s side of the board. Garth attacked into Steel with the help from Savage Beatdown but was negated by Bwahahahaha! from Jared. Sam had another Ace up his sleeve and flipped up Titans Tower discarding Red Star. Jared had Cover fire but Sam responded with Tamaran, however, Jared had the final say and KO’d his equipment on Hawkman to power-up, and the attack bounced.

It spelled the demise of Sam when he passed his attack, and he scooped when Green Arrow attacked.

Game 2

Turn 1

Sam again chose to take odds and flipped up Optitron discarding Red Star to get Tim Drake ◊ Robin, Young Detective and passed. Jared had Ted Kord ◊ Blue Beetle and activated to find his buddy Booster Gold.

Turn 2

Booster Gold came out and protected Ted. “Blue Beetle and Booster Gold . . . merge to become . . . stackers!” Sam had Tim in the front row and passed when Booster attacked into him. Ted then attacked the open board for 2.

Turn 3

Sam boosted out Hank Hall ◊ Hawk and Dawn Granger ◊ Dove and placed everyone in the front row. He then flipped up U.S.S. Argus to get him a net profit of one card for the turn. Jared had Shayera Thal ◊ Hawkwoman with Nth Metal in the support row next to Booster and Ted protecting Booster.

Tim decided to go it alone and attack Ted, but Jared had another Ted in his hand for the power-up. He triggered both his ally abilities and searched out Katar Hol ◊ Hawkman via Hawkwoman. Go, team! Sam had Tamaran, though, and powered-up his 2 ATK/3 DEF to become a 3 ATK/4 DEF, but Jared had Magnificent Seven to trump Tim. Hank wanted to avenge his teammate and attack Ted, but again Jared had another trick and played Cover Fire for +4 DEF. For the third time this turn, Ted got to attack, but before they stunned, Ted got an Nth Metal. Hawkwoman and Booster Gold attacked directly. The endurance totals were 36-46 with Jared in the lead.

Turn 4

Jared had Katar Hol and an Nth Metal and placed him in front of Hawkwoman. Sam had Terra and used her immediately to stun Hawkwoman, replacing his U.S.S. Argus. However, Sam flipped up another to get him more card quality goodness. Hawkman attacked Terra as a 9 ATK/10 DEF. Sam reinforced with Tim. A team attack onto Tim forced a use from Tamaran, but nothing else happened. The 2-drops stunned and went to the KO pile when they didn’t want to be recovered. The endurance totals were 30-41 to Jared.

Turn 5

Sam under-dropped with Red Star and then used his ability to cause 5 endurance loss to Jared. He formed up with both in the support row and passed to Jared. Jared played out Fire, Beatriz Dacosta and then searched out an Nth Metal with Ted before equipping her up. He also played Null Time Zone naming Teen Titans Go! for the second time this game. Not to be outdone, Sam also played his and naming Cover Fire for the second time this game.

Terra used her ability to stun Hawkwoman before Red Star crashed into with the help from Tamaran and Savage Beatdown. No more attacks from Sam meant that Fire had a go at Terra. Fire burnt Sam for 2 before Terra fell over and that was turn 5. Jared recovered Hawkman and led the endurance totals, 21-25.

Turn 6

Jared did not play a resource, hinting that he had Kooey Kooey Kooey in the resource row. He played out Oliver Queen ◊ Green Arrow, Hard Travelling Hero and placed everyone in the front row. Sam played out Tim Drake and Roy Harper ◊ Arsenal and, “Bzzzz,” burnt Jared for another 5. Sam formed up with Terra and Red Star in the front row, with Red Star protecting Roy.

Fire tried to attack Roy, but before that could become legal, Sam exhausted everyone to use Roy and then shot down Fire. “Please continue,” said Sam as he passed back to Jared. Katar Hol wanted a piece of Roy and Sam let it happen. With Oliver’s trigger on the chain, Sam used Press the Attack to ready Roy and tried to shoot Oliver. Jared had a power-up from the hand used Oliver to Stun back Roy and Hawkman readied.

Hawkman attacked Red Star. Sam used Tamaran to prevent 1 endurance loss and then passed. During recovery, Sam recovered Red Star and Jared recovered Fire. Sam finally had the lead for the first time in two games, 10 to 12!

Turn 7

Sam flipped up Optitron to go get another Roy Harper and then used Red Star for the third successive time this game. Jared used Ted to find his single High-Tech Flare Gun and then played John Henry Irons ◊ Steel, Steel Drivin’ Man and placed the gun on him, making Steel an 11 ATK/11 DEF. He formed with Oliver and Steel in the front, protecting Hawkman and Ted, respectively.

Everyone decided to team attack Steel and passed, much to this reporters’ surprise. Jared powered-up his steel with Magnificent Seven, triggered Olivier Queens Ally ability, and then targeted Tim. Sam played Teen Titans Go! and exhausted everyone to use Roy and stunned Hawkman. Oliver resolved and stunned Tim. With all of Jared’s characters exhausted and the team attack resolving on Steel, Jared scooped up his cards for game 3.

Game 3

Jared finally got to choose the initiative and took the preferred odds in this match-up. Jared had Ted Kord ◊ Blue Beetle and Sam had Roy Harper ◊ Speedy. When Ted attacked Roy, Roy bounced to the top of his deck, fired a rubber duck at Ted and sent him to the KO’d pile.

Turn 2

Sam had Tim Drake ◊ Robin, Young Detective. Jared had to under-drop to get Conner Hawke ◊ Green Arrow but had a reserved Ted from his hand. Tim attacked Ted, but not before Ted found an Nth Metal and then powered-up via Magnificent Seven to stun Tim back. The endurance totals were 48-49 to Jared.

Turn 3

Jared had a great turn 3 play by boosting Booster Gold and then playing Conner Hawke. Ted used his ability again to get another Nth Metal. He then played two Nth Metals, one on Booster and one on Conner. Sam had Hank Hall ◊ Hawk and Dawn Granger ◊ Dove to try and stem the tidal wave of attacks coming from Jared.

Booster attacked Dove and Sam elected not to reinforce. Conner attacked Tim as a 5 ATK/4 DEF, but Sam had Titans Tower. Sue did not attack and Sam tried to Finishing Move Conner but was met with Bwahahahaha!. Sam recovered Dove and was behind in endurance, 40-47.

Turn 4

Red Star came to play for Sam while Jared trumped with Oliver Queen ◊ Green Arrow, Emerald Archer, who could shoot down Dove at any time he liked. Ted also found an Nth Metal for him before Jared formed with Oliver protecting Ted, Conner protecting Booster and Sue beside Booster.

Jared shot down Dove before letting Sam have his way. Sam team attacked with Hank and Red Star into Oliver with a power-up via Tamaran onto Red Star. Jared had Cover Fire to bounce the attack and stun Hank. Sam had no attacks left and Jared did not hesitate to swing Green Arrow into Red Star. Sam used Titans Tower to cause the stun back, but Jared still got to attack directly for 10. Jared now had a huge character and endurance advantage, as he was at 41 to Sam’s 19.

Turn 5

Ted led first and activated to get High-Tech Flare Gun with John Henry Irons, and Sam scooped.

Sam’s performance was not as good as last year’s but still a great achievement with back-to-back $10K Top 8 finishes. Jared Blakemore wins, and moves on to the semifinals!