Jeffrey Landin is a local player from Maple Grove, Minnesota. He enjoyed some early success, winning his first round. Michael Jacob is a name you should already know; he’s won three $10K events and has a Pro Circuit Top 8. I had the opportunity to check out what Michael was playing before the tournament, and I have to say, it’s a spicy one.

Michael mulliganed, while Jeffrey kept his opening hand. Neither player had a recruit on the first turn. On turn 2, Jeffrey flipped up both X-Corp: Paris and Worthington Industries. He used both locations, yielding himself Havok, Critical Mass. Jeffrey recruited Nightcrawler, Kurt Wagner and passed. Michael had Puppet Master, used it, and that was the turn.

Turn 3 was Michael’s initiative. Before recruiting, he played Enemy of My Enemy, discarding Sunfire, Shiro Yoshida to fetch Poison Ivy, Deadly Rose. Michael flipped Avalon Space Station and discarded Ivy to gain 2. Next, he recruited Dr. Light, Master of Holograms and used him to return Poison Ivy to play. Michael set up with Ivy protecting Dr. Light and passed. Jeffrey made use of his locations, hitting nothing of interest, before recruiting Banshee behind Nightcrawler. It was on Michael to attack, and he declined. Jeffrey declared an attack of Nightcrawler on Poison Ivy. The attack was legal, and Michael used Puppet Master to exhaust Banshee. Next, Michael KO’d Puppet Master to get Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. The attack resolved, and Ivy was stunned. Before the end of the turn, Jeffrey flipped an X-Corporation of his own. He used it to gain 4, and that was the turn.

Jeffrey had his Havok on turn 4, and then passed. Michael recruited Rogue, and used Dr. Light to return Puppet Master to play. He used Puppet Master to exhaust Nightcrawler, and then KO’d Puppet Master to get Birthing Chamber. X-Men United teamed up X-Men and Emerald Enemies, and Xavier’s School readied Dr. Light to return Puppet Master to play. Between Puppet Master and Rogue, Jeffrey’s board was exhausted. Michael traded Ivy for Nightcrawler, and that was the end of combat. In recovery, Havok stunned to take down Rogue. Both players lost their 2-drops, and Jeffrey led 52-44.

Michael had the initiative on turn 5 and led off with a Dr. Light activation, putting Poison Ivy back into play. He recruited Sunfire, and immediately used him to stun Banshee. Puppet Master exhausted Havok, and Michael used Xavier’s School to ready Dr. Light. The 3-drop returned a previously KO’d Jean Grey, Telekinetic Fighter to play, and Michael missed with her ability. He drew two with Birthing Chamber and passed. Jeffrey recruited Wolverine, The Best at What He Does. In combat, Rogue exhausted Wolverine. Neither player had any attacks, and Michael played Straight to the Grave to put Mimic into his KO’d pile. A flipped Avalon Space Station returned Mimic to his hand, and Michael KO’d Jean Grey to Poison Ivy to replace his Avalon with a fresh one. He discarded Mimic to this new Avalon, retrieving two characters. Neither player had additional effects, and Jeffrey still led, 49-44.

Jeffrey had Colossus, Peter Rasputin for the sixth turn. Michael flipped Slaughter Swamp and retrieved his Mimic, which he recruited. Sunfire stunned Banshee, and Puppet Master exhausted Havok. Michael gained 4 with X-Corporation and KO’d Puppet Master to get a new X-Corporation. Dr. Light returned Puppet Master to play. Xavier’s School readied the Doctor, and he brought back Jean Grey. Puppet Master and Rogue again took care of the rest of Jeffrey’s team. Jeffrey, having no ready characters, had no attacks. Michael sent Mimic into Havok, who was stunned. He had no more attacks to declare, but used X-Corporation, Avalon Space Station, and Slaughter Swamp before recovery. Jeffrey used his own X-Corporation, and lost Banshee in recovery. Michael now led 52-42.

Turn 7 was Michael’s initiative, and he played another Enemy of My Enemy to get Professor X, World’s Most Powerful Telepath. He used Puppet Master to exhaust Jeffrey’s Havok, and KO’d it to Ivy to fetch UN Building. Dr. Light returned Puppet Master to play, and Michael passed. Jeffrey had a Professor X of his own. In combat, both Rogue and Mimic copied Professor X. Michael teamed-up X-Men, Arkham Inmates, and Brotherhood with UN Building. He declared an attack of Sunfire, Poison Ivy, and Jean Grey into Professor X. Jeffrey didn’t allow it, exhausting Professor X to exhaust Sunfire. Michael had to settle for three Professor X activations on Wolverine and a Puppet Master activation to shut down Colossus. Both players made some use of their locations, and Michael now led 48-9.

Jeffrey had the initiative on turn 8; he had Apocalypse. Michael had Jean Grey, Phoenix Force, and used the tools available to him to exhaust Jeffrey’s board and nuke him for another 33. He used Jean Grey to add insult to injury, and that was the game.

Michael Jacob wins!