Scott Hunstad has a PC Top 8 and multiple $10K Top 8s. He is also ranked second in the seedings list. Anthony Macali has won multiple PCQs and has multiple $10K money finishes. He is ranked eighth in the seedings list.

This was the battle of the ages, yet it had to happen during round 5 and not the finals. Nevertheless, it was going to be an exciting match to cover.

On turn 1, Scott recruited Quagmire while Anthony had nothing. Scott smashed in for 1 point. 50–49.

On turn 2, Anthony had the amazing Shocker, Vibro-Shock Villain, but Scott matched it with one of his three copies of Erik Josten ◊ Atlas, Kosmos Convict. Shocker attacked Atlas, Scott reinforced, and that was the turn. 48–47 to Scott.

On turn 3, Scott started with Moonglow and moved everyone to the front row. Anthony recruited Nathan Garrett, and used Shocker’s ability to stun Atlas. Quagmire went into The Black Knight, but Anthony has a surprise and used Stolen Power on Atlas. This forced Scott to use Eldritch Power to force the stun. The final attack was Moonglow on Shocker. The scores were 45–43 in favor of Scott.

On turn 4, Anthony had Piledriver and moved Shocker behind him. Scott played Natasha Romanoff ◊ Black Widow, Super Spy and another Atlas, prompting Anthony to scream, “He’s back!” Shocker was sent into Quagmire, and the Super Spy reinforced. Piledriver was sent into Moonglow. Scott flipped up Behavior Modification Device before ending the turn. 41–43 to Anthony.

Turn 5 had Scott recruit Lady Lark and Tom Thumb. Anthony did not want to be outdone, and recruited Hawkeye, Clinton Barton. He used Unfair Advantage to fuel Shocker’s ability, stunning Super Spy. Lady Lark attacked into Piledriver to cause a mutual stun. Tom Thumb attacked into Shocker, and Scott used an Equipment to power up Tom. The final attack was Moonglow into Hawkeye with another power-up, but Anthony had the crucial power-up of Quinjet to steal the end of the turn. With the endurance totals at 32–32, Scott kept Lady Lark and Anthony kept Shocker.

On turn 6, a fresh Iron Man, Invincible attacked into Scott’s fresh off the deck Helmut Zemo ◊ Citizen V, Warmonger. A Call Down the Lightning guaranteed the stun, and Lady Lark reinforced. Hawkeye then attacked Lady Lark. Scott KO’d Lady Lark, and that was the turn. 16–28 to Anthony.

Turn 7 had Scott recruiting Dane Whitman ◊ Black Knight, Heroic Paladin, Inertia, and Doctor Decibel. Once Anthony recruited Enchantress and used Unfair Advantage for Shocker’s ability, though, Scott packed it in. This was a game where Scott was trumped on every single turn.

Anthony Macali wins!