Pat McCavana is a Kansas City MO native who needed to win all three of his matches to make Top 8. His opponent is Michael Barnes, Pro Circuit New York Top 8 competitor and member of the illustrious Oklahoma-based “Dream Team.” He was in the same position as Pat in terms of wins needed to Top 8. Unfortunately for both players, they started this match with 1-1 records and are playing for pure pride.

Pat won the die roll at the start of the match and chose the odd initiative.

Turn 1: Michael mulliganed his hand, while Pat kept his opening four. Both players had only a resource to play.

Turn 2: Michael recruited Maxwell Lord, Financier sans effect, while Pat again had only a resource. Michael’s Maxwell Lord attacked for 2 directly.

Turn 3: Pat had Shadow-Thief, Carl Sands and used his effect to fetch an Infernal Minions. This time, Michael had no characters to play. Shadow-Thief stunned Maxwell Lord with 1 breakthrough, and the Infernal Minions attacked for 1 directly.

Turn 4: Barnes recruited Evan McCulloch ◊ Mirror Master and Pat had Poison Ivy, Kiss of Death. Barnes attacked Mirror Master into Poison Ivy, Kiss of Death. With no unstunned characters in the visible area on Pat’s side of the field, Maxwell Lord was then free to attack directly. Pat’s Shadow-Thief attacked Maxwell Lord again, stunning him, and then dealt another 1 direct from Infernal Minions. Barnes kept Evan McCulloch.

Turn 5: Pat had Scarecrow, Psycho Psychologist. After thinking for a minute or two, Barnes finally settled on recruiting Despero, Master of the Third Eye naming Scarecrow, Psycho Psychologist with his ability. During his attack step, Pat played Glass Jaw on Barnes’s Despero. He then attacked Despero with Shadow-Thief. Barnes considered his options and finally passed, leaving both characters stunned. Pat paid 3 endurance to burn Barnes for 6. Pat then sent Infernal Minions into Evan McCulloch, stunning them and then used their ability to put a counter on Scarecrow. Pat then attacked Scarecrow into McCulloch with help from a Lead by Example, and after the attack became legal, Barnes exhausted McCulloch to play Criminal Mastermind. Barnes then used Balance of Power to reduce Scarecrow’s attack by 3. However, the Mirror Master still stunned and Barnes took 4. Pat’s Poison Ivy then attacked directly for 7. Finally, Barnes used Injustice Gang Satellite to KO Pat’s Shadow-Thief.

Turn 6: Both players drew their two cards and then an additional card from the effect of Criminal Mastermind. Barnes had the initiative and recruited Dr. Destiny, John Dee to the hidden area. Pat’s build step began with a play of Secret Files, which allowed both players to search and netted The Shark, Karshon for Barnes and Ocean Master, Son of Atlan for Pat. Pat recruited Ocean Master, Son of Atlan behind Scarecrow, Psycho Psychologist, and the combat phase began. The first attack of the turn was Barnes’s Dr. Destiny into Scarecrow. Pat responded by paying 3 endurance to burn Barnes for the number of cards in his hand. Pat flipped Counterstrike in his resource row and gave Scarecrow, Psycho Psychologist an additional 3 ATK, which meant that Barnes’s Dr. Destiny was going to be stunned.

With the score at 31 to 9 against him, Barnes realized that the game was out of reach and extended the hand.

Pat McCavana wins!