Australian Last Chance Qualifier
by David Marks

After three preliminary events, finally the weekend of the Australian Qualifier arrived.

Saturday saw the “Last Chance” Melbourne qualifier for entry into the National Championships. Twenty players stepped up to the plate for the All Axxess tournament, bringing the total attendance at the Australian Qualifier series to 75.

Four Superstars had more than one player:

We were set to play for 5 rounds cutting to a top 8. Wayne, who had already qualified for the finals and was helping make up the numbers, agreed to run the pairings. Thanks Wayne! Once the dust settled and diversity had done its work, here was the top 8:

Wayne, Tarl and Jason, the three existing qualifiers, helped out with deck checks while I sorted out prizes for those who didn’t make the top 8.

Top 8:
David Marks def. Tristan O’ Connor
Jihan Fayad def. Robert Schwind
Lee Warlow def. James Bruckner
Ramzey Fayad def. Jon Patten

Top 4:
David Marks def. Ramzey Fayad
Jihan Fayad def. Lee Warlow

Final:
David Marks vs. Jihan Fayad

Alfred Chan wrote a play-by-play of the final. Alfred is the neatest decklist producer in Australia. Thanks to Alfred!

Australia Last Chance Final

D: David Marks, J: Jiji Fayad, [R]: Revolution, (TB): Throwback

David Marks (Ken Kennedy) vs. Jiji Fayad (Mr PPV)

Jiji reveals: Face card, 5th Anniversary and Backstage Signing Appearance
David reveals: 5th Anniversary

Jiji begins the pre-match phase.

J: I Want to Play The Game: Jiji chooses It’s All About The Game, David chooses It’s Showtime!
D: Trash Talkin Interview (TB)
J: The Hidden Dragon: Balance
D: Chris Nowinski Guest Ring Announcer
J: R-V-D
D: (takes 2 minutes to think) A No Show
J: Pass
D: Pass

Jiji draws 5
David draws 6

J: Resolved R-V-D: Anything and Hate It, Don’t Try This At Home and Counter Slash. David randomly makes her discard A Revolution of the Mind.
J: Does the Backstage Signing Appearance
D: Does the Backstage Signing Appearance
D: Reveals Anything and Hate It and Manager Interferes with A No Show. David plays It’s Showtime!
D: Trash Talkin Interview (TB). Jiji chooses [R] Big Boot. David shuffles in 4 including the [R] Big Boot and draws 4. David chooses Don’t Try This At Home for Jiji to shuffle in.
D: It’s Showtime overturning Mrrrrr Kennedyyyy and Volley This!

David begins the match.

D: Draws, Ace’s Chris Nowinski GRA and Trash Talkin Interview (TB). Shuffles in 2 and draws 3. [R] Chicken Wing.
J: Sustained Damage, discards 1, reversed one 1.

J: Draws, Ability, Mr Monday Night.
D: Reversed on 2 by Divine Intervention.

D: Draws, Shoot Forearm,
J: Step Over Heel Kick

J: Draws, The Hidden Dragon: Balance
D: Unscrupulous SOB

D: Draws, Shoot Forearm
J: Anything and Hate It

J: Draws, The Hidden Dragon: Balance for The Maneuver of Doom. Maneuver of doom. Jiji shuffles in 6.
D: Reversed on 6 by Get the F Out
J Draws 2 Stun

D: Draws, [R] Inverted Atomic Drop.
J: Reversed on 3

J: Draws, The Hidden Dragon: Balance for Rolling Thunder. Ability, Rolling Thunder. Jiji draws 1. End.

D: Draws, [R] Inverted Atomic Drop
J: Reversed on 1

J: Draws, Five Star Frog Splash (TB).
D: The King Interferes

D: Draws, Shoot Lock-Up (arsenal only)
J: Reversed on 5 and 7

J: Draws, hides 5th Anniversary shuffling in: Dude… Whatever, Divine Intervention, Manager Interferes, It’s Great to be Back Here In and Five Star Frog Splash (TB). The Hidden Dragon: Balance for Five Star Frog Splash (TB). Plays Five Star Frog Splash (TB).
D: Manager Interferes, David draws 1

D: Draws, [R] Chicken Wing
J: Discards 1 for Sustained Damage, Reversed on 3

J: Draws, Let me Get A Shot In (David actually looks stressed for once after counting both players fortitude) (Can only be reversed from David’s arsenal due to Mr PPV’s ability).
D: Reversed on 8 and 10. Jiji draws 3 stun.

D: Draws, Hides 5th Anniversary shuffling in: Manager Interferes. Don’t Try This at Home, The Finisher and Shoot Lock-up x2. (David only has 9 card left in his arsenal) [R] Chicken Wing.
J: Manager Interferes. Jiji draws 1.

J: Draws, The Hidden Dragon: Balance for Claw. Plays Claw.
D: Introduce Your Brain to Your Mouth

D: Draws, Shoot Lock-up (arsenal only)
J: Reversed on 5.
J: Draws, The Hidden Dragon: Balance for Counter Slash. End

D: Draws, searches Jiji’s ringside pile, Dynamic Finisher.
J: Hold The Phone

J: Draws, German Suplex (TB)
D: Reversed on 3 by Manager Interferes.

D: Draws, (David only has 4 cards left in his arsenal) End.
J: Draws, End.

D: Draws, End.
J: Draws, End

D: Draws, Shoot Action
J: Volley This and There are Two Things You Can Do, Nothing and Like It. David draws 0 cards.

J: Draws, Counter Slash.

Winner and final qualifier for the Australian National
Championships, Jihan Fayad! Jiji went on to compete
with the other qualifiers, Tarl Cowley, Jason Perry
and Wayne Duyvestyn for the Australian World Qualifier
spot on the Sunday.

Big thanks to Cardheaven for hosting us. Thanks to
Wayne for running the event on the day and everyone
else who helped out on the day. Thanks most of all to
all 75 players who played in the Australian Area
Qualifiers. Without all your support we would not
have a National Qualifier next year.

Part II with the Australian Qualifier Finals click here.

Decklists (please assume any errors are mine. Apologies for inconsistencies in Throwback/Non Throwback listing. In most cases it should be obvious):

Jihan Fayad’s Mr. PPV

Backstage Area:
Signing Appearance
Fifth Anniversary

Prematch:
I Want to Play the Game
Givin’ ‘em High Fives
It’s Showtime!
R-V-D
A No Show
Distractingly Divalicious
I’m Always on Top
Unscripted
The Hidden Dragon: Balance
Hell in a Cell Match

Midmatch:
Everything’s Cool When You’re…
Beg For Mercy x2
Goodnight Everybody
You’re as Graceful as a Cow on Ice
The Road to Victory
Sustained Damage
Unscrupulous S.O.B.
Mt Monday Night
Restricted Use in This Area

Actions:
Simply The Best x3

Maneuvers:
Shoot Aerial 360- Degree Kick
The Maneuver of Doom
Let Me Get a Shot in
Tornado Takedown of Doom
Five Star Frog Splash
Rolling Thunder
Extreme Monkey Flip
Split-legged Moonsault
Claw
The Finisher
Counter Slash x2
German Suplex x3
Judo Takedown

Reversals:
Divine Intervention
Sidewalk Slam x2
Don’t Try This at Home x2
Hold the Phone
Get the “F” Out!
Volleyed Beyond the Edge x2
Dude… Whatever
No Chance in Hell x2
The Coach Says, “Today’s the Day!” x2
Step Over Heel Kick
Its Great To Be Back Here In… x2
Volley This x2
Reverse Clothesline x2
The Price We Pay
A Revolution of the Mind x3
The Fury of the Storm
Anything and Hate It x2
Inside Cradle x2
Brass “Nuks” Shot
Elbows to the Face x3
Manager Interferes x3
Backslide x2
There are Two Things You Can Do: Nothing, and Like It x2

David Marks’ Ken Kennedy

Backstage Area x3

Pre
Mr Kennedy's Mic
Trash Talkin' (TB)
Chris Nowinski GRA
Interview with Terri
A No Show
Previously Unannounced Match

It's Showtime!
Luck of The Draw
White Wedding
It's All About The Game

Mid
Introduce Your Brain To Your Mouth
The Road To Victory
Cow
Restricted Use
The King Interferes
Shoot Counter
A Technical Shoot
Hardcore Style (TB)
Unscrupulous SOB
Going Nowhere Fast

Maneuvers (25)
Big Boot x3
Chicken Wing x3
Inverted Atomic Drop x3
Shoot Forearm x3
Shoot Double Arm Lock x3
Shoot Lockup x3
Precision Sleeper x3
Sucker Punch
Blatant Chokehold
The Finisher
Dynamic Finisher

Reversals (24)
A Revolution Of The Mind x3
Armageddon
Elbow To The Face x3
Manager x3
Get The F Out x2
Too Many Rules, Too Many Refs
DTTAH x2
Leg Drag (TB)
Volley This! x3
Why Don't You Kiss My A$$ x2
The Price We Pay
Anything & Hate It
Divine Intervention

Actions (11)
Shoot Action x3
That's Broken x3
Say It Loud...Say It Proud
Mr Kennedy...
Kennedy
Brave H
You Talkin' To Me?

Lee Warlow’s Hollywood Hulk Hogan (TB)

Feathered Boa
Signing Appearance
Backstage Signature

Pre-match:
Watcha Gonna Do Bro (TB)
Bitter Rivals
A No Show
I am a real American
Old School Antics
Gone Not Forgotten
Your Town
The Best Laid Plans
I’m the Champ
ECW Title

Mid-Match:
Fortitude Surge
[R] Knife-Edge Chop
This Is Going Nowhere Fast
Unscrupulous SOB
The King Interferes
Cow On Ice
[R] Boston Crab
Road to Victory
When Hulkamania Runs Wild (TB)
Restricted Use

Actions:
I Live For My Hulkamaniacs
Say Your Prayers and Eat Your Vitamins
24” Pythons x3
Iron Will
DTTAH
Volley This! x2
Chained Heat x2

Reversals
Raw Deal Revolution
Overshot the mark
Hulkin’ Up (Original!!!)
Unexpected Turn Of Events
It’s Great To Be Back Here… x2
Quick Reflexes x2
Hold The Phone x2
Two Things x2
The Coach Says x2
Anything & Hate It x2
Original WWE Icon (TB)
Divine Intervention
Elbow To The Face x3
Manager Interferes x3
No Sell x3
Revolution of The Mind x2 [Blanked after deck check]

Maneuvers
[R] STF
[R] Ankle Lock
[R] Euro Uppercut x2
[R] Knee Lift x2
[R] Big Boot x3
[R] Chicken Wing x3
[R] Inverted Atomic Drop x3
Sidewalk Slam (TB)
Hollywood’s Big Boot (TB)
The Finisher
Hollywood Leg Drop (TB)
Hogan’s Patented Overhand Punch

Ramzey Fayad’s Doink

Backstage Area

RD Fifth Anniversary
Backstage Signature
Signing Appearance

Prematch

I Want To Play the Game
Trash Talking Interview TB
Managed by William Regal
Through All of These Years
Vince McMahon GRA
Pails o’ Fun
Underrated Superstar TB
A No Show
Givin’ ‘Em High Fives TB
Fans Love an Underdog TB

Midmatch

Ready to Fight x2
Backlash!
This is Going Nowhere Fast
You’re as Graceful as a Cow on Ice
Restricted Use in This Area
Shoot Counter
Outside Interference
The King Interferes!
Unscrupulous S.O.B

Arsenal

Reversals

Manager Interferes x3
Elbow to the Face x3
A Revolution of the Mind x3
It’s Great To Be Back Here In… x2
Volley This x2
Knee Lift TB x2
Ax Kick x2
The Coach Says “Today’s The Day” x2
Don’t Try This at Home
Sidewalk Slam TB
“Cowboy” Bob Orton Interferes
No Chance in Hell TB
Get Back in the Ring
Escape the Rules
Leg Drag TB
Divine Intervention
Brass “Nuks” Shot
In My Day, a Maneuver was a Maneuver
The Raw Deal Revolution
Hold the Phone
Too Many Rules and Too Many Refs
Get the “F” Out!

Actions

Shoot Action x3
That’s Broken x2
That’s Balanced x2
Ego Boost x2
Enter the Stratusphere x2
Puppies! Puppies! TB
Mania
Who’s Under the Paint?

Antics

(R) A Spirited Turn of Events
(R) Look under the Ring

Maneuvers

German Suplex TB x3
Judo Takedown x2
Precision Sleeper x2
Shoot Lock-Up x2

Jon Patten’s 5th place 4-1 in Swiss Evolution

Pre-Match:
Denville, New Jersey
Bitter Rivals
Hell in A Cell
Old School Manager
Calling You Out
Old School Wrestling Match
US Title
It’s Getting Hot In Here
It’s All About The Game
Frankie Goes Hollywood

Mid-Match:
Quick Poke x3
Unscrupulous SOB
Took That On The Chin
Change In Programming Lineup
Cow
Fort Surge
Backlash
Restricted Use

Actions:
Sparks of Glory x2
Brave H
Stay Away From Daivari x2
Feel The Fire x2
I See The Line In The Sand
Grab The Mic (TB) x2

Reversals
Manager Interferes x3
Volley This! x2
Divine Intervention
I Already Warned You x2
Leave Me Alone x3
It’s Great To Be Back Here x2
Sidewalk Slam
Elbow x2
Nothing Ever Stays The Same
Headstrong x3
Revolution Of The Mind x3
Two Things x2
Escape The Rules