Although fifteen undefeated players still remain in the tournament, these two competitors sit at the first table. Ryan Jones has a Pro Circuit win to his name, and is very well known in the Vs. community. William, while lesser known, is a California native who has been playing the game for quite a while. He last made a $10K Top 8 in Los Angeles earlier this year.
Ryan won the die roll and chose to take the odd initiatives. Both players kept their hands, and neither had a first-turn play. William had the first play of the game with a turn 2 Booster Gold. Ryan matched him with a boosted Copperhead. A quick attack resolved, and play moved on. Ryan had the initiative on turn 3, and recruited Floronic Man, Jason Woodrue in the front row next to Copperhead. William had Shayera Thal ◊ Hawkwoman in front of Booster. Ryan attacked Floronic Man into Hawkwoman. William teamed up with Justice League Task Force and reinforced. Ryan sent Copperhead into Booster for the trade, and that was the turn. Both players lost their smaller characters.
On turn 4, William led with Dinah Laurel Lance ◊ Black Canary, Pretty Bird behind Hawkwoman. Ryan had Poison Ivy, Kiss of Death behind Floronic Man. William’s first attack brought Hawkwoman into Poison Ivy, with a lot of help from Trial by Fire. Both characters were stunned. Next, William attacked Floronic Man with Dinah. Ryan had With Prejudice, but hit only one Secret Society character. Floronic Man was stunned, and KO’d at the end of the turn. William took the endurance lead, 39–32.
Ryan had Oliver Queen ◊ Green Arrow, Hard-Traveling Hero behind Poison Ivy to kick off the fifth turn. William recruited Darkseid, Heart of Darkness behind Hawkwoman, and left Dinah next to Darkseid in the support row. Ryan thought for a little while about his attacks, and eventually decided to send Poison Ivy into Hawkwoman. She went down without a fight, and Ryan proposed another attack of Oliver into Darkseid. Again, William had nothing he could do about it, and both characters stunned. Combat was on William, and he sent Dinah into Ivy with a little help from Lead by Example. Ryan teamed up with Gang-Up and used Magnificent Seven to force the stun back. At the end of the turn, the board was left clear save for Oliver and Darkseid. William maintained an endurance lead of 24–23.
It was again William’s initiative on turn 6, and he recruited Captain Atom in front of Darkseid. Ryan went into the tank before opting to bring out a boosted Rocket Red #4. With the ready effect on the chain, Ryan exhausted Rocket Red to give himself +6 ATK. Next, he recruited Red Tornado behind Rocket Red in the support row. Oliver was left next to Red Tornado. William quickly declared an initial attack of Captain Atom into Oliver Queen. Ryan simply reinforced. Next, William played Air Strike on Darkseid, and sent him into Red Tornado. Ryan lost Red Tornado at the end of the turn, and William took a commanding endurance lead of 24–7.
Turn 7 was Ryan’s last chance to win, and he tried to accomplish his goal with Batman, Hidden Crusader in the hidden area and Sinestro, Corrupted by the Ring. Oliver was set protecting Rocket Red, and Sinestro was left in the support row. William had Wonder Woman, Princess Diana, and equipped her with Nth Metal. Darkseid hid behind Wonder Woman, and Captain Atom stayed in the back row. Ryan considered his attacks, but realizing his condition was hopeless, he simply conceded.
William Hou wins!