by Michael Sacco

It's early here in Los Angeles, but Ben Isgur and Michael Barnes are bright-eyed and raring to go. Well. Nearly. “Still a bit tired,” Ben said, yawning. “I never get enough sleep at these things.” “You're from the east coast, right?” “Yeah. You know, I gotta warn you: I'm 0 and 3 for Darkmoon Faire tournaments.” “Yeah but now you have the chance to go 1-0 for Octofinals!”

Both players mulliganned their opening hands. Michael played Twilight Citadel and took 3 damage to bring Rosalyne von Erantor into play. Ben rowed a card and played Bronze Drake. Michael sent Rosalyne into Ben's hero for 3 and played Bronze Warden, then placed a resource. Ben clawed back some tempo with a Shockwave on Rosalyne. The timing was good, as Michael went big with Grand Crusader and sent his Drake into Hogger, taking the Gnoll to 9 damage. Ben attacked with Bronze Drake and played Obsidian Drudge. Michael played another Grand Crusader and another Rosalyne, taking the 3. He attacked Ben's hero for 5, taking the total to 14. Ben played Obsidian Drakonid and sent his allies into Rosalyne, using the Drakonid's effect to get rid of one copy of Grand Crusader.

Michael swung at Ben's hero with Bronze Warden, bringing him to 17. He then played Etched Dragonbone Girdle and used Twilight Citadel to produce a token. Ben traded his Obsidian Drakonid for the Dragonkin token, destroying Grand Crusader. He played a Bronze Drake and a Bronze Warden to bring his board presence back up, healing for 3. Michael swung into Hogger once more with his Warden; Ben Protected with his own. Michael cashed in the damaged ally for two fresh cards, then activated Twilight Citadel, dropped Bottled Light, returning Rosalyne, then played Bronze Warden. He cashed in his Bottled Light for another copy of Rosalyne. He was dealing his own hero more damage than Ben was!

Ben went digging again, turning his Bronze Drake into a pair of cards with the power of Etched Dragonbone Girdle. He recruited Vanessa VanCleef and passed. Michael attacked Ben's hero with one copy of Rosalyne; Ben protected with Bronze Warden. Rosalyne's twin came in unimpeded, taking Hogger to 20 damage. Michael fed a Dragonkin token to his Girdle, and the Rosalyne twins became quadruplets. It was too much for Ben, who dug once more with Girdle before scooping up his cards.

“I drew all four Rosalynes!” “Yeah, I noticed! Not much I could do about that.”

Michael Barnes - 1, Ben Isgur - 0

Ben started off with Seeds of Their Demise and no play. Michael rowed a card and played, who else, Rosalyne von Erantor, taking 3 damage. Ben Delved with Seeds and played a Bronze Drake, dealing one damage to Rosalyne, then rowed a quest and passed. “No Bronze Warden this time?” Ben inquired. “Just trying to figure out what you have in your hand.” Michael attacked Hogger with Rosalyne and rowed a card to play Bronze Drakonid, sending Rosalyne in again. Ben played Perdition's Blade, finishing off the rampaging Warlock ally, then sent Bronze Drake into Bronze Drakonid. Michael rowed Seeds, equipped a Girdle and played Bronze Warden, healing back to 1 from his self-inflicted Rosalyne damage.

Ben stashed Raging Shout to give Hogger +1 ATK then swung into Bronze Warden with Perdition's Blade. He followed up with an Obsidian Drudge. Michael Delved with Seeds. “Is that the Thinking Position?” Ben asks, looking at Michael's sideways Delved cards. “That's the thinking position.” Michael finally sent both cards to the bottom. He played Dagax the Butcher, smashed Ben to 16, then played a Bronze Drakonid to re-ready Dagax, taking Hogger to 21 damage. Ben used Obsidian Drudge to kill Bronze Drakonid, stashed Raging Shout, and attacked with with Perdition's Blade taking Rohashu to 6 damage. Michael played Bottled Light to bring Dagax back for another round, then played Ruby Stalker. “DOUBLE STEALTH!” Ben had nothing to stop the Goblin Rogue from coming back one last time, and Michael Barnes took the game and match!

Ben lamented, “If he has Girdle it's very hard for me to win.” “Yeah, but my deck really runs out of steam if I don't have Girdle.” Well, if Game 2 was anything to go by, there was plenty of steam to go around!

Michael Barnes - 2, Ben Isgur - 0