They’re both old school. They’re both loud, charismatic, funny, intelligent, and experienced. Dave Spears brought Sentinels to fame, has a popular online column at www.vsrealms.com, and is appearing in his third Top 8. Josh Wiitanen has five Top 8 finishes in $10K play, so what more could you ask for?

Titans vs. Sentinels, that’s what. This should be one heck of a match. Play ball!

Game One

This one started off fast with Dave fetching Hounds of Ahab with Boliver Trask after Josh’s Dawn Granger ◊ Dove came into play, and the two traded points, leaving the endurance totals at 49 to 49. On turn 2, with Dave holding the initiative, the Hounds came into play, but they were soon opposed by the optimal Tim Drake ◊ Robin.

Turn 3 saw Josh bring forth his burly protector Roy Harper ◊ Arsenal. Dave played Sentinel Mark II and Josh’s initiative turned into an endurance advantage, leaving the endurance totals at 46 to 42.

On turn 4, Dave kept the curve coming, with Sentinel Mark V joining the team. Josh kept pace, adding Terra to the team. Terra was immediately stunned by the Mark V, who stayed in front with the Hounds while the Mark II attacked Roy. When Dave flipped Total Anarchy, he paused for the moment, but the 3-drops traded anyway. This left the endurance totals at 37 apiece going into turn 5, with a board of Tim Drake and Terra against the Mark V.

To start turn 5, Josh yelled “C’mon, Garth!” then took two face down cards from his deck and rubbed them on Dave’s shiny pate. Garth ◊ Tempest did indeed come to play, but only after Nimrod did the same. Dave played Savage Beatdown from the hand and then attempted to Overload Tim Drake from the resource row, but Josh had Not so Fast waiting. Nimrod lost his counter. Josh played Teen Titans Go!, stunning Nimrod, and making the Mark V go to the KO’d pile. Garth returned Roy Harper to hand, leaving the endurance totals at 23 to 22 in Josh’s favor.

The sixth turn saw Bastion come to play. Unfazed, Josh responded with both Hank Hall ◊ Hawk and Dawn Granger ◊ Dove, forming with both up front and Dawn in front of Garth. Nimrod, up front with Bastion, attacked Garth. Josh said “It’s legal,” then exhausted all three of Hawk, Dove and Garth to pump Roy. He then flipped Savage Beatdown targeting Nimrod and placed the effect on the chain, and then used Roy to target Nimrod. Dave powered Nimrod up to negate Roy, and the chained Beatdown resolved. Garth used his ability to bring the Beatdown back, Josh played it on Nimrod, and Overload finished off the 5-drop. Bastion then attacked Roy, but Josh Heroic Sacrificed to negate the attempt. Spears sacrificed Genosha for two cards to Overload Roy, but the attempt failed.

On turn 7, Josh started by recruiting a boosted Tim Drake ◊ Robin. Dave followed with his second Nimrod of the game. Josh, holding the initiative, had to slow things down at this point to do some math. Finally, Roy attacked Nimrod, got pumped up by the trio Hawk, Dove and Robin and then readied thanks to Press the Attack. Roy then shot Bastion, but Overload took care of Roy.

Dave nonchalantly played Magneto, Master of Magnetism to start turn 8. Josh started his side off by flipping USS Argus, which only produced Tim Drake. Magneto attacked Hank Hall, and Garth reinforced. Nimrod attacked Garth, Josh powered him up, and Dave let it resolve because Bastion was still ready to beat in with Josh at 1 endurance. He didn’t need to see zero—Josh packed up his cards and started preparing for the second game.

Spears 1, Wiitanen 0

Game Two

“I’ve never seen this man miss Boliver Trask. I’ve watched him play two $10Ks, never misses.” Not surprisingly, Dave played Boliver, searching for Hounds of Ahab. John missed drops on both turns 1 and 2 drop, leaving the endurance totals at 50 to 46.

With the initiative on turn 3, Josh played Dove with boost, fetching Hawk from his deck. Dave played Sentinel Mark II then thought long and hard about formation, finally putting Boliver in front of the machine. Josh flipped USS Argus and activated it, suggesting Terra might be coming to play on turn 4.

Dove attacked Boliver, but Dave was waiting for it. He flipped Total Anarchy and powered Boliver up, KO’ing both characters. Josh team-attacked the Mark II in order to KO it before Dave attacked Red Star with the Mark V, which he would do in order to smash the now smaller Hawk.

Turn 5 saw Garth and Nimrod join the fray. Garth and Red Star team attacked Nimrod. Dave used Nasty Surprise, and Josh played Not so Fast, but Dave had the second Nasty Surprise. Josh knew his goose was cooked. He looked at his next two cards and packed up, congratulating Dave and knowing he couldn’t have lost to a better guy.