by Mike Rosenberg

Phillip Martin, playing Suncaller Haruh, is the last of the Vegas players remaining in the event. His opponent, Trevor Jones of Minnesota, is running his own variation on Ooga Booga Grand Crusader. While Trevor has done well throughout the weekend, Suncaller Haruh is designed to fight against the slower version of the Horde Paladin deck, so it's tough to say what will come of this best two out of three match.

Phillip won the die roll and chose to keep his hand. Trevor debated for a minute on his hand, but ultimately decided to throw his hand back for a new seven. Phillip opened with Seeds of their Demise, while Trevor started the match off with a face-down resource and Telor Sunsurge.

Phillip completed Seeds at the end of Trevor's turn, keeping Gnash on top to draw. Phillip dropped one of his key cards, the Devout Aurastone Hammer, but had it locked down by Trevor's Stasis on the second turn. A second Telor Sunsurge joined the first, which plinked Phillip to 1 damage. Phillip completed another copy of Seeds at the end of Trevor's turn, putting one to the bottom. A third Seeds came down for Phillip, who flipped his hero and played Bronze Warden to heal back up to full.

Trevor took the turn to drop Grand Crusader, getting rid of Phillip's Bronze Warden while putting Phillip’s hero to 3 damage. Phillip Stashed a Discerning Eye of the Beast for his exhausted Hammer, and he followed that up with Edwin VanCleef, hoping to gain control of the board on the next turn. Trevor flipped his hero on the fourth turn to take out one of the Thugs. The damaged Telor took out the remaining Thug, and the remaining Telor Sunsurge took out Edwin. Phillip Stashed Cairne, Earthmother's Chosen and passed with no action, as Trevor dropped his own Edwin into play to rebuild his board.

Phillip swept away Trevor's miniature allies with Gnash, leaving him with only Edwin. Trevor used both halves of Bottled Light to bring back both Telor Sunsurges, then played Lordann the Bloodreaver. Phillip drew, and used Dispel Magic to finally destroy Grand Crusader. Gnash chewed up one Telor Sunsurge. Trevor attacked with Edwin into Phillip's hero, and then Stashed Sava'gin the Reckless, dealing 2 damage to Gnash. He played Cairne, Earthmother's Chosen, and then attacked for 2 with Lordann the Bloodreaver.

Gnash took out the second Telor Sunsurge, and then Phillip's Mazu'kon came down to take out Edwin VanCleef. Trevor traded his Lordann for Gnash on his next turn, and Cairne put Phillip to 21. He played Telor Sunsurge, only for the damaged Mazu’kon to trade with the Protector, creating a token. The token put 6 damage on Cairne, and another Mazu'kon was used to finish the job. That token put some damage on Trevor, who was top-decking and needed some help.

Twilight Citadel off the top may have been a start. Phillip's Mazu'kon token attacked again, and Parexia, Herald of the Shadows gave him another threat.

Trevor's next draw? Etched Dragonbone Girdle, to go with the Dragonkin token he made last turn. One of those two cards was a Mazu'kon of his own, putting Phillip to 28.

Phillip used Discerning Eye of the Beast to try and draw outs, but found nothing. A turn later, and that timely Mazu’kon finished the job.

Phillip – 0, Trevor – 1

Phillip chose to play, and things started off much as in the first game: Phillip kept his hand while Trevor chose to mulligan. Phillip led with Shadowfang Keep into Devout Aurastone Hammer, while Trevor had Challenge to the Black Flight, then a Stashed Cairne, Earthmother's Chosen and a Stasis for the Hammer. Phillip still had a Stashed Cairne and the Keep to accelerate into turn 3 Edwin VanCleef. Trevor had a Grand Crusader to force Phillip to protect against Trevor's token in order to keep Edwin around. Phillip dealt 5 with his Edwin, and then traded his Edwin (replaced with daughter Vanessa VanCleef to kill the token) for an early Parexia, Herald of the Shadows.

Just when it looked like Trevor would be able to rebuild with Alecia Hall in doubles, Phillip had Gnash after his attacks on the next turn. Trevor placed his fifth resource and played his last card in hand, Telor Sunsurge, before ending his turn at 8 damage. Phillip started his attacks with Vanessa, followed by both of his beefy allies into Telor Sunsurge. Trevor had a hero flip to finish off Gnash, but when his top card didn't yield anything to stop Phillip's Mazu'kon on the next turn, we were on to the third game.

Phillip – 1, Trevor – 1

Trevor chose to go first for the first time in the match. He and Phillip both decided to mulligan. Trevor led off with Twilight Citadel, while Phillip had his Shadowfang Keep. Both players had their namesake equipment cards, Etched Dragonbone Girdle and Devout Aurastone Hammer, but Trevor was lacking the Stasis to keep Phillip's deck from dropping bombs early. He drew two with Bronze Warden and Girdle, but had to settle for Lordann the Bloodreaver. Phillip Stashed Cairne to power out a third turn Parexia, Herald of the Shadows with the Hammer and Keep. The Empower ally ripped Alecia Hall and Bottled Light out of Trevor's hand.

Travor took the time to play Grand Crusader, putting 4 damage on Parexia with Lordann. He passed after that, as Phillip played an Obsidian Drudge and used Dispel Magic to wipe Trevor's board clean. Parexia put Trevor to 4, who recovered with another Etched Dragonbone Girdle and a Twilight Citadel activation to draw two. However, Phillip had plenty of gas in the tank. He sent Parexia into battle, then recruited Edwin VanCleef. Trevor did some digging with his Girdle and Challenge to the Black Flight, but only found an Alecia Hall to go back to 3 damage, as Phillip deployed a Power Word: Barrier.

Phillip's attacks put Trevor to 10 damage and killed Trevor's Alecia, a Stashed heirloom counter powered up the Aurastone Hammer, and a Mazu'kon with Shadowfang Keep put Trevor to 22 damage. "I'm probably dead but let's go digging," Trevor said. "If I die at least it will be with 27 cards in hand!"

Trevor drew his cards, and did some calculations. However, Phillip was sitting back on another Mazu'kon for the next turn, guaranteeing the game and the match for him.

Phillip Martin defeats Trevor Jones, 2-1!