James "Kongy" Kong is a long time Sydney player with relevant success in Vs. System. He's put up good numbers at the Pro Circuit in the past and can regularly be found at the $10k Top 8 tables. Gabriel "Gabz" Wong is a long term TCG player who hails originally from Canberra, but recently moved down to Sydney (was it for the drafting? Or university? Hard to tell sometimes with players . . .). He wanted to go primarily Villains United this weekend, but found himself mostly in JSA and Checkmate. With both players sitting on the bubble at 6-2, one of these arch-enemies will make it through to Top 8 today!
Kongy grabbed a random card out of his trademark Hellfire Club deck, and Gabz picked evens. An EA 7-drop Sebastian Shaw was revealed, and Kongy won the initiative decision, choosing evens.
Turn 1
An early Connie Webb came out for Gabz, and snuck in for 1 endurance when Kongy had no recruit.
Endurance
Kongy: 49
Gabz: 50
Turn 2
The always-effective Sasha Bordeaux, Knight came out for Kongy, while Gabz had Retrieval Protocol ◊ OMAC Robot, Army for his front row.
Bordeaux and the OMAC traded stuns, and then Connie Webb snuck in, once again.
Endurance
Kongy: 48
Gabz: 50
Turn 3
Neutralization Protocol ◊ OMAC Robot, Army came out for Gabs, while Kongy had the incredible (and potentially risky) Ahmed Samsarra, White King.
The 3-drop robot swung into Sasha Bordeaux, and Kongy flipped Secret Checkmate HQ, attempting to force a trade. Gabz discarded Amanda Waller (via the 2-drop OMAC’s ability) to make Neutralization Protocol 5 ATK/5 DEF, and then Thanagar brought the Robot's defense to 6. However, Target Acquired brought Sasha to a whopping 8 ATK (with the HQ being exhausted in the process) and Gabz had no choice but to accept the mutual stun. Connie and the 2-drop OMAC, then attacked directly and play passed to Kongy. Samsarra swung into the OMAC for 8, and both players moved on to recovery.
Kongy recovered Sasha and Gabz sent his Retrieval Protocol to the KO’d pile.
Endurance
Kongy: 37
Gabz: 36
Turn 4
Kongy started off his turn by using the awesome Brother I Satellite (discarding Jacob Lee to fetch an Elimination Protocol ◊ OMAC Robot, Army). Gabz had a fantastic play in a concealed Valentina Vostok ◊ Negative Woman who promptly activated to reduce the efficiency of Kongy's attack step.
Elimination Protocol attacked into Connie Webb, but she didn’t feel like hanging around and activated to fetch Gabz his own copy of Elimination Protocol. The Elimination attacked into Gabz’s 3-drop OMAC and Thanagar reduced the breakthrough as both characters traded. Samsarra and Sasha then team-attacked directly and Gabz was forced to take 10 (including a +1 ATK pump for a team-attacking Knight!).
Endurance
Kongy: 33
Gabz: 21
Turn 5
Arthur Kendrick, Knight and Sasha Bordeaux, Autonomous Prototype came out for Gabz, while Kongy had a rather more formidable drop in Black Alice. Making the best of a bad situation, Gabz activated Vostok, giving all of Kongy's characters -3 DEF across the board, once more.
Kendrick and Sasha then teamed into Black Alice. Kongy responded by flipping a Checkmate Safe House and teaming-up Checkmate and Shadowpact. Kongy elected not to use Alice’s ability and simply traded stuns with Bordeaux. Trying to close the endurance gap, Gabz then played Epic Battle. He used Watch the Birdie! to bring Samsarra into the visible area and attacked the White King with Neutralization Protocol. Seeing that Gabz was only sitting on 16 endurance, Kongy flipped a Checkmate HQ and elected not to reinforce. With Epic Battle and the HQ online, Kongy team-attacked directly with Bordeaux and the Elimination Protocol for a game winning 19 endurance.
James “Kongy” Kong defeats Sydney arch-rival Gabz, and moves on to the Top 8!