Both of these players have eight match wins coming into the final Swiss round of the tournament, so it’s very likely that even the loser of this match will make the Top 8. However, the players are still playing it out for rating points, bragging rights, and the certainty of inclusion in the final draft.

Neil won the die roll and chose . . . evens?! Something’s up! Neil mulliganed his opener, while Vidi kept. Neither had a first turn play. On turn 2, Neil had Booster Gold, while Vidi played James Jesse ◊ Trickster. The characters traded stuns and play moved on. Vidi had initiative on the third turn and under-dropped with Captain Boomerang, George Harkness behind James. Neil recruited Scott Free ◊ Mister Miracle, Man of a Thousand Escapes in front of Booster Gold. Vidi used Funky’s Big Rat Code to team up, and then declared a team-attack into Neil’s 3-drop. Gorilla City got a card into Vidi’s KO’d pile. Scott traded for James. Before passing, Vidi used Boomerang to return Booster to Neil’s hand. As the players recovered, Vidi was ahead, 46–45.

Neil led off turn 4 with Kimiyo Hoshi ◊ Dr. Light in the front row next to Scott. Vidi had Circe behind James. Neil’s first attack brought Scott into James, and James went down. Next, Kimiyo attacked Circe with help from a Plasma Blast. Vidi used her ability to KO James and put Infernal Minions from his deck into play. Circe stunned, but recovered at the end of the turn. Neil now led, 45–38.

Vidi under-dropped on turn 5 with Henry King ◊ Brainwave, Sinister Psionic in front of Circe. He also played another Infernal Minions in his hidden area. Neil had the somewhat more impressive Martian Manhunter, J’onn J’onzz, also in the hidden area. Kimiyo was set in the back row, while Scott was placed diagonally in front of her. Vidi’s first attack sent one of his Minions into Kimiyo. He chose to KO it and put the resulting +1 ATK / +1 DEF counter on Circe. Vidi stunned his other Minion, and Circe got another counter. Vidi’s first real attack brought Henry into Scott. Neil moved the Manhunter to give Scott +2 ATK and reinforcement. Both characters stunned. Next, Vidi attacked Circe into Kimiyo. Neil allowed the stun and lost Scott at the end of the turn. Neil still maintained a 36–32 lead.

Turn 6 was Neil’s initiative, and he re-recruited Booster Gold, this time with boost. Joining Booster were L-Ron, Oberon, and Connor Hawke ◊ Green Arrow. Neil set up with Kimiyo in front of Booster. In the next column, Martian Manhunter was alone in the support row. In the next column, L-Ron protected Connor, and in the last column, Oberon stood alone in the front row. Neil passed, and Vidi recruited Lex Luthor, Evil Incorporated. He equipped it with Nth Metal and moved it behind Henry. Circe was set next to Lex in the support row. Neil went into the tank to consider his attacks and finally opted to send both Booster and L-Ron into Circe. She stunned and took Booster down with her. Next, Neil sent Martian Manhunter alone into Henry. Vidi had With Prejudice and hit one Secret Society card. This was enough to force the stunback. Neil’s final attack brought Kimiyo and Oberon into Lex. His ability triggered, and Martian Manhunter was returned to Neil’s hand. Vidi had The Plunder Plan, but Neil had a power-up. Both Lex and Kimiyo stunned. Neil attacked directly with Connor, and that was the turn. Neil still led, 25–15.

Vidi had the lead on turn 7 but didn’t have a 7-drop. Instead, he played James Jesse ◊ Trickster protecting a new Captain Cold and re-played Captain Boomerang behind Lex. Neil re-recruited his Manhunter (in the hidden area), and also played Faith. He had another interesting formation step due to the relevance of the Manhunter. His final setup had, from left to right: Faith protecting Kimiyo, L-Ron alone in the support row, Oberon alone in the front row, and Connor alone in the support row. Vidi’s first attack sent Captain Cold into Faith. Neil had Wall of Will to negate the attack. Next, Vidi tried to take down Faith with James. A Gorilla City activation for 3 ATK made him large enough to stun. Neil used Oberon to power-up. After it resolved, and Neil gained a point of endurance, Vidi used Boomerang to return Faith and ready James. James tried to go after Connor and succeeded. Both characters stunned. Next, Lex attacked Kimiyo. Vidi used Lex’s ability to return his own stunned James, and Neil reinforced. Finally, Vidi passed, and Martian Manhunter attacked Captain Cold. At the end of turn, Neil had succeeded in maintaining his lead, which was now 17–13.

The game had somehow gotten to turn 8, and Neil kicked off with Metamorpho and a replayed Faith. He set up with L-Ron protecting Kimiyo, Oberon protecting Metamorpho in the next row, and Faith in the support row next to Metamorpho. Vidi recruited Guy Gardner, Egomaniac behind Lex and moved Captain Cold next to Guy in the support row. Vidi passed to Neil, who went into the tank to consider his attacks. He sent Manhunter and Faith into Lex. Vidi saw how hopeless his situation was and conceded.

Neil Reeves wins!