This match features Gabriel Nassif, the French wunderkind vs. Matt Tatar who’s currently ranked fifth in the world in Vs. System Limited. Both players came into this match at 3-3, meaning the winner makes it to Day 2 where they get to continue competing for the $40,000 first prize, while the loser is headed into tomorrow’s 10k event.

Nassif is playing Common Enemy, one of the more popular decks this weekend, while Tatar is playing a pure Doom deck. Nassif won the die roll and chose to take initiative on the even turns.


Game 1

Tatar played Kristoff Von Doom on turn 2, while Nassif played She-Hulk, Jennifer Walters on turn 3 to Tatar’s stylish play of . . . nothing. Nassif used Signal Flare during his build phase of turn 4 in order to recruit Invisible Woman, Sue Storm, placing both of his characters in the front row. Tatar used Faces of Doom to search for Dr. Doom, Victor Von Doom, and recruited Dr. Doom, Diabolical Genius. Invisible Woman attacked Dr. Doom, forcing Tatar to turn up Doomstadt. It’s Clobberin’ Time! allowed Nassif to stun the pesky Doom, but She-Hulk’s attack on Kristoff was nullified by Reign of Terror.

Puppet Master and Doom-Bot joined Tatar’s turn 5 team, while Nassif could only recruit Robot Destroyer. Tatar then passed the turn without attacking, and Nassif played Flame Trap, stunning Kristoff and Puppet Master. The attack from Nassif’s Robot Destroyer on Doom-Bot was nullified by Mystical Paralysis. Nassif recruited Hulk with his resource points for turn 6, but the big, grey FF member was immediately exhausted by Mystical Paralysis, before Tatar recruited his 6-drop Doom. Nasty Surprise allowed Doom-Bot to trade with Nassif’s Robot Destroyer, while Doom stunned Invisible Woman.

Tatar recruited Sub-Mariner on turn 7, giving him a formidable attacking force. For his part, Nassif played Signal Flare and searched out Thing, The Ever-Lovin’ Blue-Eyed Thing. This time it was Nassif’s Thing that was the victim of Tatar’s Mystical Paralysis. Tatar’s Doom stunned Robot Destroyer, and Sub-Mariner stunned Hulk, putting the endurance totals at Tatar 30, Nassif 21. Nassif recruited Apocalypse on turn 8, calling him “Big Daddy,” which appeared to be a bit of a surprise to Tatar. “Well, I didn’t expect you to play him right there. That might turn this matchup around for you.”

Tatar used Faces of Doom to search for Doom, Diabolic Genius, KO’ing Victor Von Doom in the process but turning Mystical Paralysis back over as well. Big Daddy KO’d Doomstadt and Have a Blast! but didn’t get a chance to attack, as he was exhausted before getting a chance to beat down. Hulk exhausted from Puppet Master, but Thing got his beat on, stunning Sub-Mariner. Tatar recruited Robot Destroyer, but scooped his cards up after doing some math, as there was no way he could come back from Apocalypse and there were only 35 minutes left in the round.

Gabriel Nassif 1, Matt Tatar 0


Game 2

Turn 2 was where the action started this game, with Nassif recruiting She-Thing to Tatar’s Kristoff Von Doom. Puppet Master joined Tatar’s team, while Nassif had nothing for his third turn and recruited Doom on turn 4, which Tatar matched. Nassif passed his attack, but Tatar chose to initiate the Doom on Doom clash, searching for another Doom and using two power-ups to pump Doom’s ATK and DEF. Doomstadt plus a power-up from Nassif blanked Tatar’s attack, resulting in the attacking Doom getting stunned and some confused looks from the Frenchie.

Tatar recruited Robot Destroyer for turn 5, and Nassif recruited Thing, Heavy Hitter, trumping the Destroyer play. Doom and Robot Destroyer team attacked Thing, stunning the Heavy Hitter but clearing the way for Nassif’s Doom to attack Kristoff. Finishing Move KO’d Thing, forcing a grimace from Nassif. Signal Flare let Nassif search for Hulk, who was then recruited into play, as Nassif also had a 7- and 8-drop in his hand. If he could just survive a little longer, he would seal the game away. Tatar began to verbally press Nassif to speed up his play, as he needed to win this game and then hoped to have a good chance in game 3 as well. Tatar recruited Dr. Doom, Victor Von Doom. Hulk attacked Robot Destroyer, resulting in a stun, and then Nassif paralyzed Doom.

Tatar recruited Sub-Mariner for turn 7, and Nassif recruited the 7-drop Thing. Sub-Mariner attacked Hulk, and Doom plus Robot Destroyer team attacked Thing giving endurance totals of Nassif 25, Tatar 15. Nassif recruited Apocalypse, while Tatar used two Puppet Masters to exhaust both of Nassif’s attackers and then recruited Doom-Bot.

“That guy is huge,” Tatar complained, as he couldn’t find a way to equitably push damage through. Doom and Sub-Mariner team attacked Apocalypse, stunning Big Daddy and Doom in the process and letting Nassif use cards from his resource row for the first time in three turns. A team attack from Tatar stunned Apocalypse, and that was all the action for the turn, as Puppet Master exhausted Hulk, giving the players endurance totals of Nassif 9, Tatar 1. Signal Flare for Nassif searched out Ghost Rider, but he then chose not to play him. Tatar then cast a 4-drop Doom, activated Puppet Master exhausting Hulk, cast Reign of Terror on his own Puppet Master, recruited him again, and exhausted Nassif’s Apocalypse, resulting in no attacks that turn from Nassif.

Tatar tried to figure out a way finish Nassif off without lowering his life too far, but Gabriel showed Tatar the Acrobatic Dodge and it was all over.

Gabriel Nassif 2, Matt Tatar 0