Two teams faced off as Neil Reeves, the Middlepair No Stick stalwart sat down across from Dave Spears, the Team Realmworx  color commentator. Dave looked gorgeous in the craziest grey mullet wig you've ever seen, along with a red shirt that said ‘Wearing a mullet in Alabama—Keeping it Real!” Antonino De Rosa, sitting at the next table, was so jealous of this fashion statement, that he called over, requesting a mullet of his own, dying to know where Dave got it.

 

Dave asked, “Antonio why do I always think you're making fun of me?” Neil responded, “Cause he's always making fun of you . . . ”

 

The judge, the venerable Dave Humpherys, then announced the beginning of the round, and Dave, who won the toss, went first, while Neil chose to mulligan.

 

Dave played Boliver Trask, grabbed a Sentinel Mark V. Neil had nothing.

 

(49-50)

 

Neil played Luke Cage, Hero for Hire. “My draw would have turned out to be the nuts if I hadn't mulliganned, but I did . . . ”

 

Dave nodded in sympathy, playing a Hounds of Ahab.

 

Neil passed his attack, Dave team attacked Luke Cage. (48-47)

 

Neil flipped Doom's Throne Room, and on to:

 

Dave played a Sentinel Mark II, Neil used the Throne Room but didn't hit, and ended up playing Kevlar Body Armor on Cage.

 

Dave team attacked Cage with Boliver and Mark II, Neil KOing the Kevlar and stunning the Mark II. Neil then attacked Boliver Trask. Dave recovered the Mark II.

 

(42-47)

 

Turn 4 

Neil used his Throne Room again, and recruited Dr. Doom, Diabolic Genius behind Cage. Dave recruited a Sentinel Mark V behind Mark II.

 

Doom attacked Mark II, Mark V retaliated against Cage. Bada-bing, bada-room, and it was Dave 39, Neil 40.

 

Turn 5 

Dave recruited Nimrod in front of the Mark II, next to his Mark V - he had two Bastions and three Mark Vs in hand. His resource was a Reconstruction Program, and things were not looking bright for Mr. Reeves, whose recruit was merely a Boris. He put all of his characters in support; Doom - Cage - Boris.

 

Nimrod attacked Doom, but Neil had sneaky tricks, flipping a Doomstadt and powering-up. No stun on either side. Dave then decided to send the Hounds on Boris. (39-39),and the Mark V on Doom, with a double power-up. Neil had another Doom power-up, but Dave had that third Mark V in hand and powered-up again, saving the stun. Dave was at 39, Neil at 34.

 

Dave then sent the Mark II on Luke Cage. (36-30) Neil recovered Doom, and on to:

 

Turn 6 

Neil used his Throne Room again, not getting what he needed - he'd so far seen no Reign of Terrors nor single Mystical Paralysis. He flipped a Signal Flare to get Hulk, discarding a Thing, Heavy Hitter. He placed Hulk in front of Doom.

 

Dave recruited Bastion, placing him behind Nimrod, the Mark II behind the Mark V.

 

Hulk on Mark V, with a 15 ATK. The Mark V got stomped. (32-30)

 

Dr. Doom on Mark II, Mark II got stomped. (25-30)

 

Neil had a little breathing room, but Dave clawed back with a strong board. He sent Bastion on Doom for a quick stun. (25-23) He then sent Nimrod on Hulk, flipping that Reconstruction Program to pull his three Mark Vs back from the KO'd pile, using Bastion's ability for a nice bonusm saving the stun. It was Dave 25, Neil 17.

 

A quick attack with Hounds of Ahab KO'd the Hulk, and with Dave's boosted Mark V on Turn 7, Neil simply looked at his hand and scooped.