by Mike Rosenberg

Two teammates, two players from Southern California, two old school gamers. Patrick Yapjoco, owner of Majestix CCG in Southern California, is a long-time gamer. Alex Gellerman, the winner of the last Darkmoon Faire in Los Angeles, is a teammate and friend of Patrick's.

Both are playing Rohashu, Zealot of the Sun, but in different flavors. While Patrick is running the slower Paladin deck based on Etched Dragonbone Girdle and using Holy Shock, Alex is playing the speedy Grand Crusader deck.

Both players kept, with Patrick's turn one Twilight Citadel met with a turn one Seeds of their Demise and Runzik Shrapnelwhiz from Alex. A Bronze Drake before Patrick placed his second resource gave him an answer to the one cost Goblin, and a Stashed Cairne, Earthmother's Chosen gave him a token. Alex Stashed Sava'gin the Reckless and missed both of Patrick's allies. He played Trade Prince Gallywix, readied a resource, and dropped Rosalyne von Erantor into play.

Patrick Stashed his own Sava'gin, missing both allies. He traded his two 1/1 allies for Trade Prince Gallywix, added Obsidian Drudge to his board, and passed back to Alex, who again missed with a Stashed Sava'gin. Grand Crusader let Alex's Rosalyne take out Obsidian Drudge without a trade, and Alex passed back. Patrick placed his fourth resource and thought long over his decision, opting to pass back with four resources open. Alex lost his Rosalyne and Grand Crusader to the expected Righteous Cleanse, and Alex rebuilt with Lordann the Bloodreaver and Rosalyne von Erantor.

A Stashed Sava'gin from Patrick finally hit home, sniping Alex's Rosalyne. Patrick equipped Etched Dragonbone Girdle and made a token with Twilight Citadel, looking to dig up some new cards. Alex drew into a Bottled Light, and attacked Patrick's hero for 2 with Lordann. Bottled Light brought back Trade Prince Gallywix and Runzik Shrapnelwhiz, which both exhausted to ready enough resources for Dagax the Butcher. Patrick went to 12 damage, and Alex passed back with a rebuilt board.

Patrick was up to five cards in hand thanks to his Girdle. He dropped a Bronze Warden and passed with five open. Alex tried to take out the Warden with Lordann, but a Holy Shock prevented the damage to Bronze Warden and took out Trade Prince Gallywix. Alex added another Runzik and Bronze Drakonid to the board (readying Lordann), and passed back. However, Patrick flipped on his turn to clear the Protector out of the way, letting his Bronze Warden take out Runzik. He passed with three open at the end of his seventh turn. Two of those resources and a Hammer of Justice saved him a bunch of damage, as Alex ripped Bottled Light and used it to rebuy Dagax the Butcher.

Alex, having lost his 5 damage via the Hammer, passed back. Patrick, comfortably sitting at 11 damage, cleared the rest of Alex's allies with his Bronze Warden and another Sava'gin Stash. Gispax the Mixologist gave him a way to lock up the game, and he passed back. Alex, who had nothing further on his next turn other than popping the Bottle, could only look on as Patrick searched out Al'Akir the Windlord with Gispax. A turn later, the Windlord locked Alex out of the game, and he offered the concession.

Patrick Yapjoco wins the match!