These players are 6-1 heading into the eighth round. The winner of this match has a very good chance of making Top 8. Francisco won the die roll and selected the odd initiatives. Stephen kept his opener, while Francisco mulliganed.

Francisco passed on the first turn, but Stephen had a Mikado and Mosha that attacked directly. On turn 2, Stephen played Beetle, Armorsmith, discarding Birthing Chamber to fetch Poison Ivy, Deadly Rose. Francisco recruited Dane Whitman ◊ Black Knight. The characters traded stuns in combat. At the start of recovery, Francisco used Adam Strange, Champion of Rann to KO Mikado.

Francisco had the initiative on turn 3. He under-dropped with Natasha Romanoff ◊ Black Widow, Super Spy behind Dane, then paid a resource point to Dane for +3 ATK/+3 DEF. Francisco passed to Stephen, who played Enemy of My Enemy. After some thought, Ivy was discarded for a Booster Gold. Stephen recruited Dr. Light, and immediately made use of him to return Ivy to play. Stephen set up with Beetle protecting Ivy, and passed. Francisco team-attacked Dr. Light. Before the attack resolved, Stephen KO’d Beetle to get Kooey Kooey Kooey. Both Ivy and Light were stunned. In recovery, Francisco led 44-43.

Turn 4 was Stephen’s initiative. He used Dr. Light to return Poison Ivy to play, and then played Booster Gold with boost. Slaughter Swamp recovered Beetle, which Stephen recruited to fetch Fatality, Emerald Assassin. Stephen played Sue Dibny for L-Ron, and passed. Francisco had a slightly less engaging turn, recruiting Hawkeye, Clinton Barton. He set up with Dane protecting Hawkeye, and passed back. In combat, Beetle went after Natasha. Both characters stunned. Booster Gold went after Dane and, again, both characters stunned. Sue attacked Hawkeye with help from Trial by Fire, and Francisco activated to stun. Stephen KO’d the 1-drop to Poison Ivy to get a Kooey, then KO’d the Kooey to get another Trial by Fire. He attacked with Ivy and the other Trial by Fire to stun Hawkeye. At the end of the turn, Light and Ivy faced down Francisco’s lone Hawkeye. Francisco still led, 33-30.

Francisco began turn 5 with Enemy of My Enemy for Sub-Mariner, Namor. He recruited the 5-drop and passed. Stephen used Dr. Light to get Beetle back, discarding to get Kyle Rayner, Last Green Lantern. He recruited the 2-drop, fetching a Hard Sound Construct. Next, Fatality was brought out. Stephen activated Birthing Chamber to draw a card, then moved to formation. He set up with Light protecting Fatality, Ivy protecting Beetle, and Rayner next to Beetle in the support row. In combat, Sub-Mariner went after Beetle. Stephen took 9. Hawkeye attacked Ivy with Call Down the Lightning. Before the stun, Stephen KO’d Beetle to trade his Birthing Chamber for another Kooey. Francisco played Blinding Rage, and Stephen took quite a bit of breakthrough when the attack concluded. Francisco led, 33-14.

On turn 6, Stephen played Hard Sound Construct to return Beetle to play. He used the 2-drop to fetch Melissa Gold ◊ Screaming Mimi, Mimi Schwartz. Next, Dr. Light was exhausted to bring Booster Gold into play. Stephen played Melissa, and then played another Hard Sound Construct to return a Melter to play. Stephen paid a point to Melissa, then KO’d Light to Ivy to get Birthing Chamber. He used the Chamber to draw two and discard one. Stephen played Enemy of My Enemy for Yellowjacket, Rita Demara, which he played with boost. Klaw, Sonic Construct came into play. Stephen set up correctly and passed. Francisco had Wonder Man to stun Fatality, and it was time for Stephen to attack. Beetle went after Hawkeye with The Wrecking Crew. Francisco used Hawkeye to stun Stephen’s 1-drops. Beetle and Hawkeye traded stuns. From here, it was elementary — Stephen had a Melter flanked by three 2-drops. He used the three Kooeys in his row to get three more copies of The Wrecking Crew, generating more than enough ATK to win the game.