After a full day of the Pro Circuit yesterday, and a full day of the $10K today, everyone was beginning to get a little tired. These competitors were no exception, and weariness showed on their faces. Luke, who was also covered in round 6, is an Australian pro of great repute. Bulk is an American professional who has posted consistent finishes since the beginning of the Pro Circuit. Both of these players have one loss going into the round, so each should be guaranteed a spot in Day 2.
Luke won the die roll, and both players mulliganed their opening hands. Neither had a first-turn recruit, to repeat a play pattern seen countless times in this format. Bulk was the only one with a second-turn recruit, in the form of The Wizard. Luke had the initiative on the third turn, and recruited Quakemaster in his support row. Bulk had Silver Sorceress in front of The Wizard. Luke attacked Quakemaster into the Sorceress for a mutual stun, and Bulk attacked back directly for 2. Bulk had the lead in characters and endurance, 45–43.
Bulk led off turn 4 with the extremely powerful Katar Hol ◊ Hawkman behind Silver Sorceress. The Wizard was left next to Hawkman in the support row. Luke had Membership Drive, then recruited Circe behind Quakemaster. At the start of combat, Bulk used his Sorceress to move his Wizard to the hidden area. His first attack sent Hawkman into Quakemaster; Luke had nothing, and Quakemaster stunned. Next, Silver Sorceress attacked Circe. Bulk had Magnificent Seven, which, thanks to Hawkman, gave Silver Sorceress +3 ATK / +1 ATK. “I smell a landslide,” said Luke. Both characters stunned, and Bulk attacked directly with The Wizard. At the end of the turn, Luke lost Quakemaster. Bulk widened his lead, as the endurance totals stood at 42–31.
On turn 5, Luke had Floronic Man, Alien Hybrid in front of Circe. Bulk recruited Scarecrow, Fearmonger in front of The Wizard. Silver Sorceress was left protecting Hawkman. At the beginning of combat, Scarecrow stole Circe’s counter. Luke’s first attack brought Circe into Silver Sorceress. Bulk had nothing, and the Sorceress was stunned. Next, Luke attacked Floronic Man into Hawkman. “You got me,” said Bulk. Luke broke out in a smile as Hawkman went down without a power-up. It was Bulk’s turn to attack, and he sent Scarecrow into Floronic Man. The 5-drop was stunned, and Scarecrow got a counter. Bulk exhausted The Wizard to fuel a devastating Death Trap on Floronic Man. At the end of the turn, Bulk was ahead 29–25.
Turn 6 was Bulk’s initiative, and he was looking to end the game. He recruited Batman, Avatar of Justice. Luke could muster only Ocean Master behind Circe. At the start of combat, Bulk put a counter on Batman with Scarecrow. After working out some math on paper, Bulk played Air Strike (replacing an Elongated Man in his resource row) on Batman and attacked Ocean Master. Luke, who had seven cards in his hand, considered his options. In the end, he chose to give Ocean Master three +1 ATK / +1 DEF counters. Both characters stunned. Next, Bulk attacked Circe with Scarecrow. Luke didn’t have any answers, and took quite a bit of endurance loss. Bulk’s remaining characters attacked, and he had a power-up for The Wizard, bringing Luke to exactly 0.
Bulk Lao wins!