Both of these players are excellent and well-known in the Vs. world. Each has two previous $10K Top 8s, although Doug can claim a victory that Patrick cannot. They chatted with each other about notable matchups they played in their careers while they shuffled up. Patrick is 3-0, while Doug got the lucky pair-up from the 2-1 bracket.

Patrick won the die roll, and after contemplating for a little bit, chose to take the odd initiatives. Patrick mulliganed, and Doug opted to keep his hand. Patrick had no play on turn 1, while Doug dropped a Micro-Chip. The littlest scientist smashed in for a point of endurance. Neither player had anything to do on turn 2, although Doug did flip up Punisher’s Armory. Chip got in for another 2, looking to go the distance.

It was Patrick’s initiative on turn 3 and he had finally had some things to do. He used Wild Ride to fetch Dagger, and Dagger grabbed Midnight Sons. He played Daredevil. Now it was Doug’s turn to fall behind—he had no drop. Daredevil smashed in and play moved to turn 4.

Doug led off with a Moon Knight, while Patrick used another Wild Ride to fetch another Midnight Sons. “Damn it,” said Patrick. “I have nothing.” And indeed he did not; he took the full brunt of Moon Knight and Micro-Chip. Patrick paid to pump Daredevil on the defense. This was a mistake, because Moon Knight had 7 DEF. Doug used A Death in the Family to take down Daredevil. Patrick flipped over a few copies of Midnight Sons. Despite the Death, this was still much more of a painful turn for Patrick. The endurance totals in recovery were 41–33, with Doug pulling ahead.

Patrick finally found something meaningful to do on turn 5 with Kang, Ultimate Kang. Doug dropped a Daredevil, Matt Murdock behind Micro-Chip. Kang beat into Moon Knight, and Doug had nothing to do about it. Doug beat back into Kang with Daredevil, paying to use his ability. Patrick used a newly-flipped Lost City to try for the double stun, but Doug had Sucker Punch. He also had another copy of A Death in the Family to clear Patrick’s board once again. Things were looking grim for Patrick, although he had an endurance lead of 28–10.

Doug under-dropped a Yelena Belova ◊ Black Widow on turn 6. Patrick had the predictable Kang, Lord Kang and flipped Null Time Zone naming Savage Beatdown. Doug went into the tank to contemplate his attack. Eventually, Daredevil attacked Kang. Patrick flipped an Avalon Space Station, and Doug had a flurry of combat pumps to try to outgun the power-ups. Patrick exhausted Kang to replace his Null Time Zone, trying to dig for an answer. Doug had a Sucker Punch to capitalize, and in the end, he had exactly enough to stun Kang. He paid enough endurance to his Armory to take bring Patrick to exactly 0.

Doug Tice wins!